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Raleigh is going to organize the Carolinas first-ever Bitcoin Expo on August 15 and 16, 2014. According to the organizers of the event more than 500 new faces of the Bitcoin community are expected to attend. Cryptolina Bitcoin Expo is the right event for Bitcoin businesses to network and discuss the opportunities and potential available in the digital currency ecosystem.
The two-day event will provide exclusive opportunities for people to know about Bitcoin technologies that are transforming the money is being perceived today. Cryptolina Bitcoin Expo is expected to provide a great opportunity for startups, crowdfunding, venture capitalists and angel investors to search new avenues.
Lawyers and the people in regulatory bodies in government can participate to understand issues related to regulation of digital currencies which are going to be discussed throughout the action packed weekend. More than two dozen speakers will be putting their views on various topics to provide broad view that concerns the stakeholders in digital currency.
Edmund C. Moy, the 38th Director of the United States Mint, as the keynote speaker
The venue has been fixed strategically at the Research Triangle region, Downtown Raleigh which according to the organizers is home to Red Hat’s Worldwide headquarters. To be held at the Raleigh Convention Center, the event will have Edmund C. Moy, the 38th Director of the United States Mint, as the keynote speaker.
In a press release the organizers of Cryptolina say that inviting Edmund C. Moy is a game-changer as he is widely respected among the finance and exchange industry, and is among the highest level officials yet to recognize both the future and inevitability of cryptocurrency. The Carolinas are thrilled to be hosting Mr. Moy’s first appearance at a Bitcoin conference.
With the luminaries like Edmund C. Moy associating themselves with Bitcoin and Bitcoin events, the support and legitimacy is going to expand further for digital currencies. Moy has been voicing his support for digital currencies quite often. One such moment came when in a response to Credit Suisse tax evasion he tweeted that it’s time banks got competition.
He had then advocated for cryptocurrencies. On the invitation to become keynote speaker at Cryptolina, Moy responded that Bitcoin, and the ideas behind it, will be a disruptor to the traditional notions of currency. In the end, currency will be better for it.
Faruk Okcetin, an event organizer and entrepreneur elaborated that Campbell Harvey, PhD Professor of Finance at Duke University, and Elizabeth Ploshay of the Bitcoin Foundation and BitPay will be some other renowned personalities to attend.
To contact the reporter of this story: Deepak Tiwari at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Baidu Joins Digital Home Assistants With Acquisition Of Raven Tech
Baidu, one of China's top search engines, has acquired a Y Combinator-backed startup called Raven Tech. This move is part of the company's strategy to compete with Amazon Echo and Google.
Search Engine Baidu Acquires AI Voice-Assisted
According to Media Post, Chinese search engine company Baidu aims to compete with Google and Amazon in the field of digital assistants. The company acquired AI startup Raven Tech for an undisclosed amount. Raven Tech is an artificial intelligence startup that created an AI-based voice assistant called Flow.
AI startup Raven Tech has raised a total equity funding in four rounds of around $18.12 million from six investors. The acquisition deal gives Baidu rights over Raven Tech's technology products and intellectual property. Baidu's smart-home team will be joined by Raven Tech's 60 employees.
The startup founded in May 2014 is based on Beijing and Silicon Valley. Raven Tech became one of the graduates from Microsoft Ventures Accelerator program in Mainland China that is enrolled in the Y Combinator program. The company also has been working on Raven H-1, a voice-assisted hardware device designed for the home that is not yet released to consumers. Baidu executives will likely try to find ways to integrate Raven Tech's products into its own digital assistant service called Duer.
Baidu's Efforts To Expand Beyond Search
Baidu already has a firm foothold in the strategy for 2017, as the year is expected to become one of conversational computing and personalization. After about a year and a half at Google, company's chief scientist Andrew Ng has been hired to lead the Silicon Valley Lab in 2014. He is the founder and leader of the deep-learning Google Brain project.
In January 2017, Baidu opened an augmented reality lab and hired Qi Lu, a former Microsoft executive and leading artificial intelligence expert. The opening of the new lab is following the launch in September 2016 of a venture capital fund dedicated to artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Lu, who became the Baidu group president and COO is widely considered a leading expert in the emerging field of artificial intelligence.
The company faced criticism in China for the death of a student suffering of cancer who tried an experimental drug discovered through a paid-search campaign. Now it appears that Baidu is looking for a way to generate an alternative income in order to augment its falling search revenue. As a result of new government rules on paid-search ads, Baidu's revenue has been reporting its first decline in quarterly revenue.
Baidu moved into the second spot during the fourth quarter of 2016. The company covers 23.3 percent ad revenue share in China. The top position is occupied now by Alibaba, with 26.5 percent ad market share.
According to eMarketer, despite its strong position in China, Baidu needs to expand to other markets beyond search. With Tencent's WeChat in firm control of messaging and Alibaba dominating the ecommerce field, Baidu's ongoing investments in AR and AI are a clear step of the company in its plan to re-establish itself in China. An eventual expansion into other countries is also considered by the company.
Artificial Intelligence Advances In 2016
The field of artificial Intelligence has made important advances in 2016.
Baidu Plans To Launch Robot Taxis In China
Baidu envisions launching future robot taxis on China's roads.
Amazon Alexa Is Winning Digital Assistants Tech Race
Amazon is winning the digital assistant race with its Alexa AI app that is set to dominate at CES.
Baidu AI Team Successfully Trains Virtual Agent Using Human-like Training
Baidu's agent who lives in a 2D environment can now understand basic language grammar.
8i Raises $27 Million To Create High-End Holograms For Mobile
The company, 8i, is said to be looking to move forward on strategies on headset-based solutions and embrace phone-based augmented reality systems through the introduction of a new application called Holo.
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domain: news


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Since Mr Liquor's Dirty Italian Disco at the Tennyson Hotel drive-through bottle-o closed in April, the people of Sydney have been waiting and watching for news of the next pop-up. As of today, we – at long last – can bring you good tidings.
Merivale, the hospitality powerhouse that, among many other things, owns the Tennyson, has announced that it'll be teaming up with Rushcutters Bay restaurant ACME to give you Kingdom of Rice: a pop-up dedicated to Cambodian street food.
As of early October, you'll be able to feast on share plates loaded with seafood, meat and vegetables, with traditional flavours, such as kreung (a paste of lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, galangal, garlic and chilli) and prahok (crushed, salted and fermented fish paste). Expect, too, handfuls of fresh herbs, lime and Kampot pepper.
Like last time, you'll be selecting and collecting your own drinks from the Tennyson's bottle-o fridge. But, unlike last time, you can count on a selection of Cambodian and Asian beers, as well as cocktails inspired by Southeast Asia and natural wines.
As anyone who's eaten on the Cambodian streets would testify, the atmosphere is crucial to the experience. With this in mind, the pop-up will take on the feel of a mini-Phnom Penh laneway, with miscellaneous furniture and massive communal tables. "It's a real sensory overload," says ACME co-owner and chef Mitch Orr in a statement. "There's laughter and noise of people everywhere, the smell of food cooked over charcoal, colours of fresh tropical fruits and an amazing sense of community."
Orr will be working with head chef Lillia McCabe, who has just returned from a stint at Singapore's Blackwattle, alongside ACME co-owner and maître d' Cam Fairbairn and head of front-of-house Sophia Thach. Thach is of Cambodian descent and spent time living in working in Phnom Penh, and will be bringing her first-hand experience of the region to the pop-up.
Kingdom of Rice will open in early October at the Tennyson Hotel, 952 Botany Road, Mascot.


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PSWCS.org Donates $6500 To Valhalla Veteran’s Services
PSWCS.org launched sales of a Boba Fett medallion on May 18, 2020 and thanks to the amazing support of the collector community, sold out in just 58 hours.
On June 26th, several members of the PSWCS.org board, along with Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society members, were able to attend a Valhalla Veteran’s Services meeting where they presented a check for $6571 to the Executive Director, Eric Darling.
Thanks to all those that purchased the Boba Fett medallion, the 10th in the series, this donation was possible. We look forward to working with more charities in the future and with the support of fans, hope to continue donating to deserving organizations in and around Pennsylvania.


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Prisma brings its art filters to Facebook Live
Prisma, the application that made headlines almost every month since its release on the Android and iOS platforms, has just been improved with the new service that will be provided for free to all users.
Beginning this week, Prisma users will be able to apply any of the eight alt filters included in the application to their Facebook broadcasts. The developers confirmed that Prisma filters are now available for Facebook Live broadcasts on the iPhone 6S and 7.
The new feature requires quite a lot of processing power, which is done locally on the phone, which is why the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 are the only iOS devices supported for the time being.
According to Prisma's Aram Airapetyan, the company is already working to bring Prisma filters to Facebook Live on Android devices as well. However, it will only be available on the most powerful smartphones due to processing constraints.
In order to take advantage of the new feature, iOS users must be logged into their Facebook account via the app. Whenever you switch from Photos to Videos in Prisma, you will now have a “Live Stream” button at your disposal, which allows you to broadcast whatever you capture on the camera and apply the app's filters.
Aside from the addition of the new feature, Prisma developers announced that the latest update brings some improvements to the video quality, too.
Unfortunately, Android fans will have to wait a while longer until the new feature arrives on their devices, but, as mentioned earlier, rest assured that Prisma's engineers are working hard to make it available as soon as possible.
source: Prisma via TechCrunch


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The HTC One Max specs were revealed in a new report.
The new phablet device will feature a 5.9-inch display with 1920x1080 resolution, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor which clocks in at 2.3GHz, 2GB RAM, a 4-ultrapixel camera, Boomsound dual front-facing stereo speakers, and a 3,3000 mAh non-removable Li-poly battery, according to Android Police.
New pictures of the device also surfaced this week revealing the overall look of the One Max. It basically looks like a larger version of the HTC One with the same display and speaker layout. It also features the same body type and color scheme.
HTC will release the One Max in order to compete with the upcoming Galaxy Note 3 that will be released sometime next month.
A picture of the Galaxy Note 3 leaked earlier this week and showed off the device's battery and back-end area.
The photo was taken at a low resolution and looks a bit fuzzy but it can be seen that the battery is slightly narrower than what is found on the current model.
It can also be seen that the edges on the device are sharper and in contrast with the normal lines found on past Samsung devices. This design is very similar to some of the other recent Galaxy Note 3 leaks.
The Galaxy Note 3 unveiling event was finally confirmed by Samsung earlier this week.
The company will host its own "Unpacked Episode 2" event on Sept. 4 to introduce the new device. The event will take place in Berlin at 1 p.m. ET. Samsung will hold it just ahead of the IFA 2013 show which will take place from Sept. 6-11.
The event will be livestreamed for those that will not be able to attend. There will also be a first hands-on experience held simultaneously in New York's Times Square. Samsung used a similar strategy when unveiling the Galaxy S4 back in the spring of this year.


