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Now that we have entered the second part of the year, we thought you might want to know details of the next stage of the Canon 2016 roadmap. However, before we get into that, it is worth pointing out that there will be just one more new DSLR camera model this year.
Try not to let that worry you too much, as there is a host of other new Canon camera models coming in the second half of 2016, along with new Canon lenses.
First up there’s the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, and while we do not have a specific date, we suspect an announcement will be made in August, with deliveries shortly after. There should also be new EOS M bodies at some stage this year, although possibly towards the end.
The Canon Cinema EOS C700 has also been confirmed, but not expected for launch until at least September.
This is all of the Canon cameras expected for release this year, and so now onto the lenses.
Expected Canon lenses for 2016 consist of the Cinema EOS Anamorphic, which will go alongside the Cinema EOS C700. There should also be new EOS M lenses, as well as the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM, Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS II USM and the EF 24-105 f/4L IS II USM, which should be announced alongside the EOS 5D Mark IV in a couple of months.
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BlackBerry’s much-anticipated Storm may still be weeks away, but a less-groundbreaking but still anticipated new BlackBerry has just cropped up at T-Mobile. The BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8820, announced last month, officially launched for T-Mobile on Monday, making it the first network to get the slim new folder.
The big news, of course, will be pricing for the device. The Flip version of the Pearl will carry the exact same price tag as its predecessor the Pearl 8120: $150 with a two-year contract. Initially, the phone will only be available in black, but a red version more suited to its consumer-centric marketing push will launch on Oct. 20.
In addition to the specs RIM unveiled earlier, the T-Mobile version will pick up support for UnlimitedHotSpot calling, which allows unlimited nationwide calling through Wi-Fi, and myFavesSM, which adds a list of five frequent contacts to the phone’s main menu.
- BlackBerry capitalizes on 2017’s surprising success with new Bronze Edition KeyOne
- BlackBerry KeyOne review
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- Physical keyboards live on! Here are seven QWERTY phones you can buy right now
- T-Mobile keeps adding more customers with low prices and freebies

domain: news


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London Mayor Boris Johnson has given his blessing to the new six-runway option for a Thames Estuary airport, saying:
“This is further welcome argument in favour of the feasibility of having a new hub airport in the Thames estuary.
With so many options available for a multi-runway hub airport in a new location, it would be folly for the Airports Commission to give countenance to the prospect of expanding Heathrow, the most noise-polluting airport in Europe.”
A new plan for an airport on the Thames Estuary has been unveiled - with six runways instead of the four originally proposed.
Plans for a Thames Estuary solution to London's airport capacity problems have been dubbed 'Boris Island' after the Mayor expressed his support for them.
The plans have been drawn up by Testrad - the consortium set up by the Mayor to look at Thames Estuary proposals. The new airport would be called 'London Britannia' and sit on a purpose build island off the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
There are around 500 harbour seals and 200 of the larger grey seals in the Thames Estuary, according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) said.
ZSL's conservation scientist Joanna Barker said:
We knew there were a lot of seals in the Thames but 708 is pretty incredible.
In previous results there's been a good few hundred in the Thames, but it's great to have a figure we can use as a baseline.
Now we know the numbers and where they are, it can help with conservation.
It's a really good indicator because the seals are the top predators in the marine food chain, and it shows that the marine environment is relatively good and is producing enough food for the seals to eat.
Three new giant cranes have arrived from China into the new deep-sea port in the Thames Estuary. The site is near Stanford le-Hope in Essex. The quay cranes which are taller than the London Eye measure 138 metres in height - two and a half times the height of Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square.
The cranes will be used to lift containers from big ships onto the shore. The LOndon Gateway is due to open at the end of 2013. When complete, its owners say it could bring 36,000 jobs to the economy.
The cranes are taller than the London Eye, weigh 1,848 tons each, will reach across 25 rows of containers on a vessel and can lift up to 80 tons at a time.
Why so large?
London Gateway will be handling the world’s largest container ships, operated by shipping lines to provide economies of scale and reduce environmental impact on the main shipping trade lanes. That means lower cost and lower carbon supply chains for retailers and other cargo owners.
And the future?
The 25-box outreach takes the cranes beyond the width of the world’s largest container ship. “The size of the cranes future-proofs the port, allowing London Gateway to handle the next generation of ultra large container ships,” says London Gateway operations director Tim Halhead.
Business leaders have called for a decision on the future of London's airports to be speeded up. They say uncertainty over the proposed hub airport in the Thames Estuary is detrimental to Heathrow and UK Plc's ability to compete in international markets.
A Government report on aviation policy isn't due until summer 2015


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Apple is facing a class-action lawsuit in New York for misleading advertising in which the company claims that its iPhones are water-resistant.
Most cell phone manufacturers claim that their handsets have some resistance to liquids, mainly water. Apple is one of them, its latest models boast in several advertisements to have an IP68 certification, a high resistance to water and dust. However, the experience of some users is far from what is shown in advertising.
The technology company is facing a class-action lawsuit in New York. Several users claim that the company misrepresents or exaggerates the quality of its phones in marketing campaigns, misleading its customers who have been left without a phone and warranty.
Antoinette Smith, a citizen of the Bronx, is one of the plaintiffs. She claims that her iPhone 8 was in contact with water, within the parameters set by the manufacturer in terms of resistance and IP certification, but when Smith tried to fix her iPhone 8, the company refused to cover the damage caused by that liquid.
The iPhone 8, in particular, offers IP67 certification, i.e. maximum water resistance to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. The iPhone 12, meanwhile, reaches IP68 certification being resistant to 6 meters deep for 30 minutes. We have recently seen how Apple boasted about all the shocks and stains that can withstand their phones in this announcement.
However, to reach this certification in laboratory tests, as denounced in the lawsuit, only tests are performed with static and pure water, seawater, pool water, or other liquids that are more corrosive are not taken into account. “This means that consumers who are at the edge of a pool or the ocean and whose devices are splashed or temporarily submerged will be denied coverage because the water contained chlorine or salt,” the lawsuit reads.
Also, Apple sells its phones with an internal water indicator, like many other manufacturers. This means that when the iPhone is opened at the service center, the indicator reveals that the phone has been in contact with water or a liquid that has gotten inside the device. In locations with high humidity in the environment, such as a bathroom, this indicator can activate, leaving us without a warranty.
Smith, one of the plaintiffs, assures that she would buy an iPhone again as long as the exaggerations are eliminated and the conditions of resistance of the phone are indicated in the advertising. In November 2020, the Italian market regulator, L’Autorità Garante Della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) fined Apple 10 million euros for misleading advertising about the iPhone’s water resistance.


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,A shopper wears a face mask at Bankstown in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia will reopen its borders and end lockdowns when 80% of its population is fully vaccinated. – EPA pic, July 30, 2021.
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AUSTRALIA will reopen its borders and end lockdowns when 80% of the population is fully vaccinated, Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed today, sketching a long road out of “Fortress Australia” virus restrictions.
A year-and-a-half after Australia cocooned itself off from the rest of the pandemic-ravaged world, Morrison unveiled a series of targets he said could begin to be reached by the end of the year.


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In addition, Cisco, with its Spark for Developers, is including open APIs that programmers can leverage to create their own apps to run on the Spark platform.
Spark for Developers and some Spark services are available now. Complete Spark services will be available in the United States in early 2016 and will roll out to other countries throughout the year and into 2017. Spark Hybrid Services will be released in 21 countries in the first quarter of 2016.
The Spark platform comes as businesses continue to migrate toward software- and cloud-based collaboration offerings to address such trends as increasingly mobile workforces, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and the cloud. Established players like Cisco and Microsoft are moving to make their offerings more cloud-enabled, while a growing number of smaller vendors—such as 8x8, RingCentral and, on the video conferencing side, Vidyo and Blue Jeans Network—are looking to gain traction through their software- and cloud-only products. There also is a move toward a single common platform for both on-premises and cloud communications offerings, such as ShoreTel's Connect offering.
Analysts with IHS in September said that worldwide revenue for business cloud voice-over-IP (VOIP) and UC reached $4.2 billion in the first half of 2015 and could hit $15 billion for the full year in 2019.
Trollope has been in charge of Cisco's collaboration efforts for the past three years. Over the past 12 months, the company has refreshed its entire endpoint lineup and reduced the number of endpoints from 65 to 17, while growing revenue for four consecutive quarters, including by 17 percent in the last quarter. Cisco in August announced a partnership with Apple in which the companies will make their products work better together, and has bought a number of companies in the space, including Tropo and, more recently, Acano.


