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Welcome to the Game Replay, the thrice-weekly look back at the wider world of gaming by the staff of MacNN. In today's edition, the next two mobile games from Nintendo will be 'free-to-start,' a Kickstarter campaign for a new Fear Effect game reaches its funding goal, and a report claims Microsoft could have potentially sold Lionhead, instead of shuttering the studio.
Every so often, people browse the Internet and the Mac App Store to try and find useful things to add to their app arsenal, but sometimes it's hard to find discounted apps that you really want to get. For App Deals for OS X, the MacNN staff has compiled a list of apps for your Mac that are either a great bargain, or even free for a short while.
The App Store is a constantly-changing place, with new apps joining the catalog, while others adjust their prices to encourage some new sales. App Deals for iOS aims to point you in the direction of apps for your iPhone or iPad that have been reduced in price, making them an essential purchase, or in some cases, even free.
Usually, when you think about searching and keyboards, it's when you're lifting one up to see where your pen has gone. That may be the only type of searching that Google can't help you with, though, and this new iPhone keyboard is the company's latest attempt to find you everything, everywhere. Gboard 1.0.0 lets you type Google searches whatever app you're in.
Although the two App Stores Apple operations -- one main one for iOS-based apps (including Apple TV), and one for Mac apps -- have been hugely successful, they have not been without complaints from developers over various aspects, including some back-end issues. One such issue -- unpredictable and sometimes-long review times for app submissions to be checked and approved before being published on the stores -- appears to be in the process of being resolved, with developers reporting dramatically-shorter approval times.
Welcome to Daily Deals, the post where the writing team of MacNN scours online retailers to find discounts, bargains, offers, and promotions for our readers to enjoy. Old and unavailable deals have been removed from the growing list, with the additions for today featuring a KMASHI 10000mAh external battery power bank for $9, a 40-inch Sceptre HDTV for $200, and a Netgear N300 Wireless-N 4-port router for $20.
A camera that claims to make it as simple as possible for consumers to produce their own 360-degree videos is now available to pre-order. Initially announced at CES in January, HumanEyes' Vuze camera is a compact shooter measuring 4.8 inches across and 1.2 inches thick, which is capable of capturing video from all directions using a collection of eight cameras, allowing it to create stereoscopic 360-degree videos at a 4K resolution at 30fps with relative ease.
By this point, you've already heard all the hype over 3D printing, and I concur, it is exciting. It's a fantastic innovation that makes all kinds of things possible that weren't possible (or at the very least, plausible) a few years ago. And yes -- it's exciting because this technology is now available to the general public. However, there are still some severe limitations with 3D printing that keeps it out of reach for many people. That's why Mayku has Kickstarted the ultimate solution to that problem: The FormBox.
Your iPad is capable of doing so much more than browsing Facebook and playing cat videos on YouTube -- chances are you already know that. The problem, though, is that your iPad is also fairly defenseless and might need a little help in situations where it's expected to transcend its role of humble social media companion. That's where the Cling 2.0 comes in, an ultra-secure stand that helps keep your iPad right where you need it -- check our full review to see what we thought!
Apple is said to be close to securing a lease for the historic Tower Theater, located at 800 S. Broadway, LA. The 90-year-old theater sits in a corridor that has long been in limbo and rumors of Apple taking up residency for an Apple Store in the area has got the local real estate agents excited, reports the Los Angeles Business Journal. The site itself has 7,500 square feet of space in the main theater area, and another 7,500 square feet is in the basement could also be included as part of the lease arrangement. There is also space available for smaller retailers, though given that Apple is thought to be keen to make a statement with the store, that it may well look to secure the entire property as part of a long-term lease on the site.
If you follow the Kingdom Hearts series at all, you'd know that Kingdom Hearts III is getting a (though notably late) 2016 release -- just over a decade after Kingdom Hearts II had hit store shelves. As is the way with these things, you'd also know that developers are starting to release mobile games to help build excitement for the upcoming release. Kingdom Hearts Unchained X (pronounced "Unchained Chi") is another one of those games meant to fuel the hype-train.
Alongside our regular Daily Deals post, we are showcasing some of the offers available from our own MacNN Deals store. Considering that summer is not too far away, today's selections are all things that could come in useful if you're going on a vacation or a trip away from home, including items for charging your devices, keeping them safe, and even helping you get home safely from a bar or restaurant.
An analysis of US App Store revenue and download estimates between January 1 through March 31 of this year shows that only a tiny percentage of publishers are enjoying the lion's share of revenue. According to the data, 623 publishers who represent just one percent of all publishers on the App Store, reaped $1.34 billion in review of the estimated $1.43 billion in net revenue generated for the period. The remaining $85.8 million in revenue was split among the 61,677 publishers whose apps are paid or incorporate in-app purchases.
Apple has responded to a report claiming it is looking into giving up on offering music downloads from the iTunes Store, potentially within as few as two years if the rumor is to be believed. Reduced song download revenues are claimed to be behind the rumor, with Apple Music said to become the main revenue driver for Apple's music-related interests, but a representative has issued a curt denial of the report's contents.
Seemingly backing off on statements before Congress, FBI Director James Comey suggested that more court action seeking to circumvent smartphone encryption is likely coming. Speaking with reporters at the agency's Washington DC headquarters yesterday, Comey also claimed that the agency is trying to figure out how to re-utilize the tool that the agency used San Bernardino iPhone 5c in other cases.
The drop in iPhone sales over the March quarter is having a corresponding negative impact on the Taiwanese components supplier segment. This year could be the first time since the GFC in second half 2008 that the Taiwanese tech sector could experience an annual decline in revenue, reports the Nikkei Asian Review. The main losers are expected to be Apple's suppliers with nine of the Cupertino giant's major Taiwanese suppliers losing an average of 7 percent in year-over-year revenue for the period January to March. This was in contrast to an average 17 percent year-over-year increase in revenue for the same period in 2015.
If you are an aspiring web designer, YouTube creator, illustrator, or designer, you may want to take note of this giveaway from MacNN Deals. One lucky winner will get their hands on a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud and its collection of utilities for content creation, with the prize giving them access to the service for five whole years, valued at $3,000.
There is a saying that nothing digital really exists unless it exists twice: if there isn't a copy of it somewhere, then the one original is in such danger of being lost that it might as well be gone already. However, this is a reason to make backups: it's not a reason to duplicate our files all over the place yet that is somehow what we do. You included. Very much you included: stop trying to look innocent. You have multiple copies of the same Word document and you've definitely got duplicated photos, admit it. Stage 1 of reclaiming space on your hard drive is admitting that you've got a problem. Stage 2 could be buying Gemini 2.0 for OS X.
For once, though, one of them actually convinces the other about something. We know: impossible. There's no such thing as proper conversation, certainly not on podcasts or the telly, there is just one person talking and the other waiting for them to shut up. In this case, though, minds and opinions are changed. See if you get turned around about Spotify's television plans too.
Amazon's collection of network-connected speakers with built-in virtual assistants may be getting some competition from Google, if a report about a potential product is found to be correct. The search giant is said to be working on hardware like the Amazon Echo, Tap, and Echo Dot devices that can allow for searches to be performed without needing to access a smartphone, with the project claimed to have the internal codename of "Chirp."
Now AAPL Stock: The symbol you provided ("AAPL") doesn't appear to be registered
Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE


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SAP has released a new version of its financial services accelerator for the SAP Hybris Commerce solution to help banks and insurance companies offer their customers a faster, simpler and more personalised user experience whether conducting business online, on mobile devices or in person. At the same time, the accelerator is expected to streamline industry processes and increase ROI.
“Digitalisation has turned financial services on its head,” said Matthias Goehler, SAP Hybris senior vice president and head of Industries.
While the financial services industry has traditionally been based on in-person service and personal relationships, it has now devolved into an online search for the lowest cost options. But Goehler said SAP can help the industry engage price-conscious consumers if they provide the services when and how customers want them. This means providing customers with convenient access to real-time, personalised services based on their preferences as well as their history with the institution.
“The enhancements to the financial services accelerator provide organisations with the latest tools to deliver a great customer experience from which they can build customer trust and loyalty as they expand the relationship by bundling and cross-selling products,” said Goehler.
The new version provides a more intuitive, self-service retail-like experience for customers. It allows bankers and insurers to see the same information as their customers during online transactions, enabling real-time, personalised assistance to increase customer satisfaction and reduce application abandonment. The accelerator also enables customers to easily compare features and benefits of various products and services.
Templated application forms will allow the industry to quickly adapt to regulatory, product or other changes and to ensure that their customers always have access to the most current forms.
To deliver this fintech solution, SAP entered into a joint venture called msgNETCONOMY, with msg global solutions, a financial service product and solutions integrator and with NETCONOMY, an e-commerce specialist.

