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Domino's launches three new pizzas made with VEGAN mozzarella cheese - but would you buy it?
- Domino's launched a range of pizzas made with vegan mozzarella cheese
- Flavours include Vegan Avocado Veg, Vegan Spicy Trio, and Vegan Margherita
- Decided to add vegan cheese to menu following a Facebook survey last year
First came the avocado slices, then the marshmallows and chocolate sauce, but now Domino's has a very different surprise for everyone.
The pizza chain has announced that now vegans all across Australia will be able to indulge in its famous cheesiness.
Domino's launched a range of new vegan pizzas on Monday, all of which have been made with vegan mozzarella cheese and start at $7.95.
Domino's launched a range of new vegan pizzas on Monday, all of which have been made with vegan mozzarella cheese
There will be three flavours on the menu: The Vegan Avocado Veg, the Vegan Spicy Trio, and the Vegan Margherita.
The Vegan Avocado Veg is topped with fire roasted peppers, mushrooms, red onions, capsicum, olives, and spring onion, while the Vegan Spicy Trio is made with baby spinach, fresh tomato, red onion, and chilli flakes.
All of Domino's pizza sauces and bases are also vegan-friendly, so any pizza on the menu can be swapped with the new cheese to fit a vegan or dairy-free diet.
'This is also great news for people with allergies and food sensitivities as it contains no dairy, gluten, or soy,' said Nick Knight, Domino's CEO Australia and New Zealand.
All of Domino's pizza sauces and bases are also vegan-friendly, so any pizza on the menu can be swapped with the new vegan cheese (pictured) to fit their vegan or dairy-free diet
Knight revealed that Domino's decided to add vegan cheese to the menu following a survey on the company's Facebook page last year.
'We were blown away by the response to the survey and for this product in general,' he said in a statement.
'At Domino's we pride ourselves on our "people-powered pizza" mantra and listen to what our customers want.'
'The popularity of, and demand for, vegan products has increased considerably over the years, so it's great we are now able to offer this high quality, non-GMO, plant-based and preservative free Vegan Cheese.'
Knight said the vegan cheese has been provided by supplier Follow Your Heart and was tested in Domino's LuvLab development kitchen.
There will be three flavours on the menu: The Vegan Avocado Veg, the Vegan Spicy Trio, and the Vegan Margherita
'We confirmed this vegan-friendly alternative has the same taste, texture, and melt as real dairy cheese,' he added.
'It's also cholesterol free, making it the perfect, healthy indulgence.'
Knight said the vegan cheese will initially be available in stores for a limited time but could become a regular feature of the Domino's menu based on customer demand.
'At Domino's, we’re all about providing choice for our customers and want to give people options to suit their diet,' he said.
'Our ongoing journey to provide customers with a menu we are proud of and one that offers more choices led us to finding the best in taste and melt after a long search of vegan cheese options.'
Domino's recently released its first ever dessert pizza in Australia. The Chocoholic Dessert Pizza costs $9.95 and contains a whopping 1,822 calories
Just a few weeks ago Domino's released its first ever dessert pizza - a decadent chocolate concoction that packs a whopping 1,822 calories.
The Chocoholic Dessert Pizza has a milk chocolate base and is topped with chocolate brownie chunks, mini marshmallows, and white and milk chocolate and buttons.
Drizzled over each slice of the $9.95 pizza is a rich chocolate fudge sauce, with a dusting of icing sugar to top it all off.
Like the new vegan pizzas, Knight revealed the Dessert Pizza was created in response to growing demand from Australian customers.
'We haven't had a dessert pizza on offer at Domino's in Australia since we launched more than 30 years ago,' he said.
'We are excited about today's launch - this is a premium product that is going to meet the highest standards of chocoholics around the country.'
The Chocoholic Dessert Pizza has a milk chocolate base and is topped with chocolate brownie chunks, mini marshmallows, and white and milk chocolate and buttons
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An interview with Vivek Menon, VP of Sales & Marketing at July Rapid.
When you download a mobile app from your favorite brands, you’d likely assume it was that company’s internal team that built it. They all have ample internal resources to work with, including robust engineering teams. They have the money to pay for top-tier talent and hire more as needed.
Still, some of the best brands rely on mobile development companies to build their portfolio apps. But why? Though they may not be strapped for cash, wouldn’t it be a better business investment to leverage their existing internal resources?
We spoke with Vivek Menon, the VP of Sales and Marketing at July Rapid, to shed some light on the business case for major brands outsourcing their mobile experiences. He breaks this down by the 3 types of companies who generally do so:
1. Top non-tech brands
2. Major tech companies
3. Emerging startups
Depending on which category they fall into, there are strong business reasons to outsource this effort.
On large, non-technology companies:
Vivek Menon: The DNA of the brand you’re referring to is important — if you’re a non-tech brand, and let’s say you’re a sports company, media company, or entertainment company, what that means is that those things (sports, media, entertainment) are your core — not technology.
And we’re living in the digital age. It’s impossible for the technology arm of a non-technology company to keep up with the pace of tech innovation. What began as a simple browser-based experience has eventually moved into core native app experience and then expanded into Omni-channel experiences that now have integrations with very core back-end systems and APIs that come in from multiple backend platforms. And that’s only as of now. It all changes so quickly.
This is where you’ve seen the evolution of software as a service — big companies likely go to something like a Salesforce for their CRM systems. Salesforce offers their customers the value of not having to buy the platform, but license it instead, and customize it to their needs. So when you look at how technology has evolved in a space like CRM systems, what you then realize is that there are specialists in the market who are the best at doing what they do. However hard a retailer or sports company might try, if they want to build the best mobile experiences, they need to build the best technology team at the organization. So, to constantly able to walk the talk on the technology side of things, they need the speed of a studio that can quickly ideate and let them know the best practices that are happening within the technology space. That can only be done properly by those who are living and breathing it on a daily basis.
On large companies that are technology focused:
Vivek Menon: Even many of the largest tech companies are not mobile-first. Their focus is on the specific products or services they have at the organization. Take Oracle. They’re a database company — they build their business for storage, for database-related work. When it comes to mobile, there are going to be product extensions, and to create that story they need partners.
Generally, because things change so quickly with mobile and companies operate on ambitious timelines with their existing goals, they’ll be in a time crunch to execute on a particular mobile experience. Sure, they have mobile teams, but those are already working on 10 other things for the business and it’s often just easier to find a mobile studio that understands front-end UI to get them this experience faster. Once whatever it is has been developed, often it makes sense to build their teams internally to take it from there. Mobile studios don’t play to become the CTO arm for these sorts of companies forever, but they accelerate the speed with which these major technology companies can offer mobile experiences to their customers.
On emerging tech companies:
Vivek Menon: These are a totally different beast. They’re cool, they’re new, they’re young — and they don’t need the consultative experience that non-tech brands need since they are out there to disrupt and change the status-quo. And if they’re mobile-first, they’re looking for team extensions. They’re not looking for studios to build the entire thing and manage it, but instead to help them in a resource crunch.
If they’re not mobile-first, they’re generally looking for front-end UI help. They already have a core team focused on building the web product, and realize it doesn’t make sense for them to focus on mobile because they’ll only be doing it once. They outsource it to create the simple iPhone and Android app, and don’t touch the backend.
And regardless of company type, it makes sense cost-wise too — as of this writing, Indeed.com reports that the average cost for a single mobile application developer in San Francisco is $138,000. And that’s just the salary — recruiter fees, travel expenses, relocation costs, job advertisements, sign-on bonuses, visa sponsorships, and the cost of the time teams already invest in finding the right fit are also expenses that need to be factored in with every single hire (a 2015 report from Glassdoor Economic Research indicates that the average interview process now takes 23 days.) Teams are also dynamic with many moving parts, and mobile app studios like July Rapid have already built up such scalable teams for their needs. So when it comes to mobile, app studios give companies a peace of mind so that the companies can focus on what it is they do best.
Looking for a technology partner to outsource your next project?

