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The Mercedes-AMG GT will be released next week on Tuesday, Sept. 9. To hold us over until the car’s launch, Mercedes-Benz USA uploaded a video to YouTube today. The video stars the anticipated Mercedes-AMG GT being driven across the Bonneville Salt Flats by Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers.
This video not only gives us a good look at the car itself, it allows us to really hear its exhaust. And, spoiler alert, it sounds incredible.
See and hear for yourself by watching and listening to the video above.
(Source: Mercedes-Benz USA / YouTube)


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Yola Semedo to release CD and DVD
Luanda, Luanda – The Angolan singer Yola Semedo will sell on 17 December in Luanda a CD and DVD on her 25th anniversary of music career. This was said to Angop on Thursday in Luanda by the artist’s music producer, Carlos Dias. He said that CD, comprising five new tracks, is entitled “Diário de memórias”, while the DVD results from the show in live held in 2011 at Luanda’s Atlântico and it is dubbed "25 years of career". Carlos Dias said that the works will also be presented on 18 at Belas Shopping mall, and then they will be taken to the provinces of Benguela, Huíla, Huambo and Cabinda. Yola Moutofa Coimbra Semedo was born Lobito city, central Benguela province, on 8 May in 1978.

domain: news


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A new retail landscape is emerging and, if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that our challenges are equal parts complex, intertwined, and urgent.
The broad trends that are set to shape the next year are visible. The practicalities could pose more of a problem...
Near the end of last year, The Interline spoke at and attended Gerber Technology's marquee event, ideation, which had been reimagined digitally. With the year behind us, we reflect on what ideation 2020 had to say, and what it meant for online industry events in general.
Fashion wants to move closer to the consumer, and artificial intelligence offers an objective way to to bridge that gap. But can brands make use of it without compromising what makes them unique?
As fashion enters a new era of constant uncertainty, smart forecasting and demand planning is a step in the right direction. But it needs to lead to a new model of production, too.
Once a matter of manual analysis and intuition, planning what products to bring to market is now data-driven. Discover the latest in planning for fashion.


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Volkswagen Group's Spanish unit, Seat, has named Alfonso Sancha as its new purchasing chief, effective Sept. 1.
Sancha replaces Klaus Ziegler, who will become head of purchasing for connectivity, e-mobility and driver-assistance systems for the Volkswagen Group worldwide.
Sancha will focus on developing Seat's electric strategy in the purchasing division, Seat said in a statement. He will also consolidate the brand's position and expansion in North Africa, Latin America, and in China, where Seat is part of parent VW Group's joint venture with JAC.
Seat has been tasked with leading development of full-electric city cars costing less than 20,000 euros ($22,200) for VW Group. The small EVs, which will use a shortened version of the group's MEB architecture, will replace the battery variants of the VW Up, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii. The first model in the family is expected about 2023.
Seat plans to launch six electrified cars by 2021, which will include two full-electric cars and four plug-in hybrids.
The brand has also been in charge of coordinating all VW Group general purchasing activities in the Iberian Peninsula since 2017 for all procurements that are not directly related to vehicles, with the aim of identifying synergies and contributing to cost optimization.
Seat said it expects Sancha to add momentum to its purchasing, which grew 5.6 percent to 7.13 billion euros ($7.9 billion) last year. In the past five years, the volume of purchases managed by the brand has increased 23 percent.
Sancha has held a number of international positions at VW Group, including posts in Germany, Mexico and China. From 2011 until 2014, he was head of purchasing at VW Group in China. Most recently, he headed up the purchasing of metal parts for VW.


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Second Shake Shack coming to Paramus, at Garden State Plaza
Last fall, when restaurant entrepreneur Danny Meyer opened New Jersey's first Shake Shack on Route 17 in Paramus, he said he wouldn't open a second Shack in New Jersey unless he found "a good piece of real estate that feels different enough from this."
Tuesday, Shake Shack said it had found that second New Jersey location, just three miles south of the first, and in the same borough and ZIP code as the first, Paramus.
Shake Shack said it will open a location at Westfield Garden State Plaza in the fall. Lisa Herrman-Srednicki, senior director of marketing for the Plaza, said the Shake Shack will be located near Macy's and the carousel on the main level of the mall, in a space formerly occupied by Urban Outfitters. Urban Outfitters has moved to a location in the shopping center's new addition. The Shake Shack will have an entrance accessible from the parking lot and will be open on Sundays.
The first Paramus Shake Shack opened in a free-standing building on the southbound side of Route 17 in November. At the opening, Meyer said plans for additional Shake Shacks in New Jersey would depend on how that location performed. "This one has to be very successful" before the company would decide to open a second location, he said.
The company did not elaborate on why it picked Paramus for its second location in New Jersey. In the five months since the first Paramus location opened, Shake Shack officials have said several times that they have been pleased with the sales volume there. The Route 17 location was so busy during the opening months that police were needed on occasion to keep traffic moving in front of the restaurant. The restaurant also has employees and security guards directing traffic in its parking lot on most days.
Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera said he isn't surprised the company picked a second Paramus location, based on the crowds at the Route 17 location. "You'd think they're giving the stuff away with all the traffic that's there," he said.
Currently, Shake Shack does not have two restaurants in the same ZIP code, but Paramus will not be the first municipality to claim that honor. This summer, when the company opens a second Brooklyn Shake Shack, in the Dumbo neighborhood of that borough, Brooklyn will have two Shake Shacks in the same ZIP code, according to a Shake Shack spokesman.
Bergen County had an edge in landing the first Shake Shacks in New Jersey. Randy Garuti, the chief executive of the Shake Shack division of Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, grew up in Bergen County and played basketball at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey.


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Canon released a firmware update for the venerable Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. Canon EOS-1D…
Let’s start talking greed and what it means for the Canon EOS R5. Greed rules a lot of things, not least the blogging/news/rumor online industry you and I are part of. Greed for more visitors, more traffic, more clicks, more visibility, more of everything. An important announcement as the EOS R5/R6 announcement was, had to be a wake-up call for all those conspiracists and motley bloggers out there.
People had to come up with something that allows for catching headlines. They found it and called it overheating issue. But it’s not. Recording 4K and 8K video is naturally going to produce a lot of heat. Canon knew it, acknowledged it, and very clearly stated it everywhere. Is it still an overheating issue if the camera behaves exactly as described, i.e. reaching temperature limits after a clearly documented time span? In other words: Canon put some amazing 4K and 8K video modes on the R5/R6, perfectly aware of the heat production and tackling it, and stated clearly that those modes have recording limits. Period.
Not satisfied with the overheating fantasies, some avid bloggers came up with another EOS R5/R6 related, alleged issue. Starting with delivery issues they went as far as to suggest Canon might recall at least the EOS R5. Note that while delivery issues have been rumored since a while due to the global pandemic, now they are supposedly caused by the fact that Canon is shitting their pants because of, guess what…, the overheating issue. Neat, isn’t it?
Allegedly, some retailers (mainly in Germany) got ridiculously low quantities of EOS R5 cameras. Figures so low it’s hard to believe. A retailer is reported to have said he got only two R5s, the same source alleges that only 70 units were delivered to all of Germany. Honestly, we have a hard time to buy that. More likely Canon is selling boatloads of EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras and can’t hold up. No way they are going to recall the EOS R5 or EOS R6. Sadly, these colorful fantasies are now picked up also by some big news outlets. You know, the headlines they matter.
Some issue theorists go so far to suggest Canon will deliver the next Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 batch in October or November 2020, after having solved the issues. This is logical bs. Or does someone really think Canon can redesign the EOS R5 and EOS R6, build it, and ship it within 3 or 4 months? I mean, it’s Canon, ok, but that’s too much work in too little time to be feasible. Nevertheless, this crap will be with us for some time.
Besides the overheating-issue, which isn’t an issue, the other issues reported above have one thing in common: they are all based on third- or fourth-hand information. Murmurings and private speculations deceptively sold as reports. On the other hand, the folks at News Shooter reached out to Canon Australia and Canon USA to inquire about the product recall. While Canon USA has yet to answer, Canon Australia released a statement (emphasis mine):
These speculations are untrue. There is no recall. There are no delays in local shipment, with the first local pre-order consumers collecting their EOS R5 units from local retailers this week. Canon has been transparent about recording limits for the EOS R5 and is confident that the camera performs to stated specifications.
If you compare the attention the supposed issues get to the attention the outstanding EOS R5 /R6 autofocus system gets, you get the story. Sadly, it makes for better headlines pushing the overheating issue and the product recall issue rather than reporting and discussing the innovative technology featured on the EOS R5. 8K video on such a small, passively cooled camera body isn’t a common thing as far as I know.
Ok, enough of this rant. You’re welcome to sound off your opinion in the comment section.
Oh, almost forgot: the new Sony A7s III is said to overheat quicker than the EOS R5 ;-) And in case your hands start to burn because of overheating you might want to get the gloves below.
Canon EOS R5 body and kits preorder:
Canon EOS R6 body and kits preorder:


