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UK firms report surge in orders amid signs of economic recovery
Britain’s businesses are reporting a spring surge in order books, boosting hopes that the economy may finally be recovering after flirting with recession late last year.
After official figures showing the UK performed slightly more strongly than originally thought towards the end of 2022, the Institute of Directors said there had been an improvement in demand, confidence, hiring and investment intentions in March.
The IoD said its survey of more than 900 firms – which showed a pick up in growth across all sectors – suggested the economy would confound predictions in the budget two weeks ago that output would fall in the first three months of 2023.
Kitty Ussher, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said: “The data coming from our members is strongly suggestive of growth across all sectors in recent weeks. In particular, the strengthening of order books since the end of last year points to an economy performing better in the first quarter than was anticipated as recently as the March budget.”
Half of all firms (50%) reported in March that their order books were healthier than at the end of 2022, with 22% saying they were weaker. The balance of +28 was up from +8 in November 2022 and -2 in September 2022. The IoD said net positive scores are recorded in all parts of the economy, including consumer-facing sectors and manufacturing.
Ussher said: “While this is undoubtedly good news, strong demand also means that it may take longer than many forecasters currently expect for inflation to come within sight of the Bank of England’s target any time soon.” Britain’s annual inflation rate rose from 10.1% to 10.4% in February, while figures for the 20-country eurozone for March released on Friday showed a fall from 8.5% to 6.9%.
The Office for National Statistics confirmed on Friday the economy narrowly avoided being in technical recession – two successive quarters of negative growth – in the second half of 2022.
The ONS said it now thought the economy shrank by 0.1% rather than 0.2% between July and September and grew by 0.1% in the final quarter rather than remaining flat.
Despite fears that a combination of high inflation, strikes and financial turmoil would lead to falling output, builders, manufacturers and the telecoms sector all recorded faster growth than initially estimated.
Government help with energy bills underpinned consumer spending in the fourth quarter but business investment – which had previously been estimated to have grown by almost 5% – fell slightly.
Despite the revisions, ONS data shows the economy has been broadly flat since early 2022, growing by 0.1% in each of the second and fourth quarters and contracting by 0.1% in the third quarter. The economy remains smaller than it was in late 2019 before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, although by 0.6% rather than the 0.8% previously estimated.
Darren Morgan, an ONS director of economic statistics, said: “The economy performed a little more strongly in the latter half of last year than previously estimated, with later data showing telecommunications, construction and manufacturing all faring better than initially thought in the latest quarter.
“Households saved more in the last quarter, with their finances boosted by the government’s energy bill support scheme.”
Analysts said the economy would continue to struggle in the months ahead against a backdrop of rising borrowing costs and the end of government support for energy bills.
Ruth Gregory, of Capital Economics, said: “The upward revision to real GDP growth in Q3 and Q4 of last year suggests that high inflation took a slightly smaller toll on the economy than we previously thought. But with around two-thirds of the drag on real activity from higher rates yet to be felt, we still think the economy will slip into a recession this year.”
Gabriella Dickens, of Pantheon Macroeconomics, said she was pencilling in declines of 0.1% in both of the first two quarters of 2023. “The economy likely will continue to flatline in the first half of this year,” she said.


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Graphics card manufacturers ATI Technologies and NVidia will build support for the next-generation Media Player into upcoming graphics cards. Both say they will support Microsoft's "Corona," which will deliver high-definition video playback to PCs.
Corona is Microsoft's souped-up software engine for compressing and decoding video, and is the core of the next version of Media Player, which is expected at the end of 2002. Corona will help produce video images as sharp as high-definition television images, according to Michael Aldridge, lead product manager for Microsoft's Windows Digital Media Division. He says Corona will provide a video quality improvement of 20 percent over Windows Media 8, largely through the new codecs. Corona video reportedly can also be compressed to half the size of current standard MPEG-2 video (which is used for DVD and digital cable TV set-top boxes).
The end result is higher-quality video, as well as much-improved streaming video. Microsoft says a related Corona technology called Fast Stream will enable digital files to be delivered over high-speed internet connections without the use of buffering.
But to take advantage of the video improvements, you'll need at least a 1.4-GHz Pentium-4 PC running the Windows XP operating system, as well as either the ATI or NVidia graphics card, Aldridge says. Lesser PCs will display less-significant improvements in video quality.
Graphics-card support is important: The processor-intensive job of decoding video for playback is handled by the video card, which uses Microsoft's Direct X technology, Aldridge adds.
Improved video and audio formats may not seem like a milestone, but they are crucial to both media and technology companies. A standards battle is brewing between competing video standards, including RealNetworks Inc., Apple Computer Inc.'s QuickTime, and the latest industry standard, MPEG-4.
Microsoft hopes to provide an attractive alternative, which would give the company ties to media distribution as well as the opportunity to push its technology beyond the PC to DVD players and emerging digital video playback devices like the TiVo digital video recorders.
Still a Contest
One skeptic of Microsoft's approach is graphics expert Peter Glaskowski, senior editor of Microprocessor Reports.
"I don't see how the industry benefits from more proprietary formats," says Glaskowski. He argues that competing industry-standard codecs, like MPEG-4, work similarly and are just as good.
As part of its pitch, Microsoft says its Corona video standard will be more secure than current DVD encryption, which has been hacked. Because Corona encryption technology is "renewable" through downloaded updates, Microsoft can change its digital lock to stop people from copying protected video content.
Microsoft says it has released the Corona media platform, including a software development kit for developers and its server software, to beta testers.

domain: news


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Toyota has been introducing off-road-optimized variants of its popular vehicles, and now it’s the RAV4’s turn. While rally driver Ryan Millen already proved the popular crossover is capable of tackling rough terrain, that wasn’t enough for engineers, so the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure takes off-road capability in the crossover segment to new heights.
They say there’s truth in a name, and that’s never been more accurate than in the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Adventure, which was first revealed alongside the TRD Sport versions of the Tundra and Sequoia at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show.
The new Toyota RAV4 Adventure rolls out 18-inch black wheels with gleaming black headlamp bezels and fog lamp surround. Standard roof rails continue to uphold the crossover’s practicality while the unique Adventure badging shows other drivers exactly what they’re dealing with. Inside, drivers will enjoy a leather-wrapped shift knob, all-wheel floor mats, and a power outlet in the cargo area.
Like other Toyota RAV4 models, the Adventure features a four-cylinder engine that produces 176 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive comes standard, and all-wheel drive is an available option. A properly-equipped Toyota RAV4 Adventure can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
We here at Lancaster Toyota can’t wait for the Toyota RAV4 Adventure to arrive!


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It may have been frigidly cold Thursday, but the intimate luncheon co-hosted by Tod’s and Tina Brown at the Bergdorf Goodman restaurant felt anything but. Held in honor of Kate Betts’ new book, “Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style,” the party drew 30 or so of the author’s friends and well-wishers. Deeda Blair was among the first to arrive, quickly embracing the guest of honor, who was D.C.-bound that same evening for a fashion and first-lady retrospective at the Smithsonian — though she’ll return on Sunday for a smattering of shows before setting off on her nation-wide book tour.
“I’m very proud to be a ‘first lady expert’!” Betts said, laughing. “I was a history student!”
Blair held court amongst her many admirers in a quieter corner of the room as revelers trickled in, among them Tory Burch, Aerin Lauder, Deborah Roberts, Maggie Betts, Alexandra Lebenthal and Marina Rust. Ruben and Isabel Toledo arrived arm-in-arm just before Jennifer Creel and Thelma Golden. Iman swept in clad in Chris Benz and Michael Kors and kept her sunglasses on. She rolled her eyes at the mention of fashion week madness: “I’m not doing the shows. One or two things, but really, I¹m staying away from Lincoln Center!”
A laughing Brown agreed: “It’s not fashion week in my office!”
“Michelle Obama strikes me as someone with the brains of Hilary Clinton, but with Jackie O’s pearls on top,” the editor mused. “You never really know what she’s going to wear. I like that about her!”


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The Xiaomi 12 is a compact flagship phone that beats out the Galaxy S22 in some key areas, but it isn’t perfect.
Xiaomi has announced a partnership with camera maker Leica just after it had moved away from Huawei.
Qualcomm's new chipset, destined for Android phones, shows that there's a lot more to processors than simply 'power'.
Buying Guide MagSafe accessories are useful extras for your iPhone - here's how they work, and which you should buy.
A leaker has shared a date for the iPhone 14 launch event, and it sounds like a busy time for the company.
Updated If you're looking to buy a new Oppo phone, whether's it's a Find, Reno or A handset, these are the best options for you.
With a reasonable price tag, a good-looking screen and 5G connectivity, the Galaxy A33 5G is an enticing buy for video streamers on a budget.
Oppo’s new flagship is a super powerful Android, but it’s missing its predecessor's best feature while inheriting some flaws.
MWC 2022 The Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro and 2 Pro 360 come with Windows 11, a 21-hour battery and 1080p display.
MWC 2022 A new Amazon Kindle rival has come, as the Huawei MatePad Paper is an E-Ink tablet with top specs.
Oppo’s next super-premium smartphone is here, but the upgrades are limited, and there are some downgrades in certain areas.
Lumafusion, a useful video editing app on iOS, is finally coming to Android starting with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.
According to Samsung Galaxy S22 series cases that have leaked, the standard and Plus phones will have flat displays.
While the 2021 iPad Pros had a big display gulf between the 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions, that looks set to change.
The Moto G200 is a solid mid-range phone with an array of strengths, though some issues stop it being a flawless phone.
The OnePlus 10 Pro already launched in China, and a leaker says March is when it'll arrive everywhere else.
Here's what we want to see in the next version of Amazon's entry-level Kindle ereader, possibly coming out in 2022.


