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Now, at the end of October, Best Buy is one of the many retailers offering early Black Friday deals to shop ahead of time. Macys started its Black Friday deal specials on Nov. 3 and now the retailer's official Black Friday sale Pre-Black Friday Sale starts earlier than the major Black Friday Deals. 20 Fourth of July 2022 Sales to Shop for the Most Savings. Apple Watch Deals 2022. Paper Mario: The Origami King, $27 (reduced from $60)New Super Mario Bros. Kirby Star Allies, $27 at GameStop (reduced from $60)Splatoon 2, $27 at GameStop (reduced from $60)Just Dance 2021, $27 (reduced from $50)Monster Hunter Rise, $30 at GameStop (reduced from $40)Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, $44 (reduced from $60)More items This year, Curry's are vowing that you won't find cheaper than in their Black Friday sale, and it's released several items early. Shop handbags, crossbodies, totes and more at up to 70% off right now. Not quite, but were starting our holiday sales early this year! Their Black Friday sale with start on Nov. 16, with 5-Days of Deals starting on Nov. 25.
You can now save 50 on all built-in appliances over 399, 100 off when you spend 600 and all sorts of other deals across tech and homeware big and small. $300 $480 SAVE $180 (37%) Buy From Amazon. Take 15% off sitewide with early access to Black Friday savings! Jun 29, 2022. The best early Black Friday deals on Apple devicesAirPods deals. We consider Apples AirPods Pro to be among the best wireless earbuds you can buy right now. iPad deals. As a part of its Black Friday sales, Amazon is currently discounting up to $150 off of both the Wi-Fi and LTE configurations of the latest iPad Pro.MacBook deals. Mac mini deals. iMac deals. Apple Watch deals. Apple Pencil deals. Also this week: pre-holiday markdowns from Walmart . It kills all the excitement of Black Friday shopping and the extended sales dont have the same cachet. November 9, 2020 by Andrew Girdwood Leave a Comment Ads: Links may earn commission.
Shark AV993 IQ Robot Vacuum. They will have an early Black Friday sale starting on Nov. 4 and running until Nov. 29, with deals on 4K TVs, laptops, kitchen appliances and more. Best Apple AirPods Deals. The early bird gets the best discounts. This is a sale that you wont want to miss. Ulta Christmas 2021. Buy three fragrances from $69 and save 20%, four from $87 and save 25%, five from $95 and get 35% off, and six from $104 and get 40% off. The early sales also could have a negative impact on fourth-quarter results. Crew: Save up to 50% on "holiday party-ready" styles, plus an extra 30% off sale styles. In the past, the best Black Friday deals would usually show up around a week before Thanksgiving. Heres a look at some of the top early Black Friday deals: Amazon. While Black Friday sales have been going on throughout November with early sales starting before Halloween, the official shopping extravaganza has arrived. Stores open early Walmart, Best Buy, Old Navy, Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney and Kohl's All the items part of this sale are at this link; use promo code BLACK at checkout. Per tradition, Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving, so this year it falls on November 26. Macy's Black Friday deals 2021. Its 25% off. The decision of retailers to begin Black Friday promotions as early as October has potentially massive negative ramifications for the food industry as a whole, said John Ross, $250 at Target. to Use on Prime Day. $380 now 34% off. This year, the Target Black Friday sales kick off in earnest on November 26. There's currently 25% off in the company's early access Black Friday sale - plus you get two free cloud pillows and a sheet set added to your order. Are there other ways to save? The National Retail Federation predicts a sales increase of 8.5% to 10.5% for all of November and December, after 8% growth in those months in 2020. If you're looking for clothing for the entire family, Let the savings begin! This year, Black Friday lands on Friday, November 26, but were already seeing several retailersincluding Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart hosting early Black Friday 2021 deals. Amazon began offering Black Friday-worthy deals in early October, including on Get a head start on gift shopping before the holiday craze gets underway.
The 10 best early Amazon Prime Day 2022 deals to shop right now. Prime Day Deals. If you're looking to get your hands on a trendy tote before the Black Friday 2021 shopping rush, Coach Outlet has you covered, with massive markdowns on Coach purses, crossbodies and more. Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apparel, Footwear, and Accessories J. Dyson V8 Motorhead Origin Cordless Stick Vacuum. The early bird gets the best discounts. $250. Currys | Shop here. Amazon UK has the Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebook Gift Set in their early Black Friday sale. Based on the big discounts already in effect at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Gap, Staples, and plenty of other retailers, it looks like Black Friday sales are well underway. Black Friday retail sales are up 29.8% versus 2020 through 3 p.m. Rural King Supply Christmas 2021. Clean up this Black Friday with an amazing early deal on a Shark Robot Vacuum. Jun 30, 2022. Target is offering new early holiday deals across all categories each day. Why wait? - [ Get it ] 6 Black Friday in July Sales to Shop This Month. Given the prevalence of early sales in 2021, we expect to see plenty of retailers offering weeks-long and even month-long Black Friday sales in 2022. Big Lots Christmas 2021. Pre-Black Friday deals start popping up in early November and some even in October. This big event is Targets Black Friday in July sale, as it features deep discounts on items from every department of the store, with new deals popping up every day. In 2021, it was more rare for a retailer to be open on Thanksgiving than closed. For even more discounts every day, join our free loyalty program Target Circle and reach for your Target RedCard. You dont have to wait to get great prices on tech deals. From Monday, July 11 through Wednesday, July 13, you can shop for show-stopping savings with no membership fees.. Jun 29, 2022.
Though the doorbusters in this years Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales generated a lot of enthusiasm, you can take advantage of great prices all year long when you shop electronics at Best Buy. Black Friday early sales: D&D Gift Set reduced by 25%. Drone - Camera. Black Friday falls on Friday, November 26, 2021, this year, but if you prefer to get a head start on shopping for steep discounts, you can find plenty of early deals right now. Youll find great gift ideas for smartphones, computers, virtual reality gear, video games, computers, laptops and tablets, Then, on Nov. 29, BJs is The early sales will run through Friday, October 22 and include Chromebooks from $99 and up to $540 off Samsung appliances. Samsung 43-inch The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV (2021): $999.99 $797.99 at Amazon. Heres some good news for what might be a challenging 2020 gift-buying season! Menards Christmas 2021. Black Friday 2021 deals are live at Coach Outlet. Targets store locator will have up-to-date hours for your local store on Black Friday. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are still a few days away, but many retailers have launched their biggest sales of the year. Jun 29, 2022. This year, Walmart announced it will carry on Black Friday Deals for Days with a three-event sale extravaganza: Event one: Online on November 3 at 7 p.m. local time; in stores November 5 at 5 a.m. local time. Event two: Online November 10 at 7 p.m. local time; in stores November 12 at 5 a.m local time. On Black Friday, 64% are likely to shop in stores, up from 51% last year, a recently released NRF survey found. Ace Hardware Christmas 2021. Aspinal of London | Shop here . Bed Bath & Beyond Christmas 2021. Aspinal of London | Shop here . Give the gift of clean floors with this deeply discounted cordless Dyson one of our go-to models for picking up pet hair. https://blackfriday.com/news/stores-opening-early-on-black-friday 4. All the Ways You Can Earn Amazon Credit (up to $90!) We expect this trend to continue in 2022. At 37% off, this is an early Black Friday deal worth taking advantage of. Clothing. Amazon Prime Day is returning to its traditional July time slot in 2022 after two years of moving the sales event due to pandemic disruptions. Beats Solo Wireless Headphones. Jo-Ann Christmas 2021. This year, we expect these sales to start before Prime day.
Sort by. Prime Day Amazons members-only, summertime version of Black Friday is eagerly awaited every year by deal seekers hoping to score big discounts on electronics, appliances, clothes, toys and more. ET, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse. These are the earliest Black Friday deals we've ever seen from Best Buy. In 2021, we witnessed over 20 stores running Black Friday in July sales (or a variant of it). Costco Christmas 2021. Apple-AirPods-Pro - Credit: Amazon.
Although timing varies from store to store, most sales events start in the second week of July and go to the latter part of July to coincide with Amazon's prime day. Pre-Black Friday deals usually drop days before the big event, so you can have early savings on just about everything. Blain's Farm & Fleet Christmas 2021. Coach Outlet. The Best Early Black Friday Sales 2020 at Design Within Reach The luxury home furnishings retailer officially kicked off its holiday sale on November 9th. Dossier, which makes luxury perfume alternatives, has a stacked promotion going on.
Pre-Black Friday discounts usually start around early-November, but this year we are expecting Pre-Black Friday sales to start as early as Mid October, so check for early deals on TVs, Amazon Prime Day 2022 Is Fast ApproachingHere Are The Best Early Deals.