domain: news


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With the recent culmination of the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed, you’d expect the automobile world to stop for a minute to appreciate the speed demons that were just born. Yet the industry continues to speed through the rest of the year with some pretty sweet rides.
There’s yet another centenary celebration as Aston Martin throws a hell of a party for its iconic and beloved coachbuilding partner Zagato. While Jaguar and Mini pave the way for the future with two new all-electric vehicles, Novitec has managed to make the McLaren even thirstier by creating an even more aggressive 600LT.
For the lowdown on these cars, read on.
The race for electrification has meant that Jaguar is right on the tails of Tesla and the likes with yet another offering. That, and a massive billion-dollar overhaul of its manufacturing plant in Castle Bromwich in the U.K.
Its second all-electric car will be the XJ, and it’ll be developed by the same team that created the i-Pace, it’ first electric vehicle. The XJ has long been Jaguar’s answer to the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8, but this update would mean it’ll also move into territories occupied by the Audi e-Tron GT and Porsche Taycan too.
When it arrives, the all-wheel drive XJ will be driven by four electric motors, each of which is slated to produce as much as 200hp. No better time too, since the very last of the current generation XJ has already rolled off the production line.
The Mini Cooper SE might have just been revealed but it’s already been the talk of the town ever since it successfully towed a Boeing 777 freighter in May. The nifty little ride will not only be the first Mini to sport an all-electric motor, but will also be the first premium small car to do so, paving the way for many others to come.
When it launches, the SE will see 181hp at its beck and call, and will get from 0-100kph in 7.3 seconds, with a limited top speed of 150kph. It might be a brand new car within — a single charge will get you around 269km — but on the outside, it’s still largely the same Mini that you know and love.
Aston Martin has been in the business of producing pretty sweet rides for a long time, but it is really Italian design firm Zagato which should be credited for some of its best. Now that the aforementioned outfitter is celebrating its 100-year anniversary, the British manufacturer has understandably pulled out more than just confetti to celebrate.
A wild exaggeration of what an Aston Martin can and should look like, the DBS GT Zagato arrives with one of the best grilles in the market. It’s comprised of 108 individual diamond-shaped carbon fibre pieces, each fluttering into life to adjust the aerodynamic profile of the car when needed. The highlight, however, remains to be the lack of rear visibility, since a solid piece of carbon fibre has now replaced plebeian glass.
There will only be 19 examples of this car — of which comes as a set with the “new” DB4 GT Zagato Continuation cars at S$10.7 million.
To many, the McLaren 600LT was regarded as the one to beat when it was unveiled last year as the automaker’s range-topping Sports Series model. Novitec obviously isn’t convinced because it’s just given the punchy rocket even more juice via a performance kit named the Performance Stage 2.
When you get with this fancily-named kit is a very aggressive 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 that makes 688hp and 712Nm of twist (up from 600p and 620Nm). It’ll only take 2.8 seconds for the car to surpass the 100kph mark before reaching its maximum potential of 333kph. The car is also dropped 30mm and then given bigger 20- and 21-inch Vossen wheels because space between your tires and wheel arches are over-rated.
It is a tuned car, after all, and there’s a new trunk lid and a racecar-like carbon airbox for a sportier disposition to prove it on the outside.
And it starts with the brand new CLA45. The 2020 iteration has finally been unveiled after plenty of teasers, and it’s obviously now more aggressive both inside and out. Besides the replacement of the signature shark nose with an AMG-specific radiator grille — a first for AMG’s compact models — the hood also gets aerodynamic power domes and winder front fenders with flared wheel arches.
Under the hood lurks a turbocharged four-cylinder that will produce 382hp and 480Nm in standard trim, allowing it to hit 100kph in just a little over four seconds and then on towards a limited top speed of almost 250kph. Other perks include a unique all-wheel-drive system that allows for intelligent handling, racecar-worthy interiors, and an updated instrument panel.
BMW’s X6 was a hit when it first came out in 2009, but it wasn’t just a regular hit. It also triggered a whole new category of coupe-like crossovers, such as Porsche’s Cayenne Coupe and the Mercedes-Benz GLE.
As pioneering as its silhouette once was, it is time for an upgrade and the 2020 X6 aims to recapture hearts again with a little more than a new kidney grille that actually lights up. Two engine options will be offered at launch: A 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder that makes 335hp, and a 523hp M Performance V8. The new base model sees a 33hp increase from its predecessor, and will complete the 100kph sprint in 5.2 seconds.
While the new X6 will come loaded with plenty of tech — driver assistance included — options for a more rugged kit can be had if you’re planning a trip to the wild outdoors.


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At last year’s Mobile World Congress, HMD Global — the current owner of the Nokia brand — played a nostalgia card by launching a rehashed version of the legendary Nokia 3310.
This year, the company’s doing the same with the Nokia 8110, also known as the Matrix phone, or the bananaphone, but the effect is just not the same as the first time around.
I was excited about the revived 8110. After all, it’s the phone that everyone wanted to have, not only because it was Neo’s phone, but also because it was the top phone in Nokia’s lineup, and Nokia phones were the best in the late nineties. And although it may seem normal now, cashing out north of a thousand dollars for a phone in those days was considered…well, if not crazy, then extravagant at the very least.
With the new Nokia 8110 4G, Nokia’s done the same thing as it did the with the 3310 — it launched a cheap-ish dumbphone (the 8110 4G retails for 79 euros ($97)) that sort of looks like the original.
But therein lies the problem: The 8110 4G is nothing like the original. The two-decade-old 8110 was a heavy beast, built like a brick house. Holding it in your hand gave you that special feeling of owning the best, most expensive phone around. The 8110 4G is a cheap, plastic phone with a slider, a flimsy one that’s quite hard to open and even harder to close with one hand.
The trick worked with the 3310 because the original 3310 was a cheap phone for the masses. Its toughness and longevity made it legendary, but it was not a top phone in Nokia’s range; it was an entry-level device. So while the revamped 3310 feels quite different in the hand, it’s at least in the same ballpark.
The 8110 4G, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of its older brother, especially in the yellow, bananaphone color. I reckon it made little sense for Nokia to try to position the 8110 4G as an expensive phone (and maybe bring that spring-loaded slider that was only there for the movie version of the phone), but hey, that’s what the original was. And I don’t think anyone who held the original 8110 in their hand will be happy with the new one.
Nokia, the brand, has numerous fans, especially in Europe, and I’ve already seen folks wondering when the new Nokia will revive another legendary phone, the 7110, or even the Communicator. But if the brand’s just gonna do plasticky, toy-like version of all those devices, perhaps it’s best if they don’t do it at all.
from Mashable! http://on.mash.to/2GHRe3t


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Bangladesh a ‘binge buyer’ | Sales to country could be further evidence of poor Indian crop
Bangladesh has emerged as a top buyer of Canadian peas in 2014-15, but don’t expect that to last, says an analyst.
The country, which is sandwiched between India and Myanmar, bought 302,841 tonnes of Canadian peas over the first two months of the marketing campaign.
It ranks second behind India, which bought 389,539 tonnes during the same period.
Stat Publishing editor Brian Clancey said the country tends to be a binge buyer of Canadian peas.
“It’s not really that unusual. It has happened before,” he said.
Sales to Bangladesh during the first two months of 2014-15 have eclipsed the 186,281 tonnes sold during all of 2013-14.
The country bought $152 million worth of Canadian peas during the June to September period, which includes the last two months of the 2013-14 crop year and the first two months of 2014-15. It again ranks second behind India’s $262 million.
Clancey said the sudden interest in Canadian peas may be confirmation of what has been widely reported, that neighbouring India had a poor kharif (summer) harvest of pulses.
However, he doesn’t expect the torrid sales pace to continue through the remainder of the marketing year.
There are already signs demand is waning. Canada shipped 44,200 tonnes of bulk peas to all destinations in Week 15 of the current marketing year, down from the average of 78,950 tonnes during the previous 14 weeks.
Clancey believes exports are slowing because Bangladesh is pretty much done buying for the remainder of the year.
“I think you’ll see a big decline in Bangladesh sales. That’s what I would expect,” he said.
“It’s just a bubble and from everything I know about how they’ve done things in the past, they’ll be gone.”
The strong early-season sales to Bangladesh helped offset slumping pea sales to China.
“The decline in Chinese demand was entirely predictable because there was an accumulation of stocks in the ports earlier in the year,” said Clancey.
He believes Chinese importers have worked their way through those dock supplies and should be in the market for Canadian peas in the second half of the 2014-15 marketing campaign.
China should overtake Bangladesh and regain its title as the second biggest importer of Canadian peas by the end of the marketing year.
“Bangladesh has never ever been a consistent buyer, and there is no reason to think that would change,” said Clancey.


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Peru’s National Superintendence of Tax Administration (SUNAT) is working to pass a decree that would implement tax on sales for all digital companies in the country. This includes Netflix, Uber and Spotify among others. It is unclear whether companies such as Rappi would also fall under this decree.
Reuters reports that SUNAT is working with the ministry of finance to have the measure pass as emergency decree so congressional approval would not be needed.
Countries such as Argentina and Mexico have similar measures to collect sales tax from digital companies. Peru expects to collect approximately S/ 150 million or USD $44 million with this measure next year.
According to Andina, the SUNAT surpassed the amount collected in taxes in 2018 just in the first half of 2019.
Cover photo: Andina
We help you find yourself in Peru. Since 2003, we have led the way as an authoritative and reliable English-language resource for those interested in traveling, living, working, and investing in Peru. We are a team of dedicated individuals who are passionate about delivering reliable and unbiased content and providing amazing experiences for people visiting Peru.