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Costco saw its net sales for July rise 7% to $7.87 billion over the $7.36 billion for July 2012, the company announced today. However, same-store sales rose just 4% for those periods, disappointing analysts who had expected a 5.1% increase.
The company accounted for the discrepancy with the negative effect foreign exchange rates had on comparable sales, though that was partly offset by the positive impact of gasoline prices.
Discounting the effects of exchange rates and gas prices, the same-store sales would have increased 5%, according to the company.
For the 48 weeks ending Aug. 4, 2013, net sales increased 8% to $94.91 billion, from $87.72 billion for the same period ending Aug. 4, 2012. Same-store sales for that same 48-week period were up 6%, compared to the same period in 2012.
Costco operates more than 600 warehouses in countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Australia. It plans to open up to two new warehouses prior to the end of its fiscal year on Sept. 1.
The article Costco's Net Sales for July Up 7% originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Dan Radovsky has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool owns shares of Costco Wholesale. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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To test how credit card fraud might result from using one to subscribe to a piracy subscription, investigators used a dedicated credit card to sign up for 20 such services. Within two weeks they were targeted for nearly $1,500 in illicit purchases, which were identified as charges for grocery delivery, women’s apparel, computer software, and a cash advance. An unattributed charge of $850 was caught and escalated for consumer approval by the credit card company.
Piracy subscribers using credit cards were four times more likely to report fraudulent Card purchases, according to “Giving Piracy Operators Credit,” a study released in June 2023 by the Digital Citizens Alliance. In all, 72 percent of those who used a credit card to sign up for a piracy service reported credit card fraud.
Unauthorized charges appeared to originate from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Lithuania – and Abita Springs Louisiana.
In addition to that investigation, a May 2023 survey commissioned by Digital Citizens asked 2,330 Americans how they get their entertainment, to better understand the risks of piracy websites and apps.
Key findings include:
- Roughly 1 in 3 Americans reported watching pirated content at least once over the past year. Some relied on pirated content after canceling other legitimate streaming options or cable or satellite services.
- About 1 in 10 who reported watching pirated content said they had purchased a subscription using a credit card to do so.
- Seventy-two percent of Americans who said they used a credit card to purchase a piracy subscription service also reported having an issue with credit card fraud over the last year. Only 18 percent of those who said they don’t visit pirate sites reported a similar issue.
- Americans who visited piracy sites and apps were four times (44 percent to 10 percent) more likely to report being a victim of identity theft.
- Americans who visited piracy sites and apps were five times (46 percent to 9 percent) more likely to report having an issue with malware in the last year.
The study notes that in recent years, piracy has been closely linked to the spread of dangerous malware that encrypted files on the user’s computer and then demanded payment to unlock them.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost $5.8 billion from credit card fraud in 2021, more than double what occurred in 2020.
Giving Piracy Operators Credit: How Signing Up for Piracy Subscription Services Ratchets Up the User Risk of Credit Card Theft and Other Harms. Report. June 20, 2023. Digital Citizens Alliance
Why it matters
Credit card fraud is one of the many forms of damage inflicted against consumers who take piracy services. In many cases, consumers aren’t aware that the services are illegal, nor may they be aware that the transaction might have caused the fraud to occur.
Digital Citizens Alliance calls for concerted action by federal and state governments, the credit card companies that piracy operators rely on, and consumers themselves. Those efforts should include:
- Payment processors terminating relationships with known piracy operators.
- The FTC warning Americans about online risks that can expose them to financial fraud and malware.
- Law enforcement using the tools they were given in 2020 to launch criminal investigations against piracy operators.
- Consumer protection groups continuing to warn Americans about the risks.


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We've seen the leak, and now, Huawei has officially taken the wraps off its newest addition to the Nova series, the Huawei Nova 2S. The biggest highlight of the phone Nova 2s is it's RAM, 4 Cameras and 18:9 bezel-less display.
Huawei has launched the Huawei Nova 2s smartphone in two variants. The special edition Huawei Nova 2s smartphone is priced at CNY 3,399. The 6GB + 64GB variant costs CNY 2,999 ($453) while the 6GB + 128GB model is CNY3,499 ($528). The display is full HD+ and comes with a resolution of 1080×2160 pixels.
The Nova 2s smartphone is powered by a 64-bit octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 960 SoC Chipset. A welcome addition is the phone featuring Android Oreo 8.0 out of the box, which means that Project Treble could come with the package.
Mission in Syria 'accomplished'
The general also said that Russian forces had in recent days been fighting alongside Kurdish forces near the Syria-Iraq border. This verified image made from amateur video shows an explosion in the village of Kfar Derian, Syria.
Marlins Trade Dee Gordon To The Mariners
So the Marlins are getting some nice salary relief with the trade, while the Mariners are taking on the substantial commitment. He went 11-6 with a 3.45 ERA in 25 starts last season while splitting time at Single-A Modesto and Double-A Arkansas.
African-American Congressmen Will Skip Mississippi Civil Rights Event To Avoid Trump
Brice has another perspective, "I think that the Governor's inclusion of Donald Trump to this occasion was a political stunt". The museum has been in construction since 2014, and is scheduled to open in Jackson, Mississippi on Saturday.
Apart from this, the Nova 2s smartphone offers nearly all types of connectivity options such as Bluetooth 4.2, USB Type-C, and Wi-Fi. The phone comes with 4GB & 6GB RAM. The smartphone comes with dual SIM functionality and comes with dual rear camera setup. At the back, there is a dual camera with a 16MP primary sensor and 20MP secondary monochrome sensor. Interestingly enough, the front facing cameras are not just for selfies, but are also for face unlocking, which Huawei is quite proud of, which hints at a feature that we might be able to expect for the next flagship Huawei Mate.
Battery & Other Features of Huawei Nova 2s - The battery in Huawei Nova 2s smartphone is 3340mAh. Connectivity options on the smartphone include Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 4G LTE with VoLTE voice calling support, Bluetooth, GPS and USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer.


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Animoji Karaoke Takes Over Social Media Following iPhone X Launch
An animated cat, fox, pig, and rooster singing Bohemian Rhapsody is the epitome of a new social media phenomenon dubbed Animoji Karaoke.
Over the past week, both reviewers and customers lucky enough to have the iPhone X in their hands have shared fun, humorous videos of Animoji in action, ranging from goofy voiceovers to full-out music videos.
Animoji, for those unaware, are custom animated characters that use your voice and mirror your facial expressions captured by the iPhone X's new TrueDepth camera system. You can even record yourself as a Pile of Poo.
iPhone X users can create Animoji recordings up to 10 seconds long in the Messages app, but the internet discovered that iOS 11's new screen recording feature allows for much lengthier clips. Enter Animoji Karaoke.
The idea was conceived by technology reporter Harry McCracken, who decided it might be fun to lip-sync a song and have an Animoji character mimic his performance. From there, similar videos have spread on social media.
To create your own Animoji Karaoke, play a song loudly enough for it to be picked up by the iPhone X's microphone while lip-syncing. After messaging the Animoji, tap on it, and tap on the iOS share sheet to save it as a video.
A few people have gone a few steps further by stitching together multiple Animoji clips and editing in some other post-production effects.
Animoji might end up being a gimmicky feature that fades over the coming months, but for now, Apple is certainly benefitting from a wave of free viral marketing. If you see a singing fox in your timeline, now you know why.