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Countless Groupon imitators have sprun up after that company's proven success with the group-buying model. But they're not the only game in Chicago that's getting copied.
New greeting card start-up Chirply, which opened for retail business on Friday, shows that Threadless' crowdsourcing M.O. is still viable.
Where Threadless asks its community of creative types to submit designs for T-shirts that are then voted on by the publich, for Chirply substitues stationary to be printed on greeting cards. Same concept, different product.

domain: news


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In a letter to Jaishankar, a copy of which was seen by ET, Pfizer’s senior vice-president for global policy and international public affairs, Justin McCarthy, has said that “a series of regulatory initiatives and legal challenges have frayed relations between the Indian government and global pharmaceutical firms”, and urged the government to “shift from using destructive IP policy as an access strategy”.
In March, the drugmaker communicated to the ambassador that India's current IP regime is proving to be a big deterrent to future investment decision for Pfizer.Before this, in 2013, Pfizer’s chief IP counsel, Roy Waldron, in his testimonies to an US Congress committee, had slammed India’s IP regime.
The company lists five complaints, including India’s “discriminatory standards of patentability”, use of compulsory licensing, lack of data protection, some of which it claims violates the country’s global obligations under Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), a charge both Indian government and domestic industry refute.
“As a result of the Indian Supreme Court’s narrow construction of ‘efficacy’ in the Glivec decision, many valuable pharma innovations that improve the usefulness of existing drugs may be deemed un-patentable in India”, McCarthy’s letter alleges.
In 2013, the top court had upheld a decision of the patent office to not grant patent to Swiss drugmaker Novartis’ cancer drug Glivec on the ground that it does not enhance therapeutic efficacy over existing drugs and, hence, fails to meet the criteria of section 3(d) under the Indian Patent Act. Some top pharma companies have been lobbying to get this part of the Patent Act struck off, but this change in legislation would need an amendment.
However, the Indian Pharma Alliance, a grouping of leading domestic drugmakers, has dismissed these charges. “The Indian government and the Indian industry believe that our patent law is TRIPS compliant. More importantly, a recent joint publication of World Health Organisation, World Trade Organisation and World Intellectual Property Organisation have also acknowledged section 3(d) as a narrow definition of patentability criteria employed to prevent strategies employed to delay generic competition,” the grouping’s secretary general, DG Shah, said.
Officials told ET that Pfizer’s complains could have partly prompted Jaishankar to suggest that the government should engage with US pharma firms on IPR issues. Shortly after, Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth called a meeting of top bureaucrats on Monday to deliberate on IPR issues, which are being raised by the US.
However, officials present in the meeting told ET that India would not consider diluting its IPR policy, which it believes to be fully TRIPS-compliant, and may even consider challenging the US in multilateral dispute resolution forums if it chooses to impose trade sanctions.
Pfizer has also alleged that India’s first-ever grant of compulsory licence to Natco Pharma in 2012—to manufacture a cheaper version of Bayer’s cancer drug Nexavar—violated the TRIPS clause that prohibits WTO members from discriminating based on whether products are imported or locally produced. This was one of the grounds on which the patent office had granted the CL, but subsequently, this ground was overruled by the Intellectual Property Appellate Board, according to Shah.
The company has raised apprehensions about a CL committee set up by India’s health ministry. “The government of India appears to be considering issuance of CL for at least two medicines on the grounds of national emergency, extreme urgency and public non commercial use”.
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After QIA, yet another oil-rich Gulf sovereign fund, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), is looking to buy an additional stake in Mukesh Ambani’s retail empire. ADIA is seeking to invest $600 million into the organised retailing business of Asia's richest person, people aware of the developments told ET, at valuations that significantly exceed those during an earlier concluded round three years ago.Bigger Ecommerce Sales Set to Light up Volumes
The upcoming festive season sales are expected to bring the steepest online discounts since Covid, up to 60% in certain categories, with several ecommerce majors indicating a push to expand volumes.
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On-the-Go stores will extend the brand and be located on TotalEnergies service station forecourts to cater to motorists and busy consumers.
Global consumer trust in the internet continues to drop, Ipsos finds
By our News Team | 2022
Online users in almost every country surveyed want better control over how their personal data is collected, used and sold.
An international survey reveals that users trust in the internet has dropped significantly since 2019. This is one of the key findings of a 20-country Ipsos survey released yesterday (Monday) by The New Institute in Hamburg, Germany.
Only six in 10 (63%) internet users, on average across the 20 countries included in the study, said they trust the internet. This is down 11 percentage points since a similar survey was conducted in 2019.
Photo by Mati Mango from Pexels
The exception is Japan, which showed a 7 percentage-point increase in trust. But Japan is the rare exception, as the findings reveal that confidence shrunk by double digits in India (-10 points), Sweden (-10), Kenya (-11), the United States (-12), Canada (-14), Brazil (-18), and Poland (-26).
Privacy was a major concern for those surveyed. Seventy-nine percent expressed worry about their online privacy.
Distrust in the largest information network ever created
“The survey clearly shows distrust in the largest communication and information network humankind has ever created,” said Dr Christian Kastrop, Program Chair for Socio-Economic Transformation, at The New Institute, a socio-economic and political think-tank.
“Clearly, internet users want concrete and effective policies that will empower and protect them.”
Respondents indicated that the most effective policies to improve trust in the internet should include:
- Protection of user privacy (65%).
- Protection of users’ personal data (65%).
- The establishment of standards detailing how internet companies collect and make use of user data (62%).
- The establishment of policies allowing users to control their own data (62%).
“There’s little doubt that we are witnessing a steady global erosion of user trust in the internet. And that scepticism is being driven by concerns about data privacy and security,” said Dr Fen Hampson, a Visiting Fellow at The New Institute and a Chancellor’s Professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
“The survey makes it abundantly clear that there is broad support for regulatory and technical innovations aimed at giving online citizens control over their own data. And it is also clear that is vital to restoring trust in the internet.”
Focus on South Africa and Kenya
Only two African countries were included in the 20-country study, namely South Africa and Kenya. In Kenya seven in every 10 (70%) expressed trust in the internet. South Africans were no different to those in the rest of the world about their trust of the internet, with 63% agreeing that overall, they trust the internet. In line with findings in other countries of shrinking trust in the internet, this showed a decline of 9 percentage points since 2019.
Citizens’ concerns about online privacy ranked very high, with 93% in Kenya and 88% in South Africa voicing their concerns – considerably higher than the 79% overall country average. In Kenya there was an increase of 49 percentage points in this indicator since 2019.
Probing whether South Africans and Kenyans thought the internet was effectively governed, almost six in ten in both countries – Kenya (59%) and South Africa (57%) – agreed. Notably, Kenyans were more positive than South Africans about new government policies to improve internet trust.
“In both Kenya and South Africa, citizens are looking to government policies to protect them on the internet. But in our opinion a fine balance needs to be maintained between freedom of speech and stricter government policies so as not to suppress or deny freedom of information access and flow in our democracies,” said Mari Harris, Knowledge Director in sub-Saharan Africa for Ipsos.
The social media platform’s ad revenue is up 25.8% year-on-year and is forecast to total US$71-billion for 2024.
Alliance offers a simple, fast and convenient experience for consumers to buy groceries online, with orders being delivered within an hour.
Consumer must feel that buying the product will somehow elevate them so that they sit more squarely alongside the influencer they follow.
What are the key things that people consider before buying online? Researchers find that the computer mouse holds important clues.
Bon Marché has typically confined itself to the affluent suburbs of Zimbabwe’s capital. Now it has opened in Marondera in Mashonaland East,
As rugby fans liken the SA national team’s alternative kit to the Checkers Sixty60 e-commerce platform, the brand seizes the opportunity.
Sports apparel company renews an old partnership with Newcastle United as it further cements its presence in top soccer competitions.
Interactive Advertising Bureau study finds internet advertising has reached a new high of 34% of the overall SA advertising market.
Toyota marketing veteran takes over the reins as the automobile industry gets to grips with a range of new challenges.
By excluding innovative platforms and the content that circulates on them, B2B marketers could be missing out on opportunities.


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With the Soccer World Cup just around the corner, a new campaign from Nike SB entitled "NAS 4UADRAS" (In Courts) honors the connection between the two sports played by millions of Brazilians: skateboarding and football.
To celebrate these two sports, Nike SB adapted the Lunar Gato soccer shoe for skaters, joining technologies to meet the needs of both disciplines.
With the lack of skate spots in Brazil, skaters have found that the various sport courts had what they were looking for and those who used the alternative spaces started a movement in the spirit of "do it yourself" where turning the goalposts over made the perfect rails and so forth.
The leather model, in blue, was developed to have a wear and discoloration, indicating the level of usage of the footwear skate sessions. This technology was introduced in order to simulate the wear on the floors of the courts. The Lunarlon cushioning absorbs impact and outsole offers great grip for control skateboard.
Check out the video below (I managed to find a subtitled version)
Click on the images above to find them on our online store.


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The 2022 Sand Sports Super Swap may have been near the coast of California, but we spotted Jaws, Blake Wilkey’s TT Bug, at the show.
The GMC Sierra AT4 made an impact in the off-road market when it was released in 2019, but the all-new 2022 Sierra AT4X takes that to a whole new level.
GMC tosses us the keys to the all-new GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate to see what is premium luxury as well as Super Cruise.
This 1984 Land Rover Defender 110 High Capacity Pickup 4WD Right Hand Drive is packed with features including a turbo-diesel engine.
Trophy Burro’s owner, Simon Flynn, and his 1969 Ford F100 has taken his truck and given it a little more Burro style.
There are some things in life which size isn’t experienced until it is seen in person. That is the case with Warfighter Made’s Beefy.
We had the chance to get behind the wheel of the 2021 Commander Max XT 1000R to see just how purpose-built this UTV is.
Getting behind the wheel of a 2020 Can-Am Maverick X3 X RS Turbo RR to see if it is all that it is cracked out to be. See what we thought!


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Singapore-based DigiBankASIA has teamed up with IT consulting firm Xebia to launch a new full-service digital bank in Philippines.
The companies are currently working with the country’s regulators for the pilot launch of the digital bank, which will be known as UNObank.
UNO is neo banking brand of DigibankASIA for license based and over the top digital banks.
Under the arrangement, Xebia will serve as the UNO’s Digital & Innovation Technology partner to further develop Cognito, UNO’s digital-first platform.
Xebia is known for its expertise in technologies such as AI/ML, IoT, AR/VR, Cloud, DevOps, Big Data & Analytics.
UNO CEO and co-founder Manish Bhai said: “We have found a hi-tech engineering partner in Xebia whose approach aligns well with UNObank’s objective of an highly personalised, AI-first, fully composable, cloud native, full stack digital bank.
Xebia Global Services CEO Anand Sahay said: “Xebia is proud to partner with best minds in the world who are reimagining banking and disrupting the market. In the digital era, companies that seek to be the best, acknowledge that even with great products and services, a Customer-First approach is what makes them wins the game.”
UNO CTO and co-founder Puneet Gupta said: “UNO’s AI-first capabilities mean that it is highly adaptable and completely customer-centric – a great example of what a truly composable banking stack should be.
“Each user will experience the bank as if it were uniquely designed around their needs. That’s the power of an AI-first, all cloud, fully digital user journey based orchestrated platform.”


