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America's First Merry E-Christmas
"THIS IS the first e-Christmas," Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist proclaimed in a hall outside a congressional panel hearing on Internet taxation Wednesday in San Francisco.
Today, Internet retailers, like catalog companies, do not have to charge state sales taxes on items bought by out-of-state consumers. As shoppers are turning to the Internet to help them with their Christmas shopping, only a Scrooge would have the cheek to talk about taxing the Internet.
Yet that is exactly what has happened this month. Democrat Bill Bradley said he would not endorse a permanent ban on Internet sales taxes -- Congress passed a three-year moratorium on Internet taxes last year. Veep Al Gore told Business Week, "I do not think that we can just stiff the local and state governments as they contemplate a potential fiscal catastrophe."
On the one hand, "brick and mortar retailers" -- read: "stores" -- fear that they will lose business because consumers see a bargain when they can buy online and pay shipping, but not sales taxes. Mall developer Peter Lowy noted in some four years, e-commerce could represent 9 percent of retail sales. Retailers also worry that if state and local governments begin to lose appreciable revenue because of the Internet tax exemption then state and local governments will raise taxes and worsen that competitive disadvantage. Some chicken littles see vacant storefronts -- and shrinking tax revenues -- as Americans do more shopping online.
These concerns suggest that it would be reckless to propose a permanent tax moratorium.
On the other hand, Internet retailers have reason to object to paying taxes for infrastructure and government services which they don't use.
Norquist is wary of allowing states to tax out-of-state businesses out of the fear that they will overtax outsiders to the benefit of well-heeled insiders.
Norquist scoffed at the fairness notion, saying "It is an obscenity for a governor to stand up and say, 'This is unfair. This is taxed. This is not.' That's what they do for a living." States frequently stipulate that goods are taxed, but services are not, as well as which goods are taxed. Many of the biggie e-tailers already pay state sales taxes because they have buildings or stores nationwide. Still others pony up to avoid state audits. Thus the big guys, unlike mom-and-pop e-tailers, aren't fighting the sales tax push. As Dell Computer tax manager Cindy Oakes explained, "We are asking for simplification."
The big e-tailers want governors and local governments to agree to a simpler system, so that they don't have to pay one tax in one county, and another in the adjacent county.
Not everyone agrees that it can be done. Said Craig Winn, chairman of Value America, Inc., "I don't think it's possible to get 30,000 jurisdictions to agree on anything."
And here's another reason not to open the flood gates of state sales taxes. As Emily Hackett of the Internet Alliance noted, "Nobody wants to get in the way of this economy."
If increased taxes spur a dive in e-commerce, and ventures start to go south, it will not be pretty. The political question early in the next millennium might be: Who is the Grinch who ruined e-commerce?


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Amazon apologises as customers who ordered Nintendo Switch receive condoms instead!
This Black Friday sale turned ugly, fast. Retail giant Amazon has apologised after its buyers received condoms and random items such as toothbrushes and tambourines, instead of Nintendo switches worth approximately INR 28,000.
The company’s UK branch has listed an apology after the Black Friday blunder—for those wondering the day is one designated as the best time to shop post-Thanksgiving celebrations. At least a dozen of its buyers were disappointed and complained to the online shopping behemoth.
They have promised to refund customers, some of whom are furious that they ordered during Black Friday but will now have to pay full price.
It wasn’t just condoms and toothbrushes either.
Viv Johnson from Tutbury, Staffordshire received a copy of David Walliams' latest book, The Beast of Buckingham Palace, inside bashed-up cardboard packaging, a British newspaper reported.
Johnson reportedly shared an image of the Amazon package and wrote: "I want my money refunded. You have delivered and refused to take back (the) parcel which was smashed."
Amazon, meanwhile, has launched a probe into the blunder.
*Edited from an IANS report.

domain: news


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More than half of consumers say they have been frustrated when they couldn't reply to a message sent by a brand.
The influential digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation, which has long advocated for online privacy, is now calling for an outright ban on behavioral advertising.
The good news is, podcasts have their greatest awareness ever heading into the upfront. The bad news is, some of it is the wrong kind.
The free app lets show hosts interact with callers in real time and use tens of millions of licensed songs. During beta, users also get to incorporate content from famous artists and radio celebrities.
The question you should be asking yourself is, what's the application for it?
To read more articles use the ARCHIVE function on this page.


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ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis-based utility company Ameren plans an $11 million program aimed at creating about 1,200 charging station plugs for electric vehicles.
Ameren’s “Charge Ahead” plan, detailed Thursday in a Missouri Public Service Commission filing, also calls for adding electrified vehicles, including forklifts, in commercial settings.
If approved, Ameren’s plan would provide incentives for installation of charging stations throughout its service area, many of them near interstate highways. The price paid by consumers to charge electric vehicles would be determined by the companies operating each station.
Ameren Missouri president Michael Moehn says the program seeks to reduce costs for electric vehicle customers, improve air quality by reducing emissions, and promote economic growth.
Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC.


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How often are PR and marketing professionals using these words in their subject lines?
More than 10 percent of the time, according to a new analysis by Yesmail, which makes software for tracking email and social media campaigns.
Prompted by PR Daily‘s story about the seven words, Yesmail analyzed 110,000 email subject lines from the past year to determine how often these words appeared.
The advertising and marketing industry—which includes PR professionals—uses one or more of those words in 12 percent of its email subject lines, according to the analysis. The news media industry, on the other hand, uses them in only 1 percent of its subject lines.
“Social” seems to be the favorite word of the advertising/marketing industry. Among emails across all industries, the advertising/marketing industry accounted for 62 percent of the overall use of “social.”
“This isn’t a surprising discovery considering marketers are often promoting events and inviting email recipients to join social tweet-ups, guest speaker discussions, webinars and many more,” said Steven True, senior digital sales strategist at Yesmail.


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It would appear Coinbase’s custody service is already attracting a lot of positive attention. More specifically, the new custodial service piqued the interest of at least 10 hedge funds and family offices. This further confirms the growing demand for exposure to cryptocurrencies in general, which could lead to more positive developments for this industry.
Coinbase’s Custody Service Is in High Demand
Even though the cryptocurrency industry is designed to put consumers in full control of their assets at all times, it seems there is a growing demand for custody services. Especially where Coinbase’s custody service is concerned, things are progressing nicely. According to the company, nearly a dozen hedge funds and family offices have already begun using this new custody service over the past few weeks.
While that is a rather positive development at such an early stage, there is still plenty of work to be done in the coming months. The growing interest in cryptocurrencies shows that this industry is here to stay. Given the current market conditions, it is evident cryptocurrencies will continue to attract a lot of attention for the foreseeable future.
According to Coinbase representatives, the plan is to have at least 100 large institutional customers using their service by December 2018. Moreover, the company is confident it can manage up to $5 billion in assets without any problems. It will be a thorough test of the company’s new custody service, although these goals are not unrealistic by any means. Cryptocurrencies are in a prime position to attract a lot of institutional money in the coming months and years, although making this form of money more accessible is still an ongoing struggle.
Despite this initial success by Coinbase, there is still plenty of work to be done. It remains unclear how successful this custody service can become, as a few competing offerings have gone live as of late. Moreover, the popularity of cryptocurrency hedge funds should not be underestimated either. Not all of those funds will tap Coinbase’s custody service, as most of them will have some internal solution in place.
In the cryptocurrency industry, the popularity of custodial services doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The industry has been plagued by a wide range of hacks, thefts, and other security incidents over the years. At the same time, the demand for better and more secure coin storage solutions has only increased. For consumers, hardware wallets are still an option worth exploring. Companies and financial service providers, on the other hand, need very different solutions in this regard.
There is also the matter of regulatory compliance to take into account. Even companies such as Coinbase maintain tight relations with the SEC to ensure they remain fully compliant at all times. The SEC is still actively regulating this industry, and new guidelines may be introduced in the near future. Furthermore, Coinbase is working on expanding this service to encompass currencies other than just Bitcoin. The coming months will be very interesting to keep an eye on.


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- Flipkart is banned from selling GOQii products on its site over
- The Walmart-owned enterprise earlier deemed these accusations to be ‘baseless’.
- Tech giants were hoping to seek clarifications over the
new e-commerce rulesafter the elections ended in India.
- The country’s new government is likely to continue keeping an eye on the foreign players for any more violations.
The Indian government is serious about implementing its new e-commerce rules as Walmart-owned Flipkart just found out.
The online shopping platform and its sellers are
banned from selling GOQii products — a Ratan Tata backed smart wear brand — on the site, for the foreseeable future because of deep discounting. This is as per an interim order by the Bombay Civil Court.
Earlier, Flipkart had deemed GOQii’s claims to be
baseless when the fitness brand reached out the Department of Promotion of Industrial and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) with concerns over how its products were being sold online at discounts of up to 70-80%.
The tech giant was actually waiting for India’s new government to come into power to seek clarifications around the rules. But, considering that the Bombay Civil Court ruling didn’t play in Flipkart’s favour — the company will now also be under DPIIT and CCI’s radar, for flouting their norms.
Deep discounts, deep trouble
Vishal Gondal, the founder and CEO of GOQii, sent legal notices to Flipkart over the issue. The Bombay Civil Court passed an interim order to prevent any more damage to the fitness gadget firm, from excessive discounts.
Press note 2, the new foreign investment policy for online shopping — enforced in February — dictates that foreign e-commerce businesses operating in India can’t offer deep discounts because it can influence prices in the market.
GOQii Tech products, despite the order, were being sold online at steep price cuts. According to
Entrackr’s sources, the resulting prices were lower than the manufacturing cost of items.
India may have pushed out new e-commerce rules but not everyone is following them to the tee. The country’s new government is likely to continue keeping an eye on the foreign players for more such violations.