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September 10, 2012 |
Was the building of a multi-crore textile business a planned effort? Sarita Handa: A big part of my career in textiles wasn't planned, but I always wanted to live life to the fullest. In the 1970s, I never thought I would set up a business and was actually considering becoming a teacher. In the late 1980s, however, I decided to take up a job with Shyam Ahuja in Delhi, but quit in 1990. For two years I researched before starting a home furnishing product manufacturing unit in 1992.
April 4, 2013 |
NEW DELHI: Late last year, when the licensee of British department store chain Debenhams changed ownership, it didn't expect an eviction notice to follow. But even before it could approach Ambience Mall in Gurgaon to continue with its lease arrangement, the mall management leased its 20,000 sq ft space to Spanish apparel brand Zara. Meanwhile, another prominent mall in the National Capital Region is waiting for an Indian department store to change hands so that it can invoke a change-of-ownership clause to boot it out. In a sign of shifting landscapes in India retailing, the kind of brands in demand as "anchor tenants", the crowd-pulling marquee names that get preferential treatment from developers, is changing.
March 5, 2013 |
NEW YORK: With networth of $ 21.5 billion, Mukesh Ambani has retained his title as India's richest person for sixth year in a row, while Mexican business tycoon Carlos Slim has emerged as wealthiest in the world for the fourth consecutive year. In the overall rich list of world's billionaires, as per an annual ranking published today by business magazine Forbes, Mukesh Ambani is ranked 22nd, while the second-richest Indian Lakshmi Mittal is at 41st position with a networth of $ 16.5 billion.
January 28, 2013 |
NEW DELHI: Gap Inc, the largest casual wear retailer in the United States, is readying plans to open stores in India sometime next year, making it one of the highest profile global brands to set up shop in the country after it threw open the single-brand sector to foreign firms. News of San Francisco, California-based Gap's entry into India, a country that it has used as a sourcing destination for the past 14 years, comes at a time its Swedish rival H&M is in the process of filing for government approval next month to start a fully-owned subsidiary in the country.
April 29, 2013 |
NEW DELHI: Massimo Dutti, an upscale fashion brand of the same parent as Zara, has initiated a second attempt to enter India a year after the Foreign Investment Promotion Board shot down its first proposal. Spain's Inditex Group, one of the world's largest fashion retailers, last month filed a revised application with a proposal to invest 1.5 million (about Rs 10 crore) over two years to open five Massimo Dutti stores in the country through a 51:49 joint venture with the Tata Group, two people familiar with the development said.
December 14, 2012 |
Punit and Kulin Lalbhai were schoolboys, aged 16 and 13, when Arvind Mills came close to bankruptcy in 1998. The Lalbhai group flagship had piled up huge debts to finance capacity expansion, just at a time when demand for its main product, denim, went on a decline and managing director Sanjay Lalbhai was in negotiations with 85 domestic and international lenders to restructure the debt. What was it like at home? "Dad absorbed the stress like a sponge," says Punit. "He protected us all from what was going on at Arvind.
January 30, 2012 |
BANGALORE: The world's second-largest apparel retailer Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), which usually enters large markets on its own, is not so sure about opening shop in India despite finding the market "interesting". Earlier this month, India relaxed laws allowing foreign retailers to wholly own their businesses with the rider that they source 30% of their products from SMEs with revenues not exceeding Rs 5 crore. Until then, foreign investment was limited to 51% or retailers were forced to franchise.
June 20, 2012 |
NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: American apparel-maker Tommy Hilfiger plans to add 500 stores in India over the next five years to capitalize on the brand's surging popularity, the company has told the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the nodal agency that clears such foreign investments. Tommy Hilfiger Arvind Fashion Pvt Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between the US premium lifestyle brand and Ahmedabad-based Arvind Ltd , will invest Rs 60 crore in 45 company-owned stores; a significant number of the stores will be opened through franchisees, according to a foreign investment application filed by the company and reviewed by ET. Currently, Tommy Hilfiger operates 58 franchisee outlets and over 60 shop-in-shops in other department stores.
May 13, 2013 |
You don't have to be rich to look good or fashionable. Globalisation has impacted street fashion as well and there are more ways than one to get on the fashion bandwagon. ET hits the streets and checks out what is in vogue: Everybody knows that peplum is here to stay. Blair Waldorf wouldn't have been caught dead in something that didn't set a trend immediately. But little did the main character of Gossip Girl know that her wardrobe would influence Sonam Kapoor's wardrobe in Aisha in 2010.
November 27, 2012 |
Global retail giant Esprit is exiting India by the end of 2012. It had entered India in 2005 through a distribution deal with Madura Fashion and retail, Aditya Birla Group's lifestyle retailer. Company sources reveal that the Esprit in India was suffering losses of about Rs 20-25 crore per annum, which made it unviable for the brand to remain in India. An email sent to Ashish Dikshit, CEO, Madura Fashion & Retail remained unanswered. Sources reveal that while Madura Fashion and Retail wanted to renew the 7-year-old agreement, the Esprit global management was not keen.


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Shares of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) are slightly up today amid reports the electric vehicle (EV) maker is recalling an additional 435,000 of its cars, the latest in a string of safety problems.
The recall, which is getting a lot of attention on social media, involves Tesla electric vehicles sold in China. The Austin, Texas-based company led by Elon Musk said it will issue software updates to fix a rear light issue. The recall of more than 400,000 vehicles comes after Tesla was pressured by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation to fix the light problem.
TSLA stock is down 51% this year and currently trading at about $198 per share.
What Happened With TSLA Stock
Tesla said it is recalling a total of 142,277 Model 3 electric sedans and 292,855 Model Y mid-size sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to fix a software problem that prevents the rear lights from illuminating. China’s road safety regulator determined the light issue poses a safety hazard for drivers in the nation.
In a written statement, Tesla said it plans to issue software updates remotely to fix the rear light illumination problem. This is the latest in a series of technical glitches and recalls impacting Tesla vehicles that are sold into the Chinese market. The company just last week announced a recall of about 80,000 cars in China due to a seatbelt issue.
Why It Matters
China is a strategically important market for Tesla. The company operates a major manufacturing facility outside of Shanghai and has sold a record number of electric vehicles in China. At the same time, Tesla faces growing competition within China from domestic electric vehicle makers such as Nio (NYSE:NIO) and Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI). Those Chinese rivals continue to report strong sales figures.
To keep a competitive edge in China, Tesla in October lowered the prices on its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles after raising them earlier in the year. Beyond China, safety issues continue to cause problems for Tesla and its growth. The company last month recalled more than 321,000 vehicles in the U.S. over a similar rear light issue to the one reported in China.
Tesla vehicles frequently top lists for safety issues and problems. Consumers have reported receiving Tesla vehicles from the manufacturer without the seats bolted into place and with faulty navigation systems, among other problems. Ongoing safety problems also come as investors fret that company CEO Elon Musk is distracted by his recent $44 billion acquisition of Twitter and not focused on growing and improving Tesla.
What’s Next for TSLA Stock
TSLA stock is up nearly 2% to start the trading day, but it could slump as investors and analysts digest the latest safety recall in China. With the company’s share price cut in half this year, the latest problems are unlikely to help the stock. Investors may want to wait for some positive news out of Tesla before purchasing shares.
On the date of publication, Joel Baglole did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.


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Previous month Google has rolled out the Android 12 first Developer Preview for Pixel devices and now Google has started releasing the second version of the Android 12. Google has released this second developer preview with the name of the “Android 12 Developer Preview 1.1” and it comes with lots of improvements while fixes some bugs.
The Android 12 Developer Preview 1.1 comes with major fixes and the highlight thing of this latest update is resolved the fingerprint reader issue. According to the report, the previous, Android 12 first Developer Preview has shown the problem to the fingerprint reader becoming unresponsive to the point where you had to use a passcode to unlock. Also, this update improves the unexpected reboots problem.
The Android 12 Developer Preview 1.1 rolling out with build number SPP1.210122.022 and it comes with March 2021 security patch update while the Pixel devices that have got the Android 11 stable update will receive this new version on March 08, 2021. Now down you can find the changelog of this latest version as well as you can find the download link.
Google’s Android 12 Developer Preview 1.1 changelog:
- Fixed an issue where on some devices, the device intermittently disconnected from Wi-Fi even when the Wi-Fi signal was strong.
- Fixed an issue where on some devices, the device displayed a “System UI keeps stopping” message if the user tried to take a screenshot by pressing Power + Volume Down from the Lock screen.
- Fixed an issue with partial wake locks that could cause excessive battery drain.
- Fixed an issue where a device’s fingerprint reader could become unresponsive when the device was suspended, requiring the user to unlock their device using another method.
- Fixed an issue where the Settings app could crash if the user tried to access app notification settings.
- Fixed an issue where the system UI could freeze after the user updated the device.
- Fixed an issue where the CellBroadcastReceiver app could not obtain the android. permission.BROADCAST_CLOSE_SYSTEM_DIALOGS permission, causing emergency alerts to crash.
- Fixed an issue that could cause some devices to reboot intermittently.
- Fixed an issue that could cause some devices to reboot after the user unlocked the device using their PIN.
Android 12 Developer Preview 1.1 update live through the OTA and it comes with a package size of around 5MB. You can easily update your device by going to the smartphone Setting option then you can select the Software Update section and install the latest version. Also, you can download this latest version through the download link which is mention below.
- Pixel 5: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 4a (5G): Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 4a: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 4 XL: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 4: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 3a XL: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 3a: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 3 XL: Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 3: Factory Image — OTA
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Samsung Expands DIY Repair Program to Include Galaxy S23, Z Fold 5, Flip 5, and More
Samsung is making it easier for users to fix their devices by expanding its DIY repair program. In a recent announcement, Samsung shared that over a dozen new devices will be included in the Self-Repair program. Among them are the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, marking the introduction of DIY repair options for Samsung’s foldable phones.
The Self-Repair program will provide users with access to parts and guides for fixing their devices at home. Samsung [Samsung Newsroom Post] is taking a step towards empowering users to take control of their device maintenance, offering support for popular devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 in this latest expansion.
Until now, Samsung mainly provided DIY repair options for its regular smartphones, tablets, and laptops. However, when it came to the more intricate foldable models like the Galaxy Fold and Flip, the company limited users to professional repair services due to the complexity of these devices.
Now, in a noteworthy move, Samsung is expanding its DIY repair support to include its foldable models, starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. This means users will soon have the option to tackle repairs at home, marking a shift in Samsung’s approach to empower users in maintaining and fixing their foldable devices.
This development follows Google’s recent introduction of DIY repair options for its Pixel Fold, though it’s worth noting that repair parts for the Pixel Fold can be relatively expensive, such as the inner screen alone costing $900. As Samsung joins the DIY repair trend for foldables, it’ll be interesting to see how this impacts the accessibility and affordability of maintaining these innovative devices.
The full list of new Self-Repair options for Galaxy devices includes:
- Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Galaxy S23
- Galaxy S23+
- Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Galaxy S23 FE
- Galaxy A05s
- Galaxy Tab S9
- Galaxy Tab S9+
- Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
- Galaxy Tab S9 FE
- Galaxy Tab S9+ FE
- Galaxy Tab A9
- Galaxy Tab A9+
- Galaxy Book 2 Pro (15-inch)
- Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 (15-inch)
Samsung is making its Self-Repair program available to more people around the world. The program is spreading to South Korea and over 30 European countries, including places like Denmark, Greece, Hungary, and Portugal. However, it’s important to note that, as of now, these new devices are not yet supported in the United States, and parts are not available from Samsung’s retail partner, iFixit.
Huawei Quick App Center gets the latest version 18.104.22.168 [APK]
Huawei has recently revamped its pre-installed applications, including Huawei Health, Huawei Assistant, and AppGallery. The latest update introduces the Huawei Quick App Center, marking a significant change. This update reflects Huawei’s commitment to enhancing user experience and providing streamlined access to applications.
The latest update for the Quick App Center app comes with version number 22.214.171.124 and the installation size is 74.01 MB. With this new update, the company has fixed some known issue bugs. For a better app experience, you should install this latest build on your Huawei devices, below you can check the download link.
|Huawei Quick App Center V126.96.36.199 APK
HUAWEI QUICK APP CENTER:-
As per the official introduction, the Huawei Quick app Center allows users to use and manage apps without installation. Also, this application provides the feature to create the app shortcut on your device’s Home Screen. The best part of the Quick app is that it takes up very little space on your device and it has been updated automatically to increase your work experience.
HarmonyOS NEXT Lands in 2024: Huawei CEO Sets Big Goals
Huawei’s big boss just hinted at exciting new things for their software in 2024! Expect fresh products built on their latest HarmonyOS NEXT system.
During the Fan Club (Pollen) Annual Conference 2023, Yu Chengdong announced that Huawei plans to reveal several advanced products next year. He also predicted the launch of HarmonyOS NEXT products and improved native application experiences in 2024.
The CEO didn’t share when exactly the new software and native applications would be released, but we can anticipate the official reveal to happen in early 2024.
Huawei needs to make HarmonyOS fully independent and essential without relying on Android libraries soon. Hopefully, the company will speed up its efforts in the coming days.
Many app developers, such as Alipay, McDonald’s, HiPaint, Bank of Communications, and others, have joined native app development for HarmonyOS. The goal is to create a strong app ecosystem independent of Android and iOS.
Huawei is set to offer HarmonyOS-based courses, with approval for 55 projects and over 10 universities planning to launch these courses soon.
Huawei plans to introduce apps in more than 18 categories, focusing on digital and financial sectors. According to Yu Chengdong, these native HarmonyOS applications aim to be smoother, smarter, safer, and more comprehensive compared to iOS and Android.
- Huawei Health receives the new update 188.8.131.522-wearBeta with new improvements
- Samsung Expands DIY Repair Program to Include Galaxy S23, Z Fold 5, Flip 5, and More
- Samsung Health App receives the December 2023 update 6.26.0.063 [Wear OS]
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Receives First Security Update with Wear OS 4
- Huawei Health receives the new update 184.108.40.2060 with new improvements
- TicWatch Pro 3 finally gets Wear OS 3.5 upgrade
- Google Play Update: Remote App Removal GPStore now allows you to remotely uninstall apps
- Huawei Quick App Center gets the latest version 220.127.116.11 [APK]
- Updated version of Google Play Store Apk 38.8.24 [Download Link Here]
- HMS Core 18.104.22.1682 update is the new version for Huawei Mobile Services