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News from the industryIndustry News #wooden_doors
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» More on the subportal Industry News


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Credit Card Company Security Standards and Fines Challenged
A tiny celebrity-friendly restaurant located in Utah is at last doing what many other merchants have only thought about of doing for many years. It is legally challenging part of the payment card industry’s defective system for securing card data by charging merchants penalties for failing to secure their data.
The owners of Cisero’s Ristorante and Nightclub, Stephen and Theodora McComb, filed a lawsuit against U.S. Bank alleging that the financial entity, which used to process the credit and debit card transactions of the restaurant, unlawfully seized money from the merchant bank account of the McCombs.
Around $10,000 were seized by U.S. Bank from the account of the McCombs as partial payment of the $90,000 in fines that MasterCard and Visa imposed. This was after the credit card companies claimed that the restaurant had failed to protect its network and as a result, suffered a data breach that caused some fraudulent charges on their customers’ bank cards.
U.S. Bank filed a lawsuit against the McCombs to get the remaining balance on the fines, saying that the contract that the McCombs signed with the bank makes them legally responsible for such fines.
However, the McCombs, in their countersuit against U.S. Bank, claimed that the bank and the payment card industry compel the merchants to sign biased contracts which are based on information that randomly changes without notice. They also alleged in their countersuit that the bank, and the payment card industry in general, impose indiscriminate fines on merchants without showing proof of a breach or of losses due to fraud. They also do not allow merchants any meaningful opportunity to challenge claims seizing the money.


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Tesla Cuts Prices On Popular EVs To Boost Sales
Jan 13, 2023 By MarketDepth
Tesla (TSLA:NASD) has seen a few quarters of lagging deliveries and cut prices on popular vehicles by up to 20% to try and kick-start sales. The company cut the price of the Model Y by 20% in the USA and cut prices in Germany, UK and France. The company has already made two rounds of price cuts in China as sales is not meeting expectations.
The price cuts and missed delivery targets have been reflected on the stock price as Tesla stock is down over 60% over the last year and down 3% intraday.
Tesla has been a roadblock with production constraints but padded profit margins, but with sales dwindling and prices being cut the company is facing a difficult position. Many reasons why investors were attracted to the EV company was the bullish revenue and profit outlooks. As analysts review the stock they are downgrading the price targets which is causing pressure on the stock.


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Millions of Americans are worried they won’t be able to make even the minimum payments on their credit cards. Here’s what they can do – CNBC
Amid one of the worst downturns in U.S. history, nearly 80% of credit card holders say they’re worried they won’t be able to continue making even the minimum payments on their debt.
The figure comes from a survey by CreditCards.com, which found millennial card holders (91%) are most at risk of missing payments. Meanwhile, 1 in 4 people say the pandemic has pushed them to take on more credit card debt.
Most of the relief measures delivered to Americans in the first stimulus package have dried…


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Cinco Ranch celebrates 22nd birthday with gift cards to area merchants
Published 4:30 pm, Friday, February 15, 2013
There are two weeks left for home shoppers to join in the 22nd birthday celebration at Cinco Ranch, which is giving away gift cards and offering special pricing on new homes from the $180,000s to more than $1 million.
The gifts are gift cards to popular stores and restaurants inside this Katy Independent School District community, including Target, Home Depot, Starbucks, McDonald's, H-E-B, Kroger, Academy and Shell.
The birthday presents include gift cards to LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, a main street-style shopping and entertainment complex with dozens of stores and restaurants including White House/Black Market, Coldwater Creek and Perry's Steakhouse and Grille.
"The gift cards spotlight the variety of stores and services at Cinco Ranch, just one advantage of living in a community with a 22-year track record," said Heather Gustafson, marketing director for Newland Communities. "
To become eligible to win a gift card, register at any of the 27 decorated model homes in Cinco Ranch, or register at cincobirthday.com through Feb. 28. No purchase is necessary, entry forms are readily available and each entry has an equal chance of winning.
The website has information about the 17 home builders offering new homes in Cinco Ranch, along with details on more than 140 new homes ready for quick move-in.
Along Grand Parkway, between I-10 west and the Westpark Toll Road, Cinco Ranch is the No. 4 top-selling community in the United States, according to a report from RCLCO. A total of 982 new homes were sold in Cinco Ranch last year, up 14 percent from the previous year in the RCLCO report.
Cinco Ranch amenities include 19 Katy ISD schools, The Golf Club, The Beach Club, three water parks, 15 tennis courts, seven neighborhood pools, and miles of greenbelt trails including the wooded Bayou Trail.
Visit www.cincobirthday.com for more information.


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Holidaymakers left stranded at the airport due to cancelled flights could be entitled to compensation, according to the Consumer Council.
The statutory body, which offers independent advice, has reminded passengers of the rights and said some could be entitled to up to £500.
It comes after hundreds of people were notified of their flight cancellations at Belfast International Airport over the weekend, with flights to Greece by TUI cancelled as well as to Portugal by Easyjet and flights to Gatwick and Bristol.
In a statement, Easyjet confirmed its flight to Faro was cancelled due to earlier delays which it said resulted in the "crew reaching their maximum working hours". The same reason was given for the flight to Bristol.
Richard Williams, Head of Transport at the Consumer Council, advised: “Passengers who have been affected by cancelled flights should be offered a full refund within seven days, or re-routing via alternative transportation at the earliest opportunity by the airline.
“Our advice to passengers is to seek the travel option that best suits them when they are arranging alternative travel with their airline.
“Passengers should be aware that they may also be entitled to compensation due to their flight being cancelled.”
Those flying less than 1,500km and were delayed by more than three hours before reaching your destination airport could be awarded up to £220.
For 1,500km to 3,500km, passengers could get £350 and for more than 3,500km customers could receive £520 of compensation.
To claim compensation, passengers can complete an online form on easyJet or TUI’s website.
If passengers remain dissatisfied with the airline’s response, they can get in touch with the Consumer Council by calling 0800 121 6022 or by emailing firstname.lastname@example.org.
If the airline can prove the delay was caused by “extraordinary circumstances” consumers will not receive compensation, the Consumer Council advised.


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Twist Collective Blog
We’re excited to announce that Twist Collective customers now have more options at the checkout. Purchases can now be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover). Of course, you can still choose to pay via PayPal if you wish. Please be assured that our new merchant service for credit cards is secure.