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SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. maintained its dominant status in the global DRAM market in the first quarter of 2020 despite a decline in revenue amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, industry data showed Wednesday.
Samsung's market share in the global DRAM market stood at 44.1 percent in the January-March period, up 0.6 percentage point from three months earlier, while its revenue declined 3.3 percent to US$6.5 billion over the cited period, according to data from market researcher TrendForce.
Its local competitor SK hynix Inc. came in second with a 29.3 percent market share in the first quarter, up 0.1 percentage point from three months earlier. Its revenue fell 4.3 percent quarter-on-quarter to $4.3 billion in the first three months of 2020, according to TrendForce.
U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. took third place with a 20.8 percent market share in the first quarter, down 1.5 percentage points from three months earlier, as its revenue plunged 11.1 percent quarter-on-quarter to $3 billion, TrendForce said.
"As the pandemic-related disruptions in the supply chain caused delays in bit shipment, and the market situation changed to a state of rising prices and declining shipments, the three dominant DRAM suppliers all experienced revenue contractions in 1Q20," it said.
"Since suppliers have not made any major changes to their capacity plans for this year, TrendForce projects their market shares to remain mostly unchanged in 2Q20."
The global DRAM industry suffered a 4.6 percent quarter-on-quarter decline in revenue in the first quarter after collecting $14.8 billion, according to the data.
However, TrendForce expected overall DRAM revenue to increase more than 20 percent in the second quarter as the average selling price (ASP) of DRAM chips is likely to expand further with a rebound in bit shipment.
TrendForce said the three dominant players in the DRAM industry are scaling back their capital expenditure due to the pandemic, but they are making "good progress in their technology migrations."
"Total DRAM production capacity is not expected to show noticeable growth this year," it said. "The growth of the DRAM industry's bit output in 2020 will be mainly driven by suppliers' 1Y-nm and 1Z-nm migrations instead of a rise in wafer starts."
(News Focus) No parcel day: Why S. Korean delivery workers are taking a day off on Aug. 14
Advertising controversy grips S. Korean mukbang YouTubers
Seoul's last-ditch home supply plan still in doubt over its viability
Korean foodmakers ramp up overseas push amid COVID-19 pandemic
Bumpy road lies ahead for Samsung, even after heir avoids detention


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WATERLOO, ONT.— BlackBerry CEO John Chen is making his case for the smartphone business.
“A lot of people want me out,” Chen said Thursday after the company reported quarterly revenue below forecast thanks to a disappointing device sales in the company’s latest quarter.
BlackBerry recognized revenue on only about 500,000 units in the period ended May 31, down from 600,000 over the previous three months and despite the addition of the company’s high-end Android powered device the Priv.
Revenue from software used by business and government to manage mobile handsets, however, is growing a 30 per cent annual rate and reached $166 million (U.S.) in the company’s fiscal first quarter—36 per cent of the total.
“If I shut down the hardware business I lose the revenue … probably make the margin a lot better, but I’m going to lose connection with those customers,” he said referring to enterprise and government clients who want a secure hardware component as part of an end to end mobile solution. Chen said the company would offer details in July on two new, mid-priced Privs to be launched before the end of the year.
Chen said the company’s newly named mobile solutions unit which encompasses smartphones lost $21 million on an operating basis in the first quarter. But a writedown of balance sheet obligations for contracts on legacy BlackBerry phones may cut the red ink significantly in the current quarter.
He also said the company is developing a business aimed at generating licensing fees from BlackBerry phone operating system software such as the communication management interface the BlackBerry Hub.
Chen in a round table discussion with reporters after the earnings release reiterated that he aims to make the hardware unit profitable over the coming quarters or would consider exiting the business.
The smartphone maker, meanwhile, reported a $670 million net loss in the initial quarter of its 2017 financial year, but said its recovery plan for the year remains on track.
Chen, who has stated the company’s No. 1 goal is to make its smartphone device business profitable this fiscal year, said he expects the company’s new mobility solutions segment to break even or record a slight profit during the third quarter, which ends Nov. 30, 2016.
The mobility solutions business will focus on boosting device sales by targeting new distribution channels and starting up a mobility software licensing service, Chen said Thursday.
“I really, really believe that we could make money out of it . . . out of our device business,” he said during a conference call with analysts Thursday morning.
During BlackBerry’s first quarter — the second full quarter to include Priv sales — the smartphone segment generated $152 million (U.S.) of revenue and had a $21-million (U.S.) operating loss.
The company sold roughly 500,000 devices at an average price of $290 (U.S.) each, he said, which is about 100,000 smartphones fewer than the previous quarter and about 200,000 fewer than two quarters earlier. BlackBerry previously said the company needs to sell about three million phones at an average of $300 (U.S.) each to break even.
Chen said the Priv has proved unaffordable to most, except for top-level executives.
The company plans to release two mid-range, Android-powered phones before its current fiscal year ends Feb. 28, 2017, he said. More information on these devices is expected next month.
BlackBerry will also start to license some of its device software to help drive growth and profitability in the company’s mobile services business segment, he said.
Chen previously indicated the company will stop making smartphones if the device business remains unprofitable. While he doesn’t believe this will be a necessary step, he said the software licensing plan could help make that transition smoother if the time comes.
BlackBerry, which started reporting revenue by three main segments this quarter, showed operating profits in its other two businesses: $37 million (U.S.) from software and services, and $78 million (U.S.) from service access fees.
The company said it plans to grow revenue by 30 per cent in software and services, as well as report an adjusted loss of about 15 cents per share — compared to analyst estimates of a 33-cent loss — this fiscal year.
This quarter, BlackBerry’s loss amounted to $1.28 (U.S.) per share and included a $501-million (U.S.) writedown of the smartphone company’s assets and $23 million (U.S.) in restructuring charges, among other things.
Excluding writedowns, restructuring and certain other items, BlackBerry came close to breaking even with an adjusted loss of $1 million (U.S.) — which was better than analyst estimates.
But revenue was below analyst estimates at $400 million (U.S.) under generally accepted accounting principles, or $424 million (U.S.) with certain adjustments.
With files from The Canadian Press


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As the end of this year is approaching, we can certainly say that 2020 is a year of unprecedented challenges. The unexpected factors have, more or less, deviated the growing path of technology and its disruptive impacts on businesses. Let’s take a look back at the key tech players of 2020 to see what the future technology might hold.
A Quick Recap
This time last year, we had an article called “Key Technology Trends to Watch in 2020”. Throughout the year, it is indisputable that these mentioned techs, especially 5G and automation, have posed impacts on businesses worldwide in several ways.
- 5G network: Since the outbreak of Covid-19, 5G network has become a vital solution to boost up the speed of digital collaborative activities such as video-conferencing and remote working. As of 2020 October, the number of announced 5G devices has almost doubled since the end of March . The majority of these devices are for personal use; however, shortly, 5G adoption is expected to spread widely in the manufacturing industry by enabling the next-gen wireless networks in industrial production.
- Automation: Covid-19 has changed enterprises’ automation agendas rapidly toward business resilience. The exponential growth of automation, especially robotic process automation (RPA), has formed a trend called hyper-automation. Hyper-automation refers to the concept that “anything that can be automated should be”, or in other words, it is the act of effectively expanding the possibilities of automation to the highest. As social distancing requires companies to send their employees home, automation has become the competitive differentiator for successful businesses.
Besides these predicted trends, 2020 also highlights other technologies that contributed greatly to how enterprises overcome this year challenges.
- Low-code: Since the pandemic hit us hard, the search for this emerging technology has increased fast. Low-code can shorten the developing time from months or years into only a few weeks or days. It allows enterprises to quickly introduce new applications that match customers' continuously changing needs.
- Data analytics: In such an unprecedented situation, it is an urgent need for companies to predict the upcoming waves in demands to optimize material purchasing, inventory management and supply chain operation. Thus, data analytics, especially demand forecasting models, have shown significant effects on how businesses work.
2020 may be coming to an end, but the challenges we faced this year show no sign of fading away soon. Thus, the technology advancements in 2021 are expected to facilitate long-term remote working, enhancing business resilience and managing crisis.
A Future Look: What to Expect in 2021
Foreseeing the growth of the technology in 2021, IDC projects that the industry will reach $5 trillion next year, signaling a return to the trend line that the industry was on before the pandemic. Looking even beyond that, IDC expects also predicts that the pattern will continue with an estimated growth of 5% annually (CAGR) until 2024 .
Contributing to what is expected to happen next year; the following are some of the tech trends that might shape how we work and live shortly.
- Edge computing complementing existing cloud: As cloud computing has become prevailing anywhere, tech experts are expecting to see increasing investments in edge computing as a complementary tech adding more personalization, higher security, reduced latency and optimized cost to the incumbent cloud infrastructure. According to an IDC report, the edge computing market worldwide is predicted to grow to $250.6 billion by 2024 .
- Leveraging data to change behaviors: Gartner predicts the Internet of Behaviors (IoB) as the number one promising tech trend to watch in 2021. It is predicted that globally, 40% of the individual activities will be tracked digitally to influence our behavior by 2023 . Health apps can track user diet, sleep, heart rate, and blood sugar then direct them to modify behaviors towards a more positive routine.
- Cybersecurity getting a jolt: It is reported that there was a 238% rise in attacks on banks, and a 600% increase in cloud servers was observed from January to April 2020 alone . With fewer employees working onsite on the same secure network, it is imperative that companies shore up their networks and upgrade their cybersecurity strategies, and expand them to home networks and mobile work-from-home devices.
Will these predicted trends affect companies’ plans for the coming year? Adopting new techs can be a double-edged sword to enterprises if they don't have proper plans of when, where and how these techs should be adopted. Most importantly, enterprises should cautiously consider if the technology helps achieve their business goals of 2021.
 5G Devices Report - GSA
 IT Industry 2021 – CompTIA
 Worldwide Edge Spending Guide - IDC
 What Is the Internet of Behavior? IoB Explained – bcm blogs
 Top 10 Digital Transformation Trends For 2021 – Forbes


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The February filing for dissolution by the Utility Consumers’ Action Network came amid a federal investigation of the nonprofit consumer advocate group over allegations of improper bonuses that some likened to embezzlement, money laundering, grossly unethical behavior and mysterious private bank accounts, all involving now-former UCAN executive director Michael Shames.
Now the U-T Watchdog reports that Shames was setting up another vehicle for lucrative work ($330 per hour) challenging utility rate requests before the California Public Utilities Commission even as UCAN was falling apart. Some observers suggest this is a conflict of interest, not just Shames double-crossing an organization after he’d gotten it in trouble.
But whether it’s a conflict or not, we find it hard to believe the Public Utilities Commission would accept Shames’ request to be designated as a high-paid consumer advocate unless he is cleared of the serious accusations again him – accusations that are backed up by a long paper trail.
There are other capable consumer advocates in our community. And they don’t have Shames’ carousel of baggage.