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Customs: Efforts for connection and reform of specialised inspection
Affirm the role of connection
More than six years ago, the Government expressed determination for the reform of specialised inspection by issuing Resolution 19/2014 / NQ-CP, requesting the Ministry of Finance to work with other ministries and agencies to review and re-evaluate import-export processes and procedures and reduce clearance time for enterprises. In 2015, the Ministry of Finance (General Department of Customs) “shaped” a comprehensive picture of the shortcomings and inadequacies of specialised inspection and proposed the Prime Minister issue Decision 2026 / QD-TTg dated November 11, 2015 approving a scheme on measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of specialised inspection for import-export goods and assigning ministries and agencies to carry out the measures in the scheme.
So far, as a focal point, the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Customs) has worked with other ministries to carry out measures to comprehensively reform the specialised inspection for import and export goods in accordance with the Government’s guidance on cutting specialised inspection procedures. Motivated by the Government’s drastic guidance and the participation of the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Customs), other ministries and agencies, the specialised inspection for import-export goods have had initial results such as the proportion of imported consignments subject to pre-clearance inspection has decreased, from about 26% in 2015 to 19.1%; the specialised inspection processing time has decreased significantly. However, these results have not the Government’s requirement for reducing below 10% for imports in 2018-2019; and there have beenmany shortcomings and overlaps in inspections.
Problems in the specialised inspection are ongoing, making it difficult for import and export activities. From that fact, the Government is once again determined to reform by assigning the Ministry of Finance to preside over the development of the project of specialised inspection reform with the Customs agency as the focal point for specialised inspection at the border gate (except for items related to security, defence and quarantine), and the specialised management ministries in charge of post-clearance audit”(described in Resolution No. 99 / NQ-CP dated November 13, 2019, and Resolution Decision No. 02 / NQ-CP dated January 1, 2020 of the Government).
It is clear this is not a simple task, because if the Ministry of Finance (the General Department of Customs) was in the role of the focal point to promote the implementation of ministries and agency, now the Ministry of Finance (General Department of Customs) is assigned as thefocal point to conduct specialised inspection at the border gate”. As per the statement at the recent meeting with representatives of ministries and agencies, Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai said “the scheme on reforming model of quality inspection and food safety inspection for imported goods is a difficult one. Despite difficulties and the Covid-19 pandemic, over the past 10months, the Ministry of Finance (General Department of Customs) has developed and worked with stakeholders to review and complete the scheme.Focal point for specialised inspection at border gates
Pham Thi Ngoc Thuy, Deputy Director of the Office of Private Economic Development Research Board (Board IV under the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform) who has closely followed the scheme from the first days, said this draft has basically met the wishes of the business community, the most important thing now is the decision of the Government and the implementation work of the General Department of Customs.
She also said the Government and the Prime Minister have had many directions to reform the specialised inspection as well as import-export activities, the reform has paid off, but there but still have not yet solved a number of issues, especially coordination with relevant ministries and agencies at the border gate. “The business community is especially consistent when discussing solutions to reform the specialised inspection from the first day of approaching the idea until now when it comes to detailed discussions. 99% of enterprises say that if the Government is determined to implement solutions to reform specialised inspection, it will really be a revolution in import-export activities,”said Thuy.
Tran DucNghia, the representative of the Vietnam logistics business association (VLA) said the VLA agreed on the policy of the scheme and committed to accompanying the management agency in the implementation. However, the scheme should introduce solutions to deal with conflicts when enterprises do not accept the specialised inspection results.
From the perspective of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Dau Anh Tuan – Head of the Legal Department, said he highly appreciated the careful research and consultation with ministries and agencies of the drafting board. Many VCCI’s opinions were recognised in this draft. In particular, the scheme has been adjusted in the content during the development but still clearly identifies the goal of reducing costs and time for enterprises. This is something that needs to be focusedon and reflected more clearly in the draft scheme as well as the draft decree. Dau Anh Tuan stated that the scheme should allow enterprises to have more rights to choose their conformity assessment agencies, but the draft must clarify how to implement this effectively in practice. It is important not only to facilitate import-export activities but also to ensure fairness and transparency for the participation of conformity assessment agencies.
Given the support of stakeholders and the determination and urgent implementation of directions of the Government and the Ministry of Finance to fundamentally reform specialised inspection for import–export goods, the General Department of Customs has researched and developed the scheme on reforming the model of quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods. The General Department of Customs has also established a drafting unit for the scheme on reforming the model of specialised inspection for import-export goods; the Ministry of Finance has established a working group to implement the Government’s directions on the specialised inspection reform; organised a lot of meetings with domestic, international experts, associations, businesses andresearchers and reported to the Government Office and received directions and comments from ministries and agencies in the development of a scheme reforming the model of quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods. Along with that, the General Department of Customs also researched and accumulated experience in the implementation of countries to apply in Vietnam to build a new model of quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods.
The scheme adheres to the target of cutting costs and time and creating favourable conditions for enterprises, improving the competitiveness of the economy based on substantive reform of the specialised inspection towards the Customs agency as the focal point of quality inspection and food safety inspection for import goods at the border gate, ensuring the effectiveness of State management and protecting legitimate rights and interests of production and business organisations and individuals and consumers.
By N. Linh/ Huyen Trang


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Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of the online graphic-design tool Canva, has a two-pronged plan for success. First, build one of the world’s most valuable companies. Next, do as much good in the world as possible.
The two goals “fuel each other,” Perkins, 36, tells TIME. The philosophy might seem like an odd North Star for a company offering templates for presentations and save-the-date cards, but it’s just one way Perkins is reimagining the modern tech company.
Headquartered in Sydney, thousands of miles away from Silicon Valley, with its reputation as a global arbiter of innovation, Perkins has built a design platform that easily rivals those offered by giants like Adobe and Microsoft, all while keeping accessibility at the heart of its mission.
After launching in 2013, Canva has grown to offer services in over 100 languages, with 125 million users in 190 countries. The company operates on a “freemium” subscription model that includes basic features at no cost, with the option to pay for upgrades. They also provide free subscriptions to educational organizations and nonprofits. The company counts 85% of Fortune 500 companies among its users, but Perkins believes the most salient examples of the company’s impact are in how it’s changed everyday lives—from refugees using the platform to design résumés as they job hunt in a new country, to a woman creating a flyer that helped her track down her birth mother.
In 2018—the year Canva joined the ranks of “unicorn” startups valued at over $1 billion—just 9% of those new companies had at least one female founder. Recent numbers are likewise dismal: in 2021, the number was only 14%.
Perkins has been comfortable going against the grain. “There’s always been forks in the road [where we could] do what every other company is doing, or just do what feels natural. Every time we do what feels natural, it always ends up being the thing that we build on.”
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In a new survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents rate social and environmental issues, such as pollution or employee health, as “significant” or “very significant” among their sustainability concerns. Yet only about 40% report that their organizations are largely addressing them. Even worse, only 10% say their companies fully tackle these issues.
Interestingly, the survey shows that while 67% of the business leaders surveyed strongly agree with the statement “climate change is real”, only 9% strongly agree that “my company is prepared for client change risk.”
In the 2013 report, new research by MIT Sloan Management Review and The Boston Consulting Group looks at companies that “walk the talk” in addressing significant sustainability concerns. So-called “Walkers” focus heavily on five fronts: sustainability strategy, business case, measurement, business model innovation and leadership commitment. For them, addressing significant sustainability issues has become a core strategic imperative and a way to mitigate threats and identify new opportunities.
Among the characteristics of “Walkers” in the survey,
- More than 90% have developed a sustainability strategy, compared to 62% among all respondents.
- 70% have placed sustainability permanently on their top management agenda, compared to an average of 39%.
- 69% have developed a sustainability business case, compared to only 37% of all respondents.
Among the approximately 5000+ business leaders worldwide who participated in the research, the vast majority identify environmental and social issues as “very significant: or “significant.”
Top management support is a very powerful catalyst of sustainability efforts — 68% of respondents say senior management has the greatest influence on sustainability endeavors. Employees are also part of the equation — 24% of respondents cite employees as the most influential. Employees place great value in working for companies with strong sustainability footprints. And they are often at the ready to accelerate progress.
According to the research report, “There is little disagreement that sustainability is necessary to be competitive — 86% of respondents say it is or will be. Sustainability’s next frontier is tackling the significant sustainability issues — or, in the parlance that is gaining currency, “material sustainability issues” — that lie at the heart of competitive advantage and long-term viability. Yet many companies struggle to match their strong level of sustainability concern with equally strong actions. They still wrestle with settling on which actions to pursue and aligning around them.”
About the Research
For the fifth consecutive year, MIT Sloan Management Review, in partnership with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), conducted a global survey. The 2013 survey included more than 5,300 executive and manager respondents from 118 countries. This report is based on a smaller sub-sample of 1,847 respondents from commercial enterprises. Respondent organizations are located around the world and represent a wide variety of industries.
Originally Posted on Eric Block on Responsible Branding.