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I'm very worried to see this:
About two years before the launch of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of the Startup India campaign, a Delhi-based startup entrepreneur had registered the domain name of “Startupindia.in”. Now, the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is seeking the cancellation of this domain name, as per request of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), citing that the “domain is misleading and is in violation with the Startup India program.”
While it may seem that the names look similar, hence it could cause issues for the government’s initiative, the portal was running much before the government’s Startup India initiative took off. Thus, it is a little unclear as to how the domain is “in violation with the Startup India program”.


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The Covid-19 coronavirus and the resulting lockdown has changed our lives drastically in a short time. Everyone has had to change the way they live, work and conduct their business. The closures of all pubs and restaurants have hit a UK industry worth over £40bn, and many fear long-term damage to the industry.
Many businesses are exploring, and others have already begun diversifying their business model to adapt to “the new normal”. To aid this, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have launched a free expert guide on business diversification during the pandemic.
Pubs and restaurants that had typically never offered takeaway options before are embracing it as a surefire means of generating income during the pandemic. The internet is now full of easy to use third-party platforms for businesses to set up their takeaway options. From Just Eat to Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Foodhub and others, there are many different opportunities to diversify the business model and embrace takeaway.
Changing the model may mean that businesses will have to engage with rules and regulations that they haven’t before. The free online guide answers the burning questions that food businesses need answering when diversifying.
CTSI Chief Executive, Leon Livermore, said: “CTSI is committed to encouraging good practice and helping responsible businesses improve their services. The Covid-19 emergency is an unprecedented challenge for business, and many, especially in the food and drink sector, are looking to diversify during the lockdown.
“Business Companion is free, and an absolute must-have for UK business, and its new Food & Drink section provides a comprehensive and clear guide for the industry. Importantly, it covers parts of industry regulations businesses may have never considered before and puts business on the fast-track to diversification.”


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How Uber plans to stir up a $700 billion industry
Smart mobility could soon reach the logistics industry: By means of a dual strategy, Uber wants to tap into new business in the long-haul trucking industry. Uber is neither the first nor the only player in this field. It remains to be seen whether the experience gained in the cab industry will be an advantage.
Against a backdrop of news stories about disputed company valuations and global battles with regulators, headlines about Uber's self-driving trucks and an online exchange for trucking and transportation companies seem unimpressive. Yet the underlying technologies could have significant financial implications for an industry that generates more than $700 billion in annual revenue.
A Startup as a Catalyst for Autonomous Trucks
According to a Bloomberg report, last October an autonomous truck loaded with 50,000 cans of Budweiser drove itself nearly 200 kilometers on a highway in Colorado, USA. The test drive was a joint project between Uber Technologies Inc. and AB InBev, the brewing giant. Otto, a startup company that bought Uber for $680 million, is behind the self-driving truck.
Trucking companies have been working to develop autonomous trucks for some time, but Otto is the only one to offer a solution that can convert older vehicles into autonomous trucks.
Otto's technology is still in the testing phase, but smaller services are expected to become possible soon. Experts expect autonomous trucks to catch on before autonomous cars. The framework conditions for trucks are far more favorable than for passenger cars; trucks offer more space to place the sensors, they have less price sensitivity and are less influenced by external factors.
Massive Economic Advantages
In addition to an increase in safety, the main attraction of this smart mobility is the potential reduction in costs. An optimistic estimate by Morgan Stanley shows that autonomous trucks could save up to $168 billion in the long term.
However, even though it is emphasized that the new technology is not intended to fully replace the work of truck drivers, it is conceivable that the technology will develop in such a way that fewer and fewer drivers will be needed.
Dynamic Pricing for Carriers and Drivers
For Uber, the development of self-driving technology represents only one part of its trucking strategy. The other part consists of expanding an "on-demand" model: Just recently, the company launched "Uber Freight", which connects haulers and drivers via an online exchange in a similar way to the Uber app connects passengers and cab drivers.
Startups such as Convoy, Cargomatic and TugForce have tried with moderate success to grab a piece of the brokerage market. But secure transportation delivery on a large scale is far more complex than developing an app and running a few servers. But Uber is apparently banking on its vast experience in the field of dynamic pricing.
Now it's getting serious
It will be a rocky road for Uber to shake up the trucking industry. Just as in the case of autonomous cars, the legal framework must be clarified. The still-high cost of the technology - up to $30,000 per truck - decimates the amount of potential customers. As for the online platform, factors such as increased complexity due to matching heavy loads and matching trucks, heightened safety standards, and time urgency requirements call primarily for new organizational capabilities.
Regardless of the challenges, Uber seems determined to continue growing its trucking business. "Uber Freight" will drive the platform to a greater extent. Regarding Otto trucks, the question is no longer if, but when we will see them on the highways.
(The full version of Oscar Escalante's contribution can be found here)


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Publix Marks MilestoneDec 12, 2011
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Publix opened its 1,000th supermarket here in February, marking a long-anticipated milestone for the 79-year-old chain. Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets commemorated the event by donating $1,000 each to eight local schools for the purchase of supplies. “Being a part of the lives of our customers and associates is as important in our 1,000th store as it was in our first,” said Todd Jones, president of Publix, in a prepared statement. Although it took Publix 65 years to open its first 500 stores, the second half of its 1,000-store run took only a little more than a decade, for an average of nearly 40 net new stores per year since 1995.


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Make-IT in Africa will be exhibiting at the annual which provides a unique opportunity to connect with a niche tech community, build brand awareness and show Make-IT’s support to an important cause that is, improving gender diversity and inclusivity in the African tech space.
The African Women in Technology conference is a platform for female designers, engineers, innovators, product managers, software developers, startup founders and tech enthusiasts to come together, annually hosted across different African countries. The organizers are dedicated to connect, educate and empower women who are determined to advance their tech careers with a community of over 3,000 women in technology across Africa. This year’s edition will be hosted on 18th to 20th July 2019 at the Safaricom Michael Joseph Centre.
With the theme ‘AWAKEN THE TECHAZON WITHIN ‘ Make-IT in Africa has identified Africa Women in Technology Conference an annual event hosted across different African countries aligns with Make-IT key area of developing female entrepreneurs in tech.
This a platform for female designers, engineers, innovators, product managers, software developers, founders and tech enthusiasts to come together not only to learn and improve both their technical and personal skills but to also network and celebrate the amazing work being done by fellow women in the technology industry in Africa at large.
Read more about AWIT 2019 here.


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JOHANNESBURG – The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum said on Monday more than 60 thought leaders from the continent and the globe were on the agenda for its conference set for later this month.
The October 29-30 forum — with the theme ‘Enhancing Impact: Digitalisation, Investment and Intra-African Trade’ — will aim to promote and accelerate the growth of women-owned and women-led businesses for Africa’s inclusive economic growth and discuss entrepreneurship trends.
AWIEF is a platform that brings together global thought leaders, industry experts, policymakers, academics, development organisations and investors to discuss ways of boosting Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
“The digital economy is driving business and is enhancing the impact of our work. Investment in women-owned businesses is needed across the continent of Africa,” founder and CEO Irene Ochem said in a statement.
"It is important for Africa to trade amongst itself, to collaborate and cooperate. What we need to look at is the roles that women have in this process.”
AWIEF, headquartered in Nigeria and South Africa, runs several programmes for women across the continent.
– African News Agency (ANA)


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Hackers stole the personal information of 57 million Uber users and drivers last year, the taxi-hailing company's chief executive has revealed.
In a blog post, Dara Khosrowshahi, who took over in August, said he recently learned that two individuals outside the company "inappropriately accessed user data" in late 2016.
Stored in a third-party cloud-based service, Mr Khosrowshahi said the personal information of 57 million Uber users and drivers worldwide had been hacked.
This included names, email addresses and mobile phone numbers, as well as the names and number plates of some 600,000 drivers in the United States.
Mr Khosrowshahi said in the post: "At the time of the incident, we took immediate steps to secure the data and shut down further unauthorized access by the individuals.
"We subsequently identified the individuals and obtained assurances that the downloaded data had been destroyed."
Bloomberg, the first to report the story, said that Uber paid $100,000 to the hackers to delete the data and keep the breach under wraps.
Mr Khosrowshahi said there had been "no indication" trip history, credit card details, bank account numbers or dates of birth were downloaded by the hackers.
"While we have not seen evidence of fraud or misuse tied to the incident, we are monitoring the affected accounts and have flagged them for additional fraud protection," Mr Khosrowshahi said.
"None of this should have happened, and I will not make excuses for it.
"While I can't erase the past, I can commit on behalf of every Uber employee that we will learn from our mistakes."
Dermot Williams, Managing Director of Threatscape has said, "Uber has said the 600,000 affected drivers were all in the USA, but it seems the 57 million users whose information was stolen are located around the world.
"How many were in Ireland or the EU is not year clear – but were a breach like this to happen after May 2018 when GDPR is in force, the potential fines for a large breach of EU consumer data would be enormous and a 13-month delay in notifying the authorities would be unthinkable."
Responding to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s blog post on the breach Mr Williams said: "Khosrowshahi is quick to point out that the incident ‘did not breach our corporate systems or infrastructure’ – but this is misleading as online companies rarely own the systems they use to store and process data, instead renting capacity from cloud providers such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google.
"A key aspect of the cloud era is that while a company like Uber may not be responsible for the operation of the third-party cloud services it uses, it is still very much accountable for the security of customer data stored there – including ensuring its personnel carefully guard the passwords for accessing that data. In this respect, Uber dropped the ball."
For Irish Uber customers Mr Williams advises: "Make sure you're not using the same password for Uber as you're using for other websites or online services, and if you are you need to change these as a matter of urgency.
"Also while Uber do not believe customer credit card information was stolen, it always prudent to monitor your statements for any unauthorised transactions."