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OnePlus Ace2 Pro is about to debut with a first-ever 150W large battery fast charging system
OnePlus Ace2 Pro to debut with 150W fast charging system
【phoneauto News】Recently, the new phone from the OnePlus brand, OnePlus Ace2 Pro (model PJA110), has released its benchmark scores on the Geekbench platform, achieving a single-core score of 1580 and a multi-core score of 6163. On July 25th, phoneauto noticed that a digital blogger leaked the news that the OnePlus Ace2 Pro is about to debut, featuring an 11V 13.7A-150W high current, large battery fast charging system, and a customized battery material.
According to the blogger, the OnePlus Ace2 Pro adopts a new cooling technology, with the initial mass production configuration being 24GB LPDDR5X+1TB UFS 4.0 storage combination, but the main model is still 16GB+512GB version; it has a built-in 5000mAh battery, supports 150W fast charging, and has excellent performance; equipped with the second generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 mobile platform and pre-installed with Android 13 system.
In addition, based on previous leaks, the OnePlus Ace2 Pro has a 16 million pixel front-facing camera and a rear camera setup consisting of a 50 million pixel main camera, an 8 million pixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2 million pixel macro lens. As for the screen, the phone will feature a 6.74-inch AMOLED flexible curved screen with a resolution of 2772×1240 pixels, supporting a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming.
- iPhone 15 screen assembly issue resolved, panel inventory exceeds previous generation
- Morning News Apple may raise the price of iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Fold 5 release time exposed
- Who says you can’t buy a good phone for 2000 yuan? Take the OnePlus Ace 2V and slap him in the face!
OnePlus Ace2 Pro related leaks
It is worth mentioning that besides the OnePlus Ace2 Pro, the digital blogger also revealed that OPPO will launch a new mid-range and low-end phone, which will feature a super narrow eye-protection curved screen and a circular camera module design. Interested friends can pay attention to it.
- Apple is being sued again! 1,500 British developers are claiming 72 billion yuan in damages due to the store’s commission
- OPPO reveals the appearance of a mysterious new device The design is very stylish Can you guess its model number?
- OPPO K11 is about to be officially released Snapdragon 782G+100W, competition pressure is coming
- Samsung Z Fold5 domestic pioneer version will be available for pre-sale on August 7th, further shortening the waiting time
- Apple may increase the price of the iPhone 15 Pro series to ensure sufficient income
- Borderless iPhone is coming? Apple asks Samsung and LG to develop new panels
- Huawei Mate60 standard version rendering image exposed! Where is the promised dynamic island?


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Speculation has begun again ahead of the new iPhone release(s) in September. A new investor note is out from BlueFin Research in which the analysts claim Apple will discontinue the iPhone X and the iPhone SE, later on in the year. As Apple wants to focus the shift towards the ‘iPhone 9, iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Plus’.
This would be to “pent-up demand” due to “lack of upgrade activity over the past few years”. With the analysts predicting Apple will manufacture 91 million units later this year, in quarter 3 and 4. They also report that the tech giant will ramp production meaning that they would manufacture 92 million units during quarter 1 and quarter 2 of 2019.
For the fall, the analysts model Apple making 28 million units of the iPhone 9, and 11 and 11 Plus in Q3, up from a prior estimate of 24 million units. They expect another 63 million units in Q4, 46 million units in Q1 of next year, and 46 million units in Q2. All those numbers are higher than they were previously.
Moving onto shipments, they expect 20 million, 60 million, 45 million and 40 million over the four quarters. The analysts believe that the ‘iPhone 11 Plus’ will satisfy the customers who thought the iPhone X was too small. The ‘iPhone 9’ would more suit the “price-conscious” market.
Finally, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will continue to be on sale, while the iPhone X and the iPhone SE will be sent to the straight to the grave.
The iPhone 11 Plus should satisfy those unhappy with the iPhone X due to size concerns, while the iPhone 9 device should satisfy more budget-conscious buyers and the aforementioned extension of the iPhone 8 model builds will round out a fairly extensive line-up. We continue to hear that upgrade activity over the past.
The iPhone X would presumably be discontinued in Q3 of this year, and the cheaper “iPhone SE” would also go away.


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Theo tin Mohu
Over-the-air indoor antenna leverages SignaLift technology to achieve innovative omni-directional, 65-mile indoor reception range
RALEIGH, N.C., June 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Mohu, The Cord Cutting Company, today launched Leaf Glide, a first-of-its-kind HDTV antenna that delivers outdoor antenna performance with the simplicity of an indoor antenna. With current indoor antenna reception range standards limited to 20-50 miles, Mohu’s Leaf Glide antenna leverages SignaLift technology to deliver a 65-mile reception range, which allows it to pick up more broadcast TV channels than any other indoor antenna on the market.
Priced at $89.95, Mohu Leaf Glide will be available exclusively on Amazon.com and GoMohu.com.
“Our mission is to continue evolving and innovating the cord cutting experience for consumers,” said Mark Buff, founder and CEO of Mohu. “As the number of people who cut the cord on Pay TV continues to rise, we know that access to quality channels matters. Through continuous improvements to our existing antenna models, we built Leaf Glide to do just that – give consumers access to the best live TV choices of any other indoor antenna on the market.”
Leaf Glide is an addition to the Mohu Leaf antenna family, differentiated by its SignaLift technology and size. Due to its modified design, the antenna’s patented SignaLift technology is exceptional at receiving VHF channels compared to other indoor antennas. With antennas, bigger is better. Leaf Glide’s noteworthy size – which is larger at 21.5 inches by 11.5 inches compared to the original Mohu Leaf at 11.5 inches by 9 inches – allows the device to capture lower frequency bands and more signal from fringe channels, which ultimately provides consumers more live TV channels. Leaf Glide still incorporates omni-directional architecture, meaning the antenna does not have to be pointed in any one direction to pull in signals.
“With Pay TV prices skyrocketing, more people than ever are turning to Mohu to help them watch their favorite shows,” said Buff. “By adding Leaf Glide to our product line, we’re excited to help more cord cutters soar into free TV, giving them access to the live TV content they enjoy.”
For more information about Leaf Glide visit, www.gomohu.com.
Mohu, The Cord Cutting Company, is a consumer electronics manufacturer dedicated to leading the TV cord cutting revolution, bridging OTA and OTT devices and content to give consumers access to the TV they want at a cost they can control. To help consumers identify which cord cutting options are best for them, Mohu created Untangle.TV, the first cord cutting recommendation tool that shows users what they need to cut the cord. The company’s approach to TV is founded on the motto “Be Set Free,” making its products simple to use, and enabling consumers to have an exceptional experience without burdensome costs or constraints. Since introducing the world’s first paper-thin Leaf HDTV Indoor Antenna in 2011, Mohu has helped its customers save more than $300 million by reducing or eliminating costly monthly cable and satellite bills. Mohu offers a full line of high-quality, easy-to-install and cost-effective HDTV antenna and cord cutting products. For more information, visit www.gomohu.com.
CONTACT: Shevaun Betzler, email@example.com, 617-779-1886


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DOST-7 helps companies to improve operationsPosted on
CEBU CITY — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 7 has helped some 300 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) since 2002 and continues to extend technological and innovation assistance to small businesses.
Regional Director Eriberto Paradela said he considered this as DOST-7’s biggest accomplishment for the Central Visayas region.
“Helping the MSMEs improve their products and operations and increase their productivity is the biggest contribution of DOST to the development of Central Visayas,” said Paradela on Tuesday during the launching of the 2017 Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW) at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Under the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), Paradela said the DOST-7 was presently assisting a fashion accessories business in Minglanilla, Cebu and a furniture manufacturer in Bohol, to name a few.
He also boasts of the success of Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries, which has set up its first branch outside Dumaguete City in Cebu. Through the assistance of SETUP, Sans Rival is now at the Robinson’s Galleria Mall.
The DOST’s SETUP focuses on fashion accessory-making, handicrafts, furniture, food processing, ICT, and health and wellness services, among many other regional industries.
Joining Paradela at the RSTW launching were DOST Undersecretaries Rowena Guevara for Research and Development and Brenda Nazareth-Manzano for Regional Operations, Technology Application and Promotion Institute Director Edgar Garcia, Cebu Chamber of Commerce president Melanie Ng, and Cebu Business Month 2017 overall chairman Charles Kenneth Co.
Undersecretaries Guevarra and Manzano told the public about the various technology programs available for MSMEs. Among them was the DOST’s rent-to-own program, in which MSMEs can avail of the machinery and equipment needed for their businesses.
The three-day RSTW is part of the nationwide celebration of the National Science and Technology Week, which is aimed at “providing an opportunity to focus regional and national attention on the contribution of science and technology to national development and to give recognition and appreciation to outstanding accomplishments and personalities in science and technology.”
Activities lined up for the event are a Technology Transfer Day, Regional Invention Contests & Exhibits, technology and innovation conference, health research & innovation conference, and an exhibit of the DOST-7’s programs, projects, and services.
This year’s most outstanding SETUP adopters in the region, who will also give testimonials of their successes, will be likewise given due recognition in a fitting awards ceremony. (LBG/PNA)


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In a huge and rather overwhelmingly pleasant surprise to the iOS users, Google Maps for iOS has finally landed in the App Store. In other words, iOS users will once again be able to access the best mapping solutions on their mobile devices. The app has already topped the iPhone App Store’s free apps section.
When Apple dished out iOS 6, it decided to ditch Apple Maps in favor of its own Maps app. However, the result was quite different from what Apple expected. Its own Maps app was an abysmal failure mainly because it was all messed up, with locations pinned wrongly and users complaining of ending up at unexpected destinations.
It was expected that Google would soon release a Google Maps app for iOS. However, the search giant bided time probably to show the world who rules the arena when it comes to mapping solutions. Fears were also cited that Apple may not approve a Google Maps for iOS app out of a sense of rivalry.
But those fears are allayed now that a Google Maps app for iOS has finally landed in the App Store. The app comes with an excellent interface and a very intuitive user experience, so much so that some are calling it even better than its Android counterpart. It features all the essentials such as the turn-by-turn navigation.
Also, not very surprisingly, the app has already reached the top of the list in the iPhone App Store’s free apps section. It’s not surprising because iOS users have been terribly annoyed with Apple’s Maps and have been desperately waiting for the Google Maps to arrive on the App Store – and now that the app is finally here, no wonder that millions are downloading it right away. To download Google Maps for iOS, click right here.