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New legislation will put our ability to end cosmetic animal testing at risk—but you can do something about it.
On June 14, 2022, the FDA Safety & Landmark Advancements Act (FDASLA) (S. 4348) advanced through the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Despite not specifically addressing cosmetic animal testing, the language of Section 614 (under Section 802) would have the effect of nullifying state laws that prohibit the sale of animal-tested cosmetics and disallowing states from banning animal testing of cosmetics in the future.
You can take action now: contact your Member of Congress today and tell them you oppose this legislation.
The animals deserve better, and we want better! A 2019 survey by Cruelty Free International found that most of us, regardless of our political or ideological affiliations, want to see an end to cosmetic animal testing: 71% of U.S. consumers voiced opposition to animal testing and 79% voiced support for a federal ban on the practice.
The FDA does not require cosmetics to be tested on animals, but animals continue to suffer and lose their lives in the U.S.
Despite no FDA requirement for animal testing, U.S. manufacturers continue to cause the suffering and death of innumerable animals in the name of cosmetic testing each and every year.
And, without us standing up to prohibit cosmetic animal testing, this cruelty will continue even though cosmetics giants like L’Oreal and Unilever themselves support non-animal testing methods and new technologies (like human cell-based tests) are superior to animal tests in determining human safety.
Nine states have outlawed cosmetic testing on animals, but the FDASLA would override these laws and prevent states from banning cosmetic testing on animals. Let your Member of Congress know this is not acceptable.
California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Virginia, and Louisiana have already passed laws that prohibit the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. Now, the FDASLA threatens to nullify these laws and prevent other states from protecting their human and animal citizens by passing similar laws.
Take Action Now


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The Silent Hill HD Collection will finally be released on March 20, Konami has confirmed.
Originally expected for release late last year, Amazon and other retailers outed a delayed launch when they put out a notification for a new March 6 release.
The new confirmed release comes as a slight delay to that widely accepted date, but at least it puts light at the end of a foggy tunnel for those eager to get stuck into the retro collection.
The collection bundles Silent Hill 2 and 3, with both titles featuring new voice work and HD visuals. Currently only confirmed for a retail release, PEGI ratings have hinted at a possible digital release via XBLA and PSN.


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December 26, 2006
Google Tops Yahoo in Visits, and a New Entrant Comes to Search
Google became the second most visited web site in November, beating out Yahoo for the first time in that distinction. The numbers from ComScore show that Google had 475.7 million visitors to Yahoo's 475.7 million visitors. Microsoft remains on top with 501.7 million visitors. That should go over big with Yahoo stockholders and Wall Street analysts. The story is in the Daily Tech.
And speaking of Google and Yahoo, another player is about to enter the search engine wars. Jimmy Wales is about to launch a new search engine in partnership with Amazon called Wikiasari. The concept is to add a human element to ranking search results. We'll see.
Since we're talking about rankings and visits, the top ten search providers for November show that Google is still on top with 49.5% of searches with 3,097,838 hits and a growth of 31%. Yahoo comes in second at 1,518,249 searches and growth of 27%. MSN/Windows Live Search rounds out the top three with 515,526 searches and a growth of -12%. We'll be eagerly awaiting the relaunch of Windows Live search in 2007 in spite of Vista's default search settings, and again in 2008, and 2009, etc.
December 26, 2006 | Permalink
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After 27 years with Warner Village Theme Parks, (WVTP) Carol Podesta has established a new role for herself with a brand new enterprise, Class Act Event Services.
Podesta is a well-known face and industry identity, with 22 years as events manager at Sea World before being promoted to group events manager for the entire WVTP stable of theme parks.
Carol Podesta has launched Queensland based Class Act Event Services.
Her new company, Class Act Event Services will provide representation services for a portfolio of diverse products, of specific relevance to the Business Tourism sector.
“Class Act Event Services will enable me to put 27 years of industry experience to work, providing my clients with access to an invaluable network of marketplace contacts, many of whom have become good pals over the years,” she said, adding that the company would also provide conference and event planners with an efficient one-stop shop of quality products and services for their events.
For more information email firstname.lastname@example.org


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The demonisation of dairy produce has gone on too long, according to Dr Marianne Walsh, Senior Nutritionist with the National Dairy Council. The nutritionist pointed to recent research that debunks claims that dairy products are harmful, particularly because of their high saturated-fat content.
Dr Walsh, was speaking at a recent seminar on ‘Dairy and the Modern Consumer‘ which was hosted by the National Dairy Council (NDC) in conjunction with Dairygold, Ornua and Teagasc. The seminar took place on the farm of award winning dairy farmers John and Maria Walsh in Ballylomasna, Ballylooby, Co Tipperary.
Highlighting the negative health impacts of fad diets, Dr Walsh said consumers are becoming more and more curious about their food choices and the diets that they choose to follow. “There has been a steady rise in fad diets and exclusion diets particularly in the last three years,” she said.
She stressed the importance of consuming dairy products in order to maintain a balanced diet. “Cheese is the glory food,” she said, “as it has a concentrated source of nutrients and recent research suggests that it has a positive influence in reducing the risk of strokes.”
John McKenna, award winning writer and food critic, spoke of making milk ‘sexy‘ and refuted some of the misinformation on dairy products.
His main message was to highlight the ‘magic of milk‘ as a balanced and nutritious food and to challenge those extolling dairy alternatives as the best source of food.
He suggested producing a greater variety of new flavoured dairy products, just as the high-end craft beers and newly developed craft spirits have done . Mr McKenna believes the dairy industry has the ability to create niche products using milk, yoghurt and butter that will command a higher price than commodity products.


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Amazon revealed impressive financial results for the summer quarter, driven by increased online sales and a thriving advertising business. With revenues of $143.1 billion, marking a 13% surge from the previous year, and profits of $9.9 billion surpassing analyst projections, Amazon’s stock soared in after-hours trading.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy attributed their strong quarter to substantial growth in advertising and enhanced delivery speed. Thanks to a more efficient logistics model, the company achieved record-breaking delivery times for US customers.
Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky emphasized Amazon’s readiness for the holiday season, stating their operations and inventory are in the “best position” ever. Despite inflation concerns, consumers maintained their spending resilience, contributing to a 6% growth in Amazon’s retail business during the third quarter. The success was bolstered by the popular Prime Day sales event in July, with strong demand in categories like beauty and health products.
While Amazon’s e-commerce business flourished, attention has also turned to the performance of Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing division. AWS, which grew by 12%, demonstrated stability, though it fell slightly short of analyst expectations. The competitive landscape saw mixed results, with Microsoft reporting strong revenue for Azure and Google’s Cloud division underperforming.
Investors remain optimistic about AWS, seeing opportunities in the growing AI sector. Amazon has been introducing generative AI tools for AWS customers and invested $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic. Additionally, Amazon enhanced its voice assistant, Alexa, with new AI features and introduced generative AI for product review summaries.
Amazon’s advertising business exhibited a 25% growth, excluding foreign exchange rate impacts.
These financial accomplishments come as Amazon faces regulatory challenges. The company is embroiled in lawsuits alleging anticompetitive practices and deceptive Prime subscription enrollment. Despite these legal hurdles, Amazon projects fourth-quarter earnings between $160 billion and $167 billion.


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Germany's foreign minister has summoned the British ambassador over reports of spying from the British embassy in Berlin, Reuters reports, citing the foreign ministry.
More top news
Thousands of pounds worth of heroin has been found stashed inside the covers of children's books at Heathrow Airport.
Internet search engine says Cilla Black was the subject of more online searches than Kim Kardashian this year, beaten only by Taylor Swift.
A supermarket price war and fierce competition across the rest of the high street has seen shop prices slumped by a record level last month.


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The economy is growing, but at a slower pace. The GDP reading for the first quarter of the year suggests that the economy expanded, but momentum fizzled out. Consumers have been holding back on retail sales and personal spending despite improving real income for nine months in a row, while labor costs and inflation have been rising due to a strong labor market. The recent bank failures have added uncertainty to the economy’s long-term health and have suppressed consumer confidence. On the bright side, the short supply of existing homes for sale has pushed more home buying activity into the newly constructed housing sector, which comprised 33.2% of total single-family housing inventory in March – almost double the average before the pandemic.
Mon May 01 2023
This week the median list price for Pasadena, CA is $1,599,500 with the market action index hovering around 51. This is an increase over last month’s market action index of 47. Inventory has decreased to 82.
The market continues to get hotter. More sales demand and fewer homes listed have contributed to a relatively long run of increasing prices. Current supply and demand levels show no sign of prices changing from their current trend.
Mon May 01 2023
This week the median list price for Altadena, CA is $1,224,995 with the market action index hovering around 56. This is less than last month’s market action index of 57. Inventory has increased to 30.
In the last few weeks the market has achieved a relative stasis point in terms of sales to inventory. However, inventory is sufficiently low to keep us in the Seller’s Market zone so watch changes in the MAI. If the market heats up, prices are likely to resume an upward climb.


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Twitter’s CFO reportedly to handle brand’s marketing
In a surprising twist in Twitter’s search for its next chief media officer (CMO), the social media brand has reportedly appointed its chief financial officer (CFO), Anthony Noto, to handle its marketing operations.
The news was broken by The Verge, who reported that an unnamed source claimed the decision was made at a meeting at Twitter headquarters on Monday.
"Noto is consolidating power, so to speak," the source told the Verge.
Noto has almost zero marketing experience, previously serving as an investment banker for Goldman Sachs.
Last week, both Noto and chief executive Dick Costolo announced Twitter’s disappointing quarterly earnings to investors.
Twitter has yet to verify Nato's new duties.
Sign up for The Drum's Daily US newsletter to keep up with the latest in American marketing and media.