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An ABC 7 I-Team Investigation
CHICAGO (WLS) -- There are protections in place to safeguard the U.S. food supply, but as with sham designer purses and knock-off watches, there are billions of dollars to be made with counterfeit cuisine.
Those counterfeit foods include milk, some cheeses and even expensive wine.
In June 2016, there was a massive seizure of counterfeit honey in the Chicago suburbs. Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protections seized 60 tons of fake honey, which is now stored in a government warehouse on the Texas/Mexico border. It was the largest food fraud investigation in U.S. history.
"It's a crime in which a lot of people have made a lot of money smuggling it into the United States," Special Agent Matthew Gauder, Homeland Security Investigations - Chicago.
The illegal honey was from China, some tainted with antibiotics prohibited in food. The lost revenue for taxpayers tallies in the hundreds of millions.
"Honey is not that innocent food we all like to think it is," Gauder said.
"It could be 10 percent of the entire U.S. food supply is fraudulent one way or another," said John Spink, Ph.D., director of the Food Fraud Initiative at Michigan State University.
Spink said the range of fraudsters is wide. Figuring out who's to blame can be difficult, but necessary.
"It's a crime of opportunity it's a crime that is complex so definitely organized crime is involved, but also some of those larger groups are affiliated with other types of crimes such as terrorism," he said.
Many food producers are now under assault by well-organized counterfeiters, costing the taxpayers billions and risking consumer health.
"We've cleaned up the industry a lot, but the schemes keep evolving," Gauder said.
The schemes continue to become more sophisticated, even the paperwork for purity is being faked.
"Something that is concerning for me as an investigator and for you as a consumer is that in recent shipments, including a seizure I made a few months ago, we're seeing fake and altered laboratory reports," he said.
Some popular targets according to USP, a scientific nonprofit, are olive oil diluted with cheaper inedible oils, spices such as paprika and chili powder mixed with cheaper materials or industrial dyes, honey mislabeled and spiked with corn syrup and possibly antibiotics, and seafood switched out for cheaper species.
"There's a good chance, Chuck, that if you order red snapper at a restaurant you are really getting tilapia. If you order tuna or cod, you are probably getting escolar," Gauder said.
Escolar is a fish that can cause stomach problems.
Food crime can also involve substitution and tampering with dangerous chemicals and ingredients that could make consumers sick. Finding the frauds can be difficult. It's a constant battle for investigators across the globe.
A massive Interpol-Europol operation recently claimed to have netted counterfeit sugar contaminated with fertilizer, and Italian olives painted with copper sulfate to enhance color.
Chicago restaurateur David Flom of Chicago Cut Steakhouse and Ocean Cut Seafood is aware of the swindlers.
"It happens a significant amount in our industry, no question about it," he said.
Flom said reputable restaurants now have safeguards in place to guarantee what's on the menu is the real deal. That includes making personal visits to suppliers.
"It's very important who you partner with or who your marriages are within the food business, and that they are very strong. And so we spend a lot of time doing that and researching that," Flom said.
The penalties associated with being caught are small compared to drug trafficking.
"Organized criminals to include the Italian mafia have figured that out. These are crimes that are relatively low risk that come with a high reward," Gauder said.
The FDA said it continually monitors food producers for safety. The Grocery Manufacturers of America told the I-Team that product safety and integrity and maintaining consumer confidence are the most important goals of the industry.
Best practice is for consumers to buy less-processed food, buy local and skip foods priced too good to be true.
Tips to avoid food fraud, from the experts:
-Buy from reputable sources and brands
-Be skeptical of low prices
-Avoid processed foods when possible
-Know which food categories are most at risk
U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention
The Food Fraud Database is a powerful tool helping food manufacturers, suppliers and others identify fraud risks within their value chain. With such a broad set of capabilities, it can be difficult to explore all of the features in a short period of time.
GROCERY MANUFACTURERES ASSOCIATION
Last spring GMA launched its own tool to help companies combat food fraud called EMAlert. It is a secure and intuitive web-based software tool that allows food manufacturers to rapidly analyze and understand their individual, company-specific EMA vulnerabilities in their manufacturing process. We partnered with the Batelle research group. Their approach for this platform focuses on predicting fraudulent tendencies similar to approaches used by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to predict terrorist tendencies and preferences.


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On Friday Finland Bitcoin startup, Bittiraha announced additional deployments to their Bittimaatti Bitcoin ATM network. Spanning five cities, Bittimaatti ATMs serve 1.8 of Finland’s 5.5 million citizens. Since announcing interest at finding new locations five months ago, Finnish Bitcoin ATM network Bittimaatti announced their sixth…
Spanning five cities, Bittimaatti ATMs serve 1.8 of Finland’s 5.5 million citizens. Since announcing interest at finding new locations five months ago, Finnish Bitcoin ATM network Bittimaatti announced their sixth installation before the weekend began.
Bittimaatti ATMs accept Euros and give users the ability to buy bitcoins in three steps. Choose a language, hold your phone QR code up to the scanner and insert your bills. Unlike some ATMs you may have seen, this one does not require users to map out the veins in their hand before purchasing coins.
In addition, Bittiraha caps the buy price at the BitStamp price + 5%. ATMs do not offer selling services at this time and feature daily withdrawal limits.
The first Bitcoin ATM in Finland is in the record shop Levykauppa Äx at the railway station tunnels!
Asema-aukio A, 00100 Helsinki
The second Bittimaatti in Finland is at Toivala Ostosmarket. Ostosmarket is a 15-minute drive away from Kuopio.
Vallantie 6, 70900 Toivala
Our third Bittimaatti was installed during the Bitcoin Tour 2014 to Vegemesta Jyväskylä.
Väinönkatu 28, 40100 Jyväskylä
Avoid downtown traffic jams and buy your coins from the ring! GoFitness resides in the crossing of Vihdintie and Ring 1 (Kehä 1).
Ruosilantie 2, 00390 Helsinki
Tampere Bittimaatti is in Vegemesta, at downtown Tampere.
Puutarhakatu 12, 30100 Tampere
Turku Bittimaatti is located in downtown Turku at ATK-Huoltopalvelu.
Yliopistonkatu 26, 20100 Turku
Images from Bittimaati and Shutterstock.
Last modified: January 3, 2020 3:18 PM UTC


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London-based research and consulting firm Goode Intelligence has released a report and white paper that indicate that the mobile banking channel has the potential to be more secure than online banking.
The report, “Mobile Banking Security,” looks at the current security measures of mobile banking and how banks are working with technology companies to create means to prevent fraud and identity theft.
Goode reports that banks must be on top of security efforts not only to prevent attacks but also convince customers to use mobile devices as a means for banking. Banks should also be considerate of the end-user experience when implementing measures such as two-factor authentication to make security easy to use, yet effective.
Banks can do this by leveraging the built-in features of a mobile device for multi-factor authentication and verification with biometrics, behavioral analysis and geolocation. Banks can also monitor apps to ensure the ones in the marketplace are indeed their own, and they can have a set plan for updating and testing their security.
The report is available at Goode’s site.


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In Charles Dickens’ treasured story, "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge peers into his past, present and future, learning valuable lessons from his mistakes and emerging a better man.
Thankfully, retailers don’t need a visit from three ghosts to make wiser choices in the new year. As retailers face down a looming recession, here’s what they should be thinking about for 2023 — and how they can begin the new year stronger than ever.
1. Solid Inventory Management Will Be a Differentiator
Retailers are facing confusing indicators when it comes to consumer behavior. As we entered Q4 2022, economic conditions made consumers cautious, leaving many retailers with excess supply. However, Black Friday data shows that consumers are still more than willing to spend. According to the National Retail Federation, 196.7 million Americans shopped in stores and online during the five-day holiday shopping period from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, up nearly 17 million from 2021, due in part to record-high discounts.
These mixed signals mean that retailers need to be strategic and flexible when it comes to inventory management. This is always important during and immediately after the holiday season — e.g., ensuring seasonal merchandise is cleared out with as little price slashing as possible.
This year, retailers should also ensure they have a logistics strategy in place for the large number of returns expected in Q1. Yes, the continued dominance of online shopping means retailers should expect quite a few returns in January. To retain as much margin as possible, it's critical to know where and when you can get returned merchandise back on the shelves.
Furthermore, retailers should pause before joining the unfortunate trend of charging fees for returns. Irritating consumers while deterring returns is not a long-term solution. A better idea? Retailers can capitalize on the customers making returns. Many retailers have begun accepting returns from online giants like Amazon.com, thereby drawing extra shoppers into their stores. And every retailer can subtly attract customers to new merchandise during their visit, whether in-store or online.
2. Labor Challenges Will Continue
The labor market has been a consistent challenge since the beginning of the pandemic. A recent report found that around 7 million men between the ages of 25 and 54 have reportedly “punched out” from the job market, with no plans to return. This is unwelcome information for employers within the supply chain, from ports to warehouses to the storefront.
But thankfully, retailers are no stranger to labor hurdles, especially around the holidays. For two months, our stores are filled with kids home from college and other hastily hired seasonal workers gift-wrapping holiday cheer for hordes of impatient shoppers.
This year, retailers that are lucky enough to get in-store foot traffic should make every effort to retain an adequate number of workers long term. We should expect to see a big uptick in automation trials and pilots as retailers catch their breath coming out of the holidays. Using automation measures ranging from micro-fulfillment to warehouse robots, retailers can refocus scarce staff time toward higher-value, customer-facing activity that will boost loyalty and satisfaction for employees and customers alike.
3. Order Lifecycle Management Will Become Increasingly Important
Additionally, retailers should arm their employees with the information and technology they need to deliver excellent customer service. With today’s technology, customer-facing employees can (and should) know, with just a few taps on a screen, when the next shipment will arrive and whether that medium polka-dot sweater will be on the truck.
The key here is visibility into orders right down to the SKU level. This level of detail allows retailers to know exactly where their shipments are and what's on them without wasting precious time and resources. Retailers that haven’t yet implemented real-time transportation visibility — the foundation for end-to-end supply chain intelligence — should consider doing so now.
4. Customers Will Expect Impressive Experiences
With the right mix of staffing and technology, retailers can continue to deliver quality customer experiences that keep customers coming back.
Labor and tech considerations aside, retailers that want to thrive in 2023 and beyond must embrace the movement toward more experiential shopping. Today’s consumer yearns for a warm, tailored, Instagram-worthy experience. This store of the future is exemplified by H&M’s new concept space in Brooklyn, where customers can touch and feel sparsely displayed merchandise in luxurious surroundings, with more colors and sizes available with a few taps on a screen. However, retailers don’t need to go to great lengths to make a difference; simple changes like soft music or lighting that adjusts to the time of day or between different departments will go a long way in improving the customer experience.
At a more logistical level, the stores of tomorrow also need to serve as distribution centers to facilitate in-store pickup of online orders and returns. Retailers hoping to strike the right balance should fulfill these transactions in the most efficient way possible — which may involve some level of automation — while preserving the customer experience as well as attracting them to additional merchandise.
Long gone are the days when customers had patience for sterile, poorly lit stores crammed with teetering piles of merchandise. Retailers that can’t adapt to these new expectations are at a real risk of falling off the map.
New Year, New Opportunities to Get it Right
As we collectively continue to recover from years of pandemic shocks and uncertainty — all while the clouds of a recession continue to gather overhead — retailers and consumers alike are feeling wary about the future. But as Dickens wrote, we should reflect upon our present blessings, not our past misfortunes. Although these times are uncertain, they're also ripe with opportunity. With some careful consideration around labor, technology and the customer experience, retailers can ring in the new year confident in their future success.
Mark Delaney is vice president of industry strategy, retail and CPG at FourKites, a real-time supply chain visibility platform.
Related story: 3 E-Commerce UX Predictions for 2023
At FourKites, Mark engages with retailers’ c-level leaders and their teams to understand and address industry specific workflows and use cases. He has more than 20 years of experience in the retail industry and has worked with most large retailers globally. Before joining Zebra, Mark held leadership roles at Nielsen and General Mills and owned his own retail technology and analytics consulting firm.


