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What is Verizon doing right to retain customer loyalty?
While Verizon Wireless reported fewer net subscriber adds in the second quarter compared to the first, the carrier reduced its churn rate as it increased its data revenue. Churn, baby, churn.
Although Verizon does not have the iPhone, a device that has helped AT&T close the gap between the top two carriers? churn rates, it does have its stable of Droid devices. The iPhone and Android-based smartphones appeal to a similar demographic and each leads to increased data consumption for its respective carrier.
?Verizon Wireless continued to have the best churn rates in the industry again in the second quarter, which is a key gauge of customer loyalty,? said Nancy Stark, spokeswoman at Verizon Wireless, Basking Ridge, NJ. ?Moreover, our churn levels are the lowest they have been in nearly two years.
?Verizon Wireless has the largest, most reliable voice and data network in the U.S., a key factor in customer loyalty,? she said. ?That is because, whether sophisticated or basic, devices and applications are only as good as the network they're on.
?This reputation for network quality, coupled with our wide choice of smartphones, operating systems and exclusive apps like NFL Mobile and Skype Mobile all contribute to earning our customers' loyalty.?
The Droid X has been a success so far, the only misstep being Verizon not having enough devices in stock to keep up with demand at launch.
Verizon Wireless' approach is to support a number of different operating systems and thereby offer a robust line-up of devices to provide choice to a broad base of new and existing customers.
That approach has been very successful, and within that approach Verizon's Droid family of devices have been a great success.
The carrier has had a steady stream of Droid devices since the first was introduced last Fall and its latest?the Droid X?like its predecessors, has been flying off the shelves.
In the second quarter, Verizon Wireless claims that it added more retail postpaid customers than any carrier reporting their second-quarter results to date.
Healthy appetite for data
All of those Droid users, like their iPhone counterparts, send SMS and picture messages, surf the mobile Web, watch videos and download and use applications of all kinds?activities that marketers and content providers love.
However, that leads to increased data consumption, which can put a strain on carrier networks.
AT&T has gone to a tiered-pricing model for its data plans, appealing to mid-tier consumers and first-time smartphone users, while Verizon still has all-you-can-eat data plans, which marketers universally support.
Verizon claims that its data revenues have been growing steadily for the past several years.
Ms. Stark said that the explosive growth in data revenues is being driven by the increased use of innovative devices such as smartphones, 3G multimedia devices and netbooks, as well as new data applications on these devices.
In the second quarter, Verizon Wireless' data revenues grew 24 percent over the first quarter to $4.8 billion. That is almost 35 percent of the carrier's total revenue.
The question remains whether or not Verizon Wireless will see a similar impact on its network to the one AT&T has experienced, especially in areas with high concentrations of iPhone users such as the San Francisco Bay Area and the New York Tristate Area.
?Verizon Wireless is seeing good growth in data revenues,? said Phil Kendall, director of global wireless practice at Strategy Analytics, Milton Keynes, England. ?The growth rate?24 percent?and share of all service revenues?34 percent?are at very solid levels and this is clearly being aided by strong performance in 3G and smartphones.
?Both Verizon Wireless and AT&T are pulling away from the other carriers a little in this respect and the strong smartphone portfolios are making a very good contribution here,? he said.
?In fact, Verizon Wireless mentions that data is having a positive impact on margins in terms of the additional revenue flow, rather than the additional cost of supporting the increased traffic loads.?
Closer look at churn
Over the last five years, overall churn has actually crept up at Verizon, from 1.1-1.2 percent in 2006 to 1.3-1.4 percent in 2010, with AT&T closing in fast, from 1.8-1.9 percent in 2006 down to 1.3 percent in 2010, according to Strategy Analytics.
For the second quarter, retail postpaid churn was 0.94 percent at Verizon and 1.01 percent at AT&T.
?So Verizon Wireless no longer holds a significant advantage in respect to overall churn, although in the second quarter it maintained its lead in retail postpaid churn, which is strong at both carriers, as they are both performing very well in their core revenue-generating segments,? Mr. Kendall said.
Mr. Kendall said that despite losing its significant loyalty advantage over AT&T, Verizon is still performing much better than most other carriers in the market, where overall churn is generally over 3 percent.
Of late, Verizon churn rates have usually been somewhere between 1 and 1.4 percent per quarter, and its second-quarter churn rate?1.27 percent?was lower than the first quarter, which was 1.4 percent.
?There?s not huge change in this area, but Verizon is doing very well on customer loyalty,? said Phil Redman, Boston-based research vice president at Gartner.
That good news because their total net adds for the second quarter were 738,000 fewer than the first quarter, when they added 1.5 million positive net adds.
In fact, Verizon?s churn did not decrease enough to make up for the lower number of net adds, although the second quarter is traditionally a slow quarter for the wireless industry, according to Gartner.
?It?s hard to say what makes someone lose a customer?it could be customer service or network quality, but a big one is phones?desirable phones drive loyalty,? Mr. Redman said. ?I wonder if the iPhone is a big advantage for AT&T in that area.
?Verizon Wireless is going to higher-end smartphones with the Droid, and it has seen some good success there, but with other carriers getting Android phones, the differentiation not as great as it was in December of last year when the Droid program first launched,? he said.
?Droid is very high-end?it?s going after high-end subscribers.?
That has lead to the growth of data services, although Verizon is feeling pricing pressure due to AT&T dropping its data plan prices.
The price of 3G devices is also trending downwards.
Now that the iPhone 4 is out, just about anyone can afford a $99 iPhone 3G.
Verizon does not currently offer a device that is as appealing at that price point, although the original Motorola Droid may get there sooner rather than later.
?The iPhone is starting to push more to the middle of the market because it?s being subsidized and you can buy a $15 per month data plan, so AT&T is more competitive in that area,? Mr. Redman said.
?The next step is for Verizon, it needs to see how to appeal not just the high-end market with Droid but also target the mid-tier of the market that also wants smartphones,? he said.
?Carriers have to manage the high-end, middle-end and low-end at the same time to be successful, because there are fewer high-end consumers.?
Dan Butcher, associate editor, Mobile Marketer


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CMLS will also sell 53 radio stations to Townsquare Media for $238M in cash. In addition, CMLS will trade Townsquare 15 stations "in two small and mid-sized markets" for five stations in Fresno.
The deal for Dial Global gives CMLS new "NFL, NCAA, NASCAR, Olympics, AP Radio News and NBC News" content as well as "other popular programming."
"These transactions give us the necessary scale to provide the marketing and enterprise solutions our advertising and affiliate partners require," CEO Lew Dickey says. (PR)

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Ride Hubway For Free on September 29
Hubway, High Brew Coffee® Partner to Bring Free Bike Share to Boston In Celebration of National Coffee Day
Boston, MA – Friday, September 29 is National Coffee Day! To celebrate, Hubway will partner with High Brew Coffee®, the Austin-based natural beverage company, to offer Boston residents and visitors free Hubway day passes, company leadership announced today.
Hubway members and casual users can access their free ride code by signing onto the new Hubway mobile app at thehubway.com/app starting at 12:01 am on Friday, September 29. With the new app, riders can also find bikes and docks; purchase a pass; get ride notifications; see lifetime ride stats; access 24-7 customer service assistance; and even find nearby bike shops.
Riders needing an extra pick-me-up before or after their rides can pedal to Hubway’s Aquarium Station or Congress Street Station from 7:30am to 9:30am on the 29th for complimentary, ready-to-drink cold brew from High Brew Coffee®.
“There is no better combination than delicious cold brew coffee and a bike ride,” said Hubway General Manager Katie O’Connor, “If you’ve never given Hubway a try, this Friday is the perfect opportunity to strap on a helmet and get riding for free, thanks to High Brew Coffee.”
“High Brew coffee is perfect for those who live an active lifestyle, so partnering with the Hubway team to offer free bike rides on National Coffee Day made absolute sense,” said Mari Johnson, Executive Vice President of Marketing at High Brew Coffee®. “Those who take advantage of the partnership in the morning will not only get a free ride on us, but we’re hoping our ready-to-drink cold brew will keep them naturally energized throughout the day.”
“Ascendent is thrilled to collaborate with Motivate, an exceptional operator and client, to deliver impactful experiences for brands and consumers, driven by Motivate’s expansive BikeShare national footprint,” said Bob Brennfleck, CEO of Ascendent, the Marketing Agency involved with the partnership. “Motivate’s mobility systems provide broad and meaningful societal benefits and enable brands to connect and engage in ways.”
The free ride day is part of a months-long partnership between High Brew Coffee® and Hubway; Hubway wrapped 25 stations and 150 special-edition Hubway bikes across the city with High Brew branding from September 18 to November 30.
Bike share systems provide an instantly immersive experience which can help bring products to life for consumers. As bike share becomes an increasingly ubiquitous part of the infrastructure of modern cities, brands are looking to leverage bike share’s urban real estate to establish permanent and positive associations with tastemakers nationwide.
Some of the world’s largest brands are collaborating with Hubway and its operator Motivate, which operates the largest and most popular bike share systems across the country including Citi Bike in New York City, Divvy in Chicago, and Ford GoBike in the Bay Area, among others. National brands including Ford, Nike, Citi, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Alaska Airlines, Hulu and Santander have made major investments in bike share programs from New York City to Portland to reach bike share’s unique urban audience.
Hubway consistently breaks its own ridership records year after year. So far in 2017, over 970,000 trips have been taken on Hubway bikes. This year will be the fastest ever to 1M trips. August 2017 had the most ever trips a in single month, with nearly 194,000 trips. The system has over 14,000 annual members and major expansion is planned in all participating municipalities.
Hubway is metro-Boston’s public bike share program, with more than 1,800 bikes at 180+ stations across Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville. Hubway is owned by the municipalities of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville, and operated by Motivate. Hubway launched in 2011 and has become an essential part of our transportation network. It’s fun, efficient and affordable – not to mention healthy and good for the environment.
Hubway, like other bike share systems, consists of a fleet of specially designed, sturdy and durable bikes that are locked into a network of docking stations throughout the city. The bikes can be unlocked from one station and returned to any other station in the system, making them ideal for one-way trips. People use bike share to commute to work or school, run errands, get to appointments or social engagements, and more.
About High Brew Coffee®
After working tirelessly for 13 years to turn his tiny tea company into a household name, David Smith, cofounder of Sweet Leaf Tea, embarked on the sailing adventure of a lifetime. Discovering the benefits of refreshing cold-brewed coffee during warm nights navigating rough waters, the idea for High Brew Coffee® was born. Founded in 2014, High Brew is an all-natural 100 percent Arabica blend ready-to-drink cold brew coffee made from Direct Trade coffee beans. Brewed with zero heat, High Brew Coffee® offers premium low-calorie cold-brews in smooth, delicious flavors such as Double Espresso, Mexican Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate Mocha, Black & Bold and Creamy Cappuccino + Protein. High Brew Coffee is shelf stable to perfectly accompany an active and on-the-go lifestyle. For more information, please visit www.highbrewcoffee.com.