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High school teachers now have free online access to entrepreneurship course materials, under a new program launched by the National Federation of Independent Business' Young Entrepreneur Foundation.
The new curriculum module, called "Entrepreneur in the Classroom," includes a series of teachers' notes, activities, overhead slides, and quizzes, all in PDF format, available for download.
"We determined there was a need for this type of curriculum after speaking with many teachers and NFIB members around the country," said Hank Kopcial, executive director of the Young Entrepreneur Foundation, part of the Washington-based advocacy group representing 600,000 small businesses.
The first module of the curriculum focuses on the foundations of business theory, the second explores developing business ideas, and the third gets into the nuts and bolts of running a business, with emphasis on financing, and governmental resources available to entrepreneurs.
"This curriculum is designed to complement pre-existing lesson plans and takes about two and a half weeks to get through," said Julie Carney, the program's manager. While the program can easily fit with business and marketing classes, it is designed to work with any class interested in entrepreneurship.
"In other courses like music or art, we feel this course could help young people decide if they want to take their passion and turn it into their own business," Kopcial said.
The curriculum has been reviewed by the National Education Association, who has agreed to make information about it available to its 2.8 million members.
According to a recent Young Entrepreneur Foundation survey, 90 percent of teachers and guidance counselors say their students are interested in becoming entrepreneurs; however 75 percent of them say their students have no idea where to turn.
"The survey shows that a lot of high school students are interested in creating their own business, and we wanted to give them a jumpstart," said Rhonda Bentz, vice president of Visa USA, which co-sponsored the survey.
The survey also highlighted other concerns for teachers and guidance counselors. Fifty-two percent of respondents believe the main reason students want to start their own businesses is because working for an employer has become less reliable.
Sixty-four percent of surveyed teachers and guidance counselors said having high school classes in entrepreneurship would give students basic knowledge about what it takes to run a successful business.
The Young Entrepreneur Foundation is also implementing T3, a program designed to pair teachers with local entrepreneurs interested in working with the "Entrepreneur in the Classroom" series.
"By recruiting entrepreneurs to serve as mentors, teachers using the curriculum will have a real business person as a resource," Kopcial said.
Copyright © 2006 Mansueto Ventures LLC. All rights reserved.


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Peterborough has been identified this week as leading a list of 177 retail locations in England and Wales identified by CACI – the market intelligence and data specialist consultancy - who conducted research about rental affordability for trade journal, Property Week.
The research looked at the attractiveness of rental affordability levels for prime retail property opportunities in those 177 locations since the recent revision of business rates when the new rates came into effect earlier this year (01 April).
Peterborough ranked the highest out of the 177 locations researched. Cambridge was ranked as the eighth most affordable by the same measure, below Exeter and Solihull.
The primacy of Peterborough is backed up by Barker Storey Matthews’ own statistical data about the city’s retail scene.
While the national average of vacant retail units is reported as running at 11 per cent mid-year, Peterborough’s is just 4.6 per cent of the total stock of units in the central shopping area.
Out of 454 retail and leisure units within the city centre, there are 35 vacant currently – 7.7 per cent of the total stock. However, of those 35, 14 units are currently under offer to occupiers which means the ‘true vacancy’ level is 21 units.
Julian Welch, Director, Barker Storey Matthews – who is the agency’s retail specialist in Peterborough – believes that all the latest statistics simply reinforce what the city’s property insiders have long known about the value of its retail offering.
He states, “There is a tendency for those with little or no experience of the strategic and day-to-day property scene in Peterborough to ignore its performance potential.
“It’s all too easy for such outsiders to default to a lazy view of the affordable opportunities of the city’s retail stock. However, the statistical evidence speaks for itself and we would encourage any potential occupiers to take a fresh look.
“From a commercial property point of view, Peterborough has long been top of the shops as a desirable location for retailers.
“It’s gratifying that this latest data supports those of us who have been banging the drum on behalf of the city for years.”
For more information on retail opportunities in Peterborough, contact Julian Welch at Barker Storey Matthews, tel 01733 897722 or see www.bsm.uk.com.


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Denver, CO — August 9, 2021 — PointsBet, a premier global online gaming operator, announced today the hiring of industry veteran Aonghus Mulvihill as Vice President, Global Sportsbook Trading. Mulvihill will bring to PointsBet nearly 15 years of international sports betting experience and will report to Mark Hughes, PointsBet Group Chief Operating Officer.
Mulvihill joins PointsBet from Betfair International Sports where he was a Commercial Director. Prior to that he served as Director of Corporate Strategy at Flutter Group, as well as Head of Performance, Proposition & Trading at Betfair Exchange, and Head of Trading Risk at Paddy Power.
“Having watched PointsBet’s incredible expansion, including the recent acquisition of Banach Technology in Ireland, I’m absolutely thrilled to join the leadership team for a truly unique company that is putting technology first and delivering an unparalleled experience for customers around the world,” commented Mulvihill. “After shaking up the Australian betting market, PointsBet has quickly and strategically developed into one of the premium sportsbooks in the United States, continuing to build upon its unique technology offering and attracting industry-leading talent. This appointment is a dream come true.”
In his role, Mulvihill will oversee PointsBet’s global team of sports analysts while devising and implementing company trading risk management strategy and trading product development, working closely with the product, tech, marketing, and compliance teams.
“PointsBet’s technology and the company culture we’re building has proven time and again to be a draw for our industry’s smartest minds, and the addition of Aonghus is another example of our commitment to and vision for excellence,” said Johnny Aitken, PointsBet USA CEO. “Aonghus has the mind and motivation required to help us take the next step as PointsBet continues to innovate and capitalize on the investments we’ve made to deliver the fastest and most unique customer experience in sports betting today – and we’re just getting started.”
PointsBet is one of the fastest growing online gaming operators in the United States and is rapidly expanding its U.S. footprint, currently bringing its best-in-class proprietary technology, modernized and premium brand mentality, expert trading practices, and proven growth marketing strategies to the burgeoning sports betting markets of Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and New Jersey. Originally founded in Australia, PointsBet is a cutting-edge online gaming operator that prides itself on having the quickest and most user-friendly app (iOS and Android) while also providing the best content and experience for sports bettors. PointsBet is the only U.S. sportsbook to offer PointsBetting – a unique and innovative way to bet – and has also introduced a slew of well-received, bettor-first initiatives. PointsBet offers the most markets on all major U.S. sports (NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, PGA TOUR) and PointsBetting in the world. For more information, visit www.PointsBet.com.


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The proceeds of ad fraud can be huge - the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) estimates losses of around $8.2 billion each year. For advertisers, these losses have a big impact on their profitability. For marketers, this fraud can also affect their ability to support their brands. Both marketers and publishers should care more about this digital ad fraud risk in 2017.
The potential impact of non-human traffic (NHT)
NHT represents a range of traffic to websites that is carried out by software agents rather than real people. However, this issue is not as simple to deal with as simply blocking traffic from suspicious IP addresses.
Many bots are aimed at carrying out nefarious activities spread their attacks over thousands of IP addresses, spoof their identities, and mimic human behaviour to avoid detection. They then click on adverts or interact with sites in ways that lead to fraudulent payments being made back to the bot owners.
Further complicating the matter is that NHT isn’t always bad. Some bots, such as those from Google, Bing, and content recommendation engines, are directly beneficial for both marketers and publishers as they help consumers find their sites.
For advertisers, NHT directly affects the success of their campaigns. This, in turn, forces them to audit traffic levels and ask for refunds. According to the 2017 State of Digital Publishers’ Fight Against NHT report by the 614 Group, many brands and agencies are now putting conditions around acceptable levels of NHT into their proposals with around 68% now including this measure. Meanwhile, 74% of publishers admitted that pre-sales discussions include NHT thresholds to help confirm acceptable quality standards.
About the AuthorFollow on Twitter More Content by Elias Terman


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Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) recently introduced the ‘Dairy Deregulation Act’ to phase out the government's milk price setting regime, called the "Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO)". This program was established in pre-refrigeration 1937 to guarantee that there were no shortages of milk across the country. Today 74 years later, milk is the only major agricultural product with government-mandated prices that differ according to product use.
Walsh stated: “Most taxpayers are unaware that they are paying for their milk twice. Currently American families are taxed to pay for a federal program that directly increases the cost of their milk. This is outrageous. Innocent taxpayers are being taken advantage of on a daily basis by another out-dated, pointless government program.
“It costs American taxpayers roughly $68 million a year to run this program that keeps milk prices artificially high. The price of milk should be set through market demand not government regulations.
“Today we continue to identify and cut wasteful government policies and programs. The House has passed over twenty bills that cut regulations, create jobs, and reduce consumer costs during this Congress. Deregulating the dairy industry will not only achieve administrative savings, but will ultimately provide lower dairy costs for consumers.”