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Style Notes: Kylie Jenner Searching for Cosmetics Retail Space; Fists Fly at Colette
In case you missed it.
Kylie Jenner Searching for Space to Open Kylie Cosmetics Store [Cosmopolitan]
Kylie Jenner might just be opening a Kylie Cosmetics store in the near future. The reality star turned beauty mogul on Thursday teased on Snapchat that she's looking for a new location for a brick-and-mortar store, showing the interior of a possible retail space. "Looking for Kylie Cosmetics stores right now," she says in the video. Jenner has stated in the past that she'd be interested in expanding her line beyond lip kits, and a new store could be the perfect opportunity to launch more product.
Ian Connor, Theophilous London Brawl at Colette Boutique in Paris [WWD]
Things got a little out of hand at Paris boutique Colette on Thursday night. Streetwear fans stopped by the store to catch A$AP Mob (A$AP Rocky and A$AP Bari), who were celebrating the launch of their brand Vlone's collaboration with the boutique, as well as Off-White creative director Virgil Abloh, who was doing a book signing. But all eyes were on guests Ian Connor and Theophilous London, who — after an apparent Twitter quarrel — threw some IRL punches. Witnesses say that Connor lunged at London before being escorted out by security. Bari then chased Connor out of the store, where Connor turned to punch him in the face, too. Needless to say, onlookers got more action than they bargained for.
Kardashian-Approved Waist Trainers Settle Lawsuit [The Fashion Law]
Waist Gang Society LLC., the waist trainers that have been endorsed by the Kardashian-Jenner set on Instagram, settled a $5 million deceptive marketing lawsuit outside of court on Thursday. Plaintiff Sarah Hawes, who initially filed the suit in a federal court in Los Angeles last March, argued that the company's claims that the trainers burn fat were completely false and that "products have absolutely no effect on fat loss."


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BEIJING, Jan. 14 -- Farm produce prices in 36 major Chinese cities rose slightly in the week ending Jan. 12 compared with the previous week, showed Ministry of Commerce statistics on Tuesday.
Average wholesale prices of 18 kinds of vegetables rose 3.3 percent from a week earlier, while the costs of peppers and tomatoes increased 11.5 percent and 9.9 percent respectively.
The average wholesale cost of aquatic products rose 0.3 percent and the price of eggs rose 0.4 percent.
The cost of beef edged up 0.2 percent, while pork prices dropped 1.4 percent compared with the previous week.
Food accounts for about one-third of China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation.
December's CPI rose 2.5 percent year on year, down from 3 percent in November and 3.2 percent in October, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.


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(OnFocus) While dining out isn’t possible due to COVID-19, Nutz Deep II is still available to grill up its famous burgers. (MENU HERE)
“We are offering curbside pickup along with delivery,” said Ann Dieringer, manager. The full menu is available along with carryouts of beer, and there is no minimum order.
The state order issued Tuesday which restricts gatherings of 10 or more people and closes dining rooms at restaurants and bars has been a struggle for local businesses who are working to adapt to the changes.
“It was a complete shock for a lot of people,” Dieringer said.
Find the full Nutz Deep II menu at www.nutzdeepbarwi.com. Orders can currently be placed from 11-2 p.m. and 4-7 p.m.
Find their MENU HERE.


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Microsoft is training its employees on the impending release of Surface RT, pre-orders for which are on a three-week waiting list for the $499 model.
Microsoft staff should know more about Surface RT when the device launches in seven days
Microsoft’s statement on the training came after an investigation into how much employees know on the product found little is known on why Surface RT is feature-limited.
Specifically, what employees know on the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8. Windows RT only supports apps from the Windows Store, meaning all non-Store apps are unavailable. Windows 8 Pro, allows both form of app installations e.g. regular and Store apps.
When The Verge asked representatives about the differences between the two products, issues were not fully explained. To be fair one employees said x86 software isn’t supported, while others claimed the differences are negligible. This is despite Windows 8 releasing in eight days.
Microsoft said back during Windows 8’s release it would make the differences between the two operating systems clear. If consumers don’t know the difference, then expectations may be changed when using the operating system. Attempting to download non-Windows Store apps, and then finding it can’t happen, will be a harsh rebuttal.
Website More Precise: Pre-Order Page Clearly Explains Differences Despite Reports Claiming Otherwise
Granted most consumers won’t ask about Windows RT unless buying Surface. Heading to the product’s website does give a clear description of RT’s limitations, contrasting The Verge’s original statement in the report; users can’t download apps from the desktop, the frequently asked questions on Surface’s website reads.
Surfaces became available for pre-order and is seemingly popular, with the sans Touch Cover model now labeled with a three-week shipping date. Considering Microsoft is heavily featuring the cover in its advertisements, it may be a surprise the version is the highest-selling thus far. That said, buying the Touch Cover separately will costs users $120.
Windows 8 launches October 26 worldwide. Surface launches midnight on October 25, technically 26 alongside Windows 8, during a celebration event Microsoft is holding.


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RateGain’s IPO allotment status would be announced today — GMP at ₹37
- RateGain intended to raise ₹1,335 crore through this public issue.
- RateGain is seeking a valuation of $600 million at the upper end of the price band.
- It is a SaaS platform, which solely focuses on the travel and hospitality segment.
AdvertisementThe allotment status of Rategain’s initial public offering (IPO) is likely to be announced today, December 14. The issue has been subscribed 17 times in the three days of its public issue between December 7 to December 9, 2021.
The issue reserved for non-institutional buyers — like companies and high networth individuals — has been subscribed over 42 times. The company received bids for 30 crore equity shares versus the issue size of 1.7 crore shares up for sale.
The company intended to raise ₹1,335 crore through this public issue. The price range of RateGain’s IPO has been set at ₹405-₹425. The minimum lot size is 35 shares, meaning a retail investor would have to shell out ₹14,875 to buy one lot.
The grey market premium (GMP), premium at which investors are comfortable buying the shares before it gets listed on a stock exchange, was at ₹37 on December 13. The company will likely list on the stock exchange on December 17.
Here is how to check RateGain’s IPO allotment status on the stock exchange website:
- Go to the BSE website or NSE website here.
- On BSE, Select 'Equity' and then from the dropdown, select ‘RateGain’.
- Now, enter your application number and PAN.
- Click on 'Search'.
- Please note the details will only be available once the shares are allotted.
- Visit the registrar's website here.
- Click on 'Select company' and click on ‘RateGain’.
- Once the company is selected, you will have to enter either your PAN detail, the application number, or the client ID.
- Enter the captcha and click ’submit
RateGain — founded in 2004 by Bhanu Chopra — solely focuses on software stack for travel and hospitality segment. The company’s softwares covers an entire set of data points including pricing, rating, ranking, availability, room description, cancellation policy, discounting and packages, among other things.
It has over 1,434 customers — across the hotel, hospitality and online travel agency (OTA) segment — spread across 110 countries. It’s clientele includes Lemon Tree, InterContinental Hotels Group, Kessler Collection, GroupOn and Sabre GLBL.
RateGain is seeking a valuation of ₹4,537 crore (about $600 million) at the upper end of the price band.
After giving up on 90-minute delivery five years ago due to lack of profitability, Grofers is now chasing 10-minute delivery
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Tega Industries meets its GMP of ₹300 and lists at 66% premium
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China's top market watchdog has imposed a maximum-level fine of 36.5 million yuan (about 5.74 million U.S. dollars) on 15 tutoring firms amid surging public complaints.
The 15 institutions, including New Oriental Education & Technology Group and Wall Street English, were fined for violations including misleading advertisements and pricing frauds, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said Tuesday.
Yuan Xilu, an official with the SAMR, noted that their malpractices have damaged the legitimate rights and interests of students and disrupted the orderly market competition. The firms have been urged to rectify their problems, and recidivism will mean business suspension or license revocation, he added.
The tutoring industry should not develop for profiteering, and disorderly expansion should be forestalled, said Yuan, adding that market regulators will build a long-term mechanism of oversight and improve the code of conduct and supervision principles.
The first quarter of 2021 saw surging complaints about the tutoring industry, with the total number of complaints filed by consumers via the online service platform "12315" topping 47,000, up 65 percent from a year earlier, he said.


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and today, this happened:
Glassdoor ordered to reveal identity of negative reviewers to New Zealand toymaker
"A California court has ordered employer-rating site Glassdoor to hand over the identities of users who claimed they had negative experiences working for New Zealand toy giant Zuru.
In a decision that could prompt unease for online platforms that rely on anonymity to attract candid reviews, Glassdoor was ordered to provide the information so Zuru could undertake defamation proceedings against the reviewers in New Zealand."
🍹🌴 a smol island in the sun 🌴🍹


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Carbon capture technology is a type of carbon capture process in which carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and stored.
The technology is widely used in vehicles to reduce emissions.
It can be applied to both fuel cells and combustion engines, according to Carbon Capture Technology Association, a trade group for the technology industry.
The company said the technology would be available for a range of vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric and plug-ins.
“As we continue to invest in EVs and the EV ecosystem, we expect to continue to develop technologies to meet these needs, such as Carbon Capture,” Delphi said in a statement.
“The technology is an important addition to the electric vehicle and fuel cell ecosystem and represents an exciting addition to our efforts to address global CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions.”
The company expects to release a prototype in the second quarter.
The new technology, which is based on a process that is already used to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, will allow the carbon to be captured from the vehicle and transported to a lab, where it can be used to produce electricity or other products.
Delphi, the world’s largest maker of carbon-capture technology, has been developing the technology for years.
It is currently developing technologies that could be used in battery electric vehicles.
Delphi said the company is working with a range in electric vehicle charging stations and other plug- in hybrid vehicles, but that its initial focus is on plug–in hybrids.