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“Some things are just like riding a bicycle; you jump on, pedal, and hope you don’t fall.”
Henry Mosquera, Sleeper's Run
Tencent Music Entertainment is set to float on the US stock market this October for a valuation of around $29 to $31 billion. That’s higher than $25 billion, which was expected to be reached this year. The company is the music distribution arm of Chinese media giant Tencent, which is a mutual investor with Spotify. Tencent owns 7.5% of Spotify and Spotify owns 9% of Tencent Music. The music service touts over 700 million monthly users, of which around 15 million are paying subscribers.
The Music Modernization Act has also overcome a hurdle as Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and MMA proponent Senator Chris Coons (D-DL) is set to make a handshake deal that is said to combine Wyden’s ACCESS to Recordings Act and the MMA’s CLASSICS Act. Sources claim the details of the compromise haven’t all been hammered out yet, warning “the devil is in the details.”
YouTube in India has also reached 245 million monthly active users, making India one of the largest markets for the streaming service. This is mostly in part due to affordable 4G plans in the country, which made internet service more easily accessible, and to YouTube’s prioritization of local language content. Projections for the next couple of years show that YouTube in India may increase to 500 million active users, according to the 2018 Google for India event.
Now, the details...
Compiled by Heidi Seo
Exploration Weekly - August 31, 2018
Tencent Music to IPO This Fall
Tencent Music Entertainment, majority-owned by Chinese media giant Tencent, is set to go public with a valuation of around $29 to $31 billion on Thursday, October 18. The Financial Times reported earlier this month that it is anticipated that TME’s listing will take place in New York – leaving the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ as the most likely stock market candidates. After being valued at $11.5 billion last December, Tencent’s valuation has jumped up to around $30 billion and Spotify’s comparative performance on the NYSE is said to be a factor as its market cap has also risen to over 30% since – to $34.4 billion as of August 27.
Senator Wyden to Reach “Handshake Deal” with Music Modernization Act Proponents
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Chris Coons (D-DL) reached a handshake agreement that is expected to combine Wyden’s ACCESS to Recordings Act and the MMA’s CLASSICS act on Tuesday night. The bill is now one step closer to passage as Wyden’s proposal previously was said to conflict with the MMA before, calling to federalize recordings made before 1972, which are currently covered under state law. Sources say that the deal is optimistic, but it may not be officially closed yet, as the details of the negotiations are still unclear. On top of that, SiriusXM is also lobbying against the CLASSICS act of the MMA, saying it wants to be on a level playing field with terrestrial radio by not paying royalties on pre-1972 recordings. Plans to appease Sirius by MMA proponents or lobby against them remain to be seen.
YouTube in India Expected to Hit 500 Million Monthly Active Users in Two Years
India is now one of YouTube’s largest markets, sitting at 245 million monthly active users. According to the 2018 Google for India event, YouTube has seen an uptick in usage in India over the past two years due to the introduction of affordable 4G plans, which in turn led to a wave of new creators joining the platform and more users to easily access the service from all parts of the country. YouTube also prioritized local language content in recent years, and now over 95% of YouTube’s video consumption in India is in regional languages. Google projects that YouTube in India will increase to 500 million active users in just two years. The company is also investing in localizing search and adding seven other Indic languages for Google Assistant later this year.
YouTube Music Now Available in Four New Countries
YouTube Music is now officially launching in four new countries - The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg. Currently, the streaming service is available in 17 other markets, including the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, South Korea, Canada, the UK, and multiple markets across Europe. According to sources, YouTube Music Premium and the YouTube Premium tier is said to be priced at €9.99 and €11.99 respectively. In Denmark, it would be 99 and 119 kroner. The subscription service is also expected to arrive in India, in reference to a recent job posting spotted by Music Business Worldwide.
Too Much Sharing on Streaming Family Plans Worry Label Execs
Spotify’s average revenue per user (ARPU) has declined 12% in the second quarter of 2018 from the prior-year quarter, and label executives are concerned this may decrease revenue, especially when they begin to renegotiate their licensing deals with Spotify. “Now we’re in a corner, and it’s not good for anybody,” says one top major-label executive. As a solution, labels are pushing to bump up the price of family plan subscriptions to help compensate for the potential revenue lost when family plan subscribers share their passwords with friends outside their families.
Apple Music Tests Integration with Android Auto to Increase Subscribers
Apple Music is initiating a beta test for Android Auto integration that will make Apple Music the top option for music on the car dashboard. The new strategy is designed to grow Apple Music’s subscriber base significantly. Spotify is currently already supported on both Android Auto and CarPlay, Apple’s in-car solution. Nevertheless, Apple Music will not be undergoing complete integration throughout the Android ecosystem, possibly due to its products coming into competition with Google Home and Chromecast. The streaming service is one of the fastest growing music subscription platforms in the world, with 5% growth per month, according to the Wall Street Journal, and it currently totals 50 million monthly active subscribers.
Online Activists Organize Protests Against European Copyright Reform
Following the July decision by the European Parliament to reject a proposal of the new EU Copyright Directive, a grassroots online campaign was initiated to send tweets and e-mails to representatives objecting the provisions. European Parliament members reported several million e-mails in total. The Copyright Directive will soon be debated and amended before its scheduled vote on September 12. Online activists believe the controversial Article 13 of the directive would lead to “censorship machines”. If the legislation passes in September, it would move to the EU “trilogue” process, or final negotiations, before it becomes law.
Lawyers of Miley Cyrus File Summary Judgment Over Single Lyric in Copyright Infringement Case
Lawyers of pop star Miley Cyrus officially filed paperwork this week requesting that the entire copyright infringement lawsuit against the musician be dismissed via summary judgement. Jamaican dancehall artist Flourgon, also known as Michael May, alleged in March that “We Can’t Stop” infringed his 1998 track “We Run Things” over a single lyric. Lawyers for Cyrus, her songwriting partners, and Sony Music filed a motion that they believed May had no case, arguing that Cyrus’ use of the lyric was “fair use” and May’s lyric was merely a “transliteration” and non-original use of a pre-existing phrase in Jamaican Patois.
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2nd Hand Tunes to be reincarnated
2nd Hand Tunes will reopen as Hyde Park Records this Friday, following its closing in October. Three of its former employees decided to open the new used music store, according to Boomer Lowe. "We used to work herethis place used to kick ass," he said. "We said, there can't not be a store here.' "
Besides Lowe, Hyde Park Records (at 1377 East 53rd Street) will be run by Derek Erdman and John Brearley.
Lowe said the store has been remodeled, and is "several times better" than the former store.
"2nd Hand Tunes was dirty," he said. "Now, it doesn't feel like you're in a penitentiary."
He said the quality of music would be improved, and said the new owners had each spent 20 years picking up music.
Lowe said he did not know that the Checkerboard Lounge would be open nearby. When told that the blues lounge is expected to open in Harper Court in the springtime, Lowe said it would be "fantastic."
"It can't hurt," he said. "The more music fans in the neighborhoodand there's tons of themthe better." The store's website, www.hydeparkrecords.net, said the grand opening will be Friday night from 7-11 p.m. and will include the spinning of DJ Meaty Ogre. Food will be served.


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Factor-based smart beta ETF strategies have quickly gained popularity as investors look to rules-based indexing methodologies to enhance returns and minimize drawdowns.
For example, some are embracing so-called wide moat smart beta ETF strategies to access many quality global companies, such as the VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (NYSEArca: MOAT).
“MOAT is a great one that has a timeless investment philosophy built behind it,” Ed Lopez, Head of ETF Product, Vaneck, said at Inside ETFs 2019. “It basically finds great companies and buys them at a great price. There’s actually one other step to that – which we’ve really been talking about, which is process. So, buying great companies. Buy them at a great price. Do it over and over and over again.”
MOAT implements Morningstar’s economic moat rating to identify strong companies with wide economic moats. Additionally, VanEck offers other “wide moat” ETF strategies, including the VanEck Vectors Morningstar International Moat ETF (NYSEArca: MOTI), which takes a similar moat rating methodology to select overseas component holdings. The more recently launched VanEck Vectors Morningstar Global Wide Moat ETF (GOAT) implements its economic moat indexing methodology with an all-encompassing global exposure.
The economic moat investment strategy can help investors achieve improved long-term, risk-adjusted return by focusing on quality companies that help limit downside risk while still participating in potential gains.
The Morningstar Economic Moat Rating methodology assign an economic moat rating to companies, but it also focuses on those that show attractive valuations or are more attractively priced. Beyond factor effects, stock selection is also an important driver as the underlying indices combine both quality and valuation to help investors potentially generate improved returns.
According to Morningstar’s indexing methodology, there are five sources of economic moats: Intangible assets that include brand recognition to charge premium prices. Switching costs that make it too expensive to stop using a company’s products. Network effect that occurs when the value of a company’s service increases as more use the service. A cost advantage helps companies undercut competitors on pricing while earning similar margins. Lastly, efficient scale associated with a competitive advantage in a niche market.
An investor would end up with the most attractively priced stocks among the companies that have garnered the “wide moat” rating.
Watch the full interview between ETF Trends CEO Tom Lydon and Ed Lopez:
For more ETF-related commentary from Tom Lydon and other industry experts, visit our video category.


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By Anthony Boadle Mon May 28, 7:28 PM ET
HAVANA (Reuters) - With a catfish fry for Cuban officials and pleas to U.S.
President George W. Bush to ease sanctions, dozens of American
businessmen began negotiating new sales of agricultural products to
communist Cuba on Monday.
"I challenge Mr. Bush to tear down this embargo," said Mississippi
cotton farmer John Newcomb, borrowing
Ronald Reagan's famous 1987 line to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at
the Berlin Wall.
Executives of 114 companies from 25 states, backed by five members of
the U.S. Congress, are looking to increase sales of rice, wheat, corn,
soy products, peas, lentils, chicken, pork, supermarket goods,
newsprint, wooden poles and lumber.
U.S. sales of agricultural products to Cuba are allowed on a cash-only
basis under an exception to the embargo enforced against Castro's
government since 1962. Despite the hostility between Washington and
Havana, U.S. exports have totaled $1.55 billion since 2001.
The United States has become Cuba's biggest food supplier.
But sales fell 10 percent in 2005 to $350 million, and dipped further
last year to $340 million, a decline blamed on a 2005 decision by the
Bush administration to require Cuba to pay before its foods shipments
can leave U.S. ports.
U.S. farm groups are calling on Washington to lift trade sanctions and a
ban on travel to Cuba. Allowing American tourism to Cuba, they say, will
boost sales and generate Cuban income to pay for more American food imports.
"I believe free trade and travel between our countries is a fundamental
human right," said Bill Hawks, a former agriculture undersecretary in
the Bush administration until 2005.
The Mississippi delegation led by Hawks treated Cuban officials on
Sunday evening to a fry of catfish, which the state hopes to sell to Cuba.
U.S. rice producers are angling for a bigger share of what used to be
their largest foreign market before Castro's 1959 revolution.
Cuba imports $1.6 billion in food each year to feed its people,
including 700,000 metric tons of rice, a staple in the Cuban diet.
Vietnam supplies 400,000 metric tons.
"When it all shakes down, we believe a big part of the rest will be from
the United States," said Marvin Lehrer, an adviser to the USA Rice
Federation. Lehrer said Cuba would replace Mexico as the top market for
U.S. rice if restrictions ended.
Lehrer said business with Cuba was booming until the Bush administration
tightened payment rules, forcing Cuba to pay through third countries due
to the lack of direct banking.
"When the changes came, things soured," he said.
Cuba's food import agency Alimport hopes to recover growth in business
with the United States by closing deals worth $150 million this week.
Cuba turned to the United States for food, citing its competitive
quality and prices and its proximity, and Alimport
says purchases could triple if the embargo goes.
Cuba has spread its business among 35 states, a move some analysts say
is aimed at encouraging domestic U.S. opposition to the embargo. Several
legislative proposals to lift or ease the sanctions are currently before