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A joint report by FICCI and NASSCOM stresses on the changing hiring environment, which would soon require completely different skill sets. According to the report, the internet and exponential technologies are creating new employment opportunities in the areas of ‘white-collar’ working, also known as the gig economy. Apart from software developers, creative and multimedia professionals, online sales and marketing professionals, writers, translators and data entry operators, the new skills required will be logistics, warehousing, web and app designing, systems integration, customer service, big data and machine learning.
Anurag Malik, partner, people and organization, advisory services, EY, says, ” New business models such as e-commerce and mobile-based e-retailing are increasingly becoming popular in India across tier I, II and III cities. The impact of this growth is already visible on the job market.”
The EY report, based on a survey, has identified 12 megatrends that would lead the way for future jobs in 2022. These include topics like the level of Indian exports, rapid adoption of technologies in the advanced markets and its impact on off-shoring, the changes in the overseas job market for Indian workforce and the level of foreign investments, among others
Some of the threatened jobs in the sector are cashier, inventory associate, sales representative and stock boy. The maximum impact of adoption of technology on jobs will be felt in warehouse management, the report noted. Future job opportunities will be higher in the roles of: VFX Artist, Computer Vision Engineer, Wireless Network Specialist, Embedded System Programmer, Data Scientist, Data Architect, AI Research Scientist, Automobile Analytics Engineer, 3D Printing Technician, Vehicle Cybersecurity Expert, Sustainability Integration Expert etc.


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It’s no secret that COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on businesses across the world, and perhaps on no industry more than restaurants.
To keep their teams and customers safe, restaurants have had to adapt, some by offering new and creative takeout options, and unfortunately, others by temporarily closing their doors.
The true implication of this will only become clear as the dust settles and businesses return to (a new) normal. But in the meantime, restaurants are doing everything possible to avoid having to close their doors for good. Here are some of the ways restaurants are changing to adapt and survive to come out better on the other side.
1. Delivery & Going Digital
As of March 2020, more than 41.7% of US consumers said that they were likely to order food from a restaurant online if they found themselves confined at home thanks to COVID-19.
Delivery services like UberEats and GrubHub have surged in popularity as consumers order from home, but these third parties take a 15–30% cut of restaurants’ profits. To avoid losing this cut of cash, some restaurants are converting wait staff into delivery drivers or even phone operators to handle their own delivery and curbside takeout.
One thing is for sure: with restaurant dining rooms shut, web presence has never been more essential for restaurants. Consumers are searching for restaurants’ websites to find menus, delivery and takeout options, adjusted hours of operation, and more. Without digital representation, restaurants are finding themselves with fewer customers and fewer ways to communicate. Those who haven’t made a leap to digital yet are now doing so in order to keep customers ordering.
2. Stepping Up Sanitation
Restaurants have had to step up sanitation practices in response to COVID-19 and the public’s concern about its spread.
Employees are wearing masks and gloves, plastic shields are being put in place in front of registers and to block off drive-through windows, and transactions are being made with as little contact as possible.
Businesses are increasing interior sanitation as well to ensure employees’ protection. However, no matter how much work a business does to keep itself clean, customers aren’t going to be happy unless they can see the action being taken. As people get used to social distancing and being aware of the health risks around them, companies are going to have to think about how to appeal to the psychology of sanitation and show customers they’re serious about health and safety.
3. Investing in Marketing
With far fewer people on the streets, businesses like restaurants aren’t benefiting from the natural brand awareness that they usually get from people walking or driving past their storefront. This means that those who can afford to market their business online are putting more money into this area than ever before. It’s hard for many companies to do this when they are already losing money, but those who are able are relying more heavily on web presence to keep their business top of mind and bring new and returning customers back for more orders.
4. Evaluating Costs & Business Practices
Running a restaurant is undoubtedly an expensive investment. To stay afloat, many businesses are cutting costs by limiting menu items and, consequently, the supplies they’re purchasing, restricting business hours to only peak times, and keeping only the most efficient business practices.
Although many restaurant owners care deeply for their employees’ well-being and livelihoods, many are having to limit employee hours.
This belt-tightening will ease as the crisis passes, but restaurants will likely come out on the other side still with the most efficient business practices in mind, and perhaps with a few cost-cutting ideas that will stick around.
5. Reevaluating Insurance Policies
The insurance industry has been impacted more than many others in the wake of COVID-19, and many businesses were disappointed by the lack of support and coverage their insurance providers extended when it came down to crunch time.
Many people were surprised to find that their business didn’t have the coverage they needed to assist in the event of disrupted supply chains or other difficulties caused by the pandemic. Businesses have begun reevaluating their insurance policies to prepare for future crises, and they are now looking for insurance companies that are trustworthy, competitively priced, and offer truly individualized restaurant insurance packages that will protect them in the future.
6. Giving Back
Despite the current difficult situation, some restaurants are showing the best side of humanity by thinking of others and giving back, even though they’re also struggling.
Having to close a restaurant down or limit its operations means that excess food and other perishables in stock are going to be wasted. While they aren’t making money from it, a lot of popular restaurants in the US have been giving food away to the homeless, the vulnerable, and families struggling financially. Blue Hill in New York, Coquette in New Orleans, and HipCityVeg in Philadelphia are all great examples of restaurants giving back.
7. Getting Creative
The most successful businesses in history have always been those that are able to adapt and innovate with the times. While a restaurant may not be able to host their customers during a lockdown, they can still provide options like home delivery, cook-it-yourself kits, and even online cooking classes to show people how to make their delicious meals. The right idea can sometimes save a business that has been forced to close, and many companies are choosing to get creative to keep business going.
Restaurants, retail stores, and other public-facing businesses are some of the worst affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. But being forced to close doesn’t mean that a company has to go out of business, and there are a lot of options available for those willing to get creative to keep their venture alive. Some of these changes will last long after COVID-19 is a thing of the past, and there could be even more to look out for when you can go to your favorite restaurants again.


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BMW has invested in Bus.com, a Montreal-based startup that allows users to book charter buses online. It’s the latest example of a push by automakers to find revenue opportunities outside the traditional business of building and selling vehicles.
The funding was part of Bus.com’s $5 million Series A round. Other investors include Jackson Square Ventures, Real Venture and Y Combinator. In a blog post, the company said it will use the money to scale operations, and improve the technology behind its product.
A Y Combinator alum, Bus.com (previously Sharethebus) was founded by Wolf Kohlberg and Kyle Boulay in 2015. The startup, which operates throughout North America, allows users to rent a charter bus or buy tickets on a bus traveling to an event via its online platform. It also has a GPS bus tracking feature, which informs passengers when their bus is arriving or departing.
Bus.com has partnered with event producers from Live Nation, AEG, Huka Entertainment, as well as student organizers from Harvard, Yale, MIT universities.
By making it easier for groups of people to book buses online, the startup is hoping to carve out a piece of the $4 billion charter bus business.