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New York Fashion Week is making its comeback.
With a year of no in-person gatherings behind us, NYFW’s spring ’22 presentations will welcome a significant return to live fashion shows, according to Council of Fashion Designers of America chairman Tom Ford.
The designer penned a letter on Monday, announcing that New York Fashion Week will officially take place from Wednesday, Sept. 8, to Sunday, Sept. 12.
“This season’s shows are an opportunity to reaffirm the resilience and independence of American fashion and New York City as a global fashion force,” Ford said in his letter, noting that many designers who have not shown in New York in recent years — himself included — will make their way back. (Ford previously held his presentations in Los Angeles on the eve of the 2020 Oscars and virtually in February.)
Pyer Moss’ Kerby Jean-Raymond, for instance, will be presenting his spring ’22 collection after a two-year haitus. Other designers said they would also schedule a live NYFW show in September, such as Gabriela Hearst, Markarian and Jonathan Simkhai.
To further support the return of New York Fashion Week, IMG announced the formation of the IMG Fashion Alliance, which includes a group of American designers who “will help define the future of NYFW with IMG.” Those part of the alliance include: Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra, Brandon Maxwell, Jason Wu,
LaQuan Smith, Alexandra O’Neill of Markarian, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Monse, Prabal Gurung, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, Sergio Hudson and Telfar.
The goal is to revitalize the event with a commitment from the designers to NYFW: The Shows and NYFW.com for the next three seasons, with support from IMG shown through increased live event services and production.
And on Sept. 13, the rescheduled Met Gala will close out the week with a celebratory bang for the Costume Institute’s “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” exhibition. It was in May last year when the Met Gala was officially canceled. This year, singer Billie Eilish, actor Timothée Chalamet, poet Amanda Gorman and tennis star Naomi Osaka will serve as co-chairs for the September gala. Honorary chairs for the evening include Ford, Adam Mosseri and Anna Wintour.
Ford said in a statement: “I started my career on Seventh Avenue and while I spent most of my working life in Europe, I am incredibly proud to be an American designer and a part of our community and New York Fashion Week.”
Last season, New York’s marquee names, such as Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Coach and The Row showed outside of the immediate calendar. Jason Wu and Rebecca Minkoff were the only brands showing with partial physical attendance.
Stay tuned for more updates, and click through the gallery to see celebrities sitting front row at NYFW through the years.
This story has been updated on Thursday, May 12.


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Editor’s note: Due to Napa’s current purple rating for Covid-19, Be Bubbly is only offering outside tastings; however, the retail market inside is open with extensive safety protocols in place.
Finally, there’s something to “Cheers!” about in 2020. Be Bubbly, a new, first-of-its-kind Napa wine bar and shop focused on sparkling wine has opened downtown on Second Street, across from Grace’s Table.
“I think the name says it all. I wanted a place that I could have fun being a part of, but also I could bring people into that fun and create an environment where everyone’s welcome,” said owner Erin Riley. “You don’t have to be a somm to enjoy coming here. You don’t have to know anything about bubbles. You just have to have an open mind about trying something new, tasting something fun.”
Riley, who formerly worked as a wine buyer for the Napa Wine Train, was inspired by other Bay Area bubbles bars, like Sigh in Sonoma. With her daughter going off to college, she figured 2020 was as good a time as any to pursue her dream of owning a business. “It was a great time for both of us to launch,” she said.
She found the location last November and on March 13, signed a contract to start construction. A week later, California went into lockdown due to Covid-19. “I thought that would last a couple of months and I’d have it all built by the time it was done,” she said.
A few months stretched into five, but while she kept pushing back opening day, the Napa community came to Riley’s aid with some insurance, joining her Bubblehead Sparkling Wine Clubs and proving that there is a big demand for her business.
Her founding memberships, which include perks like discounts, swag, priority seating and event invites, sold out before she even opened her doors. Riley then added another 100 spots and is launching a new wine club soon.
“The community has been really good to me,” she said. “We opened with 150 members and I think that really made a difference for us to open and have people already ready to come in. We’ve seen 80 percent locals since opening in August.”
Champagne and sparkling wine is often reserved for big special occasions and milestones—New Year’s, birthdays, weddings, etc. — but Riley believes even the smallest and most mundane occasions are worth celebrating with a glass of bubbles.
“The great thing about bubbly is it’s the one thing that people can drink all day long. It’s something you can wake up and have with a mimosa and it’s something you may want with your truffle at the end of the night, but in between, it goes with every meal,” she said.
“I really wanted to remove that concept that it had to be a celebratory event, though I still think it’s a celebratory drink. So whether you’re celebrating that it’s a Wednesday, or you got off work early or you’re celebrating a breakup, there’s a reason probably to drink something effervescent.”
Unlike most Napa wine bars, Be Bubbly is not local-heavy and has a diverse, global menu of more than 100 bottles available by the glass, half-bottle or bottle. Patrons can also opt for a flight of 3 oz. pours from the featured glasses, which change weekly. Bottles can be purchased to-go for 25 percent off the restaurant price tag.
“You can come in here and have Cavas and Proseccos and domestic glasses that don’t break the bank. You can find some French wines in the same category, or you can go as expensive as you’d like with some of the grower champagnes,” said Riley.
She has the classics, of course — Schramsberg, Veuve Clicquot, Delamotte —but also unique or hard-to-find offerings, like Sonoma winery Scribe’s Pet Nat Riesling, which sold out every week it was on the by-the-glass list.
Riley sources sparklings from all over the world, including Spain, New Zealand and South Africa. “Being in the business now, I’ve learned how broad [sparkling wine] can be,” she said, noting a handful of rare sparkling varietals on her menu, like Albarino, Chenin Blanc and Gamay.
A selection of small plates is on offer for pairing, like Walla Walla onion rings, chili D’Espellette fries and grilled cheesy toast sticks. Riley has also created a few sparkling spritzers for those in the mood for a cocktail and on Sundays, she offers frittatas and bellinis with a side of NFL football. A few still wines and beers are available for non-bubbleheads.
When designing the space, Riley drew inspiration from the South, especially New Orleans, where establishments have open windows with musicians playing in them. Similarly, Be Bubbly has a large window that opens upfront with seating for those who want to people watch and enjoy the fresh air. Every Thursday, patrons can expect live music.
There are a few tables on the sidewalk and, when it is allowed again, there is both bar seating and booths inside. A private back room can be reserved for larger parties. Riley has plans for other events held every other Tuesday, for instance, Be Bubbly recently hosted a three-course Crudo menu paired with Tattinger’s Domaine Carneros.
While some might picture light and bright colors for a bubbles bar, Riley chose a more masculine, neutral palette of gray and gold with pops of dark blue and green. “I wanted to appeal to men and women,” she said. “I want everyone to feel like they’re safe and welcome here — all walks of life.”
In the booths, the tabletops are creatively filled with caps, cages and corks saved from all of the bubbly Riley has tasted since starting the business. Light fixtures resemble clusters of bubbles and hanging over each booth is a piece of art, spelling out a word in gold leaf letterings. They read “Unity,” “Love” and “Bliss.”
“I wanted to unite the local community and our shared love for all things sparkling and beautiful as we pursue our own personal bliss,” she said.
The retail shop offers sparkling wines for sale, as well as Be Bubbly merchandise.
Be Bubbly’s current hours are Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday noon to 8 p.m. at 1407 2nd St, Napa. For more information, visit bebubblynapa.com.
WATCH NOW: HOW TO HOST A VIRTUAL HOLIDAY PARTY
CHECK OUT SHELTER-AT-HOME CELEBRATIONS


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Inner Ear were proud sponsors of the Fashion in Flames event, which saw the Barras Art and Design Centre transformed into a firewalk catwalk for the evening, all in aid of the hard-working children’s charity organisation, Action for Children Scotland.
The world’s first ever firewalk catwalk, created specially by Glasgow company Headstrong, was rolled out on Saturday 17 May in Glasgow’s iconic Barrowlands, featuring a showcase from widely celebrated Glasgow-based design duo Obscure Couture. The entire proceeds from this exciting and innovative event will go to celebrated children’s charity, Action for Children. This charitable organisation runs several unique and valuable projects across the city and Scotland as a whole, each helping to improve the lives of vulnerable children and young people in a variety of ways.
Inner Ear, along with our partner organisation Radio Magnetic, one of the UK’s longest running internet radio stations, provided the soundtrack for the evening’s events DJing throughout the show. Attendees enjoyed an array of goodies and good times by way of the other significant sponsors of the Fashion in Flames event, including Pocapoc, Loch Ness Brewery, and Dress Your Legs.
Jenn Coyle and Lyndsay Pagan of Obscure Couture said: “We are very excited to be involved with “Fashion in Flames” an event with such an exciting, unusual concept; the world’s first firewalk catwalk, a catwalk on hot coals, where we showcase a selection of couture and ready-to-wear pieces from our collection “A Weekend in Hell” along with highlights from our new SS14 collection. Not only is this event set to be a fantastic night for all with fashion, music, food and drink, it’s raising money for Action for Children, a charity which we are very proud to support.”
Brian Costello of Headstrong said: “HeadStrong is massively excited to be involved with this project and to be part of what is potentially a world first. As if seeing people walking bare foot on fire isn’t enough, the addition of the incredible clothes, the music and the opportunity to raise a whole heap of money for action For Children is hugely inspirational. The models that walk the fire on the night will only be on the fire for a matter of seconds however the kids that Action For Children help face their own personal ‘firewalks’ every day and its only through our support and assistance that we can help them to the other side.”
Carol Iddon, Director of Children’s Services at of Action for Children Scotland, added: “The money raised at Fashion in Flames will fund our work with the most vulnerable children, young people and families in Scotland. We are very grateful to Obscure Couture and the sponsors of this exciting event for their support and wish the models the very best of luck with the burning catwalk!”