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- New investment boosting Sunswap’s growth to offer clean, efficient and cost-effective alternative to high emission diesel-powered refrigeration amidst looming diesel shortage and higher prices
- Sunswap’s fully electric Transport Refrigeration Units provides 100% reduction in harmful air quality emissions
- First investment in the UK logistics sector by Clean Growth Fund
Clean Growth Fund (CGF) and Barclays have co-invested £3m in Sunswap, a UK clean-technology company. The investment is another milestone, enabling Sunswap to accelerate efforts by the logistics industry to reduce its CO2 emissions, by offering a fully electric, zero-emission alternative to diesel-powered Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs).
Sunswap’s next generation, zero-emission ‘Endurance’ TRU combines solar panels (covering the trailer roof), battery storage technology and low environmental impact refrigerants with cloud-based remote monitoring.
Sunswap’s TRU offers 79-93% global warming impact savings (CO₂ reduction and the use of low-impact refrigerant), and total cost of ownership savings (dependent on use) of between 20-50% compared to diesel. Sunswap’s zero-emission refrigeration technology has the potential to make a major contribution to the decarbonisation of the cold supply chain. It is already being trialled by DFDS, the global logistics company, to deliver frozen goods across the UK, and is soon to start trials with other major European logistics companies.
Sunswap’s Endurance clean refrigeration platform analyses each client’s refrigeration needs, delivery schedules and routes. This ensures that the Endurance TRU can deliver the most efficient and environmentally friendly refrigeration solution, helping cold chain operators accelerate achievement of their decarbonisation strategies and save money. As well as being a zero-emission replacement, the Sunswap unit is ultra-quiet, allowing operators to avoid both urban tariffs and night-time delivery restrictions.
It is the CGF’s first investment in the clean logistics sector and is the 10th overall investment made by Barclays through their Sustainable Impact Capital Programme, which has a mandate to invest up to £175m of equity capital in sustainability-focused start-ups by 2025.
Stephen Price, Investment Director at the Clean Growth Fund said: “Cold chain owners and operators are under increasing pressure to decarbonise their operations and mitigate the rapidly increasing cost of operating highly polluting, diesel-powered refrigeration units. Sunswap’s technology provides a compelling and cost-effective clean solution and given the scale of the market opportunity, the environmental benefits of their refrigeration units are significant. We are therefore incredibly excited about Sunswap’s prospects for future growth, and through our investment, support their journey to commercialisation.”
James Ferrier, Head of Sustainable Impact Capital at Barclays said: “The Sunswap team have developed an innovative technology that has the potential to significantly decarbonise the food miles in global supply chains. This focus on sustainability will play an important role in the transition to a low-carbon economy and we are excited to be supporting them on the next stage of their journey.”
Michael Lowe, co-founder and CEO of Sunswap said: “We are delighted that CGF and Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital have chosen to invest in Sunswap and support us in our mission to decarbonise the cold chain.”
“The logistics industry in the UK and globally is in the process of transitioning to using fully zero-emission technology for their transport refrigeration requirements. At Sunswap, we already have a working, cost-effective solution that is currently being used on UK roads to accelerate this transition.”
“We are proud to be working alongside investors whose ideals strongly align with Sunswap’s mission. This backing is hugely significant and will allow us to fulfil our goals in the years ahead.”
Notes to Editors
There are around 100,000 refrigerated vehicles in the UK alone, with an estimated 30,000 refrigerated trailers operated by UK-based transport businesses, with an estimated 5.6m units (TRUs) on the road globally. Sunswap estimates that, by 2030, worldwide there will be 8 million units on the road, with a market value of £13.4bn.
A majority of current models rely on an auxiliary diesel engine to provide power for the cooling system – these are highly polluting source of harmful CO2, NOx and particulate matter emissions. Globally, diesel TRUs are estimated to emit more than 50 MtCO2eq per year, equivalent to the emissions of around 30 million passenger cars.
Sunswap was founded in 2020. It exists to decarbonise the cold chain with zero-emission through the development of world-leading Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU) technology. This investment round brings Sunswap to £3.6m of equity investment as well as £1m non-dilutive grant funding.
In February 2020, the UK Government announced its intentions to remove the entitlement to use red diesel for transport refrigeration units on vehicles and generators. The new rules come into effect on 1 April 2022.


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Furthermore, Uber was also able to learn whether a driver was working for both companies, and target these persons with incentives to drop Lyft.
Uber Technologies Inc.is under investigation by federal authorities in NY for its alleged use of a spyware program, according to reports. An Uber spokeswoman noted that the company is cooperating with the investigation and in no longer using the software.
News of this investigation comes only days after a federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit against Uber for its use of Hell. Along with his accusations of wrongful employment, he accused fellow Uber workers of using the "Heaven" software to spy on customers, including "high profile politicians, celebrities, and even personal acquaintances of Uber employees, including ex-boyfriends/girlfriends, and ex-spouses".
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is concerned "whether Hell constituted unauthorized access of a computer".
The burea is looking into an Uber initiative, called Hell in internal memos leaked earlier this year, that operated from 2014 to 2016. It's a software that could help the company in evading law enforcement oversight.
But this investigation isn't the only case that the new Uber CEO has to face.
Then, last month, the Justice Department took initial steps to investigate the managers at the company due to their violations against foreign bribery.
Uber is again facing grief over its defunct Hell software. You have to wonder if Dara Khosrowshahi regrets leaving Expedia and stepping into the role of CEO of the embattled company.
Henry said the TCN division would talk to the ride-hailing companies about how to handle drivers who were initially rejected but would have another chance under the new regulations.


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Given all the apparent excitement surrounding electric vehicles and the billions invested by automakers, financial firms and government incentives, you would assume there was a groundswell of consumer support for hybrid and battery electric cars underlying this momentum.
The firm predicts that in 2020, international sales of hybrid and battery electric cars will total 5.2 million, or 7.3%, of the 70-plus million consumer vehicles expected to be sold. This year, the world is on track to sell 954,500 electric units, 2.2% of all car sales. Thus, in a decade, consumers will only move the needle about 5 percentage points, from 2.2 to 7.3. If the future of the car is electric, it’s not happening in the next decade and— given the sluggish growth curve— not the one after that either.
So why the apprehensiveness among consumers?
According to J.D. Power and Associates, a confluence of factors have discouraged would-be-electric owners. Not surprisingly, the number one reason is money. Although there are government subsidies to encourage green car purchases in the US, it’s still difficult for cash-strapped buyers not to compare the new hybrid models against cheaper, less fuel efficient vehicles (remember, the recession is not over for the 9-plus percent who are still unemployed or the many who are underemployed).
“Many consumers say they are concerned about the environment, but when they find out how much a green vehicle is going to cost, their altruistic inclination declines considerably,” John Humphrey, an SVP at J.D. Power, said in a statement. “For example, among consumers in the U.S. who initially say they are interested in buying a hybrid vehicle, the number declines by some 50 percent when they learn of the extra $5,000, on average, it would cost to acquire the vehicle.”
Beyond sticker shock, the report says other popular reasons included: aesthetics, insecurity in the new technology, unhappiness with how the car performed, and the need to recharge batteries/driving range.
Who is actually buying?
J.D. Power says from their research, a very clear, dominant demographic emerged: “buyers of HEVs and BEVs are generally older, more highly educated (possessing a postgraduate degree), high-income individuals who have a deep interest in technology, or who like to be among the early adopters of any new technology product.”
At least there’s hope for those Tesla dealerships in Silicon Valley.


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Canada’s startup scene makes a polite pop, but still awaits its big bang
March 18, 2015
Vancouver, BC — Canada has a lot of technology talent: it’s a hub for innovative game design and clean tech ventures, for example. It has its share of smart software companies, but when it comes to helping them all grow, it needs help.
In Canada, venture capital firms invested $1.9bn during 2014, representing 379 deals, according to the Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA). That sounds impressive, until you look south of the border to the US. There, venture capitalists invested $48.3bn in a whopping 4,356 deals, according to PwC.
Read more at ZDNet
In the news
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Mother’s Day flower and jewelry sale Saturday
St. Joseph’s School, Shelton, will host its annual Mother’s Day Spring Fling shopping event and plant sale on Saturday, May 11, 9–3 p.m. in the school gym, 430 Coram Avenue.
Shop the vendors including annual/perennial flowers, vegetables, herbs, specialty combinations, chocolate, jewelry, cooking, makeup, home décor and handbags.
Admission is $2, which includes a chance to win one a raffle prize. All are welcome.