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For the first time ever, the logo of a Bollywood film has been made by artisans! The marketing team of Sui Dhaaga – Made in India wanted to celebrate the rich and diverse culture of making Indian handicraft. So the team reached out to local artisans and craftsmen from across the length and breadth of the country to create the logo of the film in their unique stitching styles.
“To position our film Sui Dhaaga – Made in India, we realised that it was just not enough to act like a film marketeer. In fact we had to look at ourselves as a team marketing the art and handicraft culture of our country. With this embodiment of our strategy we needed an idea that would be the fulcrum of our entire campaign. And what could be a better idea than inviting the artisans of our country to design the logo of our film. We reached out to 15 uniquely skilled artists/artist groups across the lengths and breadths of our nation who helped us design our film logo. It has been an exhaustive and most rewarding experience for all of us at YRF. It has taken six months to plan, research and execute our logo in 15 different styles that celebrates our country’s diversity and entrepreneur spirit.” says Manan Mehta, VP – Marketing and Merchandising, YRF.
The Sui Dhaaga logo has been done in a striking, globally popular Indian hand needlework forms of Kashida and Sozni from Kashmir, colourful Phulkari from Punjab, the intricate thread work forms Rabari and Mochi Bharat from Gujarat, Phool Patti from Uttar Pradesh and Zardozi work from Lucknow. It has also be created in Rajasthan's prominent crafts like Aari, Banjara and Gota Patti, Tamil Nadu's popular Toda style and Karnataka's Kasuti design. Traveling towards the east, which constitutes of over 50 percent of the India's handloom exports, the film's logo has been made in Pipli style from Odisha, Handloom work from Assam, Kantha stitch work from West Bengal.
By creating a logo in as many as 15 different needle art forms from India, Sui Dhaaga hopes to create awareness of India’s culture amongst today’s youth and the impact that it leaves on modern design, fabrics and fashion at large. Interestingly, YRF also chose to release to the logo on National Handloom Day that celebrates the magnificence of Indian handloom the world over.
A film about finding love and respect through self-reliance, Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma starrer Sui Dhaaga - Made in India is a heart-warming story that celebrates the spirit of self-reliance. The film’s plot is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and takes a leaf out of the hugely acclaimed Make In India campaign. While Varun plays the role of a tailor, Anushka plays an embroiderer in the film.
Both champion actors, Varun and Anushka have been paired for the first time and are definitely the most-awaited on-screen jodis of 2018. The National Award-winning, dream-team of director Sharat Kataria and producer Maneesh Sharma team up again for Yash Raj Films’ entertainer Sui Dhaaga - Made in India that is set to release on September 28 this year, just before Gandhi Jayanti.


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Consumer Group Challenges Valve Resale Policy
Gamasutra reported earlier that the Federation of German Consumer Association has decided to file a complaint against Valve in regards to Steam’s end-user agreement. Valve’s end-user agreement makes it so users are not able to resell their digital content, which violates a recent European court ruling.
The association believes that even though Valve has been working to grant more leniency that is is not enough at this point. They feel that any product a user purchase from the Steam Store should be able to be resold as is possible with any other game product.
Currently Steam as well as other digital shops such as PSN offer no way to return or resell digital content that may be unwanted. Recently one of the DualShockers staff members went through some difficulty trying to return a digital release that was not functioning properly on his PS3.
It will be interesting to see how far this case goes and what changes can or will be made in regards to digital resales and returns.


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Digital TV News: Simplestream
Simplestream powers Islam Channel streaming service
Jul 15, 2021 – Islam Channel has chosen to partner with Simplestream to expand its live and on-demand streaming service. The new service is built on Simplestream's App Platform and allows audiences to access content on multiple devices.
News categories: Simplestream, Islam Channel, Josh Harrington, Mohamed Harrath, Apps, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Streaming, UK, Worldwide
Simplestream selected to power GB News OTT services
Jul 13, 2021 – Simplestream has been selected by recently launched British TV news channel, GB News, to power a range of OTT services. The digital offering complements the service’s traditional linear TV distribution strategy.
News categories: Simplestream, GB News, Dan Finch, Marc Schipper, Apps, Digital TV, Streaming, UK
V-Nova partners with Simplestream for Pan-African streaming service MVMO
Sep 11, 2019 – V-Nova is the key enabler for a streaming service, MVMO, due to launch in Africa in late 2019. The service will combine the V-Nova P+ codec-agnostic enhancement with Simplestream's streaming platform to deliver content throughout the continent.
News categories: V-Nova, Simplestream, Creative Africa Exchange, Guido Meardi, Dan Finch, Sandra Iyawa, Africa, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Streaming
Simplestream powers Channel 4's Parasport and 2020 Paralympics online service
Sep 2, 2019 – Simplestream has built an accessible video platform and responsive website for Channel 4’s online coverage of Para Sport and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The service is provisioned to handle multiple live concurrent streams, on-demand video and includes adaptive bitrate encoding (ABR) for up to 10 profiles.
News categories: Simplestream, Channel 4, Dan Finch, Pete Andrews, Advertising, Big Data, Content Distribution, Digital TV, DRM, Streaming, UK
Simplestream launches its first 4K SVOD service with Blue Ant Media
Apr 4, 2019 – Simplestream has announced that its VOD-in-a-Box platform has been selected by Blue Ant Media to power its wildlife and nature 4K SVOD service, Love Nature 4K. It will be the first 4K video service designed, built and launched by Simplestream.
News categories: Simplestream, Blue Ant Media, Dan Finch, Greg Kampanis, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Streaming, Worldwide
Simplestream integrates BARB audience measurement for the UK
Mar 26, 2019 – Simplestream has announced that it has integrated BARB’s Dovetail audience measurement across its delivery platforms. This enables participating broadcasters and operators to more accurately measure reach across multiple devices.
News categories: Simplestream, BARB, Dan Finch, Advertising, Big Data, Content Distribution, Digital TV, UK
Simplestream delivers multiscreen upgrade for Law&Crime Network
Feb 25, 2019 – Law&Crime has turned to Simplestream to enhance the content delivery capabilities of its multiscreen service to better cater to providers and engage with new audiences. The partnership follows a recent expansion of Law&Crime across several new OTT distribution platforms.
News categories: Simplestream, Law&Crime, Dan Finch, Juan Miguel Bassalik, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Streaming, USA
Simplestream partners with NPAW for OTT data analytics
May 10, 2018 – NPAW (NICE PEOPLE AT WORK) and Simplestream have announced that Simplestream has chosen NPAW as its data analytics technology provider for its VOD-in-a-Box service and its bespoke OTT projects.
News categories: Simplestream, NPAW, Lewis Arthur, Victor Carbonell, Big Data, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Streaming, Worldwide
HistoryHit.TV uses Simplestream VOD-in-a-Box for history SVOD service
Mar 6, 2018 – Simplestream has announced that its VOD-in-a-Box platform has been selected by Hit Networks to build on-demand streaming service HistoryHit.TV. HistoryHit.TV is a global SVOD channel that provides programming for history buffs.
News categories: Simplestream, History Hit, Dan Finch, Tom Clifford, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Mobile, Streaming, Worldwide
- More TV programmers tap Beachfront and Canoe to optimize ad revenues
- Accedo powers TVO and TVOkids apps in Canada
- Competition Commission of India approves Zee-SonyLIV merger, with conditions
- TV panel prices break five quarter fall in October
- 3SS and P3 partner for in-car entertainment on Android Automotive OS
- VideoAmp adds second-by-second ad performance measurement
- LG webOS Hub offers more customization for TV makers, more content for viewers
- Almost 2/3s of U.S. video streaming subscribers canceled a service in the last year
- Disney+ and Star+ relaunch on PS5 consoles
- 4Sales partners with ViewersLogic on TV attribution for Channel 4
- Astro Malaysia goes live with Synamedia engagement analytics
- Nielsen enables 'Always On' YouTube ad measurement
- Xperi completes spin-off to become independent public company
- Digicel launches OTT and IPTV services in the Caribbean with mediaClass
- Vodafone Portugal to acquire Nowo
- Eurofins divests Digital Testing business
- Smart Home device growth slows along with global economy, says IDC
- U.S. streamers now only spend 1 in 3 hours using traditional platforms
- ContentBay launches, bringing content licensing into the digital era
- Qualcomm and Rohde & Schwarz unveil 5G Broadcast system at IMC22


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Tag : London
London’s New Bond Street has been named the most expensive retail street in Europe – and third in the world – with prices reaching $1,714/sq ft (£1,335/sq ft).
Positive start to The Textile ForumSubscription
UK fabric trade show Textile Forum got off to a busy start this week, as buyers flocked to One Marylebone in London to see what textile manufacturers had to offer.
Master Debonair closes London shop Subscription
Menswear independent Master Debonair has shut its London store.
Furla unveils third London storeSubscription
Premium Italian accessories brand Furla has opened its third standalone store in London, at Westfield London shopping centre in White City.
With more than 50 stores across New Zealand, Australia and the US, antipodean menswear brand Rodd & Gunn had made its first move into Europe via a store on London’s Mayfair. CEO Mike Beagley discusses the launch.
Snow Peak to open in the UK Subscription
Japanese outdoor brand Snow Peak is opening its first European store on London’s Regent Street this autumn.
First look: Osman relocates London store Subscription
Designer womenswear brand Osman has relocated its “House of Osman” flagship from London’s Fitzrovia to Covent Garden.
Diesel to launch new concept at Coal Drops Yard Subscription
Italian fashion brand Diesel is rolling out its new store concept at Coal Drops Yard in London’s King’s Cross on 12 August, Drapers can reveal.
Private equity firm Bluegem Capital Partners has offloaded its controlling stake in luxury department store Liberty London, in a £300m deal.
Premium footwear brand Russell & Bromley is moving its store in London’s Covent Garden this autumn, from 117 Long Acre to 107 Long Acre.