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StellarFi has raised $15 million in Series A funding following its $7.2 million Seed round in March 2022, bringing total funding to over $22 million.
The funding was led by Acrew Capital with the participation of ATX Venture Partners, Trust Ventures, Dream Ventures, Interplay, Accomplice Ventures, Vera Equity, FJ Labs, Fiat Ventures, Gaingels, Kelmhurst, Oyster Funds, Hilltop Ventures, Permit Ventures, Kindergarten Ventures, J2 Capital, Socially Financed and Kapital Ventures.
StellarFi said it would use the funding to expand its marketplace credit offering and gain new partnerships.
StellarFi is a Fintech that aims to assist underbanked or credit-challenged communities. StellarFi states that around 150 million Americans have credit below 680 – blocking access to various financial services. The company seeks to help individuals build good credit by managing members’ bills and recurring payments such as rent, subscriptions, and utilities, ensuring they get paid on time. StellarFi provides reports directly to large credit bureaus like TransUnion, Experian, etc.
Members can choose a subscription plan starting at $4.99/month, with StellarFi’s “Prime” plan being $9.99/month. StellarFi states that its bill pay system can provide members an average increase of 26 points in the first month while assisting in future improvements to a credit score.
Lamine Zarrad, CEO and founder of StellarFi, said his company has the potential to transform credit building, lending, and loan servicing for lenders and consumers.
StellarFi adds that at the end of 2022, only months after its official launch, the company surpassed $2 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR).


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By Shira Ovide and Martin Peers
Furious at price hikes at Netflix? Blockbuster has a deal for you. (Depending on what you consider a “deal.”)
In a gambit to capitalize on Netflix fury, Blockbuster said it will offer Netflix customers a free, month-long trial for Blockbuster “Total Access,” a monthly subscription offering for mix of DVDs by mail and DVDs that can be swapped at Blockbuster stores.
After the free trail, Blockbuster will charge subscribers $9.99 a month to take out one DVD at a time. That’s $2 a month more expensive than the one-DVD-at-a-time option from Netflix.
But Blockbuster Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Lewis says Blockbuster customers will get “stuff you won’t get from Netflix.”


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Aldi isn’t your traditional supermarket. There’s cardboard boxes for shelves, wine bottles for $3, and shopping carts that you can rent for a quarter. Shoppers bag their own groceries, and employees don’t spend much time restocking. Stores are relatively small and you may not recognize many of the brands unless you’re a regular. With more than 1,800 stores in operation nationwide as of this writing, the discount grocer is on track to becoming one of the top grocery store chains — third behind Walmart and Kroger — with 2,500 locations projected in 2022, according to CNN Business.
With all this growth, you might be wondering how the German-based grocer manages to keep its prices so low. Well, much of it is a result of Aldi’s shoestring operation, which we’ll get into. All those savings at the top trickle down to savings for the shoppers — and that’s all done without infringing on quality. Aldi CEO Jason Hart told CNBC Markets that shoppers “are saving money on high quality products in a convenient, less frustrating shopping environment.” So let’s break it down and see exactly how Aldi keeps its prices so low.
Aldi's quarter system is key to keeping prices low
Aldi keeps prices down, in part, by employing a small workforce. In fact, that small workforce is the reason you’ll have to insert change to use an Aldi shopping cart. If at any point you want to use a cart to navigate the store, you’ll “rent” one; a quarter unlocks a cart from the corral at the front of the store, The Penny Hoarder explained. But don’t worry about losing your money. As you’re only renting the cart, you’ll get your quarter back once you return the cart to the store. Considering shoppers do the work of putting the carts away, Aldi save money by not hiring cart attendants to gather them from the parking lot.
Aldi may be most popular for this cart system, but the chain isn’t the first to use this tactic. CNN Business reported that other grocers throughout the United States tried to implement the system back in the ’80s and ’90s, but quickly gave up as it frustrated their shoppers. Yet and still, Aldi has never wavered from the quarter-cart model. In fact, it was in place when the first American Aldi opened in Iowa in 1976 and, according to CNN, the company credits the system for helping keep prices so low.
Aldi keeps prices so low by putting its shoppers to work
For better or for worse, Aldi is able to keep prices low by making the customer work. Not only will you be in charge of putting your cart back where you found it, but Aldi also has customers bag their own groceries, CNN Business explained. In doing so, cashiers are able to process more transactions as they don’t have to pause to bag. Subsequently, the chain doesn’t need to hire as many cashiers. And, of course, that means the chain saves money — and some of those savings are passed on to the consumer.
So, how exactly do you bag your own groceries at Aldi? You have several options: You can purchase plastic and/or reusable bags at the store, bring your own bags, or opt for empty cardboard boxes, which may corralled in an area within the store. While it may not be as glamorous as having your groceries bagged by someone else, it’s part of how Aldi keeps prices low. Not to mention, it also saves you time.
“Those lines fly. You’re not waiting for people to bag. They’re not messing around there,” Baltimore-based food writer Allison Robicelli told CNN. “Once you see that kind of efficiency, it makes going to other supermarkets really annoying and really tedious.”
Each Aldi store employs a tiny, multitasking workforce to lower prices
While shopping at Aldi, you might notice a limited number of employees compared to large supermarkets. You probably won’t see an employee taking calls, either. As CNN Business reported, most Aldi stores don’t even have a public phone number so as to avoid employees spending time on calls with customers. In an effort to save both time and money, all employees are also cross-trained in order to perform every task. That’s important to the store’s success because one Aldi store might only have three to five people in it at any given time, and only between 15 to 20 total store employees on the payroll, according to CNN.
Having a small and efficient workforce ultimately saves the chain a ton on labor costs and those savings trickle down to the customers. While Aldi strips down a lot of things you may have come to expect from a grocery store, Katrijn Gielens, marketing professor at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in North Carolina, told CNN Business they do so “without compromising on quality.”
Aldi keeps prices so low by using cardboard boxes and crates to display products
Walk into a large grocery store and you’ll find products displayed on shelves pretty much everywhere. That’s not the case at Aldi, which often makes makeshift shelves using the same crates and cardboard boxes in which products are shipped, CNBC’s Make It revealed. It may not look as pretty, but Aldi and its customers save some coin thanks to this practice.
According to CNN Business, this money-saving tactic also saves employees the time it takes to unpack boxes and stock shelves since the products are already in place. This is just one of the many strategies Aldi utilizes to keep prices low and make people feel better about their purchase, Walmart CEO Gregory Foran recognized. “People love saving money on staples,” he further acknowledged at an industry conference in 2019. “You feel pretty good if you can save $10 on your grocery bill because it makes you feel better when you go out for dinner on Saturday night and spend $200 at a restaurant.” If boxes are what help you do that, then so be it, right?
Aldi cuts production costs to sell wine for super low prices
If you’re a wine connoisseur on a budget you probably already know about Aldi’s deliciously cheap wine collection. This is, after all, the same chain that goes viral any time they announce a new boozy drink, like its award-winning rosé, which retails for the shockingly low price of $8 a bottle. In fact, an Aldi representative told Eating Well that about 90 percent of the German-based chain’s wines are priced under $10.
It’s true that wine doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to taste good, but how exactly does Aldi sell high-quality wine for $3, $5 or $10? It’s all in Aldi’s business strategy. Aldi partners with companies that own their vineyards, which means the grocer isn’t paying any overhead to create the boozy product, Eating Well reported. Also, Aldi typically works with winemakers who use machine pickers as opposed to hand-picking, which ultimately saves time and cuts down on costs.
Aldi keeps stores small to keep prices low
It doesn’t take long to do grocery shopping at any Aldi store. According to CNBC Markets, Aldi’s stores are “one-fifth the size of a typical supermarket” with a few wide aisles and 12,000 square feet on average. This works for many consumers, like Aldi Nerd blogger Diane Youngpeter, who told CNN Aldi’s simple layout helps her shop more efficiently. “I’m a busy mom. I don’t have time to navigate a huge grocery store with kids begging to get out and go home,” Youngpeter explained. “I can get in and out of an Aldi in no time. I’m not sifting through 50 different varieties of salsa.”
Thanks to its smaller size and minimalist layout, Aldi saves money on real estate and labor costs , per CNN, and it doesn’t have to carry as many products as its competitors. Typically, an Aldi store carries around 1,400 items versus traditional grocery stores and superstores, which can carry anywhere between 40,000 to over 100,000 items.
Aldi keeps prices low by being eco-friendly
Aldi has found a way to keep its prices low by reducing its energy consumption. According to Aldi’s website, the grocer is always looking for ways to make less of a carbon footprint while saving money. How? Aldi has solar panels installed at stores and warehouses and has stores equipped with LED lighting and sustainable refrigeration. Every Aldi warehouse uses ammonia, which is “a natural refrigerant with a Global Warming Potential of zero,” in its refrigeration systems, according to Aldi.
Aldi is big on solar energy. In 2018 alone, according to Aldi’s website, its solar panels minimized the grocer’s release of CO2 emissions equivalent to “15.6 million pounds of coal being burned.” The grocery chain is also big on reducing plastic. “Aldi has never offered single-use plastic shopping bags. And while we’re pleased that we’ve helped keep billions of plastic grocery bags out of landfills and oceans, we want to continue to do more,” Jason Hart, CEO of Aldi U.S., revealed in a 2019 press release. Aldi has also saved money on shopping bags as they charge customers for bags and encourage them to bring their own.
No music equals low prices at Aldi
Perhaps you’ve already noticed this, but it can be oddly quiet in Aldi stores as there’s never any music blaring in the background. The German-based grocer has a very smart, cost-effective reason for not playing music, Kristin McGrath, shopping guru and editor at Offers.com, told Reader’s Digest. “There’s been research that suggests playing relaxing music in stores makes customers relax and browse more, which is why many stores play music,” she said. But unlike some other grocers, Aldi doesn’t want to spend money for a third-party licensed music service. “People are there to save as much money on essentials as possible, period,” McGrath added. And music would essentially take some of that away from customers.
Jenna Coleman, founder of Particular Pantry, told Reader’s Digest, “As someone who shops at Aldi every week, I am very familiar with the many things Aldi does to cut costs,” she said. “Not playing music in their stores is just another line item they aren’t passing onto their customers.” So if you’re looking for music during your shopping trip, better pop in those earbuds.
Aldi avoids stocking big brands to help keep prices low
You won’t see a whole lot of brandname products at Aldi, but that’s vital for the grocer to save you money. According to a CNBC report, Aldi stocks more than 90 percent of private-label goods, including brands like Simply Nature and Fit & Active. Just because most of Aldi’s products aren’t brandname, that doesn’t mean they aren’t of high quality. “We test our products to meet or beat the national brands’ quality,” Aldi spokesperson Kate Kirkpatrick told Taste of Home.
Even if you’re into name brands, these private-label products aren’t really all that different. According to CNN Business, Aldi’s Honey Nut Crispy Oats are even displayed in boxes that look very similar to that of General Mill’s Honey Nut Cheerios. “I think right now, the key for us is, consumers are appreciating more and more private label,” Scott Patton, Aldi’s vice president of corporate buying, told NPR. “They’re absolutely recognizing they can get great quality product at a great price.” However, Aldi isn’t alone in this. Other grocers like Costco have also found success with their private-label brands, according to CNN.
Aldi buys from local farmers to keep prices so low
Much of the organic produce you find in your neighborhood Aldi comes from local farmers. According to Aldi’s website, the German-based grocer “[teams] up with local farms to help [customers] get the freshest produce at low prices.” But how do you know a product is locally sourced? Every item that comes from a local farmer is marked with a “locally grown” logo. You can even find locally-sourced craft beer, bread, and meat at Aldi stores.
Buying local is both good for the planet and good for your wallet. Aldi is able to cut costs on transportation, as reported by Taste of Home, which not only saves money but lessens the impact on the environment. Every Aldi store receives fresh produce shipments on a daily basis and between five to 10 percent of those products are locally sourced, Tom Cindel, group director of operations/logistics for Aldi’s Moreno Valley area, confirmed to NBC 7 San Diego. This is a win-win for the grocer and its customers. As Cindel explained, “People are savvier about what they eat and how much they’re willing to pay for food.”
Aldi keeps prices low on organic foods across the board
Fruits and veggies are the most commonly purchased organic products at any grocery store, according to a survey from Earthbound Farm, and Aldi is no exception. Though typically organic items do tend to be pricier, a CNBC Make It report found that Aldi sells USDA organic foods cheaper than its distant cousin Trader Joe’s as well as competitors like Walmart and Whole Foods. Now more than ever, organic products are in demand, especially with Millennials and Gen Z shoppers, who reportedly purchase organic food “all the time.”
While Aldi’s business model focuses on low prices, it doesn’t mean quality isn’t just as important as value. John Karolefski, editor of Grocery Stories, told CNBC that Aldi delivers on both. “Aldi, happily, has a lot of good quality, good-tasting products at good prices,” Karolefski said. “It’s one of the reasons they’ve been so successful in the U.S.”
Keeping variety low and volume high helps keep prices down at Aldi
One thing every regular Aldi shopper knows is that they won’t necessarily find a dozen options of, say, ketchup at their neighborhood store. Aldi stores carry a “limited assortment” of products at a “significant volume,” according to its website. This enables the chain to land good deals with suppliers and provide low prices to its customers, as reported by NPR.
Scott Patton, vice president of corporate buying at Aldi, told NPR that unlike traditional supermarkets, Aldi “[has] been involved in being a low-price leader since Day 1.” He continued, saying, “Because of the way we structure our business … we are comfortable that we will come out as a leader in the price war.”
One of the many ways Aldi leads that “price war” is by limiting how many brands the chain carries. So the next time you find yourself doubting the quality of a super low-priced item at Aldi, know it’s the result of the way Aldi does business and not reflective of the quality.
Aldi stores keep prices low by closing early
Aldi doesn’t generally follow the norm when it comes to operating a grocery store, and that includes its store hours. While other chains like Walmart keep the lights on for as long as 24 hours a day, Aldi turns them off not long after dusk. Visit Aldi’s store locator page and you’ll find most locations typically operate between 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with some even closing as early as 7 p.m.
It might seem like closing early would mean the chain loses out on potential sales, but closing early actually saves you — and Aldi — money. According to Taste of Home, Aldi’s hours of operation allow the German-based grocer to “save on wages and reduces operational costs,” thus providing more savings for its customers.
“Aldi is perfectly positioned as the low-priced leader,” Burt Flickinger, managing director of Strategic Resource Group, told CNN Business in May 2020. “A family with five kids and a rescue pet spending $200 a week of groceries at a typical supermarket chain is spending $120 to $140 a week at Aldi.”
Source: Read Full Article