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The ongoing restrictions will be eased from Wednesday midnight to 6am on July 23
Although the government has decided to reopen shops a few days before Eid-ul-Azha, shop owners say it is too late to recoup losses mounting since the lockdown went into effect.
Helal Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, said that shops can reopen by maintaining health and safety guidelines, but most are facing an acute staff shortage as the sales representatives have gone to their hometowns.
“But shops will not be able to recover from the losses as Eid is just around the corner,” he added.
He also said that shop owners will provide allowances and bonuses to staff as per the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
After Eid, we will wait for government orders regarding opening our shops,” he said. The government has already announced a two-week strict lockdown from July 23, two days after Eid.
Traders also fear that new products will just sit idle on store shelves as shops have been closed for a long time.
Tofazzal Hossain, owner of Mitu Fashion at New Market, said since last year, his business has been slow.
“It is good news that the government has allowed us to operate prior to Eid, but we do not know how many customers will show up amid high Covid-19 infection and death rates,” he added.
Another shop owner at New Market Rasel Tarafdar said the condition of the coronavirus seems to be worsening and they have no choice but to accept the lockdowns.
“But the losses incurred since last year are proving hard to recover from. I hope for some business in the next five days so that I can pay the rent at least,” he said.
Dewan Aminul Islam, president of the New Market Merchants' Association, said: "Although the extent of the losses could not be ascertained, all traders have suffered some losses.
“Things are uncertain this time compared to last year and traders are facing more losses due to the closure of business. We will follow the government decision as Covid-19 infections are breaking new records regularly,” he added.
According to an estimate by the Dokan Malik Samity, shops across the country lose Tk1,074 crore per day during the lockdown.
The ongoing restrictions will be eased from Wednesday midnight to 6am on July 23, according to a notification by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday.
The decision has been taken for the Eid-ul-Azha celebrations, to allow the people to travel and to conduct pre-Eid business and trade “in consideration of the socio-economic condition and the need to maintain normal economic activity,” the notification reads.
However, people must remain alert and follow health protocols, like wearing masks, “strictly”, said the notification.


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Epic Games has ended the 2018 calendar year for Fortnite with the Boombox, the latest item to join Battle Royale. So, what is the Fortnite Boombox?
Well, it’s the new item that players can get in Battle Royale, available on all platforms, whether you’re playing the game on PC, console or mobile. And since the entire world will be ringing in the new year in just about 24 hours, it’s the perfect addition to the game, since it’s literally a boom box!
You know, like a box full of boom!
Please don’t confuse the Fortnite Boombox with the Boogie Bomb. You can’t use the Boombox specifically against enemy players. It doesn’t do any damage to players, either. What it does do is use its loud ass tunes to break through structures and buildings.
Need to destroy a structure, even a skyscraper? Now you have the end-of-the-year weapon with which to do so!


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Microsoft has recently unveiled Windows Phone 8, and already we’re beginning to see leaked handsets running the new software. The Verge’s ‘knowledgeable source’ has revealed the HTC Zenith, Accord, and Rio.
The Rio is a budget phone, sporting a 4-inch display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and a 5-megapixel camera.
The Accord is believed to be a mid-range handset, sporting a 4.3-inch 720p display, HSPA+, NFC, an 8-megapixel camera, and a dual-core processor.
The Zenith seems to be HTC’s high-end Windows Phone. It is said to sport a 4.7-inch 720p touchscreen, HSPA+, an 8-megapixel camera, and a quad-core processor by Qualcomm.
The three are expected to land within the year. The Rio and Accord are expected to land in October, while the Zenith is said to be landing sometime in Q4 2012. It looks the debut of the Rio and Accord will coincide with the launch of Windows 8.


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"The World Market for UPS Service and Support," forecasts that the service market in Asia for uninterruptible power supplies will grow by 20% this year, to just over $820 million. Growth will largely come from India and China where the amount of installed equipment is growing rapidly and is also increasingly attracting service revenues.
The UPS service market includes service contracts, warranties,installation, battery replacements, and preventive maintenance on UPS
hardware. Of these services, annual maintenance contracts account for the largest percent of revenues in Asia, despite a lower attach rate
than the global average. Globally, 40% of three-phase UPS have a service contract; in Asia it is closer to 30%. Elizabeth Cruz, a UPS market
analyst with IMS Research, says that "many customers in Asia have not, up to now, opted for service contracts. However, UPS's are now backing up a wider range of applications that require continued power, like sophisticated manufacturing equipment to assure product quality, and critical hospital and airport equipment. Service contracts are now perceived as more necessary." This shift in thinking is driving the forecasted double-digit growth of maintenance contracts over the next four years in Asia.
While the increased likelihood of service contract sales is important, most of the growth in Asia's service market is attributable to the
hardware market, which grew more than 20% in 2010, mostly in the emerging regions. Backup power is required to support the developing
infrastructure in regions like China and India, where power quality is currently unreliable. In contrast, the more developed regions of Japan
and Australia are not seeing rapid growth in their UPS installed base, yet these areas are good candidates for more advanced services
like remote monitoring, as the required internet infrastructure is widely available.
The combined effect of increasing attach rates and a growing installed base means manufacturers should look to the emerging regions of Asia for increased service opportunities. Cruz adds that “currently Japan accounts for nearly 40% of all service revenues in Asia; however, by
2015 its share is forecast to be lower than 30%, as the Chinese and Indian markets grow faster."


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(March 27, 2019)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said that import policy order 2016 has been amended vide SRO-237 on February 19, 2019 wherein several amendments including Halal labelling, Halal certification, specification of ingredients & nutrition details in Urdu and English have become mandatory for edibles. These formalities are added to the import policy order 2016 under which edibles have been imported in the Country. As the imported edibles do not fulfil the requirements of said SRO, therefore, its clearance has stopped.
The Veteran Business Leader told the business community that the adviser to Prime Minister for commerce Razak Dawood has promised that the SRO will come into effect from July 1, 2019, while there is no specified date, due to which the date of issuance of the SRO has been considered its implementation date and no addendum to this effect has so far issued. Delay in clearance of edibles is causing additional demurrage and detention charges which will be added to the cost of imported goods and will ultimately be shifted to consumers.
The Former Minister said that government should consider the crisis risen through instant implementation of this SRO and should delay its enforcement till July 2019. In addition, he was of the view that the demurrage and detention charges imposed due to delay in clearance of all such products should be waived off and orders for early clearance of stopped consignments should be issued in order to give relief to the importers.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that hundreds of containers are waiting for their clearance on various ports due to immediate implementation of this SRO which is also causing scarcity of edibles resulting in inflationary rates of such products. Pakistan already stands at 136 worldwide regarding ease of doing business and such legal difficulties create more trouble to the businessmen and importers.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that it is vital to give proper representation to the business community while amending existing trade related laws or forming new laws so that effective laws can be formed collectively which can draw better impact on trade and economic outlook of the Country. Government has ignored the business community while amending import policy 2016, which is regretful.


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NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y. — A sure sign of Western New York's reopening is several malls welcoming shoppers for the first time in months.
Still, some are facing unique challenges in reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Saturday, 2 On Your Side visited the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls for a look at its reopening.
Shoppers are required to wear face coverings, except for those with underlying health conditions and children younger than 2 years old.
While many of the shops are back up and running, you'll also see signs at certain stores, notifying customers that they plan to open at a later date.
According to the website, the air filters throughout the center’s air conditioning system have been upgraded, consistent with New York State guidelines, in addition to enhancing cleaning procedures.
John Percy, the president and CEO of Destination Niagara USA, said the reopening of the outlets will be an important piece of the puzzle to bring back the local tourism industry, which has been hard hit by the pandemic.
Percy said, “We are very pleased to have that back into our mix of things to do and see and experience.”
However, he told 2 On Your Side restrictions at the border continue to pose a challenge.
“When you look at Canada, even though it is an international market, we truly treat it like neighbors in our neighborhood, and they’re a big part of their market and their customer base," Percy said.
He added that last year, even with exchange rate, Canadians spent about $59 million on goods and services in Niagara County just through Visa cards.
“That’s a lot of money, and I would think a good portion of that is spent at that outlet mall on goods and services," Percy said.
We know other malls in the area are also now welcoming back customers. For example, the Walden Galleria the Boulevard Mall and the McKinley Mall.
Percy said the heavy rain on Saturday may have actually played in their favor.
"When you have inclement weather, shopping always rises to the top," Percy said.
Click below for a look at what stores and restaurants are open at some of the shopping centers locally:
On the Boulevard Mall website, there is a note to, "Please call each store directly prior to visiting as each business is working hard to open as quickly but as safely as possible."


text: On Saturday, February 18, Paxos CEO & Co-Founder Charles Cascarilla shared the following message with the Paxos team. Paxos will continue to support BUSD through at least February 2024 and maintain the highest standards of security and soundness in the stablecoin market. Some of the largest companies in the world already rely on the Paxos platform to bring trusted blockchain products to hundreds of millions of end users. Partners like PayPal, Mastercard, Interactive Brokers, Mercado Libre, Nubank and Bank of America choose Paxos to power their various offerings. I have never been more confident in the Paxos platform and, most importantly, our team.