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All stories by Arnab Dutta
What makes Reliance Retail a unique venture in India?Rediff.com31 Oct 2021
Even as regulatory focus has zeroed in on foreign e-commerce giant Amazon, a domestic retail giant has been created almost below the radar in Reliance Retail (RR), one of the most crucial businesses for the group's future. From doorstep delivery of groceries, apparels to branded jewellery, medicines, toys, furniture to high street retailing, RR's presence in the world's fourth largest consumer market is just one part of the story.
How resurrected DLF is planning its tryst with MumbaiRediff.com1 Sep 2021
In mid-2020, when Kushal Pal Singh, the undisputed king of India's vast real estate market, relinquished the top post at the country's largest realtor, he left behind an empire that is best compared to the Greek myth of the Phoenix. Once the leader of Delhi's organised real estate market, DLF's steep decline in the 1970s and its majestic rise since has often been cited as a business resurrection story. Now, a year after his departure from the helm of affairs, history seems to be repeating itself at the real estate major. In the 1970s, it was the government prohibitions that had forced DLF to venture into uncharted territory; some five decades later, the Delhi-headquartered firm has set its eyes on another growth trajectory that holds immense potential.
'2022 will be blockbuster year for films'Rediff.com19 Aug 2021
'We will see footfall returning to pre-COVID levels by January.'
FMCG leaders beat FY21 blues, exceed pre-Covid levelsRediff.com5 Aug 2021
In spite of a severe second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and a widespread disruption in public life therefore, India's fast-moving consumer goods (FMGC) sector seems to have emerged as one of the most resilient segments of the economy. The early numbers and estimates for the April-June quarter indicate a steady recovery in FMCG players' business, which is now set to exceed the pre-pandemic level. Amid nationwide lockdowns because of the first Covid wave, FMCG revenues had been severely affected in mid-2020.
'Covid has made Ayurveda mainstream'Rediff.com24 Jul 2021
'The spurt in demand for Ayurvedic products has exhausted our production capacity.'
'Not seen such inflation in 7-8 years'Rediff.com20 Jul 2021
Higher prices are burdening household budgets and threatening the margins of leading manufacturers.
Covid robs Moradabad's Brass City of its shineRediff.com18 Jul 2021
According to the local Brass Handicrafts Manufacturers Association (BHMA), some 800,000 people are directly employed in Moradabad's massive brass handicrafts and utensils manufacturing industry, which has some 30,000 small and micro-scale units and a total annual turnover of Rs 10,000 crore. The manufacturers are heavily dependent on export markets such as the US, Canada, Australia and the European Union. And exports account for nearly 70 per cent of their revenues. According to industry insiders, since this year's lockdowns, manufacturing has been at 65 per cent of normal levels.
Covid blues fail to dampen Apple's dream runRediff.com27 May 2021
Rising prevalence of work-from-home and e-learning is driving sales of notebooks and tablets for most brands, but Apple's superior performance has more to do with its product quality.
Apple takes a big bite out of locked down India, posts record JFM salesRediff.com14 May 2021
Apple was a fringe player in all key categories like smartphones, notebooks, and tablets till recently. But with the last quarter's record-breaking performance, the brand has established itself in the country's price-sensitive consumer electronics market.
2nd Covid wave may erase gains in smartphone marketRediff.com28 Apr 2021
While the record shipments reflects the prevailing mood at the time, the exponential rise in Covid cases in the country has turned the tide since.
Delhi curfew, oxygen shortage takes a toll on Noida industrial beltRediff.com23 Apr 2021
From trucks lined up and waiting in the area to local vendors, the scenes tell a story of livelihoods stalled.
Apple revs up India offering with new iMac, iPads and iPhoneRediff.com22 Apr 2021
The new iMac, two iPads and iPhone 12 and 12 Mini will be open for ordering starting April 30, just like in the US, the UK, China and Japan.
Decade on, Jaypee Infratech customers still waiting for a homeRediff.com14 Apr 2021
Booked between 2007 and 2011, out of the total 32,700 residential units under various Jaypee Infratech (JIL) projects, at least 20,000 homes are yet to be delivered. Supreme Court documents show that, till last March, Jaypee had issued 7,997 offers of possession to homebuyers while executing only 6,530 sub-lease deeds. These deeds offer homebuyers possession rights but, unlike registration, does not guarantee absolute ownership.
Real estate, travel and tourism blues hit India's consumption storyRediff.com15 Mar 2021
India's Rs 4.5-trillion fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector was one of the first to bounce back from the lockdown induced blues, reporting a year-on-year (YoY) growth in the October-December quarter last year. That said, the overall consumption figures continue to remain depressed. The FMCG market, which includes daily consumables like branded atta, hand sanitizers, edible oils, shampoos, razors, and so on, recorded 7.3 per cent value growth during the period, while the smartphone market grew by 21 per cent.
Xiaomi expands smartphone, TV capacity in India with 3 new plantsRediff.com26 Feb 2021
Apart from bringing new suppliers on board, Xiaomi is also hoping to take advantage of the newly launched PLI scheme that offers incentives on incremental production of smartphones with 2020 as the base year.
Lava plans to turn up the heat on Chinese brandsRediff.com8 Feb 2021
Expansion of distribution network, venturing into new markets, supplementing production capacity, and ramping up workforce are all on the cards. Instead of trying to fight with brands having massive war chests, it will pass on the benefits to consumers by offering them phones at lower prices.
5G: Smartphone makers poised for a sharp rebound this yearRediff.com18 Jan 2021
Even if 5G is not launched by operators this year, the handsets market will certainly witness a strong supply ecosystem for 5G ready smartphones in 2021.
PM urged to drop 'harsh' norms on sale, promotion of tobacco productsRediff.com8 Jan 2021
New proposals like booking of retailers selling loose cigarettes and 7 years of imprisonment, are unacceptable, traders argued.
Durable makers end 2020 at record low, sales down 30% amid Covid-19Rediff.com31 Dec 2020
The Rs 1.5-trillion-a-year industry has ended the year with a 30 per cent fall in sales because after a steady recovery in the festive season, multiple factors dashed its hopes of revival at the end of the year.
Battle of the brands: H&M takes on ZaraRediff.com16 Dec 2020
Zara could rake in Rs 1,571 crore sales in 2019-2020. H&M, which came in five years later, grew its revenue to Rs 1,729 crore.


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|LOS ANGELES – (October 29, 2013) – Two months ago, the LA Auto Show announced that it would offer start-up app developers and budding auto technology companies the opportunity to showcase their innovations and present pioneering mobility solutions to key industry leaders at the Connected Car Expo’s (CCE)FASTPITCHcompetition. Now, the best of the best have been selected, and eight start-ups have emerged as clear front-runners.
With the help of Robert Herjavec of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” a group of esteemed industry decision makers will listen to pitch presentations and select a winner from these eight finalists on the opening day of CCE, Nov. 19. This year’s judges include Philip Potloff, Executive Vice President and CIO at Edmunds.com; Christy Wilson, VP of Product Operations at Splunk; Linda Senigaglia, NeverLost Senior Director of Product Marketing for Hertz; and Martin Price, Co-Founder of Productsy. The event emcee is Jon Alain Guzik, founder and CEO of RideApart and Hubris Factory, Inc.
Each FASTPITCH entrant was challenged to solve a current roadblock affecting the automotive landscape. The top ideas address an array of issues, ranging from privacy and security to mapping and safety. The following finalists will now compete for the FASTPITCH title, powered by Splunk®.
AIRMIKA Inc. AUTOcyb™
With the AUTOcyb™, AIRMIKA Inc. aims to ease the privacy and consumer protection concerns of motorists driving connected, electronics-intensive vehicles. A simple device that the driver controls safeguards access to automotive ‘black box’ in-vehicle electronics networks. A 2013 Technovation Selectee at Consumer Electronics CEweek in New York, AIRMIKA’s AUTOcyb™ is the world’s first and only vehicle cyber security lock. It is globally standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). With a simple turn of a key, users exert their Fourth Amendment expectation of privacy. Think of it as your vehicle’s firewall. “Make everyone ask your permission” is the company’s mantra.
Estify aims to streamline the auto collision industry with the use of cloud-based services. The proposed system uses three platforms to simplify the collision repair process. EstifyTransfer imports estimate data into the current estimating platforms, EstifyReconcile combines multiple estimates in a split second and EstifyParts electronically sends parts lists to many providers simultaneously, ensuring competitive pricing for shops and convenience for users.
Green Driver EnLighten™
Green Driver’s EnLighten™ app uses real-time traffic light information and existing infrastructure to improve safety at intersections, increase in-city fuel economy and reduce driver stress, while enhancing convenience. With seven cities already online, Green Driver aims to become the leading source of traffic light signal data, providing added value to manufacturers, drivers and local traffic regulation agencies.
TOSH Electric & Construction Electronic Flare System and Apparatus (Electronic LED Flare)
In an effort to decrease post-crash risks and increase driver safety, the multi-purpose Electronic LED Flare uses a sensor-based device that will deploy when a vehicle is involved in an accident or detects a power failure, leaving the vehicle stranded. The system can be installed during the vehicle’s production phase, or added as an aftermarket device.
Trucker Path is a popular logistical assistant app geared toward professional truck drivers and trucking companies. It provides Weight Station and Truck Stop detailed information, locations, reviews, directions and pin point map locations. It provides detailed information about highway patrol weight stations in all 50 states and features information, such as, address information, phone/fax numbers, user reviews, current weather, directions, map view of stations and whether a specific weight station is open or not.
USC Marshall School Gaugify
The Gaugify app offers a variety of LCD cluster skins for drivers who prefer customization to maximize visual organization. The proposed cluster skins include in-house designs as well as collaborations with popular brands such as Gucci or Hello Kitty to help create the perfect aesthetic for each driver.
USC Stevens ClearPath
In an effort to exceed the efficiency of current GPS mapping applications, ClearPath has invented a navigation system that can identify the fastest path at any given time. ClearPath identifies routes that take 18% less time to travel as compared to the most sophisticated existing solution, while also taking into account multiple points of interest and predicting accident impact. With requested funding, ClearPath is slated to run on all major smart phones.