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This popular chain of metro Phoenix Mexican restaurants sold for $28M to a BBQ chain
Barrio Queen, a popular metro Phoenix chain of Mexican restaurants, will soon be part of the Famous Dave's restaurant family.
Phoenix Business Journal reported this week that the barbecue chain's parent company BBQ Holdings Inc. signed a purchase agreement with the local restaurant group and the $28 million acquisition is expected to close within the next 45 days.
The article details a series of recent acquisitions by BBQ Holdings, which is based out of Minnetonka, Minnesota. In addition to Barrio Queen, the company recently purchased three undisclosed "bar-centric locations" for $4.5 million, in addition to purchasing Village Inn and Baker's Square last year.
To reflect these shifts, the company also announced to the Phoenix Business Journal this week that it's changing its name from BBQ Holdings to Famous Hospitality Inc.
Barrio Queen was originally opened in Old Town Scottsdale in 2011 by Barrio Café chef and founder Silvana Salcido Esparza.
Esparza went through a contentious split with partners Steve Rosenfield and his wife, Linda Nash, in 2014. Rosenfield and Nash retained the rights to the Barrio Queen name and continued to use Esparza's recipes.
In reaction to the news of the 2022 sale, Esparza reposted the Phoenix Business Journal article onto her personal Instagram Stories to the music of the Rolling Stones song "Sympathy for the Devil."
The chain has seven Valley locations and there are plans to open a location in Surprise and a location in Tucson. The group opened fast-casual concept Barrio Cosita in Scottsdale in November 2021 and closed the restaurant in February 2022.
Believe the hype:This Phoenix Mexican restaurant is one of the best in America


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Excise department issues orders to immediately stop sale of such stock, warns violators
The staff had demanded early closure of the liquor shops so that they could return home at least by 10 pm.
Each TASMAC outlet will issue 500 coupons per day and hence, only 500 customers can make purchases from a shop.
The Delhi government has extended timings for opening of liquor shops in the national capital by one hour.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, liquor shops outside Greater Hyderabad could remain open from 9 am to 10 pm while those within the city were permitted to stay open from 10 am until 11 pm.
The State government on Saturday issued a memo, permitting the AP State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) to keep the liquor shops open till 9 pm.
It was reported that the Jammu and Kashmir administration planned to open new liquor shops in the Union territory.
Demand in states such as New Delhi, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has tumbled, with brewers bearing a major brunt.
he decision was made after the State government followed the Central government’s new rules on the functioning of shops, businesses and establishments.
The government also extended timing for the opening of liquor shops by one-and-a-half hours.
The Special Excise duty is variable for these brands and is set for a period of three months from the start of sale.
Recently, the government ordered reopening of 66 private liquor stores that sell foreign and Indian-made foreign liquor in the capital.
Odisha Government’s decision not to open liquor shops appears to have driven some people in the business very desperate.
Initially, the Cabinet proposed to levy 50 per cent corona tax, to earn more revenue, since excise is the major source of revenue for the UT after commercial tax.
The decision was taken during a second cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Monday.


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The government on Thursday raised minimum support prices (MSPs) of primary kharif crops for the 2012-13 crop marketing year by up to 53 per cent, leading to concern this could further raise food inflation.
“The government has accepted the suggestion made by the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP), which recommends MSPs after taking into account the cost of production,” Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
The Cabinet, however, deferred a decision on raising the support prices of moong and tur, owing to strong opposition from the Department of Consumer Affairs, which feared higher MSPs would lead to a rise in retail rates. The CACP had suggested increases of 29 per cent and 25 per cent in the MSPs of moong and tur, respectively. Officials said a proposal to offer an equity bonus of Rs 100 a quintal on paddy, over and above the MSP, was also rejected, fearing a rise in retail rates.
Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, Care Ratings, said, “I can’t understand the need to announce MSPs for crops other wheat and rice, given there is no official procurement. It does nothing, except pushing up food inflation.”
In a research note, Religare Commodities stated though MSPs were thought to be the primary reason behind allocating sown area for a crop, the last few years had show barring soybean, cotton and paddy, farmers did not respond adequately to a rise in MSPs.
Contesting these claims, CACP Chairman Ashok Gulati told Business Standard the high MSP of paddy would not hit the majority of the population, as after the Food Bill was implemented, 60 per cent of the population would get grains at prices lower than market rates. “Apart from this, there is ample grain in government warehouses to keep a tab on any upward rise in prices,” he added.
Despite the rise in MSPs, retail prices of oilseeds and a few pulses wouldn’t rise, as their market rates were already higher, he said. “Ideally, the MSP should be 10-15 per cent less than the prevailing market price. Currently, we had MSPs almost 50 per cent less than market prices. If we had not recommended higher MSPs, farmers would not have been incentivised,” he said.
“We have not just suggested cosmetic adjustments in MSPs, but recommended a thorough restructuring of the process to ensure growers are encouraged to shift towards non-cereals crops, production of which is below the demand,” he added.


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Buckhead is getting the first East Coast location of a new home appliance retailer.
California-based Fixtures Living is planning to open a 27,000-square-foot store at the Lenox Marketplace shopping center that also includes Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods, according to a June 11 announcement from property owner EDENS.
Fixtures Living today has three locations in California but is soon expanding in other markets such as Illinois and Texas. The retailer specializes in high-end kitchen, bath, outdoor and lifestyle appliances.
“Fixtures Living approaches shopping from an experiential standpoint rather than a product standpoint,” says an announcement.
It’s not the only home store coming to Buckhead.
Restoration Hardware is planning a flagship store in the former ESPN Zone space and could start construction soon.


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If you were to ask a room filled with 100 random strangers if they have ever used a streaming service, such as Netflix or Spotify, or shopped on an online retail website like Amazon, I bet most, if not all of the people in the room, would raise their hands that they have used it before. For example, streaming has become a very popular pastime within the last decade, and a recent survey conducted by a consulting firm, Deloitte, in 2014 found that about 53% of Americans prefer to stream their television shows compared to the 46% that watch it live. It has especially become the preferred platform among 14-25 year olds.
This in turn has created a tense situation for city tax dollars. States and cities are scrambling to find a way to make up for loss in revenue stemming from the popularity of online stores and streaming companies. This has led Chicago to find its own solution: expand a current tax to include any company that has most of its dealings online.
Chicago’s “Amusement Tax” not only covers the obvious online companies, like Amazon and Netflix, but also affects professional services, such as court cases databases that lawyers use and electronic property databases often used by real estate agents. The amusement tax will charge companies 9% more, which will then increase the price of users in Chicago. The new tax is expected to raise about $12 million a year, according to city officials.
The added amusement tax comes from the city’s original amusement tax, which only covered live events and television programming. However, that all changed when Chicago’s City Comptroller, Daniel Widawsky issued a ruling in June extending that tax to online video, gaming, and music services. Officials hope that this will be the answer to making up for loss opportunities for taxes normally charged when things are purchased in-store.
Now, the people of the city are fighting back. The Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit company operating out of Chicago, filed a lawsuit this week in Cook County Circuit Court stating that the ruling in June is illegal. The complaint states that “[t]he Comptroller has exceeded his authority under the ordinance by issuing a rule that imposes a new tax that the City Council did not authorize in enacting the Amusement Tax.”
Jeremy Schwab, an attorney with the Liberty Justice Center, further argued in a news release that if Chicago wanted to tax internet-based streaming services, “then it should put the measure through the political process, and let Chicagoans have their voices heard through the democratic process.”
The lawsuit is argues that the amusement tax is over-reaching on two grounds: (1) because the definition of “amusement” under the original law does not include gaming or audio services; and (2) the tax violates the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act because it discriminates against internet-based streaming. This difference in treatment can be seen with Netflix’s subscription for DVD rentals through the mail versus its online streaming plan. Under Chicago’s new tax, only the streaming plan is being charged 9 percent more a month.
Schwab said that tax on television programming should not be interpreted broadly, due to the fact that at the time the provision had passed, internet television wasn’t around. He also stated that even if it is found to be legal to tax online video, it “certainly would not cover gaming and it would not cover music.”
The plaintiffs hope to have the new rule declared unlawful and have any money paid towards the amusement tax refunded.
If the Court finds this new type of taxation constitutional, this could mean a significant change is coming with the way that online-based streaming websites are charging the consumers. Namely, that our already high monthly bills are going to get higher. It will also mean that our city governments will be able to make up for the large debt that they have accrued from the slowing business occurring in stores. But are the extra costs added to a service which consumers pay a monthly subscription the right way to fix the problems occurring with city debt?


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Even in the land of “green pasture”, some are more equal than others.
Immigrants are lagging far behind other Canadians when it comes to vehicle ownership. According to a new study from Publicis Media and Angus Reid, only 32% of newcomers own a vehicle compared to 84% of all Canadians.
54% of newcomers also found it extremely challenging to take trips to other provinces/ countries without a car.
Most newcomers hardly experience the famous Canadian sites because of the sheer size of the country, logistical travel challenges; expensive domestic airline travel; difficulty in getting a Canadian driving license and of course lack of personal car ownership.
Why some immigrants want to leave Canada
Newcomers are facing other bigger challenges in Canada, especially with housing and cost of living.
According to I Am Canada, the new research study from Publicis Media and Angus Reid, over 50% of newcomers report the overall cost of living is higher than anticipated and buying a home is much harder than expected.
“When it comes to adjusting to new surroundings, food, music, and community can give newcomers a sense of belonging, but our study identified some uniquely Canadian gaps where with awareness and action we can improve the experience for those coming to Canada,” said David Rusli, Chief Strategy and Data Officer for Publicis Media and architect of the study.
He added: “We still have a long way to go to improve representation for newcomers in movies, TV shows, and advertisements as 55% of respondents consider it is among the top two important things a brand can do to connect with them. People want to see and feel that they belong in Canada, and media representation is a critical component of their experience.”
Immigrating to Canada is tough, and it’s toughest for blacks
Many immigrants regard Canada as a land of opportunity, safe and filled with friendly people. 80% of newcomers report they were able to quickly settle into new employment after their arrival.
Newcomers with children are also impressed by the benefit of free education, access to publicly funded activities and other community supports, according to the study.
However, when it comes to finance and accessibility to healthcare, newcomers face a harsh reality. Many face obstacles in establishing themselves into the Canadian financial system.
Black newcomers to Canada are the worst hit. 84% of blacks are likely to face difficulty obtaining a credit card and other loans when compared with other Canadians.
Banks and brands need to connect better with immigrants
When newcomers arrive in Canada, they seek a balance between staying connected to their home culture and adjusting to their new surroundings, the study found.
“At Publicis Media, we have laid the groundwork to help brands become a conduit of truly inclusive communications. We recognize that brands live and evolve within communities,” Rusli said.
“Brands and industries such as banking have an opportunity to rethink how they communicate with our Canadian newcomers. In order to adapt to the changing face of Canada and reflect our cultural persona as the rich tapestry it is, brands need to connect to new Canadians where they live, work and play.”
Publicis Media represents global agency brands (Starcom, Zenith and Spark Foundry) across 100 markets. It also has over 23,500 brilliant specialists across 115 markets.