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Per the publication, the iPhone 12 mini will cost KRW 850,000 (~$738) in South Korea. In comparison, last year’s iPhone 11 was launched at KRW 990,000 (~$860) in the country.
Unsurprisingly, Samsung is the largest smartphone seller in South Korea, and it enjoys a comfortable lead over other brands.
Apple wants a slice of South Korea’s growing 5G market
Historically, South Korea has never been a priority for Apple and iPhones are usually launched in the country a month after their initial release.
The report also claims that the iPhone 12 will have a price tag of KRW 990,000 (~$860) on Samsung’s home turf.
The iPhone 12 Pro is expected to start at KRW 1.3 million (~$1,129) and the iPhone 12 Pro Max will apparently cost KRW 1.5 million (~$1,303) in its entry-level configuration.
South Korea was the first country to roll out commercial 5G networks with the help of its three major carriers – SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and LG Uplus Corp. At the end of August, it reached 8.65 million 5G subscribers. This number is forecasted to rise to 10 million by the end of the year.
Apple seemingly wants to use South Korea as a testing ground for its first 5G iPhones. The latest report also claims that the aforementioned telecommunication companies have been covertly testing the iPhone 12 since August.
For the latest tech news and updates, Install TechCodex App, and follow us on Google News, Facebook, and Twitter. Also, if you like our efforts, consider sharing this story with your friends, this will encourage us to bring more exciting updates for you.


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Netherlands-based grower training centre Fruit Tech Campus has announced plans to present its first ever Fruit & Tech Innovation Award.
The award, which includes a €2,500 cash prize or a public award, will recognise a technological innovation that contributes to the future of fruit production.
According to the organisers, that innovation is needed more than ever as demand for better sustainability, health, biodiversity and food security continues to grow.
“[These] are all challenges in the fruit sector that require a new way of working,” the group commented. “Companies are growing which means they need more technical support and management automation. Moreover, a combination of low economic results and high labour costs creates a demand for affordable technological solutions.”
The award presentation, powered by Topsector Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen, will take place on 14 October 2021 during the FTC Business Inspiration Network event.


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Check out the dress that has caused such an overwhelming sensation as Nollywood Actress, entrepreneur and, fashionista Mercy Aigbe, rocks this red dress with attitude and pure Naija glam. To see the full story click the picture below.
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Hosted by David and Nycci Nellis.
On today’s show:
• First, go to @nycci nellis on Twitter or Instagram and get the recipe for the Foodie and the Beast Cocktail of the Day. Then join us and RAMMY nominee for lead bartender, Officina’s Ismael Barreto, to make his honey cocktail, the Positano Punch;
• One minute pastry chef Paola Velez is the celebrated James Beard finalist for rising star chef, wowing guests at Kith and Kin, and the next coronavirus minute she’s furloughed and out of her kitchen. Did she mope around? Maybe for a second. Then she started baking on her own to feed folks. After that she launched something called Bakers Against Racism. Intended as a local thing, it’s gone international. Paola joins us to provide the 411 on all that;
• Farmers markets have been touted as one of the healthiest and safest ways to do your food shopping. Central Farm Markets co-founder Debbie Moser joins us;
• Returning guest Andra “A.J.” Johnson is managing partner and bartender at Serenata at La Cosecha in the Union Market District and co-founder of D.C.’s Black Restaurant Week. She’s a passionate advocate of diversity and across-the-board fairness for restaurant industry workers. We’ll hear about Serenata’s upcoming events in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and A.J.’s recent City Paper article and a book she’s developing addressing the “cultural neglect” of African Americans in the restaurant industry;
• When the COVID crisis hit, Huntsman had been in the business of selling premium specialty foods to top restaurants across the Mid-Atlantic. Huntsman owner, chef Javier Arze, pivoted on a dime and now is delivering gourmet goods directly to consumers while helping furloughed chefs that the pandemic has sidelined. Huntsman’s new Furloughed Chef box delivered to you is a gourmand-level CSA featuring products made or raised by some of his former clients. Chef Javier joins us to explain.
Read more: https://northdenvernews.com


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Not many people are aware that clothing industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world that consumes an enormous amount of natural and industrial resources. The environmental impact of the clothes that we wear is immense, partly because they are not produced locally. The U.S. sends up to 75 percent of its cotton abroad, only to ship it back as cheap T-shirts.
‘Fibershed’ in North California addresses this issue in an effective manner. Brainchild of textile artist and sustainability advocate Rebecca Burgess, the concept started in 2010 when Burgess challenged herself for one year to wear only clothes produced near her community.
Under this concept, about 104 farmers, ranchers, weavers, spinners and designers across 19 counties make up a garment-producing system where every producer uses materials sourced within a 150-mile radius. At heart, the system is about connecting and respecting the gifts and limits of the land. Burgess said the system sequesters as much carbon from the atmosphere as it emits, and the organically dyed garments are compostable.
Read full news here: https://www.ecowatch.com/fibershed-2519183494.html


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Have a full house of social distancers working, gaming, streaming, and news binging, all at the same time? If you're experiencing lags, the problem might be on your end. Before you call your ISP, try these easy router tips to get back online.
The global internet will probably survive coronavirus, according to stats from Ookla Speedtest, but America's home service plans and the UK's 3G mobile networks might not.
Here's how to change a home Wi-Fi network's name, password, and other elements.
Are you connected to Wi-Fi on one device, but need the password to log in on another one? Here's how to find Wi-Fi passwords in Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
With people are stuck at home or losing work hours due to the coronavirus outbreak, companies such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Comcast are removing data caps, opening up hotspots to the public, and waiving late fees.
AT&T took action as a group of US senators urged the major internet service providers to suspend the data caps because more Americans are staying home due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Your reason for cracking a Wi-Fi password are no doubt noble (we trust you); here's how.
The Alexa-equipped Netgear Orbi Voice Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System is on sale at Amazon right now for just $215.11. It normally retails for $429.99, so you'll be saving 50 percent.
The Gryphon Guardian is a three-piece mesh system that offers robust parental controls and solid close-range performance, but its long-range performance could be better.
The Trendnet TEW-830MDR2K is a tri-band mesh system that is simple to install and manage and offers solid close-range performance, but it isn't a standout among Wi-Fi mesh kits.
Don't suffer through the pain of buffering. Pick up an Eero home Wi-Fi system for as little as $239 so you can browse, stream, and scroll in peace.
If you're dealing with spotty Wi-Fi at home, extend your coverage with Eero's mesh network system.
VPN routers provide all the data safety and privacy features of a VPN client, but they do so for every device that connects to them. We test 10 of the best models that can act as VPN gateways for your home or small business.
'Such outages demonstrate how much power ISPs...are having over our online experience, and it is shocking,' according to the German email provider, which says the situation underscores the need for net neutrality protections.
The chip supports the 6GHz band and promises to double Wi-Fi speeds while cutting latency in half for phones.
Usually priced at $79.99, it's available now for just $51.99.
'As one of the largest exhibitors (at MWC), Ericsson has thousands of visitors in its hall each day and even if the risk is low, the company cannot guarantee the health and safety of its employees and visitors,' Ericsson's CEO says.
Right now you can get the TP-Link Deco M3 whole home mesh Wi-Fi system for just $96.99, its lowest-ever Amazon price. Several other Wi-Fi mesh systems are also currently on sale.
The D-Link EXO AC3000 is a tri-band router that delivered speedy throughput in our tests and offers solid parental controls, malware protection, and mesh technology.


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The unemployment rate is now at its lowest level since 1969 – and some economists believe it could fall further. It's all great news for the economy. But it's awful news for small business owners like me. That's because finding good people – and paying them competitively – is tougher than ever.
That fact is evident in a recent study by payroll services firm Paychex and IHS Markit, which found that, even in this robust economy, "small business hiring continues to stall," declared James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit in a statement. The Small Business Employment Watch "dipped slightly again in September, from 99.22 to 99.18, its lowest since 2010." Another payroll services firm, CBIZ, also reported a month-over-month drop in small business hiring of 2.45 percent in September.
Some say that small business owners are just being cautious and remember all too well their mistakes from the last recession. Others blame economic uncertainties like the rising cost of healthcare, volatile markets, tariffs and the still-not-realized benefits of tax reform. But the reality is that most businesses have jobs to fill, but can't hire the people to fill them.
"We are having a hard time finding skilled labor as are the other manufacturers like us," one small manufacturer in Ohio told a local television station. "We're advertising everywhere we can, advertising our benefits. Still having a hard time meeting our needs."
These concerns are echoed by hiring managers in just about every industry across the country, and in the Philadelphia area. Nearly two-thirds of the 111 manufacturers in eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and Delaware surveyed in May said they plan to hire this year, up from fewer than half two years ago, according to a post from the Inquirer's Joseph DiStefano. But many added that reliable, experienced help is getting harder to find. "We're not a sexy business," Patrick Foose, the President of lighting-parts maker GEHR USA in Boothwyn told DiStefano. Foose lamented that there is "a fairly large section of society" in that area of people who never learned or adapted to factory work.
Of course, big corporations like Hershey are having the same challenges. But they've got more resources. Which is why we're seeing Amazon and Walmart announcing wage increases and other firms expanding their benefits, offering more lucrative bonuses, providing better health insurance and increasing their paid time off for employees.
Some small businesses are waking up and paying a little more. In fact, the National Federation of Independent Businesses reported this month reported that a "record" 37 percent of business owners are raising their overall employee compensation.
But let's face it: inflation is low and margins remain tight so it's tough to increase prices or absorb any more costs. Besides, most small companies like mine won't ever be able to match the benefits that their larger counterparts, with deeper pockets and more resources, can afford. Netflix, for example, offers up to one year of paid time off for employees who are new parents. Wow!
So what to do if you're a small business owner? Taking advantage of federal and state training programs, like the ones offered by the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania is a start. Partnering with local technical schools and community colleges is also a good way to uncover young talent.
But to me, the biggest recruiting weapon that we have is staring us right in the face: ourselves.
Working at a small company means greater flexibility, more interaction with the owners and a feeling of really making a difference as opposed to clocking in and out, sitting through meetings, dealing with departmental politics and enduring the HR policies at BigCo.
It's also much less stressful. According to a recent study of more than 3,000 British employees from a wellness firm called Perkbox, companies with fewer than four people had the lowest instances of stress – 45 percent – compared to 65 percent of employees working at companies with more than 500 people.
Paying a little more would help. But a better quality of life could be the best weapon for a small business to compete in this tough labor environment.