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Working From Bed
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 | by Pat's Picks
The Wall Street Journal says more and more people are working from bed these days, a situation that becomes inescapable when doing business with colleagues stationed around the world. It’s also a situation that makes ergonomic experts cringe. Luckily, there are new products on the market—such as mattresses with outlets and pillows that can prop up a tablet and hold your pens.
SOURCE: Wall Street Journal


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January 5, 2022
October 27, 2022
Global Wellness Summit 2022
Miles Hawley, CEO of Recipe Design will be attending the Global Wellness Summit 2022 later this month.Taking place...
January 4, 2022
October 28, 2022
Overcoming Wellness Technology’s Biggest Challenge
Wellness technology needs to overcome its biggest challenge yet, maintaining consumer engagement through rewarding the user through positive,...


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BY GEORG SZALAI | HollywoodReporter.Com
Troy Warren for CNT
The French media conglomerate finalized a deal to offload a 10 percent stake in the music major to a blank check company of Bill Ackman’s hedge fund Pershing Square.
French media conglomerate Vivendi has finalized a deal to sell a 10 percent stake in Universal Music Group to a so-called “blank check” company set up by Bill Ackman’s hedge fund Pershing Square, valuing the music major at €35.0 billion ($40 billion).
Vivendi had recently said it was in talks with the financial vehicle about selling it the stake in the label, home of the likes of Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.
Vivendi has long been planning an initial public offering of the music firm in Amsterdam by late September, and that plan is still on, with the SPAC Pershing Square Tontine Holdings telling shareholders Sunday that they will receive the shares in UMG later this year after the IPO. UMG will release a 22-minute video about the company to Pershing Square Tontine shareholders on Wednesday, June 23rd.
Vivendi previously sold a 20 percent stake in UMG to a consortium led by Chinese online giant Tencent. It has said it plans to distribute 60 percent of UMG, while retaining the remaining 10 percent for a minimum period of two years.
UMG is the world’s biggest music label and follows Warner Music to the public markets. Warner Music IPOd in 2020, with a $15 billion valuation. it is currently valued at just under $18 billion. The rise of streaming services like Spotify and social platforms like TikTok have significantly bolstered the music business in recent years.
Blank check companies, or Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs), take over privately held firms and usually take them public in an alternative to a traditional IPO. Over the past year-plus, Wall Street has seen a big number of SPAC IPOs.
This deal would be different, however, with UMG still set to go public via an IPO in the third quarter of 2021. Instead, Pershing Square Tontine said it will have about $1.5 billion left over after the UMG deal is complete, which it will use to try and find another company to take public. The company will also create what it calls a “SPARC,” which will be given to shareholders, trade separately and which will also seek to merge with another private company.
The deal is subject to the authorization of the plan to take UMG public by Vivendi shareholders at a shareholder meeting on June 22. The transaction would be the largest SPAC deal on record, according to Dealogic data.
Vivendi, led by CEO Arnaud de Puyfontaine, has previously said: “In addition, the Pershing Square funds and their affiliates have indicated that they may acquire additional economic exposure to UMG by acquiring Vivendi securities and/or by acquiring UMG securities following the distribution of UMG shares by Vivendi.”
In Other NEWS


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PayPal started out 2020 faced with security intelligence that a vulnerability could expose user passwords to a hacker. Now, another shoe has dropped. SHOP, THE NEW HARLEM WORLD SHOP!
With a Target store in East Harlem, it was great to hear that Empire star Taraji P. Henson and Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst celebrated the exclusive, new launch of Continue Reading →
Several retailers have taken steps over the last year to become more eco-friendly and reduce their use of plastic. SHOP, THE NEW HARLEM WORLD SHOP!
With a Target Store in East Harlem, and Thanksgiving is a week away, Target has just passed the gravy boat. SHOP, THE NEW HARLEM WORLD SHOP!
Ahead of Black Friday, Target has added same-day delivery service to its app. Previously, the retailer only offered the service on its desktop website. SHOP, THE NEW HARLEM WORLD SHOP!
Mayor Bill de Blasio, First Lady Chirlane McCray, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority & Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) Jonnel Doris, and Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Continue Reading →
With a Target store in East Harlem, Target is preparing for the holiday shopping season by increasing its payroll by $50 million and bringing on additional personnel in stores and Continue Reading →
Sign Up for the Harlem World Newsletter


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One of the most interesting things about the upcoming Galaxy S5 will no doubt be its camera, which is expected to have a 16-megapixel sensor that’s capable of impressive low-light photography thanks to Samsung’s new ISOCELL technology. Today, the company has announced new camera flash LED components for mobile devices, and one of the new LEDs is one that will be partly responsible for making the Galaxy S5 a stunning performer in low-light situations.
Samsung has unveiled several new LED components – each includes two reflector-integrated flash LED packages ─ the 3432 1.8t (FH341A) and 3432 1.4t
(FH341B), plus a flip-chip flash LED 2016 (FH201A), as well as two side-view LEDs ─ the 3810 0.6t (MS062F) and 3810 0.8t (MS082F). These are geared at high-end devices, and are capable of providing a wider field of view (FOV) within a small space – the 3432 1.8t will be used in the company’s upcoming flagship, delivering “over 165 lux at 1A and a minimum CRI (Color Rendering Index) of 80, assuring quality photos in daylight and at night.”