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BEIJING -- The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) Friday began to solicit opinions on a market it will open for small start-ups to raise funds.
The securities regulator posted on its website the regulations including conditions and procedures of stock issuance as well as information disclosure.
The opinions will be released next month and relevant institutions including sponsors and law firms will have to learn the regulations, said CSRC.
The first batch of companies will not get listed on the growth enterprise board, similar to the Nasdaq, until several months later, said the regulator which did not reveal how many months. Shang Fulin, CSRC head, said in January that the board would be opened on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in the first half of this year.
CSRC said the Shenzhen bourse had contacted about 200 companies interested in the growth enterprise board, which will have relatively lower thresholds than the main board.
Meanwhile, CSRC is studying extra requirements the growth enterprise board will have, for listing enterprises will have relatively higher risks, it said.
Lack of finance has been a problem for China's 42 million SMEs, more than 95 percent of which are privately owned.


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Ducati North America extended its floorplan financing program with Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance to continue offering inventory financing to the motorcycle manufacturer’s network of authorized dealers, according to a company press release.
Ducati’s motorcycles are sold in over 80 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the European, North American, and Asian markets.
The OEM has maintained a 19-year relationship with Wells Fargo CDF, who has been a “vital part of our development in the U.S. market,” Jason Chinnock, Ducati North America’s chief executive, said in the release.
CDF continues to ramp up its powersports presence after its merge with Wells Fargo & Co. in March. The floorplan financier first hinted at its continued expansion into the industry one month after the acquisition. “There are other OEMs and other programs that we are interested in and are talking to,” Jeremy Jansen, president of the motorsports group at CDF, previously told Powersports Finance. “We are always on the lookout for growth.” CDF is “growing comfortably ahead of the market, which is a testament to our wonderful OEM relationships,” he added.
Chicago-based CDF provided $47 billion in financing for more than 40,000 dealers globally, 5,000 dealers nationally, and 2,000 distributors and manufacturers globally in 2015.


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Industrial production in the U.S. fell 1.1%, said a Federal Reserve report. Production at U.S. factories, mines, and utilities has fallen for seven straight months, the report said. Output also fell 0.7%.
Production of appliances, furniture and carpeting fell 1.1%, while production of home electronics declined 1.9%.
to Daily News


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Deloitte Consumer Spending Index falls in September
New York City — The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index fell in September to its lowest level since May 2009, primarily due to a significant fall in home prices and deterioration in real wages. The Index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.
"Low mortgage rates are doing little to spur home sales as banks limit lending and foreclosures continue to increase," said Carl Steidtmann, Deloitte’s chief economist and author of the monthly Index. "While energy prices have begun to ebb, their decline will do little to increase real wages and income growth and offset the other components of the Index. The housing market also remains at risk of further decline, and both the tax rate and unemployment are stagnant."
The Index, which comprises four components — tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages, and real home prices — fell to 2.39 from 2.51 the previous month.
"Consumers may start to re-evaluate what’s in their shopping baskets and put non-essentials back on the shelf until they feel more confident about the economy’s prospects," said Alison Paul, vice chairman and U.S. retail & distribution sector leader, Deloitte LLP. "It’s critical retailers understand consumers’ purchasing behaviors and attitudes and are prepared to make quick decisions about which items to mark down and where to hold the line this holiday season. Also, by capturing non-transactional data such as interactions with customers, call center logs, click streams and social media connections, retailers can better understand what drives customer engagement and buying decisions."
Wegmans opens first Massachusetts store; evokes rural theme in design
New York City — Wegmans Food Markets has opened its first location in Massachusetts, in the town of Northborough. The 138,000-sq.-ft. store, the largest supermarket in New England, has a warm, welcoming feel.
“As you approach the store,” said Corinne Chiogna, who headed Wegmans’ design team’s effort, “there’s a rooster-themed weathervane atop a cupola in the center of a gabled roof. It’s a reminder of food’s roots in agriculture. The stonework on the face of the building, the diagonal bracing, and soft neutral colors with red accents on the roof make you think of a barn in the countryside. We chose traditional rather than trendy themes because we wanted everyone to feel comfortable in this space.”
Rural landscapes are echoed indoors, too, but with light, fun touches. As one enters the store, a hand-painted mural over the Coffee Bar is a rendering of Wegmans’ Organic Farm located on the edge of Canandaigua Lake, in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. Every half hour, the barn door in the mural opens, the sun lights up, and a crowing rooster pops out of the three-dimensional barn anchored in the mural.
Approximately one-third of the space is devoted to prepared foods, with another 15,000 sq. ft. for a liquor department and a 300-seat cafe. The giant store features 70,000 products and some 30 checkout lanes.
GoldMax targets 100 stores in Southern California by yearend
Playa Vista, Calif. — GoldMax USA, which specializes in buying gold and precious metals from consumers in the United States, announced it has surpassed the 20th store milestone in Southern California with the opening of two more Los Angeles County stores. According to GoldMax co-founders Scott Garber and Jordan Sadoff, the company wants to have 100 stores in Southern California by end of 2012.
GoldMax is celebrating the opening of its 21st store on Oct. 15, in Lakewood, and its 22nd store on Oct. 22, in Torrance. GoldMax also plans to open stores in Norwalk, Santa Ana, Oceanside, Vista and Apple Valley in the next 30 to 45 days.
GoldMax, which has nearly 200 U.S. stores, has retained Present Value Properties of Tustin, Calif., as its exclusive real estate broker for California.


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Stellar Lumen (XLM) Making a Move Higher on VISA, Tala Announcements?
Aiswarya Gopan • 2 min read
Stellar Lumen (XLM) is enjoying a bullish momentum as we head into the weekend, in line with the positive sentiment in the overall crypto market and global financial markets in general. At the time of writing, XLM/USD is trading around $0.64.
Recent fundamental developments have been supporting the recent uptrend in XLM, as the USDC token functioning on the Stellar reports an increase in liquidity. In addition, one of the companies behind the USDC – Tala, has confirmed that it will offer users the ability to access this stablecoin within their digital wallets, which can increase its use for conducting cross-border transactions and even purchase encryption services.
Stellar is also seeing increased interest after VISA – another company backing the USDC stablecoin, announced that it will issue cards with funds tied to the wallet, potentially allowing its customers to purchase goods and services using their crypto funds worldwide.
So far this year, the Stellar Lumen digital token has gained almost 400% of its value, with the uptrend strengthening this week over hopes that VISA and Tala will help drive mainstream adoption of the cryptocurrency. The technology behind this blockchain network will not only increase access to cryptocurrencies among a wider set of users but could become an attractive proposition for conducting cheaper remittances around the world.
Key Levels to Watch
The MACD and momentum indicators point to a bullish bias in XLM/USD on the 4-hour price chart. Keep an eye on the $0.80 level which is working as the next important resistance level. A break above this can extend the uptrend, but in case buyers are unable to push past this level, Stellar can see its value dropping down to $0.56 and then $0.51 in the near-term.