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This week, news broke that GoDaddy had a major data breach back in September on their managed WordPress servers, affecting 1.2 million active and inactive WordPress sites that use GoDaddy for hosting, and according to ZDNet.com, the following data is what’s at risk:
Customers had both their email addresses and customer numbers exposed. As a result, GoDaddy warns users that this exposure can put users at greater risk of phishing attacks. The web host also said that the original WordPress admin password, created when WordPress was first installed, has also been exposed. So if you never changed that password, hackers have had access to your website for months.
In addition, active customers had their sFTP and database usernames and passwords exposed. GoDaddy has reset both these passwords. Finally, some active customers had their Secure-Socket Layer (SSL) private key exposed. GoDaddy is currently reissuing and installing new certificates for those customers.
If you’re wondering if your website was affected and would like to learn more about the data breach, click here to read the full article from ZDNet.com. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any additional questions or would like further recommendations.


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The Criminal Investigation Department, coordinated with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL ) arrested an Arab national on the charges of booking air tickets of Qatar Airways for several persons including Qatari nationals and other residents using stolen credit cards belonging to some Qatari citizens.
First Lt. Mudhawi Saeed Al Qahtani, officer at the Cybercrime Combating Centre of Criminal Investigation Department said that the CID had received complaints from Qatar Airways saying that many of its customers from citizens and residents were defrauded of buying air tickets through credit cards owned by other people.
He pointed out that some Arab nationals residing out of the country had been offering online advertisement through social media about reductions for air tickets of Qatar Airways. While contacting with the advertisers they made them believe that they owned travel agencies and have special reductions with them. In fact they booked tickets using stolen credit cards. Several victims had booked tickets for them and their family members so far. They transferred the required amounts after they confirmed the validity of the tickets.
Ft. Lt. Mudhawi added that while carrying out the travel procedures the Airways staff would ask to present the credit card used for buying tickets and the tickets will be cancelled or need to pay again if they failed to produce the cards.
The Criminal Investigation Department urged all the citizens and residents not to buy tickets or any other goods online from unknown or unverified sources, instead to use the original website of Qatar Airways or recognised travel agencies in the State.


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Microsoft has announced two new Xbox One bundles featuring Assassin’s Creed.
The Xbox One Assassin’s Creed bundle includes the console and Kinect, along with a copy of Assassin’s Creed Unity and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. A second bundle excluding the Kinect is also available. Both bundles release on 1 November, with the standard bundle priced at $599 AUD and the Kinect-less bundle at $499 AUD.
In addition, Microsoft have also mentioned other bundle options that are coming this year. These include the Sunset Overdrive White console and the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare console. We got the chance to have a look at these two limited consoles at the EB Games expo this year, and they both look amazing.
Let us know what you think of these bundles!


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Fiat Chrysler Recalls More Than 1M Ram Pickup Trucks Over Software Error
Today, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling more than 1 million Ram pickup trucks in the U.S. and more than 200,000 in Canada. This recall is voluntary because of a computer error that is potentially affecting the side air bags and seat belts of the car. The error could cause accidents since it prevents the airbags from deploying when necessary.
As reported by USA Today, the automaker states that one casualty, two injuries, as well as two accidents, may be associated with the issue. Other details of the accidents were still not released and provided. The company's announcement is just focused on the said recall. The affected Fiat Chrysler pickups are certain 2013 to 2016 Ram 1500 and 2500 trucks and 2014 to 2016 Ram 3500 trucks.
According to the company, those customers who own pickup trucks under the said models will be advised when they may schedule a certain service. This includes the reprogram of their computer system and modules. Aside from the recorded vehicles in US and Canada, there are also 21,668 cars in Mexico and 21,530 cars elsewhere in the globe that are also part of the company's recall.
The problems appear to arise from the vehicles’ roll-rate sensing software, as reported by Slash Gear. This application is originally designed to deploy the side curtain airbags and lock the seat belts in position during a rollover. Since the main issue is related to the safety of the driver and passengers, the company is surely rolling out a plan in order to fix this issue. And maybe, their first move is this recall.
In fact, a Fiat Chrysler investigation has already identified the "population of vehicles equipped with modules featuring certain types of sensors. If the affected pickup vehicles experience a “significant underbody impact,” the computer modules could possibly conclude the sensor has failed and activate an apparatus of cluster warning light. In that case, the drivers can reset the whole system by turning the vehicle off and turning it back on.
Xbox One And Windows 10 Will Get Free Phantom Dust Launches Today
At E3 2016, Loftis said Phantom Dust would be updated for modern times. "We're using the original assets from the Phantom Dust that was released by Microsoft Japan in 2003," she said.
WannaCry Ransomware: Know How To Protect Yourself From The Unexpected Attack
WannaCry was discovered by the NSA and made public by hackers in April. Microsoft did release a patch for the vulnerability in March but computers and networks that didn't update their systems were still at risk.
Brace Yourselves For A New Wave Of Worldwide Cyber Attacks
Officials urged companies and organizations to update their devices under any Microsoft operating systems immediately to ensure networks aren't still vulnerable to more powerful variants of the malware known as WannaCry.
FaceDisplay And Other Absurd VR Projects To Unveil At CHI 2017
Virtual reality headset with FaceDisplay feature adds three external touchscreens to VR device, which allows the user to interact externally with the same virtual environment as the person wearing the headset.
U.S. Car Sales In April Dropped 4.7% As Carmakers Experience Market Slump
Car makers in the United States are experiencing a precipitous downhill drive with U.S. car sales in April dropping by about 4.7 percent. This market slump has been going on for four straight months.
Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler May Reach an Agreement on Mergers Soon
Indications emerged last week at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show that Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler may consider a merger soon. This became evident as Volkswagen CEO, Matthias Mueller, stated that he looks forward to having merger talks with Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne whenever the latter is ready. Both Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler are auto rivals, but developments in the industry are forcing great auto companies to partner for consolidation purposes.
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To help celebrate and encourage the growth and development of markets for foods grown and made in Ontario, Amherstburg’s Farmers Market will host cooking demonstrations, food samplings and other fun food-related activities during Celebrate Ontario Local Food Week June 2 to 8.
Anne Rota, Amherstburg’s manager of tourism and culture, said Taste of the County local food week events will take place June 3 at 3 p.m. at Toddy Jones Park and June 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the Malden Community Centre.
Rota said there will be local product cooking demonstrations and vendor sampling, along with wine recommendations, a market dollar giveaway, recipe handouts and a colouring contest for kids.
The Farmers Market is open Saturdays (8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and Tuesdays (2 to 7 p.m.) through Oct. 11. Vendors sell fruits, vegetables, flowers, fresh fish, baked goods and more.
For further information, visit amherstburgfarmersmarket.com.


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The High Court’s plain packing decision – Snuffing arguments or igniting questioning?
Today’s High Court decision has ruled that tobacco companies can no longer challenge Australia’s plain packaging laws on cigarettes, which will be introduced on December 1st. The Government is proclaiming victory, but tobacco companies aren’t giving in just yet.
Despite a ruling from Australia’s highest court, tobacco companies still believe there is a way out; that plain packaging will be a failure and that Governments cannot go without the $8 billion worth of funding that cigarette companies provide. Is this claim the smoking gun, or just an empty threat?
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>> Walt Disney, America's most valuable media company choosing to sever ties with Netflix and go it alone. The entertainment conglomerate boasting hits from the Marvel Universe and the Star Wars franchise, announcing Tuesday it's launching a new movie streaming service and will stop providing movies to Netflix in 2019.
Video streaming firm BAMTech is at the heart of Disney's streaming strategy, explains Reuters entrainment watcher Lisa Richwine.>> BAMTech is technology that powers streaming services. So it will give Disney the ability to start services like Netflix. One for movies and one for sports, one of them Disney name and one of them the ESPN name.
The ESPN service will start early next year. It will have a range of sports, including baseball and hockey.>> Disney plucking down roughly $1.6 billion to bulk up its stake in BAMTech to 77% after taking a smaller position last year. All of this as revenues head in the wrong direction.
Quarterly sales dipping in the April to June period at Disney as subscriber numbers for ESPN continue to dwindle, making matters worse. Higher programming costs are eating into profits.>> Well, Disney is betting that in the long term, this will make up for the losses that it is experiencing through cord cutting.
They think, over time, that viewing is shifting online and that they need to be there. So they're taking a gamble that by putting content there, they're going to sign up more subscribers.>> Investors not ready to declare a winner in the coming head to head fight between Disney and Netflix, both stocks selling off on the news.


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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Huntington Beach, CA, United States, 2011/08/01 - Text2Sit allows restaurants to easily take reservation and walk-ins and notify them via a text message for guest convenience and restaurant tracking. Text2Sit also offers the ability to announce current specials and get feedback on experience.
Friends Text Friends, Restaurants Email Customers. Now, the Relationships can be Merged and Restaurants can Text Customers Like Friends
Text2Sit, a software designed by a Restaurant Entrepreneur, has innovated the relationship between business and consumer. Text2Sit allows any restaurant the opportunity to text message their customers when their table is ready. Beyond that one experience, customers have the option to immediately begin receiving promotions of In-House Specials or more, via text. This software is the only one of its kind that runs on any Wi-Fi device to allow all restaurants of any size the same opportunity.
“I’ve never had a restaurant ask me for my cell number before. When I was told the purpose for it and realized that I didn’t need a pager to carry around with me during my 45min wait, I was relieved,” says Cynthia Foster. “It was much more convenient for me and allowed me the freedom to wander around the shopping center.” 96% of Americans carry a cell phone from wake to sleep, which makes it the most popular form of communication.
Text2Sit (text2sit.com) works alongside Yelp.com to give customers a voice by allowing them to easily give valuable feedback on their experience immediately after dining. Yelp stated having more than 50 million visits last month accounting for future customers seeking recommended reviews. Text2Sit guarantees that their process will raise restaurants rating on Yelp and customer satisfaction.
Joe, a Restaurant Entrepreneur, states,“Why pay thousands of dollars for a paging system that my restaurant can’t afford, when I can use a text based software (Text2Sit) for a fraction of the cost and no damaged and stolen pagers.” Joe represents 1 of nearly 100,000 Restaurants in California that is thinking of ways to generate more money without a large investment. For instance, Text2Sit allows, with the consent of the customer, texting promotions such as “10% off next visit”, or “Try our In-House Special 2 for 1”. Restaurants don’t pay any extra for text marketing and is 100% customized and provided with Text2Sit Software.
In addition, the concerns of health conscious Americans are being heard by using new technology as an alternative to eliminate germ transfer through objects such as pagers. Text2Sit simplifies the hardships that restaurants are experiencing while elevating the customer experience.