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CA announced Thursday it is has acquired Cybermation, a leading enterprise job-scheduling vendor, for $75 million.
The purchase will attract new customers and add to CA's workload automation portfolio, which helps end-users schedule and deploy workloads, according to a company news release.
"The acquisition of Cybermation demonstrates CA's commitment to continued leadership and innovation in its core markets," said Alan Nugent, senior vice president and general manager of CA's Enterprise Systems Management Business Unit. "It will help us fulfill our vision for enterprise workload automation and provide customers with unprecedented control and automation of production workloads."
Many enterprises are experiencing job-scheduling difficulties, underscoring "the need for event-driven automation that can align workload execution with business policies, ensure optimized service levels and boost operational productivity," according to the release.
Markham, Ontario,-based Cybermation – which reported $30 million in revenue in 2005 – specializes in software and services designed to simplify and modernize traditional job-scheduling solutions.
"Cybermation has consistently attracted new customers by offering a compelling workload automation solution with advanced features and benefits," say Ray Nissan, the company's founder and chief executive officer. "Joining CA allows us to integrate our leading job-scheduling technologies into CA's workload automation strategy to deliver a single, highly advanced workload automation platform to the market."
Under the acquisition, to be finalized in one month, CA will sell products under the Cybermation name while also incorporating them into its workload automation portfolio.
In January, Cybermation reported a 99-percent customer enthusiasm rating, according to a company news release.


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Hindu Business Line | 17 Jan 2014
India-EU free trade pact likely to be signed next year
New Delhi — India and the European Union will have a free trade agreement most likely in the first half of 2015, EU Ambassador to India Joao Cravinho, said on Friday.
He said that both the countries have come a long way and most of the issues have been addressed.
There are some issues with regard to spirits, automobiles and car parts, services and to lesser degree to procurement, he added.


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There’s a new electric startup in town, which has arrived to offer a new-age electric motorcycle with a touch of conventional machines. Matter Energy, a newly formed startup of electric two-wheelers, has launched its first offering in the Indian two-wheeler market. The electric motorcycle from Matter Energy, which is simply called Matter Energy electric bike, for now, has been unveiled with an electric powertrain and a 4-speed gearbox, making this the first electric two-wheeler to feature a manual gearbox.
Matter Energy has said that this electric bike will be its first product for the Indian audience, and can also receive a new name at the time when it officially will go on sale in the first quarter of 2023. Soon after its launch, the electric bike is expected to go on sale from April 2023 in three different variants. Matter Energy has also stated that this electric bike will be on display at the upcoming 2023 Auto Expo.
In terms of the overall design, the Matter Energy electric bike has an edgy and sharp-looking design similar to many other aggressive-looking modern-day roadsters. As in other modern roadsters, the Matter Energy electric bike gets an all-LED headlamp, tail lamp and turn indicators.
The bike also gets split seats, a self-cancelling function for the turn indicators, clip-on handlebars and split grab rails. The Matter Energy electric bike will be offered in four different colour options – grey and neon, black and gold, blue and gold and red with black and white.
Massive torque output
The Matter Energy electric bike features a 5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which claims to be the largest battery pack among all the electric motorcycles sold in India right now. This IP67-rated battery pack can be charged using a simple 5A household socket, which will take five hours for a complete charge. The motorcycle is powered by a 10.5 kW electric motor, which claims a maximum torque output of 520 Nm at the rear wheel.
There will be three different riding modes on offer in the Matter Energy electric bike, with the motor paired to a 4-speed manual gearbox – a first for an electric motorcycle. The electric bike will also have features like keyless operation, dual-channel ABS and a 7-inch touchscreen instrument console, which can be operated using buttons on the handlebar-mounted switchgear.
This console is also compatible with Bluetooth connectivity, which allows the riders to use turn-by-turn navigation, notification alerts and music playback. In place of a conventional fuel tank, the Matter Energy electric bike features a 5-litre storage compartment, which also comes with a charging socket.


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Dear Distinguished Subscribers,
Welcome to Edition 8 of Stuffed. Excitement is building this week at Goodstuff, as we’ll be dusting off our black-tie attire for the Media Week Awards taking place digitally next Wednesday and Thursday. Good luck to all shortlisted! We’re also excited to have started sharing resources this week that our Race Working Group have brilliantly curated for Black History Month. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks here.
In this week’s Stuffed, we look at how the national treasure, Sir David Attenborough, signs up to Instagram for the very first time and does so with record-breaking popularity. We also cast our eyes and wipe our tears, as Samsung demonstrates how photographs, as simple as a bag of onions can inspire great creativity. Finally, we’ll look at the impacts of a merge between Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram’s messaging service. If you’ve not yet subscribed, head over here.
Happy reading folks!
From your friends at Goodstuff.
STUFFED WITH CULTURE
Whilst new advertising methods are entering the market left, right and centre, there are those that believe traditional does it best. One of those traditionalists is Mediatel columnist Dominic Mills who argues for a revival of some of advertising’s dying arts. He suggests that the power of three, rhyming and copy-heavy ads are seeing a resurgence, using the government’s Covid campaigns as evidence, the latest being, ‘HANDS, FACE, SPACE’. We’ll check-in with Ben and Andrew to see if they can fish out any more campaigns from their younger days.
Something that might be more familiar to youngsters is Boots’ latest project ‘Boots X’. Boots created their very own sub-brand to engage Gen-Z consumers with beauty brands based on the insight that they’re distrustful of overt marketing campaigns in the sector. Boots X brought in a range of trusted influencers to host a variety of content on its owned social channels and went on to smash its campaign KPIs. Influencer marketing has been on the rise in 2020 as more and more advertisers see it as an avenue to connect with younger audiences.
But perhaps the greatest influencer on social media over the past month has been Sir David Attenborough who recently broke the record for the fastest time to reach one million Instagram followers. His opening statement on the platform mentioned that saving our planet was a ‘communications’ issue begging the question of how the marketing industry can rise to this challenge. With Black Friday fast approaching this question is more important than ever, so The Drum have put together some tips on how brands can tackle the issue.
STUFFED WITH CREATIVITY
The stormy skies of Brighton lit up last week with a laser show with a difference… you could take control. Artist Seb Lee-Delisle’s Laser Light City allowed spectators to control lasers via a web app. A future medium for brand entertainment, rather than participants drawing obscenities in the sky, perhaps?
Samsung are aiming to demonstrate the creativity that photographs can inspire, by spinning a real user’s photo into the best love story set around onion-based businesses you’ll see this week, probably. Okay, it might be a little odd, but it’s also funny, quite moving and brilliantly produced by Mother.
A bi-product of lockdown has been an increase in PSA (Pet Separation Anxiety, of course). Searches for pet-friendly hotels have surged as travel shakily returns, so naturally Hotels.com are on the lookout for ‘Creature Critics’ to review venues. Whether PSA is a problem for pets or owners remains unclear.
The mischief-making bookmaker poured salt on Man United’s wounds this weekend with this very public trolling of CEO Ed Woodward’s transfer market failings. Unveiling city centre shop window displays of mannequins of players United failed to buy, ‘Woodward’s’ is a gift to the blue half of the city.
STUFFED WITH COMMS
Instagram: 10 years on
6th October 2010 saw the inauspicious launch of an app that would go on to dominate social media. Ten thousand people downloaded it on the first day. Within a year, ten million. Fast forward to today and Instagram has one billion users across the globe. Bought by Facebook in 2012, the platform’s messenger service is finally integrating with Facebook Messenger. This is the first step in Facebook’s mission to not only merge these two platforms, but also WhatsApp (bought in 2014) to enable end-to-end encryption for all messages sent between the three apps. Further integration between Facebook’s platforms is likely to make them inseparable, from not only a user’s perspective but also for advertisers. The changes will allow Facebook to understand their users more intimately, leveraging greater insights and targeting opportunities.
ITV launches addressable ad platform Planet V
This week saw ITV shake up the advertising scene with the introduction of their much-anticipated video on-demand advertising platform, Planet V. The self-service solution will now provide advertisers control over all aspects of their ITV Hub campaigns allowing them to monitor and optimise in real-time. Despite having to pie off Love Island and kick the Euros this summer, ITV have seen monthly reach thrive on the platform, rising by 40%. Planet V now provides advertisers the ability to harness the increased demand in the VOD market.
Programmatic-clean up sees investment grow in UK
The programmatic market had left many in the industry to become skeptical, with a lack of premium inventory, quality audiences and a desperate need for more transparency, all raising the alarm for a much needed clean up of the marketplace. However, there has been some positive shifts, with an increase in quality metrics such as viewability and trading tools such as pre-bid filters giving agencies & traders more control in the inventory they are buying. All of this has led to more trust and confidence within the marketplace now as agencies invest more in automated buying platforms.
That’s all for the 8th edition of Stuffed, see you next week!