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I was recently invited to present to a group of Nokia partners meeting at the National Space Centre in preparation for the launch of the firm’s first Windows Phone – the Lumia 800. Although not strictly within the Labs team’s ‘innovation’ brief, co-operating with firms like Nokia is a great way to stay up-to-date on the rapidly changing mobile industry and to demonstrate our ‘thought leadership’ credentials.
As part of my presentation the Nokia UK team wanted an independent perspective on the mobile industry and – as broad a topic as it is – I took the opportunity to highlight five points specific to the UK:
- The importance of using local market data for decision making.
- The dominance of smart-phones.
- The delay in 4G services and likely network capacity issues resulting.
- The increasing trend to consumerisation and the relevance to businesses.
- The shift in importance from technical platforms to ecosystems.
The UK is not in North America
The UK is not North America
This raised a chuckle around the room, but behind the apparent absurdity of pointing this out is a serious point…
It seems an obvious thing to say, but too many commentators inappropriately offer global data when they really are only addressing one geography. Worse, too often that data ignores the differences between those markets – especially between the UK and the US which are superficially similar.
Here are a few example differences:
- The US has two mobile standards (CDMA and GSM) versus the UK’s one (GSM).
- Number porting between mobile operators is long-established in the UK and widely understood / used.
- Mobile penetration in the UK stands at well over 100% (some estimates place it around 120%) whilst the US is at around 80%.
- 4G (high speed wireless data) technology has launched in North America.
Key Point: None of this makes the US or the UK better or worse – it’s just important to remember they are different. Decision makers – including Tribal’s partners and customers – need to make their decisions with the right information. Global trends are useful for investors and analysts, but we need to take care to use regional data for our own planning when relating to real end users, their preferences and priorities.
The UK has reached a smartphone ‘tipping point’
Just under 50% of the UK mobile-phone owing population now have a ‘smartphone’. The 50% line will be crossed any day and will definitely be true by early 2012 – one firm of analysts reports this figure moving at 2.5% per week, although that is difficult to verify. The fact that 70% of devices sold in UK are smart-phones is certainly not contentious and all of these measures are well ahead of where they had been predicted to be just a few years ago as adoption accelerates.
The T-Mobile G1 was the first Android device to be available in the UK. It launched 3 years ago.
Google’s Android platform is powering half of ‘smart-phones’ sold, followed by RIM’s BlackBerry models with 23% and Apple’s iPhone at 19% according to Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Windows Phone has yet to make an impact on those figures, but with little marketing of the platform or specific devices prior to November 2011 that’s unsurprising.
Key Point: Android only arrived into the UK as the ‘G1′ with T-Mobile in September 2008 – the rate of change is huge and significantly faster than many firms’ planning and product cycles. If addressing the market now Android should be a key consideration – despite the media attention Apple’s iPhone is still in third place. However, the speed of change suggests this market is still one that can be significantly disrupted in a short space of time so a focus on multi-platform solutions and building skills in transferable technologies will be investments more likely to give long-term returns.
The UK is behind on 4G
4G is a technical standard with many different benefits, but the key elements for UK users will be that it moves all services onto an IP-based network and delivers greater speeds – up to about 100Mbit.
In the UK 4G spectrum auctions will also go some way to un-clogging the imminent ‘capacity crunch’ that is going to affect all mobile network operators as our demand for wireless data soars – offering more a significant capacity improvement, even over existing spectrum.
However, the UK isn’t now scheduled to have its first 4G spectrum auctions until the end of 2012, putting it 4 years behind the earliest adopters and concerning many over the business impact of the delays. Even Lithuania and Uzbekistan are more advanced in their roll-outs!
The upside – limited as it is – is that 4G handset technology is still immature and the normal challenge of smart-phone battery life is even greater with these devices. Some of these problems will have been resolved by the time manufacturers ship devices to UK consumers.
Key Point: Allocating new wireless spectrum is complex technically and commercially, but the extension of OFCOM’s (necessary) consultation process has resulted in delays to the UK 4G spectrum auctions. The impact to mobile users in the UK is that over-the-air services are going to have to exist in an increasingly crowded space. Smartphone-users may see service-levels reduce in the short-term and businesses planning to use wireless data will need to ensure that their services are tolerant of low-bandwidth / higher latency connectivity and ‘offloading’ to WiFi networks – a measure which many network operators are turning to as a short-term fix.
Tribal customers such as Higher Education establishments may notice these effects sooner than the general population as students turn to campus networks when 3G networks become overloaded by the relatively high density of mobile users in those areas.
Consumerisation is often described as the flow of ideas, technology and – most importantly to me – user expectations into the workplace. Sometimes it’s characterised as people’s home computers being more powerful to use than their work-supplied ones, but crucially its also about it being more pleasant to use and more capable. This is especially true for smart-phones and tablets where enterprise workers may choose to use their own devices in preference to a work-supplied computer to give them greater flexibility where to work.
Consumerisation is also a huge driver for ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD) strategies – the attempt to make staff more productive (and happier) by letting them select their own IT tools (typically using ones they already own) and actively putting in place ways to secure and manage this to enable it. Users’ enthusiasm for this is often driven by usability – consumer services have to be pleasant to use and can’t require hours of ‘training’ or people won’t use them. No one needs ‘Facebook training’ despite it being a hugely complex social network, media sharing and application platform.
All those entering the workplace for at least the last 5 (and probably 10) years have grown up with high-speed Internet, mobile phones and games consoles and this ubiquity, ease of use and speed of development have become the benchmark by which they assess the tools provided in the workplace.
Key Point: Producers of mobile services should look to the consumer market for standards of user experience, performance and capability. The apparent contradiction of device manufacturers like Blackberry and Microsoft adding both entertainment and enterprise features to their products is driven by a recognition increasingly users move between personal and business use. Accordingly businesses should develop a BYOD strategy (even if it is only to clearly disallow it) and recognise that tacit permission is not a strategy – this requires measures (and typically tools) to enable it in a managed way.
It’s all about Ecosystems
The quote above is from Stephen Elop, Nokia CEO at a press conference with Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer. I suppose you could argue that ‘they would say that wouldn’t they’ – it suits the ‘two Steves‘ to talk about ecosystems because they’re both backing a new one (Microsoft’s Windows Phone).
But I think they’re right and it shows elsewhere… Kantar Worldpanel ComTech note that there’s a big gap between the number of people planning to stay with Android for their next handset upgrade and those planning to stay with the same device manufacturer.
Ecosystems consist of far more than just a mobile device’s operating system though… All the large players – Android, Apple, Blackberry, Windows Phone and even Symbian have:
- 3rd party developer programmes
- Application stores
- Music and digital content stores
- Online services such as email, mapping, media sharing and social networking.
- Device recovery, management, ‘remote kill’ and tracking features.
This provides a huge barrier to entry by new players – witness Palm and then HP’s failed attempt with WebOS – and has required many established firms (previously building their own OS) to consolidate around other’s ecosystems – SonyEricsson and Motorola adopting Android and Nokia adopting Windows Phone.
Key Point: For consumers, handset manufacturer is becoming less relevant than the ecosystem it belongs to, but this (entirely intentional) ‘lock in’ effect users may also have the undesired consequence of ‘locking out’ potential ‘switchers’ due to the inconvenience. Businesses users and app producers – like Tribal – will also need to adapt as commercial arrangements, access to customer through app stores, support and innovation shifts to the ecosystem provider who’s focus is global. As mobile ecosystems increasingly overlap with other businesses (music, online services, entertainment etc) external – and less predictable – influences too will also have a greater impact.


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11:26, 21 FEB 2013
Holidaybreak takeover by Cox & Kings given go-ahead
Travel business Holidaybreak has announced that a £312m takeover bid by Indian group Cox & Kings has been given legal approval.
Demand for camping trips keeps Holidaybreak on track
A surge in late bookings for camping holidays has helped keep travel group Holidaybreak on track to meet management expectations for the year to the end of September, the Cheshire-based firm said. Holidaybreak, which is being sold to Mumbai-listed Cox & Kings for £312m, said in a trading update that it has seen strong demand for late bookings in the UK and Dutch markets for its camping division, which operates the Eurocamp and Keycamp brands.
Commercial deals made in Greater Manchester
Cox & Kings' £312m acquisition of Holidaybreak will spur international growth
The £312m acquisition of Holidaybreak will enable the business to expand internationally, says travel group Cox & Kings, whose offer has been agreed by the north west firm's board.
Holidaybreak agrees £312m takeover by Cox & Kings
Holidaybreak has agreed a £312m takeover by Indian travel company Cox & Kings.
Cox & Kings confirmed as Holidaybreak suitor
Travel group Holidaybreak's suitor has been confirmed as India-headquartered Cox & Kings.
Holidaybreak in takeover talks - shares jump 17 per cent
Travel group Holidaybreak today announced it was in takeover talks, which sent its shares up by nearly 17 per cent.
Deloitte's Sharon Fraser promoted to managing partner
Deloitte's Sharon Fraser has been promoted to managing partner of the firm's regional markets division, heading up all its 17 UK offices outside London.
Holidaybreak disposes of West End Theatre Bookings for £10.9m
Travel group Holidaybreak today began to sell off non-core businesses with the £10.9m disposal of a London theatre ticket agency.
Holidaybreak planning sales pitch
Holidaybreak is reported to have appointed advisers for a sales spree which would increase its focus on educational activities. Accountancy firm KPMG is said to have been appointed by the group, based in Northwich, Cheshire, which increased its hold on the sector through the acquisition of a 50 per cent stake in German school tour operator Meininger last year.
Shares surge at Holidaybreak
Shares in travel group Holidaybreak soared more than 10 per cent as its boss hailed a resilient first half performance amid tough trading conditions, enabling the Cheshire-based firm to hike its interim dividend.
Holidaybreak losses widen
Travel group Holidaybreak today posted wider interim headline pre-tax losses but hiked its dividend as its chief executive hailed a resilient performance amid tough trading conditions. Cheshire-based Holidaybreak, which traditionally posts a loss at the half-year stage due to the seasonal nature of its education and camping operations, said it continues to tightly manage all of its businesses, which are well-placed to prosper when the economy recovers.
Gunnercooke announces ambitious plans
Boutique corporate and commercial law firm gunnercooke today announced a series of moves which underline its ambitious growth plans. The practice, established in Manchester last summer by dealmaker Darryl Cooke and Sarah Goulbourne, has hired lawyer Anna Gregory as a corporate partner in its Manchester office and corporate finance professional David Coombes as finance director.
Falling bookings but Holidaybreak 'will hit targets'
Holidaybreak has warned of a three per cent drop in bookings, blaming consumer leaving it until later to place an order. However, the Northwich education and activity travel group said it expects to perform in line with management expectations for the financial year ending September 30.
Chill Factor appoints Morwenna Angove as new CEO
Indoor snow centre Chill Factor has appointed Morwenna Angove, formerly sales and marketing director at Alton Towers Resort, as its new chief executive.
Holidaybreak's German acquisition leads European push
North west travel group Holidaybreak aims to become a leading European player in the education sector and underlined its hunger with a £31m deal for 50 per cent of a Berlin-based student and school tour accommodation business. Holidaybreak, which also owns school trips outfit NST, summer camps arm PGL and operations in adventure travel, hotel breaks and camping, said Meininger had 10 city centre sites near cultural locations, including in Cologne, Frankfurt, Vienna, London and Munich.
Holidaybreak looks to European market
The division organises and hosts school trips, tours and conferences in centres nationwide under the PGL, NST and European Study Tours brands and generates annual revenues of more than £120m and comprises
Holidaybreak's ray of sunshine for travel industry
Camping-to-school trips firm Holidaybreak put bigger rivals in the shade today by revealing it traded in line with hopes over the key summer months. The Northwich-based group, which also sells adventure holidays and weekend theatre breaks, said it was encouraged by the resilience of its business since March.
Holidaybreak shakes off volcanic dust
Shares in Holidaybreak rose to their highest level since last autumn after the Cheshire-based travel group posted a narrower first-half loss and said the impact of the volcanic eruption in Iceland would be immaterial to its overall financial performance at around £800,000. Holidaybreak, which has its headquarters at Hartford Manor, near Northwich, posted underlying pre-tax losses of £17.7m for the six months to March 31, compared with a restated deficit of £18.1m in the same period last year.
5.6pc dive in shares of travel operator
SHARES in Cheshire-based Holidaybreak dived today after it warned of a `more unsettled and unpredictable' trading environment. The shares fell 5.65 per cent, or 20p, to a year-low of 331p.
Global slump hits shares
NORTH west company shares were battered as the stock market suffered its biggest fall since the September 11 terror attacks of 2001. Regional Footsie giants United Utilities and Astra Zeneca were among those left nursing heavy losses, as fears of a recession in the United States caused global havoc.
Markets take a battering
NORTH west company shares were battered as the stock market suffered its biggest fall since the September 11 terror attacks of 2001. Regional FOOTSIE giants United Utilities and Astra Zeneca were among those left nursing heavy losses, as fears of a recession in the United States caused global havoc.
Quoted companies review
EVEN in turbulent economic times, the north west has always been a centre of excellence for quoted companies. Sheryl Moore discovers how they are proving to be the region’s jewels in the crown. Cheshire-based Holidaybreak is on the acquisition trail, JD Group and N Brown are reporting record hikes in profits and flooring company James Halstead is flying the flag for British manufacturing.
Holidaybreak dives as dividend halved
SHARES in Cheshire-based travel group Holidaybreak took a dive today after posting a slump in profits and halving its dividend to reduce its debt pile. Holidaybreak, based at Hartford Manor, near Northwich, said pre-tax earnings for the year to September 30 slid from £37.5m to £23.4m.