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Visiongain Report Places Pfizer at Pivotal Moment
Pfizer, the world’s first druggernaut, has sales of over $52 billion and profits of $14 billion and showed 17 percent growth from 2003 to 2004, far above the industry average. However, according to the latest visiongain report specifically focussed on the drug company, the next five years may not be as positive.
(PRWEB) November 4, 2005
Pfizer owns the patents to some of the world’s top drugs, including ten blockbusters (drugs with over $1 billion annual sales revenue), but the company is about to lose the patent protection to a number of key products, and consequently suffer significant income loss in a very short space of time. Patent protection is key to the product life span of drugs for the pharmaceutical industry, and is usually granted for a period of 20 years.
Lipitor, the world’s best-selling drug, will have patent protection until at least 2009, but is producing such high revenues that the generic companies are itching to gain some of the market share. Pfizer has already lost one patent court battle for Lipitor, admittedly in the relatively insignificant Austrian market. Even the market strength of Viagra is wilting as competitors take its market share.
“Although recent Q3 results from Pfizer were not as positive as many in the industry were expecting, they were not a surprise,” says Tristan Heath pharmaceutical market analyst at visiongain. “Whilst Pfizer have dominated the pharmaceutical industry in recent years, the latest downturn in sales and future profit warnings from Pfizer were predicted by visiongain in our latest report – Pfizer, Current Challenges and Future Difficulties, 2005-2010.”
Pfizer has not given up, and this year plans to spend a staggering $8 billion on research and development. However its search for the next blockbuster is not an easy one and visiongain doubts whether Pfizer will rely on their research alone for continued success. The $60 billion Pharmacia merger propelled Pfizer to the top but was a mixed blessing. Pfizer gained the rights to the painkilling blockbusters, Bextra and Celebrex, but these have suffered under the Vioxx scandal. Visiongain believes that Pfizer will look for other mergers to satisfy the demand for further growth.
As health authorities, particularly in the US and EU, try to reduce their expenditure on drugs still further, this visiongain report explores the key issues for Pfizer and how it plans to remain the most influential drug company in the world today.
Notes for editors: To receive your complimentary overview of - Pfizer, Current Challenges and Future Difficulties, 2005-2010 - Please, telephone Sara on +44 (0) 20 8767 6711 or visit www. visiongain. com. Please include your full name, title of publication, contact telephone number, email, and details of where you saw this release. Upon receipt of this information, an overview will be emailed to you.
Visiongain is one of the fastest growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe today. Based in London, UK, visiongain produce a host of business-2-business conferences, newsletters, management reports and E-Zines focusing on the Financial markets, the Pharmaceutical, Telecoms industries and the Defense sector.
For information on visiongain, please visit www. visiongain. com


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Maruti Suzuki is prepping up the second-gen Celerio for its debut soon. First launched in 2014, the Celerio is now expected to get bigger and better with this new update. Here’s all we know about the hatchback so far.
The Maruti Celerio like we mentioned was launched back in 2014 and while the current Celerio doesn’t do as well as Maruti Suzuki’s other hatchbacks, the new-gen model could change that.
From what see in the spy pictures, the Celerio will follow the company’s new design language. This means a slightly flat nose and an upright grille, swept-back headlamps and more sloping rear windshield along with a new design for the tail lamps.
The updated hatch will also sit on the new Heartect platform. This means bigger dimensions, both inside and outside. For the passengers inside along with the increased cabin space, we are also expecting more features such as Maruti SmartPlay Studio on the fully loaded variants.
Power will come from the current 1-litre K10 engine, but there is also expected to be an option for a larger 1.2-litre K12 engine capable of 83 PS of power, same as the one on the WagonR. Transmission as well should be offered with an option between a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AMT.


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Seagate are reforming their data storage solutions into a new product called Lyve Drive.
Servers & Storage - News
If you've been waiting for a good sale to buy yourself some external storage for your Nintendo Switch, Amazon's Black Friday deals have delivered.
Seagate has announced a pair of new One Touch portable SSDs.
After being revealed at CES 2019 back in January, Western Digital’s new My Passport Go has finally launched in Australia.
Samsung has introduced new colors - and a new discount - for their T5 SSD range.
Samsung has upped their investment in the NVMe SSD space, announcing the new 970 EVO Plus.
Seagate's new portable SSD storage might work much the same as last year's products did but they look a whole lot more stylish.
QNAP has launched the HS-453DX, a silent NAS that features an Intel Celeron quad-core processor, HDMI 2.0 output, 4K real-time transcoding and 10GbE high-speed connectivity.
Synology has launched the DiskStation DS1819+, an 8-bay desktop NAS and the RackStation RS1619xs+, a 1U 4-bay rackmount NAS.
OVH has announced a partnership with MyRepublic to offer MyRepublic’s Gamer customers access to OVH’s dedicated servers at exclusive rates.
Norton by Symantec has launched a New Zealand VPN server for its Norton Secure VPN product.
Western Digital has launched the WD Gaming Drive.
QNAP has introduced the TS-2888X, an AI-ready NAS that combines hybrid storage and a ready-to-use software environment.
Crucial has announced the availability of the Crucial P1 SSD, a PC storage device that leverages the NVMe PCIe interface and Micron’s leading-edge QLC technology.
Synology have launched DiskStation DS119j, a compact, 1-bay NAS.
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PCW Evaluation Team
Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.
I highly recommend the Dynabook Portégé® X30L-G notebook for everyday business use, it is a benchmark setting notebook of its generation in the lightweight category.
This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.
It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.
As the Maserati or BMW of laptops, it would fit perfectly in the hands of a professional needing firepower under the hood, sophistication and class on the surface, and gaming prowess (sports mode if you will) in between.
The MSI PS63 is an amazing laptop and I would definitely consider buying one in the future.
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A Lincoln-based catering company has been overwhelmed by orders and community support since launching a meal delivery service for people aged over 65 amid the coronavirus crisis.
As previously reported, Salted Orange Food Co is offering three home-cooked meals a day for just £20 a week and the not-for-profit service is aiming to combat the recent supermarket stockpiling frenzy.
From 9am on Monday, March 20 the firm will be working with Age UK, who will be handling the ordering and distribution from Wednesday onwards.
The initial sample menu includes lasagna, braised chicken and leek pie, soups, cottage pie with carrots and peas and roast pork dinner.
It will also cover the whole of Lincolnshire and the 12-week menu will change each week. It can also be ordered in four week and 12 week patches.
It will be packaged in recyclable containers which are suitable for both heating and freezing.
The service, which launched on March 18, has already been a big success with up to 85 for delivery on Monday and more orders for the week.
The meal plans can be ordered through email at [email protected] or over the phone by calling 07792 419730.


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Research shows that a BA flight on one route in Europe is cheaper
Ryanair has introduced yet another charge, this time a £2 (€2.30) fee that, it alleges, will contribute to compensation it has paid for flight delays and cancellations. It could earn an additional €170 million a year with this new fee, which is actually double what the airline paid out for claims resulting from the ash cloud, snow, strikes and other disruptions in 2010. Even before the new fee is added, Ryanair makes around €500 million a year in online check-in fees, at least €400 million in credit and debit card charges and €365 million in baggage charges.
Industry insiders comment that the new charge will add to passengers’ confusion. “It’s a way of marketing the fare to make it more attractive to customers,” says one expert. The multiple fees charged by low-cost airlines can make them more expensive than full-service airlines. The Telegraph presents a table comparing costs for a family of four travelling from London to Madrid in August, showing that the final fare after fees are added to the headline fare reach £563.92 for Ryanair, £387.17 for easyJet and £479.20 for British Airways.


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Jeep has reported on the winter stage of the tests the first hybrid models for European market – Renegade and Compass 4xe 4xe. Throughout the week, engineers have recreated different scenarios of operation of the machines, including tested the on-Board electronics near the Arctic circle.
Plug-in hybrid Jeep Renegade and Compass 4xe 4xe traveled 3,800 miles from the Mirafiori plant in Turin to the test site in the Swedish Arjeplog. Routine operation of the new units included the simulation of different scenarios – drive on the back roads and the highways – and verify the operation of all systems at extremely low temperatures. Such tests are carried out all major companies, e.g. BMW.
Hybrid Jeep Renegade is equipped with 4xe turbo engine 1.3, several electric motors and all-wheel drive eAWD without the propeller shaft. On electric this SUV rides to 50 miles. The same powerplant is used on the platform Jeep Compass 4xe.


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The UK government could be planning to introduce new anti-obesity measures for shops and food services in its ongoing campaign to combat obesity and unhealthy diets in the country.
According to a draft proposal seen by The Sunday Times, the government was planning to make it mandatory for restaurants to display the calorie content of their dishes, reported just-food on 29 May.
Additionally, the draft proposed banning ”unhealthy snacks” at store tills and checkouts, blocking junk food advertisements on TV before 9pm and introducing a sugar tax on milk-based drinks by 2020.
According to the original report, the measures had the support of health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
The proposed measures indicated a tougher stance by the UK government, which so far had relied on setting voluntary targets, such as its call in March for food companies to cut calories in products consumed by UK families by 20% by 2024.
In 2017, the UK set a target for food manufacturers and retailers – alongside food service establishments such as restaurants, pubs and cafes – to reduce sugar by 20% in the top nine product categories that contributed to children’s sugar intake by 2020.
However, according to a May report, the food firms had missed the government’s target of a 5% reduction between August 2016 and August 2017, said just-food.