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Hey, Clippy, have in mind. No one actually misses you.
The infamous, virtual, and ceaselessly demanding animated paperclip assistant, introduced thru Microsoft for Place of job in 1997 and demoted thru Microsoft four years later, has resurfaced as an software for Apple’s MacOS.on the staggering software development Monday, after a developer named Devran “Cosmo” Ünal introduced Clippy on ultimate week.
Even Steven Sinofsky, the former Microsoft House home windows president who had a hand inside the creation of Clippy (whose actual name used to be as soon as Clippit) had one factor to say in regards to the resurfacing.
Sinofsky referred to as it “this type of lot fun” in a marginally upon, a internet web page where consumers discuss the most recent tech creations. Sinofsky is now partner at the investment corporate Andreessen Horowitz. If in case you have were given more than an hour to kill, he even takes section in a , which showed up on YouTube in April.
Initially bundled into Place of job 97, Clippy’s intent used to be as soon as to pop up and have the same opinion laptop consumers navigate by the use of strategies related to Word or Excel. As a substitute, the pop usaproved distracting.
A Microsoft spokesperson advised CNBC that while “Clippy is flattered in the course of the eye” there are not any plans in the course of the software huge to hold him out of retirement.
by way of https://iandroid.eu/2LSGFir


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Can Am Car Show at Salmon Run Mall April 9 – 15
It’s racing season once again and Salmon Run Mall will host the Can Am Speedway Mall Car Show the week of April 9th through Sunday, April 15th.
Can Am Speedway has teamed up with the Children’s Miracle Network and will host a fun meet-and-greet event on Saturday, April 14th from noon to 2 p.m. at Salmon Run Mall. Drivers will be on hand to sign autographs, hand out goodies and the Children’s Miracle Network will have information, as well as some of the local Miracle Families!
Read the press release for more information.


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Nissan will run a racing GT-R in four FIA GT Championship events in Europe this year in preparation for a full assault on the series in 2010
German Michael Krumm and Englishman Darren Turner will drive the car which Nissan’s motorsport arm, Nismo, will run in a joint venture with British outfit Gigawave Motorsport which has contested the FIA GT Championship since 2007.
In Japan, the GT-R will race in the GT500 class of the Super GT championship, with Nismo, Hasemi Motorsport, Team Impul and Kondo Racing each fielding a car.
The 2009 GT-R race cars incorporate changes that include an improved air-cooling system and a paddle-shift transmission.
They also have revised bodywork to meet regulations designed to decrease aerodynamic downforce by shortening vehicle overhang.
Nissan executive vice-president, Carlos Tavares, says motorsport is “an important part of Nissan’s strategy for building a strong brand with consumers who share our passion for high-performance driving.
“In addition to being an important touch-point for consumers, motorsports serve as a dynamic proving ground for automotive innovation.”


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Pret turns to coffee subscription service to accelerate recovery
Pret A Manger has launched an in-shop coffee subscription service which will see subscribers receive five hot drinks a day for £20 a month.
The YourPret Barista service is understood to be the first of its kind on the UK high street. It is hoped that the scheme will accelerate the grab-and-go chain's recovery – the business recently cut 2,890 jobs and permanently closed 30 sites when weekly sales dropped to levels last seen in 2010.
The group said its recovery is already under way and, since the end of July, weekly sales have grown on average by around 7%.
Pret chief executive Pano Christou said: "This is just the first step in our plan to bring Pret to more people. We now have the building blocks to establish Pret as a multichannel, digitally-led business, and YourPret Barista is the first big launch we're able to deliver through our new technology platform.
"Since reopening back in May, our coffee sales have been rising faster than food – evidence that coffee has become an integral part of both our customers' everyday routines and the Pret experience."


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The real economy optimism was driven higher by U.S. small business owners who cite strong job creation, expectations for sales, business conditions, and credit conditions as the underlying reasons. The latest data show small business owners have largely recovered from the impact of the “Trump Shutdown,” nasty winter weather nationwide, and interest rate concerns.
According to the April NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, economic optimism increased 1.7 points to 103.5. Sales improved in April, the inventory soft spot seen in last month’s report rebounded, and profit trends posted a very solid advance. About 9% of all owners reported higher nominal sales in the past three months, a four-point improvement, and the net percent of owners expecting higher real sales volumes rose one point to 20% of owners.
Small Business Pulse
The National Federation of Independent Business owners (NFIB) noted one-fourth of owners cited the difficulty of finding qualified workers as their single most important business problem. Fifty-seven percent reported hiring or trying to hire, but 86% of those hiring or trying to hire reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill. Thirty-eight percent of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period, down one point from the record high. Overall, reports of rising compensation are holding at historically high levels, with reports of higher worker compensation rising one point to a net 34% of all firms.
The April NFIB report found 4% of owners reported all their borrowing needs were not satisfied, up 1 point and historically very low. Thirty-two percent reported all credit needs met and 51% said they were not interested in a loan, unchanged. Four percent reported their last loan was harder to get than the previous one, down 2 points and historically low. Two percent reported that financing was their top business problem. The percent of owners reporting paying a higher rate on their most recent loan was down 4 points to 13%. Thirty-one percent of all owners reported borrowing on a regular basis (down 3 points). The average rate paid on short maturity loans rose 60 basis points to 6.7%.
U.S. Consumer Pulse
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased in April after ticking down in March. Consumers’ stating business conditions are “good” increased from 34.7% to 37.3%, while those saying business conditions are “bad” decreased from 12.4% to 11.7%. Consumers’ stating jobs are “plentiful” increased from 42.5% to 46.8%, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” decreased from
14.3% to 13.2%.
Consumers’ short-term outlook also improved in April. The percentage of consumers expecting business conditions will be better six months from now increased from 17.2% to 19.9%. The proportion expecting more jobs in the months ahead increased from 16.8% to 17.2%, while those anticipating fewer jobs decreased from 14.3% to 13.2%.


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‘Later this year’
Team17 is teaming up with Roll7 to bring two games to Xbox One under a new name. The updated titles are: Not a Hero Super Snazzy Edition and OlliOlli2 XL.
XL will add in a FreeSkate mode, which was apparently a “fan requested feature.” There’s also five new worlds, 50 levels, and 250 challenges. Uh, that’s pretty substantial. For Not a Hero, the Snazzy Edition adds three new levels, with four missions apiece. You will also be able to play as the BunnyLord and fight additional enemies.
There is no word of these updates will be coming to other platforms.


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Smart Gamers Club has released a new series of resources to mark the increasing popularity of Superone, a new play-to-earn trivia gaming app.
More details can be found at https://www.smartgamersclub.com/superone-online-trivia-gaming-app
The announcement comes as Superone is positioning itself as one of the fastest-growing trivia-gaming-meets-community platforms. A simple concept designed to allow sports fans to take part in engaging quizzes and earn rewards, Superone is attracting more and more attention from fandoms worldwide, and Smart Gamers Club offers an in-depth look at the new play-to-earn ecosystem.
“The trivia gaming industry is being blown up by the revolutionary game and creator platform that is Superone,” says a Smart Gamers Club spokesperson. “The Superone online trivia gaming app is a state-of-the-art play-to-earn game that incorporates the latest technology to create the best gaming experience on the planet.”
Smart Gamers Club has also released an industry projection on the future of smart gaming beyond 2023. It features a discussion of the most important dynamics, with a look at some of the most popular trivia games in history and how their progression reflects on Superone and the current sports trivia market.
The report links the popularity of Superone with one of the most important aspects of traditional pub trivia: the friendly community.
“The most appealing element of trivia games has always been the social aspect. Pub trivia was never all about winning; it was about succeeding with your friends and creating an atmosphere of friendly competition among players. This also helps nurture an environment where knowledge is shared and celebrated as a group,” says a company representative.
According to the report, Superone translates this essential social aspect into the world of online trivia, by empowering fans to connect with others both inside and outside the fame, complete to earn various prizes, trade tokens, and more.
For more details, visit https://www.smartgamersclub.com/ultimate-guide-to-online-trivia-gaming-for-2022-beyond
With the latest update, Smart Gamers Club continues to expand its range of resources for online gamers throughout the world.
Interested parties can find more information at https://www.smartgamersclub.com
JFT ENTERPRISES PTY LTD dba Smart Gamers Club
72 York Street
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No TIMES OF SURAT journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.