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TAIPEI—Wintek Corp., a supplier of touch screens to Apple Inc., AAPL 6.50 % Thursday said it made provisions of 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in 2010 for compensation to workers affected by chemical poisoning at its plant in eastern China in 2009.
The incident, which the Taiwan-based company reported last year, affected a total of 137 employees at Wintek's China Suzhou plant, Wintek financial director Jay Huang said Thursday.
The workers fell ill in 2009 after being exposed to the chemical N-hexane, used to clean touch screens. Mr. Huang said the company stopped using the chemical after the incident and reported it to its clients and investors in 2009.
The poisoning cases had raised concerns about safety and health hazards at key suppliers of the U.S. consumer electronics giant. Working conditions at Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. 2317 1.37 % , another Apple supplier, also came in the spotlight last year following a spate of highly publicized suicides among its employees. Hon Hai assembles iPhones and iPads for Apple.
Apple released an annual survey of its suppliers last week in response to increased scrutiny from labor and environmental groups that challenged its business practices. Like many modern electronics hardware makers, Apple depends heavily on manufacturing partners in Asia to build its products.
Wintek had earlier said that 62 workers had been affected by the chemical but Mr. Huang said more employees came forward to report earlier symptoms after the incident came to light.
He said most affected workers have recovered and only one worker is still visiting the clinic for regular checkups.
Mr. Huang said that while some of the affected workers have accepted the compensation, Chinese regulators decided that 22 of the affected workers weren't eligible for compensation because they suffered only minor symptoms that didn't require treatment.
Wintek and Chinese regulators are still assessing compensations for some of the affected workers, he said.
"We are willing to communicate with the affected workers to listen to their needs. But we won't make compensation in addition to the payment required by labor law easily," said Mr. Huang.
He said Wintek has paid for all medical expenses incurred.
Analysts said the poisoning incident won't have much impact on Wintek's operations.
"This is a past event. Wintek also remedied this issue, and we don't think it will have a fundamental impact, such as Apple changing touch panel vendors," said Birdy Lu, analyst at Samsung Securities.
Wintek's Mr. Huang declined to comment on Apple's response to the chemical poisoning incident, saying that "our clients understand what happened and we have tried our best to provide remedy."
An Apple spokeswoman said the company is looking into the matter, adding that the company conducts continuing audits to see if their suppliers are in compliance with their standards.
—Loretta Chao in Beijing contributed to this article.


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MUNISING — With the traffic of Pictured Rocks Days, there are sure to be some motorcycle riders in the area.
This weekend, they’ll have a chance to grab some Munising memorabilia. Munising’s new Harley–Davidson has been open for business for a few weeks now. The store features many collectibles – from key chains to shirts – to give riders and motorbike enthusiasts a piece to remember the city.
The new location has been a blessing for the Upper Peninsula branches of the Harley Davidson company.
“We just want to thank the area for the warm welcoming they gave us to be a part of the community,” said Bald Eagle Harley-Davidson General Manager Jesse Zambon. “We’ve enjoyed being over there, spending time over there, and all of the local people stopping in to say hi and check things out. So that’s been really cool.”
The event this weekend, along with the Memorial Day holiday, has given the store plenty of business. That business is projected to increase with the summer months ahead.


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Data compiled by Cinco Dias show that the difference between
general and food inflation between May and August was 4.84 percentage points,
placing Portugal in third place among the various Member States. In practice,
this means that food prices have risen more than prices in general.
Germany leads the list with 7.27 points, followed by Sweden
with a difference of 5.00 points. The average in the European Union (EU) is
5.24 points, according to the Spanish newspaper.
Prices continue to rise and, currently, buying a basket of
essential food already costs 209.98 euros, according to a price monitoring by
"Buying a basket of essential foodstuffs currently
requires an expense of 209.98 euros. This value corresponds to 14.35% more
compared to that recorded on the eve of the beginning of the armed conflict
with Ukraine", says the consumer protection organisation.
This means that, between February 23 and November 16, since
the beginning of the war, the food basket has increased by 26.35 euros.


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Toyota is building a special 2023 GR86 to celebrate its 10th anniversary
It’s been a decade since the Scion FR-S was first introduced here in North America and Toyota is apparently celebrating with a special edition of the two-door hardtop sports car now called the GR 86. Keen Eyes found the VIN Number Decoder sent by Subaru North America to NHTSA and it directly references the new edition.
In the documents shared on the NewNissanZ forums, VIN decoders for the 2023 Subaru Impreza, Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86 are all on display and this is where we find out about the new versions of the latter.
Listed as “Premium 10th” and “Premium 10th ES”, the two models are joined by the regular base trim and the previously announced Premium trim. This tells us that the special edition will be available with a manual transmission and an automatic transmission.
Also read: What is the real power of the Toyota GR 86?
As expected with the BRZ, we see two different trims featured, Premium and Limited. Subaru breaks down the VIN number even further by differentiating models equipped with EyeSight from those without. So, for now, it appears there are no plans for a similarly themed 10th Anniversary BRZ despite it being the one that still bears its original name.
If Subaru plans to do anything special for the 2023 BRZ, it’s not mentioned anywhere on these documents. The last 10th Anniversary Edition Subaru product was the XV (known as the Crosstrek in the US). Before that, it was the Forester in 2007, but both models were JDM-only offerings.
On the other hand, Toyota recently released the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Prius in 2020. Since we have no clear indication of what to expect from the 2023 GR 86 Anniversary Edition, let’s take a look at what the Prius delivered.
From the factory, it was fitted with special black exterior trim, color-keyed rear spoiler, black wheel inserts, and “2020” badging on the floor mats and key. Inside the car, buyers also found a black shift knob and smoked HVAC vents. Here’s hoping this 10th anniversary edition gets some real performance gear and not just a silly looking set.


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The crypto gold rush is going through another dip – but this time it’s gone so low it may not stop.
Many digital currencies have seen their value reach zero.
That’s knocked a lot of confidence out of the market, creating a domino effect reaching all the way to the top.
The mother of them all, Bitcoin, is in trouble.
Two major trading platforms have dropped it.
As investors become increasingly nervous, more have been selling off their coins.
What does that tell us about the future of the digital currency?
Presenter: Sami Zeidan
Aly-Khan Satchu, Investor and CEO at Rich Management.
Naeem Aslam, Chief Market Analyst at AvaTrade.
Brian Lucey, Professor of International Finance and Commodities at Trinity Business School.
Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe
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Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/


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from skynews.com: The world’s first test-tube burger, costing a whopping £250,000 to produce, has been unveiled in London.
The 5oz patty – made from lab-grown “cultured beef” – was dished up by
its creator, Professor Mark Post, before journalists in Hammersmith, in
the west of the capital.
The scientist-turned-chef made the most expensive beefburger in history
from 20,000 tiny strips of meat grown from cow stem cells over a
The billionaire co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin, put £215,000 of his
own money towards the research, saying he was doing it because it could
be “transformative for the world”.
Chef Richard McGeown fried the burger in sunflower oil and a knob of
butter before it was sampled by Josh Schonwald, author of The Taste of
Tomorrow, and food scientist Hanni Rutzler.
Ms Rutzler said it was “close to meat” but she was expecting the texture to be softer and it wasn’t very juicy.
Mr Schonwald said the “absence is the fat … it’s a leanness to it but the bite feels like a conventional hamburger”.
“This is kind of an unnatural experience in that I can’t tell you over
the past 20 years how many times I have had a burger without ketchup or
onions or jalapenos or bacon.”
Prof Post believes his artificial meat – known by the rather
unappetising title “in-vitro meat” – could herald a food revolution and
appear in supermarkets within the next 10 to 20 years.
After trying his own creation for the first time, he said: “I think
it’s a very good start, it proved that we can do this, that we can make
it and to provide a start to build upon – I am very pleased with it.”
He said he was not worried about the verdict on the taste and added
that in a couple of months they should be able to add fat into the
The burger could help save the planet by cutting the billions of tonnes
of greenhouse gases currently released by livestock, and may also be
deemed ethically acceptable by vegetarians because it would dramatically
reduce the need to slaughter animals.
But its success or failure will ultimately depend on how much it resembles the taste, texture and price of real meat.
The demonstration was originally planned for October last year, with
celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal cooking the burger for a mystery guest.
There was pressure from journalists in the audience who wanted to try
the burger but they were told there was not enough to go around.
Up until now, the only outsider known to have eaten the synthetic meat
was a Russian reporter who snatched a piece of cultured pork and stuffed
it in his mouth during a visit to Prof Post’s lab – before it had been
passed as safe to eat.
He was reportedly unimpressed by the pork, describing it as “chewy and tasteless”.
Prof Post’s team at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands
conducted experiments which progressed from mouse meat to pork and
finally beef – the most environmentally destructive meat.
“What we are going to attempt is important because I hope it will show
cultured beef has the answers to major problems that the world faces,”
“Our burger is made from muscle cells taken from a cow. We haven’t
altered them in any way. For it to succeed it has to look, feel and
hopefully taste like the real thing.”
The ingredients don’t sound like something a chef would boast about on a
menu – half-millimetre thick strips of pinkish yellow lab-grown tissue,
each the size of a rice grain.
But Prof Post is confident he can produce a burger that is almost indistinguishable from one made from prime beef.
He points out that livestock farming is becoming unsustainable, with demand for meat rocketing around the world.
The industry accounts for nearly 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions –
even greater than transport – with 228 million tonnes of meat produced
And the environmental problems are only likely to get worse, with the
UN forecasting that world demand for meat will double by 2050, largely
driven by an increased demand from a growing middle class in China and
other developing nations.
Added to this, around 70% of all farmland is devoted to meat
production, and cattle consume around 10% of the world’s freshwater
supplies, making meat farming a very costly, planet-damaging business.
Experts say 1kg of meat requires up to 10kg of crops to produce, making
it a highly inefficient method of turning plants into human food,
whereas synthetic meat uses about 2kg of feed.
Research by Oxford University scientists in 2011 estimated that
cultured meat needs 99% less land than livestock, between 82% and 96%
less water, and produces between 78% and 95% less greenhouse gas.
The burger launched today has cost £250,000 to produce, but the Dutch
team are hoping to dramatically slash the cost by industrialising the
The Food Standards Agency said that before going on sale, synthetic
meat would need regulatory approval, with manufacturers needing to prove
that all necessary safety tests had been carried out.
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The Air Jordan 1 OG Bred 2016 release date is set to return this Fall 2016 as a remastered release from Jordan Brand that’s scheduled to retro during Labor Day weekend.
This Air Jordan 1 receives the traditional “Banned” aka “Bred” color scheme of Black and Red that’s built with a full premium leather upper and rests atop a clean White midsole and Red rubber outsole. Some of the notable features to this release includes ‘Nike Air’ branding on the tongue and insole. The release will not include the ‘X’ detailing on the heel that was seen on the original “Banned” release from 2011.
Air Jordan 1 OG Bred 2016 Release Date
Check out the detailed images below and look for the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Bred” to release during Labor Day weekend on September 3rd, 2016 at select Jordan Brand retail stores. The retail price tag is set at $160 USD.
September 3, 2016
RELATED: Air Jordan Release Dates
UPDATE: On-feet images of the remastered Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Bred” via @sneakerer.
UPDATE: A closer look at this year’s “Bred” Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG via @ajsole_com.
(Image below is not the 2016 Air Jordan 1 Bred release)