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Los Angeles Times visits the Casa Dragones Tasting Room
Read the full Los Angeles Times article here.
Inside a bar that sparkled like a delicate jewel box, New York mixologist Rael Petit whisked together a charcoal-colored cocktail that practically glowed against the backdrop of the 4,000 obsidian tiles that cover the walls.
I was in Casa Dragones’ reservations-only tasting room, a six-seat space in an unassuming corner of a hybrid retail/dining spot in this city northwest of Mexico City, at a celebration of the fall opening of the independent, small-batch tequila distiller’s newest venture.
This spirit experience rivals the finest single-malt Scotch or the smoothest whiskey.
Guests can make a reservation to visit Casa Dragones Tasting Room for a comprehensive tasting of Casa Dragones Joven Sipping Tequila and Casa Dragones Blanco. Guests can also choose dates when resident mixologists will be available for craft cocktail tastings. Reservations can be made by contacting Co[email protected].
—Featured in Los Angeles Times, April 1, 2017


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School administrators have discovered that the iOS 7 software update removed supervision profiles installed on iPads to filter content and provide remote-management privileges.
“Apple did not realize that installing iOS 7 would remove our (and thousands of organizations across the country) safety protection measure, which now makes the iPad devices unfiltered when accessing the Internet away from school,” said a memo from the Manitou Springs (Colo.) School District 14 to parents, verified by AllThingsD. “In the short term, the district will be collecting iPad devices at the end of each day until the safety protection measure is reinstalled.”
Apparently schools across the country are struggling with the issue. Some have altered their DNS to block Apple’s over-the-air update.
“When we first caught wind of the bug, I tweaked our DNS to stop iPads from checking for software updates,” said a school administrator. “That helped us to keep a lot of our iPads running iOS 6.1.3. We plan to maintain those settings until Apple addresses the issue.”
Apple has confirmed the problem and says a fix will be issued this month.
“Some business and education users have reported that their supervised devices have reverted to unsupervised when they upgrade to iOS 7,” Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller told AllThingsD. “We are aware of this issue, and will have a fix this month.”


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Wireless carriers have largely shifted to charging customers based on how much data they use, with voice and texting becoming unlimited commodities, and Verizon Wireless has come out on top in that business model, according to a new survey. According to a report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, Verizon has the most customers paying more than $100 per month on average.
More and more operators are embracing partnerships with over-the-top application providers and are seeing their revenue increase and churn fall as a result, according to a new report from mobile service optimization and charging company Allot Communications.
Wearable devices with cellular connections that are not tied to smartphones will hit the market later this year, according to a senior AT&T executive. Glenn Lurie, president of emerging devices at AT&T Mobility, said that factor will be key in sparking adoption of wearable computing devices.
According to a new report from BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk, Verizon Wireless is in a better position than AT&T Mobility to maintain ARPU since fewer Verizon subscribers currently subscribe to shared data plans above 10 GB.
Some T-Mobile US customers are reporting that they are still incurring data charges from using music streaming service Spotify despite a recently introduced new plan from T-Mobile that exempts that data from counting toward customers' data caps.
Swisscom became the first operator in Switzerland to deploy LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), with commercial networks launched in two railway stations on Monday.
The escalating number of Wi-Fi hotspots will likely lead to more data traffic being delivered over Wi-Fi networks than wired networks by 2018, according to Cisco's Visual Networking Index, which was released today. The report also predicted that there will be 53 million Wi-Fi hotspots globally by 2018, noting that both cable companies and wireless carriers are extending their reach by employing Wi-Fi hotspot strategies.
NICE, France--Better usage of network analytics tools would provide a more granular picture of how much data is being used for which services and products, enabling operators to provide more customised and targeted services to end users, according to an Alcatel-Lucent executive.
Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), Russia's largest mobile carrier, shrugged off political unrest in Ukraine to grow net income from the business by over 100 per cent in the opening quarter of 2014.
I and many other consumers have benefited massively from competitive landscapes shaped by price aggressors such as 3 UK and Free Mobile. At the same time, operators have suffered from price wars, and in some markets are trying to consolidate in order to reduce the impact of competition.


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World Bank on Tuesday expected Thailand’s economy to contract at least 5% this year, which is among the sharpest projected declines in the region, as the Covid-19 outbreak shock hit the country with a significant economic impact and it would take more than two years to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Thailand economic growth slowed from 4.2% in 2018 to 2.4% in 2019, reflecting an impact of U.S.-China trade tension on exports demand, along with slowing public investments driven by delay in the passage of the FY 2020 budget, and a drought.
Following the pandemic, the country was likely to be one of the hardest-hit economies in the East Asia and Pacific Region. In the first quarter of 2020, Thai GDP posted a contraction of 1.8% year-on-year and 2.2% quarter-on-quarter.
“The economic impact of Covid-19 has been severe, particularly due to Thailand’s openness to trade and exposure as a tourism hub.” said in the Thailand Economic Monitor: Thailand in the Time of Covid-19 by World Bank.
“The tourism sector, which accounts close to 15% of GDP, has been severely impacted with a near cessation of international tourist arrivals since March 2020. Finally, the mobility restrictions imposed in response to the outbreak, while critical to flattening the infection curve, have severely dented private consumption, particularly for retail and recreational services. This is reflected also in the sales of durables, which have seen a sharp decline of nearly 12% in y-o-y terms in Q1 2020.” added the report.
Moreover, World Bank has estimated the pandemic would lead to sever jobs losses, which reference to the NESDC forecast in which 8.3 million workers will lose employment or income.
The economic recovery is projected to pick up in 2021, growing by 4.1% and by 3.6% in 2020. However, it depends on an effective economic response to support vulnerable households and firms.


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There hasn't been much new coming from Volvo besides the 2011 S60 sedan. Now the Swedish carmaker has released a new video teasing a design study. They are calling this design study the Concept Universe, and it's a look into the changes that are in store for Volvo in the near future. In the clip, we see some sketches, a bare outline and car sitting in a darkened garage.
Besides that we can't really see much else, but it does appear to look like a full-size four-door coupe. Enjoy the clip.


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Sree Lakshmi Printing and Packaging has invested in the Kongsberg X24 in order to help meet the rising demand for short run and sample-making, thereby reinforcing its position as one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of corrugated rolls and packaging boxes in India.
N. Padmanabhan, Managing Director of Sree Lakshmi Printing and Packaging mentioned that since competition has increased in the corrugated packaging market, the customers have been focusing more on customization and personalized packaging solutions.
“Our range encompasses customized corrugated boxes, fiberboard, heavy duty and paper corrugated boxes as well as corrugated rolls,” stated Padmanabhan.” “The customization and personalization trend has really driven the demand for short run and sample-making, which is vital for us as it allows us to visualize and approve customized designs before bulk production.”
Adding further, he also stated – “We wanted to add to our facility with a machine that would address our current sample-making and short-run production needs, producing accurate die-like finish samples for all types of corrugation boards from micro flute to 3A flute, and that additionally could finish our folding carton boards,” he said. “It was also important to us that the new machine would be reliable and upgradable to meet our future needs, which is why we have invested in the Kongsberg X24.”
The Kongsberg X24 cutting table is renowned for being the most versatile digital finishing device in the market. The combination of superior quality and a wide range of specialty tools delivers the speed, power and flexibility to handle a wide variety of materials, such as corrugated, folding carton, solid board, foam, coating blankets, wood and a long list of plastics.
Rafiq Shaikh, Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems Sales and Service Leader stated that with the X24 in their set-up, Mr. Padmanabhan and his team can easily upgrade tooling options to meet growing and changing business needs. “The versatility of the X range means that tools can be added specifically to work with new materials, new applications, or deliver more capacity so that a business can add volume and enter new market segments,” he stated.
“Sree Lakshmi has already invested in the PowerHead tool, which helps induce 50 kg downforce to crease anything from micro flute to 3A flute boards,” he stated. “The 150mm crease wheel ensures flawless creasing, producing die-like finish samples and helping deliver faster turnaround and approval and the Multi-Purpose High-Frequency Knife tool can handle even recycled heavy-duty corrugated boards.”
Rafiq mentioned that the sample-making process helps manufacturers fine-tune their designs and make necessary adjustments before full-scale production, minimizing the likelihood of costly errors.
“The X24 also accurately registers the underside printed samples, ensuring perfect registration and finishing of the printed samples, while improving efficiency with less setup time and reduced wastage,” he stated. “The new machine also addresses Sree Lakshmi’s need for strength, durability and speed to ensure they meet the requirements of their customers.”