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News By Tag
News By Location
Raj Ouellet - Goldxtrade - Possible Arguments for Higher Gold Prices
Basic rules of economics are at play with gold bullion prices
The importation of gold bullion into Mainland China from Hong Kong increased 94% in 2012 to a new all-time high. According to Bloomberg, 834.4 metric tons of gold bullion was imported into Mainland China in 2012, compared to only 432.2 metric tons in 2011. (Source: Bloomberg, February 5, 2013.)
In the first half of its fiscal year 2013, demand for gold bullion increased 29.15% in Pakistan. On a month-to-month basis, the appetite for gold bullion increased 121.96% from November to December 2012. (Source: Bullion Street, February 5, 2013.)
Standard Bank Plc notes that the demand for gold bullion in January 2013 was higher than usual. The Standard Bank Gold Physical Flow Index indicates that gold bullion demand in January increased to the highest it’s been since November 2012 due to “good” buying in South East Asia. (Source: Standard Bank Plc, January 22, 2013.)
In addition to this, the central banks, which I believe will become the biggest driver of gold bullion prices, have been buying more of the metal. In the last six out of seven quarters, central banks around the world have been purchasing about 100 metric tons of gold bullion. (Source: International Business Times, December 28, 2012.)
Let’s remember, central banks used to be the net sellers of gold bullion; now they are buyers. Let me give you some idea about the amount of their buying: the central bank of Ukraine increased its holdings of gold bullion to 7.72% in 2012, compared to 4.36% in 2011. Similarly, the central bank of Brazil doubled its holdings of gold bullion (which it keeps in reserves) from October 2012 to November 2012.
Gold bullion is becoming the “go-to” source for safety once again. It looks to be the only option to store wealth in a world where central banks are in a rush to devalue their paper currencies. Don’t listen to the “noise” about gold bullion; just look at the supply and demand situation, and you’ll see the fundamentals for gold bullion are quite strong.


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In addition to several initiatives across the UAE, this weekend is a great opportunity for you to take part in other events and activations to show your love and support to the people of Beirut.
Sweat for good
If you were contemplating skipping a Barry’s Bootcamp workout this weekend then we urge you to summon some extra energy, lace up those Nike’s and do at least one workout as all of the proceeds from classes this weekend (14 and 15 August) in both Marina and DIFC studios, will be donated to the Emirates Red Crescent in support of the Lebanese Red Cross.
Go the extra mile
Emirates has introduced a new initiative where for the next three months travellers around the world can donate cash or Skywards Miles via the Emirates Airline Foundation to be converted to cargo capacity to transport of critical aid and supplies to Beirut. For every donation, cargo capacity will be provided for humanitarian organisations to transport critical medical equipment and supplies, food and other emergency relief goods directly to Beirut through Emirates SkyCargo. Additionally, Emirates SkyCargo will further contribute by providing a 20 per cent reduction on air freight transportation charges for approved shipments, underscoring its commitment to expedite emergency relief efforts to Beirut.
Our favourite mini cupcake provider Sugargram has created a new Prayers for Beirut box with 100 per cent of the proceeds donated to the Lebanese Red Cross. Available exclusively on ChatFood, the box is priced at AED 125 for an assortment of 25 bite-size cupcakes.
Bags of hope
Dubai-based brand Talar Nina has introduced Beirut-inspired ‘Liban Tote Bag’ and money from every purchase will be donated to Lebanese Food Bank and Impact Lebanon. Featuring old Lebanese stamps from the ’60s and ’70s, this retro carry-on is a stylish reminder of the beautiful country.
Conscious health boost
Need to stock up on some fruit and veg? Delivery company Kibsons will donate 5 per cent from all sales that are made between August 12 and 14 to the Lebanese Red Cross. Not like you need another excuse to eat your five-a-day
Flow for change
Make your yoga sessions extra meaningful by heading to Shimis studio in Alserkal Avenue this Saturday. In partnership with Emirates Red Crescent, all the proceeds from the classes will go towards relief efforts in Beirut.
Time to give
On Saturday, Alserkal Avenue will be collecting donations such as clothing, food, toys, first aid kits, and money to help those in need. To make your donation even more meaningful, Alserkal will match everything that’s been raised on the day. Use Warehouse 46 for items and A4 space for cash donations.
After the weekend…
Dine for good
On Monday, August 17, La Cantine Du Faubourg is hosting a dinner in partnership with Emirates Red Crescent. The set menu featuring an array of dishes and drinks is priced at Dhs600 per person with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to support the efforts in Lebanon.


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Official Google Nexus 7 dock and case
Leaked details and images show sleek new peripherals on their way.
We'd love a Nexus 7 dock, please Google?
As always cometh a new device, cometh the peripherals. Oddly the Google Nexus 7 has so far been devoid of any official peripherals, apart from the promise of a dark-grey cover that hasn’t yet been released.
So it’s not entirely surprising that there’s new about a number of Powerpoint slides being leaked, which detail forthcoming Google peripherals for the Nexus 7.
Specifically there will be a dock that makes use of the so far useless four-pin pogo connector that’s on the device, a premium leather case, funky colourful travel cases and additional chargers.
The dock will be a welcome addition to everyone that wants to rest their Nexus 7 on the desk in a comfortable viewing angle while having it charged. So far it seems it’ll provide USB and audio connections but no HDMI output.
You might also like to read:
- Top 10 Google Nexus 7 features
- ASUS Google Nexus 7 16GB review
- Google debuts browser-integrated weather
- Google Nexus 7 now on sale
- What’s new in Android 4.1 Jelly Bean?
- Ice Cream Sandwich – a delicious technology treat


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Watch Dogs is arguably the most anticipated game of the remainder of the year (if you don’t count GTA 5, that is) and this latest trailer is basically Ubisoft bathing itself in the praise of various gaming publications.
No disrespect of course, I’m probably going to be buying it on day one. Ubisoft has every right to preen and show off the accolades it’s received over the (possibly genre-revolutionizing) game. It’s won over 90 nominations and awards so far, and if it’s a good as it looks, we can expect it to win even more when it actually comes out.
The Honored trailer shows off the impressive visuals we’ve come to expect from this game, expectations that were significantly let down by the horrid textures and lighting in the Aisha Taylor trailer.
However, Jonathan Morin, the creative director of Watch Dogs has come out and said that the poor visuals of the trailer were not due to it being run on current generation tech, but due to a communications mishap between a technician who was supposed to check the trailer for problems and the rest of the team.
According to Morin, having “hundreds of people working together causes communication issues”, and that there was “No worry to have on graphics at all” and that “I see the game every day and I can tell you, this trailer is far from it”.
Watch Dogs will be released on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U and PC on November 19 in the US and November 22 in Europe.
How excited are you for Watch Dogs?


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Augmented and virtual reality are catching on, even if it is still early days for both.
While some analysts at Strategy Analytics worry there aren’t enough engaging 360-degree VR movies and other content on the market, IDC analysts on Thursday said there are plenty of early business-focused rollouts of AR to justify optimism.[ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld’s Facebook page. ]
IDC pointed to medical, industrial and marketing applications already in use and predicted a bullish, 10-fold spike for AR and VR headsets by 2021.
At this year’s Mobile World Congress, vendors demonstrated a variety of capabilities: There were VR roller coasters provided by Samsung and flying wingsuit rides from smaller vendors where users reclined face down on a rotating apparatus while wearing a headset. Other companies, including Verizon, showed off AR capabilities using a smartphone or other device pointed at popular fashion magazines to activate images that demonstrate clothing and makeup variations.
A visitor tries out a virtual reality wingsuit at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Though only 10 million AR or VR headsets shipped globally in 2016, that number will reach nearly 100 million in 2021, IDC said. The research firm expects that healthcare, architecture, design firms and VR arcades will comprise about 38% of the market by then, with the remaining 62% coming from headsets shipped for consumers.
“It’s an aggressive forecast,” IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said in an interview. “A number of vendors [of headsets] rattle off chapter and verse of how they are going to [grow]. We know the interest is out there.”
IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani agreed: “We’re at the point where people are starting to get interested. IDC’s VR survey for the U.S. found a high number are interested.”
IDC’s projections are partly based on the “multiple dozens” of companies now selling consumer VR headsets in various countries, Ubrani said. In addition, several large global companies already offer headsets and gear, led by Samsung Gear VR, which has shipped 5 million units — about half the 2016 total. Samsung sells the Gear headset (which requires an additional Galaxy smartphone) for $100, but T-Mobile just put it on sale for half that price for its wireless customers.
At least 15 vendors worldwide offer AR headsets or glasses, led by Epson, IDC said. Epson makes three Moverio Smart Glasses models and a Moverio Smart Headset that range in price from $700 to $3,000.
Llamas cited many AR use cases emerging across multiple industries, as well as for games and movie content. “This sets the stage for the multiple aspects of the market that device makers, platforms and content providers and developers will be addressing in the months and years to come,” he said in a statement.
Llamas pointed to Embraer Commercial Aviation’s use of AR/VR goggles from Canon that can give business customers a view inside a business jet to help them decide the position and color of seats and furnishings. That process allows for faster production of custom planes.
In similar fashion, Case Western Reserve University has partnered with Cleveland Clinic using Microsoft HoloLens to teach human anatomy so students can get realistic views into the human body, Llamas said.
Ubrani said Epson has shown off AR Moverio glasses in Japanese baseball stadiums that allow fans to supplement a game with stats while they’re watching. The glasses can also let dentists pull up patient records while they’re peering into a person’s mouth.
IDC includes in its count of commercial VR and AR the numerous arcades in China’s cities where customers play online VR games. “A lot of VR gaming is taking place that way,” he said. Those headsets are purchased by the arcade or movie theater operators, and are counted as commercial sales, he explained.
Even with those kinds of early successes, VR still suffers from limited content. “There’s not a lot of VR content out there and what is out there is very targeted” to younger users and gamers, Ubrani said. Facebook, which purchased Oculus in 2014, allows users to create VR avatars to use in a virtual world, for example.
Strategy Analytics on Thursday said VR is “poised for tremendous growth over the next several years,” but tempered its optimism with a survey that indicates VR experiences are still wanting. “Current VR experiences lack the context required for real engagement with the medium,” the company said in a report.
Mathew Alton, an analyst at Strategy Analytics, said VR content can be made more compelling by adding sensory engagement for users to be able to “touch,” see and hear what’s happening in virtual spaces. Many early VR movies only allow a user to hear sounds and move in simple ways, if that. Adding social interactions with other VR users would help, the report said.
Despite such reservations, Strategy Analytics still believes the VR industry will pass $10 billion in revenues by 2022.
VR gear now on the market is sold at a wide range of prices, with the Google Daydream headset used with the Pixel smartphone starting at $80, while the HTC Vive with a headset, controller and other accessories can cost $800 to $1,000, depending on the configuration.
“There’s a huge disparity in price and performance right now,” Ubrani said. “We’re worried if someone goes out to try a really cheap headset that’s decent but not great and then gets turned off from scaling up with the next purchase. It’s still early days and that worry is more of a theory. It’s not like a smartphone where somebody might start with a low-quality device and move up.”
One turn-off: some users experience nausea or dizziness while wearing goggles, especially while tilting on a moving apparatus or chair or even while standing. Samsung showed off several different VR experiences for skiing or riding a roller coaster at Mobile World Congress as it has at other shows, and included warning signs for people with medical conditions and pregnant women.
Still, people lined up in droves to try out the experience.
Samsung treats visitors to virtual reality rides at its Mobile World Congress booth.
“We know that vendors realize there’s a whole group, a small part of the population — maybe 1% or 10% — who could get sick with VR,” Ubrani said. “It’s going to take education by vendors and word of mouth for people to realize that someone could face challenges to their eyes or might get nauseous. The concern is they end up blaming the technology rather than realizing its their eyes. People already realize if they can get [motion sickness], it’s not a good idea to go on a roller coaster.”