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Redbox, the vending machines that currently rent movies for $1 per day, announced today that the company will begin rolling out video game rentals to more than 21,000 machines starting June 17. The movies will rent for $2 per night.
Redbox had been testing video game rentals at 5,000 locations over the past two years. The company claims to have rented over a million games in the 2 year trial. Redbox says they will cater the 64% of US households that have a game system.
“Redbox will make discovering the latest games as easy as a trip to the local grocery, convenience or drug store,” said Joel Resnik, vice president, games, redbox.
Company site: [Redbox]


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People in Shanghai are struggling to get meat, rice and other foodstuffs under coronavirus controls that confine most of its 25 million people to their homes, fueling frustration as the government tries to contain a spreading epidemic.
Residents of China’s commercial capital complain that online grocery stores are often sold out. Some received government food parcels containing meat and vegetables for a few days. But without knowing when they will be allowed out, anxiety mounts.
Zhang Yu, 33, said her family of eight ate three meals a day but cut down on noodles for lunch. They received no government supplies.
“It’s not easy to keep going like this,” said Zhang, who starts shopping online at 7 a.m. local time.
“We read on the news that there is (food), but we just can’t buy it,” she said. “As soon as you go to the grocery app, it says today’s orders are filled.”
Skyrocketing cost of the “zero-COVID” strategy
The complaints are embarrassing for the ruling Communist Party in a politically sensitive year in which President Xi Jinping is expected to try to break with tradition and give himself a third five-year term in office.
Shanghai points to the growing human and economic cost of China’s “zero-COVID” strategy which aims to isolate every infected person.
On Thursday, the government reported 23,107 new cases nationwide, of which all but 1,323 had no symptoms. This included 19,989 in Shanghai, where only 329 had symptoms.
Complaints about food shortages began after Shanghai shut down parts of the city on March 28.
Residents got little warning
Plans called for four-day neighborhood closures while residents were tested. It turned into an indefinite citywide shutdown after the number of cases soared. Shoppers who received little warning stripped supermarket shelves.
City officials publicly apologized last week and promised to improve food supplies.
Officials say Shanghai, home to the world’s busiest port and China’s main stock exchange, has enough food. But a deputy mayor, Chen Tong, acknowledged on Thursday that securing the “last 100 yards” for households was a challenge.
“Shanghai’s battle against the epidemic has reached the most critical moment,” Chen told a news conference, according to state media. He said officials “must make every effort to provide food for the city’s 25 million people”.
At the same event, a vice president of Meituan, China’s largest food delivery platform, blamed a shortage of staff and vehicles, according to a transcript released by the company. Executive Mao Fang said Meituan had moved automated delivery vehicles and nearly 1,000 additional staff to Shanghai.
Another online grocer, Dingdong Maicai, said it transferred 500 employees to Shanghai from other posts to make deliveries.
Li Xiaoliang, an employee of a courier company, complained that the government is neglecting people living in hotels. He said he shared a room with two colleagues after positive cases were found near his rented house.
Li, 30, said they had brought instant noodles but there were none left. Now they eat one meal a day of 40 yuan (C$7.90) lunch boxes ordered at the front desk, but sometimes the seller does not deliver. On Thursday, Li said he only had water all day.
The local government office “made it clear that they didn’t care about who was staying at the hotel and left us to find our own way,” Li said. supplies, food.”
After residents of a Shanghai apartment complex stood on their balconies to chant this week as part of a possible protest, a drone flew overhead and broadcast the message: ‘Control the desire for freedom of soul and do not open the window to sing. This behavior poses the risk of spreading the epidemic.”
The government says it is trying to reduce the impact of its tactics, but authorities are still imposing restrictions that also block access to the industrial cities of Changchun and Jilin with millions of residents in the northeast.
Port freight shipments down
While Shanghai port officials say operations are normal, the president of the city’s chapter of the European Chamber of Commerce in China, Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, said her member companies believe the volume of cargo handled has dropped by 40%.
Some large factories and financial companies make their employees sleep on the job to keep them running. But Schoen-Behanzin said that with no timetable for ending the shutdowns, “some workers are no longer volunteering.”
A resident of Minhang district, west of Shanghai, who asked to be identified only by her last name, Chen, said her household of five received food parcels from the government on March 30 and April 4. . They included chicken, eggplant, carrots, broccoli and potatoes. .
Now vegetables are available online, but meat, fish and eggs are hard to find, Chen said. She joined a neighborhood “shopping club”. Minimum orders are 3,000 yuan (C$593), “so you need other people,” she said.
“Everyone is organizing to order food, because we can’t rely on the government to send it to us,” Chen said. “They are unreliable.”


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2020 will go into history not as the year of Covid 19 pandemic but also for many changes, especially the unforeseen growth in e- business.
Though Covid 19 pandemic hit the world economy badly, it led to a major surge in e-commerce and digital transformation, according to a new report, Covid-19 and E-Commerce; A global review by UNCTAD and eTrade. The report notes that e-commerce’s share of global retail trade increased from 14 per cent in 2019 to about 17 per cent in 2020.
UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir said that the trend was likely to continue throughout the recovery from the pandemic. Meanwhile, UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Isabelle Durant said that the digital transformation for businesses and consumers helped to mitigate the economic downturn caused by Covid 19 pandemic. On the other hand, she also pointed out that the digital transition is going to stay and will have lasting impacts on the societies and daily lives. However, she said that the society was not yet prepared for this transformation.
Some benefit, others fall behind
The report notes that consumers in emerging economies made the greatest shift to online shopping. The UNDP report mentioned a few examples. Mercado Libre, Latin America’s online marketplace, sold twice as many items per day in the second quarter of 2020 compared with the same period the previous year. African e-commerce platform Jumia reported 50 per cent jump during the first six months of 2020, the UNDP says.
Moreover, China’s online share of retail sales rose from 19.4 per cent to 24.6 per cent between August 2019 and August 2020. In Kazakhstan, the online share of retail sales increased from five per cent in 2019 to 9.4 per cent in 2020. In Thailand, downloads of shopping apps jumped to 60 per cent in just one week during March 2020. However, developed countries did not show a surge.
The report also maintained that the pandemic mostly benefited the world’s leading digital platforms. However, the solutions used for e-commerce, teleworking and cloud computing are provided by a relatively small number of large companies. These companies are based mainly in China and the United States.
UNCTAD’s digital economy head Torbjörn Fredriksson pointed out that the digital divide that already existed between and within countries will only worsen in the wake of the pandemic.
With economy plunged down in many countries, the report says that several of the governments took short-term and longer-term strategies for its recovery. Many governments in developing countries intervened to protect businesses and individual incomes.
Action points for inclusive e-commerce
The report charts out certain action plans to ensure more inclusive benefits from e-business. It says that the governments need to prioritize national digital readiness. This helps in more local businesses to become producers in the digital economy. Another thing is to bring changes in public policy and business practices to improve digital and trading infrastructure. It also helps in facilitating digital payments and establishing appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks for online transactions and security. The report also wants to capture value from digital trade and to make digital entrepreneurship the focus.
The countries should have better capabilities to capture and harness data for e-business. They need stronger regulatory frameworks for creating and capturing value in the digital economy. The international community should also find new and smart ways to work with governments and the private sector to leverage these opportunities.
In an earlier survey, the UNCTAD had noted that there was a shift to online shopping at time of Corona pandemic.


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A recent report has indicated that Nigeria is number one in Africa and ninth in the world in internet usage.
According to the report contained in the second edition of digitalfacts Nigeria, West and Central Africa; a publication produced by digitXplus, Nigeria has 63 million internet users.
The book stated that the following fifteen countries have the highest number of internet users in the world: China (632 million); USA (269 m); India (198m); Japan (110m); Brazil (105m); Russia (87m); Indonesia (83m); and Germany (68m).
Others are: Nigeria (63m); UK (57m); France (54m); Mexico (52m); Iran (49m); Egypt (43m) and South Korea (42m).
The publication revealed that since 2011, Nigeria has maintained a steady upward trend in the number of internet users.
It stated that from 35.7 million, the figure increased to 42.8 million; 51.8m; 57.7m and 63.2m internet users in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015; respectively.
Digitalfacts puts the total number of internet users worldwide at 3.2 billion as at December 2015; representing a whooping increase of 8.9% over 2.9 billion internet users recorded at the end of 2014.
Based on the regional statistics contained in the publication, Asia-Pacific had 1.6 billion internet users as at December 2015; while North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Central/Eastern Europe and Middle East/Africa boasted of 288 million; 325 million; 310 million; 238 million; and 429 million; in that order.
The book further made public that the Nigerian telecom sector, one of the largest in Africa, is driven almost completely by mobile telephones.
“Rapid expansion of the wireless networks and competition has driven down voice tariffs and made basic cellular services affordable, especially for the poorer rural consumers,” digitalfacts stated.
It also acknowledged that the relatively affluent urban middle class increasingly enjoys 3G and 4G LTE services; adding that consumers face issues pertaining to service quality and network congestion, while religious extremism in the north of the country has affected infrastructural development.