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Huawei growth slows as US sanctions bite
US sanctions are starting to slow Huawei down, with the Chinese vendor reporting a slide in growth and profit margin.
The vendor today announced 671.3 billion yuan (US$100.6 billion) in revenue for the first three quarters – a healthy 9.9% improvement over last year, but compares with a 24.4% gain in revenue reported in the first nine months of last year.
Its net profit margin has also declined from 8.7% to 8% year-on-year.
By comparison Huawei posted a 13.1% increase in sales and a net margin of 9.2% in the first two quarters of 2020.
In a brief statement Friday, the Shenzhen-based company said the result "basically met expectations."
The statement did not directly reference sanctions but said that, in addition to the pandemic impact, "Huawei's global supply chain was put under intense pressure and its production and operations saw increasing difficulties."
The company said it would "do its best to find solutions, to survive and forge forward, and to fulfill its obligations to customers and suppliers."
Best foot forward
Looking forward, Huawei stressed capabilities and products that are largely beyond the reach of US sanctions, such as AI, cloud, 5G and computing.
The privately held firm did not break out segment results, so it is not clear where the growth fall-off has occurred.
But Huawei has come to rely heavily on its handset business. Despite the US pressure, it became the world's No. 1 smartphone brand in Q2, with a 20% market share,according to Counterpoint Research.
The consumer unit now accounts for more than half of all revenue but also faces the biggest impact from the sanctions because of its reliance on huge volumes of high-end chips.
Yesterday Huawei launched its new flagship smartphone, the Mate 40, against a background of uncertainty.
With an unprecedented power, the #HUAWEIMate40 is here. Live at 14:00 CEST on 22.10.2020 as we #LeapFurtherAhead. https://t.co/iIHhyj0JtP— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) October 15, 2020
The phone, with a retail price starting at €899 ($1,064), contains the last supplies of the Huawei-designed Kirin 9000 chip.
Taiwan fab TSMC ceased shipments to Huawei in September, as Washington's ban on the use of US semiconductor manufacturing technology took effect.
Mo Jia from research firm Canalys said demand for the Mate40 is likely to be strong in China, but "component constraints may limit the total quantity of new Kirin-powered smartphones Huawei can produce."
- Huawei will run out of smartphone chips early next year
- No Huawei for bidders in Sweden's 5G auctions
- US-China telecom war is here to stay
- ECTA fights Huawei's corner
- In tit for tat, China to pass law restricting tech exports
— Robert Clark, contributing editor, special to Light Reading
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One of America's most loved telecoms get-togethers, The BIG 5G Event, will be returning to Austin in 2023 to host 1,500+ telecom, cloud and technology professionals — and we want you to be a part of it!
For three days, you can meet and network with leaders from every part of the North American 5G ecosystem and hear from over 150 speakers on the hottest industry topics. To apply for your complimentary pass to the event, visit this link.


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NFT Marketplace Magic Eden Expands Support For Polygon-Based NFTs – CoinDesk
Cam Thompson is an information press reporter at CoinDesk.
Cross-chain NFT market Magic Eden will certainly currently sustain Polygon-based non-fungible symbols (NFTs), accepting a brand-new ecological community of developers as well as programmers, the business claimed Tuesday.
Magic Eden, which presently sustains Solana and also Ethereum-based NFTs, will certainly introduce pc gaming neighborhoods by incorporating antiques produced on the layer 2 network. The chain is sustained by Web3 video gaming authors such as Atari, Decentraland, The Sandbox as well as much more.
Polygon has actually additionally just recently created collaborations with fintech business Stripe as well as Robinhood, along with software application firm Adobe, highlighting its usage instances throughout Web2 as well as Web3 business.
Zhuoxun Yin, Co-Founder and also COO of Magic Eden, claimed in a news release that Polygon’s reduced costs and also EVM compatibility make it a suitable network to sustain programmers in executing these electronic possessions right into their video games.
” We can spend, introduce collections, power in-game task and also drive individual procurement for programmers improving Polygon with Magic Eden,” Yin stated in a news release.
To accomplish these objectives, Magic Eden will certainly turn out a launch pad and also industry to sustain Web3 video game authors improving Polygon utilizing its indigenous MATIC token.
Magic Eden’s development comes as the NFT neighborhood remains to question the value of developer aristocracies. Last month, the prominent system switched over to a royalty-optional design, resulting in a momentary dip in trading quantities. The combination of Polygon NFTs might assist bring even more trading quantity back to the system in spite of blended beliefs regarding going down aristocracy settlements.
The Solana network was additionally struck by the FTX collapse, as previous CEO Sam-Bankman Fried was a substantial backer of t


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Wilson Audio Sasha DAW Loudspeakers arrive in London
- 26th February 2019
To celebrate the release of their brand new 'Selekt DSM' range of streaming amplifiers, legendary Scottish manufacturer Linn have produced a very limited number of special edition 'Selekt' versions of their starting level turntable, the Majik LP12.
We are very pleased to have received the latest loudspeaker from world renowned US manufacturer ...26 Feb 2019
Legendary American manufacturer McIntosh have released two special products to celebrate their 70th......12 Feb 2019


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There is a reason that international markets remain a vast untapped opportunity for U.S.-based ecommerce merchants to increase sales: Selling internationally is really, really hard.
Probably not what you wanted to hear. But wait, as they say, there’s more.
When it comes to selling globally, you don’t have to go it alone. In fact, the work behind expanding into international markets has been getting a lot of attention lately — first at a recent panel discussion in Seattle and more recently in a webinar presented by Signifyd and ThreatMetrix, two firms that protect ecommerce businesses from fraud.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” Signifyd’s Head of Partnerships Lee Hadsock said at the “Path to Growth” panel discussion in Seattle recently. “Selling internationally is not easy. There are a lot of challenges involved. But it’s a great way to expand your business.”
It’s the payoff that successful online businesses need to focus on. The United States is a fantastic market. But if you’ve been selling domestically, you’ve no doubt attracted a customer base. Sure, you can grow that base, but the pace of growth will naturally slow. And the vast majority of new customers live beyond our borders.
Globally, ecommerce is a nearly $2 trillion business today. By 2020, it will more than double to $4.06 trillion, research firm eMarketer says. While the United States will continue to be a considerable driver of that growth, the fastest growth (31.5 percent) will be happening in the Asia-Pacific region, eMarketer says.
“There is a huge opportunity for us to share our product with them,” she said. “There is huge demand. Most are going to argue it’s definitely a necessity.”
Easy to say. But going international can mean dealing with different languages, currencies, taxes, duties and customs — as in at the border and as in how people behave and expect others to behave.
Shipping is a big enough challenge within the U.S.’s borders without adding the drama of an international order. And there is the fear of fraud, given that it’s even harder to know who a customer is from a world away.
Global ecommerce is a team sport
Again, you don’t have to go it alone.
“We have partners now who are building applications specifically dedicated to enabling merchants to sell internationally,” said panelist Dan Fertig, global director of agency partnerships for BigCommerce. “There are different ways you can do that.”
Just as automation and innovation have shrunk the world in areas including travel, communication and finance, so too are they shrinking the world in terms of ecommerce. No one needs to build their individual ecommerce infrastructure and storefront from the ground up.
“Nobody got into the business of ecommerce to fight fraud,” Hadsock said. “Nobody got in it to be a payments expert or a shipping expert or taxes or what have you. They would like to sell their widgets.”
Automated programs can deal with translation, currency conversion and tax calculations. Machine learning and data science can spot potential fraud and ferret out digital devices that have been used for evil in the past.
“The tools are out there right now,” said panelist Jordan Brannon, president of Coalition Technologies. “They anticipate you going international.”
And when you decide to take on the world, no one is saying you have to take on the whole world all at once.
“You take inventory again of what you do well,” Brannon said. “For a lot of U.S. merchants, English language is kind of their first step out of the gate.” So, he said, consider English-speaking countries as a first move.
A thoughtful approach is the way to go, Fertig agreed.
“Be deliberate about where you want to expand, where there might actually be demand for your product,” he said. “Don’t just go international because it sounds cool. Test the market. “We’ve seen international expansion done well when the organization doing it is very deliberate.”
For instance, think about your average order value and the duty structure of your target country.
As for shipping, Brannon said he’s seen plenty of ecommerce operators who see shipping as so daunting because they make the mistake of thinking that have to keep up with Amazon.
Maybe free is more important than fast in global shipping
“They assume they have to do the two-day shipping thing and they can’t,” he said. “The reality is, most customers buy based on free shipping. That’s the priority. Free shipping. Not so much two-day, free shipping.”
So, consider baking the cost of shipping into your products and take a little more time to get there. Customers can be patient, particularly if they’re waiting for an item that Amazon doesn’t sell, Hadsock said.
Which brings us to fear of fraud, which Hadsock acknowledged is something for ecommerce retailers with international ambitions to think about.
“Fraud is much more rampant internationally, especially when you move into Africa and Asia,” he said.
But again, merchants don’t have to tackle fraud on their own. Hadsock pointed out that Signifyd provides a financial guarantee that means if Signifyd approves an order and it results in a chargeback, Signifyd will reimburse the merchants for the loss, the fees, the shipping and taxes.
Hadsock ran through a couple of examples of Signifyd customers featured in the August “Expanding into International Markets” webinar. The webinar looks at five online businesses who are growing internationally while reducing their fraud losses.
The two Hadsock emphasized in Seattle included a perfume and cosmetic company that had dramatically reduced declined orders in the United Arab Emirates and a jewelry retailer that increased its revenue by 61 percent by selling into Nigeria.
“Who the hell would sell to Nigeria?” Hadsock asked.
The answer, apparently, is a company that wants to see a significant increase in sales. And that, in a broader sense, was pretty much the conclusion the panel landed on after a lively discussion.
“If you’re thinking about moving international, to borrow a line from a local brand,” Hadsock said toward the end of the Seattle event, “just do it. If you’re not thinking of doing it, if you’re not doing it, your competition is. So, move ahead and find the right people to work with who can help get you there.”