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With a deal in place to stave off the fiscal cliff, the nation has shifted its focus to debt. For months, Washington lawmakers danced around financial issues that have lingered years after the start of the Great Recession. Debt has been a worrisome part of the nation’s financial health and likewise has had a significant impact on Americans who suffered under its crushing weight during the financial crisis.
The result has been a discernible change in consumer behavior. MasterCard, headquartered in Purchase, has been monitoring the change. The past year in consumer behavior has looked a lot like it did in 2011, according to Theodore Iacobuzio, vice president of global insights at MasterCard. Consumers are optimizing spending, and not just by cutting back and becoming more deliberate with payment methods regarding credit, debit use and prepaid cards.
Iacobuzio said U.S. credit card usage took a big hit in 2009. MasterCard did research measuring this from both a quantitative perspective, looking purely at numbers and a qualitative market research point of view, and determined that consumers have become more confident as they’ve focused on saving and decreasing debt.
“The U.S. consumer had the living daylights scared out of him,” Iacobuzio said. “People were engaged in reducing the level of consumer spending in the hopes of taking whatever was left over to reducing consumer debt.” That effort proved successful, after credit card usage dipped into what Iacobuzio called “a spending crater.” More recently, consumers have slowly started to climb out. In 2011, MasterCard estimated $152 billion in U.S. credit card volume growth, which is a direct reflection of increased consumer spending.
The spending has also reflected a more calculating consumer: one who buys what they can actually manage to pay for. Over the past decade, the emergence of debit cards also changed the way people have wielded their buying power. From 2010 to 2011, debit and prepaid card growth increased by 45 percent, according to MasterCard analysis.
“We engaged in this research because there was wild talk going around the industry four years ago when we were really in a crisis that people were only using debit cards,” Iacobuzio said. But that wasn’t the whole story. Through MasterCard’s research, the company has identified a new credit card user.
“Consumers have figured this one out,” Iacobuzio said. “People have educated themselves; they’ve realized that the kinds of behaviors that they’ve engaged in really for 20 years from the late ’80s to the crash weren’t going to cut it anymore.” Expectations of retirement and saving for a child’s college forced people to shift their thinking about the big purchases and using credit cards as a “wish-granting apparatus,” he continued.
Moving forward, Iacobuzio said MasterCard hesitates to forecast what’s to come, but he thinks consumer behavior will continue to evolve as it relates to balancing debt and managing spending. Because in the end, Iacobuzio said, “I think consumers have learned their lesson.”
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A national index of Canadian technology companies working in the advanced security sector is being created by several associations banding together for that purpose.
The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA) has pulled together the Canadian Alarm and Security Association (CANASA) and the Canadian Association of Information Technology Professionals (CIPS) to create a database of Canadian security companies within the next year. The index will deal exclusively with the application of IT in the security industry. The CATA Alliance is still working out the details of how the actual database will be made available, or what fees, if any, will be charged. It expects to have a preliminary report in September. The database will focus on 14 categories including biometrics, authentication and encryption. It will be based on security solutions that use information and communications technology to meet a range of security applications and customer needs. The project will also involve profiling each security company in an effort to understand the types of products being offered. Companies must be based in Canada. Montreal-based Huguette Guilhaumon, managing director of CATA Alliance Quebec, said the proposed database fills a void in the industry and creates knowledge management of the security resources available in the country. CATA Alliance wants to find out if there are advanced security companies in Canada, and how those companies are faring. — Allison Taylor
Companies offer Canadians credit monitoring to protect against ID theft
Toronto-based Carlson Marketing Group Canada Ltd. and Intersections Inc. of Chantilly, Va.,in July announced the launch of credit monitoring and identity theft protection solutions for Canadian consumers. The companies claim their Credit Alert is the first product of its kind in Canada and will give consumers the power to access their personal credit information held by Equifax Canada Inc. and Trans Union of Canada. The product is said to help consumers learn what factors affect their credit scores, how to improve their scores over time, how to correct errors in their credit reports, and how to monitor activity in their reports that may be an indication of fraud or identity theft. The new program is designed to protect Canadian consumers from the risks associated with identity theft, one of the fastest growing crimes in North America, as well as educate them about the importance of maintaining good credit. It is modeled on similar products and services Intersections currently provides to two million U.S. consumers through both direct and endorsed partner channels. The companies noted that through strategic partnerships, Credit Alert will be offered to credit card-holding customers of several of the major credit card issuers in Canada.
TruAct recommends digital passports to secure business e-mail
TruAct Corporation earlier this year teamed with Soltrus, the Canadian affiliate of VeriSign, to launch “an affordable, made in Canada solution to e-mail security.” The Toronto-based TruAct claims to offers users the ability to economically digitally sign and encrypt their correspondence and conclude business transactions safely and securely across the Internet. The company recommends four key characteristics that messaging systems need to have to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the messages being sent and received. One is confidentiality; a guarantee to the sender that only the intended recipient(s) can read the message. Another is integrity; a guarantee to the recipient that the message has not been altered in any way during transmission. Third is authentication; a guarantee to the recipient that the purported sender of the message is the actual sender. Lastly: non-repudiation; a guarantee that the sender cannot plausibly deny that he/she created or sent the message to the recipient. TruAct contends that the most efficient and economical means to implement these characteristics is to deploy and utilize digital passports.


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LOS ANGELES -- Mercedes-Benz USA LLC and its 17 dealerships in Southern California hope their association with haute couture will create hot sales.
For the third year, the automaker and dealerships are sponsoring Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, a twice-yearly event in Los Angeles.
Jill Martinette, marketing manager for Mercedes-Benz's Los Angeles region, says the sponsorship is important to the brand because it attracts consumers who are seeking stylish, upscale vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz also wants to attract younger, professional buyers, especially to its entry-level C230 sport sedan.
"These people are interested in things fashionable, in being trendsetters," Martinette says. "We thought this was a perfect blend."
Last month, at Mercedes-Benz's spring fashion week, 32 designers from the Los Angeles area presented their fall collections. The automaker will hold another event this fall.
The event costs Mercedes-Benz slightly less than $1 million a year, Martinette says. Sponsorships by Mercedes-Benz dealerships defray the bulk of those costs, she adds.
Stephen Smythe, president of Mercedes-Benz Beverly Hills, says the money to sponsor Fashion Week comes from dealerships' regional advertising fund. He calls the event an ideal way to reach out to younger buyers.
"When you think of youth driving imports, you think of the Audi 4 or the BMW 3 series," Smythe says. "But we're learning that young people like our cars. We meet people at these events, and they come back to buy."
Mercedes-Benz says it sold 61,494 vehicles in California in 2004, a 4.1 percent gain over 2003.
Martinette says Mercedes can trace at least 100 sales last year to buyers who said they learned about its vehicles from Fashion Week activities.
You may e-mail Kathy Jackson at


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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — The price of imported white rice is going to get more expensive in the months ahead for Malaysia, according to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
Its Agricultural Industry Development Division secretary Datuk Azman Mahmood told The Star that white rice is currently trading at about US$700 (RM3,272) a metric tonne worldwide, but has not surpassed the 2008 price of US$1,000 (RM4,677) a tonne during a global rice crisis.
“It is a global issue that we cannot control,” he was quoted as saying in the news report published today.
Prices of imported white rice now costs RM3,200 a tonne from RM2,350 a tonne, up by 36 per cent, as announced by Malaysia’s sole licensed importer Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) on September 1.
Azman said Malaysia is currently unaffected by the decision by India — the world’s biggest rice exporter — to stop selling its rice to others except for basmati and parboiled rice since July 20.
While Malaysia grows rice, it is not sufficient to meet domestic demand.
The government is targeting 75 per cent rice self-sufficiency by 2025 under the five-year 11th Malaysia Plan, and 80 per cent self-sufficiency under the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030.
Azman said that Malaysia should strive for 100 per cent rice self-sufficiency to avoid being impacted by any global market disruptions.
“We can still import rice from Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, but the best approach is to make our rice production self-sufficient.
“Our ultimate goal is to achieve 100 per cent self-sufficiency,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that there is currently a six-month trading stock of imported white rice.
Azman said Malaysia only needs to increase local rice production by six metric tonnes to meet domestic demand if the SMART SBB Mini Sekinchan Mada-Bernas paddy farming plan in Kedah and Kelantan is successful.
He is hoping the plan can be rolled out nationwide.
Azman was also asked about the rice wholesalers’ request for the government to promote fair competition and explore opportunities for other companies to participate in rice imports.
He told The Star that Bernas holds the concession for rice imports until January 2031, and that only the prime minister can decide whether or not the monopoly will remain or to open up the licence.


