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Apple makes last pitch for why Samsung owes $380M more
An attorney for the Cupertino, Calif., electronics giant stresses during closing arguments in a damages retrial that Apple took a huge risk by making the iPhone and that Samsung "destroyed its revenue."
Shara TibkenFormer managing editor
Shara Tibken was a managing editor at CNET News, overseeing a team covering tech policy, EU tech, mobile and the digital divide. She previously covered mobile as a senior reporter at CNET and also wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. Shara is a native Midwesterner who still prefers "pop" over "soda."
A jury last year determined Samsung had infringed on five patents related to the iPhone's design and functionality. A judge earlier this year vacated about $450 million of the original award and ordered a new jury to convene to recalculate the damages for patent infringement. Samsung is still on the hook for about $600 million, but Apple is asking for $380 million more. Samsung believes it only owes Apple $52 million.
Samsung sold 10.7 million infringing devices, generating $3.5 billion in revenue. Apple only wants about 10 percent of that revenue, leaving about 90 percent of the revenue to account for the differences in Samsung's devices, such as Android and bigger screens, Lee said.
"They're asking to retain $3.45 billion, 99 percent of what they made," Lee said. "Samsung destroyed Apple's revenue...This is not punishment...This is saying, give us back what you got."
Lee also stressed how much time and investment Apple put into making the first iPhone and what a big risk it was for the company to create such a device.
"Hundreds of Apple engineers worked in secret to try to bring you something that had never been done before," Lee said "They invented, they created, they innovated."
He cited Samsung documents, including a speech by top mobile executive JK Shin, as evidence that the company wanted to copy Apple. In the speech by Shin, the Korean executive said Samsung was experiencing a "crisis of design" and needed to "make something like the iPhone."
"Documents, ladies and gentlemen, don't lie," Lee said. "Samsung has infringed not one, not two, not three, not four, but five patents."
Price, meanwhile, said Shin's wasn't directing Samsung to copy Apple. Rather, he was saying Samsung should "try to compete better and make our phones more appealing to consumers."
He added that while Samsung knew it needed to alter its devices to compete with the iPhone, Apple has done the same thing with new devices like the iPad Mini.
"There's nothing wrong with looking at your competitors and changing what you do because of it," Price said.
Lee and Price made the comments during a retrial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. A new jury of eight people -- six women and two men -- has been assembled to determine the new damages total for Samsung's patent infringement.
The retrial kicked off last Tuesday with jury selection, followed by opening arguments Wednesday. Witnesses who took the stand included Phil Schiller, Apple's head of marketing; and several expert witnesses who calculated the total damages owed.
For most, the damages retrial was a case of "Groundhog Day." No new revelations emerged during the testimony, and most witnesses also took the stand during the last trial more than a year ago. Apple's witnesses argued Samsung's copycat devices hurt the company, while Samsung argued that people seek out its devices more for their differences than similarities to Apple gadgets.
Not at issue in this case is whether Samsung infringed Apple's patents. The judge instructed the jury that a previous jury already decided Samsung infringed, and that they shouldn't revisit that issue. The sole consideration in the retrial is money -- just how much Samsung owes Apple for infringing its patents.
Judge Lucy Koh allowed each side eight hours of testimony over the four-day trial. Samsung rested its case Monday with two minutes left. Apple had 16 minutes left. Samsung made its closing arguments later Tuesday. Both sides were allotted 90 minutes for closing. The case was handed over to the jury at about 12:15 p.m. PT.
Samsung products involved in rethink of damages (pictures)
The two companies spent their final hours and minutes Monday grilling expert witnesses on how much money Samsung owes Apple for patent infringement. A big part of the discrepancy between what Apple wants and what Samsung thinks it should pay comes from differing views on how much Apple lost in profits and how much it should be due for royalties. The two sides also disagree on how much money Samsung made from its copycat products.
Apple arrived at the $380 million amount based on lost profits of about $114 million, Samsung's profits of about $231 million, and reasonable royalties of approximately $35 million. Apple estimates it would have sold 360,000 devices if Samsung hadn't released infringing rivals.
Samsung, meanwhile, said Apple shouldn't receive any money for lost profits, $52.7 million for Samsung's profits, and royalties of only $28,452 because the patents have limitations.
Apple originally filed suit against Samsung in April 2011, accusing the Korean company of copying the look and feel of its products. Samsung countersued two months later over patent infringement and said it was at work on touch-screen phones with giant rectangular screens and rounded corners well before Apple showed up. The initial trial, which stretched more than three weeks in August 2012, wrapped both of those cases in one, somehow squeezing together the patent infringement issues, alongside antitrust claims, and even trade dress issues.
In August of last year, a nine-person jury sided with Apple on a majority of its patent infringement claims against Samsung. At that time, the jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages, much less than the $2.75 billion sought by the Cupertino, Calif., electronics giant. Samsung, which asked for $421 million in its countersuit, didn't get anything.
The products in question include the Galaxy Prevail, Gem, Indulge, Infuse 4G, Galaxy SII AT&T, Captivate, Continuum, Droid Charge, Epic 4G, Exhibit 4G, Galaxy Tab, Nexus S 4G, Replenish, and Transform. The Prevail in particular racked up $57.9 million of the damages tally, which Koh said was a failure on the jury's part, since the device was found to infringe only on utility patents, and not on design patents.
"At the end of the day, there's a cumulative effect of doing all of this that's incredibly damaging [to Apple]," Schiller said Friday.
Lee and Harold McElhinny, another Apple attorney, on Tuesday pointed out to the jury that Apple brought top executives to talk about the creation of the iPhone and the importance to the company. Samsung, however, didn't put any of its top Korean executives on the stand, they said.
"How can they disrespect the process so much that they don't even come to the trial?" McElhinny said.
He also appealed to the jurors' emotions, saying the entire Bay Area and economy will suffer if Samsung isn't adequately fined for its infringement. He compared the situation to US TV makers who went out of business because they didn't protect their intellectual property. Samsung is currently the world's biggest TV maker by a wide margin.
"This is not about punishment," McElhinny said. "This is not about pitchforks. This is not about getting even...If juries take the profit out of patent infringement, then patent infringers will stop. If Samsung eventually believes they will not make money doing this, they will stop infringing our patents."
Updated at 9:45 and 11 a.m. PT and 12:25 p.m. PTwith additional comments from Apple and Samsung.


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Microsoft's $44.6 billion offer to buy Yahoo isn't its first. It's just the first to go public. Here, we track the board-room romance back to its beginnings.
Microsoft's first acquistion target in search wasn't Yahoo. Back in 2003, rumor said Microsoft would purchase Google. The New York Times reported that before Google's IPO, the companies talked about a buyout but it never went anywhere. Instead, Microsoft signed a search deal with Looksmart. Oops.
Rumors of a Microsoft-Yahoo merger began in earnest in early 2006. In January, the Los Angeles Times reported Yahoo turned down an $80 billion offer from Microsoft. Yahoo shares spiked on the news. You may have noticed the share value has since declined.
By mid-2006, the rumors were back, but Ziff-Davis's Mary Jo Foley reported that Microsoft only expressed interest in taking a stake in Yahoo's search business.
In July 2006, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said during an earnings call that a Yahoo acquisition would not help Microsoft get competitive in search. "There is no acquisition path out," he said.
By May 2007, rumors were back. This time the number was $50 billion. Yahoo shares rose almost 10 percent on the news, closing at $30.98. Just under the $31 Microsoft offered today,

domain: news


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Namely, the China Times states that Apple has reduced its HomePod shipment forecast to 200,000 units or less per month in the second quarter, down from around 500,000 units per month in the first quarter, due to lower expected sales. It is also said that Apple reviews its shipping forecast for all 2018.
HomePod sales may be mediocre, as a relatively niche product with an expensive price of $ 349, and given a handful of early criticism that criticized Siri's capabilities, but Apple CEO Tim Cook previously warned against try to interpret data points unique to the supply chain.
Cook on Apple's first-quarter earnings call in 2013:
I suggest it's good to question the accuracy of any kind of rumor about compilation plans. Even if a particular data point were real, it would be impossible to interpret that data point as to what it meant for our business. The supply chain is very complex and we have many sources of things. The returns may vary, the performance of the provider may vary. There is a long, inordinate list of things that can make any single data point not a great substitute for what is happening.
For example, report China Times only mentions Inventec and some smaller vendors affected by the cuts, despite reports that Foxconn would begin to assemble HomePods along with Inventec sometime in 2018. It is possible that Inventec has simply lost part of its orders as Apple diversifies its production.
It's been a few months since HomePod was launched, so the first users who were waiting impatiently to buy the speaker probably already have. Like an iPhone, sales can be expected to be stronger in the first weeks of availability, followed by a gradual decline over time. Production cuts are expected.
In addition, HomePod still has to be launched outside of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, so sales are still limited geographically. Apple said the speaker will be released in France and Germany later this spring.
If sales are indeed bad, one way Apple could raise interest is to offer a more affordable HomePod, and today's report echoes rumors about a possible lower-priced version. However, the report predicts that Apple will not launch a revised or cheaper HomePod until at least the fourth quarter of this year.
We'll probably never know how well HomePod is selling, as Apple said it will group the broadcaster in its "Other products" category in its quarterly earnings reports, along with Apple Watch, Apple TV, AirPods, Beats, iPod and more . But we will be hearing the May 1 earnings call for any potential suggestions.