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PackersNews app available for Android users
available for Android
The PackersNews app is now available for Android users.
PackersNews provides the latest news, headlines, opinions, live game coverage, photos, videos, tweets, scores, stats and rosters for the Packers. It includes exclusive commentary, insider analysis and award-winning photos and videos from the Packers News’ team at Press-Gazette Media and Gannett Wisconsin Media.
Android users can search PackersNews in the Google Play store.
For Apple users, the PackersNews app is available to them at the Apple store.
— Richard Ryman/Press-Gazette


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The closure of Silk Road and Silk Road 2.0 did not mean the end of “The Dark Web,” only the mainstream’s exposure to it. Shutting down “The Dark Web” is like shutting down an ant colony or life at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The Dark Web isn’t going anywhere, much like the digital currency that has become its main economic driver, Bitcoin.
How Dark is The Dark Web?
20 years ago, when the Internet was at a simulator point of technological global gestation, it was considered a den of pornographers, robbers and thieves. The world’s largest telecoms were constantly seen lobbying Washington, D.C. against the scourge of The Internet. This was borne out of fear for how advanced the new technology was beyond their aging fax machines and rotary phones.
As a rule, criminals or at least those who live on the fringes of the legal system tend to be the first ones to find and use the latest technological advances. Particularly in the world of crime, a technological edge that will keep you ahead the competition or the authorities can be worth millions. So if you want to see where the world is headed, watch the criminal underworld. Today, that underworld is called “The Dark Web” - a technological advancement in and of itself.
The Dark Web, accessible through Tor web browsers, is a very rich Bitcoin economy, in particular when it comes to drug transactions. Over its two-year run at the top, Silk Road made over US$1.2 Billion in bitcoin, according to the FBI, and that was just one site.
According to Infogr.am’s infographic on the subject, BitPay, Bitcoin’s global leader in mainstream merchant transactions in bitcoin, produces US$435,000 in daily transactions. Meanwhile, the top 6 Dark Web marketplaces were doing as much as US$650,000 daily through 2014. According to QZ.com’s article on The Dark Web, the number of vendors has grown from 1,400 to well over 9,000 in the two years since the Silk Road closure.
The 2015 Global Drug Survey shows that buying drugs on The Dark Web is quite popular with 6% of respondents worldwide saying that was the avenue of choice. In major western markets like the U.S., U.K. and Australia, the number is as high as 15%. Cannabis, MDMA and LSD are the Dark Web market leaders in sales, with MDMA and cannabis accounting for about 25% of the drug traffic.
A growing benefit within this community is higher levels of purity and quality of the drugs bought and sold versus what is available on your local street corner. Energy Control, a non-profit in Barcelona, Spain doing drug tests since 1998, found that drugs like cocaine, MDMA and speed had a much higher level of purity when found online versus street vending.
Fewer hands touch the drug, which means less risk of someone adding other substances, diluting its quality, and expanding market supply for a greater profit margin of the same drug. The downside is the higher quality will be much more potent than the street version and the amount used needs to be adjusted for this. When it isn’t, this can lead to overdoses.
Like the early Internet had pornography as its primary business market, The Dark Web is built around drugs, but not only drugs. Other niches for sale include things like blueprints, hacking services, counterfeit cash, weapons, surveillance equipment, passports, and various ID services.
Is Bitcoin part of the problem?
Authorities worldwide have castigated Bitcoin for the transgressions of those who use it for less than legal purposes. The hypocrisy is stunning, given the fact that U.S. Dollars have been used for more crimes than any currency in the history of the world and has set a record that will never be eclipsed. This doesn’t even include the crimes against humanity by the governments who create the currencies themselves to fund wars.
Blaming bitcoin for drug crimes and money laundering is like blaming dollars for war, which nobody does, because that would be stupid. There was war before dollars, and there will be war after dollars leave the stage. People bought drugs before bitcoin, and will continue to buy them forever with or without bitcoin.
Removing Dark Web market leaders like Silk Road and Agora, which closed in August due to security concerns, is like removing a Ford and GM from the global car market. It just leaves more sales on the table for Toyota and Volkswagen. One major player may go down, and three stores rush to fill the gap, like building websites on the mainstream Internet. It is a growing global economy.
As long as people do drugs, The Dark Web isn’t going anywhere. The facts show it is only growing with each passing day. Also, as history has shown, so is Bitcoin. Like war and U.S. Dollars, the Dark Web and Bitcoin seem to be a marriage that is built to last.


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Google's very own Android Go phones are soon getting a brand new upgrade just as Google is preparing to bring the HDR camera software to its very own budget lineup!
The possibility of Android Go phones and HDR
The GCam modders that are looking into the Camera Go app have just discovered that there is actually a new "Detail Enhance" toggle in the camera's own settings right beneath the Flash and Face Enhance. This new toggle also includes an HDR mode (short for High Dynamic Range).
The HDR can actually be turned on, off, or even put into automatic mode. There does not yet appear to be any HDR+ but is actually on Google's camera software for its own premium Pixel series. High Dynamic Range is very important for budget phones since they actually improve the photography aspect of these phones significantly.
Instead of paying about $1000 for a good camera, the HDR actually enables your budget phone to imitate the functions of an expensive smartphone's camera. Google has started to see the importance of budget photography which is why it is deciding to prioritize adding the HDR to its Android Go phones is a good move for Google.
Since most of the Android users like to expect a few more features for the few dollars they are paying, they won't merely just tolerate a phone sold at an affordable price. The race right now is to how much they can get from the actual price they are paying.
Here's more info on the Android Go
The Android Go is the name from a quite different series of budget smartphones that are run by Google's very own Android software. The "Android Go" is quite different from the standard Android because of its lightweight version of the OS.
These budget smartphones usually have really small storage space and this means that every single MB and GB is important. Sometime last month, Google previously announced the Camera Go for its very own Android Go series.
The Camera Go is a really lightweight camera app that is said to provide the essential camera modes for its user.
Now that Google itself has announced that it is bringing the HDR to the series, it is now much easier to see where Google is taking the budget phone series in general. Whether or Not Google brings its HDR+ from its premium Pixel series to the different Go series is still a mystery to everyone.
This move by Google seems to be an evolutionary step for not just their own budget phones but for all budget smart phones in general.
Bridging the gap between the features offered on budget phones compared to the different features offered to luxury phones would result for the improvement of both phones in general. As a rule, the more competition there is, the more the manufacturers are pushed to offer something more than their competition.


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Burger King has become the latest fast food giant to commit to a phased re-opening of its properties.
The company will open eight of its restaurants in major cities across the UK tomorrow on a 'delivery only basis'.
Bosses hope to use the openings as a template for re-introducing trade at all of their venues.
Further outlets will be opened in the coming weeks.
It follows confirmation yesterday that fellow High Street giant Greggs would be using "volunteers" to trial re-opening across a range of its stores.
McDonalds have so far denied they are planning to open their 1,249 restaurants across the UK as drive-thrus.
It follows the announcement from PM Boris Johnson that Britain was ready to enter the "second phase" of its battle with the coronavirus.
A spokesman for Burger King said: "Burger King UK has today announced it will re-open a further eight restaurants across England and Scotland from Wednesday 29 April, including one for customer Drive Thru, as it continues its phased re-opening plan.
"Following this week and as part of its phased re-opening plan, Burger King has also announced it plans to re-open one restaurant in every city by 31 May.
"In addition to the eight restaurants opening from Wednesday 29 April, Burger King will open a further 12 restaurants over the following consecutive weeks."


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After reviewing and analyzing 73 samples of some of the best examples of flexible packaging on the market in 2019, a panel of judges has chosen 48 packages for recognition in the Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) 64th Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition.
The Flexible Packaging Association recently held its 2019 Fall Executive Conference at the InterContinental Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The association’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings preceded the conference. This issue of the FPA Update highlights some of the presentations.
Packaging is ever-changing, with new forms, materials and machinery becoming available each year. That is why PACK EXPO is a must-see event for many in the industry. With this year’s show just around the corner, here is a sampling of just a few of the thousands of products that will be on display.
PACK EXPO Las Vegas is expected to draw 30,000 attendees from more than 125 countries
August 9, 2019
This year’s largest, most comprehensive packaging event, PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2019 will take place Sept. 23–25, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The biennial event co-located with Healthcare Packaging EXPO 2019, is set to bring machinery suppliers together with end users across a host of industries.
FPA is helping to bring together a wide variety of processing industry professionals, resources, and services by partnering with ProFood Tech (March 26-28, 2019, McCormick Place, Chicago) in the ProFood Tech 2019 Partner Program.
From continued exhibit space expansion and attendee increases, the flagship Converters Expo returns to Lambeau Field for the popular one-day event. Two weeks later, ICE USA 2019 makes its Louisville debut.
Hot on the heels of the second-annual Converters Expo South, which was held on February 5 in Charlotte, North Carolina, comes the flagship Converters Expo. Now entering its 12th year, the event returns to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from March 27-28.
The Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) 2018 Fall Executive Conference will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2018, at the InterContinental Chicago. Conference registration is available on the FPA website.
Given the love that Americans have for their pets, it should come as no surprise that this affection is a major driver in the growth of pouch packaging. The relationship will be clarified for attendees of the upcoming Global Pouch Forum, to be held June 13-15 in Miami, Florida.