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A modern coffee grading facility has been set up in Kyotera district giving hope to hundreds of farmers currently struggling to access market after the closure of 200 firms.
Hope Coffee, dealing strictly in Robusta Coffee, is located at Ssanje trading centre in Kakuuto sub county.
Pastor Fred Ssekyewa of Hope Ministries, a Born Again Faith based organisation, is the brain behind this coffee firm.
Fredrick Ngobi Gume, the State Minister for Cooperatives officially opened it today and asked the farmers to form cooperatives.
At least two billion shillings has been invested in procuring the processing huller machinery which also makes ready-to-drink coffee.
Pastor Ssekyewa says he realised a need to provide market for hundreds of farmers who struggled to find market. He says they have registered coffee farmers around Kakuuto and Kasasa sub counties who have also been trained on how to overcome drought, one of the biggest obstacles to coffee farming.
Ssekyewa says his firm has already started buying coffee from the farmers. The firm has also partnered with coffee firms in the Netherlands, Germany and USA to boost coffee production in Rakai and Kyotera districts.
Mathias Kasamba, the former Kakuuto Member of Parliament says they are already excited about this processing plant. He says with the opening of the processing firm, many farmers are hopeful of fair prices as opposed to middlemen who have been cheating them.
According to Kasamba, himself a farmer and a legislator at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Hope Coffee is giving farmers some credit facilities to address the problem of harvesting raw coffee berries.
// Cue in: “ Will be graded…
Cue out: ….exported to Germany.”//
Vincent Semakula, a resident of Mayanja village in Kakuuto sub county says they are excited about this coffee grading facility. He says the firm is giving them fair prices, adding that while a kilogramme of red coffee is now bought around 2,500 shillings by the middlemen, Hope Coffee is buying it at 4,000 shillings.
Ssemakula says with the collapse of Masaka Cooperative Union which used to buy coffee from them, they have been struggling to find fair market.
//Cue in: “Hard coffee is…
Cue out: …a major breakthrough.”//
The opening of this coffee firm comes at a time when farmers are struggling to find market after closure of at least 200 coffee hullers in the region.
Last month, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said the hullers were buying and processing green coffee berries which had affected the quality of coffee exported.


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GLOBAL food giant Kerry Group will continue to invest in its plants in Cork and Kerry, group chief executive Stan McCarthy has pledged.
Milk processing will continue to be a core activity of the group, he said, amid concerns expressed by some shareholders last week.
The group’s main processing arm has been in Listowel since the 1970s while, more recently, the group took over cheesemaking operations in Newmarket and Charleville, Co Cork.
Upwards of 1,000 people are employed in the three plants, in which €100 million has been invested in the past eight years.
Speaking after the group’s annual general meeting in Tralee, Mr McCarthy said: “While we have a global perspective, we will continue to invest in this country. Milk processing is still a core part of our business.”
Some shareholders voiced concerns that the group’s focus on worldwide growth as a top food ingredients and flavourings company could be to the detriment of local milk production.
Ardfert farmer Phil Healy said the group had humble beginnings as a dairy co-operative set up by Kerry farmers 40 years ago to find an outlet for their milk.
He said: “We must ask the hard question now: Should short-term profit be more important than buying the produce of local people?
“We must make sure we don’t forget where we came from. The reason for the setting up of the co-op must not be abandoned.”
Kerry Group has sold off all of its liquid milk (milk produced largely for the retail market) operations, with the exception of Dawn Dairies in Killarney.
Mr McCarthy said the group had taken great pains to ensure milk suppliers were adequately taken care of and they had no plans to dispose of Dawn Dairies.
Kerry Group — which had a €5bn turnover and a €470m profit last year— employs 23,000 people in 23 countries.
The Charleville and Newmarket cheese brands were also started by farmers’ co-ops and are now integrated into Kerry Group’s operations.
© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved


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Jan 19, 2016 · A number of drive-through coffee shops staffed by "bikini baristas" have sparked controversy across the state 7- and 5-year-old kids why there are women without shirts on serving coffee Author: Lydia Price.
Apr 07, 2015 · Bikini-clad baristas serve up coffee at several drive-through stands in Washington. She says she’s just selling coffee, and the girls who want to work there should be able to do that in a Author: Leah Sottile.
Mar 19, 2017 · A coffee shop has a bikini dress code that the female boss claims is “empowering” but a city councilman has argued exploits women. The uniform sees the women don bikinis or underwear Author: The Sun.
U.S. judge lets women continue serving coffee in bikinis amid lawsuit A barista at a Grab-N-Go Bikini Hut espresso stand holds money as she waves to a customer, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, just outside.


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Honda has issued a end sale on the 2023 Civic Form R about the seat cushion body in the driver’s seat. In accordance to a bulletin sent to sellers and revealed by the Civic XI discussion board, the automaker states “the driver’s seat cushion frame assembly could have defective welds which may guide to squeaking, rattling noises, or breakage of the seat body welds.” In the event of an incident, the probably faulty weld might not maintain the body in position, compromising the effectiveness of the seat belt and increasing the risk of harm. Honda reported it has notified the National Freeway Website traffic Safety Administration. The dealer service bulletin getting just absent out nowadays, the governing administration company has not posted data on the incident at the time of crafting.
The new manually adjustable and unheated entrance seats in the most up-to-date Variety R front attribute much larger, far more rigid bolsters than in the additional workaday Civic, as well as a one of a kind break up seat-bottom that ups the racy perception of a a few-pedal auto. A 20-webpage thread at the Civic XI forum began documenting squeaks and rattles in the Kind R from final November, not very long right after deliveries began.
Honda did not offer a VIN array or make window to sellers, the assistance techs encouraged that VINs for remember cars and trucks will return the halt sale detect when entered in the automaker’s method. The automaker’s observe also mentioned there are no maintenance pieces out there nevertheless, so everyone will have to have to hold out for supplies. The first post in the thread claims “Most of the earlier automobiles will be receiving new frames.” The stop of the bulletin tells sellers that “American Honda expects to start out purchaser notification by mid-May perhaps 2023.”


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E-commerce powerhouse Amazon has disclosed a 20% ownership stake in Rivian, an electric vehicle company from Normal, Illinois, a filing with the SEC reveals.
Amazon filed a 10-Q document with the SEC earlier today that summarized the company’s position and financials at the end of Q3 2021. In the filing, Amazon said at the end of September 30, 2021, the automaker owned roughly 20% of Rivian in a partnership that was revealed in late 2019.
“As of December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2021, equity investments not accounted for under the equity-method and without readily determinable fair values, including preferred stock of Rivian Automotive, Inc. representing an approximately 20% ownership interest, had a carrying value of $2.7 billion and $3.8 billion, and are recorded within “Other assets” on our consolidated balance sheets with adjustments recognized in “Other income (expense), net” on our consolidated statements of operations,” Amazon wrote in its 10-Q filing. Bloomberg initially reported the story.
Amazon has regularly contributed to Rivian’s fundraising rounds, which occur on a quarterly basis. Amazon led the company early 2019 funding round with a $700 million contribution. Eventually, Amazon would order 100,000 electric vans from Rivian as a part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge, which aimed to reduce the company’s carbon footprint. The vans are in development and have been tested in several cities around the United States in 2021, and Rivian is due to deliver 10,000 delivery vans by the end of the year. However, some indications have revealed that Rivian is having initial production issues with its R1T pickup truck, only building a few units per week.
Rivian also stated in a filing earlier this year that Amazon had more than $1.3 billion in investments in the automaker and held nearly 150 million shares of stock. The percentage of ownership was unknown until Amazon’s filing this morning, which clarified the company’s interests in the automaker.
Rivian’s most recent investment round brought in $2.5 billion, bringing the company’s total investment portfolio to $10.5 billion. It was led by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, D1 Capital Partners, Ford Motor Company, along with funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price.
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In the May economic update video for eZonomics, ING senior economist Teunis Brosens explains how levels of private debt the United States and the Eurozone have moved in different directions since 2007.
Grappling with the debt “hangover”
Brosens said the United States “made good progress” in lowering household debt as a percentage of disposable income built up in the pre-crisis boom from 130% in 2007 to 106% in 2013.
In contrast, the percentage in the Eurozone rose from 93% in 2007 to stabilise at 100% in 2013.
Brosens said the US debts were being repaid and restructured and, importantly, household incomes had increased.
“The US is literally growing out of its debt problem,” said Brosens.
Lesson for Europe
Brosens says there is a clear lesson for Europe.
Repaying and restructuring can help to reduce household debt “but the best way to lower the debt burden is by spurring economic growth”.
August 11, 2014Parts of Europe paying off debt the hard way Many countries have been under pressure to reduce their debt burden since the global…
July 15, 2014Can bitcoin and other virtual currencies ever replace “real” money? Bitcoin and other virtual currencies have hit the headlines but can they replace…
June 18, 2014Asia’s latest export conundrum Parts of Asia have been known as “the workshop of the world” for their manufacturing…