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Tesco builds £7m police station - in return for new giant superstore
Determined supermarket chains will pay for new roads, street lights, housing and even public artworks to help win approval for new stores.
But now Tesco is building a state-of-the-art police station in a city centre redevelopment that will create its biggest British store so far.
Critics argue that the West Bromwich scheme is the latest step in a Tesco takeover of our towns.
Work in progress: Tesco have funded a new police station in West Bromwich which will cost around £7m
Designed in conjunction with owners West Midlands Police, the £7 million, three-storey local command unit will replace the current Seventies building.
The first police station in the UK to be paid for by a supermarket chain,
it forms part of a £200million redevelopment plan which Tesco is funding in order to gain planning permission for an enormous Tesco Extra in the centre of the town.
The superstore will occupy 140,000sq ft, more than enough space for two football pitches. It will be 15,000sq ft larger than Tesco’s current biggest store near Pitsea, Essex.
The plan will also pay for a cinema, restaurants, a 70-bedroom hotel, car parking, a petrol station, shops and a new ring road in West Bromwich, within the borough of Sandwell.
The police station is expected to be complete early next year after construction began in September on the first phase of the regeneration project. Work on the supermarket
has yet to start.
Chief Superintendent Steve Dugmore said: ‘The complex will contain state-of-the-art policing equipment, enabling us to further serve our communities.’
Ian Jones of Sandwell Council said: ‘The new station is a key part of the retail development and the wider regeneration of West Bromwich.’
Extra-large: Tesco are hoping their police station funding plan will enable them to build a giant Tesco Extra store in West Bromwich
Tesco, along with Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons, routinely pays for a
range of local amenities in exchange for planning approval, but it has
received permission for more new stores than the other major chains
combined over the past two years.
It made 392 successful planning applications in England from November 2008 to November 2010. In contrast, Sainsbury’s had 111 approved, Asda 33 and Morrisons 41. In Seaton, Devon, Tesco has reportedly offered local authorities a package including £1.7 million to build a ‘Jurassic Coast’ visitor centre, £200,000 for football pitches and changing facilities, £150,000 on buses and £80,000 for health services.
In 2007, Tesco offered to build a health centre in Linwood, Renfrewshire, but it has now withdrawn from the plans and instead offered £500,000 to update the existing clinic.
The West Bromwich police station has met opposition from critics of Tesco’s expansion. Labour MP Barry Sheerman said: ‘I cannot see the difference between this and a bribe.
‘If a dodgy-looking fellow turned up to a council and said, “Guv’nor, if you give me planning permission, I’ll make sure you get a nice new police station,” it would be referred for investigation. We should change the law so the Competition Commission stops this kind of behaviour.’
And a spokeswoman for campaign group Tescopoly said: ‘This is another example of the Tesco takeover of our towns. The regeneration of local areas must be led by communities – not greedy businesses.’
A Tesco spokesman said: ‘We’ve worked with the whole local community to develop our proposals. We’re pleased they’re well supported by the public.’
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They’re baked, lightly salted, kettle cooked, and seasoned with things like balsamic and sweet onion or sharp cheddar.
They’re marketed through captivating advertisements and online contests.
They take up most of one side of a grocery store aisle and they’re frequently marked down in price.
Is it any wonder Canadians are reaching more often for potato chips?
Canadian consumers are snacking more frequently, a new study by market research firm The NPD Group shows.
“Compared to breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacking is the fastest growing meal occasion in the past decade in Canada,” the study, called Snacking in Canada, noted.
And while fruit remains the top snack food choice, Canadians are also reaching more often for potato chips, the study released Tuesday indicated.
Canadians ate 300 snacks in the latest 12 month period for which data is available.
Snacks made up 24 per cent of all meals Canadians consumed in the latest period, up from to 22 per cent a decade earlier, the study also found.
Canadians remain highly health conscious in their choices. Fruit leads by a wide margin and the top seven snacks include yogurt and granola-type bars, the research firm found.
But consumers are also reaching far more frequently for potato chips. The number of occasions when people ate potato chips rose 22 per cent over a three-year period, the study noted.
Indeed, Canadians’ potato chip consumption is approaching that of Americans, the study found.
NPD food and beverage analyst Joel Gregoire says the study doesn’t ask people why they’ve changed their eating patterns.
But a spokesperson for leading potato-chip maker Frito-Lay Canada credits the increase in the number of flavours and amount of marketing and advertising consumers are seeing.
“Additionally, as consumers faced the recent financial downturn, we saw an increase in consumption occasions as consumers spent more time dining and entertaining at home,” said Sheri Morgan, spokesperson for Frito-Lay owner Pepsico Canada.
Surprisingly, Canadians are more frequent snackers than Americans, who say they snacked on just 230 occasions in the latest year. But while both list fruit as their top pick, Americans eat more candy than Canadians.
Snacking starts early and indeed peaks around age 3, the NPD study found. Teens eat fewer snacks than pre-schoolers but make less healthy choices as parental influence wanes.
Snackers make their most indulgent choices when eating in front of TV, the study found.
People snack mainly for pleasure and taste, the study found, though that wanes as people age and health concerns become more predominant.
Still, even people over age 55 are reaching more frequently for potato chips, the study noted.
“That’s interesting. It’s kind of contrary to the whole health thing,” Gregoire said. On the other hand, he notes, potato chip makers “have done a very good job of diversifying the offering. It’s not just sour cream and onion anymore. They’re appealing to a more mature palette.”


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New York -- Retail is the No. 1 category utilizing location-powered advertising, with big box, consumer electronics and department store retailers being the most frequent users, according to a new report by location-based mobile advertising firm Verve Mobile.
The "State of the Market: Location Powered Mobile Advertising, Deep Dive on Retail" study reveals that geo-fencing, which includes geo-conquesting, is the most utilized location targeting strategy deployed by retailers. I
In other findings:
The findings are based on data from more than 1,500 mobile advertising campaigns delivered by the Verve Mobile platform in the retail category. The full report may be downloaded from Verve's website.


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Shabazz Napier is probably well fed right now, but according to an interview he gave, there have been plenty of nights that he goes to bed hungry.
Apparently athletes get a meal plan at the state colleges, but it’s not enough to adequately feed the players according to Shabazz. That caught the attention of state lawmakers that want to follow schools like Northwestern that are unionizing their athletic departments. At a time when hundreds of thousands of dollars are being made off these players, shouldn’t they at least be able to afford a hotdog and some tater tots at the school cafeteria? “I don’t feel student-athletes should get hundreds of thousands of dollars, but like I said, there are hungry nights that I go to bed and I’m starving,” says Shabazz.
Right. It’s gotta feel crappy when you see your jersey with your number selling for $50 a pop, and you’re trying to figure out if you can buy a poptart. Regardless, the state officials will figure all that out- What I’m wondering is… What is there to eat at UCONN? Is it even worth it?
Let’s take a look at some highlights from today’s menu:
McMahon Dining Hall today is offering:
Vietnamese Style Pork Spring Roll
Cachapas (Hmmm… I’ll pass)
Crunchy Veggie Maki with Miso Dressing
Fettucini with Bacon and Parsnips Plate
Lebanese Beef Kafta
Ancho and Achote Chicken With Esquites
(I guess they’re really into exotic foods? Maybe Shabazz is starving because he just wants a burger and isn’t into Vietnamese Spring Rolls)
Maybe North Hall Dining Hall has some more appetizing selections:
Salmon with Leeks and Red Pepper
Potato Kale Burger
(Mmmm… Can’t wait to sink my teeth into that potato kale burger)
Okay, let’s try another dining hall- Gelfenbien Commons & Halal
Today they’re offering:
Grilled Flank Steak w/Balsamic Reduction
Ravioli w/ Mushrooms Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce
Well, okay- I guess?
So ultimately I’m not sure if Shabazz is hungry because their chefs are overly enthusiastic about their menu- or because the dining halls just aren’t open that late (Most close by 10p)- Either way, here’s an unflattering review I came across:
BUT- on the other hand, according to Shabazz last night, the team won because they were “hungry” for the win. So maybe that lack of food contributed to their success.
Click here to see all the menus that are available via UCONN.


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In a national survey conducted by the Women’s Choice Award, female consumers rated Allied Van Lines as the most recommended in its category of moving companies. The Women’s Choice Award has recognized Allied Van Lines for their exceptional customer recommendation rating, earning the brand the coveted 2021 Women’s Choice Award®.
The exclusive set of products and services that earn the award have the honor of touting the Women’s Choice Award designation, honoring their achievement as being the most recommended in its category for which female customers would recommend them to their family and friends. As recommendation ratings are the pinnacle for determining true brand loyalty and love - the Women’s Choice Award is a powerful indicator of a brand’s commitment to their customers. The Women’s Choice Award seal also represents Allied Van Lines’ commitment to empowering women to make the best consumer choices for themselves and their families.
“We are excited to receive the Women’s Choice Award for most recommended moving company for the seventh year in a row,” says Lesli Bertoli, vice president and general manager of Allied Van Lines. “We are proud of the trust our customers place in our moving services and continue to strive for excellent service for every move we get to be part of.”
Delia Passi, founder and CEO of the Women's Choice Award says, "Today's marketplace is more cluttered than ever, yet women have less time than ever to sift through the saturated online options and store shelves. And with women on a constant hunt to identify the best brands for herself and her family, the Women's Choice Award serves as a trusted endorsement and visual beacon of empowerment, simplifying her choices. When consumers see that other women recommend a brand, through the Women's Choice Award seal, it provides an unparalleled level of trust and validation, putting her mind at ease- and that's priceless."