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Federal Excise Tax Exorcised
May 25, 2006, 12:37 PM by (staff)
A year after a bill was introduced to repeal the Federal Excise Tax on phone service, the Bush administration today announced the tax will be repealed. The Excise Tax is a 3% surcharge on all local and wireless phone service that the government has been collecting in some form since the Spanish American War. Treasury Secretary John Snow has announced the administration agrees with Federal Court ruling that the tax is outdated, and is behind a new Republican bill to end the tax. In addition to ending the tax, the bill includes a refund to taxpayers for the past three years of phone taxes.
Feb 9, 2022
Samsung today announced its lineup of flagship phones for 2022: the Galaxy S22 series. The top-end S22 Ultra sees the biggest changes as it essentially absorbs Samsung's Note series with an integrated S Pen stylus and a more Note-like shape and design, instead of the Contour Cut design of the other models.
Mar 23, 2021
OnePlus today announced the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, its newest flagship phones. The 9 Pro is a true flagship-class phone with a QHD AMOLED display with variable refresh from 1 to 120 Hz, and IP68 water rating, starting at $969.
Jan 14, 2021
Samsung today officially unveiled its Galaxy S21 series of flagship phones for 2021. All three models sport a distinctive new "Contour Cut Camera" design where the metal frame extends around one corner to surround the rear cameras.
Apr 14, 2020
OnePlus has revealed its new lineup for 2020 — the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro — both of which have 5G. They also manage to pack larger batteries into slightly thinner bodies compared to their predecessors.
Nov 15, 2019
Google has updated its Maps app with the ability to speak aloud the name and/or address of your destination in the local language when traveling abroad. The feature is designed to be used when hailing a taxi or asking a local for directions.
Ok, so no one can say now that the Republicans never did anything nice for us. . .
As for Bush, it's not he has vetoed a piece of legislation yet so no worries there.
For those of you who are as uneducated as the poster above me, what they have just done is create an immediate 13 billion dollar hole in our budget, along with a recurring 4 billion dollar+ hole...
I love how it says exorcised
So... Anybody want to talk about...
If the evidence the "consipiracy theorists" have regarding the Moon Landing and 911 is factual, it does force me to raise some serious thoughtful questions that do not have easy answers.
In regards to the first moon landing, when the...


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The Indian government’s proposal to independently review content on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime Video for obscenity and violence has sparked a significant debate regarding freedom of expression and censorship. This move reflects the growing concerns among lawmakers, citizen groups, and the general public about the explicit and offensive content available on these platforms.
One of the key reasons behind this proposal is the increased popularity of streaming services in India. With a projected market value of $7 billion by 2027, streaming platforms have become a significant source of entertainment for Indian audiences. However, this popularity has also attracted criticism, particularly regarding content featuring Bollywood stars that is considered vulgar or offensive to religious sentiments.
India’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry had arranged a meeting on June 20 meeting. Leading streaming platforms such as Amazon, Disney, Netflix, Reliance’s broadcast unit, Viacom18, and Apple TV, have attended the meeting, Reuters news report said.
Unlike films shown in cinemas, which undergo review and certification by a government-appointed board, streamed content has been exempt from such regulations. This disparity has prompted the government to call for an independent panel to review streaming content and ensure that it aligns with a code of ethics. The aim is to proactively identify and remove unsuitable material from these platforms.
The proposal to establish an independent content review panel has faced resistance from the streaming industry, as it raises concerns about potential censorship and the impact on creativity. Content creators and industry executives argue that pre-censorship could hinder the growth of the sector and lead to job losses. They emphasize the need to address obscene and vulgar content specifically, rather than implementing blanket regulations that may stifle artistic expression.
In response to the proposal, streaming platforms have expressed their commitment to implementing strong parental controls and ensuring the suitability of international content. They have also emphasized their willingness to consider age ratings set by an expert panel, rather than self-regulating in this aspect.
The government’s proposal highlights the need for a balance between freedom of expression and the responsibility to protect public sensibilities. While it is crucial to address concerns related to explicit and offensive content, it is equally important to avoid excessive censorship that could restrict creative freedom and hinder industry growth. Striking a balance that respects cultural sensitivities while safeguarding artistic expression and innovation is a complex challenge.
The outcome of these deliberations will have implications for the Indian streaming industry and its future trajectory. It remains to be seen how the government, streaming platforms, content creators, and other stakeholders can collaborate to find a middle ground that addresses the concerns raised without stifling creativity and hindering the growth of this burgeoning sector.


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In a rare top government agency’s direct response to concerns about a jobs crisis, China’s Cyberspace Administration said on Friday that the country’s 12 tech giants have hired more workers than they’ve lost in the past nine months. He cited the recent “heated public discussion” of reports of “mass layoffs” at major internet companies.
CAC stated that recently
talked to leading technology companies such as Alibaba (WOMAN)
, tencent (CEGI)
, JD.com (JD)
, Pingduoduo (SDA)
, and a group of ants. In these companies, 216,800 people left their jobs between July and mid-March, and 295,900 people were hired during the same period, the study found.
“Total employment in companies is steadily increasing,” the CAC said in a statement. They have recorded strong growth in some new businesses, and their revenues have “repeatedly hit new highs,” he added.
“They are full of confidence in the future development,” said the CAC.
The CAC statement paints a more optimistic picture than recent earnings reports from some of these companies, as well as comments from other government officials about the state of the labor market in general. It also contrasts with the reluctance of tech companies themselves to respond to reports of job cuts.
In recent weeks, the international media informed
that China’s tech sector has seen its biggest job loss since the government launched crackdowns in late 2020 to rein in its most powerful companies.
The once free industry has long been China’s main source of well-paid employment, but companies like Alibaba and Tencent are reportedly preparing to lay off tens of thousands of employees to cut operating costs. Both repeatedly declined to comment.
Some of the biggest players in Chinese tech are Alibaba, Tencent, and Pinduoduo. — they all reported the slowest earnings growth ever, and their share prices have halved since the start of the regulatory crackdown.
Private job surveys also show that jobs are shrinking in the economy, and in particular in technology. Analysts predict that job losses are likely to worsen because the downturn in the tech sector comes at the same time as a crisis in real estate and related sectors, which account for about 30% of China’s GDP.
However, while the CAC sounds optimistic about high-tech jobs, other senior government officials paint a much bleaker picture of the labor market.
Hu Chunhua, Vice Premier of China, on Friday called for a “universal effort”
to stabilize employment.
“Due to the Covid outbreak and other factors, the employment situation is difficult and difficult right now,” Hu told representatives of companies and government departments. state Xinhua.
He urged executives to stabilize and expand employment, and officials should address the problems faced by businesses in a timely manner.
Just a few days earlier, Premier Li Keqiang stressed the importance of maintaining stable employment and helping small businesses through difficult times.
The economy is facing “new downward pressure” amid new Covid outbreaks and rising global food and commodity prices, Li said at a key government meeting last Wednesday.
“Some businesses have been hit hard and some have even shut down production or closed businesses,” he said. “We must step up rescue efforts and provide job security in response to their hardships.”
The Chinese government has set a 5.5% GDP growth target for 2022. But the World Bank and some investment banks have recently warned that the damage done to China’s economy by the zero coronavirus policy is growing.


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Just call them the beer bros now!
The Jonas Brothers have joined forces with their favorite brew to create a batch of their favorite beer.
Coors Light announced in October that they’ve come out with a limited-edition amount of ale crafted in the honor of Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas, according to Delish.
The “Sucker” singers collaborated with the beverage company after making a stop at the Coors Light brewery in Colorado, where they helped toss the hops into the alcoholic beverage.
And to further leave their mark on the beer, a drawing of the brothers is featured on the white and blue mountains that normally adorn Coors Light bottles.
"We are long-time fans of Coors Light and were really excited to be invited out to the Coors brewery," the Jonas Brothers said in a statement. "We can't wait for our fans to try the limited edition six-pack of Coors Light that we helped to brew.”
The trio added, “And it's pretty amazing that our faces are on the iconic mountains on the bottle."
The JoBros have not kept their love for Coors Light a secret, as Joe and wife Sophie Turner made sure there was plenty on hand at their wedding in France this summer. In addition, the beer made a cameo in the group’s “Only Human” video as Kevin is seen drinking from a Coors bottle in one scene.
“It's exciting to see how they make Coors Light part of their life moments both big and small,” the President of AC Golden Brewing said.
While officially for sale, the limited-edition six pack of Jonas Brothers Brew will only be available in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Nashville and Tampa, while supplies last.


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|Day Low/High||1,425.01 / 1,499.75|
|52 Wk Low/High||211.00 / 1,794.99|
* My 2018 Tesla surprise is likely to be realized * Elon Musk has likely fractured some of the enthusiasm of his future bond and equity investors Surprise #15: Tesla Stalls Out Tesla isn't able to successfully manufacture the Model 3 at scale. The ...
TheStreet's founder and Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio Manager Jim Cramer was pleased with Tesla CEO Elon Musk's earnings call.
This is not the time to keep throwing capital at this market.
TheStreet's founder and Action Alerts PLUS Portfolio Manager Jim Cramer weighs in on Thursday's trending topics from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
Let's check under the hood (or boot) again.
There are very few publicly traded companies that can carry a balance sheet with as many warning signs as Tesla, and still have a market cap of $50 billion.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk had some blunt words for analysts on its latest earnings call Wednesday.
Know what? Everyone else who manufactures autos can design and deliver electric vehicles.
Other than Tesla's somewhat bizarre earnings call, these are the headlines you need on your radar.
I was so thrilled that Elon again broke through the truth barrier.
It all sounds great until you look at the earnings numbers.
Tesla's earnings release on Wednesday is likely to be a disaster. Apple's results on the other hand were awesome.
"You said it, man. Nobody screws with the Jesus." -- Jesus Quintana, The Big Lebowski Thanks as always for reading my Diary today. I hope it was informative and value added. Tonite we have Tesla's earnings. As the shorts have learned in Tesla -- nob...
Tesla reports earnings on Wednesday and while the company may be a hot mess these days, it's still pretty great to be CEO Elon Musk. Watch out video and find out why -- in 10 seconds!
After Apple's earnings beat, investors are turning their attention to Tesla. What are you watching Wednesday morning?
Consistency in discipline will make the difference.
With eyes on Tesla's upcoming earnings report, we took a look at what CEO Elon Musk has been working on since he made the big Model 3 announcement.
Markets gave up all of their initial gains to close Monday trading in the red.
As T-Mobile and Sprint announce their merger and T-Mobile CEO John Legere believes their union is necessary for the US to compete with China on 5G, we took a look at what exactly 5G is and what it means for you.
These top picks provide exposure to outlet centers, healthcare facilities, student housing and self-storage facilities.
If you thought last week was busy, hang onto your hats.
Amazon posted quarterly earnings of $3.27 a share, crushing estimates of $1.27.
Tata Motors's Jaguar and Land Rover divisions are the perfect platforms for BEVs and AVs.
The chart of an ETF focused on the FANG stocks doesn't look very good.