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Be Grateful for Capitalism This Thanksgiving
Yes, we’ve got the pandemic, lockdowns, a worsening deficit, etc.
But we still live in a relatively free country at the most prosperous time in human history.
The pandemic showed that when people are faced with crises, we adjust. Restaurants switched to takeout and outdoor dining. Grocery stores began curbside pickup. Companies mass-produced masks, hand sanitizer, ventilators, and, now, vaccines. I hide from COVID-19 by staying home; yet, thanks to new services such as Zoom, I can research this column and make my weekly videos from my couch.
That’s brought benefits. I no longer have to deal with traffic congestion.
Traffic jams are a good example of what ecologist Garrett Hardin called the “Tragedy of the Commons.”
Because roads are free, more people drive, and roads are often congested. If roads were subject to “peak-load pricing, charging higher prices during times of peak demand and lower prices at other times,” Hardin wrote, then we’d have fewer traffic jams.
I bring this up now, before Thanksgiving, because a similar Tragedy of the Commons nearly killed the Pilgrims. When they landed at Plymouth Rock, they started a society based on sharing.
Article from Latest – Reason.com


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Ford will import a range of iconic new models, boost production of its strongest European-made cars and SUVs and improve or ditch its slowest-selling local lines as part of a comprehensive plan to improve its competitive position and profitability in Europe.
The plan, part of a £14bn global cost-cutting programme, is described as “decisive action to transform the Ford business” by Ford president Steven Armstrong.
It will include a range of measures to cut costs in areas such as purchasing, manufacturing and engineering, as well as to reduce “surplus labour”, for which union negotiations are just beginning. It is understood that the numbers of jobs affected will be in the thousands.
The plan’s two-pronged aim is to improve near-term profitability with the efficiency measures while working at top speed to offer a “more targeted” model range to match fast-improving competition. Every Ford model will include an electrified model, either mild, full or plug-in hybrid, or battery electric.
The company is also expected to announce further details of what it calls “a potential alliance” with the Volkswagen Group within days, perhaps at the Detroit auto show next week. Ford of Europe’s central aim, Armstrong says, is to deliver a pre-tax operating profit of 6% for the longer term as a way of building a sustainable business that currently employs 53,000 people across its 50 markets. Its unprofitable Russian joint venture, Ford Sollers, is under strategic review, says Armstrong, with a decision on its future likely in the second quarter.
Ford is establishing three business groups in Europe, for commercial vehicles (based in Dunton, Essex), for passenger cars (based in Cologne, Germany) and for an expanded range of imported models. The company wants to protect and enhance its leadership in commercials — potentially with help from Volkswagen — but insists that suggestions it will leave the passenger car market are wide of the mark.
It aims to build on 2018’s SUV sales record of 250,000 units set by Ford Ecosport, Ford Kuga and Ford Edge, but is already advanced with plans to drop the slow-selling Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max people carriers, currently made at Saarlouis in Germany. It has already announced that production of small automatic transmissions will cease this year at Bordeaux, France, and that its UK headquarters will move from its long-established Warley location to the Dunton technical centre.
Steven Armstrong believes importing more Ford-built vehicles provides “an important opportunity”. The American-made Ford Mustang and Edge are likely to be joined by the newly announced Explorer and Europe will also be a target market for the new Mustang-inspired Mach One SUV, due in 2020. Armstrong believes Ford will soon have “a significantly stronger and more focused product line-up” capable of delivering sustainable profits.


text: Luxury brand Louis Vuitton is showing off its green side on Earth Day by donating 15 percent of all US online sales to The Climate Project. "Over the past few years Louis Vuitton has voluntarily made efforts to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. In addition we are proud to be able to support The Climate Project in its inspiring quest to raise awareness of the climate crisis," said President of Louis Vuitton North America, Daniel Lalonde. This donation is part of the brand's continued relationship with The Climate Project, which started back in 2007 with the Core Values campaign featuring Francis and Sofia Coppola. Clap, clap LV!


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Gamified NFT platform Starly has welcomed $6.1 million of investment after closing its pre-IDO funding round. The Flow-powered platform, which only launched in September, attracted a Who’s Who of venture capital firms in a round led by blockchain investment and advisory firm The Spartan Group.
“We view Starly, with its unique mechanism for creators to create NFT collections, as part of the broader trend of NFT creation and collection becoming more accessible to mainstream audiences,” said Kelvin Koh, co-founder, partner and CIO of Spartan Capital.
Additional investment came from Dapper Labs, Animoca Brands, LD Capital, Double Peak and Shima.capital.
Reaching for the Stars
Functioning as both a marketplace for NFT trading and a launchpad for NFT-focused projects, Starly represents a gamified ecosystem where users can buy and sell works in order to complete valuable collections.
Creators, meanwhile, can leverage Starly to curate their own collections using an intuitive NFT-generation tool, before selling them on the secondary market. Three different membership tiers – silver, platinum and gold – are available, with each conferring a different level of benefit on holders of the platform’s eponymous native token.
The STARLY token IDO will be conducted on DAO Maker on December 20 before listing on a major exchange the following day.
Reflecting on the recent raise, the company’s CEO Ilja Terebin noted that “Although the NFT ecosystem is still in its infancy, projects are already becoming set in their ways; it’s hard to find true innovation from the same NFT issuing and reselling market.
“At Starly, we’ve created something truly different – a platform where NFTs can be instantly minted, gamified, given rare status, and used as both part of a collection and as something users can enjoy.”
Created by the team behind F3 and Ask.fm, Starly debuted after six months of research and development and has quickly generated over $750,000 worth of sales despite launching as recently as late September. Uniquely, the platform organizes NFTs in sealed packs with different rarity classes – each collection features a set of 21 cards, made up of 11 common, 6 rare, and 4 legendary.
Like leading NFT project NBA Top Shot, Starly runs on the Flow blockchain, a network known for its high throughput and low latency. Back in September, around the time Starly launched, the firm behind Flow – Dapper Labs – received a valuation of $7.6 billion.
As more and more NFT platforms have come online, sales volumes have risen sharply, surging past $10.7 billion in the third quarter of 2021 – up more than eightfold from the previous quarter. According to a new study by Deloitte, sports-focused NFTs alone will generate more than $2 billion next year.
Although it is early days for Starly, the company will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the eBay-like OpenSea marketplace which recently saw its value rise to $10 billion.


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In today’s modern era when everything is online, cybercrime has become a costly problem. At this point, cyber attacks are very frequent therefore, every industry is approaching cyber experts to secure their critical business data. Telecom industries are also joining hands with cybersecurity associations.
By leveraging the cloud services, telecommunication companies will not only economize and streamline their IT functions but will also improve their telecommunication functions including in-house and external activities. It will help them set a more established network.


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The Lottery’s success can be attributed to a number of factors, including leveraging Pollard Banknote’s sales-driving portfolio of instant ticket product innovations and growing its range of technology-enabled products that extend the life of traditional instant tickets. In February 2014, the Lottery introduced its $30 instant ticket price point with the launch of $2,000,000 CA$H—a ticket that featured the sparkle and shine of Pollard Banknote’s patented Scratch FX®. Offering premium instant games at a higher price point proved to be a valuable strategy for the Michigan Lottery, as $30 instant ticket sales accounted for more than 9% of total instant sales in FY 2014. Furthermore, Diamond 7’s, another Scratch FX® product, and $500,000 Cashword—a Pollard Banknote Play Around™ Fold-Over game—were the two highest-selling $10 games in FY 2014, and helped to increase sales of the $10 price point by 33% over the previous year.
“As a valued client for almost three decades now, the Michigan Lottery has consistently demonstrated its dedication to offering players the most cutting-edge instant tickets in the industry—a commitment that has resulted in incredible incremental sales growth that ultimately benefits education in the State of Michigan” says Jennifer Westbury, Executive Vice President, Sales & Customer Development, Pollard Banknote. “Innovative products, like Scratch FX® and Play Around™ Fold-Over games, provide maximum impact at retail, while the addition of interactive elements, like Pollard Banknote’s WebPlay® products that have proven very successful in Michigan, keep traditional instant games fresh and appealing to a younger demographic. Even as the Lottery expands into digital sales channels with the launch of its iLottery platform, provided by NeoPollard Interactive; a Pollard Banknote and NeoGames company, sales of instant products at retail have continued to grow, supporting the fact that digital sales channels support traditional sales channels.”
Pollard Banknote and its predecessor companies have been the primary instant ticket supplier to the Michigan Lottery since 1986. The Lottery’s mission is to maximize net revenues to supplement state education programs with the highest integrity. The Michigan Lottery reported annual sales close to $2.6 billion in fiscal 2014, and generated over $736 million in net revenue for the state’s School Aid Fund, which supports public education programs throughout the state. Since its inception in 1972, the Michigan Lottery’s total contributions to schooling have grown to exceed $18 billion.