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Despite ongoing questions about privacy, Facebook’s new social plugins continue to expand their footprint across the web, with the company announcing on Tuesday that more than 100,000 websites have now deployed them.
The plugins –- which allow websites to add Facebook-powered social features without requiring users to log in –- were announced less than a month ago at Facebook’s developer conference, and attracted more than 50,000 publishers in the first week.
Some of those publishers are now seeing big traffic gains. Facebook says that The Washington Post has seen its Facebook referral traffic climb 290%, while IMDb has doubled the number of visitors it is seeing via Facebook as users “like” movies in droves.
Certainly, numbers like that are going to keep publishers experimenting with Facebook’s new features as a way to drive more engagement and traffic to their sites. Of course, that could all change if the user backlash against instant personalization continues to grow. For now though, Facebook’s path to web domination seems to be on track, and perhaps even progressing ahead of schedule.


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Residence Inn by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands, has announced its debut of the longer stay brand in the UAE with the opening of Residence Inn by Marriott Al Jaddaf.
Dubai International (DXB) made positive strides towards recovery after a challenging year with a total of 25,9 million customers travelling through the airport in 2020, a decrease of 70 percent compared to 2019.
On Janauary 25, Zdravko Počivalšek, economy minister, Slovenia, on an official visit to the UAE, symbolically took over the management of the Slovenia pavilion at the Expo 2020 in Dubai.
R Hotels announced the appointment of Samir Arora as cluster general manager of its three Dubai properties: The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel, Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai, and ibis Styles Jumeira Dubai.
flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, recently announced that Catania and Naples in Italy, Salzburg in Austria and Malta will be joining its European network from May of this year.
Through its offices in Dubai and Munich, the expert team at Renner & Grosse Collection provides tailor-made sales, representation and communication solutions to luxury hotels, resorts, villas and destinations looking to grow their business from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and/or the Middle East.
In 2020, when Covid-19 turned the hospitality and tourism industry upside down, industry veterans Sabine Renner and Isabel Grosse recognised the need for efficient and innovative solutions to aid the sector’s recovery, and with their shared passion, vision and expertise founded the Renner & Grosse Collection.
With their in-depth knowledge, extensive sales and marketing experience and vast international network of partners including travel agencies, luxury consortia’s, concierge services and travel designers, Sabine and Grosse are committed to helping hotels and tourism companies maximise revenue, build brand awareness and increase market share in a time when the industry needs it most.
“As a result of the global pandemic, many hospitality and tourism companies had to downsize their sales and marketing teams and that’s where we can come in as external experts to help develop bespoke strategies, offer practical advice and provide hands-on support to maximise their revenues and increase market share”, commented co-founder Grosse, who heads up the business in Germany.
Co-founder Renner, who leads the business in Dubai, added, “Even before the crisis, new travel trends were emerging and we want to ensure hotels and destinations are ready to respond to the changing needs of travellers, especially after the global pandemic. Luxury travel is becoming more and more synonymous with sustainability, community connection and meaningful experiences. Consumers are increasingly conscious about their travels and look for brands and companies that align with their value systems. We are very passionate about this area and can support hospitality & tourism companies with the right strategies and sales & marketing solutions to embrace the opportunities this presents for the industry.”
Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group, opens new Pullman in one of the most sought after locations in Dubai, Business Bay.
The group has partnered for the very first time with Twenty 14 Holding; an Abu Dhabi based Hospitality Company, with acquisitions and management of assets throughout the globe.
“We are very pleased to add Pullman Downtown Dubai to our expanding network in the city through this exciting partnership with Twenty 14 Holding” said Mark Willis, CEO India, Turkey, Middle East & Africa, Accor “There is no doubt that this property is set to become a flagship for the Pullman in Dubai due to its ideal fit with the brand.”
Located in Business Bay, one of Dubai’s upcoming and premier business districts, the hotel offers stunning views of the Dubai Canal, the Dubai Skyline and the iconic Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world. Business Bay is interlinked with Downtown Dubai and is in close proximity to Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) which is home to global banks, consulting and law firms, as well as the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition centre, which hosts numerous events and exhibitions year-around and welcomes thousands of visitors annually.
The hotel, which is already operating and welcoming guests, features 353 keys with standard rooms, suites.
A leading hospitality solutions provider and SaaS (Software as a Service) company, Neorcha, has partnered with Dubai-based TIME Hotels to launch its new performance-based App in the Middle East.
It’s a new year and a new chapter for Dubai as the door closes on a tumultuous year. 2021 represents the light at the end of the tunnel and for Occidental Al Jaddaf, a year of new beginnings and an opportunity to reward and delight the people of the UAE with an unforgettable giveaway.


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Softcard and the SUBWAY brand are also teaming up to deliver offers to SUBWAY® customers via the Softcard app. As part of this promotion, Softcard users that tap and pay at a SUBWAY® restaurant will receive $1 back on every purchase over $1 made with the American Express Serve card through year-end*.
This national launch is the extension of a relationship that began in 2013 and included a successful pilot in Salt Lake City earlier this year. The relationship will continue beyond today’s announcement to include the SUBWAY® loyalty program.
In the coming months, SUBWAY will include the SUBWAY Card Rewards Program in the Softcard app, providing customers in participating SUBWAY Rewards markets with a simpler way to collect Reward Points. Cardholders who load their SUBWAY rewards card into the Softcard app will be able to simply tap their phones to the reader using SmartTapTM for fast and convenient presentation to the point of sale. SmartTapTM is a Softcard developed protocol that adds commerce data to an NFC transaction leveraging industry standard NFC technology to deliver loyalty and offers to retailer’s point of sales systems.
Quick-service restaurants (QSR) are quickly adopting mobile payment technology as consumers show increasing interest in using their mobile devices for an easier way to pay. The National Restaurant Association reports four in 10 young adults say they would likely pay for their quick-service restaurant orders by mobile or wireless device if they could.
Softcard is a mobile commerce platform that combines payments, offers and loyalty to provide users a safe and easy way to shop, pay and save using their mobile phones. The app uses NFC, SmartTapTM and other industry leading technologies to enable secure payments and commerce at more than 200,000 locations nationwide. Softcard is available on more than 80 devices across AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless and is preloaded on more than 30 of those devices with more being added all the time.
*Additional details on the American Express Serve card offer can be found at the following link: https://www.paywithisis.com/offers/serve.html.


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For Immediate Release
April 18, 2017
Hilarie Szarowicz (616) 742-6397
Shopkins Live! comes to SMG-managed DeVos Performance Hall December 11
Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, April 28 at 10 AM
Grand Rapids— Shopkins Live!, the first live theatrical production based on the phenomenally successful Shopkins toy brand will bring the national tour to DeVos Performance Hall on December 11, 2017 at 6:30 PM. It was jointly announced today by Gilles Paquin, President and CEO of Koba Entertainment, and Nicole Hardiman, Senior Licensing Manager at Moose Toys.
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, April 28 at 10:00 AM. Ticket prices are $20, $35, $45, and $100 (VIP), and all prices will increase $2.50 the day of the show. Tickets will be available at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena® box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. All children ages one (1) and older will require a ticket, and prices are subject to change. The VIP package includes one (1) premium ticket in the first ten rows, one (1) meet and greet photo opportunity, one (1) exclusive Shopkins Live! merchandise item, one (1) exclusive Shopkins Live! VIP lanyard, and access to an exclusive Shopkins Live! themed after-show party room, which includes fun activities for Shopkins fans. VIP Packages will be available online only.
Based on America’s #1 toy brand, YouTube sensation and international toy phenomenon created in Australia by Moose Toys, Shopkins Live! will feature The Shoppies and Shopkins characters taking the stage with an all new storyline, original pop music and video highlights as ‘Jessicake’, ‘Bubbleisha’, ‘Peppa-Mint’ and friends prepare for Shopville’s annual “Funtastic Food and Fashion Fair”.
“Shopkins is literally on every child’s wish list,” commented Paquin, who also serves as Executive Producer of Shopkins Live! “Koba Entertainment’s partnership with an innovative and leading toy manufacturer like Moose Toys allows us to bring one of the most successful toy brands in history to life on stage.” “We are thrilled to have Koba Entertainment presenting our first-ever live theatrical show for Shopkins,” added Hardiman. “This will be a fantastic event featuring the Shopkins and Shoppies in an amazing adventure that our North American fans can experience.”
Since its launch in 2014, the Shopkins brand continues to be a hot ticket item for children worldwide. Shoppies dolls consistently rank as the #1 kids toy in the U.S.; the first-ever Shopkins movie, Shopkins Chef Club, was released last year by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment; and numerous dedicated apps continue to expand the brand’s ever-growing world. Shopkins Live! will run for approximately 90 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission. The Shopkins Live! U.S. tour is represented by APA.
For more information, please visit www.shopkinsliveontour.com.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary and founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming; construction and design consulting; and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com.