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Recalls Increasing as Pandemic Effect Passes – Except for USDA
- September 1, 2020
- Posted by: Nick Edwards
- Categories: Consumer Products, Coronavirus, Covid-19 Coronavirus, Food Safety, Latest News, Pandemic, Product Recall
We have been monitoring international product recall numbers throughout the pandemic and have seen a clear reduction in recall numbers in most territories. In several authorities, US (FDA), UK (FSA) and EU (RASFF) there were at least three months between March and July where the number of product recalls reported was considerably down on previous months. In those three cases, the numbers of officially reported recalls is now back up to the expected levels. A glaring exception is the USDA FSIS, who are still reporting the lowest number of monthly recalls seen in the past three years before the pandemic. Australia seems to have experienced no negative impact on food and grocery recall numbers throughout 2020. Please see our observations on each authorities reported recall numbers below as well as the data graphs.
We have discussed in previous “Pandemic Effect” news updates the reasons why there may be more or less recalls during the pandemic. What we have seen with the August data is that recall numbers are coming back to an approximation of normal (except for USDA). We will now be looking to see if there could be a risk that the reported recall numbers may increase beyond the normal. We actually think this is unlikely in the food sector. We don’t expect there will be a lot of “missed” recalls that the authorities will now catch up on. It is much more likely that the more usual numbers will be maintained. This is unless there are major nationwide lockdowns which could reduce the numbers reported again. Of course, for a food manufacturer, one recall is a recall too many.
We will continue to monitor and report.
USDA FSIS – The monthly recall numbers reported by USDA continue to be well below average (4 in August). With only 23 recalls reported this year (Jan – Aug) compared to 91 in the same period in 2019, this shows a significant pandemic effect.
US FDA – Recall event numbers are up for the second month in a row and back to a more normal number of monthly recalls reported (40).
UK FSA – The UK FSA reported 13 recall alerts in August, a more usual monthly number. This is an increase on previous months where the three lowest monthly numbers since Dec 2017 were reported in April, June and July 2020.
EU RASFF – There was a decrease in the number of reported food alerts in August (239) compared with July (252). Even so, the number reported in August, 239, is a more usual monthly number, (although at the lower end).
Product Safety Australia – Australia’s food and grocery recall numbers seems to be relatively unaffected by the pandemic, and could end the year with the highest number of reported recalls ever.
Reasons why there may be fewer recalls during the pandemic:
- Increased focus on hygiene in factories and society in general
- More difficult to investigate supply chain issues and to decide on recall action
- Consumers less likely to complain and food may not be identified as cause of illness
- Enforcement authorities have reduced inspection and monitoring capability
- A reduction in identifying food safety hazards through testing as laboratory capacity is reduced or diverted to COVID-19 testing.
- A delay in reporting food-borne outbreaks
Reasons why there may be more recalls during the pandemic:
- Staff off sick putting extra strain on production
- Increased numbers of agency workers – may not be fully trained
- Reduced training in food safety and quality due to sickness or budget restrictions
- Reduced numbers of on-site audits meaning less independent oversight
- New suppliers being used without passing all the usual quality requirement


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- A recent report from AdExchanger paints a picture of rapid growth when it comes to the percentage of ad budgets that programmatic buying will consume.
- Of the marketers that responded to the survey, the majority spent at least 20% of their ad budgets on programmatic and two-thirds had plans to double that in the next 12 months.
- The report also says that a quarter of marketers plan to spend 80% of their ad budgets on programmatic.
The AdExchanger data supports what many others have predicted about the growth of programmatic. As more money is spent on programmatic, more publishers will offer the option, which will in turn inspire more growth in the space. The process is much more streamlined and efficient than other methods, so it should come as no surprise that marketers and agencies are interested in utilizing the practice more.


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In the middle of all the presentations of the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show was the unveiling of the 2013 MKT and the 2013 MKS, but Lincoln had another ace in the hole. Apparently, Ford’s luxury brand also revealed a teaser image of a car that looks like the next MKZ. It is believed that we will see the new MKZ in January 2012 at the Detroit Auto Show.
Fast forward to today and the Lincoln MKZ Concept has finally been unveiled in all its glory.
The Lincoln MKZ Concept is a take on the company’s design language that will be featured in a number of their future models. Taken as a concept, the MKZ comes with a variety of new features that will look sweet when translated to a production version. The automaker has penciled a production date for later this year so we won’t have to wait long to see what the production MKZ is made of.
More details on the Lincoln MKZ Concept after the jump.


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The Justice Division could also be getting ready to launch an antitrust investigation into Google, in accordance with stories.
The Wall Road Journal reported Friday that the division has been in talks with the Federal Commerce Fee’s antitrust process power about launching a probe into the tech big’s search and enterprise operations. Following discussions over which ought to proceed with a brand new antitrust investigation—the FTC beforehand investigated Google however closed the case in 2013—the Journal mentioned the 2 have agreed to the Justice Division main any new probe into the corporate.
Individually, the New York Instances additionally reported on the investigation, although the paper’s report hedged barely by stating that the Justice Division was “exploring” a probe relatively than getting ready one. Citing sources accustomed to the matter, the Instances reported that the commerce fee has not too long ago directed complaints concerning the firm to the Justice Division. In response to the Journal, officers with the division have already spoken with a few of these events.
A spokesperson for Google didn’t instantly return a request for remark concerning the report. Neither the Justice Division nor the FTC returned remark requests.
In response to the Instances, the potential probe comes after the FTC’s antitrust process power started wanting into Google’s advert and search practices. The duty power, introduced in February, was established to analyze potential anticompetitive conduct amongst tech corporations. FTC Chairman Joe Simons mentioned in a press release on the time that “it makes sense for us to closely examine technology markets to ensure consumers benefit from free and fair competition.”
“Our ongoing Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century are a crucial step to deepen our understanding of these markets and potential competitive issues. The Technology Task Force is the next step in that effort,” he added.
The reported probe would come as tech monopolies face more and more louder condemnation from political critics who declare that they wield far an excessive amount of energy and have interaction in anticompetitive ways by both gobbling up opponents or crushing their enterprise. (The corporate has confronted billions in fines from European regulators over antitrust abuses.) Chief amongst these critics within the U.S. is Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic presidential candidate who has referred to as for breaking apart Fb, Google, and Amazon—tech giants she says have “too much power over our economy, our society, and our democracy.”
“I want a government that makes sure everybody — even the biggest and most powerful companies in America — plays by the rules. And I want to make sure that the next generation of great American tech companies can flourish,” she mentioned in March. “To do that, we need to stop this generation of big tech companies from throwing around their political power to shape the rules in their favor and throwing around their economic power to snuff out or buy up every potential competitor.”