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Business welcomed to downtown
Downtown businesses, the City of Dell Rapids and Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce welcomed JR’s Alterations & Crafts to the community Friday, Nov. 17, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 414 E. Fourth St.
Before moving into the 414 storefront between Hairapy Salon and Creative Lush Boutique, JR’s Alterations & Crafts operated breifly in the back of Alliecat Creations & Friends, which is directly across the street.
JR’s Alterations & Crafts, owned by Janet DeGraw isn’t the only business at the 414 storefront. DeGraw’s daughter, Donna Kuper, owns Kuper Complete Accounting and plans to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 8.
A story about the mother-daughter business owners was published in the Oct. 11 edition of the Dell Rapids Tribune.


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Tyson Foods reported disappointing margins for its chicken business on Monday as market prices fell and grain costs rose.
The company reported a quarterly profit after one-time items that beat Wall Street expectations on the strength of its beef and pork businesses, but investors focused on the performance of its poultry operations, which came in well below that of rivals like Pilgrim’s Pride.
Donnie Smith, a veteran at the company who became chief executive last week, said in a conference call that the chicken business should improve in 2010, but added that the company would need to increase volume and do a better job of managing inventory.
“It’s important to remember that we significantly reduced inventory in 2009, so to keep up with current domestic demand, we’ll have to produce this year what we took out of inventory last year,” Mr. Smith said. “We’ll be doing what we should be doing, which is selling what we produce and not confusing the freezer with the customer.”
Earlier on Monday, Pilgrim’s Pride reported a quarterly profit, reversing a year-earlier loss.
Tyson reported a net loss of $455 million, or $1.22 a share, for its fiscal fourth quarter, ended on Oct. 3, compared with a year-earlier profit of $48 million, or 13 cents a share.
Excluding a good-will impairment charge for its beef business, Tyson earned 28 cents a share, beating the analysts’ average estimate of 26 cents, according to Thomson Reuters.
Revenue at Tyson rose slightly, to $7.21 billion from $7.20 billion. Analysts on average were expecting $6.88 billion.
Operating margins at the chicken segment came in at 1.2 percent, much below analysts’ forecasts.
Tyson expects the strength in its pork and beef businesses to continue in its new fiscal year and said that it saw a chance for the economy to improve in the last half of the year.Continue reading the main story
Tyson’s stock fell 19 cents, to $12.88.Continue reading the main story


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On Friday, the U-S Environmental Protection Agency set a deadline for reducing soot pollution. Communities across the country will have to reduce the amount of soot that goes into their air by 20 percent by the end of the decade.
Biomass burners are often touted as relatively clean and renewable energy sources. But a new report says the burners are sending unmonitored pollutants into the air near vulnerable groups of people, such as school children while receiving $70 million in subsidies.
About 30,000 jobs were created in the last three years in Pennsylvania either directly or indirectly by Marcellus shale gas. A federally-funded program is trying to get more Pennsylvanians onto well pads.
Making sure neighborhoods have walkable, accessible grocery stores prevents urban dwellers from leaving for the suburbs. Yet, many urban neighborhoods lack grocery stores or markets offering fresh foods.


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Details are scant, but another poll on consumers proclivity to spend online will hit the spot while the free-vs-paid debate rages…
KPMG’s inaugural “media and entertainment barometer” by YouGov found that just 11 percent of consumers “currently spend anything on online media”. Of those who do subscribe, it’s…
— Online TV: 21 percent
— Movie VOD: 19 percent
— Music: 17 percent
— Newspapers/magazines: seven percent
How about value? The highest mean monthly spend across these media types went to music — £5 a month.
But mean spend on online content (below £2 a month) is far less than tangible, real-world content (£5 to £20 a month). (Then again, real-world entertainment like cinemas and gigs doesn’t come cheap nowadays).
Twenty-eight percent of survey respondents said they have cut back buying printed newspapers and magazines to read free online content since the recession kicked in, KPMG’s press release reckons. Only three percent of them said their spending would return to pre-recession levels.
On the other hand, 11 percent of the freeloaders say they “might begin subscribing to any online media in the next 12 months”.
Methodology: 1,037 people aged 16 and over were polled ins September 2009.


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Apart from these two laptops, HP India has also announced new premium PC gaming accessories including keyboards and mouses in the HP Omen series.
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Latest football scores live. Includes soccer fixtures, table & results.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bowls ‘No Ball’ At Nets, Gets Trolled
Manchester United transfer news: Daley Blind completes move back to Ajax in a deal worth up to £18.5m
No more brigadier rank? Indian Army may do away with position in bid to be on par with civil services
Currency exchange rates in INR on July 17, 2018
2016 © Tito's Resorts & Hospitalities Pvt Ltd


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TECNO Philippines has just announced that their newest foldable smartphone, the Phantom V Flip will be priced at Php29,999. This is currently the most affordable flip smartphone and also the most affordable smartphone with a foldable display in the Philippines.
TECNO has officially priced at Php29,999 but you can even get it for only Php23,999 at Shopee this November 9 up to 11. Aside from the amazing deal, they’ll be bundling a PHANTOM Watch for every purchase of the foldable smartphone.
TECNO Phantom V Flip features a Dimensity 8050 chipset inside along with 8GB of RAM and also a 4000mAh battery. For the cover display, there’s the 1.32″ circular display outside while there’s the 6.9-inch foldable AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
For the camera, the smartphone supports 64MP main camera along with 13MP ultrawide camera and then there’s the 32MP selfie camera inside.


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By David Russell
The bulls are playing video games.
optionMONSTER's Heat Seeker tracking system detected unusual call activity yesterday in Electronic Arts (ERTS), which is known for titles such as "Medal of Honor." They paid $0.77 to $0.91 for the October 16 contracts.
Today the shares rose as much as 6.5 percent, and those same calls more than doubled to as much as $2. The option action continues fast and furious today, but now traders are selling the October 18 calls and the October 18 puts to bet that the ERTS will remain in a range through expiration.
Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) also saw bullish activity as an investor sold October 11 calls for $0.33 and purchased the November 11 contracts for $0.65. The trade, known as a call roll, will provide an additional month of long exposure for a net $0.32. ATVI rose 3 percent to $11.32 in afternoon trading.
The company sells "World of Warcraft," which is the world's top-selling multiplayer game.
Yesterday, the Heat Seeker also detected upside activity in Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ:TTWO), best known for the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise. TTWO is up 0.86 percent to $10.50, although there is little noteworthy options activity in the name.
Disclosure: No positions


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By Gregory Hale
This is an explosive new age of industrial productivity and with that brings a bigger risk for cyber attackers to hit manufacturers.
“With automation tools we can shorten the time it takes to bring product to market,” said Raj Batra, president, industry automation division at Siemens during his keynote address Tuesday at the 2011 Automation Summit in Orlando, FL.
Those tools, such as open systems, bring great benefits, but they also can bring peril. Batra mentioned Stuxnet being one of those issues.
“Stuxnet marked a turning point,” Batra said. “It turned theoretical problems into real time headlines. We have learned over the course of the last year. It has been bittersweet. It has driven some very important lesson learned.”
Batra said in 2010 alone there were over 20 million new strains of malware created.
For companies to succeed in fending off any kind of cyber attack whether it is an advance targeted attack like a Stuxnet or a lesser assault, Batra said technology alone cannot solve the problem.
“The focus of cyber security can’t be achievable through products alone. Companies need to take a holistic approach. We need to take a defense in depth approach. ”
Technology is key to solving the problem, but it also comes down to companies having a plan and executing on that plan.
Companies need to build awareness into the organization, Batra said. In addition, he said, security has to become a way of life for any company. Finally, companies need to take a holistic approach to security.
“The goal for us to be the best in managing industrial security,” Batra said.
While security was a major part of the keynote address, Batra also talked about main business pressures companies are facing today. Global manufacturing, supply chain complexity, the shortage of engineering talent, commodity price increases were all part of the push to increase productivity in the coming years.