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Walker Jacobs was promoted to executive vice president of Turner/ SI digital ad sales.
Mother hired Angelina Vieira Barocas as managing director of its New York office. Barocas joins the agency from Six Flags, where she led the development of the company's business and strategic positioning, and developed its first online marketing campaign.
AMC promoted Ben Davis to vice president of scripted programming; Susan Goldberg to vice president of production; and Allison Hoffman to vice president, creative and brand strategy.
Pushtwentytwo hired Philip McAvoy as digital creative director.
AdGenesis named Michael Kelley, most recently partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers's digital media practice, as chief marketing officer.
OneScreen hired Biff Burns as vice president of sales and marketing. Previously, Burns was senior director of business development at Mercury Media.
Andy Heath joined Optimedia US as senior vice president, communications strategy director, working on L'Oréal USA. He joins from WPP Group's MindShare New York, where he was managing partner, communications planning director on Unilever.
The Barbarian Group hired Colin Nagy as executive director of earned / social media. Nagy was previously partner at Attention, a New York-based social media marketing firm.
Cameron Death has been promoted to senior vice president & general manager, NBC Universal Digital Studio.
Ames Scullin O'Haire hired Steve Harding as media director.


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Lawyers forced the tech giant Apple Inc.(NASDAQ:AAPL) to update its Siri service to include a feature that stops young people from accessing undesirable information.
The plea comes at a time after people in several Chinese cities reported online that the integral application can be used to search for places that offer sexual services.
Siri, which is available for iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and other Apple products, is a gifted personal assistant and knowledge navigator. The reports are associated with the latest version for iOS 6, which is the first one to support the Chinese language.
A criminal lawyer at Yingke Law Firm based in Beijing, Tang Hogxin has been following the debate. He said the information provided by Siri may not be illegal as per Chinese laws and regulations. However, it can still prove to be a serious threat to youths. He said that Siri’s information is accurate and points to sex services.
He also said that the prostitution addresses on Siri have affected the public order and had a pessimistic influence. To put it differently, it has the capacity of disobeying rules if the software cannot be improved.
Tang has suggested that the country’s supervision administrations must be prepared to get involved if required.
A lawyer at Huicheng Law Firm, Wang Xing has agreed that information on Siri poses legal threats and it is urgent for Apple to take technical measures to stop similar cases.
He said that if the prostitution places on Siri are correct, Apple may be charged of disseminating undesirable information. If the information is confirmed wrong, the company could be embroiled in defaming entertainment venues.
A customer service worker at an Apple store in Beijing said that Siri does not have the technological capability to filter information. He added that there has been no clear response to the complaints by Chinese users from the headquarters of the company in China or the US.


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#CES2019 – There are plenty of gaming headsets out there in the market today, but if you’re looking for a new pair and want to see what the latest headsets might have to offer, then HyperX might have something for you. The company has recently announced the Cloud Orbit and Cloud Orbit S headsets that were made together with Audeze and Waves Technology.
HyperX today announced the launch of its first gaming keyboard called the Alloy FPS. The company says that this keyboard has been created after extensive research and hours of gameplay testing. The HyperX Alloy FPS features mechanical switches to provide tactile feedback organized in a space-saving layout so that gamers can maximize desktop real estate for mouse movement in FPS games.
HyperX – a division of memory maker Kingston – today announced the release of what it claims to be the “best gaming headset for under $50.” The company says that its new HyperX Cloud Stinger headset has been designed to make even the most casual of gamers like a pro. The headset features HyperX signature memory foam as well as 50mm directional drivers to provide a comfortable and high-quality sound […]


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E-scooter licence for 16-year olds soon
Minors may soon be allowed to ride electric scooters in India, according to Union Transport minister Nitin Gadkari who says the government is currently taking the decision under consideration. As of now, under the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988, people between the age of 16 and 18 are allowed to carry a license for scooters that are under 50cc. However, while the legislation exists no such vehicle is being manufactured in the country. In doing so, Gadkari believes that youth will be inclined towards electric two-wheelers in the future.
This should also boost sales of Electric Scooters especially, a market which is yet to have gained any significant traction as yet in India. Despite being easier to use, recharge and service than other electric vehicles.
Apart from this, the government has also approved green licence plates bearing numbers in white fonts for private e-vehicles and yellow for taxis, the Union Minister said. “The government has approved distinctive green licence plates for electric vehicles to encourage people to use electric vehicles. Such vehicles will be fitted with green licence plates bearing numbers in white fonts for private cars and yellow font for taxis,” Gadkari said.
The minister said that the purpose for distinctive number plates is their easy identification and preferential treatment in parking and free entry in congested zones. There will also be added proposed benefits to those number plates such as concession toll. This will also assist the government in promoting e-vehicles. The government is also considering exemption from permits for such vehicles.
“Exemption from permit will be a game changer as restricted permit regime is a major concern. E-rickshaw growth is attributable to the permit exemption and there is scope to extend the exemption to the e-buses, e-taxis, e-autos and e-bikes. E-auto and e-buses may have a big impact since getting a new permit is extremely difficult,” the minister said. Similarly, e-bikes also should see a considerable impact since it is a new area, he added.
“The government is also contemplating to ask taxi aggregators to have an incremental share of electric vehicles from 2020 onwards, which could be 1% of the fleet every year,” Gadkari said. Similarly, all public transport operators may also be mandated to provide 1% incremental fleet from 2020 onwards, he added.
Gadkari also said that the government is tightening fuel efficiency norms and that EVs will bring down vehicular pollution. Besides, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will request the finance ministry that the rate of depreciation on EVs may be allowed at 50 per cent as against the rate of 15 per cent for conventional vehicles.
The proposals include bringing down the GST on batteries to 12 per cent at par with the GST on EVs. As per an estimate, India at present has 1 to 1.5 lakh electric vehicles and it is projected to grow to about 5 percent of the total vehicles in the next five years, an official said. Of the about 24 million vehicles sold in India in 2017-18, electric vehicles accounted for barely about 1 percent, the official added. Similarly, all public transport operators may also be mandated to provide 1 per cent incremental fleet from 2020 onwards, he added. The ministry of road transport and highways will also request the finance ministry to keep the depreciation rate at 50 per cent as opposed to 15 per cent on regular vehicles. Current estimates suggest that India at present has 1 to 1.5 lakh electric vehicles and the number is projected to grow to about 5 percent of the total vehicles in the next five years. India sold 24 million vehicles in 2017-2018 and barely one percent of that amount accounted for the total EVs sold.


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Spotify Sets April 3 as First Trading Day
In open presentation, executives defend plans to sell shares directly to the public
Spotify Technology SA executives outlined their vision for the music-streaming company and dug into its financials, opening to the public a presentation that typically remains behind closed doors, as the company hurtles toward an April initial public offering.
As it paves its nontraditional path to go public via a so-called direct listing, Spotify said it would prioritize growth over profit and seek to differentiate itself and defend its leadership position in music streaming from a broad field of powerful competitors. It said it plans for its shares to start trading April 3 and will provide financial guidance on March 26.
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Kit and Ace announced today it would close all stores outside of its native Canada.
The technical fabric performance sportswear brand said the store closures also necessitate a reduction in headcount, though the company didn’t disclose how many jobs would be lost.
“We recognize the traditional world of bricks and mortar retailing is changing, which is why we’re shifting strategies,” Chip Wilson, co-founder of Hold It All Inc., the Vancouver-based holding company that owns Kit and Ace, said in a release, according to The Globe and Mail. “We believe in the business model for Kit and Ace. Going forward, we will be a stronger company.”
This decision follows two rounds of layoffs last year as well as plans to close a quarter of its locations.
The retailer, which offers apparel featuring technical attributes for people who sweat but don’t want to look like it, was launched by the founder of Lululemon Athletica in 2014. The stores offer performance pieces that take the best characteristics of activewear like moisture wicking, breathability and stretch and combine with easy care for busy lifestyles.
“If athleisure is athletic apparel trying to go street, then we’re going for streetwear that performs the exact same way as our activewear,” co-founder JJ Wilson said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times about the company’s focus on the meditation crowd.
Rapid growth and quality issues are two reasons rumored to be at the heart of the company’s recent issues.
Vue.ai announced the commercial launch of its AI product that analyzes garments and automatically generates a virtual figure for better garment fitting.Read more
The circular economy was on display in a multisensory presentation–from film and food to a “magic forest” fabric art installation and a tactile array of recycled and upcycled fabrics on view.Read more
There is a saying that if the shoe fits, wear it—and this startup is enabling consumers to rock their kicks in 7,429,968 different ways.Read more
Though Amazon has posted 11 straight quarterly profits, the company is looking to cut costs, even as it's reportedly sizing up Toys “R” Us stores.Read more
DeFeet has partnered with blockchain solutions provider LuxTag.io to provide an overall safer, more pleasant and efficient shopping experience for its customers.Read more
Keeping good on its promise to respond to any U.S. tariffs with measures of its own, China has added tariffs to 128 American products. It’s become a tit-for-tat in trade between the two nations.Read more
With the amount of regular foot traffic food shoppers generate, the battle for grocery dominance could determine the retail winners and losers. And Target may be on the verge of a merger to ensure it's a fair fight.Read more