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Just weeks after it released the RAZR HD, Telstra has brought forward the launch of its compact sibling, the Motorola RAZR M. The handset will be available from October 30, with pre-orders available now.
Initially slated to go on sale in November, Telstra has brought the handset's release forward to the end of October, making the competitive run into Christmas even more interesting.
Available for $0 up front on the $60 plan or for $600 outright, the affordable handset is exclusive to the Telstra network until the end of the year.
The launch of the 4.3-inch qHD screened RAZR M marks a rapidly expanding 4G handset lineup for the Telstra network. The handset joins the RAZR HD, the Samsung Galaxy S3 4G, the iPhone 5 and the HTC One XL and Velocity in delivering super-fast LTE speeds.
With Australians clearly demonstrating their affinity for 4G services, we can expect to see more handsets join both Telstra's and Optus' 4G networks.


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Asda games buying boss Duncan Cross has hinted that the supermarket is ready to accommodate the sale of digital games – but said that any move into the space is not a priority’.
With the digital-only PSPgo due to hit shelves this year and Amazon US selling points cards for Microsoft’s online Xbox Live service, pressure is growing on retailers to take advantage of the straight-to-consumer model.
Speaking to MCV in an exclusive interview, Cross said:
"Right now it is not our priority, but we are obviously keeping an eye on the digital market. We need to make sure we are reacting as quickly as possible within the confines of a supermarket retailer. It is something we need to be aware of, but it’s not something we’re planning a radical overhaul of, at least in the next year or so."
To read our full interview with Duncan Cross, please click here.


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Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has announced an intention to float on the US stock market, with some estimates valuing the company at around $140bn, with the listing itself predicted to make profits...
Well-received Ryzen microprocessors aids recovery at AMD
Adobe finally succumbs to pressure to kill-off much maligned Flash app
Victims have paid out more than $25 million as a result of ransomware in the past two years
Intel Coffee Lake leak indicates three six-core LGA1151 parts with a 3.7GHz-4.3GHz top-of-the-range offering
Is Intel beginning to feel the heat from AMD Ryzen?


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HP has announced a new addition to its range of all-in-one (AiO) Windows 8 PCs that includes NFC. The HP SpectreOne AiO has a 23.6-inch display and, says HP, “is one of the thinnest AiO PCs available on the market today”.
- Descartes offers ear verification for mobile devices
- Taiwanese banks to use Wave NFC dongle
- Android devices get multifactor biometrics
- Ringly raises US$5.1m for light-up rings
- Cancer Research brings contactless donations to shop windows


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Travis Scott has spent the year teaming with big-name brands. In April, he paired with Fortnite, holding a live concert on their platform and premiering the single “The Scotts” with Kid Cudi. Travis later took his talents to McDonald’s, resulting in a Travis Scott Meal, three merchandise releases, an action figure, and more. Now he has a third partnership, this time with Playstation.
Together, Playstation and Scott, along with his Cactus Jack brand, plan to “produce innovative projects that we hope will delight our collective fans,” as the platform revealed on its website. The first release through their partnership is a promo video, in which they debut a new pair of Nike Dunk Lows with reversed Swooshes and the Playstation logo placed near the heel. The collaboration is expected to arrive around the release of Sony’s upcoming Playstation 5, on November 12.
Travis was recently spotted with advance version of the Playstation 5, more than a month before its release. The Houston rapper spoke about his new role in a press statement saying, “I’m really looking forward to being able to showcase everything that Cactus Jack has worked on with Sony and the Playstation team.” He added, “Most importantly I’m excited to see how the Playstation fans and family respond, and I look forward to running some games with everybody very soon!”
You can watch Travis’ promo video with Playstation above.


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Someday soon you’ll be telling your kids about those quaint old days when everyone carried a wallet
U.S. consumers spent about $8.7 billion in checkout lines last year using their phones, estimates researcher EMarketer. Retailers and banks are pushing out their own payment apps to cut swipe fees, get valuable data on people’s buying habits, or both. “Every one of the top 11 issuers of credit and debit cards by the end of next year will have their own version of Pay,” says Richard Crone, chief executive officer of Crone Consulting. “Same for retailers.” Here’s the current state of play.
Apple’s system experienced some growing pains in 2015 but has a loyal fan base, counting Whole Foods among its users. The biggest thing holding it back is that it doesn’t work with iPhones older than the 6.
Walmart says it’ll be able to process payments through its bargain-hunter app in all U.S. stores by this summer. Millions of Walmart shoppers already use it monthly to compare prices and clip digital coupons.
Unlike Apple’s or Google’s, Samsung’s payment service, introduced in the U.S. in September, works with a fairly wide range of in-store hardware. Consumers need a newer Galaxy smartphone, though.
While JPMorgan Chase supports Apple’s and Samsung’s mobile wallets, the bank is shooting for a mid-2016 relaunch of its own app, adding the ability to handle retail transactions. Chase says it’ll preload card data for about 100 million accounts.
Google’s new payment service, launched in September, improves on its earlier mobile wallet. Google says millions of people have signed up for Android Pay, developed after the company acquired mobile-payment rival Softcard.
Merchant Customer Exchange, a group founded in August 2012 by Walmart, Target, and other stores, is testing CurrentC with about 200 merchants in Columbus, Ohio. “There will be more than one successful player,” says CEO Brian Mooney.
The former EBay subsidiary is working on a contact-free in-store payment feature that will pit its app more directly against the rest of the field later this year. For now, users need to find other ways to use the service at partner stores such as Macy’s and Home Depot.


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For decades, Jeeps have been synonymous with the great outdoors, thanks to their prowess as off-roading vehicles. But now, thanks to a Lab mix named Bear, Jeeps may soon become popular as CUVs — canine utility vehicles. When Jeep marketing folks noticed that Jeep owners were sharing photos of their dogs on social media, it was only logical that Jeep should have an official spokesdog.
“Jeep enthusiasts are known to have their dogs buckled up with them as they seek out adventure, proudly featuring them along with their favorite Jeep vehicle in social media content,” says Randy Ortiz, head of Jeep Brand Advertising at FCA. “So this year, Jeep owners, fans and followers were able to post a photo of their pups with their Jeep brand vehicle and tag it with #JeepTopCanine on Instagram and Twitter, or upload it to JeepTopCanine.com, to enter.”
Jeep received thousands of entries and selected eight finalists who were posed with a Jeep vehicle. Fans voted online to crown the first ever #JeepTopCanine on National Dog Day 2020.
The winner was Bear. A 4-year-old black Lab mix, Bear embodies the Jeep brand’s ethos of freedom, love of outdoors and pursuit of adventure, according to Randy.
Bear’s human, Margot Lee, says this special dog came to her home in Northborough, Massachusetts, at 4 months of age from a Georgia rescue.
Bear’s outdoor image is not hype. He’s a real outdoor enthusiast who loves swimming and hiking.
“Bear is a strong swimmer, and loves to take a dip when it’s warm out, even when I think it’s not warm enough,” Margot says. “We also hike … and he has the best sense of direction. He seriously helps me out when I get turned around — or prevents me from doing that in the first place, because he leads me up and down the mountain!”
Bear’s job as Jeep’s Top Canine means he’ll represent the Jeep brand across its social media channels of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, appearing in exclusive content for the next year, until National Dog Day 2021. Then, Jeep will choose a new spokesdog for 2021.
And while posing with Lee’s Jeep is what made him famous, it’s his special personality that really makes him a star.
“Bear wants to be in on a hug whenever he sees one,” Margot says. “If two people are hugging, he will jump up and put himself in the middle. He has a lot of love in his heart.”
Read Next: Meet the Outgoing, Sporty Labrador Retriever