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Auto manufacturer Ford revealed its Mach-E electric SUV this week, which boasts a range of up to 300 miles. The cars are expected to hit the street in late 2020.
Chinese tech firm ByteDance is reportedly considering a U.S. rebrand of its massively popular short-form video app TikTok in order to shed its Chinese roots.
A Tesla Supercharger located at a Wawa convenience store in Parsippany, New Jersey, burst into flames on Sunday.
President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed he met Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at the White House to discuss monetary policy.
Boris Johnson has postponed tax cuts during a speech to business leaders Monday, dropping a key element of the Tory election manifesto.
FedEx founder Fred Smith described a NYT story on his company as an “outrageous distortion of the truth.”
The two sides had constructive discussions on each other’s core concerns in the “phase one” deal, Xinhua said.
Seven employees at a Milwaukee Popeyes lost their jobs after a massive brawl broke out at the fast-food chain, according to a video of the incident.
The holiday season is upon us which means actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand Goop is back and this year’s Christmas list includes a six-figure tree house, a $425 pair of gold handcuffs, and a 24-roll pack “essential bamboo toilet roll” for nearly $43.
South Dakota GOP Sen. Mike Rounds has drafted a bill that would help wealthy Chinese buy citizenship — and would also help steer investment away from the heartland states towards the increasingly wealthy states on the coasts.
A legal activist group that defends First Amendment rights has filed a lawsuit against the University of Illinois over its “bias response” reporting system which claims that the system forces students to “self-censor.”
Amazon has challenged the awarding of a $10 billion cloud-computing deal to Microsoft by the Pentagon, claiming political bias affected the decision.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a personal ally of U.S. President Donald Trump who is also eager to cultivate trade with China, said on Thursday his country will stay out of the U.S.-China trade war.
The just-departed head of the Department of Homeland Security quietly asked a group of lawyers to criticize President Donald Trump’s successful policy of keeping migrants in Mexico prior to their court hearings, according to a report in BuzzFeed News.
Investors see the impeachment hearings as a purely partisan political show with no real chance of the president being removed.
In a recent article, Bloomberg discusses how Tesla’s 2016 purchase of SolarCity Corp. could be one of the biggest mistakes the company has ever made.
The multistate antitrust probe of Google will reportedly not just include the company’s advertising business but will expand into the firm’s search and Android mobile OS products.
The GM strike, slumping oil prices, and sluggish global demand pulled down industrial output more than expected.
Uber has been ordered to pay close to $650 million in employment taxes in New Jersey after the state’s department of labor said the ride-sharing company misclassified its drivers as independent contractors, according to a Bloomberg report.
Prices for imported goods plunged by more than expected in October, undercutting critics who claimed tariffs would hurt consumers
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS regional summit in Brasilia on Wednesday to discuss increased trade between the two countries. Some analysts worried such an expanded relationship could have a negative effect on Brazilian industry.
The bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus called for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to hold a “timely vote” on the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement.
U.S. border agencies apprehended 42,000 migrants at the southern border in October, down 14 percent from September, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told reporters at the White House.
Blankfein jabbed back at Warren after she featured him in an ad attacking wealthy men for criticizing her policies.
According to a recent report, many popular health websites such as WebMD are sharing private medical data with the Masters of the Universe.
Tariffs did not raise prices on consumers. But they did initially pressure profits. The latest price data shows that has eased.
PayPal, which has banned some prominent conservative figures from its platform, has found a new group of undesirables to blacklist — porn stars.


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After months of speculation, TiVo released its highly anticipated streaming media player, the TiVo Stream 4K, on May 6 of 2020. The device—first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2020—missed its originally announced April release date.
That TiVo Stream 4K was a few days late probably shouldn’t have been too surprising. In the rapidly maturing OTT device business, which is dominated globally by Roku and Amazon, TiVo’s arrival is conspicuously untimely.
But the Silicon Valley company, pivoting away from the business it pioneered two decades ago, the digital video recorder, and recently merged with Xperi, has big plans for its new product.
TiVo Stream 4k Is Built for the Streaming Wars
According to TiVo’s chief revenue officer, Matt Milne, the company’s greatest challenge in releasing TiVo Stream 4K may have been the coronavirus pandemic and its unprecedented impact. Milne said TiVo product developers were busy working from home with the goal of getting the Android TV-based streaming dongle ready for market, and there’s a possibility that transition may have temporarily resulted in a slowdown.
The TiVo Stream 4K streaming dongle is the company’s offering in an arguably overcrowded OTT device market. The field is clearly dominated by giants such as Roku and Amazon, but TiVo believes it has something to offer to consumers with the new TiVo Stream 4K nonetheless.
“This is a product built for the streaming wars,” Milne said at Future's virtual NYC TV Week conference in 2020. The TiVo 4K Stream was to have access to every major app available in the Google Play Store via Android TV. It would also have voice control via Google Assistant—another standard Android TV accoutrement.
Parent company Xperi is also working with an unnamed smart TV manufacturer to produce TiVo Stream-powered smart TVs. The TVs are expected to launch in 2023.
The TiVo Stream 4K connects to a television via HDMI and is controlled with a remote—a peanut-shaped handheld device that mimics TiVo’s classic DVR remote. The device supports 4K UHD as well as Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos. Plus, Chromecast is built in.
TiVo was once a leader in the DVR market. Demand for that game-changing device has dwindled in the SVOD age, though, with users consuming more on-demand content. TiVo’s then CEO, Dave Shull, believed TiVo could seamlessly make the transition into the streaming market. TiVo’s edge, according to Shull, is its depth in search and recommendation technology. TV lovers have a Champagne problem, Shull said. They have more choice among more streaming apps than every. But it’s taking viewers, on average, around 11 minutes to find something to watch
“With TiVo Stream 4K, we have created a dramatically better experience for viewers who are tired of hunting through apps and interfaces to find the amazing content available through online content providers,” Shull told investors before the product launched. “We are excited to help TV lovers and occasional viewers alike make the most of their time in front of the screen and bring together the best of the streaming and TV experiences.”
TiVo Stream 4K was a bold move, backed up by an annual $100 million investment in search and recommendation technology. Shull said, “We’re going to bet on the streaming wars. We have a really easy solution to them.” He believed TiVo’s advances in search and discovery would help the TiVo Stream 4K device quickly move up in the competitive market—and, with any luck, make it a worthy contender next to heavy-hitters like Roku.
TiVo paired TiVo Stream 4 with the launch of a free ad-supported VOD service dubbed TiVo Plus.
As a bonus, the TiVo Stream 4K also features TiVo’s own streaming service, TiVo Plus. It allows users to access free movies and TV shows on its 49 streaming channel lineup. Interestingly, in a departure from its roots, the TiVo Stream 4K does not specifically offer a way to record live TV, and is instead leaving that feature up to Sling TV and its Cloud DVR technology
TiVo is also banking on its new corporate spouse, which has inroads into embedding integrated technologies into electronics like smart TVs. This is how Roku and Amazon Fire TV, of course, have become so proliferate.
Certainly, making a dent in the OTT device business won’t be easy. Not only are their powerful incumbents like Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV, Google is developing its own Android TV-based streaming product.
According to Strategy Analytics, which releases market share data on the OTT device business every summer, Roku controlled more than 50% of the U.S. connected TV market last year.
TiVo did have buzz—and perhaps, a little consumer curiosity—on its side.
The TiVo Stream 4K was named a Wall Street Journal “Best of CES” product at launch, and the company came out swinging in an attempt to make it an appealing option in a crowded device marketplace. ■
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The $100 million General Electric battery plant has landed 10 new telecommunications customers since it began commercial sales in July.
Demand for the plant’s Durathon battery, a technology that doesn’t overheat and requires less time to charge, has spread across Africa, Asia and in the United States, where it powers more than 3,500 cell towers.
The Durathon battery technology was refined at GE’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna.
Prescott Logan, general manager of GE Energy Storage, said in a new release, “Durathon batteries help solve key challenges for customers in emerging markets, where power outages and cycle disruption are prevalent, and in developed markets where batteries currently take up large spaces in cramped urban centers. The technology is unique because it can function in a variety of extreme conditions and store as much energy as lead-acid batteries twice its size while lasting up to 10 times as long.”
The 10 new customers represent $63 million in orders, with nearly $60 million of that total coming from a deal with Megatron Federal of South Africa. Their purchase was announced in July when GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt came to Schenectady to highlight the Megatron deal.
Megatron, an engineering company, was the first customer for the plant, inking a deal for 700 batteries earlier in the year. Shortly afterward, they expanded that order to 1,000 batteries and eventually signed another agreement to purchase 6,000 batteries. These batteries are expected to ensure continuous operation of telecom installations the company maintains in Nigeria.
The batteries will also allow Megatron to limit its carbon footprint, as they require fewer diesel generators to keep charged. The company is expected to lower fuel consumption and emission by as much as half.
GE states that these 10 telecom customers represent just the start of a bright future for the Durathon battery, which could be used in telecom installations all over the world. GE’s Immelt previously speculated that the battery plant’s sales could exceed half a billion dollars in 2015.
Local GE spokeswoman Christine Horne said, “These orders are a testament to the strong momentum of our business and another great step forward for the community in showcasing our strength as a global leader in energy storage.”
The battery plant in Schenectady, which falls under the umbrella of the company’s transportation division, begin scaling up its operations last year and began creating products for commercial sale this year. In 2011, the company hired 140 workers for the plant, and it is expected to employ about 450 when fully operational in 2015.
During Immelt’s visit this summer he said GE will invest an addition $70 million into the plant.
The company’s earlier investment into the site was made in conjunction with a $25.5 million tax credit package, $15 million from the state, $5 million from the Metroplex Development Authority and other tax incentives.
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Chinese luxury flash sales e-commerce website VIPShop is involved in a counterfeit case in Shenzhen, Guangdong, Tech channel of Tencent news portal reports today.
Liming International Clock, a clock distributor, is being held up by the Shenzhen Market Inspection Bureau because of counterfeit sales and production. According to an insider at the Market Inspection Bureau, Liming International Clock’s sales channels include VIPShop and the television shopping channel of CNRMall.
Authorities have confiscated about 6,000 allegedly Swiss-made watches while the company has only been able to offer customs documents for fewer than 100 watches. Officers from the Market Inspection Bureau have also found evidence of watch orders issued from a domestic watch manufacturer and forged certificates for watches and jewelry.
It’s reported that consumers were requesting letters of authorization from VIPShop but were being rejected for reasons of “business confidentiality”. A QQ user Group named “Defending Consumer Rights against VIPShop Counterfeits”, confirms out of about 200 members most complainants have confirmed VIPShop has refused to show letters of authorization for brand name goods. The VIPShop website advertises most of their products as having guaranteed genuineness with insurance provided.
Chinese e-commerce websites have long been haunted by the issue of counterfeits. Jumei.com and JD.com were reported for similar cases early last year. Distributors had forged customs documents with computer software, Adobe Photoshop, to pass the examination procedures of e-commerce platforms. According to an earlier report, brands faked included Burberry and Armani.
Kering SA, the parent company of luxury brands Gucci and Saint Laurent, sued Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba in May for allegedly neglecting to bar counterfeits from being sold on its e-commerce marketplace Taobao. Kering SA has turned to mediation after Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma announced that he’d rather lose than settle.
Terrible news for VIPShop, it will take them a long time to recover from this scandal. What they should be doing is looking for ways to gain back consumers trust & turn this negative misfortune into positive brand building.
Totally agree. But the rumor that VIPShop has counterfeits problem has been around for a while only this time people find true evidence.