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Our most recent episode of Valley View took a deeper look at Windows Phone 8 with Microsoft's Greg Sullivan and checked out some intriguing startups. See all the highlights.
Informationweek.com run-of-site player, used to publish article embedded videos via DCT. The same ads will be served on this player regardless of embed location.
This week's Valley View, our live, monthly Web TV show, featured established players like Microsoft, Texas Instruments and SugarSync, plus newer companies like Dwolla, Exec, ClearStory and Kaggle. We heard about Windows Phone 8, e-payments, big data, the cloud and much more.
We featured a deeper look at Windows Phone 8, including some of the new devices that run it (from Nokia, HTC and Samsung), and talked about the work that Microsoft still has to do to effectively compete with Apple and Google. Microsoft Windows Phone exec Greg Sullivan acknowledged that his company was clearly the challenger in the mobile space right now. Sullivan showed us a few of the key features of the new mobile OS, including what's new for the enterprise.
We also talked about the future of money with Ben Milne, CEO of Dwolla, a company that not only competes with the likes of PayPal, but also aims to change the way money moves, to make electronic payments more secure, more efficient and less expensive.
You can watch all of that and more in the video embedded above. The episode also includes our fast-paced Elevator Pitch segment, where three hot companies (SugarSync, Kaggle and ClearStory) pitch us, our audience and our judges on what's great about their technologies.
Upgrading isn't the easy decision that Win 7 was. We take a close look at Server 2012, changes to mobility and security, and more in the new Here Comes Windows 8 issue of InformationWeek. Also in this issue: Why you should have the difficult conversations about the value of OS and PC upgrades before discussing Windows 8. (Free registration required.)
Top IT Trends to Watch in Financial ServicesIT pros at banks, investment houses, insurance companies, and other financial services organizations are focused on a range of issues, from peer-to-peer lending to cybersecurity to performance, agility, and compliance. It all matters.
Join us for a roundup of the top stories on InformationWeek.com for the week of September 18, 2016. We'll be talking with the InformationWeek.com editors and correspondents who brought you the top stories of the week to get the "story behind the story."


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” Both Kellogg’s and P&G developed websites with digital videos that tell their athletes’ stories.oakleym.Polarized Oakley Sunglasses Luxottica is the world’s leading eyewear manufacturer, according to Euromonitor International. His plan is to take the video to GE so the company can see firsthand the benefits of choosing Oakley., son Malcolm Jr. “His name is still synonymous with Gatorade sports marketing and comes up regularly in my discussions with partners to this day,” said John Shea, current Gatorade director of sports marketing. Hive Energy anticipates that the farm, consisting of photovoltaic panels laid out in rows, would generate enough energy for around 3,900 homes. oakley sunglasses online shop In 2018, he crafted "Molly," an apparent ode to molly, or MDMA, the main component in the dance-club drug ecstasy.Wholesale Oakley Flak Jacket Sunglasses “His name is still synonymous with Gatorade sports marketing and comes up regularly in my discussions with partners to this day,” said John Shea, current Gatorade director of sports marketing.But their deeply unenviable task is a vital step toward getting Tacloban, the Philippines city decimated by the fury of Super Typhoon Haiyan, back on its feet. But this is only the beginning. They're both priced at US$240. Excited? Because we definitely are.oakley sunglasses cheapOakley Sunglasses Online Store The man handed the teller a note demanding cash.
He retired in 1985 and was the happiest while working in his shop or fishing with his son David. oakley “It’s just a great location.Cheap Oakley Sunglasses They're both priced at US$240. Cultural Park Theater, 528 Cultural Park Blvd. We chose the PH polycarbonate photochromic lens: they take just eight seconds to switch from 85 percent light transmission to 17 percent when the sun shines – just right for most UK light conditions. The channel’s carriage agreements with distributors limit the amount of video that can be shared between the channel and the website; cable and satellite operators don’t want to pay for television programming that’s available for free online. [oakley] Prices start at just £25 for the single-lens Forza FC and top out at £90 for the Ventoux, Dolomite or Tyrant model equipped with a photochromic and polarized lens.
She revealed an apparent pa-ranoia about intruders, with him waking up in the middle of the night after hearing a noise and then going to investigate – with his pistol.oakley sunglasses cheap Google launched its own fashion frames at the end of January, along with prescription lenses, but they were all designed in-house.”General Electric will bring 1,400 new jobs to Greater Cincinnati for a facility devoted to information technology, finance and other shared services, JobsOhio and the company announced today.A country club lifestyle, lower taxes and fewer airport hassles are among the advantages that Mason is touting in an effort to become the home of General Electric Co. His commendations include the Purple Heart, Air Medal 11, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with two stars, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, China Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four stars, and Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions. [oakley] Stomach-turning sights Pomposo and his colleague Vincent Albert Garchitorena are among those working hard to help Tacloban move forward.
It is a transformative and disruptive technology, that enables the world to experience the impossible, and it’s only just the beginning. oakley sunglasses online shop They then had to demonstrate at least initial measurable steps toward the personal health improvement goals that were generated by the results of the health risk assessment and the medical exam. Doddy used Oakley’s Custom process to build these red-framed glasses with red 'jaw', white ear socks, bright orange Oakley logos and a pair of clear and iridium vented lenses. Marketing IMG named Matthew Sganga and David Randell vice presidents of U. [oakley sunglasses online shop] ” Lawyers for Pangborn maintain the county resolution is a “bill of attainder, a legislative act which declares a person guilty of a violation of law without trial.


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Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event is right around the corner but the tech giant has announced the all-new Exynos W920, the first 5nm smartwatch chip to power its next-generation wearable devices. The Galaxy Watch 4 is set to deliver a big performance boost.
According to the announcement, Samsung's next smartwatch chip will arrive in an "upcoming Galaxy Watch model," with the Exynos W920 specifically supporting the Korean company and Google's next big Wear OS. The Galaxy Watch 4 comes to mind, thanks to the numerous leaks leading up to its expected reveal on August 11.
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The Exynos chip boasts two Arm Cortex-A55 cores and a Mali-G68 GPU, which Samsung claims will boost the smartwatch's CPU performance by around 20% and a tenfold graphics performance improvement than its predecessor. The Apple Watch 7 may have some real wearable competition.
Samsung states its the industry's first 5nm processor to power smartwatches, delivering speedy application launches and "more interactive eye-catching 3D graphical user interface (GUI)" on the Galaxy Watch's QHD (960×540) display. We can also expect the next Galaxy Watch to house a bigger battery or have a "sleeker design" thanks to the Exynos chip's smaller size.
The announcement also states the Exynos W920 will feature a 4G LTE modem and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Samsung claims the chip allows for an always-on display that won't drain battery, as the chip can activate a dedicated low-power display processor to reduce display power consumption.
This isn't the only Exynos chip Samsung has been working on. Earlier this year, the tech giant announced a partnership with AMD to develop a next-gen Exynos mobile chip that will bring ray tracing and variable rate shading tech to Samsung devices. The company states we'll be getting "more details later this year,” so stay tuned.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is taking place on August 11, but we've already seen a number of leaks showing off the Galaxy Watch 4 as well as the blended Tizen and Wear OS operating system from Google and Samsung. The company is also set to reveal its Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3, so prepare for a selection of next-generation devices.
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Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it's connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.


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Westfield, New Jersey (PRWEB) June 30, 2014
BOC Partners, an advertising agency based in Westfield, NJ, announced that it has bolstered their sales team by adding another two tried and true veterans of the advertising industry. Formerly in competing agencies, they recently decided to switch over to BOC after being impressed with the agency’s aggressive online solutions.
The agency also released that they have acquired 12 new automotive franchises throughout New Jersey and New York, as well as a retail client specializing in home improvement with over 26 locations in the Tri-State Area. Following the company’s best year in 2013, these additions have already made 2014 look like an even better year for the agency.
“Good business is simply about getting more clients than you lose,” says Britain O’Connor, founder and CEO of BOC Partners. “In that regard, we have already set ourselves up for a great 2014. Yet we can’t drop the ball just yet. It’s the middle of 2014. The question on everybody’s mind is how can we improve over the next six months?” It seems like BOC Partners is not done acquiring new clients, as it is rumored BOC is in communication with major dealership groups around the country.
These new clients will now be exposed to the high-quality online and traditional advertising services provided by BOC Partners. Serving clients for over 25 years, BOC Partners offers businesses a plethora of solutions including but not limited to search engine optimization, search engine marketing, social media optimization, reputation management, and email/database marketing, in addition to advertising in TV, radio, print, and other traditional media.
BOC Partners is located at 1030 South Ave West in Westfield, New Jersey. To learn more about BOC, call Britain O’Connor at 908-232-2177, Ext.14, and visit their website at bocpartners.com.