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Archive for April, 2021
MSI today launched their latest graphics card, the Radeon 4890, powered by a 55 nanometer core and 800 stream processors.
XFX is looking to make a splash into the ATI market and bundled their new Radeon 4890 with a copy of Tom Clancy's HAWX game.
Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd has launched EX-10 (1xHDD), EX-20 (2x HDD?s), EX-30 (3xHDD?s) and EX-50 (5xHDD?s) external HDD rack to support your storage needs in an all aluminum frame and housing.
It seems the FileFront saga was not an April Fool's Joke, but is indeed staying open due to new developments, we've got the scoop inside.
BFG Technologies announced today the BFG GeForce GTX 275 OC graphics card that offers outstanding PC gaming performance and advanced processing power for all types of users.
OCZ Technology Group, Inc., announced that their Z-Series line of PSUs have been certified at the highest efficiency levels by 80 Plus?.
GIGABYTE announced their entire range of Intel X58 chipset motherboards now officially support NVIDIA SLI technology, allowing users to take full advantage of multi-GPU performance.
Today we have a boatload of ATI 4890 and Nvidia GTX 275 reviews hitting the headlines, plus all the usual components to finish the week.
Our daily Sampler of the latest and greatest reviews and happenings from around the tech world, keeping you informed and current.
A high octane AM3 board at a great price.
Razer and Valve, two gaming industry heavyweights, are teaming up to announce a first person shooter game, Hellrazer, along with an innovative new controller.
GeIL has announced a whole new family of DDR3 dual and triple channel memory kits, the Gaming series EVO ONE, available up to 2133GHz speed.
Antec announced two new cases, the P183 and P193, based on the popular 182-series designs, offering improvements to build on those successes.
In an apparent move to steal some of the limelight from AMD's launch of the 4890 on April 2, Nvidia is advancing the GTX 275.
Super Talent Technology announced its patented RAIDDrive, which dramatically increases the performance and slot capacity of PCI Express-based storage solution.


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CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Monday offered two airline shares that he believes investors should pick up for their portfolios.
“There’s always a beef market somewhere, and right now it’s flying at 30,000 feet. My favorites are the two most profitable, that’s [Delta Air Lines] and [Alaska Air Group]. Just remember to call the registry gradually on the way up, because remember, these are airlines. “They tend to be a booming industry,”[ads1]; said the “Mad Money” host.
Shares in Delta fell 0.96% on Monday, while Alaska shares fell 0.19%.
Delta said earlier this month that it expects unit revenues to increase in double digits in the second quarter compared to the pre-pandemic three years ago. The company also expects total sales to reach 97% of the 2019 levels
CEO Ed Bastian said on “Squawk Box” on the heels of the company’s latest quarterly results that the airline recorded its highest monthly sales ever for orders in March, and that this trend will continue into April.
“I’m still stunned,” Cramer said of Bastian’s comments.
Alaska set a sales record in March, but cut the plan by 2% by the end of June due to a lack of pilots.
“While not one of the big ones, it’s extremely well run, still, with a much higher mix of leisure travelers compared to business travelers,” Cramer said.
“The only problem with this stock is that everyone knows Alaska Airs one of the strongest players in the industry, which makes it harder for them to deliver an upside surprise. That’s why the stock is actually down a few dollars from where it traded before. , “he added.
Cramer said that although there is a beef market in airlines, there are a few companies whose equity investors should avoid.
“I wanted to steer clear of the companies involved in the bidding war for Spirit Airlines – it’s JetBlue, Frontier and Spirit themselves,” he said.
Register now for the CNBC Investing Club to follow Jim Cramers every move in the market.


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As a part of Nissan Canada's offensive of five new models in 15 months, the sub-compact Versa hatchback will receive a fresh new look that takes design cues from the new Nissan Note, sold in Japan and other overseas markets.
A team of designers and product planners from Nissan recently landed in Pensacola, Fla. to visit the United States Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron training facility. The objective of their mission was simple: find inspiration.
Portuguese criminals need to take extra care if they want to avoid being caught red-handed. Local police have taken delivery of a fleet of stealthy Nissan LEAF electric vehicles, allowing them to arrive at the scene of a crime in near silence.
Innovation meets ambition. It all starts with the total re-imagining of brand foundation models Altima, Pathfinder and Sentra, and continues with a wide range of enhancements to various other 2013 Nissan cars, trucks and commercial vehicles.
As the Donington 6 Hours approaches this weekend, Nissan's first GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez has added another 24-hour race to his schedule, as it was announced today that he would join the GT Academy Team RJN squad in the Spa 24 Hours at the end of the month.
Nissan Motor (Thailand) Ltd. today reported sales results for the first half of Calendar Year 2012 totaling 51,482 units, a year-on-year increase of 40% from 36,694 units during the same period last year.


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Jason Kingsley, CEO, Rebellion
This year is going to be very big for gamers and games makers in general. At last we have the gaming hardcore returning to the fold with the two awesomely powerful consoles that are the Playstation 4 and the Xbox One, whilst PC continues to thrive and grow. Meanwhile, digital delivery is becoming the main way people get new games and an expanding player base will continue to be driven by people who have secret gaming machines in their pockets disguised as smartphones and tablets.
There is the solid possibility that the UK games industry will finally get a tax break boost similar to that given to the movie and TV industries. That will encourage investment and expansion in our export-driven business and benefit the UK economy.
Lastly, the traditional TV media will begin to realise it is now only worthy of comment when someone hasn’t played games, rather than lazily thinking gaming is just for kids or is somehow an unusual or geeky pastime. And, hopefully, the professionals who run successful computer game developers and publishers will finally stop being called whizzkids, now that many of us are leaving our 40th decade on the planet.
Steve Filler, CEO of tech and distribution, Europe, Rockabox
One of the big success stories of 2013 is programmatic pre-roll video. Many of the players in this space are seeing significant growth despite a lack of quality content to advertise on or around. This growth is likely to continue in 2014 as the market matures and brands feel more comfortable targeting audiences rather than well-known sites, although this sector will need to strike the perfect balance between targeting and environment.
The sector where I expect to see the biggest shake-up in 2014 is the video content distribution market. Many agencies and clients currently seek greater control and transparency, as they are dissatisfied with the quality of sites where social, viral and branded content is distributed. The low cost-per-view model used by many players naturally excludes quality content sites from being part of these campaigns, which in turn impacts advertising confidence.
Another area to watch is branded content production. More and more brands are seeing the value of creating unique, custom content to engage and entertain potential customers, as increasing numbers of users are avoiding standard digital advertising. At Rockabox, we are seeing a significant increase in the number of clients and agencies looking to create innovative, engaging branded content in 2014, rather than run the risk of being left behind.
Alice Driscoll, MD, pd3
As our love affair with the smartphone grows, so does our appetite for and dedication to social media innovation. The emergence of a number of key themes last year will come into sharper focus in 2014.
Transient platforms including Snapchat have challenged the existing trend of online permanence in response to a consumer demand for increased privacy. Facebook’s relentless quest for personal information is, in part, responsible for its decline in users. The arrival in 2013 of Vine and Instavideo have shown that our seeming passion for constrained media is not on the wane. Real-time marketing – in its infancy last year – has delivered mixed results, but the allure of and desire for immediacy will see the continued experimentation and maturity of this approach in the year ahead.
Finally, after a long period (in social terms at least) of consumer-focused innovation, could Twitter’s recent flotation result in a refocus on commercial rather than consumer needs? In social media terms, 2014 is at risk of being remembered for profit over performance.
Ed Weatherall, business development director, VisualDNA
This is going to be a big year for personality in marketing. It will not be a year of listening and sentiment analysis, but using data to understand people more deeply and using it to dictate how the brand behaves.
As advertising, customer services and social media converge and that data gets easier to use and understand, digital marketers are going to start getting to grips with what customers want. Marketers are surrounded by big data, and multiple dash boards full of numbers and statistics, and I think this focus on the metrics has distracted us.
Companies that matter have always used their brand attributes to connect with people on the basis of who they are; in 2014 those that move away from relying simply on the demographic box they inhabit and what their behavioural data says will grow market share. Psychographic data, combined with traditional metrics, will help brands understand their customers more deeply and create relevant experiences that engage and create cut-through. For me, it’s the year of personality and actionable data, helping companies to drive acquisition, personalisation and engagement.