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The great horsemeat scandal... of 1948: Archive newsreel shows UK food chain was rocked by the same crisis 65 years ago
- Newsreel company British Pathe has re-released the historical footage
- Two million Brits feared to have eaten horse without knowing
- It was legal to buy horse meat from butchers in 1948
It was a scandal that shocked Britain... unsuspecting diners tucking into their steaks were actually eating horse meat.
Except this time, the year was 1948.
Footage re-released by newsreel company British Pathe shows how the black market trade in such meat was rife after the war.
In clipped tones, the narrator says at one point: 'Young horses in the prime of their life, prize-winners... even mares with foals are all MEAT to such [black] marketeers.'
Two million Britons were feared to be eating the animal without knowing it, due to a racket that saw at least 750,000 horses slaughtered before it was eventually stamped out.
Scroll down to watch
Unbeknown: Two million Brits were feared to be eating horse without knowing it, due to a racket that saw at least 750,000 horses slaughtered before it was eventually stamped out
Suspect: Newsreel company British Pathe has re-released historical footage that exposed a previous black market trade that involved horse meat being passed off to unsuspecting diners on a massive scale
It was legal to buy horse meat from butchers in 1948, but the price was strictly controlled – which led to gangs passing it off as other meat in order to cash in.
The British Pathe archive film has been posted onto YouTube and on the British Pathe website.
The narrator speaks over footage of horses being led to market and horse meat being taken into butcher’s shops.
VIDEO Archive newsreel of 1948 Great Horsemeat Scandal (NOTE graphic content)
Full circle: The horse meat scandal engulfing Britain is a mirror image of a similar crisis that occurred in the UK food chain in 1948
Viewers are told: 'Public feeling grows against this sinister trade. The country demands action against a traffic so alien to the British people.'
Earlier in the clip, the newsreader outlined the scale of the problem and warned that veal from foals was also being sold.
He said: 'Horse meat is rapidly becoming part of Britain’s diet. Three million people buy it every week, but less than half that number know it.
'Only one in three buys from the butcher who sells at the controlled price of a shilling a pound.
All in a day's work: A plummy-voiced narrator speaks over footage of horses being led to market and horsemeat being taken into butcher's shops
For sale: Earlier in the clip, the newsreader outlined the scale of the problem and warned that veal from foals was also being sold
'It is estimated that three quarters of the horse meat sold goes to the backstreet restaurants, where the customers are offered black market steaks – or even veal - the flesh of foals.'
Viewers were then warned that the gangs involved were operating nationwide.
The narrator continued: 'To supply this sordid market, agents scour the country, they are present at every horse fair to buy meat on the hoof, viewing the animals with a butcher’s eye.
'Eight out of ten horses sold these days (in 1948) are said to reach the slaughterhouses.
The narrator said 'Horsemeat is rapidly becoming part of Britain's diet. Three million people buy it every week, but less than half that number know it'
Debate: The archive clip has caused a large amount of debate online, in the light of recent discoveries of horse DNA in meat products sold in British supermarkets
Meanwhile, today: Findus is taking legal advice amid revelations that its beef lasagnes contained 100 per cent horse meat
'Young horses in the prime of life, even mares with their foals, are all meat to such marketeers. In a little over three years a quarter of a million horses have been killed.'
The archive clip has caused a large amount of debate online, in the light of recent discoveries of horse DNA in meat products sold in British supermarkets.
A spokesperson for British Pathe said: 'The British Pathe news report from 1948 just shows how the horse meat scandal is no new phenomenon.
Back in the ‘40s horses were slaughtered and then sold to backstreet restaurants where the meat was passed off as veal or steak.
'It was a huge trade.'
One YouTube user said: 'The very thought of eating any more meat is beginning to make me sick.'
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Heres the cover for an upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer done by Trese co-creator Kajo Baldisimo with a 10 page backup with a Pinay Slayer
The Fanboy SEO Blog
Its the end of the road for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba as its final chapter will be released this week. There are news for spinoff series though
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Activision and Vicarious Vision has released the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 announcement trailer which will be released for PS4, Xbox One and PC!
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New Delhi, April 19 (Inditop) While most sectors face a slump in demand owing to the global slowdown, the franchising industry is scaling up operations and recruiting professionals, an industry lobby survey has said.
“While other industries are constrained to lay off people, franchisors are having a busy time as they are recruiting new franchisees,” according to the survey by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
“They also need more professionals in their organisations, now more than ever before for planning and managing their network growth strategy,” it added.
The total number of people employed in the franchise sector is estimated at 950,000. Of these, about 750,000 are permanent full-time employees, 80,000 are permanent part-time, while 120,000 lakh are casual labourers.
Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) boasts of having 70 percent brands of 408 brand franchisors.
Western India with 386 brands, bulk of them from Mumbai and Gujarat, occupies the second spot, followed by southern India with 250 brands (mostly in Bangalore and Chennai) and the eastern region with 58 brands (majority in Kolkata).
There are about 1,200 franchisors at present in the country, out of which 75 percent are of Indian origin and rest are international.
The report also stated that the Indian franchising sector is growing at the rate of 38 percent per annum with a market size of $7.2 billion and is expected to reach $20 billion by 2013.
There are 200 food and beverage franchises concepts across the country, forming 17 percent of the total pie.
The survey predicted that the Indian food service entrepreneurs will go on an expansion spree, providing a thrust to the sector making it grow at 48 percent in the next two years.


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SAN RAMON, California — Chevron Corp. (CVX) on Friday reported profit of $5.59 billion in its third quarter.
The San Ramon, California-based company said it had profit of $2.95 per share.
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.54 per share.
The oil company posted revenue of $54.68 billion in the period.
Chevron shares have declined 6 percent since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index has climbed nearly 8 percent. The stock has decreased almost 3 percent in the last 12 months.
This story was generated by Automated Insights using data from Zacks Investment Research. CVX stock research report from Zacks.


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SINGAPORE Accor Hotels and Yichang Xin Hua Yuan Real Estate announced the signing of Pullman Yichang, Wednesday, the first Pullman hotel in Hubei Province, China.
BANGKOK Thailand’s visitor arrivals surged by 1 million in just 10 days marked by the arrival of the country’s 20th million visitor Thursday.
SINGAPORE Visa’s latest Global Travel Intentions Study 2015 shows travellers from Singapore take more leisure holidays than their global peers, and travel more with their families.
BANGKOK SmartTravelAsia.Com’s latest travel poll “Best in Travel 2015? named Bangkok Airways as one of the top ten airlines, worldwide.
HONG KONG A nine-year-old girl left seriously injured by a bomb which killed 20 people at a Bangkok shrine — the youngest person wounded by the blast — returned to Hong Kong Thursday.
BANGKOK Diethelm Keller Travel Group has appointed a top STA Travel executive, Lisa Fitzell, as the new managing director of Diethelm Travel based in Bangkok.
BANGKOK Thailand’s tourism industry can still achieve its ambitious target of 28.8 million visits and generate THB2.2 trillion in revenue by year-end, although confidence in the country was badly
BANGKOK Tourism and hospitality professionals in Bangkok received a boost Wednesday with the news that the city has been shortlisted to host the Skal International World Congress in 2017.
DOHA Qatar Airways has relaxed controversial policies which saw cabin crew sacked if they became pregnant or got married within the first five years of employment, airline officials said on
BANGKOK An elephant in northern Thailand went berserk Wednesday, killing his “mahout” keeper before running off into the jungle with three terrified Chinese tourists still on his back, police said.
PARIS Interior and transport ministers from countries neighbouring France are to hold talks in Paris Saturday to discuss security measures following last week’s attack on a high-speed train that was
HO CHI MINH CITY Vietnam will develop island, sports and cultural tourism in the north of the country over the next 15 years according to a detailed long-term zoning plan.
LONDON - Hotels in the Asia Pacific region experienced positive results in the three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollar constant currency, according to July 2015 data compiled by STR
LONDON - African Media Agency (AMA) - The 2nd Africa - Japan Business Investment Forum is held from 31st August to 2nd September in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing together some of the key actors in
BANGKOK – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Friday (28 August, 2015) welcomed Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn as the new governor. His official start date is 1 September, 2015.
Golf is undeniably one of the most popular world-wide sports. Played by men, women and children of all ages, taking a holiday to one of the world's top golf resorts takes careful planning. The
SINGAPORE – Ninety five percent of Singaporeans have travelled abroad for leisure in the past two years, higher than the Asia Pacific (84 percent) and global averages (76 per cent), according to
XI'AN, CHINA - Wyndham Grand Xi'an South just celebrated its first anniversary of providing a sophisticated hotel experience to global business and leisure travelers, standing as one of the top hotel
SHANGHAI - Jin Jiang International Hotels plans to hold the 2015 roadshow in Japan between October 15th and 17th, in a move to enhance the visibility of the brands owned by Jin Jiang International
SINGAPORE – Royal Caribbean International’s Legend of the Seas, a long-time favourite among cruisers in Asia where she homeported between 2008 and 2013, has returned to Singapore to begin her new
The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa has been announced as Bali's Leading Spa Resort for 2015/2016 by the BTA with votes cast by the public, MarkPlus Center for Tourism & Hospitality and the Board of Advisors
SINGAPORE - Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is rolling out its Radisson Blu hotel brand's signature meetings program, Experience Meetings, across Asia Pacific. The launch kicked off with an exclusive
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) has launched a range of new features on the This is Queensland app designed to increase the number of drive visitors who travel throughout Queensland each year.
BANGKOK - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched a new study focussing on the way young people from Northeast and Southeast Asia experience travel, and how the future expected
SUZHOU, CHINA - Suzhou successfully hosted the 53th World Table Tennis Championships in the first half of this year. Meanwhile, Armani announced the world premiere of the leading international fashion