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The UK's derivatives industry has come in for stern criticism from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK's financial services watchdog.
The FCA has been reviewing 19 contracts for difference (CFD) providers and distributors. Having completed its review the regulator has sent out a letter to company bosses warning them to act on a number of major concerns raised.
CFDs are derivative products that allow people to trade on live market price movements without owning the underlying assets on which the contract is based.
WATCHDOG THREATENS TO BITE
Among the criticisms are concerns raised about retail investors. The FCA states that most CFD providers are unable to define their target audience. The watchdog also sees a lack of due diligence and limited controls regarding conflicts of interest.
Communication, monitoring and challenges were branded ‘ineffective.' The regulator concludes that ‘consumers may be a serious risk of harm from poor practices’ due to failings to meet its rules.
This is born out by industry data. According to the FCA, 76% of retail customers who bought CFD products lost money, in the year to June 2016.
The FCA has been threatening the CFDs industry with restrictions on products. The watchdog argues that too many ordinary consumers do not understand the process, nor the huge risk to their finances.
NEW RULES COULD HURT GROWTH
Unsurprisingly, the share prices of listed CFD providers are under significant pressure on Wednesday. Investors are becoming increasingly concerned about the threat of heavy regulation crimping financial performance in future, and capping growth.
The FCA says improvements need to be made across the board.
Investors should also keep an eye on The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the Europe-wide financial regulator. It is currently in the middle of a public consultation regarding the financial derivative instruments industry.
ESMA is considering measures to prohibit or restrict the marketing, distribution or sale of CFDs to retail clients. It is conducting a public consultation in January 2018 on this matter.


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After graduating in civil engineering from IIT-Madras, Deekshith Vara Prasad was working on an Indo-German project on air quality management. During this time, he had discussions with his professor and other IIT-M students who were working on the project about air pollution and its adverse impact. That, says Deekshith, was the trigger for AirOK Technologies Pvt Ltd, the venture he started with two other IIT-M alumni, Yasa Pavan Reddy and Sravan Krishna.
They wanted to develop an air purifier that used the latest technology, where the filter would be more efficient and last longer than other purifiers. The pollutants have changed over the years and the trio wanted to design and manufacture a filter that would counter all the pollutants. They did extensive studies, after which they launched the company in April 2015. Their plan was to not only make purifiers, but also have equipment to measure and monitor ambient air quality and offer customised solutions for various user segments.
According to Deekshith, Chief Executive Officer, AirOK, they handled a project for Doordarshan Kendra Chennai, which had a severe pollution problem in its server room, because of which the mother boards were getting corroded. “We successfully gave them a solution and they were happy. That gave us a boost,” he says. Being at IIT-M’s Incubation Cell helped their venture a lot, as they were able to test out their purifier in an office environment. They also got ₹5 lakh seed fund from the incubation cell, which helped them test and validate the filter.
AirOK raised about ₹12 crore from the Delhi-based SAR group, which markets the Livpure brand of purifiers, in November 2017. AirOK is using that money to launch its own purifiers in the market. While Livpure will sell only to the residential segment, AirOK will target the commercial, hospitality, industrial and hospital segments.
Yasa Pavan Reddy, CTO, says their filters can last up to a year, which brings down the cost substantially. The filters have also been designed to remove all types of pollutants. The innovation in the filter is not just in terms of technology; the founders had to keep a strict watch over the costs. Both Deekshith and Pavan say the biggest challenge they faced was in coming up with a filter that had the best of technology, lasted longer than other filters and was more efficient in clearing the air of pollutants, with a tight leash on costs. The pilots they did included a hospital in Chennai, where the bacteria level in the ICU came down after the air purifier was placed in the room. “We are confident that our air purifier will bring down the pollution in any kind of environment,” says Pavan.
Typically, he says, filters need to be changed once every 3-4 months, but AirOK’s filters will last a year. Their purifiers will be priced at around ₹20,000, almost half that of those in the market now. “Affordability is what will help us when we don’t have a brand name and once we establish ourselves, the brand will play a big part,” says Pavan.
It is their tight control on cost that has helped them price the purifier aggressively, he adds. The pricing and the filter technology, say Deekshith and Pavan, give them the confidence to face competition. The purifiers have Wi-Fi, bluetooth and touch interface and show how the filter is functioning. They can make up to 30 units a day and can go up to 1,000 at their present location itself. They anticipate that they will need to raise ₹25-30 crore within a year, if their growth plans are on track.
According to them, they hope to shortly launch outdoor air purifiers, which is at a concept stage. With some support, they hope to introduce it commercially in the next eight months. The other products in the pipeline are purifiers for cars and kitchens. Pavan says they have plans to go global too, for which they are applying for certifications. He says there are challenges in launching the air purifiers globally, but the acceptance for these purifiers is much greater abroad than in India.
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U.S. Trade Representative opens public comment period on trade dispute with China. Now is the time to tell the USTR to negotiate a better deal for America’s farmers and ranchers!
American farmers and ranchers are already facing low commodity prices and the uncertainty of a ‘trade war’ drives prices even lower hurting farmers and ranchers and rural communities. Commodity prices will fall as both sides ratchet the trade dispute upward.
China continues to add more agricultural products to its target list which includes beef, cotton, pork, nuts and soybeans to receive tariffs up to 25 percent. Soybeans and cotton are our top two ag exports to China.
Tell our Trade Representative to negotiate on behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers to reduce tariffs and to open markets for our products!
Comments are being accepted through May 11 and we need your voice to make sure Farm Bureau members are heard loud and clear in the process.
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Shanghai customs officials listed 202 discredited companies, and downgraded five companies' credit ratings based on information shared by other government organs since the country adopted credit-based customs clearance measures in May.
Customs officials also set up measures to block 739 companies deemed by the State Administration of Taxation to be at high risk of providing false trade information.
"By sharing enterprises' credit information, we will be able to act. The honest and law-abiding get a green light and those that are discredited get tougher inspections," said Zhu Haibin, chief of the enterprise management section at Shanghai Customs.
Zhu said customs officials have teamed up with other municipal departments to build a credit-based monitoring mechanism with information-sharing channels.
Interim measures issued in 2014 were amended, resulting in new measures that apply to all registered companies while clarifying the requirements for what companies need to submit for examination. It lays out detailed incentives and punitive measures for three company categories-advanced certified enterprise, general enterprise and discredited enterprise.
Advanced certified enterprises will enjoy as many as 49 measures to ease the customs process and the requirements of other government departments, including an inspection rate of less than 20 percent, along with expedited licensing, registration and release of goods.
They will also be recognized as authorized economic operators by the World Customs Organization, which means easier processing at the customs departments of all WCO members that embrace the program.
At present, there are about 3,000 advanced certified enterprises in China, accounting for about 33 percent of the nation's import and export volume.
"A total of 438 companies registered at Shanghai Customs are advanced certified enterprises," Zhu said. "We have the most ACE companies in the country."
By contrast, discredited companies under the jurisdiction of Shanghai Customs will be required to meet stricter criteria when clearing goods-including an inspection rate of over 80 percent, and exclusion from quick clearances and fee exemptions, among others, Zhu said.
The list of advanced certified enterprises and discredited enterprises can be found online at credit.customs.gov.cn.
The new customs measures-part of the country's effort to establish a social credit system based on a 2014-20 plan issued by the State Council-have been praised by most enterprises.
Jia Guolin, vice-president of Shanghai Sankai Import and Export Co, an ACE company, said the company has been able to cut costs on transportation and warehouses since the new measures took effect.
"The measures also allow us to apply for a customs guarantee waiver, which will save us more than 2 million yuan ($301,000) a year," Jia said.
Guo Hu, import and export manager at Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals, said the inspection rate for its imports of biomedical drugs dropped from 6.9 to 1.3 percent since the company was certified in 2016, which greatly reduced risks for its cold-chain transportation.
"When we exported goods to Switzerland, our foreign buyers also appreciated our fast customs clearance," said Guo. "Being deemed an authorized economic operator gives us advantages in global competition."


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Apple to move production
The Chinese manufacturers produce over 90 per cent of the products including – iPhones, iPads and MacBook Air laptops.
As per reports from Hindustan Times, the analysts in the company are looking for newer ways to reduce the manufacturing unit in China as its Authoritarian Communist Government.
Till now the company hasn’t commented on the matter so far.
After China, India has a real potential to become a manufacturer for the company.