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A designer staged a groundbreaking performance at New York Fashion Week, including a full-reform model.
Underwear brand Marco Marco hosted the Fashion Week show on Saturday and showed 34 transgender models on its runway, including YouTube star Gigi Gorgeous, 26 years old.
Trace Lysette, a 30-year-old transparent star, is also on the catwalk with Dominique Jackson and Angelica Ross, both stars of the FX series Pose.
Gigi is wearing a metallic pink mini skirt with a black top and short mesh sleeves that look sensational.
When she walked on the runway on a pair of gleaming Louboutin platforms, she showed confidence that her usual blond hair was dyed in pale green.
Trace mimics pink and black trousers with Marco Marco’s name at the waist, with a shiny pink top and jacket, black, turquoise and pink.
The actress is very happy to be able to participate in her first fashion show, thanks to the brand on Twitter and praise the brand including her.
“At 36-26-40, I have never been a model industry standard, I don’t want to be,” Trace wrote. ‘I like my thickness. Thanks Marco Marco for embracing all types of beauty.
At the same time, Dominic mimicked a pure low-cut black dress and a spectacular black cloak with a fuchsia lining.
Angelica wears metallic, bright blue mini skirts and a fuzzy black top, both with holographic belts.
The 39-year-old designer Marco Morante sees his show as an opportunity to highlight and celebrate transgender beauty.
“Although there have always been transgender and non-dualities in my program, I am obviously aware that their presence is often dragged down by gay men or sero-lesbians,” he told Mic.
“I want to create a space to celebrate trans-style. This is an undeniable opportunity for their existence and emphasizes trans-sexual beauty.
Carmen Carrera, Geena Rocero, Aydian Dowling, Arisce Wanzer and Laith Ashley are also actors who go to Marco Marco.
“In the past fashion season, people are doing the necessary conversations, including symbolism,” Geena, model and transgender advocate told Mic. “But the real tea is that trans is not a trend; it is life, beauty and strength.
Rice called the show a “historic moment” and added: “Many people have never done this before, they show so much confidence, unity and courage.
“Marc always has a diverse show, and there is a full range of cross-displays, all of whom are of different ages, sizes, backgrounds, colors and identities across the umbrella.”
The 46-year-old Laverne Cox praised the show in a touching Instagram post.
The actress created the #TransIsBeautiful tag three years ago to celebrate the transgender beauty, and one of the sports she saw was reflected in Marco’s show.
She wrote: “Three years ago, when I started #TransIsBeautiful, I hope it will be a way for transgender people to celebrate what makes us unique and beautiful.”
“It’s not about how we look at us, but about celebrating those unique and beautiful things.
‘#marcomarcoshow featured an actor or all trans models last night and felt like another realization of the empowerment of trans beauty. This label is for celebration and production.
“Thanks to all those who have used this label for their own and the other. Congratulations to everyone on the historic Marco Marco show last night.


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Hong Kong - Pizza Hut has expanded its relationship with Havas Worldwide Hong Kong, naming it to handle its digital communications.
The win further the two companies' existing partnership, as Havas is the creative agency of record for Pizza Hut's offline communications for its dine-in business.
The agency is tasked to establish a solid digital platform for engaging with customers and reinforcing its brand positioning, as well as managing Pizza Hut Hong Kong's Facebook page and launching interactive initiatives via social media.
Richard Leong, marketing director of Pizza Hut Hong Kong, said the two companies have worked closely together last year to redefine Pizza Hut's brand DNA and reposition is as a "social hub" where people can bond while dining together.
"With their in-depth understanding of the brand and business, we're confident that Havas team will maxmise synergy throughout our communications and build a strong rapport with our customers."
CC Tang, chairman of Havas Worldwide Hong Kong and chief creative officer of Havas Worldwide Greater China, added the expansion of the partnership into the digital arena is an opportunity for the agency to adopt a holistic approach to building the brand.
"The position of the brand is about inspiring social connections and digital communications via social media can play a key role in engaging increasingly sophisticated customers," Tang said.


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Beer lovers, your glass is getting fuller. Yard House has announced that it will open its first San Antonio location Oct. 25.
The restaurant will be part of the new extension of the Shops at La Cantera, 15900 La Cantera Parkway.
Yard House is a growing national chain that specializes in beer on tap, the “world’s largest selection of beer on tap,” according to its own advertising. The San Antonio selection will number about 130.
Its menu includes everything from entrée salads, sandwiches and burgers to pizzas, seafood and steaks.
It will be the latest in a growing list of beer-happy places in San Antonio, ranging from the independent Tap Exchange to chains like Flying Saucer.
The San Antonio restaurant will be Yard House’s first in Texas. A Houston location will open in November.
For information on Yard House, click here.