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Renault SA’s carmaking alliance with Nissan Motor Co is partnering with Microsoft Corp to improve cloud-based services for cars, a step toward the group’s plans to build self-driving automobiles by 2020.
The services, based on Microsoft’s Azure cloud service, will comprise advanced navigation, predictive maintenance and over-the-air software updates.
Renault and Nissan plan to launch more than 10 vehicles with autonomous drive technology by 2020. In January, the alliance hired former Nokia executive Ogi Redzic to lead its connected car efforts.
The alliance said last week it would buy French software development company Sylpheo to offer new services with ride hailing and car sharing.
Tech giants Microsoft and Adobe today announced a major partnership to endorse the use of each other’s cloud-computing tools among their mutual customers. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, called the deal a “massive milestone,” in the presence here with Shantanu Narayen, his Adobe counterpart. The deal follows a pact last year that linked some Adobe products to Microsoft’s customer relationship management tools.
Cloud-computing, a growing business in which companies progressively turn to rented, web-based infrastructure to run their software instead of their own back room servers, has a been a showcase of Microsoft’s newfound willingness to partner with erstwhile competitors. Under the new deal, the maker of Photoshop will use Microsoft’s network of on-demand data storage and processing power to run its web-based digital media and marketing software.
Microsoft has launched the Xbox Onesie jumpsuit, a one-piece zip-up casual garment accessible in white or black, for its gamer community in Australia. It features enlarged pockets to fit an Xbox Controller and Media Remotes, an arm pouch for a mobile phone, forearm grips to prevent slipping, and an extra-large hood to accommodate headsets.
Microsoft has launched OneNote import tool for Mac users. This permits Evernote users on Mac platform to make a switch to OneNote and the timing of the move is brilliant. Earlier in March, the company launched a similar tool for its Windows users and since has imported 71 million Evernote pages to OneNote.
The company has highlighted the differences starting off from the fact that OneNote is a free service while Evernote has three tiers of plans ranging from basic to premium. The price for Evernote premium was again increased to $69 per year in June this year forcing people to search for alternatives.
In a move to strengthen its live video streaming service, micro-blogging website Twitter is reportedly talking with Apple to bring National Football League (NFL) games live to Apple TV, media reported. This news led to a surge in Twitter stocks, giving hope to investors that such a deal can help Twitter come out of the sluggish user growth and falling revenues. The obtainability of Twitter app on Apple TV will help reach more people as they love watching live sports on TVs and not on a mobile app or desktop.
“Such a partnership might also complement Apple’s plans for the TV business,” the report added. Apple TV has more than 10 million customers in the US. In April, Twitter protected the rights to live stream NFL games. It is known that Twitter will make money from advertising when it streams 10 NFL games later this year.
Twitter Inc denied rumors that the social media messaging service will be shutting down in 2017, disapproving the claim as groundless. “There is absolutely no truth to the claims whatsoever,” a spokesman for Twitter said in an emailed response to a Reuters request for comment.
Social media started buzzing with the hashtag #SaveTwitter , with more than 100,000 tweets mentioning the hashtag by early afternoon. It was unclear how the rumor started although some tweets said it originated from a Twitter user who complained about online bullying and Twitter’s poor handling of such abuses.
Russia’s anti-monopoly watchdog said it has fined technology giant Google 438 million rubles ($6.7 million) for violating competition law.
The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) said Google had forced mobile device manufacturers to pre-install its applications on mobile devices using the Android system, Xinhua reported.
Google was also accused of placing its applications at priority positions on the home page of mobile devices to the detriment of alternative software. Google’s software also prevented the installation of applications of other developers, the FAS was quoted as saying.
“The Competition Law must be observed by all the companies that supply their products to the Russian Federation, including multinational corporations,” Yelena Zayeva, Head of the Communications and Information Technologies Department of the FAS, said in the statement.
In a move to make your News Feed more informative, Facebook has tweaked its algorithm to bring news that’s applicable and of interest to you.
“Our goal with News Feed is to show people the stories most relevant to them, so we rank stories so what’s most important to each person shows up highest in their News Feeds,” said Facebook in a blog post on Friday.
According to Jie Xu, Research Scientist, Akos Lada, Data Scientist and Vibhi Kant, Product Manager at News Feed, when Facebook rank and make improvements to News Feed, it rely on a set of core values.
“These values — which we’ve been using for years — guide our thinking and help us keep the central experience of News Feed intact as it evolves,” they wrote.
Microsoft said it is strengthening its Xbox arsenal with the purchase of a startup specializing in letting people join in the fun while watching live-streamed game play.
Microsoft did not reveal financial terms of the deal to buy Seattle-based Beam, which puts an interactive spin on the hot trend of video games being spectator sports.
“With Beam, you don’t just watch your favorite streamer play, you play along with them,” Xbox Live partner group program manager Chad Gibson said in a blog post.
For example, Beam can be used to let viewers allocate missions, summon adversaries, or select virtual gear in games being streamed online by broadcasters.
Professional networking website LinkedIn on Wednesday announced that it has crossed the 100-million member mark in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), and with 37 million members, India is its largest market in the region. Globally, India retains its spot as the second largest market after the US, a company statement said. LinkedIn has gathered its member base in the region from 50 million to 100 million in just two years. The region now represents 22 per cent of LinkedIn’s global member base of over 450 million.
“At this scale, LinkedIn is in an even stronger position to help members connect to economic opportunity, whether it’s a new job, a promotion or other business opportunities,” said Olivier Legrand, Managing Director, LinkedIn Asia Pacific and Japan, in a statement. China presently accounts for more than 23 million members, while Australia has eight million members.
US tech giant Apple is planning to revamp its entire MacBook Pro line this year, with a new design and a number of new features, a media report said.
The company is working on a new programmable strip of OLED-based function keys that can be switched to perform different functions depending on which application users are using.
Apple’s goal is to simplify shortcuts and permit it to reprogramme hardware buttons to add capabilities with software updates, rather than refreshing internal hardware, technology website ExtremeTech.com reported.
Google has finally updated its app to support iOS 9’s Split Screen multi-tasking feature available on the Apple’s iPad Pro 12.9. iPad Pro 9.7 and the iPad Air 2. The new version tagged as 1.2016.30204 for Docs, Slides and 1.2016.30206 for the Sheets app, essentially brings along support for the iPad’s multi-tasking feature and nothing else.
We have no clue why Google woke up so late, but nonetheless it will be useful to those who are glued to Google services. Google however pegs the update as move to use two of its apps concurrently. The apps, at best, are not as intuitive compared to other offerings from Microsoft.
Vanishing message app Snapchat made a photo lens quickly disappear after an online uproar branding it an offensive stereotype of Asians worthy of the label “Yellow Face.”
The lens overlaid faces in photos with cartoon visages featuring slanted eyes, wide cheeks and toothy grins.
Snapchat pulled the lens after its release on Tuesday ignited concerns it was insulting and racist.
Snapchat said the lens was meant as a playful take on anime characters and promised it would not return to circulation.
Apple wasn’t always a phone company. Today, their claim to fame is the iPod and iPhone, but they started with the Mac and Mac OS. Sadly, the Mac is so deserted today that even Microsoft is calling them out for the “disservice” they’re doing their customers.
As we’ve pointed out in the past, Apple’s Macs are aging. The original Mac Pro is still running on 2013 hardware and many devices, including the Mac Mini and certain MacBook models are still running on 2014 hardware.
One might argue that MacOS doesn’t need the latest generation hardware, but irrespective of the fact that this is the same argument used by Steve Jobs when he told people they were holding their phones wrong, you’re on the wrong track completely.
The French data protection authority on Wednesday ordered Microsoft Corp to stop collecting excessive data on users of its Windows 10 operating system and serving them personalized ads without their consent. The CNIL said the U.S. company had three months to stop tracking browsing by users so that Windows apps and third-party apps can offer them targeted advertising without their consent, failing which it could initiate a sanctions procedure.
A number of EU data protection authorities created a contact group to investigate Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system following its launch in July 2015, the French privacy watchdog said. The action against Microsoft mirrors that taken by the CNIL against Facebook, which was ordered in February to stop collecting users’ information then used for advertising without their consent.
Microsoft recently published a blog post in which they claimed that Edge on Windows 10 offered vastly superior battery life to every other browser out there. Specifically, Microsoft claimed that Edge offered 17 percent more battery life than Opera and 70 percent more battery life than Chrome.
Opera took this as a challenge and decided to prove Microsoft wrong with a test of their own. Microsoft demanded to have run two tests, one in which they only streamed video and another in which they ran a script that ran through a series of websites, tabs and videos.
Meanwhile, Opera ran their own test, the full details technical details for which have been explained in this blog post here. The main difference was that this time, Opera enabled the “battery-saver mode” on their browser, as well as the native ad-blocking functionality. Their tests show that Opera with battery saver and ad-block enabled is 22 percent faster than Edge and 35 percent faster than Chrome.
Microsoft’s latest Insider Preview for the lucky minority in the Fast Ring brings a with it a whole slew of improvements and updates.
The latest Insider Preview build, numbered 14367, has previously started rolling out. Here are some key highlights from the preview:
The latest build brings support for handwriting recognition in 23 languages on PC and mobile. These languages include Malay, Swahili, Xhosa, Chinese and more. Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be Hindi support just yet.
Microsoft is buying the professional networking website LinkedIn for just over $26bn (£18bn) in cash.
The software giant will pay $196 a share – a premium of almost 50% to Friday’s closing share price.
The deal will benefit Microsoft boost sales of its business and email software.
Microsoft said that LinkedIn would retain its “distinct brand, culture and independence”.
Ben Wood, head of research at CCS Insight, said the deal would give Microsoft access to the world’s biggest professional social network with more than 430 million members worldwide.
Skype for Business could soon find its way to custom apps as Microsoft has formally released the Skype for Business software development kit (SDK) for download. Skype for Business permits users to meet and collaborate remotely through dedicated servers and infrastructure, apparently making it faster and more secure than the free-to-download version.
The company announced on Office Blogs on Thursday that the new SDK would permit developers to integrate instant messaging as well as audio and video experiences into custom third-party apps.
Microsoft revealed last year that it was planning to merge its Outlook and Sunrise apps into a single app. After obtaining Sunrise more than a year ago, Microsoft is now planning to kill off the standalone app at the end of August. Sunrise will be removed from the App Store in the “next few days,” and it will stop working altogether on August 31st. “As heartbreaking as this sounds, we’re hard at work bringing the magic of Sunrise to the Outlook apps,” reads a message from the Sunrise team at Microsoft. “The complete Sunrise team is now working side-by-side with the Outlook team and it’s a thrilling moment for us to work on an app of this scale.”