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Nintendo is developing new gaming consoles and VR devices. The company suggested that it may become a new player in the increasing virtual reality market in the near future, but did not provide particular information regarding this radical move.
The Japanese firm, which is getting ready to release a new mobile phone game along with a better NX system, appears to now change its position on VR after its latest briefing with owners where they have discussed the recent product strategies.
While the news confirms that the organization’s phone application rollout is going well, other details about the possible virtual reality project are still unclear, according to market specialist who have analyzed this problem.
During the first months of last year, Nintendo declared that would launch a series of five games for cellular users before the spring of 2017. The organized launch news came after their new established collaboration with DeNA, a venture that owns and develops various cellular game programs.
In a very competitive market, the organization craves more ammunition to go against its powerful adversaries. Nintendo recently published its financial report presenting the last quarter of 2015. The firm has shown a fall on all net earnings by almost 35 percent to $240 million on revenues reaching around $1.75 billion dollars.
Within this period, Nintendo documented sales of more than 1.8 million gaming consoles, which is a tad lower in comparison to the same interval of the prior year. Experts think that the fall in the organization’s earnings could be related to the Wii U console’s poor headlines, which were unsuccessful in attracting the hoped interest during 2015’s holiday season.
The company is also getting ready to formally reveal its next game playing system, which holds the codename Nintendo NX and is scheduled to be shown at the future E3 event taking place this summer. Presented as a premium gaming system, Nintendo guarantees that its device will provide something exclusive and more attractive.
But, it is still not certain exactly when the new product will be offered in stores during the next months. Other Nintendo NX speculations talk about interesting specifications for the gaming system, but it is very surprising to find out that the producer has some virtual reality goals as well.
Based on rumors saying that our global VR market will get over $125 billion, it is quite easy to understand why many organizations are now moving their attention towards virtual reality tech innovations. Besides Nintendo, the giant Apple also declared that it is currently developing its own devices for the virtual world.
Image source: Ibtimes
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Cyprus’ famed halloumi cheese earns coveted EU quality mark
Cyprus on March 30 hailed a European Union decision to recognize halloumi cheese as a product distinct to the divided eastern Mediterranean island after a seven-year wait.
Known as halloumi in Greek and hellim in Turkish, the famously barbecue-able cheese is the island’s biggest export, earning a record 250 million euros ($290 million) last year.
The European Union on Monday registered halloumi as a product of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) - a coveted status that guarantees a product’s origin and uniqueness.
Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades welcomed the move, calling it "a milestone day for halloumi/hellim and our country".
"A shield of protection is now in place," he tweeted on Tuesday.
"Significant prospects for increasing exports of our national product, to the benefit of all Cypriot producers, Greek and Turkish," Anastasiades added.
But the decision, which defines the content of the cheese as 51 percent goat or sheep’s milk, making it more expensive, has left some unhappy.
"This is very bad for north and south producers," Turkish Cypriot hellim factory owner Mahmut Erden told AFP.
Britain is the squeaky cheese’s biggest market, absorbing around 40 percent of export sales.
Cyprus filed a PDO application to the European Commission in July 2014 for the cheese.
The application covers producers across the whole island, including both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.


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on Monday, 20 April, Germany and Norway, followed by Austria and the Czech Republic have begun to partial withdrawal of the restrictive measures imposed because of the pandemic, Covid-19. A relaxation of the quarantine regime also informed the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu. It is known that while the gradual easing introduced in the Holy land just two weeks to the authorities were able to assess their possible consequences. “MK” has found out, what will change in these States in the near future, and that while, unchanged.
the New measures developed by the leadership of Israel, entered into force on 19 April. According to the plan of the government, enterprises will be able to return 30% of employees. Also will gradually healing, the work of public transport.
it is planned to open shops selling electronics, home goods, books and stationery. But this applies only to those who are not located in the building of shopping centers. Still closed, will remain clothing stores, shoes, jewelry, toys and beauty salons and shopping centers.
in Addition, the Israeli authorities provide for partial resumption of classes in schools for students with special needs. Again earn and kindergartens, but now each group will have only 3 children.
Citizens will be allowed sports on the street in the presence of not more than one person and at a distance within 500 meters from the house. Also people will be able to make a joint prayer in the open air with the participation of no more than 10 people and maintaining the distance of 2 meters from each other.
In a statement, Benjamin Netanyahu on the government website it says that if these measures are justified, it will consider additional easing of the quarantine mode. If the country will face new outbreaks of the epidemic, then we need to return to pre-existing limitations.
According to the Minister of health of Israel Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, the success of the quarantine breaks depends on how legitimate and responsible people will come to the question of implementation of the orders of the government.
the German Authorities also began to gradually loosen the restrictive measures, after almost a month “confinement” of the population in quarantine, reports Deutsche Welle. The basis for this decision was the fact that from mid-March increase in the number of infected in the country has decreased, and cases of recovery of patients registered significantly more.
since the April 20 open small stores and shops with an area of 800 square meters. Shopping malls and larger shops will remain closed. This decision is due to the fact that the Federal government wanted to avoid large concentrations of people in confined space and in the centre of towns.
Resumes car showrooms, book shops and companies selling and repairing bicycles.
Gradually “to the native land” will be returned to students. Classes for students in senior classes in primary schools, vocational schools and high schools will begin on 4 may. Accordingly, all examinations will be held in scheduled time. All these measures can be governed by the representatives of the land governments. However, by April 29, the Ministry of education of all the Federal States must provide plans for the resumption of teaching in schools.
in addition, the German government include the opening of University libraries. But only if staff and students will comply with all precautions.
as of may 4, the Germans will again be able to get a haircut. Its doors for visitors will open barbershops. Now the masters are required to work in protective masks and gloves. But beauty salons, beauty parlors, massage centers and other places where have a physical contact with clients will remain closed.
“We have seen some successes over the past few days,” said Federal Minister of Economics and energy Peter Altmaier in an interview with ARD. Schools and small shops can “step by step” to open without endangering public health”.
In Norway, after a partial easing of the quarantine restrictions from Monday, April 20, began to work in kindergartens. However, they should be followed strict sanitary rules. Educators will have the opportunity to work with children only in small groups of 3 to 6 people depending on their age.
Also, since April 20 was again resumed its work, physiotherapy, and Norwegian therapists began to accept patients. At the same time restaurants, bars and other places where the public will remain closed. Mass cultural and sports events canceled until at least mid-June.
Recall, the government, the Scandinavian countries have reported a gradual easing of restrictive measures, stressing that the spread of the virus of a new type “under control”.


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Two decades ago, I took on a task that had been about two years in the planning: changing operating systems from Windows to Linux.
The creator of the second oldest Linux distribution, Patrick Volkerding, claims he is in financial strife after the store, with which he reached an agreement to sell his work, stopped paying him two years ago.
An uninformed comment on a Linux community blog has led to questions over the stability and finances of the Slackware GNU/Linux project, but its founder assures iTWire that the project is alive and kicking.
Lets hope for a Biden win in November for the worlds sake including Assange's.
It would be great to have a look at the Telstra plans but they still after 3 years don't list[…]
Optus was declared to be misleading consumers when it marketed its products as "unlimited", now its using the word infinity[…]
Yes, you’re absolutely right. Apple launched it three watches ago with the Apple Watch Series 4, and Garmin presumably longer[…]
My garmin watch has had that feature for ages. A month ago I crashed during a bicycle race and my[…]


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A18-series chips to get a "significant" increase in Neural Engine cores for AI in iOS 18
With Apple looking to add new generative AI features to Siri, Shortcuts, Messages, Apple Music, and other features in iOS 18, the tech giant plans to upgrade the Neural Engine on the upcoming A18 and M4 chips. A report by the Economic Daily News says that the new chips will see a significant increase in the number of cores used in the Neural Engine which will lead to improved AI and Machine Learning capabilities for the chips.
We should see Apple introduce iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 in June. The A18 series chips will debut with the iPhone 16 series in September. The A18 Bionic will power the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The A18 Pro will drive the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both A18 chips will be manufactured by TSMC using its second-generation 3nm process node (N3E).
Apple is expected to increase the core count on the A18 series chipsets' Neural Engine
While Apple has kept the core count in the Neural Engine at 16 since the A14 Bionic used with the iPhone 12 series, the speed and performance of the Neural Engine has improved over time. The Neural Engine on the A17 Pro chip used with the iPhone 15 Pro series is said by Apple to be twice as fast as the Neural Engine on the A16 Bionic component found in the iPhone 14 Pro series.
The amount of silicon wafers expected to be produced for TSMC's production of 3nm chips for Apple this year is expected to rise 50% over last year which will lock Apple in as the foundry's largest customer. In addition to increasing the amount of wafer production for TSMC to turn into chips, Apple has also been able to secure a large amount of production capacity for advanced packaging production from TSMC.
Apple has included a Neural Engine on its A-series chips ever since 2017's A11 Bionic which was used on the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone X. That chip featured a dual-core Neural Engine which increased to an octa-core Neural Engine for the A12 and A13 Bionic in 2018 and 2019 respectively.


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Online rights management keeps getting easier
Management of rights online and on-the-go is one of the key elements to providing the best possible service to rights holders and the users of creative works. GESAC members have steadily been expanding their existing services with easier and faster online options.
Here’s two of the latest new services recently announced by members:
- Suisa (Switzerland) developed a new portal for its 34.000 members that allows creators and publishers to check their statements and information on the internet and on any device at any time.
- Sabam’s (Belgium) latest service provides the users of creative works with easier and more accessible online licensing (check out the brand new video: FR/NL).