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- Is Walmart paying $15 an hour?
- Why is Walmart bad?
- Why do people hate Walmart?
- Why Walmart is a bad company?
- Does Walmart mistreat their employees?
- What negative effects does Walmart have on communities?
- Is Walmart raising wages in 2020?
- Is Walmart getting rid of department managers 2020?
- Is Walmart getting rid of cashiers?
- Is Walmart getting rid of assistant managers?
- Is Walmart laying off employees in 2020?
- What benefits does Walmart offer their employees?
Is Walmart paying $15 an hour?
In two key departments, bakery and deli, Walmart will pay the $15 minimum wage that retail workers have been targeting for years.
The new minimum wage in deli and bakery of $15 an hour is up from $11 an hour, matching its two biggest competitors, Target and Amazon..
Why is Walmart bad?
Employee and labor relations. Walmart has faced issues with its employees involving low wages, poor working conditions and inadequate health care. Approximately 70% of its employees leave within the first year.
Why do people hate Walmart?
Will McKitterick, a retail industry analyst for IBISWorld, notes that one of the main reasons many customers dislike shopping at Walmart is that they have trouble finding what they need thanks to the fact that “some shelves aren’t stocked [correctly], items are missing, shelves are messy, merchandise may be in a …
Why Walmart is a bad company?
Walmart employees have been found to be sicker on average than most American workers, and it’s no wonder why. Though the company has taken various steps to provide cheaper insurance, the result has simply been to give their workers plans that include less care.
Does Walmart mistreat their employees?
Besides mistreating their employees, Walmart has, in some ways, literally stole money from them over the years. … In another case, workers in Pennsylvania sued Walmart for forcing them to work through unpaid breaks, meal times, and other instances when they were supposed to be off the clock.
What negative effects does Walmart have on communities?
“Walmart may say they help people ‘Live Better,'” said David West, executive director of Puget Sound Sage. “But this study shows that communities will be much worse off, with lower wages and less money in the community, after a Walmart opens.” The losses are tied mainly to the low wages Walmart pays its employees.
Is Walmart raising wages in 2020?
Starting wages are increasing for some jobs According to a Walmart news release, the company is going to be increasing the pay roughly 165,000 hourly employees. The 2020 Walmart pay raise has it increasing the starting pay for bakery workers from $11 per share to $15 an hour.
Is Walmart getting rid of department managers 2020?
Under Walmart’s current arrangement, many of those merchandising and pricing tasks are left to ASMs and DMs (department managers). Those roles will be respectively phased out in favor of smaller numbers of what Walmart will now call Coaches and Team Leads. … “We’re especially excited about the team lead role,” he added.
Is Walmart getting rid of cashiers?
Walmart removing cashiers from store Walmart is testing a store that will only offer self-checkout. NEW YORK – Walmart is testing a store that will only offer self-checkout. The retailer is removing cashiers and standard conveyor belt lines at one of its popular superstores in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Is Walmart getting rid of assistant managers?
Shame on Walmart for allowing good people to be put in these positions to where good people loses their jobs that they worked so hard to get. Just got the news today wm is getting rid of all assistants by March 1.
Is Walmart laying off employees in 2020?
Walmart (WMT) announced it will lay off hundreds of workers as it looks to trim its store planning, logistics and real estate units, sources told Bloomberg.
What benefits does Walmart offer their employees?
BenefitsAll eligible associates – both full- and part-time – have affordable options that include no lifetime maximum and eligible preventive care covered at 100%.We offer medical plans starting at around $26 per pay period, as well as dental and vision plans.Coverage for domestic partners is available.More items…


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One of the largest electronics retailers, the DNS network plans to receive more than 60% of its revenue by 2027 from sales of private label products such as Dexp, Aceline, as well as new brands in all electronics categories. The company will reward employees for their advancement. In this regard, some DNS partners have already begun to reduce their presence in the chain’s stores. A bet on private labels can be successful, analysts admit; against the backdrop of the departure of familiar popular brands, consumers are paying more and more attention to new brands.
The Russian retailer DNS plans to provide more than 60% of its revenue by 2027 (at the end of 2022 it amounted to 597 billion rubles) through its own brands, an interlocutor among electronics manufacturers told Kommersant, citing a presentation for partners. “It is planned to create a number of brands in the middle segment and slightly above average (B and B+),” he clarified.
Three other Kommersant interlocutors among the top management of equipment manufacturers, including Kuppersberg CEO Dmitry Shashkin, also know about DNS’s plans to transfer 60% of revenue to its own brands by 2027. According to one of them, the retailer will introduce its own brands in almost all segments, including laptops, home appliances, peripheral equipment and others. Co-owner and president of the DNS group of companies Dmitry Alekseev declined to comment.
According to SPARK-Interfax, DNS Retail LLC was registered in November 2010. It belongs to DNS Group LLC, 44.64% of which belongs to Yuri Karptsov, 44.35% to Dmitry Alekseev, the remaining shares are divided between Konstantin Bogdanenko (3.89%), Sergei Meshchanyuk (2.78%), Olga Komoza (2.32%), etc. The revenue of DNS Retail LLC in 2022 amounted to 597 billion rubles, net profit – 37.6 billion rubles. DNS owns the trademarks Aceline (TVs, fans, freezers, etc.), Dexp (refrigerators, laptops, TVs, etc.), Eigen (washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) and a number of others. In total, according to SPARK-Interfax, 63 trademarks have been registered for the company, and applications have been submitted for another five.
A Kommersant source among foreign electronics manufacturers, citing GFK data, says that from the beginning of the year to November, DNS occupied 30% of the market for sales of equipment and electronics in monetary terms. “DNS, having an extensive network and relative autonomy in terms of supplies, can afford to shift its focus to its own brands without significant risks,” says Kommersant’s interlocutor among suppliers. In his opinion, due to the departure of well-known brands, buyers “began to pay attention to new vendors more often.” All new DNS products, Kommersant’s source claims, will be produced in China. Kommersant’s interlocutor, familiar with the company’s plans, claims that in the strategy it announced bonuses to staff for selling its own brands, as opposed to selling goods from other vendors.
Representative of the Association of Trading Companies and Manufacturers of Electrical Household and Computer Equipment RATEK Anton Guskov noted that for many retailers the share of private labels in sales has increased significantly over the past two years. Thus, in the television segment, private labels occupied more than 20% of the market at the beginning of the year (see Kommersant on March 20). “This category has very significant development potential,” says Mr. Guskov. M.Video-Eldorado confirmed that in its networks the share of “exclusively presented assortment”, which includes private labels, has increased. In the first half of the year, such goods accounted for 8% of turnover, and in the third – already 11.5%.
However, as a result, networks may lose a number of suppliers. Thus, Mr. Shashkin says that his brand has already reduced shipments of products to the retailer’s stores. “Other chains tried to implement similar schemes at one time, but without success,” explained the top manager. “This strategy assumes that the store will place special emphasis on its goods. This turns off buyers and other vendors, so we decided to reduce our DNS presence.”


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(The Hill) – Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Robert Califf on Monday said a Michigan plant operated by baby formula suppliers Abbott Nutrition could be up and running again in about two weeks.
After the FDA closed a case into the plant’s safety concerns last week, Abbott Nutrition flagged that it was ready to re-open the plant in two weeks, pending FDA approval. Califf told NBC News’s Savannah Guthrie on the “Today” show that he was “comfortable”with the proposed timeline.
“We now have a path forward,” he told Guthrie. “Abbott is responsible for the timeline, but I’m very comfortable with what they said about two weeks. … That’s entirely within the realm of possibility and I think quite likely.”
A severe shortage of baby formula has led to a panic for families across the country in recent weeks, and last week became a big issue in Washington.
Out-of-stock rates for baby formula products hit 43 percent as of the week ending May 8, according to retail-product tracking company Datasembly.
Biden also announced efforts from the federal government to increase supply by importing products from abroad and expanding flexibility in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children program for low-income Americans.
The Abbott Nutrition plant in Michigan was shut down over safety concerns over possible contamination after four infants were discovered suffered from a rare bacterial infection after ingesting products made from the plant in Michigan. Two of the infants died.
“Companies make formula, and one of those companies — a company which, by the way, seems to have 40 percent market share — messed up and is unable to confirm that a plant, a major plant, is safe and free of contamination,” he said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
- US hits 1 million deaths from COVID-19
- Curbing energy-related air pollutants could save 50,000 US lives, $600B each year: study
The first reported case of the infection occurred in September and the last in January, according to the FDA, which forced a recall of the products in February. The FDA closed the case on May 12 and said there were no additional safety concerns.
Califf on Monday said safety was the No. 1 priority of the administration as they work to get more products back on shelves.
‘We’re very concerned about this. I’m a grandparent of six grandkids, I have one who is in the formula age,” he said on the “Today” show. “I know how important this is to parents and the entire FDA staff is entirely focused on this. But we also have to be safe.”


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Award Winner 2008
This week Electrocompaniet was given the Vebjorn Tandberg Electronics Award. This award is made in memory of Vebjorn Tandberg – the founder for Tandberg – Norway’s famous producer of tuners, amplifiers and tape-recorders.
Electrocompaniet was given this award for our unique technology, quality and our success in the international Hi-Fi market.
The award consist of a picture and € 43 000! Electrocompaniet will also be supported by Innovation Norway (the Norwegian Trade Council) to open up new international markets. For Electrocompaniet this is a acknowledgement of the work that has been carried out during the last three years in development, quality improvements and international marketing. We are happy and proud to receive this award and we do believe that this award will generate more positive attention on Electrocompaniet and further build up on our strong brand name.
- Electrocompaniet – Vebjorn Tandberg Electronics Award
- Electronics Components World – Electrocompaniet wins third annual ‘Vebjørn Tandberg Prize’


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14 European countries welcomed RIDÚRIA with open arms, now It’s time for the US market thanks to Mr. Checkout!
Swedish RIDÚRIA’s recipes for success has been in their way of transforming everyday products into more desirable “need haves”.
With focus on fine materials, both visually and tactile and without compromising the inside components they want to be in the frontline. When we a few years back began our production for our now best-selling Power bank series, there was only plastic products on the market, our approach was: “by producing technical products to a forgotten audience whom in fact are girls aged 13-30 we had taken our first big steps in a direction that gave us a leading role in the market,” says Simon Fard, CEO of RIDÚRIA.
In all of our design and manufacturing process, we look at the big picture, from materials, colors, components and most importantly the end user, no compromises exist and we are very careful with the details, the feeling and how products communicate quality is often in the details. Today, our products are sold in 14 of Europe’s largest countries, and we are approaching the position we want to be in, which is in the frontline.
When we a couple of years ago started, our prospect and goal was the US market, and thanks to this opportunity through Mr. Checkout we are getting closer and hopefully we can be able to enjoy the American dream!
Distributed by Publicly Related
Company Name: Swedish Tech & Design Ltd
Contact Person: Simon Fard
Email: email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.org