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Vicomsoft has released v9.3 of its web filter application, InterGate Policy Manager. The program is used to control the access to web content, instant messaging and Skype networks and can log and report user activity. The latest version features eSellerate in-app purchasing capabilities and a new licensing system. The update additionally supports Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
DataViz has launched the latest version of its Documents To Go app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Following through with the company's earlier promises, v2.0 adds full support for creating and editing Excel documents. The previous release limited users to just viewing the spreadsheet content.
Perceptive Automation has released v4.1 of its home control server, Indigo. The latest version adds support for SmartLabs' PowerLinc Modem and Insteon extended messages which can be used to control Insteon products and enhance the speed and reliability of device linking to the software. The update also features an improved automatic reconnection tool for serial devices and improved Insteon link syncing for PowerLinc interfaces. Version 4.1 includes new control page options for the companies iPhone application, Indigo Touch, and support for new Insteon hardware modules.
A number of reports on Apple's Support pages suggest the latest QuickTime update, v7.6.4, has been causing problems on Windows machines. Many users attempting to play embedded videos can only hear the sound, while the video content is left blank.
MakeMusic has released an update to both its Finale NotePad and Finale Reader music notation software packages, adding support for Appleís latest Snow Leopard operating system and compatibility with Finale 2010, Print Music 2010 and SongWriter 2010 files. Finale NotePad 2010 allows users to create, play, print, and save music notation, along with sharing them by exporting in either MIDI or MusicXML formats. Additional new features include improved percussion notation and documentation, and having the selection handles within a score now transparent.
Crystal Games has announced Snake Warriors, a new action and role-playing game for the Mac. Snake Warriors has players take control of a young Snakemaster names Rahan and his large snake Kijani, as they set off on an adventure to destroy the evil Snakemaster Wakuan who has started a revolution against the King. When doing battle players take control of Kijani the snake, and fight with other snakes while navigating around a map and collecting various items to either increase their health or do more damage to the opponent. Players can use a series of bite or spell attacks in order to defeat their enemy.
Palm is allegedly ready to launch its paid app service for webOS devices, a source has told PreCentral. Content will linked with the user's Palm Profile, enabling deleted apps to be re-downloaded without requiring a second purchase. After purchasing a new Pre or Pixi, all of the apps can be transferred to the new device.
Amid the growing rumors surrounding an Apple tablet, a patent has surfaced that involves hand gestures on a touchscreen much larger than the iPhone display. The technology, labeled as "Contact Tracking and Identification Module for Touch Sensing," appears to be an extension of the current Multi-Touch system, but integrates elements from two hands instead of several fingers.
Palm's Pixi may already be in stores in less than three weeks' time if a leak proves true. A new but seemingly realistic source for BGR claims that the phone will be in stores on October 20th. The release would be complete and include not just Sprint's own stores but Best Buy and other third-party chains as well.
More than a sixth of all Macs are already running Mac OS X Snow Leopard in just over a month of use, new findings from NetApplications show. On September 29th, the one month anniversary of the release, about 18 percent of all Macs tracked by the stats firm were using some version of Snow Leopard, or 0.91 percent of all computers.
A small but significant number of corporations are switching from BlackBerries to iPhones, a new report claims. Citing various industry sources, including a "top sales executive" from a major cellphone carrier, the report suggests that several factors are spurring a transition. Predominant is cost, since a company with a thousand workers may spend tens of thousands of dollars handling BlackBerry services, a consequence of hosting internal servers or relying on outsourcing.
After its recent e-book deletion fiasco and subsequent apology, Amazon has revised its rules regarding remotely deleting e-book content on a user's Kindle reader. The new legal rules give Amazon four reasons that would validate and justify its removal of content. They include a user's consent, a user's request of a refund or failure to pay and a judicial or regulatory order that requires deletion or modification. Lastly, deletion is justified if the operation of the Kindle or the distribution network is threatened by the code, such as harmful code that can include viruses.
The Wireless Power Consortium on Thursday announced that cellphone maker Nokia has become one of its members. This is expected to result in quicker development and the more widespread use of the Qi wireless charging standard the Consortium is working on. With the addition of Nokia, the company has backed the open standards that would be shared among many makers of cell phones and other portable electronics devices.
Images and specs of the Samsung Armani W8200 have finally been spotted online, some five months after it was first promised. What has been gleaned is that the device sports a 3.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen along with a slide-out hardware keypad. The device will support high-speed HSDPA data networks.
Ooma on Thursday announced its Ooma Telo web-based home phone should now be widely available in stores. Ooma Telo gives users free US local and long distance calls using their existing Internet connection. As such, there are no associated monthly fees, other than the cost of the broadband connection, and users only need to pay for the Ooma home phone. The device also brings with it caller ID, call waiting and 911 emergency services for no extra fees.
Rogers today counted itself as one of the first North American carriers to offer an officially-sanctioned 3G wired and wireless router on its network. Rebadged as the Rocket Hub, the Ericsson-designed router can take cellular data, up to 7.2Mbps 3G over HSPA, and share it both over Wi-Fi as well as for those on an Ethernet link. The Hub is deemed particularly important for users who can't get Internet access for multiple devices but expect to remain in one place.
Developer Mark/Space has announced The Missing Sync for Android, expanding the company's phone support. The new program allows users to sync with a phone based on Google's Android platform, such as the HTC Hero. Version 1.0 supports syncing contacts with Address Book and Entourage, as well as copying over music, photos, podcasts, ringtones and/or videos, primarily from an iTunes or iPhoto library.
Apple has allegedly notified several resellers that shipments of Mac mini systems will be delayed by two to three weeks, according to Apple Insider. The extended shipping time frame affects the entry-level 120GB model and the 320GB variant. Usually the company has computers on their way to vendors within 24 hours from the time an order is placed.
A job listing at Sling Media, the maker of the Slingbox streaming TV hub, suggests that both Android and webOS versions of the streaming TV application are in develpoment. The job calls for a Senior Mobile User Interface Designer knowledgeable in these platforms as well as in platforms that already have SlingPlayer apps, such as BlackBerry, iPhone, Symbian and Windows Mobile.
Joby updated its defining tripod line this afternoon by launching the Gorillamobile 3G/3GS. The add-on preserves Joby's distinctive trick of using three bendable arms that lets the Gorillamobile cling to many surfaces, such as a bike's handlebars, but adds a removable case that both holds an iPhone 3G/3GS in place and detaches to serve as basic protection in a pocket. Uniting the two gives either Apple device a more stable platform for photos or videos without needing a flat surface for a regular tripod.
Taiwanese PC maker MSI has recently announced a new addition to its G Series of gaming notebooks with the 15.4-inch GT640. It ships with Intel's mobile quad-core Core i7 processor, though which models aren't known. The portable represents one of MSI's first Windows 7 systems and will have relatively quick visuals through a GeForce GTS 250M for graphics. Hard drives can be had in 250GB, 320GB or 500GB capacities, but MSI only promises up to 4GB of RAM.
Motorola's Sholes has received a new name, and details of when it should be unveiled, through a new slip of information. Unnamed contacts for BGR have claimed it will simply be called the Droid when it ships and that it should be unveiled for Verizon in two weeks. They add that, unlike the Cliq, the phone should be a full "with Google" device and will run a regular version of Android instead of Motorola's social network-heavy MOTOBLUR.
In spite of common perception, Windows Mobile could take second place in the smartphone market in as little as four years, an iSuppli study predicted today. Analysts estimate that the phones shipped will triple from 27.7 million by the end of this year to 67.9 million in 2013, or enough to give it 15.3 percent of the industry behind Nokia's predicted 47.6 percent. Microsoft is expected to slip to third this year but to recover over time.
Native Instruments has begun selling updated versions of several core music programs. The first is Absynth 5, a software synthesizer which has been improved with better audio quality, as well as new synthesis and effects features. Amongst the latter is the Mutator tool, which creates variations of a preset based on related ones.
Nokia on Thursday launched the 6350, a flip phone specific to AT&T. The simple handset will be available in red and graphite and carry dedicated external music keys. Data over 3G and a 2-megapixel camera put it closer to the mid-range.
Other World Computing has announced a new 1TB capacity for its Mercury On-the-Go Pro external hard drives. All of the 1TB models rely on 2.5-inch storage, and use 8MB caches. Speed options are limited to 5200rpm, as compared to some other Pros, which can reach 7200rpm or SSD levels.
Samsung's Omnia II when it reaches Verizon may not use Windows Mobile 6.5 like the HTC Imagio, a detailed rumor said late Wednesday. A source that also correctly detailed the Imagio claimed the Omnia II would ship in mid-October, shortly after Windows Mobile 6.5 will be available, but will instead ship with an older Windows Mobile 6.1 release instead. The WMExperts contact didn't explain why this would be but cautioned that the modern OS would only come through a firmware update a significant amount of time after the phone is ready.
Two prominent analysts of Apple stock have raised their price targets, Barron's writes. Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner has increased his target from $185 to $210, also pushing EPS estimates up to $1.50 for the September quarter, and to $5.97 for FY09. FY10 EPS is now predicted to be $7.76, a jump from $6.49.
NEC on Thursday added three new desktop monitors to its AccuSync lineup. All are entry level and environmentally-friendly, and include the 19-inch AS191, 19-inch widescreen AS191WM and 22-inch widescreen AS221WM. Compared to the models they replace, they use up nearly 50 percent less power, while an ECO Mode in the widescreen models lets users choose from two energy saver settings.
Verizon this morning topped off its device launches with its second netbook to have built-in 3G. A special version of the Gateway LT2016u will support Verizon's EVDO network out of the box and will be subsidized to a lower $150 price in return for a two-year data plan and a $100 rebate. The same broadband plans apply and will give either a modest 250MB for $40 per month or 5GB for $60 per month.
O2's UK division has temporarily run out of the iPhone 3GS, according to the Telegraph. Both the 16 and 32GB models are no longer available from the company's online store, and most physical outlets are said to have been without phones for two weeks. Supplies of the 32GB model were only depleted on or after September 28th.
Dell this morning added a new mid-range tower to its home and small business line. The Vostro 430 is Dell's first system in the range to use Intel's Core i5 and, even in the base model, starts off as a quad-core desktop. Dell claims that its least expensive system is as much as five times faster than a 3.6GHz Pentium D in some tasks.
Dell today said it has added more cosmetic and performance customization options to its Inspiron 11z notebook. Dell has now added expanded its range of color options for the 11.6-inch CULV system beyond the original black, including white, blue, green, red, purple or pink. There are also new processor, memory and hard drive options.
In sync with today's launch of the PSP Go, Sony today launched its version 6.10 firmware update. The patch gives all PSPs a new SensMe feature which, much like most Walkman players, sorts music by an automatically generated mood or genre, such as "extreme" or "dance." In a special twist for PSPs, though, SensMe can use the clock to set the mood by the particular time of day. The interface is also much more visual with large album art and a pseudo-3D interface.
Apple's Israeli reseller, iDigital, is instituting a discriminatory campaign against imported Apple products, a local protest group claims. Macs sold in the region are said to cost up to twice as much as in the US, prompting some Israelis to buy computers while traveling abroad. In theory, the international warranties provided with Macs should get users repair coverage from any authorized repair site.
Verizon Wireless has introduced three new handsets recently, including the Motorola Barrage, Verizon Razzle and Nokia Shade. The Barrage is the most unique as a ruggedized flip phone that meets the MIL-SPEC standard for resistance to submersion in water for up to 30 minutes as well as humidity, shock, vibration and exposure to sun. It otherwise has push-to-talk functionality and integrates a 2-megapixel camera.
Simon & Schuster hoped to spur on the creation of a new book format on Thursday by launching vooks, or video books. The approach builds videos directly into a text and is meant to enhance a work while minimizing the flow of a book as much as possible. An instructional book can show a task in action, for example, while a novel can use clips to establish the setting or to show a video a character would have watched.
T-Mobile may be on the verge of updating its Android phones with the 1.6 update with "Donut" features, a last-minute leak has confirmed. Starting today, the carrier is reported by TmoNews to be giving both G1 and myTouch 3G users the upgraded features, which are known to include device-wide search, gestures, text-to-speech and likely the redesigned Android Market. A handful of G1 owners have had the update as of midnight; 24 hours from that point, some myTouch 3G owners should also get the update barring technical issues found in the test rollout.
Verizon this morning launched a raft of new devices headlined by its first ever device to run Windows Mobile 6.5. The HTC Imagio takes advantage of the Microsoft OS' more touch-friendly interface and brings TouchFLO 3D, an improved version of HTC's in-house interface that brings contacts and other info to the top level. It's also Verizon's first smartphone-class device to support FLO TV and takes advantage of a large 3.6-inch, 800x480 touchscreen to show the live digital TV at its native resolution.
Apple has stealthily bought an online map firm in what could represent an aid to the iPhone but a split with Google, a search has discovered. A startup company, Placebase, was bought by Apple in July but provided so little attention about the takeover that it wasn't until a check on former CEO Jaron Waldman's LinkedIn profile confirmed the move. Waldman is now part of a "Geo Team" at Apple performing in an unspecified role.
Now AAPL Stock: 94.02 ( -2.58 )
Apple brings iTunes Movie Trailers app to Canada
After five years, Apple has expanded its iTunes Movie Trailers app for iOS to Canada. As of Saturday, the free app allows movie buffs to see HD movie trailers for new studio and independent features, and explore some other movie-related extras such as photos, behind-the-scenes footage, or clips from upcoming films. Users can save trailers for quick access, read reviews from RottenTomatoes.com within the app, use AirPlay to send them to an Apple TV, share trailers, and peruse the top movie charts. http://apple.co/1UUKtwr
Apple expands CloudKit API, provides web interface
On Friday, Apple notified developers that it was expanding a feature of CloudKit to allow for server-to-server web service requests. "In addition to providing a web interface for users to access the same data as your app, you can now easily read and write to the CloudKit public database from a server-side process or script with a server-to-server key," Apple said in its announcement. Previously, interaction with the CloudKit public database was limited to apps and web only. http://apple.co/20h1RwP
Remote S for Tesla Apple Watch app drives car out
Developer Allen Wong has created the Remote S for Tesla app, which can be used to remotely activate the Model S electric car via an Apple Watch, and drive it a short distance. Aside from providing data about the car and some basic function controls, the unofficial app uses the manufacturer's Summon command to allow the car to turn on, exit the garage, and park near to the user's location. The app is available to purchase from the App Store for $10. http://apple.co/1PprF4t
Seagate 3TB unreliability suit expands
The Seagate 3TB class-action hard drive lawsuit has been expanded to more devices. The expanded suit, filed today, now includes Seagate's Barracuda 3TB Hard Disk Drive,¬†Desktop HDD 3TB, Backup Plus 3TB External Hard Disk¬†Drive,¬†GoFlex 3TB External Hard Disk Drive, or any other Seagate hard drive with model number ST3000DM001. The law firm, Hagens Berman, is seeking information from consumers such as time in service, purchase price, and the nature of any drive received in return from Seagate as a replacement for a failed unit. http://bit.ly/1Pc34Cq
BlackBerry Canada, Florida hit with layoffs
The BlackBerry campus has reportedly been wracked with layoffs. Sources familiar with the company's Waterloo office staffing claim that close to 35 percent of the local workforce has been laid off, with the deepest cuts being made in the BlackBerry 10 OS and hardware teams. Additionally, the state of Florida has been officially notified that the company's Sunrise facility will see 75 people fired. Enthusiast site Mobilesyrup puts the layoffs at around 1000 total. http://bit.ly/1Pc1Rep
Instagram tests multiple account support for iOS
Instagram is trialling support for multiple accounts in its iPhone app with a small number of users. The Facebook-owned photo sharing service confirmed the reports of the tests to TechCrunch, which will allow a single user to manage more than a single account within the app, transferring between two or three accounts with a few taps. It is unclear when the feature will roll out to the public, but it has previously tested it with the Android version of the app since November. http://tcrn.ch/1SPKEKh
Foxconn CEO declares Sharp deal near done
The Foxconn bid for Sharp is allegedly only waiting on specific details of the deal. Foxconn CEO Terry Gou has declared that his company has privileged negotiation rights for the Apple iPhone screen supplier, saying that "we have a consensus, the rest is a process ... I don't see a problem completing this process." Gou hopes the deal, worth up to $5.6 billion, will be formalized by the end of February. http://reut.rs/1SPEQjN