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Wyevale sells two more garden centres
Wyevale Garden Centres has announced the sale of two further garden centres.
Its Wellingborough site has been sold to Higgins Landscape and Garden Centres while its Wolds View centre has been acquired by Woodthorpe Hall Centres.
Both buyers will be continuing to operate the sites as garden centres.
Anthony Jones, chief financial officer of WGC, said: “Since the launch of the sale process in May we have now sold 37 ‘non-core’ centres and are currently evaluating a wide range of competitive offers from the group buyers, regional operators and local entrepreneurs. We look forward to further positive discussions with all potential buyers.”
These latest sales are expected to complete by the end of this month.
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The update will go live at reset, which is 12pm CT.
Bungie has dropped a new video, a developer insight, showing off some of the subclass abilities.
For more on Season of the Haunted, click here.
Smith’s Sentiment: Looks great. Excited to get into this and see the whole picture. I’ll have patch notes posted as soon as Bungie releases them.


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HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — Audiovox Corporation has named longtime company executive Pat Lavelle president/CEO, effective immediately.
Fort Worth, Texas — Wireless gives and wireless takes, with RadioShack reporting a 2 percent increase in wireless sales from its kiosk
San Jose, Calif. — Flash memory company Lexar Media lost its bid to block rival Toshiba from selling its flash memory cards in the U.S.
Efforts to craft legislation to complete the digital television transition hit the floor of the U.S. Senate Committee on
Bedford, Texas — Warranty provider Warrantech has confirmed that Dave Workman, former president/CEO of Ultimate Electronics, has joined
Lombard, Ill. — The North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA) is conducting an online survey on the cost of doing business for
Gathersburg, Md. — Dave Glassman, a 13-year veteran of MyerEmco AudioVideo, was named merchandising VP, and J.R. Stocks was named sales
San Diego — To help celebrate Iomega’s 25th year in business, the company today introduced the Iomega Mixx flash-memory portable music
San Mateo, Calif. — A major end-user study of VoIP call quality by research firm Keynote Systems reported that despite impressive
Mahwah, N.J. — Konica Minolta expanded its digital SLR lineup with a new, lower-cost model and introduced its first consumer point-and-
By Lisa Johnston
New products on display at the American International Toy Fair, held in N
New York — The Anti-Defamation League’s National Consumer Technology Industry divisio
Los Angeles — Fifteen industry leaders were inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of
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03 August 2010
While low-cost carriers are gearing up to provide affordable air travel for budget-savvy tourists, AirAsia seeks to lead the way by opening up a new route via Seoul.
AirAsia, Asia’s largest low-fare airline, announced at a press conference on Monday its newest international route starting Nov. 1, which will connect Kuala Lumpur and Seoul.
To mark the launch of its latest route, the Malaysian company introduced a promotional round-trip fare of 120,000 won ($102.30) including all taxes and fees, for the travel period from Nov. 1 to Aug. 11, 2011, for those who book tickets on its website between Aug. 4 and Aug. 8.
After the promotional period, travelers will be able to purchase tickets for 25 to 30 percent lower than traditional airlines charge, depending on their purchase date, for the daily operation.
It took more than a year for the airline to earn an approval from the government, noted Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X, AirAsia’s long-haul affiliate.
“Seoul has been our priority market for the long-haul destination since 2007,” he said. “Malaysians have gone crazy about the Korean Wave. We couldn’t wait to launch this route for so long.”
According to an online survey conducted by AirAsia on social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter, more than 2 million customers picked Seoul as the No. 1 destination they wish the airline to fly to.
Seoul is the eleventh destination for the Malaysian company followed by cities in Australia, India, Taiwan, China and the U.K.
AirAsia’s CEO Azran Osman-Rani poses with the Korea Tourism Organization’s president Lee Cham (fourth from right) at a press conference in Seoul on Monday.
Established in 1993, AirAsia was named the world’s best low-cost airline for two years in a row in 2009 and 2010 by Skytrax, a U.K.-based aviation research firm.
Currently, AirAsia and AirAsia X operate more than 132 domestic and international flights collectively through a fleet of 94 aircraft.
The market for low-fare flights has grown over the past several years with an increasing number of budget carriers flying across Asia Pacific, enabling cost-sensitive customers to enjoy air travel more affordably.
Major players in the Asian sector such as Tiger Air, Thai Air and AirAsia have brought challenges to legacy European and American carriers, offering no-frills service at dramatically reduced prices, with a wide variety of options on in-flight services.
In spite of growing global demand, Korea has not been an easy market for budget carriers during the past few years.
In 2008, Singaporean Tiger Air initially intended to fly from Korea to China, Japan and Russia beginning in August last year, but eventually withdrew the plan after delays in its application process, due to the global economic slowdown and regulatory uncertainties.
Organizations like the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation argued that Korean government protectionism has been a major hurdle for the market, as the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs failed to reject a request brought by national airlines to protect themselves from competition with overseas companies in 2008.
Meanwhile, Yeongnam Air and Hansung Airlines, two Korean low-cost carriers, suspended operations in 2008, citing rising competition and lack of demand.
By Shin Hyon-hee (firstname.lastname@example.org)


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Einhorn Presses His Case Against Apple
Description:David Einhorn detailed his plan for Apple to return more cash to shareholders, in an attempt to rally its shareholders to support his plan for the company to issue a new type of preferred stock. Telis Demos reports on The News Hub.
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Krispy Kreme to set up shop in the Highcross next month!
Big news for doughnut lovers in Leicester – Krispy Kreme are finally setting up an outlet in the city.
The American chain will open a shop in the Highcross Shopping Centre on 14 February, which will be located on the ground floor near the Tiger, Harper Lewis and Xplicit stores. There will also be a seating area for customers.
The Highcross general manager, Jo Tallack, said of the Krispy Kreme announcement:
“We are really excited for Krispy Kreme to come to Highcross, it has been a long time coming. We have had heard so much on Facebook and Twitter from students and our customers about why we don’t have a Krispy Kreme store, so we are very excited to finally open the only Krispy Kreme store in Leicestershire.”
Krispy Kreme’s chief marketing officer Judith Denby said of their decision to open in the Highcross:
“We can’t wait to open in Leicester. Highcross is a great location for the store and and we can’t wait for centre visitors to experience the joy of Krispy Kreme when we open next month.”
In the weeks leading up to the stores opening, Krispy Kreme staff will be out in force offering free samples to pedestrians and business throughout the city centre – so we’ll definitely be looking out for that!


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Microsoft has stopped charging developers to update games on the Xbox 360, according to a report.
Multiple development sources have told Eurogamer that the changes were made earlier this year. Previously, developers were said to have had to pay thousands of dollars to implement patches.
Initial certification charges remain, say the sources, but fees for re-certification when submitting a new game update have now been completely dropped.
The move applies to XBLA and retail titles for Xbox 360.
Despite this however, Microsoft is still able to issue a charge if developers make an “excessive” number of submissions after repeatedly failing the certification process.
Last year, developer Polytron criticised Microsoft for what it deemed as excessive fees blocking a key update for Fez on the Xbox 360, as it could not afford to pay tens of thousands of dollars to do so.
“The save file delete bug only happens to less than a per cent of players,” read a statement.
“It’s a shitty numbers game to be playing for sure, but as a small independent, paying so much money for patches makes no sense at all., especially when you consider the alternative.
“Had Fez been released on steam instead of XBLA, the game would have been fixed two weeks after release, at no cost to us. And if there was an issue with that patch, we could have fixed that right away too.”
Microsoft has come under heavy criticism of late for its stance on indie support for the Xbox One. As it stands, developers will not be able to self-publish on the new console, and the company is also set to ditch the Xbox Live Arcade and Indie sections on its digital storefront in favour of a larger, all-inclusive marketplace.
It is not currently clear whether update fees will also be dropped for the Xbox One.
We have reached out to Microsoft for further comment.


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Social media is the “new great wasteland” TV once was during its infancy, columnist Michael Wolff told Canadian indie producers during a keynote address on Thursday.
“Television is the golden age. This [digital media] is as low a form as we can possibly imagine,” Wolff, a Hollywood Reporter contributor, said during a keynote address to the Prime Time conference in Ottawa. He particularly singled out Facebook.
“Think of that constant drivel. The digital world can go on and talk about all of the things that it believes it’s accomplishing — social community, invent a word. But the truth is, you look at that every day, and what do you feel? You feel kind of depressed,” Wolff said.
He added social media does not spur water-cooler conversation like TV. “Nobody, except the people who are getting paid, talks about social media. Because there’s nothing to talk about,” Wolff said.
TV by contrast has escaped its 1950s vanilla roots to today feature the best creative visionaries and cultural currency possible. “If you haven’t seen Breaking Bad, who are you?” Wolff said.
Digital media and the Internet, by contrast, has become “black and white, good and evil, moralistic, reducing everything to the most simplistic level.” TV has gone the other way with edgy dramas.
“All of the characters are deeply troubled, corrupt, dealing with the true mess of life,” Wolff said. He even put streaming giant Netflix in the TV camp.
“It’s really important to see and remember it as the television business. It’s not the digital business. It’s not digital media,” with no social media elements, no user engagement or user-generated content. “It’s traditional television made by Hollywood, actually,” Wolff said.
Digital media is also a failure as a business, he continued, as it relies on advertising rates that drop over time. “You’re selling a product that people pay less and less for. That’s a vote of absolute no-confidence.”
TV, on the other hand, now gets 50 percent of its revenue from pay TV subscriptions, with the rest coming from advertising. “That’s a revolution, and I would submit is the big media revolution of our time, not digital,” Wolff said.
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