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SAN JOSE – Verizon CEO Dan Mead encouraged a “really candid” discussion when he hosted a Mobile Commerce Panel Wednesday at MobileCon. Joining him onstage was Isis CEO Michael Abbott CEO Isis, American Express Group President for Enterprise Growth Dan Schulman and Jamba Juice CEO James White.
Earlier in the day, Isis and Jamba Juice had announced a promotion involving one million free smoothies for customers who used the Isis Mobile Wallet at Jamba Juice. Isis’s Mobile Wallet is due to launch nationwide later this year.
But the panel’s topic of discussion Wednesday was just mobile payments in general and what the future holds for the varied technologies driving it.
Describing how mobile had taken over so many personal parts of people’s lives, like their calendars and address books, Abbott said that “for some reason or another, it has not taken over your wallet.”
“The competition is plastic,” Abbott added. “We have to find something that makes plastic obsolete.”
To that Mead asked if mobile commerce going to replace plastic.
Abbott answered by pointing out that plastic is a $4 trillion industry and that it’s going to take a number of years for that ecosystem to move out.
“People are overestimating the rate of change for the next three years,” Abbott said. “And underestimating the rate after those three years.”
Schulman said that when American Express thinks about mobile payments, they try to avoid thinking about the technology. He seemed convinced that point-of-sale will be a combination of NFC, QR, biometrics, beacons, geo-fencing and facial recognition.
“If it’s only a form factor, credit cards will stick around,” Schulman said, adding the the industry needs to make something that adds value for the customer and the merchant.
He added, “The holy grail of digital commerce is the data.”
White agreed, saying the most critical thing is how customers react and noting that the more they can use data to tailor the experience for individuals, the more they can you can simplify and accelerate the process.
Talking security, Abbott admitted that you generally trade off on security and simplicity. But he assured that Isis’s banking partners no longer put a mag stripe into the stem. Instead it’s an algorithm and it’s a rolling code each time known only to the bank.
“So, is NFC going to be real?” asked Mead.
White appeared positive that it will scale over time and the rest of the panel seemed to share his confidence.


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Despite every new ad channel thriving today, email marketing remains a potent tool that should not be overlooked.
Especially for startups and small businesses looking to grow, email marketing is a way of reaching potentially billions of prospective customers with personalized messaging at a fraction of the cost of most other channels.
If you’re still not convinced, let’s look at the numbers. The latest data shows around 3.9 billion email users worldwide, and 52% check their email every few hours. To put it in perspective, despite what your instinct might tell you, this is a reach three times greater than Facebook and fifteen times greater than Twitter. Not bad at all for such an old marketing channel.
Further, 50% of consumers prefer communicating with brands via email. Other channels trail far behind, with direct mail coming second with 20% and social media channels, phone calls, brand’s mobile apps, and chatbots at the rear. Brands investing wisely in email marketing see the results; in fact, 59% of marketers say email is their most significant source of ROI.


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Dark Crystal Games’ old-school sci-fi RPG Encased entered early access on Steam back in September 2019, and recently, it was confirmed that Koch Media’s new publishing label Prime Matter has partnered up with the indie developer. Encased will be published by Prime Matter this Autumn.
Encased is an old-school CRPG inspired by classic games of the genre that places on emphasis on choice-driven gameplay, exploring an open world, build variety across several classes, and more. Prime Matter have also released a new trailer that gives brief details on some of the archetypes you can play as in the game, from hardened criminals locked behind bars to management-types who like to steal credit for other peoples’ work. Take a look below.
Other than an Autumn launch window, Encased doesn’t have a specific release date yet. It will release for PC and be available via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG.


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It was learned on July 1 that there has been a major wave of cyberattacks to steal cryptocurrency through phishing or fake emails to obtain personal information. At least 1,500 fake emails in Japanese have been sent for this purpose. It was found that the emails were made to appear as though they originated from cryptocurrency exchanges such as bitFlyer, a cryptocurrency exchange that was ordered by the Financial Services Agency to improve its business practices in late June, and contained very sophisticated contents. It is feared that the attackers are targeting Japan.
According to the Council of Anti-Phishing and computer security firm Trend Micro, the first phishing email targeting cyrptocurrency in Japanese was detected last November. As of May, up to 300 such emails were circulated.
All these emails used the names of real cryptocurrency exchanges. The council and Trend Micro were able to confirm at least 1,500 such emails. However, the council reckons that these were just the tip of the iceberg.
A phishing email claiming to be from bitFlyer found in late May said: “Suspicious activity has been detected in your account. For your safety and to prevent your account from being frozen against your will, please close your account.” This email asked for the user’s email address, password, and other information. The entered information was stolen by the attackers and used for unauthorized access to the users’ “wallet” accounts for cryptocurrency transactions and the exchanges themselves.
There were also emails asking the users to reset their passwords or replace old passwords with new ones. Since some users set similar passwords for their bank and other accounts, obtaining two passwords in this way increased the probability of the attackers’ unauthorized access to other accounts as well. (Slightly abridged)


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Norway cod sales make steady progress
WHITE fish exports from Norway continued to make steady progress last month, the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council show.
Fresh cod exports, including fillets, during the month totalled 2,600 tonnes, a rise of five per cent. They netted the country’s fishermen 83 million kroner, an increase of ten per cent on 2017, and show that cod prices are continuing their upward trend. Denmark and Spain appear to be the main buyers.
Ingrid Kristine Pettersen, analyst at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said: ‘We are still seeing an increase in exports of fresh cod outside of the main season, largely due to the fresh fish and live storage system.
‘Despite the fact that the price fell slightly in July, the average price for fresh whole cod was nine per cent higher this year when compared with the same period in 2017.’


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Trucking experience Truck Driver has delivered its second country-themed ‘Paint Jobs’ DLC on PS4™ and Xbox One today: the ‘French Paint Jobs’ DLC. SOEDESCO accompanied the news with a brand-new launch trailer, showing off six unique French-styled paint jobs to spice up every in-game truck. They’ve previously released the ‘USA Paint Jobs’ DLC and will soon bring out the German and UK ‘Paint Jobs’ DLCs. All DLCs will come to Nintendo Switch™ as well.
Tags: Adventure, Casual, Driving Sim, Kokku, Paint Jobs, Simulation, SOEDESCO, Story Rich, Truck Driver
We cover every facet of digital gaming eSports, live streaming, console, handheld, PC, virtual reality, alternate reality, augmented reality, mobile gaming and any products associated with these categories.
What did you think?


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Google is planning to get into banking, if you can believe that. More specifically, Google wants to offer you a checking account that can be accessed through Google Pay and is backed by Citigroup and a small credit union at Stanford University.
News of this new Google checking service was reported by the Wall Street Journal today, where they had a chance to reveal some of the details, thanks to a chat with Google’s Caesar Sengupta.
Currently referred to internally as “Cache,” Google make its checking accounts available by next year. Again, Citigroup and a credit union at Stanford will handle all of the important parts, though we’re assuming Google will claim the upfront branding. Google said that it would be open to working with other banks in the future.
What’s the point of Google offering checking accounts? Google is a data company, so I’m sure you can imagine all of the valuable data included in your financial and spending habits. Sengupta also said that they want to bring value to consumers’ checking accounts, banks, and merchants by offering services like loyalty programs. He did say that they won’t sell users’ financial data and that they don’t use Google Pay data for advertising purposes either.
So access will be there through Google Pay, but Google hasn’t decided yet if they’ll charge regularly banking fees. Since Google Pay is involved, this should make for using your checking account an easier option while paying for almost everything, both in store and online.
Would you sign-up for a Google bank account?
- THROWBACK: Remember the physical Google Wallet card?


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Starbucks announced late yesterday it will be raising the prices of some of their more labor-intensive beverages, thereby sending some grande drinks over the $5 mark. CEO Howard Schultz blamed the price hike on "a highly speculative green coffee market and dramatically increased commodity costs... And while many, if not most, coffee roasters and retailers began raising prices months ago, we have thus far chosen to absorb the price increases ourselves and not pass them on to our customers." Well, the free ride's over, deadbeats!
Starting at a vague time of their choosing, the company will begin implementing "targeted price adjustments on certain beverages in certain markets." And so Starbucks' Phase 2 begins.
The good news for those who like buying overpriced burnt coffee at enervating, generic chain stores is that Starbucks has vowed to "maintain or lower the price of some of its most popular beverages, including certain espresso beverages; and, in most markets, its popular $1.50 tall brewed coffee." But green arabica coffee bean prices are close to a 13-year high, and costs for its other raw ingredients, including dairy, sugar and cocoa, have gone up, too.
Some analysts expect the price of arabica to go down next year, as supply outpaces demand. But Starbucks won't rule out raising the price of packaged coffee, including beans sold in grocery stores, in the coming months. For now consumers of fancy drinks like Grande Mocha Java Chip Double Frappuccino who will have to bear the brunt of the cost. So brave!