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OMAHA (DTN) -- Representatives from a cross section of livestock industries told members of a House Agriculture subcommittee on Tuesday their livelihoods depend on federal efforts to expand trade.
The panelists took the occasion to press House members to approve the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as soon as possible.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is scheduled to meet with Democratic lawmakers sometime this week to talk about some environmental issues related to the USMCA, while President Donald Trump continues to publicly pressure the House to pass the agreement already approved by Mexico four weeks ago.
Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kan., wrote in an opinion published in The Hill on Monday, he believes the USMCA would pass "overwhelmingly" if brought up for a vote in the House.
Click here to read the opinion: https://thehill.com/…
David Herring, president of the National Pork Producers Council, told lawmakers during a hearing Tuesday before the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, recent trade disputes with China and other nations have hurt the pork industry.
"Market analysts projected 2018 to be a profitable year for U.S. hog farmers," the Lillington, North Carolina, hog farmer told the subcommittee.
"Unfortunately, restricted market access from trade disputes caused a loss last year to our farmers. This year, the average hog farmer is making a very small profit through the first six months of the year. Those small profits would be much higher were it not for trade retaliation from China and other markets."
Herring said the U.S. pork industry has been on three trade retaliation lists during the past year in China and Mexico. The Mexican government lifted tariffs on U.S. pork but China's 50% tariff in addition to the existing 12% duty on U.S. pork remains in place.
"China is the largest producer, consumer and importer of pork in the world but, at a 62% tariff rate, U.S. pork producers are losing $8 per animal, or $1 billion on an annualized, industry-wide basis because of the punitive tariffs it faces," Herring said.
"There is an unprecedented sales opportunity for U.S. pork producers in China as it continues to battle the spread of African swine fever and experiences a major reduction in domestic production. Were it not for the retaliatory duties on U.S. pork, we would be in an ideal position to meet China's need for increased pork imports and single-handedly put a huge dent in the U.S. trade imbalance with China."
Herring said pork producers are "eager to see ratification" of USMCA because it preserves zero-tariff pork trade in North America.
Kelley Sullivan Georgiades, a fourth-generation cattle producer from Crockett and Navasota, Texas, where she owns and operates Santa Rosa Ranch, told the subcommittee USMCA passage would provide a boost to the cattle industry.
A premium received for U.S. beef products from foreign customers, she said, increases the value of each animal sold in the U.S. by nearly $300.
"We would like to see that value increase because, for many cattle producers, that $300 per animal may already be the difference between a successful business and bankruptcy," Georgiades said. "It cannot shrink. We are a low-margin industry."
Mexico and Canada buy a combined $2 billion in U.S. beef products every year. That amounts to nearly 25% of all U.S. beef exports annually and accounts for $69 of those $300 realized by U.S. producers as a result of trade, she said.
"USMCA keeps the good aspects of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) -- unrestricted, duty-free access for U.S. beef and cattle -- and does not attempt to incorporate failed policies from the past, like mandatory country of origin labeling," Georgiades said. Failing to maintain free trade with Mexico and Canada would be "devastating to cattle producers," she said.
The same could be said for beef trade with Japan, she said, where the U.S. industry already faces a 38.5% tariff.
"Though Japan is still the number one destination for U.S. beef, the lower tariffs available to countries like Australia may soon begin to hamper our growth in Japan if we don't act quickly," Georgiades said.
Because 96% of the world's consumers live outside of the U.S., Georgiades said, "These customers have become a necessary part of the industry."
In 2018 the U.S. beef industry sold more than $8.3 billion in beef products abroad. Foreign consumers typically demand beef cuts that are not in high demand in the domestic market.
"If you go to a steakhouse in the United States, it is doubtful that you will find beef tongue listed among the ribeyes and other top beef cuts," she said. "Yet, in those countries who are our largest export markets, such as Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Canada and Hong Kong, beef tongue and other beef varietal cuts are a delicacy and fetch a premium price."
POULTRY URGES PASSAGE
Holly Porter, executive director of Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., a 1,700-member trade association that represents family farmers, processors and allied businesses in the Delmarva Peninsula, said the USMCA is important to her producers.
Several Delmarva companies export dark meat and chicken paws. Overall, the U.S. exported about 17% of its production in 2018, or 7 billion pounds of chicken meat. The U.S. is second in broiler exports behind Brazil.
"Mexico and Canada are our top two export markets, with a combined value of over $850 million in 2018," Porter said.
"The passage of United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is absolutely critical to the chicken industry not only in protecting the current marketplace but growing it. We call on Congress to vote on USMCA as soon as possible."
House Ag Committee ranking member Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, said the livestock and poultry industries need the USMCA.
"As we heard again today, producers are clamoring for the additional certainty, benefits of increased access and added protections that USMCA promises with two of our most important trading partners," he said in a statement following the hearing.
"I again urge my colleagues across the aisle to join me in committing to working together to approve USMCA."
Todd Neeley can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org
Follow him on Twitter @toddneeleyDTN
Copyright 2019 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.


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Starlink Satellite Internet in Hnivan
Residents of Hnivan, a small town in Ukraine, are set to benefit from the launch of Starlink satellite internet. This new technology promises to revolutionize the way people access the internet, particularly in rural areas where traditional internet services are often slow and unreliable.
One of the main benefits of Starlink satellite internet is its speed. With download speeds of up to 150 Mbps, users can browse the web, stream videos, and download files at lightning-fast speeds. This is a significant improvement over traditional internet services, which often struggle to provide even half that speed.
Another advantage of Starlink satellite internet is its reliability. Traditional internet services can be affected by a range of factors, including weather conditions, network congestion, and infrastructure problems. In contrast, Starlink uses a network of satellites that orbit the earth, providing a consistent and reliable internet connection no matter where you are.
This is particularly important for people living in rural areas like Hnivan, where traditional internet services are often limited or non-existent. With Starlink, residents can enjoy fast and reliable internet access, regardless of their location.
In addition to its speed and reliability, Starlink satellite internet is also highly affordable. Traditional internet services can be expensive, particularly in rural areas where the cost of infrastructure is high. Starlink, on the other hand, offers a low-cost alternative that is accessible to everyone.
This is particularly important for people living in Hnivan, where many residents struggle to make ends meet. With Starlink, they can access the internet at an affordable price, allowing them to stay connected with friends and family, access educational resources, and even start their own businesses.
Finally, Starlink satellite internet is also highly flexible. Unlike traditional internet services, which require physical infrastructure to be installed, Starlink can be accessed from anywhere with a clear view of the sky. This means that users can take their internet connection with them wherever they go, whether they are travelling, working remotely, or simply enjoying the great outdoors.
Overall, the launch of Starlink satellite internet in Hnivan is set to have a significant impact on the lives of residents. With its fast speeds, reliable connection, affordability, and flexibility, it promises to revolutionize the way people access the internet in rural areas. Whether you are a student, a business owner, or simply someone who wants to stay connected with the world, Starlink satellite internet is the perfect solution.


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WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court panel offered few hints Tuesday whether it will permit the music industry to continue using special copyright subpoenas to track and sue computer users who download songs over the Internet.
The three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia tossed tough questions at lawyers for all sides. Judges plainly wrestled with esoteric provisions of the disputed 1998 law that permits music companies and others to force Internet providers to turn over the names of suspected pirates.
The decision, expected later this fall, could have important consequences for the music industry's unprecedented campaign to discourage piracy through fears of expensive civil penalties or settlements.
The Recording Industry Association of America, the trade group for the largest labels, has issued at least 1,500 such subpoenas this summer. It has filed civil lawsuits against 261 people it accused of illegally distributing music online and promised thousands more lawsuits.
Verizon Communications Inc. is challenging the constitutionality of the subpoenas under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates earlier had approved use of the subpoenas, forcing Verizon to turn over names and addresses for at least four Internet subscribers; since then Verizon has identified dozens of its other subscribers to music industry lawyers.
But if the appeals court was leaning in one direction by the end of Tuesday's hearing, it was indecipherable. One judge, John Roberts, alternately suggested that a "logical extension" of the 1998 law wouldn't permit such subpoenas in these music lawsuits; then he accused Verizon of profiting from the online piracy of its subscribers.
"You make a lot of money off piracy," Roberts told Verizon lawyer Andrew McBride. People who download large collections of music traditionally favor high-speed Internet connections like those offered by Verizon's Internet subsidiary.
"That is a canard," McBride shot back. He said Verizon makes money when computer users purchase songs from online services affiliated with Verizon.