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The European season is divided. The Dutch growers are switching to illuminated cultivation, and supplies from Spain and Morocco are starting. This results in contentment among Dutch growers. In Eastern Europe, the season is over, and export is coming to a halt. Italy is also in the market. In North America, storms have limited volumes and thus driven up prices. Although the open field cultivation was hit in particular by the weather, Canadian greenhouse growers also benefit from the good prices. In South America, tomatoes are only grown for the domestic market. This means there are hardly any players from abroad to invest, and technology is limited. Still, a surplus arose in Paraguay, causing prices to plummet. In China, prices were also lower than last year on average.
A Japanese breeder with branches all over the world discusses his expectations for the cultivation of tomatoes. Niche markets are becoming more important, and there is more attention for certain characteristics of tomatoes, such as flavour and colour. Shelf life is also becoming more important.
Netherlands: transition to illuminated cultivation
In the Netherlands, the first tomatoes from the Canary Islands have arrived. After the trucks, in week 45 or 46 the first ships will come in. The season is looking good. The Spanish season was delayed due to the warm summer, and with high demand that results in a good market. Last week, the Moroccan season started with the first cherry (vine) tomatoes and baby plum tomatoes, but the volumes aren't big yet. From November on, supplies from Morocco will increase.
In Dutch tomato cultivation, the non-illuminated growers are heading towards the end of the season. The head is out for most of them. Because of the increase in illuminated acreage, however, supplies of Dutch tomatoes, in winter as well, are higher than ever. That alleviates some of the pressure in summer too, but this hasn't been able to save the summer this season. Until mid-August, the season wasn't good, while the year started off well with limited production and high prices. After that there was a lot of light and high production and disappointing prices – but from mid/late August on, the transition has started. Since then, prices have been consistently good.
The season for the Dutch specialties is also drawing to a close. Price setting is good. The season started off well, but has had a few bad weeks at the peak. The bonus of the start of the year was gone then. But a month or two ago, the price started to rise, and it remained good. Snack tomatoes, cherry, cherry vine: the market for all small tomatoes is good.
The import from Spain and Morocco is slowly starting to emerge. Both are later than normal – last year we were already importing for 3 weeks, which is why Dutch growers are contented now. Most Dutch growers have already chosen their variety for next year, and the snack segment is growing. But that's been happening for years, and every year there's a fear of it growing too big. For now there still seems to be room in this growing market. The acreage for mid-size individual seems to be shrinking. Vine provides better production and a higher price than individual, so the acreage for individual will decrease, and that's causing some tension already.
Late start Spain, more specialties
Part of the Spanish growers have planted too late. Another part has planted, but that production was lost due to the heat. At the moment, Almería and Motril (Granada) are in production. The harvest has been delayed due to difficulties setting the tomatoes, caused by the warm weather. The prices are high due to this late start with small volumes, also for the conventional tomatoes. The availability of individual cherry and cherry plum tomatoes was better. The harvest is really starting now, so there is no shortage anymore. Only the vine tomatoes have been delayed. The prices are expected to go down, and the market will stabilize.
The production of specialties is increasing rapidly. That's a threat to this market, because as more growers get into specialties, the special nature of these tomatoes diminishes. That could cause problems among Spanish growers.
Warm summer delays season Italy
At the wholesale market in Bologna, the Dutch vine tomatoes are making good money, just like the cherry tomatoes (3.20 euros per kilo) and plum tomatoes (3-3.50 euros per kilo) from Sicily. Vine tomatoes from Apulia and Campania yield around 1.50 euros per kilo. Italy has twelve production regions: Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Lazio, Abruzzo, Apulia, Campania, Sicily, Calabria and Basilicata.
Because of the start of autumn, the market for green tomatoes, San Marzano and Cuore di Bue, is stable. The cooler weather inhibits consumption of this typical summer tomato. Prices for these tomatoes are around 80 cents to 1.30 euros per kilo. The new season on Sicily will really start in December, an exact date is also dependent on the weather. The Italians expect a good season for the tomatoes.
According to one grower from Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, the warm weather of last summer has delayed the harvest in September. Just like in northern Europe, the tomatoes developed more slowly, causing a shortage. For this reason, the prices are higher at the moment. Within two months, the gap in the market needs to be filled.
A grower from Apulia, who grows cherry tomatoes, says the season started off quietly. Because of the high temperature in July and August, there was a big harvest of good quality. In the other large production regions, an opposite trend was noticeable. Growers complain about a small harvest, which contributed to the high prices mid-September.
On Sicily, prices around 2.50 euros per kilo in August were satisfactory for growers. From week 41 onward, prices went down to 1.80 euros per kilo. For the summer season, the biggest problems are linked to the high temperature and heavy rainfall. For winter, an increase in volume for cherry and plum tomatoes is expected.
In addition to the fresh tomato market, Italy has a major share in processing the fruit vegetable. According to official statistics, Italian companies processed around 4.9 million tonnes of tomatoes in 2014. This gave Italy a market share of twelve percent worldwide, putting the country third in the global ranking, behind the US and China. Within Europe, Italy is by far the biggest tomato processor, with a market share of 54 percent and revenue of 3 billion euros.
Polish season over
In Eastern Europe, the tomato season is over. There is still some volume available, but the quality isn't good enough for export anymore. The main markets for Poland are Belarus and the Balkans, and there is export within the EU. The new season starts in spring, at the moment tomatoes are imported from the Netherlands and Spain. Prices are high at the moment, but they are expected to decrease rapidly in the near future.
Belgian market going well
The Belgian market for greenhouse vegetables is quiet, but the tomato market has been going well since August. Prices are between 1 euro and 1.30 euros. Earlier this week, supplies of individual tomatoes and vine tomatoes at the auction were low, but there wasn't a clear cause for this. The domestic season is drawing to a close, and the Spanish products are gaining ground on the market.
German market dependent on import
The start of the new season in Southern Europe hasn't been able to make inroads in the German market yet. Due to limited availability, prices are high. Tomatoes are among the highest-selling vegetables in Germany, the average German eats 8.6 kilos of tomatoes a year. The market is so big that self-sufficiency is out of the question. Not even during the peak of the season. The production of greenhouse tomatoes was 84,496 tonnes last year according to statistics, 22 percent more than in 2013. On average, the acreage grows by eleven percent a year. The main production regions are Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, accounting for 51 percent of the German tomato production.
Switzerland harvests 50,000 tonnes
The acreage in the Alpine country is under pressure. According to the official figures, the acreage is stable to slightly decreasing at best. In 2014, about 40,000 tonnes of tomatoes were grown, and 8000 tonnes of cherry tomatoes were harvested. All in all, the volume amounts to 50,000 tonnes in 2014. Last summer's warm weather also caused the Swiss growers problems, it was particularly tough for greenhouse employees. The high amount of sunlight caused a peak in production, which in turn caused a shortage. These days, cultivation circumstances are back to normal.
Expensive tomatoes in Israel
In Israel, the recent high temperature has also caused a smaller harvest and high prices. In previous years, however, prices were bad, causing many growers to give up. This also caused the harvested volume to decrease. The shortage on the market is expected to continue until the beginning of December.
During a hearing in the Israeli parliament on the crisis in the market, the government was called on to ease the import restrictions, and to import tomatoes. In addition, the bad price setting in recent years also emerged as a cause for the shortages.
The prices can remain high because the government keeps the borders closed to import of tomatoes from competing countries. In winter, Israel exports tomatoes to Russia and Europe, but due to the exchange rate for these currencies, the situation for the exporters isn't easy. In addition, there are a few growers who export to the US, but the growers need to meet strict demands for that.
More round tomatoes from Morocco
The season has started calmly with the first cherry (vine) tomatoes and baby plum tomatoes, but the volumes aren't big yet. From November onwards, more volume from Morocco will become available. Although the acreage has stayed the same, various growers have switched from baby plum and cherry tomatoes to cultivating round tomatoes. Last year, prices for these tomatoes were good. On the domestic market, growers are making good prices for the unsorted round tomatoes, causing lower volumes to be exported to countries like Russia.
South America: production for domestic market
Spread across the continent, tomatoes are grown year-round. In Colombia for instance, close to the equator, a year has two seasons, a dry and a wet season. Tomatoes can be grown year-round there, by making use of varieties that are able to withstand the circumstances during these seasons.
Remarkably, there is hardly any export of tomatoes from South America. Import is also nil, most countries are self-sufficient. On the continent, Brazil is the market with the biggest potential, with a population of 200 million.
All Latin American countries are noticing the consequences of El Niño, although the effects vary. Certain areas are confronted with drought, while elsewhere more rain falls than usual. For the tomato cultivation, the effects on the market are noticeable in supply and price. So far, sufficient volume has been harvested, and import was out of the question.
Tomatoes are, together with carrots and onions, the most important crops to be grown in South America. But because the entire volume is sold on the domestic market, the market is calm, only the weather can influence the prices.
This trend also has consequences for the development of the sector, however. Investments need to come from the country itself, and few foreign parties enter the tomato production. While in Mexico, for instance, the production could increase significantly with the help of imported technology and foreign investors, that development is less noticeable in other countries on the continent. An investment in a Dutch greenhouse is far too high, generally a foil greenhouse is the highest attainable. The tomato market has two varieties: round tomatoes and plum tomatoes.
Low prices due to surplus Paraguay
Paraguay did have a surplus recently, which resulted in lower prices. One box of 18 kilos of tomatoes yielded 25,000 guaraníes (3.86 euros). That was a decrease of 5,000 guaraníes (77 cents). For the growers, not much remains. It seems that more and more tomatoes are entering the market at the same time, with only few coming to Abasto, the central market in the country. The trend points to more and more direct supplies to supermarkets, or more ending up at the consumer through street sales. According to reports, the surplus will continue for a few weeks to come.
US: storms drives up prices
In the east of the US, tomato production was hit by storms, causing shortages. In the whole of North America, demand is still high, which causes prices to be high. Although the storm mainly caused problems for open field growers, Canadian greenhouse growers also profit from the higher prices. While it's said that these markets don't influence each other, the truth is more nuanced. Consumers opt for a different tomato if a product isn't available.
At the beginning of this month, the harvest of Baja tomatoes in California started. The season runs until mid-January. The rainfall on the eve of the season makes it difficult to predict volumes.
Australia: mainly tomatoes for processing
For the 2014/2015 season, statistics speak of a production of 300,000 tonnes for Australia. For the coming season, growers in Australia reckon with a harvest of 310,000 tonnes. The weather conditions are positive during the planting season, with only two extremely hot days, no frost and little wind. The majority of the harvest is processed. Australians are among the biggest consumers of processed tomatoes, with a consumption of 23 to 24 kilos per capita each year.
For growers, the costs for water are the biggest challenge. The exchange rate is favourable though, making it improbable that imported tomatoes will be cheaper. The export is expected to be lower, with Asia and the Middle East being the most important markets.
Chinese prices under pressure
With a volume of five to six million tonnes per year, China is among the world's biggest tomato producers. The cultivation is focused in the Shandong, Hebei, Xinjiang, and Henan provinces. Half of the acreage consists of greenhouses. Between October and June, the greenhouse tomatoes are on the market, in the summer months the open field tomatoes follow. The peak of the season is in June until September.
In Xinjiang, prices are around 380 to 400 yuan (52-55 euros) per tonne. This means prices are lower than last year, when tomatoes yielded between 450 and 500 yuan per tonne. In the province, a subsidy for cotton growers has been cancelled, encouraging growers to switch to tomato cultivation. This has caused production to increase.
Thai cultivation difficult
The cultivation of tomatoes in Thailand is difficult, the climate doesn't always cooperate in the Chiang Mai region. With a special greenhouse, however, two Dutch entrepreneurs succeeded in realizing a yield of thirty kilos per hectare. With the specially developed greenhouse, they were able to establish virtually year-round production of tomatoes.
Every week, FreshPlaza publishes an overview of the market situation
of a product in a worldwide context. With these articles, we're aiming to give an idea of a global market that's becoming ever smaller as a result of globalization.