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Fitness technology company Wexer has today acquired Dutch based company ClubVirtual. The combination of Wexer and ClubVirtual will create a new industry market leader leveraging Wexer’s recognised position as a global pioneer in virtual fitness, with ClubVirtual’s well-known brand in Europe.
With virtual installations in more than 40 countries, Wexer’s mission will remain the same after the acquisition: making world-class exercise accessible to more people through technology. CEO for Wexer, Paul Bowman states that this acquisition is part of the overall growth strategy.
“Over the past eight years, we have been able to secure a very strong market position across all continents. Predominantly by helping operators transform dead studio space into active space through the use of virtual classes.” he said. “Now, we are additionally helping clubs expand outside their four walls through streaming and mobile technology. This acquisition will allow us to empower more club groups faster when it comes to creating digital ecosystems to engage their members.”
The fitness industry is undergoing a period of intense change that is rapidly redrawing the competitive landscape and breaking down barriers between brick-and-mortar and technology. Through a number of strategic partnerships as well as constantly developing products and services, both Wexer and ClubVirtual have successfully helped club groups operate more effectively in this new and more technology-centric market.
“The thinking between our two companies is very aligned and becoming part of Wexer is a great next step for us as well as an incredible opportunity for our clients. We really look forward to continuing to support key operators in their endeavours to be of value to their members 24/7 through the use of technology, and excited to be on the forefront of this transformation of our industry” said CEO for ClubVirtual, Laurens de Kock.
ClubVirtual will continue to operate their company to produce high quality virtual fitness content, which will continue under the ClubVirtual consumer facing brand.
No further details of the transaction have been disclosed.
Wexer: Paul Bowman, CEO
Phone: +447803 356994
ClubVirtual: Laurens de Kock, CEO
Phone: +31 (0)85 888 28 53
Wexer, short for “World of exercise”, was founded in 2008 by fitness entrepreneur Rasmus Ingerslev. The company has grown from initially focusing on replacing dead studio space with virtual classes to offering a wide range of digital solutions that allow clubs to provide services to their members 24/7/365 in, and outside their clubs. Wexer works with numerous key stakeholders in the fitness industry including the majority of the top 25 health club groups globally.
ClubVirtual was founded in 2008 by entrepreneurs Martijn van Lierop and Laurens de Kock. The company has more than 850 installations across 18 countries. Their mission is to create the ultimate fitness experiences for athletes of all levels with ClubVirtual’s well-known brand ClubVirtual Cycling®. A successful immersive virtual cycling concept, currently available in 12 languages.


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"It's almost the opposite story [from Wal-Mart]; terrific sales results, earnings came in very strong," retail analyst Joseph Feldman said moments after Target announced its results. He said CEO Brian Cornell has been doing a great job after a year in the job, and that's "being reflected in the numbers."
The retailer posted fiscal second-quarter earnings of $1.22 per share, up from 78 cents in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose to $17.43 billion from $17 billion the previous year.
Analysts expected Target to post earnings of $1.11 per share on $17.4 billion in revenue, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.
Target shares were up more than 4.5 percent in premarket action. (Click here to track the stock.)
Feldman, senior managing director at Telsey Advisory Group, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" that Target had lost its way for a while. "They've transitioned the head merchant. They're in the process of searching for a head merchant. And there's definitely been some changes at the top."
"They are [now] refocusing on the core business and doing what they do best. They add some fashion to some discounted product," he said.
One of the problems for Target and other retailers is there's no really hot fashion trend right now except for athleisure, wearing workout clothes for everyday, Feldman said. "This whole athleisure trend is here to stay."
Kids nowadays go dressed to school more casually than their parents did, he said. "They're in shorts [and] T-shirts. They're not dressing up collared shirts and jeans and khakis like we all used to when we were kids."
Target said it now expects full-year earnings per share of $4.60 to $4.75, compared with prior guidance of $4.50 to $4.65 a share. In third quarter 2015, the retailer expects earnings per share of 79 cents to 89 cents, compared with 79 cents in third quarter 2014.
Digital sales for the quarter increased 30 percent at Target, contributing 0.6 percentage points to comparable sales growth.
Although a relatively small impact, Feldman said, "The omnichannel is really important for retail. You really need to have this fully integrated brick-and-mortar with a digital [presence]."
Target also said it returned $1 billion to shareholders in the second quarter through dividends and share repurchases.
Earlier this week, Target promoted Chief Financial Officer John Mulligan to the newly created chief operating officer post, effective next month. Cathy Smith, a former CFO at Express Scripts, will replace Mulligan.
It marks the company's latest restructuring move since Cornell took over last August. Target has focused on cost cutting and boosting margins in recent quarters.
The company has said it will cut about 16,000 corporate jobs.
Also this week, Target confirmed it would pay Visa card issuers up to $67 million over the Christmastime 2013 data breach. Costs of the breach—which affected about 40 million cards—were already reflected in fiscal 2013 and 2014 results.
—CNBC's Jacob Pramuk and Terri Cullen contributed to this report.


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Where Is Everybody?
On the listserv for the Institute for Distributed Creativity there has been a lot of chatter between digital artists, new media scholars, and online activists about a recent article titled "Whatever Happened to Second Life," which makes the Second-Life-is-empty argument yet again. What I find interesting about the article and the attention being paid to it is the question "Why now?" or "What is contributing to skepticism about virtual worlds?" Certainly virtual worlds seem to be appearing in fewer news stories in the past year. For example, even though the term "virtual worlds" would have been more familiar in 2009 than in 2008, it appeared in thirty-one fewer stories in The New York Times. I am also interested in how the article uses what could be called "a rhetoric of return" as a way to describe what the author considers to be a failed technology.
Labels: virtual worlds


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Analyst firm Forrester is warning businesses that outsource IT services to Satyam to prepare a plan B as the sale of Satyam approaches.
Forrester has warned its customers to prepare alternative plans in case the company's potential takeover were to fall through as a result of unknown legal liabilities or financial ambiguities.
India-based Forrester analyst Sudin Apte said Satyam's new management has achieved some respite for the troubled firm.
But he added that the imminent sale of the company "brings a fresh phase of uncertainty for Satyam clients, who have been experiencing turmoil and ambiguity about their projects since the fraud was discovered in January 2009."
The company, which is at the centre of a $1bn internal accounting fraud, is expected to make an announcement next week regarding its potential sale.
Apte said the bidders that have emerged and formally submitted a written bid or expression of interest have different backgrounds. Each "offers its own set of pluses and minuses that clients must consider."
"To protect their own interests and ensure continuity of service, clients need to accelerate finalisation of their plan B and keep a close watch on which firm buys Satyam to decide if and when to pull the trigger to shift to that plan B," added Apte.
Many customers announced that they were cutting ties with Satyam following disclosures of a major accounting fraud. But many will wait to see who takes over before actually cutting ties.
Mark Lewis, head of outsourcing at law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, does not think there will be much movement of customers when the company is finally taken over.
"The pain of moving suppliers in an unscheduled sense is very difficult from a practical and legal point of view."
He said if the company that acquires Satyam is credible and the key delivery people at Satyam remain there is no reason for a customer to move.


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Fans who couldn't make it to the theater to see Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in person should put an 11th ring on their calendars for November 12. This is the day that the latest Marvel Studios film will be streaming on Disney+. It's just one of many exciting events happening that day.
Disney+ was launched on November 12, 2012, two years ago. To celebrate, the streamer has released new content. There is Shang-Chis' debut on the platform and Jungle Cruise will be available to all. The new Home Alone reboot, Home Sweet Home Alone, is now available. There are also new shorts featuring Frozen snowman Olaf and characters from Luca. Additionally, Disney+ will debut some other award-winning shorts such as Feast and Get a Horse.
There are also teases. The teases include a special that celebrates the legacy and origins of Star Wars bounty hunter Boba Fett as well as one celebrating Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+. It also includes an exciting look at the future.
The Boba Fett special will premiere the first footage. It will likely be a trailer from The Book of Boba Fett, which will air the next month. It could even be included in other Star Wars Disney+ shows. On the eve Hawkeye's debut, the Marvel special will be shown. Expect footage from Hawkeye, and almost certainly Ms. Marvel footage. Ms. Marvel is expected to debut in 2022. The next major day in Star Wars and Marvel news is November 12, Disney+ Day.
It's Friday, November 12, so it makes one wonder if these items will appear on the service at midnight PST like has been the case for most of its content. You'll want to grab a cup o' coffee and stay up until the early hours to catch all your favorite Disney+ shows.
Are you curious about where our RSS feed went. The new one can be found here.


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Marketers hope they can make consumers hungry for their products from Instagram posts. And it's not just food brands getting in on the action—online services and retailers like Expedia and […]
Whole Foods Market
Who Kamran Asghar, co-founder and president What Creative and media agency that focuses on small and midsize clients Where New York office
This week, long-lost lovers got knocked off their feet by new appliances, Dewar's demonstrated that you needn't have a Y chromosome to enjoy a "drinking man's scotch," and smartphones went for a sugary swim.
Uptight about making that perfect Martha Stewart Thanksgiving dinner? Relax. Imperfection can be as appetizing as those unsprayed apples and papayas at Whole Foods.