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A Tesla owner is facing the risk of being jailed for an accident that was caused involving the autopilot mode. A crash in 2019, involving the Tesla Model S owner caused the death of two people. The Tesla car was found to be running on Autopilot when the accident happened. Also Read - Tesla to have self-driving cars on road without human drivers by May 2023, says Elon Musk
Years after the accident, a case has been filed against the driver of the Tesla for vehicular manslaughter. The car had overrun a red light which then went on to name into a Honda Civic, killing two people, according to a report by AP. The report suggests that the driver, Kevin George Aziz Riad, 27, has pleaded not guilty. The accused is a limousine service driver and he is currently free on bail. Also Read - Tesla is on my mind 24/7, says Elon Musk amid concerns over Twitter distraction
This is the first time a Tesla owner is facing felony charges in the US, after meeting with an accident involving the use of the autopilot feature. The outcome of this case could set the narrative of what is to be done about conflicts where a human is not directly responsible for an accident or any mishap. However, it is to be noted that none of the cars in the US are allowed to self-drive completely. Also Read - Hackers can steal your Tesla, smartphones using a simple Bluetooth hack
Past Incidents involving Tesla Autopilot
Tesla is already facing dozens of cases involving fatalities. It was found that the car was being driven on autopilot in most of these cases. The electric car maker has labeled its self-driving tech as a Level 2 system. It is considered to be partially automated. Even while it is partially automated, the driver will need to keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times.
The lack of any sensors to detect driver involvement has also been a big debate surrounding Tesla. Many Tesla owners have been found either sitting or even sleeping on the back seat of the car while it is moving at high speeds. Multiple videos surfaced where drivers were found to be extremely careless with the autopilot tech. The federal agencies of the United States have emphasised that currently there is no self-driving tech that is completely reliable.


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FOX Business: Capitalism Lives Here
U.S. stock-index futures pointed to heavy selling on Wall Street Friday as worries over the looming fiscal cliff flared up.
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As of 9:15 a.m. ET, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures dropped 202 points to 13065, S&P 500 futures skidded lower by 23 points to 1418 and Nasdaq 100 futures sold off by 42.3 points to 2648.
Late Thursday, a GOP-sponsored bill aimed at staving off the across-the-board tax hikes associated with the fiscal cliff failed to garner enough support for a vote in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. In a last minute change of direction, House Speaker John Boehner issued a statement saying the vote wouldn't take place, calling on President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to offer a solution.
The plan was widely seen as a backup plan, so its failure rekindled concerns that the U.S. may hurtle off the full fiscal cliff come next year. That would mean painful spending cuts and tax hikes that are likely to pound the already fragile economy would go into effect.
Analysts at Nomura said in a note to clients that "it seems unlikely that any legislation to address the main fiscal cliff policies will be passed before the end of the year." The investment bank said it expects talks to carry into next year.
"It appears as though the Street is finally getting to a point of exhaustion in dealing with Washington's complete and utter incompetence," Peter Kenny, a managing director at Knight Capital wrote in an e-mail following the vote.
With an abbreviated week next week and many traders having closed out positions for the year, volume was expected to be light on the day. This often leads to a situation of higher-than-usual volatility.
Energy futures came under selling pressure. The benchmark crude contract fell $1.10, or 1.2%, to $89.03 a barrel. Wholesale New York Harbor gasoline slipped 0.69% to $2.735 a gallon.
Safe havens performed relatively strongly. Gold climbed $3.10, or 0.19%, to $1,649 a troy ounce. The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury slipped to 1.772% from 1.799% as traders bid up the asset.
There were several economic reports on tap on the day.
The Commerce Department said orders for long-lasting goods climbed 0.7% in November from October, a bigger gain than the 0.2% economists expected. Excluding the transportation component, orders jumped 1.6%, topping estimates of a 0.2% decline.
A separate report from Commerce said consumer spending edged up 0.4% in November from October, a slightly bigger increase than the 0.3% economists forecast. Personal income climbed 0.6%, its biggest increase since February, and also higher than the 0.3% expected.
Later, the final reading of the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index is set to be released. Consumer sentiment is expected to have climbed very slightly in the latter part of December from earlier in the month. The measure is especially important during the key holiday shopping season.
The Euro Stoxx 50 fell 0.45% to 2646, the English FTSE 100 dipped 0.64% to 5920 and the German DAX dropped 0.6% to 7626.
In Asia, the Japanese Nikkei 225 sold off by 1% to 9940 and the Chinese Hang Seng slumped 0.68% to 22506.


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The next Android One device in Xiaomi’s portfolio, the Mi A2 is all set to launch next month in India. Xiaomi has already sent out the media invites for the launch event of the Xiaomi Mi A2 which has been scheduled for August 8. The phone has already launched globally in Spain, and we know now that it is the rebranded version of the Mi 6X which launched in China earlier. The new Mi A2 furthers the line-up of Android One smartphones started by Mi A1 last year and this time it comes with the latest Android 8.1 Oreo. The phone has climbed to receive massive hype right ahead of its launch in India. Amazon India has also put up a dedicated page for Xiaomi Mi A2 where users can sign in to receive updates about the phone’s launch. The e-commerce giant has also dropped some tidbits about the new phone along with the processor, memory and camera specs.
The handset is expected to go live for sale a week after the launch. It will be up for grabs on Xiaomi’s Mi.com and Amazon as well. Also, it has been hinted that the phone will come in only the 4GB and 64GB variant as the entry-level model in India. The 4GB and 32GB RAM variant won’t make its way to the Indian market. Xiaomi Mi A2 buyers will also have four colour options to choose from Gold, Black, Blue and a newly added Rose Gold.
Xiaomi Mi A2 Specifications
The Xiaomi Mi A2 boasts of a 5.99-inch Full HD+ (1080x2160 pixels) display with an 18:9 aspect ratio protected by 2.5D curved glass, and Gorilla Glass 5. The phone packs an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC accompanied by the Adreno 512 GPU for graphics.
The phone might also fare as an impressive camera device as it sports a dual rear camera setup comprising of 12MP Sony IMX486 with f/1.75 aperture and 1.25-micron pixels, and a 20MP secondary Sony IMX376 sensor with f/1.75 aperture and a 2-micron 4-in-1 Super Pixel size. There is a dual-tone LED flash and PDAF which accompanies the dual rear setup. For selfies, the phone rocks a 20MP Sony IMX376 with f/1.75 aperture, fixed focal length, and a soft-LED flash. Also, the Mi A2 does not come with a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the software front, the phone boots optimised stock version of Android 8.1 Oreo, certified by Google's Android One programme.
The connectivity options on the phone include 4G LTE, Bluetooth v5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Miracast, an IR emitter, and USB Type-C. Sensors on the handset include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, and proximity sensor. A 3010mAh battery powers the device
Xiaomi Mi A2 Pricing
Xiaomi launched the Mi A2 in Spain at the price of EUR 249 (roughly Rs 20,100) for the 4GB RAM and 32GB storage variant. However, we know that this variant isn’t going to launch in India. The new variant, which is the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage option, bears a price tag of EUR 279 (roughly Rs 22,500), and the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage option costs EUR 349 (around Rs 28,100). However, given the exchange rates, it is quite possible that the phone might be priced slightly lesser in India.


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May 22, 2018
News DiversityInc has named Cummins one of the Top 50 Companies for Diversity for a 12th consecutive year.
May 22, 2018
News The Oklahoma RV Association (ORVA) will hold its 2018 State Convention June 10-11 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa, Okla.
May 21, 2018
News The North American RV rental fleet will expand again in 2018, according to a new survey by the RV Rental Association.
May 18, 2018
News The RV Industry Association will be hosting a low-voltage wiring workshop at its Elkhart office on June 13 and again on June 14.
May 17, 2018
News The Mike Molino RV Learning Center will host the free “A Pain in the Neck: Ergonomics in the Workplace” KPA webinar at 2 p.m. EST on Monday, May 21.
May 15, 2018
News KPA will host the free “Perks & Benefits: What Options are Most Appealing to Today's Workers and Different Generations?” webinar at 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 17.
May 11, 2018
News ADP is hosting Need to Know Details for GDPR Compliance at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 24.
May 3, 2018
News The North American Trailer Dealers Association recently announced that its member benefit program with Office Depot has been enhanced, providing more savings in-store and online to help members save on essential items.
May 2, 2018
News The Society of Certified RV Professionals reports that 23 individuals became certified and 12 were recertified from dealerships participating in the society’s recognition program.
May 1, 2018
News Former HomeAway and Expedia executive Morgan Larkin joins the company as its VP of business operations and Taher Hassonjee, a former venture capitalist at JumpStart now serves as the director of business development at RVshare.