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As the federal government legalizes cannabis, New Brunswick’s priorities remain on protecting the health and safety of vulnerable populations and getting the product out of the hands of criminals. While focusing on priority areas we will take full advantage of economic opportunities that this new industry offers.
Cannabis in New Brunswick
Until federal legislation comes into effect on October 17, 2018, it is still against the law to possess, consume, cultivate or sell adult-use cannabis in New Brunswick. And even once legal, like tobacco and alcohol, there will be regulations around its use.


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Phoenix Suns develop new website aimed at rival Los Angeles Lakers
The team spent $5,300 about three weeks ago to buy the domain name “beat.la” from GoDaddy Inc. The .la suffix normally is registered to websites based out Laos, but after the Suns digital team noticed businesses in Los Angeles using it as a unique marketing tool, they decided to do the same.
The Suns’ digital marketing team got the idea from a fan tweet about the “.la” domain names. Greg Esposito, the Suns digital manager, said he looked into the domain and thought it would be a unique way to highlight the long-standing rivalry between the Suns and the Lakers.
“GoDaddy was pushing them for Los Angeles, they were selling numerous variations of it to promote Los Angeles with a unique twist to it, so we just piggybacked what they came up with. It’s a unique marketing twist because I can’t imagine “.la” is a popular domain that people are purchasing,” said Esposito.
The phrase “Beat LA” has been marketed by professional sports teams across the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball. Major markets like Chicago, Boston and New York all can be heard chanting the slogan throughout their stadiums and arenas when a Los Angeles sports team comes to town.
“There are a lot of other properties in the sports world that use the phrase, so it makes sense just to grab it,” said Suns’ President Jason Rowley. “We have one of the most creative digital groups in sports and the guys will build off of it.”
Esposito and Rowley said the page is a work in progress. The site currently offers ticket sales to two Suns-Lakers games in Phoenix this year as well as links to the history and memories of the rivalry. During the season, Esposito says the team will find a way to promote the rivalry and the Suns even more, but the details are still pending.
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Vegetables cost more due to incessant rain, lockdown restrictionsDeliveries have declined to 450 tonnes daily from 600 tonnes due to the rains, officials say.
Kathmandu Valley residents reeling from the pandemic received another wallop in the form of costlier vegetables, with traders attributing the jump in prices to incessant rain and lockdown restrictions.
As wholesale markets are running low on inventory due to supply disruptions, prices of kitchen staples such as potatoes, tomatoes and seasonal vegetables have risen sharply in the valley, traders said.
People in Kathmandu are bearing the brunt of an extended lockdown. Vendors are finding it hard to transport vegetables to market because of stay-home orders. Traders said prices of fresh produce shot up due to short supply caused by transportation controls. Higher freight charges have also pushed up retail prices, they said.
On Thursday, the wholesale price of local cauliflower was Rs70 per kg at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market, the country’s largest bazaar for fresh produce. But retailers were selling cauliflower at Rs140 per kg, double the wholesale price.
The wholesale price of string beans was Rs100 per kg, while bitter gourd was priced at Rs50 per kg, bottle gourd at Rs60 per kg, sponge gourd at Rs60 per kg and long cowpea at Rs60 per kg.
On the retail side, cabbage costs Rs85 per kg, bitter gourd Rs110 per kg, bottle gourd Rs120 per kg, and beans Rs70 per kg.
Local cucumber was being sold for Rs145 per kg, okra for Rs70 per kg, long bean for Rs90 per kg, squash for Rs80 per kg, sponge gourd for Rs140 per kg and green pumpkin for Rs90 per kg.
Binaya Shrestha, deputy director at the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board, said that the daily supply of vegetables had declined to 450 tonnes for the last three days from 600 tonnes due to the rains.
The lockdown that began on April 29 has been extended for the fourth time until June 21, and this has also hit the supply chain, causing transportation costs to increase sharply, traders said. The increased cost of hauling has been passed on to consumers.
Shrestha said that the wholesale price had not increased much, but if the rains continue, it will damage crops and create obstacles in transportation. “If that happens, prices will increase sharply,” Shrestha said.
"Unruly retail prices need to be controlled by the local government and concerned departments with proper inspection," he added.
The Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market that is open for wholesale business till 10 am receives vegetables from Dhading, Kabhre, Nuwakot, Panchkhal, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Sarlahi, Bara and Parsa. The market used to receive around 700 tonnes of vegetables daily before the lockdown started.
Bijay KC, president of the Kalanki Vegetable Market, an agriculture market hosting 115 stalls, said that the monsoon rains had created havoc in the regular supply of vegetables leading to a hike in prices.
“Wholesale prices rose by 10 percent within a few days with a drop in supply. The price of vegetables will increase further if the rains continue,” KC said.
"The supply line from Chitwan has been cut off due to landslides at different places on the highway leading to Kathmandu. Deliveries plunged by more than half in just a few days," he added.
“We used to receive around 70 tonnes of vegetables daily before the monsoon, now we are getting only 40 tonnes,” he said. The monsoon in Nepal began on June 11 this year.
According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the country imported vegetables worth Rs12.99 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year (mid-July to mid-May), a 14 percent rise year-on-year. During the same period in the last fiscal year, imports were valued at Rs11.40 billion.
Nepal buys vegetables like potato, lemon and onion and varied fruits from India.
The monsoon entered the country last Friday and it has been pouring since then. The weather forecaster is expecting above normal rainfall this season, and heavy floods and landslides are predicted which will damage monsoon crops ready to be harvested.


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Blake Mycoskie is "Character Approved": TOMS Shoes Founder is Changing the Face of American Culture
From USA’s Character Approved:
Just over four years ago, Blake Mycoskie had the vision, ambition and guts to create one of the most innovative and socially responsible retail companies in the country. He pioneered the one-for-one, sell/give-away concept with TOMS Shoes. Under his direction, TOMS has made being stylish and philanthropic easy and affordable—buy a pair of TOMS shoes for yourself, and a pair of shoes will also be donated to a child in need. Earlier this year, the organization reached a significant milestone, giving away its millionth pair of shoes. That is an extraordinary accomplishment, and one that makes Mycoskie unequivocally Character Approved.As a speaker, Mycoskie inspires audiences the world over with his authenticity, passion and vitality. Whether in the TOMS offices, on a TOMS “shoe drop” or on stage, Mycoskie is helping to change the face of American culture — one pair of shoes at a time.
Be sure to catch the Character Approved: Honoring 12 Cultural Trailblazers documentary on Tuesday March 8 at 11/10c on the USA Network.
Read more about social entrepreneur speaker Blake Mycoskie


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Despite weaker indices, Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ: GSM) soared 6.6% to $6.78 on May 11. The rationale is that Ferroglobe may soon find itself in a scenario of “zero competition.”
Ferroglobe missed Wall Street’s revenue predictions in the first quarter, earning slightly over $715 million, while profits grew to $0.88, above expectations. Customers are concerned about a prospective scarcity in Ferroglobe’s address market, which provides a positive atmosphere for the firm.
GSM provides ferroalloys, silicon metal, magnesium-based alloys, welding electrode materials, and other products. Ferroglobe, for example, is one of the leading exporters of ferrosilicon, an iron-silicon alloy used to make ductile iron and basic materials for semiconductors and power electronics.
The probability of supply interruption from two nations, where substantial outputs of the commodities indicated above are based, has grown in this market since the beginning of 2022. If this occurs, Ferroglobe PLC (GSM) will become the primary supplier for many clients. Consequently, the corporation will be able to enhance earnings by having a major influence on prices.
Ferroglobe should be aware that this is simply a potential possibility. However, it was enough to get some investors interested in the company’s stock. In addition, GSM reported record sales in the first quarter, up 26% year over year. The EBITDA margin improved to 33.7%.
Ferroglobe expects significant growth in deliveries and profitability this year, as well as increased output. The firm is also contemplating reviving a South African silicon alloy facility that was previously closed.
Ferroglobe PLC (NASDAQ: GSM) stock has dropped -3.69 percent in the last week but is up 2.26 percent year to date. In the past six months, the stock has dropped -2.45% but is up 9.18% year to date.