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Fiat India Automobiles Ltd (FIAL) has announced the retirement of Rajeev Kapoor from the post of President & CEO and appointment of Gurpratap Boparai as the new CEO of the company. Rajeev Kapoor joined FIAL in 2007 and has overseen the formative years of the operations to its present level and is retiring on reaching 60 years of age.
Until now, Boparai was so far heading the powertrain division of the company. The company claims that he possesses the requisite skills and experience and will be responsible to scale up Ranjangaon facility to further heights under his leadership.
Having joined Fiat India in 2007 as Assistant Vice President, Manufacturing and Powertrain Division, Boparai took over as Head of Powertrain Division in 2009 where he was responsible for business development and overlooking all the functions of powertrain plants like manufacturing, Finance, HR, PE and others.
Boparai comes with over 20 years of experience in the automobile sector and has worked with some of the most reputed companies. His successful stints include Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Limited, Ocap Chassis Parts Private Limited, Iveco and Tata Cummins Limited.
Yokohama India announced the launch of two new additions to its popular Geolandar series of tyres– the Geolandar X-AT and Geolandar M/T G003. These cutting-edge tyres are engineered to deliver unparal...
Volkswagen Passenger Cars India launched the new “My Volkswagen” app, a one-stop solution that offers a seamless, convenient and immersive digital experience for prospective and existing customers.
Delhi-based leading auto-tech company Rosmerta Technologies Limited introduced a cutting-edge AI-based Driver Monitoring & Alert System integrated with a vehicle tracking management system.


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Kemper Freeman, CEO of Kemper Development and owner of the Bellevue Collection commercial development, doesn’t foresee a recession for the East Side.
In an interview with the Puget Sound Business Journal, Freeman cited the East Side presence of Amazon and Microsoft as the foundation of his confidence in the East Side economy and health of the Bellevue Square shopping mall. He thinks the robust growth of Amazon and Microsoft will enable the East Side to withstand a recession caused by the COVID-19 virus outbreak that has closed many retail locations and led to mass layoffs throughout the Puget Sound region and state.
Though all details have not been worked out, Freeman predicted Bellevue Square could reopen with health and safety precautions in place by June 1.
Freeman oversees the Bellevue Collection that includes 200 retail brands, 80 restaurants, three hotels, theaters and luxury residences.
Read the entire interview here.


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News - BMW
BMW to return Benz fire
New BMW Australia chief here to wrestle market leadership back from Benz
8 Mar 2011
PHIL Horton is a man on a mission: to reclaim the Australian luxury car market leadership it relinquished to Mercedes-Benz in 2010 for the first time in seven years.
Enlisted to the top job at BMW Group Australia from February 1 after seven years as managing director of BMW Middle East, Mr Horton replaces Stavros Yallouridis, who resigned suddenly last November during the annual presidents’ meeting at BMW’s Munich HQ.
“We have a good team, we have a well established network and certainly as you might imagine one of the things Munich is looking for is that BMW can regain the number one spot that we lost to our main competitor last year,” he said at this week’s press launch of the new X3 – BMW’s most important new model this year – during his first appearance at an Australian national media launch.
BMW sold a total of 17,993 new cars and SUVs in Australia last year to be up 5.2 per cent in a market that lifted by 10.5 per cent overall. It was not enough to retain its dominance over Mercedes, which sold 18,272 cars and SUVs and a total of 22,329 vehicles (including commercials) – up 17.5 per cent on 2009.
BMW faces an uphill battle with just 2218 sales in the first two months of 2011 representing a dramatic 21.8 per cent plunge, although Benz has fared almost as badly with an 18.4 per cent sales slide with 2400 deliveries, including 1974 cars and SUVs, as the total market softened by 1.7 per cent overall.
“We’ve got a lot to make up,” admitted Mr Horton. “Last year was a tough year in a tough market and it’s one that’s not seeing a huge amount of growth at the moment. In the premium segment it’s certainly been very competitive. I certainly know I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
From top: Phil Horton, new BMW M5 teaser shot, the second-generation BMW X3 and the currrent BMW X6.
While the new X3 is expected to reverse its predecessor’s near-52 per cent sales decline while in run-out last year, every model in the line-up except the relatively new 5 Series and X1 is in serious sales decline in 2011 and, as Mr Horton points out, BMW’s volume-selling 3 Series is now in the last year of its model life.
“I think the product cycle isn’t helping us,” said the affable Englishman, whose final job in Dubai was to reintroduce BMW to Iraq – one of 14 separate markets in the Middle East, where only Afghanistan remains inactive for BMW – for the first time since the first Gulf War.
“When your bread-and-butter car – the 3 Series – enters the final year of its lifecycle, that’s never a great thing. Also 1 Series (hatchback) sells quite well and we’ve got the new 1 Series coming as well, so I think there’s a lot to do on the lifecycle side.
“Having said that, when we get both of those cars firing for us by the end of this year – early next year in the case of the 3 Series – we’ll have the youngest product range in the (luxury) segment, so there’ll be no hiding place then.”
Before the redesigned 3 Series sedan goes on sale here early next year (following its reveal at the Frankfurt motor show in September), BMW Australia will release the new 6 Series Convertible in May, the all-new 1 Series five-door hatch and facelifted 1 Series Coupe and Convertible in October, and the next-generation M5 super-sedan in late 2011 after its global debut at next month’s Shanghai motor show.
Further afield, BMW’s new 6 Series Coupe and all-new 6 Series sedan will arrive here early and late next year respectively, while the first model to emerge from BMW’s ‘Project i’ skunkworks, the all-electric i3 hatch previously codenamed Megacity Vehicle, should head Down Under within a year of its 2013 release in Europe, North America and Asia.
While BMW’s first i-car will eventually be joined by the i8 plug-in hybrid super-coupe based on the Vision EfficientDynamics concept, 2013 should see BMW introduce its first front-wheel drive model. Codenamed UKL and potentially named the 0 Series to signify its positioning beneath the 1 Series, the all-new sub-compact model will share the same underpinnings as Mini’s third-generation Cooper.
In the meantime, BMW will face what Mr Horton, who says Australia is a country he has always wanted to work in and plans to stay beyond his three-to-five-year contract, describes as an unprecedented level of retail incentives – at least compared to the Middle East, where an “inverted triangle” sales chart sees the 7 Series outsell the X6, X5, 5 Series and 3 Series, and where the 1 Series and Mini models are not sold.
“I see a lot of activity in the premium segment you don’t normally see there, in terms of all of us pushing the market,” he said. “I saw a Mercedes ad at the airport offering 50 per cent down now, 50 per cent in two years.
“The whole market seems to be very driven by offers at the moment – us included. We’re doing price point advertising at the moment. But the market’s not exactly vibrant, when you look at the lack of growth year on year.”
Mr Horton said that while the MkII X3 will be a vital player within BMW’s X-badged SUV model family – which routinely accounts for 30 per cent of all BMW sales in Australia, where a record 52 per cent of all BMWs sold last year were diesels – the X6 SUV-coupe had been an under-performer here compared to other markets.
“X5 is the top of the line SUV – except for X6, which for some reason hasn’t sold as well as it should,” he said. “It has strong appeal in markets like the Middle East, which has a massive focus on being the biggest and quickest and sexiest and newest.”
The 30-year automotive industry veteran, who has also worked for Renault and Ford, said he hoped BMW would reverse the X6’s relatively lacklustre sales with a five-seat version comprising a rear bench seat, first shipments of which are imminent.
“The X6 is not something I’ve dug into yet. I think there’s probably some more opportunity for it,” he said. “There’s no doubt that on all objective elements if you’re going to buy an SUV you want to buy the X5, whether or not you need seven seats, because the capacity of that car is superior.
“(But) the X6 was always conceived as being a (Porsche) Cayenne beater and I just think there’s probably more opportunity for it with a stronger positioning of the car at the performance end of the SUV range.
“It should really sit at the top of the BMW X family and I’m not sure it has that clear positioning here, so if it comes across as being an X5 with less space… We haven’t done ourselves any favours in this market by not offering a (rear) bench seat so that clearly becomes a four-seater without the option of carrying five people and it lacks the functionality.
“Dealer feedback shows customers think it’s a great shape but not only does it lack the luggage space of the X5 but they can only fit two people in the back.”What’s coming from BMW:
6 Series convertible – May
1 Series hatch redesign – October
1 Series coupe/convertible facelift – October
M5 redesign – Late 2011
3 Series redesign – Early 2012
6 Series Coupe – Early 2012
6 Series sedan – Late 2012
The Road to Recovery podcast series
23rd of December 2010
BMW names new boss for Australia
New BMW Oz MD Phil Horton set to arrive just in time for all-new X3 launch
20th of December 2010
BMW holds pricing of next-gen X3
Not just better, the BMW X3 is better value as prices held for 2011 models
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Motor industry news