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Google has launched a ‘Nearby Share’ feature, an Apple AirDrop alternative for Android smartphones, which enables users to share pictures, files, links, and more to other nearby Android smartphones. It operates pretty much similar to Apple’s AirDrop feature for the iPhone.It is rolling out to devices running Android 6.0 and higher. This feature is accessible to some of the Pixel and Samsung devices but the company is working on rolling it out for a more extended audience. Read More
Apple declared that its long-serving leading marketing officer, Phil Schiller, would step down and be superseded by Greg Joswiak, a pre-eminent product marketing leader at the company. He will join the executive team as senior vice president of worldwide marketing.
Schiller has committed his last 30 years to Apple’s products and marketing. He also supervised the attempt to design and execute Apple’s recent and first-ever virtual Worldwide Developers Conference (WDC).
“I first started at Apple when I was 27, this year I turned 60 and it is time for some planned changes in my life. I’ll keep working here as long as they will have me, I bleed six colors, but I also want to make some time in the years ahead for my family, friends, and a few personal projects I care deeply about,” Schiller responded. Read More
Apple clearly stated that it is uninterested in acquiring TikTok and it certainly has no plans to pursue such a deal in the future. Despite a new Axios report which implied that Apple has shown “serious interest” in acquiring the short-form video sharing service.
President Trump has warned to ban TikTok in the United States over concerns related to national security. However, a report last week indicated that Microsoft was in active negotiations. Axios also told there was a sizeable private equity interest in the investment and Microsoft would be open to minority investors as part of the venture. There has also been heated speculation about other prospective buyers for the app. Read More
WhatsApp has appended a new feature to assist users to debunk viral or frequently forwarded messages to prevent the spread of fake and misleading news on its platform. In the more primal version of WhatsApp, there was a limit on the number of times a single forwarded message could be shared at one go. The arrows above a message let people know when the message was received and whether or not was it written by close contact. Read More
The European Commission is opening an in-depth investigation into Google’s acquisition of Fitbit. EU Union regulators are concerned that the deal will entrench Google’s position as a market leader in online advertising by providing the search giant entrance to data assembled from Fitbit’s health tracking hardware that can be utilized for personalized advertisements.
“The data collected via wrist-worn wearable devices appears to be an important advantage in the online advertising markets. By increasing the data advantage of Google in the personalization of the ads it serves via its search engine and displays on other internet pages, it would be more difficult for rivals to match Google’s online advertising services,” the European commission quoted in a press release. Read More
Nearly all smartphone and tech companies have started producing their own branded earbud accessories. Xiaomi follows the same trend and its series of Truly Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds are an actively growing range of accessories. Although, none of the earlier launched MI TWS earbuds had any form of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology installed. According to the new Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) certification, this is about to change. Xiaomi is preparing to inject Active Noise Cancellation technology to its Mi Range of Truly Wireless Stereo earbuds. Moreover, the products are named as Mi Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earphones. Read More
Eight banks in the US, including BBVA and BMO, have declared their partnership with Google to extend digital-first bank accounts directly in the Google Pay app.
“The financial side of these accounts will be managed by the partner banks and Google will provide the front-end, intuitive user experiences and financial insights,” BBVA explained.
According to another partner bank BMO, “The Google Pay app will offer built-in budgeting tools and ‘financial insights’ exclusive to Google’s digital bank accounts. Unfortunately, we still have a bit of waiting to do, as these accounts and their exclusive Google Pay features don’t launch until sometime next year.” Read More
Apple has acquired Canadian SoftPOS company Mobeewave, which will enable it to create mobile payment hubs out of iPhones.Montreal-based Mobeewave permits users to receive contactless payments with just their phones without any external hardware. The firm has agreements with the National Bank of Canada, Australia’s Commonwealth Bank and Polskie Platnosci. Read More
‘Front Runners’ presents an opportunity to put your skills and expertise in a bid for the Presidency. It is indeed a challenge and a novel variance to the simulation library providing an unending runner style game, comparable to Subway Surfers or Temple Run. Here, you can pick your favorite political candidate for collecting votes and run while dodging scandals, angry mobs or even Coronavirus.
Content And Features
You can create your own candidate where there are no rules to adhere to. You may also choose to run as a real-life candidate from current or past elections if you have an in-depth understanding of the character and want to play it fairly by obeying the rules of running a good campaign. During the game, you must move all over the map by selecting the States and decide what steps you need to take there.
Though this app is available for both iOS and Android users, some devices may not match the minimum specifications required for the game to operate correctly. Incompatible devices will not allow the user to install the app and hence the user needs to check the appropriate app store for the application’s minimum requirements. Read More
Google announced a fresh update in the Chrome browser that will allow users to automatically enter saved passwords and credit card details into forms more comfortably and securely. The browser will now utilize biometric authentication technology to autofill credit card details without having to ask for the three-digit CVC each time. However, it will still ask you to provide CVC for the first time a card is used. Read More


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• Nearly 1 in 3 Americans fell for a phone scam in 2020.
• Younger people are more prone to phone scams.
• The FCC recently made phone companies implement new safety measures.
Robocalls and phone scammers are not only annoying, they’re thieves.
Nearly one in three Americans said they fell for a phone scam in the past year, resulting in billions of dollars lost due to prank calls on landlines and cellphones.
New research by Truecaller found that more than 59 million Americans were affected by phone scammers — resulting in nearly $30 billion lost during the pandemic.
On average, Americans that fell for scams lost $502 last year — up from $351 in 2020. Of those, 60% of people reported robocalls coordinating the attack.
Popular scams include the “we’re calling about your car warranty” and the “urgent” call from the IRS. And they are happening to just about everyone.
Younger people fall for scams most often
Recent data by…


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Decluttr is known for offering the best blend of generous cash values and a seamless experience for trading in your Apple devices. But did you know you can shop and save big on refurbished tech with 9to5Mac’s exclusive trade-in partner too? For Black Friday, Decluttr is offering up to $150 off its refurbished iPhone, iPad, and MacBook devices and more – that’s on top of savings hundreds of dollars compared to buying new tech.
From Thursday, November 23 to Sunday, November 26, Decluttr is taking up to $150 off a huge range of refurbished phones and tech – including iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks – in their biggest sale of the year!
There’s never been a better time to pick up the device you want at a price you’ll love with a one-year warranty included!
Why go refurbished with Decluttr?
7 reasons to save with Decluttr’s refurbished Apple devices:
- Refurbished devices are hundreds of dollars cheaper than buying new
- Free 12-month limited warranty as standard with all tech purchases
- Every tech product Decluttr sells goes through up to 90 extensive quality checks by expert technicians, including comprehensive battery, camera, and speaker/mic testing
- Spread out the cost with flexible payment options from Klarna and PayPal Credit
- Free standard shipping on all orders, with the option to upgrade to express shipping
- Rated Excellent on Trustpilot with over 27k reviews
- Refurbished tech is better for the planet as it helps to reduce e-waste by keeping products in circulation for longer and can reduce the environmental impact of new products too
Decluttr Black Friday and Cyber Week Deals
Black Friday Sale: Thursday, November 23 – Sunday, November 26
Save up to $150 on all refurbished phones and tech in Decluttr’s biggest sale of the year!
Cyber Week Sale: Monday, November 27 – Sunday, December 3
Miss out on the Black Friday deals? Don’t worry, you can still save up to $150 in Decluttr’s Cyber Week Sale!
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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FRANKFURT, Germany — The Porsche 911, with its sloping roof line, long hood and powerful rear engine, has been a sports car-lover’s fantasy for the half century since its 1963 introduction. Its creator, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, grandson of the automaker’s founder, is dead at age 76.
Porsche died Thursday in Salzburg, Austria, Porsche AG said Thursday. No cause was provided.
Known as F.A. to his colleagues, Porsche headed the company’s design studio in the early 1960s when it needed a replacement for its first car, the Porsche 356. He came up with something sleek, stripped of decoration, and packing a six-cylinder engine where the 356 had a four-cylinder. It’s a combination that the company has evolved instead of replacing and which turns on car enthusiasts even today.
The 911, now in its seventh version, remains recognizably the same vehicle, though with much updated mechanical parts and technology. The new version was mobbed and groped when it was unveiled in September at the Frankfurt auto show. Showgoers left the doors and roof smeared with fingerprints as they scrambled to sit behind the wheel.
The new car was originally designated the 901, but the number was changed because French competitor Peugeot claimed a patent on car names formed with a zero in the middle.
Manny Alban, president of the 106,000-member Porsche Club of America and owner of two 1990 911s, compares the design to the Coca-Cola bottle — an outline that’s instantly familiar even to people who are not auto enthusiasts.
“It’s a car that has evolved since 1963 quite gracefully,” he said, adding that though the latest version has “Porsche Carrera S” on the rear, “a lot of people would say you don’t need that because a Porsche enthusiast would say you can look at it and know it’s a 911.”
“It’s very German. Everything has a purpose, every button, it all makes sense, there are no gizmos. You won’t look back 20 years later and say why did they put that on there.”
Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller paid tribute to the 911 creator, saying in a statement that he “founded a culture of design in our company that distinguishes our sports cars even today.”
Porsche was to be buried in a private ceremony in the chapel at Schuettgut, the Porsche family’s estate in Zell am See, Austria.


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A&B Sporting Goods in the North Park section of San Diego, CA is closing after 79 years in business. The store will close on December 31, according to the San Diego Tribune.
Gregg Schloss, who now runs the business started by his grandfather in 1941 said that the cancellation of most youth and some high school sports since last spring eliminated half of the store’s income. Extended store closures due to COVID-19 also impacted sales and changed customer behaviors.
“I could go broke trying to save a sinking ship. Closing will be a weight off my shoulders,” Schloss told the Tribune on Tuesday, the day after he announced the closure on the store’s Facebook page. “It’s been very difficult. But I knew the time would come someday. I couldn’t keep working seven days a week by myself forever. So now with what’s going on, it just makes it easier for me.”
Photo courtesy A&B Sporting Goods