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New Zealand’s Turners Automotive Group is investing A$1 million into ASX-listed Collaborate Corporation, a tech-focused car-sharing and vehicle subscription business based in Australia.
Turners will obtain a 12.13 per cent stake in the company and will appoint a director to the board, it said in a release to the NZX.
Collaborate Corporation’s core business centres on the car-sharing market, with DriveMyCar, an Australian peer-to-peer car rental business, complemented by Carly, a vehicle subscription service that launched in March 2019.
DriveMyCar offers flexible rental periods, is up to 57 per cent cheaper than traditional car rental companies and enables owners to earn money from a vehicle they are not using, Turners said.
Carly, meanwhile, is gaining in popularity. “Not only does it offer flexibility, variety, minimal responsibility and an all-round simpler solution to vehicle ownership, the single monthly payment covers all the usual costs of vehicle ownership, from registration and insurance to maintenance and repairs,” Turners said in a statement.
Turners said this marks the first of a series of potential innovation investments it is considering as part of the new growth strategy launched in May. It also said it is an opportunity that allows it to learn and potentially introduce the capability into the New Zealand market.
In May the company said it had largely finished a review of its business and will streamline its operations and brands to focus on what it does well, remove risks from the group and accelerate growth in the most capital-efficient way possible.
“We are excited about Turners’ future as we position ourselves for the long-term projected changes in the traditional retail car market. New concepts such as peer-to-peer car rentals and car-sharing are a part of the future and provide a new revenue opportunity for car Dealers and other industry players,” Chief Executive, Todd Hunter, said.
According to Turners, alternative vehicle ownership models are on the rise internationally, and by 2025 vehicle subscription programs could account for almost 10 per cent of all new vehicle sales in the US and Europe.


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Mapletree Logistics posts steady Q3 DPU, higher revenue
MAPLETREE Logistics Trust (MLT) on Monday reported a steady distribution per unit (DPU) of 1.87 Singapore cents for its third quarter, on the back of a 7.4 per cent increase in gross revenue to S$95.5 million.
The higher revenue for the three months ended Dec 31, 2016,
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ST. LOUIS: The Mid America Chevy Dealer Association is hosting a "Mommy Madness" promotion later this month where it will provide six mommy bloggers with Chevy vehicles while they go about their days.
The moms, who have until October 4 to apply, will go behind the wheels of the Chevy Traverse and Chevy Equinox for four weeks starting October 19. During that time, the moms will complete “mommy missions” in addition to their everyday tasks while blogging about their experiences on the promotion's microsite, www.MommyMadnessSTL.com, as well as on their own sites. They will also shoot video as part of the "Mom Squad."
The St. Louis effort, which comprise 36 local Chevy dealers for General Motors, is one of several “Mommy Madness” Chevy events that have rolled out in other markets since May 2008, such as Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City with the aim of reaching moms searching for a new vehicle.
On the heels of this summer's “Cash for Clunkers” promotion, Kathy Federico, president of the Mid America Chevy Dealer Association, says the mom target is different from the drivers who participated in that program.
“Cash for Clunkers was mostly for people with very old vehicles,” said Frederico, adding that moms usually drive newer cars. “They're trading more frequently to match the needs of their family.”
The organization has paid sponsorship deals with CBS Radio, Clear Channel Radio, and Bonneville Radio all in St. Louis. DJs from those stations will promote Mommy Madness, interview the moms, and have access to their own cars as well. Mommy Madness also has a Facebook presence, and is conducting outreach through media relations and advertising.
Velocity Marketing is the AOR for the dealer association, (handling the advertising and PR), as well as a number of the other Mommy Madness promotions. In the three previous executions, the campaign resulted in 800 test drives and more than 100 sales, according to Jackie Grubb, VP and account supervisor at Velocity Marketing.
“The more buzz we can create, hopefully we'll have top-of-mind awareness when they are in the market,” Frederico said.


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We hope you have time to spare this week—but if not, you may want to clear your calendars anyway.
Between a business forum, jewelry summit, and e-commerce conference, the sheer volume of virtual programming geared to jewelers is enough to inspire months of strategic decision-making. Plus, there’s a roundtable discussion on lab-grown diamonds and a fresh episode of The Jewelry District podcast to boot!
The Jewelry District, Episode 35: Ongoing
In the latest episode of JCK’s The Jewelry District podcast, editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates discuss what we learned about the jewelry business in 2020 and how those lessons will shape our industry in 2021. Heady stuff!
Jewelry Business Forum: Jan. 18–22 (Online)
Halstead Bead is spearheading a forum that addresses small business issues and professional development aimed specifically at makers. The event’s impressive roster of speakers—among them PR maven Lilian Raji, NYC Jewelry Week cofounder Bella Neyman, and designer Jules Kim—will address a wide range of topics, including ethical responsibility, how to price your work, and tips for selling on Instagram.
Jewelry Ecomm Annual Conference: Jan. 21–22 (Online)
The folks behind the Centurion Jewelry Show are holding a free online conference this week focused on all things digital: SEO best practices, the ins and outs of Shopify, digital marketing, cybersecurity, hiring for the digital age—the list goes on!
Winter Jewelry Independent Summit: Jan. 22 (Online)
The latest edition of the Jewelry Independent Summit, dubbed The Road to Recovery, promises to answer all your burning questions about doing business circa 2021. How do you become a content creator? What does a COVID-19-proof budget entail? Which online marketplaces are best suited to jewelers? Don’t miss All That Glitters blogger Amy Elliott’s session on storytelling!
Lab-Grown Diamond Roundtable: Jan. 22, 12 p.m. ET (Online)
Hosted by Branko Deljanin and moderated by Albert Robinson of The New Jeweller magazine, this live roundtable discussion—featuring JCK’s very own news director, Rob Bates—will tackle the question of our times: Can lab-grown and natural diamonds coexist?
Don’t forget to tune in for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President–elect Kamala Harris on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Our new veep is virtually guaranteed to be wearing a fab pearl necklace! (Harris photo: U.S. Senate Photographic Studio/Renee Bouchard)
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine


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Canadian customers confused by analogue deadline
The retirement of analogue signals in the U.S. is imminent, thanks to a February deadline established by the Federal Communications Commission, but some Canadian alarm dealers and users aren’t clear how it might affect their business north of the border.
January 31, 2008 By Neil Sutton
Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), introduced to North America in
1983, was in use as the standard analogue cellular phone system for
almost 20 years before it began to give way to digital systems like GSM
and CDMA. In 2002, the FCC mandated that as of Feb. 18, 2008, U.S.
cellular carriers were no longer required to support AMPS.
But there is no such deadline in Canada, leaving cellular providers here to set their own timelines.
alarm dealers are aware that they will eventually have to replace older
analogue alarm systems with those that run on digital networks, and
many have already done so, but there remains a haze of confusion.
The problem, says Bill Hefford, operations director at Voxcom, is not one of technology, but of communication.
haven’t seen any material from any of the cell providers,” says
Hefford. “I don’t think they’ve done a great job in communicating it,
because maybe they don’t know.”
Rogers Communications shut down
its AMPS service in June 2007. According to a spokesperson from Bell
Canada, it plans to stop service in November. Telus says its deadline
is Sept. 16. Neither Sasktel nor MTS-Allstream have set a date,
according to sources from the companies.
The retirement of AMPS
will not affect the majority of Canadian cell phone users, since their
phones run on the dominant digital networks, GSM and CDMA. However,
they may not be aware of the ramifications for their home alarm systems.
executive director Kenneth Mitchell says he has received numerous
inquiries from people looking for updates on the situation.
had calls here at CANASA, from consumers saying, ‘We don’t understand
this. We’re happy with our analogue system and we think it’s simply the
dealers trying to sell us new high-end equipment that we don’t need,’”
“We have had to help the consumers understand
that this is not an alarm/dealer problem, it’s a telecom issue that is
being visited through the supply chain right down to the end user.”
industry professionals have attempted to reach out to consumers through
e-mail updates. Honeywell Security, for example, sent out its most
recent letter on Jan. 17, letting customers know that GSM alternatives
are available through ADI-Burtek.
“Every time we send out a
letter with my name on the bottom, I get phone calls and e-mails,” says
Chris Welling, vice-president of sales at Honeywell Security. “They’re
concerned that it’s out of their control.”
The Jan. 17 letter
lists AMPS retirement dates from several Canadian carriers, but Welling
notes that none of these deadlines are set in stone and may be subject
Hefford says that Voxcom has responded to the
situation by simply observing the U.S. deadline and not worrying about
how the Canadian telecommunications providers are winding down AMPS
“Our position on it is, we’re moving forward to replace our (AMPS) units by the end of February,” he says.
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- Mobile unit reduces false alarms through verification
- March Networks announces offer to acquire Cieffe S.p.A.


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Samsung has announced its 108MP ISOCELL Bright HMX, the first mobile image sensor to go beyond 100 million pixels.
The sensor, which was developed in collaboration with Xiaomi, will also be able to record video at resolutions of up to 6K at 30 FPS.
According to Samsung, this new sensor “delivers unparalleled colour reproduction and stunning detail” due to its advanced Tetracell and ISOCELL Plus technology.
“Samsung is continuously pushing for innovations in pixel and logic technologies to engineer our ISOCELL image sensors to capture the world as close to how our eyes perceive them,” said Yongin Park, executive VP of sensor business at Samsung.
Lin Bin, co-founder and president of Xiaomi, said that the company was very happy with the sensor, and anticipates more innovation as it continues its partnership with Samsung.
“We are very pleased that picture resolutions previously available only in a few top-tier DSLR cameras can now be designed into smartphones,” said Bin.
Mass production of this sensor will begin later this month.