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We all know the frustration you have the perfect joke or insight to tweet out to the world, but you run out ofe when you go to write i. Darn it! Ohwait, this isn t Twitter. Well, soon enough lack of characters might not be a problem, because the social media site has announced that they are testing an . Web. At the end of September, Twitter announced a random selection of accounts would have their character limit per tweet doubled from . A little more than a month later, the social media platform expanded this opportunity to everyone, in what many would a fundamental change to the site . Double the characters, double thee to express yourself.. Twitter is giving users a lot more charactersand boy are folks getting the most out of them.. That doubles the original character limit that Twitter has maintained since it launched in . Twitter TWTR began testing longer tweets in late September, and found that once the novelty of tweeting longer wore off, most people in the test group didn t use all of the available characters. According to .
Related posts to twitter doubles character limit internet reaction
The essential tech news of the moment. Technology’s news site of record. Not for dummies..
Twitter following of ‘outer’ doubles to , by lunchtime Facebook page also names celebrities claiming to be set up by same people The social networking sites .
InformationWeek.com News,ysis and research for business technology professionals, plusr to .r knowledge sharing. En.e with our community..
Stephen died in hospital yesterday after a long battle with bowel cancer The year old raised more than million for theage Cancer Trust He was supported by .
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Here’s one to get the rumor-mill fired up – the Samsung Galaxy S4 hasn’t even touched the ground since its arrival on Thursday and yet Samsung is already building hype over what could be its successor. And what makes the direct confirmation of a Q3 release date even more intriguing is the fact that Samsung’s next flagship Smartphone won’t be an Android device…or Windows Phone 8…or iOS, obviously.
Instead, company EVP of mobile Lee Young Hee revealed to reporters from Bloomberg right after the S4’s unveiling that the company’s Tizen OS will take center stage. ”The Tizen phone will be out in August or September, and this will be in the high-end category,” he said on Thursday.
“The device will be the best product equipped with the best specifications.”
What makes the news so significant is the way in which it could technically mean that the Samsung Galaxy S4 only has about four months to do its business before the mother of all distractions comes along. You has to ask therefore whether this is a testament to the company’s confidence in the immediate and early take-up of the S4, or whether the unnamed Tizen Smartphone will in its own right take the market by storm.
It’s long been suggested that Samsung would eventually move toward its own operating system as a primary platform – we could therefore be seeing step-one in the process. Given the company’s unstoppable lead over the world’s Smartphone market, analysts have frequently argued that it was only a matter of time until Samsung went the way of Apple and closed off its ecosystem entirely.
Plenty of operating systems have entered the affray over the years and come to nothing, but Samsung has the kind of size and power that could very well send Tizen right to the top of the pecking-order, assuming of course it performs.


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It hasn’t been the greatest of times for Apple when it comes to email. The Cupertino tech giant has received a flurry of complaints after its recent significant update to the OS X operating system which inadvertently caused severe issues for Gmail users. Now, they’ve had to admit the presence of a gaping security hole in all of their web-connected devices.
Apple has released a fix for both the iOS mobile operating system and its OS X desktop counterpart which addresses the issue relating to SSL security. Users of Apple products are urged to update their devices as soon as possible.
The flaw enabled hackers to intercept email data and has been coined ‘#gotofail’ on social media. Put simply, if a hacker had access to a mobile network to which an Apple device was also connected, the bug would allow them to see and even alter exchanges between the user and protected sites, which could include Gmail and Facebook to name but two.
Apple has refused to comment on exactly how the bug was found and whether or not it had been widely exploited.


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Most bicycle laws in Ohio date from the 1990s, well before the era of low-speed electric bikes. Making this technology legally acceptable is increasingly important as more and more cyclists, especially those who due to age or limited physical capacity, use the eBike alternative to continue to enjoy riding.
PeopleforBikes, a national bicycling advocacy group, is leading the movement to update Ohio’s regulations, and the board of FLMSP unanimously endorsed this effort at its October meeting.
Ron Gorley, FLMSP president, observed: "This field has changed so much recently. It wasn't long ago that the thought of eBikes conjured up visions of high speed mopeds that didn't blend very well with other cyclists or pedestrians. Low speed electric bikes are different. FLMSP looks toward a future where these low speed eBikes have the same privileges and responsibilities as traditional bicycles."
The federal Consumer Product Safety Act defines a low-speed electric bicycle as “a two or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals, a top speed when powered solely by the motor under 20 mph (32km/h) and an electric motor that produces less than 750W (1.01 hp).” Current Ohio law makes it technically illegal to ride an eBike on the Little Miami Trail and similar bike paths across the state. Amending the law will not override the authority of local jurisdictions to pass and enforce their own bicycle regulations, but changes at the state level will provide a model for upgrades to local bicycle regulations as well as provide for eBike access on state-owned roads and trails.
Safety is an issue for all bicyclists. Research published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention, shows that eBike riders travel at speeds significantly slower than regular bike riders on shared-use (greenway) paths; riders of regular bicycles violate traffic signals at a slightly higher rate than those on eBikes; and that overall "eBike riders exhibit nearly identical safety behavior as regular bike riders." Consequently, over 20 states now define low speed eBikes as bicycles.
As the miles of bike lanes, sharrows, and dedicated trails increase across Ohio, FLMSP is in the vanguard for providing legal access to them for eBike riders. Ron Gorley summed up the Friends' position: "The Little Miami Trail is excellent for all sorts of recreation, including cycling, walking, running, rollerblading, horseback riding and others. The FLMSP welcomes the opportunity to include low-speed eBikes to this mix on the trail."
Phil Obermiller enjoying an early November ride on the trail


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Costco Boosting Hourly Wages For 130,000 US Employees
from The Seattle Times
The raise is a windfall from Costco's savings due to U.S. federal corporate tax cuts that took effect this year. Costco also reported that its profit jumped about 7 percent in its fiscal third quarter to $750 million or $1.70 a share, matching Wall Street analyst expectations.
7701 Las Colinas Blvd., Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063


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It seemed like some manner of data breach, hack or leak happened every other week during 2020, with several local organisations being impacted. One of the larger data leaks happened last last year, when Absa confirmed that it was indeed compromised after an employee shared customer data with a handful of entities.
Now the financial institution has finally begun to contact customers regarding the leak, and specifically reaching out to those who were affected by the data leak.
“Following Absa’s announcement of an isolated data leak in November 2020, and a resultant independent forensic investigation, we have now identified more compromised data and are contacting impacted customers directly,” the bank explained in an email sent to to customers.
“Unfortunately, this leak encompassed some of your personal information, including your identity, cellular and account numbers. Proactive steps have been taken to protect impacted customers – consequently, we have secured the devices of all known, implicated, parties,” it adds.
The financial institution also points out that customers should be on higher alert for anyone posing as Absa and requesting sensitive information telephonically or via email.
“Fraudsters may pose as a representative of a bank, in their attempt to defraud you. Please do not disclose your online banking PIN, password, card CVV, PIN or one-time password to anybody, irrespective of the circumstances. Absa will never ask you to share these confidential details. If unsure, terminate the call and call our Fraud Hotline,” it stresses.
“Kindly contact 086 087 8882 if you would like further clarity or our Fraud Hotline on 0860 557 557 if you notice any suspicious activities,” the bank concludes.
With cybercrime on the rise as a result of COVID-19, it is important to be more vigilant than ever before when doing anything online.


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Latest News on Exhaust Emissions
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Dec 09, 2016
Germany has started investigating Volkswagen's sportscar brand Porsche for cheat softwareGermany is investigating whether Volkswagen's sportscar brand Porsche used software to disguise exhaust emissions, the country's car industry regulator said on Thursday, in a fresh blow to VW's attempts to move on from a 15 month-old scandal.


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Posted by Peter Feld on September 9, 2009 05:46 AM
Palm unveils the "cute" smartphone Pixi, aimed at the young [NYT]; HTC, Taiwanese maker of Google's smartphone, begins US ad campaign to establish its brand identity [Ad Age].
BT experiments with stores to sell its broadband service. [BrandRepublic]
Coming soon to American playgrounds: UK brand Liquiband medical glue approved by the US Food and Drug Administration [FT]
Would China's Geely Automotive buy Volvo? Could they manage an international auto brand? [Reuters]
Warner Bros. earned $1 billion this summer, fueled by box office-topping "The Final Destination" [Hollywood Reporter]
The Beatles brand roars to life with today's release of Rock Band: The Beatles and the remastered reissue of their entire catalog. [LA Times]
(More headlines: McDonalds, 9/11 ad fail, deadly fad diets.) Continue reading...


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The founders of luggage startup Horizn Studios explain how its products incorporate smart technology to serve a new generation of travellers in this exclusive movie Dezeen produced for the Berlin-based brand.
Horizn Studios was co-founded by entrepreneurs Stefan Holwe and Jan Roosen, who claim millennial travellers are looking for luggage that incorporates digital innovation.
"At Horizn we produce smart luggage," Roosen says in the movie. "This means that we introduce elements that cater to the digital lifestyle of the new generation of travellers."
Amongst the smart features that the company has incorporated into their products is a removable and rechargeable battery that can be used to charge phones and tablets.
Customers also have the option of tracking their Horizn luggage using a GPS system linked to a smartphone application, and will be able to avoid losing their belongings with a device called the Horizn Guard Card, which Holwe describes as "a proximity alert that helps you to not leave things behind".
Unlike traditional luggage manufacturers, the brand sells directly to their customers, which its co-founders claim allows them to offer a higher-quality product at an affordable price. "The traditional luxury approach from the 80s is kind of outdated," Holwe says in the movie.
"The world of travel has changed a lot over the past 20 or 30 years, through low-cost carriers and the explosion of a travelling middle class," Holwe continues. "We're the first vertical player in the luggage industry, cutting out unnecessary wholesale margins, and we think that you can and should offer a product of luxury quality at a smart price."
Horizn's signature products are its cabin trolleys, the Model H and the Model M. The Model H is named after its hard polycarbonate shell. "You can essentially jump on it and it jumps back into shape," claims Roosen.
The Model M employs the same hard shell, but adds a front pocket made of Italian Vachetta leather and lined with nylon, designed to allow quick access to travel essentials.
Both cases additionally come equipped with wheels sourced from Japan. "We teamed up with the experts there to develop a wheel that's very durable and at the same time silent," says Roosen.
Horizn's founders see themselves as innovators within an industry lacking in innovation.
"If you look back at the last 30 years in the luggage industry, you don't find any innovation that responds to the digital lives of our time" says Holwe. "I think the biggest innovation you can find is that they went from two wheels to four wheels. We want to drive that field forward, and see ourselves as a technology disruptor also of the industry."
This movie was filmed by Dezeen in Berlin for Horizn Studios. All photography used in the video and the story are courtesy of Horizn Studios.