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Facebook app developers frustrated with experience ... Implosions at Viddy and Branchout illustrate exponential decay.
Adam Rifkin stashed this in Growth Hacks!
Gerry Shih of Reuters writes about Viddy being genuinely surprised by their implosion:
Viddy's implosion has been spectacular -- it fell from 35 million monthly users at its peak last year to half a million recently, according to Appdata.com, a tracking service.
But the collapse is not unique. Branchout, a business networking service built on top of Facebook, raised $25 million last April from A-list backers including Accel Partners. But now it languishes with just 100,000 monthly users on Facebook, down from a high of 39 million, after Facebook limited the automatic notifications that Branchout used to attract users.
Douglas Purdy, Facebook's director of developer products, said the company boosts traffic to apps that prove to be popular and takes it away from those that overwhelm people with notifications or are otherwise abusive or unpopular. In the past year and a half, Facebook has cut down spam complaints by 90 percent, he said.
"We don't want to be in the business of king-making," Purdy said. "In the end, users decide what they care about, and they have control over it. If you're a great developer and you're good at sharing really good content, you're going to get traffic."
Viddy from 35 million to 500k ?!
Branchout from 39 million to 100k ?!
Viddy and Branchout benefited from Facebook opening the channel, and suffered when Facebook closed the channel. I'm not sure what the numbers for Socialcam, Chill, and Zynga games are, but they probably suffered the loss of a lot of engagement too. Many application developers did.
Lessons for Growth Hackers:
- With exponential growth can come exponential decay.
- Growth from Facebook will often turn against you.
Pinterest and Instagram are the exceptions to these rules, but they're just 2 apps out of... many.
Focus less on growth hacking, and more on product hacking.
Instagram & Pinterest are SUPERIOR products to Viddy & Branchout.
Value > Growth.
Well said, Prince.
I wouldn't even call it product hacking.
The Lean Startup people call it iterating to get product-market fit.
Evelyn Rusli reports Facebook told MessageMe to sell to FB or lose access:
Dalton Caldwell says Facebook told him the same thing last year:


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Apple released last week the results of its third fiscal quarter of 2019 – which, according to the Cupertino giant, was the company’s largest June quarter. In addition to the good profit margin (thanks to the growth in revenue from Apple services), the company’s investments in research and development (R&D) also reached a new historical index for a single quarter, as disclosed by CNBC.
During the third fiscal quarter of 2019, Apple invested $ 4.2 billion in R&D, about 7.9% of its total revenue. According to the CNBC, this is the highest percentage invested since 2003 (when Apple sold only iPods and Macs), as illustrated in the chart below shared by PCMag.
If Apple’s investments continue at that peak, the company will invest more than $ 16 billion (amount invested in 2018) in R&D this year.
Even though it has defined a new historical index, Apple’s investments in R&D are still behind those of other technology companies – in fact, Apple has never been the largest investor in this sector. In the last quarter, for example, Microsoft invested 13.4% of its revenue in R&D, while Google invested 15.7%.
The increase in R&D spending comes at a time when Apple’s golden egg hen, the iPhone, recorded a drop in sales. IPhone revenue in the last quarter fell 12% from the same period last year. So Apple is investing in essential technologies that can equip devices that have not yet been built – but the development and exploitation of cutting-edge technology comes at a cost.
Despite the significant amount, it is difficult to know where all that money is concentrated. A smaller part of this value probably goes to products that have already been launched, while the larger amount must be destined to discover new technologies, which may equip future products, such as those related to the “Project Titan” and to “Apple Glass” (which may have been temporarily suspended).


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Resident Carol Kulick purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at her local grocery store.
Food insecurity is an issue for many low-income seniors. That’s why HumanGood, the sixth largest not-for-profit multi-site senior living and care provider in the country, according to the 2021 LeadingAge Ziegler 200, created a program to help fix the problem.
Cupboards of Care was created in 2016 with a mission to help residents of HumanGood’s affordable senior housing communities embrace healthy eating habits and improve food security. Since then, the program has helped more than 300 households and raised more than $403,000.
“Food insecurity is an issue for many low-income seniors, and the 2020-2021 pandemic exacerbated the problem” said Lynn Marie Johnson, vice president of philanthropy and mission support at HumanGood. “We are grateful for the support from our foundation partners and individual benefactors who recognize the need and impact of this program.”
As part of the program, participants receive nutritional counseling through Unidine, as well as education to help them make better nutritional choices within their budgets. Each of the participants also received a prepaid gift card to use to buy items typically difficult to accommodate in a budget, such as lean proteins or fresh produce.
Since 2018, Cupboards of Care has helped residents buy more than 15,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. Residents have reacted positively, reporting increased food security and improved health —including lowered blood pressure, better stamina and effectively managing illness, such as diabetes.
“I feel blessed and privileged to be a participant in Cupboards of Care,” said resident Carol Kulik, who has been enrolled for two years. “The program gives me the special opportunity to stretch my limited financial resources in order to purchase healthier food items which can be out of reach. This is a wonderful gift to share with older adults who are on fixed incomes.”
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The results of our study on European attitudes towards Christmas is out. The survey, which was made in collaboration with Sociovision, revealed unique insights on how consumers are approaching this Christmas period- their inspirations and expectations.
The Study was carried out across 4 European markets (UK, France, Germany and Italy) among 1,000 adults aged between 18 – 65 years old, between the 29th of June and the 16th of July 2021. Once again, it is fascinating to see how diverse trends, expectations and consumption habits vary across markets.
One of the takeaways was how a part of the British population are planning to ramp up Christmas 2021 this year to make up for Covid lockdowns and the partial “cancellation” of last year’s festivities, in what the study calls “revenge spending”. The Brits also emerged as the keenest fans of Christmas among Europeans, with 76% of them agreeing that Christmas 2021 “will be wonderful” compared to 67% of Italians and only 51% of Germans.
The survey highlights several new trends and consumption habits such as the rise of second-hand presents for Christmas 2021 with 22% of French people saying they would prefer something second-hand while 45% saying they would prefer something new.
It also gives a better understanding of what helps the consumers get into the Christmas mood as well as where they get Christmas presents ideas, and how they plan to shop. For example, big brands appear as a safe choice, especially in France and Italy. Indeed, 57 % of Italians and 52% of French people would rather gift products from big brands.
And when it comes to the places where Europeans shop, we see that Internet has become a strong purchase channel, most notably in Germany. 52% of people buy presents online, 16% in shops and 43% in both.
For all these insights and more, watch the replay of our event here.


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Warren Spector feels the idea of next-gen systems being entertainment devices rather than gaming consoles is “a perilous idea.”
Speaking with Gamespot, Spector said he already has “more ways than I can deal with” in regard to accessing programming or the Internet.
“I think next gen consoles as entertainment devices rather than game machines is a perilous idea,” he said. “I mean, I already have more ways than I can deal with to access the programming I want and the Internet and all its pleasures. And if I want to multitask while watching television, I already have to decide which of my devices to do it on.
“I kind of get a next-gen game machine, but competing for the home entertainment business? We’ll see how that goes.”
Spector said he is also wary of more games being released digitally, as you can’t own a set of “0s and 1s.”
“I’m a huge fan of e-books, but the more I buy and download, the more I worry that someone could just take them all away from me,” he said. I worry a lot about not owning things I’ve paid for. I suppose if the cost came down–way down!–I might worry about it less. But it’s a huge concern.
“Having said that, I think that boat has sailed. We live in a world of virtual goods where none of us own the 0s and 1s. What are you going to do?”
Spector is also encouraged by the “broad acceptance” of games in the current climate, and pleased that “nearly everyone is a gamer” out there, thanks to consoles, mobile, and tablet devices. However, he said the industry needs to take advantage of this, and not “remain mired exclusively in the world of teenage male power fantasies.”
He also believes Nintendo “a company dedicated to games,” and one who underestimates them do so at their peril.
It’s a really interesting interview, and you should head on through the link and give it a read.


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: With large variety in product categories and prices, reviews
and ratings by past buyers often come in handy while buying online, but consumers
continue to remain wary of such them.
The veracity of reviews and ratings posted on products are sometimes questionable and are impacted by huge positive bias, consumers said in a survey of over 33,000 participants by community platform LocalCircles.
62% of consumers said product ratings carry a positive bias (overestimate the good) on most products, while 57% said the reviews posted for items are often too positive.
Around one-fifth felt product ratings on e-commerce platforms are often too harsh, and carry a negative bias. Further, over 60% of consumers faced a scenario where a product with a high rating on the site did not meet the expectations of buyers.
"Because the consumer is unable to physically experience a product while shopping on e-commerce, reviews and ratings become all the more important as it helps them see the product feedback from other consumers who have already purchased and used that product," LocalCircles said in its study.
Consumers felt e-commerce sites
do not publish their low or negative review for a product, even in case of verified purchases. 47% of those surveyed said their negative reviews were declined to be published by the sites. Such consumers received communication stating that their review did not meet the review guidelines. Only 27% consumers said that their negative reviews or ratings on ecommerce sites were published as is.