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IF YOU'VE ever been to Glasgow airport and imagined you heard the sound of birdsong as you waited to board your flight, don't worry - you weren't in cloud cuckoo land. But you might want to check your bank statement.
Experts have been carrying out tests in the airport to see how the "soundscape" can help improve passengers' experience and make them spend more money in the process.
A mixture of computer generated ambient music and bird sounds has been subtly played into departure lounges.
The trial at Glasgow is believed to have increased sales in departure lounge shops by between three and 10 per cent.
BAA now plan to carry out a similar experiment at another of their airports later in the year - but minus the birds.
The technique is the brainchild of Julian Treasure, chairman of strategic sound consultancy business The Sound Agency. He has also worked with companies including Marks & Spencer, The Body Shop and InterContinental Hotels.
Mr Treasure, whose book Sound Business details how sales can be boosted and productivity lifted by the power of sound, said companies needed to take the noises they made very seriously.
"Sound affects human beings profoundly. Psychologically, it changes moods and emotions.
"It changes how effectively we can think and in terms of behaviour it can change what you do, choose and spend.
"Many businesses spend millions on their design and how they look, but they do nothing about how they sound.
"The sounds you hear in shops, offices, in cafs are often just the result of how things are. No thought has been put into them. We are trying to encourage business to change that."
Mr Treasure said supermarkets were the worst sound offenders, followed by shops, offices and airports.
He said there was a "huge opportunity" to improve the soundscapes and improve many businesses.
Mr Treasure said in the trials at Glasgow airport at the end of last year, the sound was generated in a way so it was never repeated and passengers did not get bored of hearing it.
"The effect on passengers was very profound. They enjoyed it. They found it restful."
It is thought that the relaxing effect of the sound also encouraged more browsing in the shops, and so more spending.
Charles Byrne, head of sponsorship and experience at BAA, said the trial at Glasgow was deemed to be a success.
"It helped to improve the experience of passengers at the airport because we were providing an appropriate soundscape.
"There was also a sales benefit. It was not enormous, but it was there," he said.
Mr Byrne said they were now looking at how they could take the idea forward with a trial at another airport.
But he said they would be taking away the birdsong in the future tests.
"The feedback from passengers was largely positive, but we did get one or two who were worried that there were birds in the building," Mr Byrne went on.
Dr David Lewis, a consumer psychologist, said more and more businesses were starting to take notice of the importance of sound in their premises.
"They realise that sound is not just background noise. It does affect how people behave."
"People do not like silence but it is how you fill that silence.
"I think sound design will become more important as stores compete with each other."
More noise less work
OFFICE workers are also the victims of noise pollution at work, according to experts.
Julian Treasure, from The Sound Agency, said research showed that working in a noisy office could distract employees so much that it could cut productivity by as much as two-thirds.
He said this was a particular problem in an age where more companies are opting for open-plan offices.
"Often if you work in a very noisy environment it is hard to concentrate," he explained. "If you cannot concentrate, it takes longer to do what you are doing."
Mr Treasure said offices needed to supply quiet areas where people could work.
"What we suggest is that there is a working space, meeting space and quiet space in offices.
"People can then go and work for as long as they want in complete silence; a bit like a library," he said.


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Online research company comScore has published the latest figures from its comScore MobiLens service.
It shows that 5.8% of mobile subscribers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK - a total of 13.5 million people - have accessed online retail sites recently. That's an overall 80% increase from 2010.
Swiss watch manufacturer TAG Heuer has announced what it's calling "the first Swiss luxury touchscreen smartphone".
The TAG Heuer LINK runs v2.2 of the Android operating system and follows in the footsteps of the MERIDIIST, the TAG Heuer luxury phone produced by French manufacturer ModeLabs in 2008.
Research in Motion has announced that BBM - the BlackBerry Messenger instant messaging service - is now going to be available from within certain applications.
The new version 6 of BBM will work with 'BBM connected' apps , enabling users to interact with friends from within the app itself. For example, a BBM connected game would let users chat in real-time while the game is being played.
Samsung Electronics has announced its profits for the second quarter of 2011.
Revenue was up 4% year-on-year to 39.44 trillion Korean Won (£22.8 billion), while consolidated net income was down 18% year-on-year to 3.51 trillion KRW. Consolidated operating profit for the quarter was 3.75 trillion KRW, down from the company's record figure in Q2 2010.
Although most UK mobile networks are reporting around half of their customers use 'pay as you go' mobile phones, the figures are still substantially smaller in the USA. However, the number of US prepay subscribers is increasing.
The New Millennium Research Council think-tank reports that the total number of prepaid 'no-contract' mobile subscriptions in the US will account for one out of four mobile subscriptions by the end of this year.


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Legal sharks are circling around Apple, investigating reports of unexpected M1 MacBook screen cracks which many affected customers claim occur during normal usage.
- Some M1 MacBooks could be vulnerable to screen cracks
- This apparently happens during normal usage
- Apple representatives offer an interesting explanation
- One law firm may be prepping a class action suit around this
Why are some M1 MacBook models susceptible to screen cracks?
Washington, DC-based law firm Migliaccio & Rathod is currently investigating web reports and complaints from users who experienced screen cracks on Apple’s new MacBook Pro and Air. Writing on Reddit, Apple’s forums and social media, many affected users claim to have spent upwards of $600 for an out-of-pocket repair or a screen replacement.
That’s because Apple’s standard warranty does not cover display damage. In some cases, however, Apple apparently did cover repair costs. Making this matter worse, there’s no guarantee that the screen crack defect won’t reoccur at a later date. According to complaints, this is almost certainly a real issue rather than some sort of accidental damage.
M1 MacBook screen cracks: A real issue or imagination?
Even though we don’t know what percentage of new MacBook buyers have experienced this, Migliaccio & Rathod will probably target Apple with a class-action lawsuit.
The firm cites “widespread reports” of Retina displays being susceptible to screen cracks during normal usage. Some owners saw cracks appear while adjusting display angle.
According to an announcement on the Migliaccio & Rathod website:
Users allege that they have opened their devices from the closed position without applying any undue pressure, only to find dramatic cracks in the Retina display, often accompanied by black bars running across the screen.
—Law firm Migliaccio & Rathod LLP
Apple support apparently described the issue to one disgruntled customer as “a contact point crack.” Apple has certainly been aware of this issue for the better part of 2021 because first reports detailing the problem date back to December 2020.
What’s Apple’s stance on cracked M1 MacBook screens?
Those who took their notebook to Apple heard from a representative that his could happen when a piece of debris is lodged between the keyboard and screen upon its closing.
We’re not into servicing sophisticated notebooks so we don’t really know whether that’s true or not. For what it’s worth, that explanation sounds too silly to be true, at leasts to us.
So are you an M1 MacBook Pro or M1 MacBook Air customer whose Retina display has suffered from screen cracking? If so, then certainly feel free to contact Migliaccio & Rathod at email@example.com or by their US phone number (202) 470-3520.


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iSchool advances in game development contestPosted November 01, 2010
ACU's dedication to mobile learning and the iSchool's commitment to teaching mobile application development is catching people’s attention. The latest to take note is Unity Technologies, with the company announcing ACU as one of only 20 schools to make it into the first round of the Unity Mobile Education Grant process.
“It is an exciting opportunity to work with the Unity game engine,” says Dr. Brian Burton, assistant professor of information technology. “This recognition of what the iSchool and ACU have accomplished in developing for mobile devices enables us to continue to provide training and instruction that prepares our students with industry standard software and hardware.”
The purpose of the grant is to develop course curriculum and learning materials centered on mobile development using Unity's Android game software.
For making it into the first round, ACU will receive Unity Pro software valued at $3,000 and a Google Nexus phone for testing.
Burton began work on a proposal for the grant during the summer. Now in the first round, ACU will submit a proposal for a one-semester mobile games curriculum and two 20-minute video example lectures from the proposed course.
According to Burton, the proposed curriculum will be used in a School of Information Technology and Computing class during the spring semester.
Three schools will be selected to receive the full grant, receiving a lab pack of 20 licenses of the Unity 3D Pro game engine, the Android Pro game engine and 20 Google Nexus phones for application testing.
Unity Technologies develops tools for game developers and creative visualization professionals to deliver top-notch 3D web content, as well as games on a variety of platforms.
“The company makes one of the top gaming engines,” says Burton. “I have worked with several similar companies, and Unity is by far the most education developer friendly company that I have worked with.”
For more information about the grant, visit http://unity3d.com/education.