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Johnson & Johnson’s Investor Artisan Partners Wants Spinning Out of Control Medical Device Spun-Off
UPDATED: May 25, 2016
Shareholders may want to hang on to this slide about the Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon’s Acclarent, as it seems JNJ Executive Gary Pruden is really putting NEA general partner, ExploraMed founder, Acclarent Co-Founder Josh Makower’s The Art Of Innovation, which is linked to federal healthcare fraud, to the test.
Ohh or the manipulation of facts. Did Johnson & Johnson executives really just tell shareholders that medical device under-penetration of the market is the problem? Nope, notoriously, knowingly and willingly purchasing medical device fraud is the problem. False projections to give the appearance of hypergrowth is not a sustainable sales model, it’s fraud.
January 30, 2016
The site under The Sociopathic Business Model™ often states that fraud costs employees their jobs, consumers & patients their health or lives, and investors or shareholders billions. A point, not lost on activist investor Daniel O’Keefe of Artisan Partners, who notes Johnson & Johnson’s ROI on the $150 billion spent on medical device acquisitions isn’t generating profit growth and costing the company in the public image and legal department. The concept that O’Keefe, as an investor in Johnson & Johnson, dances around but never says is that Johnson & Johnson does not know the difference between a pharmaceutical business model and medical device business model, especially as it relates to the company’s many frauds, and it will continue to cost the company and shareholders. Bottom line, venture capital fraud in startup medical devices is killing Johnson & Johnson. All O’Keefe really needs to unseat Johnson & Johnson Worldwide President & CEO Alex Gorsky and his $25 million a year compensation is right HERE. You’re welcome and I’m available if you should need a consultant for a Board presentation.
Read the full story here including O’Keefe’s letter on Qmed–>J&J Pressured to Spin-Off Medical Device Business


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You may need to get your iMac and iPad as soon as possible, as Apple warns of another supply shortage in the second half of 2021. CEO Tim Cook reveals in an earning's call that it might affect its iMac and iPad production.
Most technology companies are affected by chip shortages, according to CNBC. The COVID pandemic boosted the demand for computer chips. And Apple is not spared despite the competitive prices it offers.
In the call with an investor, also as reported by CNBC, Cook apparently said that supply shortage primarily affects the iPad and Mac lines. He did not specify which models.
"We expect to be supply gated, not demand gated," Cook said.
Apple's Key Manufacturing Problem
Cook explained that the main supply issue was the "legacy node" chips.
The chip supply issue disrupts multiple companies, according to analyst Ben Bajarin in a report by 9to5Mac.
Meanwhile, iPad and Mac's demand, as 9to5Mac reported, has increased as people shifted work and school to their homes during the pandemic. Generally, smartphones and PCs' exploding demand overwhelmed the global supply of its components, Bloomberg reports.
It is reasonable to expect a supply shortage, following the trend of iPad and Mac sales, which rose to 70 percent in the last quarter, Apple CFO Luca Maestri said.
"The constraints," according to Maestri, "come from semiconductor shortages that are affecting many industries."
Apple Optimistic Despite Expected Lower Earning
Maestri, in the same call, confirmed that a decline in up to $3 to $4 billion income due to the production issues of both Mac and iPad. This comes after the company announces its record-high revenue for the second quarter of the year. Their earnings rise to nearly $90 billion or 56 percent, CNBC reported.
Despite the expected decline in income, Cook remains optimistic. This is in contrast to other companies affected by the supply difficulty. Maestri even predicts a "strong double digits" year-over-year for the third quarter of 2021.
Apple shortage forecast comes two days before the release of the 12.9 inch M1 iPad Pro on Friday. It did not comment on the availability of the product. It only assured to arrive second week of May.
Apple's Past Production Delay
If the supply shortage warning comes true, it will not be the first time it happens to Apple.
Macbook and iPad production were forcedly put on hold last April 8, 2021, due to a chip shortage, according to a report by Nikkei.
The delay, as Nikkei reported, pushed to postpone the production from the first half to the second half of this year.
In April 2020, Apple also faced an iPhone 12 production delay of up to two months. As their supplier factories were closed by the lockdown brought upon by the pandemic.
It seems that Apple is learning from its past delays as they forecast the future supply. Cook assured they're bound to do their best. Though he did not mention details on how to overcome another postponement.
"We will do our best, that's what I can tell" the Apple CEO assured in the call.
Written by Teejay Boris


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2012-2013 Zero Motorcycle Recall
Zero Motorcycles has recalled 667 of its DS, FX, S and XU model-year 2012-2013 motorcycles due to possible shut-off issues.
The effected motorcycles have controller firmware that, as a result of certain system faults, may shut off power to the motor. A sudden loss of power to the motor may increase the risk of a crash, Zero Motorcycles says.
The following models are recalled:
- 2012-2013 Zero DS
- 2013 Zero FX
- 2012-2013 Zero S
- 2012-2013 Zero XU
Zero will notify owners, and dealers will update the controller firmware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-January 2014. Owners may contact Zero at 1-888-786-9376.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to safercar.gov.


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(Ecofin Agency) - The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) asked Senegal, Togo and Burkina Faso to initiate infrastructure and legal reforms to fully capture the opportunities presented by e-commerce.
In a report published during the regional forum on e-commerce being held on October 9-10, 2018, in Ouagadougou, the UNCTAD in collaboration with ECOWAS estimates that the reforms represent “a win-win strategy that should be pursued because E-commerce is now a key tool to foreign markets”.
The UNCTAD explains that the regional forum is the first step towards the elaboration of a regional plan for E-commerce promotion. It will contribute to the creation of a digital ecosystem that will host a dedicated E-commerce strategy which Senegal, Togo and Burkina Faso still lack.
For the institution, poor and expensive infrastructure, as well as bad integration of logistics services by operators, are the reasons why the delivery of goods and services bought online is still difficult. There is also limited competition in online payment solutions despite the increased dynamism in the development of electronic payment systems.
Essossimna Legzim-Balouki, Togo’s trade minister, indicates that the UNCTAD’s review identified “the development of E-commerce as one of the key sectors to promote trade and eliminate barriers”. She also explains that her ministry is “resolutely determined to make E-commerce a powerful driver for economic growth, inclusive trade and job creation in Togo”.


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Groupe Le Massif puts rebrand in motion
The ski area is launching as a new brand, encompassing regional tourism and using media to promote a lifestyle, rather than just a product.
Groupe Le Massif, operators of Le Massif ski area in Quebec, unveiled a rebranding campaign this week to promote the entire region as a lifestyle-oriented tourism destination.
Now called Le Massif de Charlevoix, the Taxi Montreal-conceived campaign includes a custom publication, a new website designed by Montreal’s Cloudraker, and a media buy (handled by PHD) that includes OOH, radio and web. The custom pub, designed by YQB Media, launched this week, as did the OOH media buy in Montreal and Quebec. The rest of the media campaign – radio, web and the new website – will be deployed throughout the fall.
Targeted mainly in-province at 25 to 54 year olds, the goal was to create a campaign that broadened the appeal of the area by focusing more on the year-round lifestyle it offers, rather than just skiing, Frederic Gonzalo, VP communications and marketing, Groupe Le Massif, tells MiC. The decision to do the custom pub, called Sens, and use a mix of traditional and non-traditional media, was made in pursuit of creating a lifestyle brand, he says.
‘Many tourism destinations and some companies have decided to go 100% web,’ he explains. ‘I do believe in the strength of the web – in having email strategies and making the most of social networks, Facebook, Twitter, and so on – but we believe there is a place for a magazine where you can have in-depth articles and better convey the essence of the project. We’re selling a destination more than just a winter activity per se so the magazine fills that gap.’
Groupe Le Massif is presided over by Daniel Gauthier, co-founder of Cirque de Soleil, and includes in its investor roster Cirque co-founder, CEO and space-tourist Guy Laliberté. The announcement this week is the first step in the rebranding of the ski resort, which will grow in the next three years to include a train between a nearby town and the resort, and a hotel within an agricultural-themed environment.


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Microsoft is holding a media event in New York City later today, 26 October, where it is expected to reveal additions to its range of Surface computers.
Unlike Apple, which mistakenly leaked a new laptop two days before its own press event, Microsoft has kept a tight lid on what will be announced.
The event starts at 10am local time (3pm BST) and Microsoft's website will be providing a live video stream. The presentation is expected to last for around 90 minutes.
Rumours so far suggest there will be a new all-in-one computer. This will be an addition to the company's range of Surface tablets and will likely be seen as a rival to Apple's iMac. The touch screen is expected to be between 24in and 27in and be hinged in such a way that it can lay flat on a desk to be drawn on with a stylus.
A focus could be on the computer's ability to create 3D objects and holograms for Microsoft's HoloLens, the mixed reality headset it is currently selling to developers.
The HoloLens itself could also get a mention at the press event. Microsoft is about to start selling it in the UK for £2,719 and is keen to get it into developers' hands. Microsoft also wants to encourage other manufacturers to create their own versions of HoloLens, so this could be explored in more detail.
Microsoft is also expected to announce HomeHub, a new Windows 10 feature for controlling smart home equipment like light bulbs, door locks, curtains, speakers and more. It is rumoured that Microsoft will also launch a HomeHub product to compete with the Amazon Echo by using its own virtual assistant, called Cortana.
We are also expecting some updates to Windows 10 and a new version of Paint. There will be no updates to the rest of the Surface range, nor will Microsoft reveal the highly anticipated 'Surface Phone'.