text:
Is Starbucks eyeing up new coffee shop in Essex town?
A DEAL to sell off Uttlesford District Council s offices in Great Dunmow s High Street to the highest bidder is gathering pace. And some sources are already claiming that the 17th century building could be turned into a Starbucks coffee shop. Speaking at
A DEAL to sell off Uttlesford District Council's offices in Great Dunmow's High Street to the highest bidder is gathering pace.
And some sources are already claiming that the 17th century building could be turned into a Starbucks coffee shop.
Speaking at a meeting of the Dunmow traffic management group, town councillor Wendy Barron, said: "I have heard that the old district council buildings will become a Starbucks. Apparently Uttlesford District Council have already accepted one bid."
Although an official council spokesman confirmed that some bids had been received it was not possible to confirm that Starbucks could be moving into town.
"Negotiations with bidders are ongoing and we do not want to comment on the matter, not until a contract is finalised and signed," said a council spokesman.
Once a deal has been done, the council said it would send out a formal release indicating who the successful bidder is.
- 1 Anti-drug spray trialled in Braintree clubs, pubs, and public toilets
- 2 Plan to ease congestion at M11 junction 8 gets underway
- 3 Plans unveiled for 22 new Hatfield Broad Oak homes
- 4 Creamfields South Chelmsford 2022 line-up announced for Hylands Park
- 5 New vehicles to catch Essex's criminals on the county's fast roads
- 6 Great Dunmow man jailed for 14 years
- 7 Braintree burglary sparks Essex Police appeal
- 8 Government accused of 'grotesque waste of taxpayers' money' after Stansted flight
- 9 Environmental action: Dunmow boutique Wardrobe holding eco-swap
- 10 Dinosaur visits Felsted School
Other sources in the town had also revealed to the Broadcast that they understood that a Slug and Lettuce pub would be located there.
However, that has been flatly denied by The Bay Restaurant Group, the company that owns the chain of pubs.
A spokesman said: "We have no intention of buying the property or locating one of our pubs or bars there."
The council offices have been up for sale for over 18 months, and in that time have attracted a lot of interest from various parties.
Some of the bigger housing developers have expressed interest and last May Dunmow Town Council were considering a move to the building in a last ditch bid to save the charities that currently operate inside.
Speaking at the time, charity leaders were very upset that the offices had been sold at all - because it forced them to look elsewhere. One of them was the Community Information Centre. It moved to the new library, in White Street, when it opened earlier this year.
The Broadcast had been in contact with the company that plans and builds coffee houses on behalf of Starbucks, the Pegasus Planning Group - but at this stage the company has neither confirmed nor denied the rumours.
WHAT do you think? E-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.org


text:
NFL in eCommerce: Online Shop Analysis, Strategy & Partnerships
As the NFL expands its eCommerce horizons, we explore how partnerships and innovative strategies are reshaping its online marketplace, including collaborations with Fanatics and Amazon.Article by Cihan Uzunoglu | February 09, 2024
NFL in eCommerce: Key Insights
eCommerce Trends: The NFL's eCommerce platform, nflshop.com, saw a financial surge during the pandemic, but faces a slight downturn in sales forecasts for 2023 and 2024, raising questions about its targeted audience and future growth strategy.
Demographic Insights: NFL fan demographics vary widely by gender, age, and income, offering critical guidance for tailored eCommerce strategies, including the possibility of specialized team partnerships to engage different audience segments.
Fanatics Partnership: Fanatics strengthens its dominant role in NFL eCommerce through 10-year deals with major teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, signaling the league's serious commitment to online retail and boosting confidence in Fanatics' ability to expand the NFL's merchandise reach.
Social Media Integration: The NFL's collaborations with Instagram and Amazon spotlight the league's innovative efforts to integrate eCommerce into social media and holiday traditions, marking key steps in diversifying and enhancing its revenue streams.
Innovative Ventures: The league's venture into the Roblox metaverse and its exploration of sports betting through Fanatics underscore the league's strategic aim to diversify revenue streams and adapt to evolving fan behaviors, especially among younger audiences.
With the Super Bowl just days away, the National Football League (NFL) stands at the forefront of American sports culture, showcasing its prowess not only on the field but also in the digital realm of eCommerce. As fans gear up for the big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, it's clear the NFL's digital push is driven by the evolving nature of its fan base across different ages and income levels.
This adaptation is crucial for the NFL as it seeks to tailor its online retail strategy to meet a wide array of needs. But what is the current state of the NFL in eCommerce and what potential future directions can the league take? To understand that, we have to take a look at the league's partnerships with eCommerce giants like Fanatics and Amazon, its innovative ventures into social commerce and virtual gaming, and how these efforts impact the NFL's eCommerce journey.
Nflshop.com Sales: Peak in 2022, Slight Decline Expected
In the rapidly developing digital marketplace, the NFL is both keen to leverage and increasingly capitalize on eCommerce as a vital revenue stream. The sales data for nflshop.com – operated by Fanatics, Inc. – provides critical insights into this trend.
Launched in 2013, the online store has primarily focused on the U.S. market, leaving other countries like the UK to account for only a small share of its eCommerce net sales. In the first year of the pandemic, the store experienced a significant financial leap, reaching a year-over-year growth rate of 50% - catapulting net sales to US$221.9 million from US$147.8 million the previous year. Sales stayed robust into 2021, peaking at US$241.2 million in 2022, courtesy of a 10% growth rate.
Forecasts for 2023 and 2024 hint at a slight recalibration: Sales are expected to dip by -0.6% to US$239.9 million in 2023 and further retreat by -3.1% to US$232.4 million in 2024.
Understanding the foundational role of nflshop.com in the NFL's eCommerce framework sets the stage for the next logical question: Who are these platforms primarily targeting? Fanatics, which manages nflshop.com, boasts a brand awareness of 46% among sports and outdoor online shop users in the U.S. This strong brand recognition could play a pivotal role in attracting a wider audience to the NFL's online store.
Demographics of the NFL Fan Base in the U.S.
In the context of the NFL's expanding role in eCommerce, a grasp of fan demographics in the U.S. is crucial. According to an April 2023 survey from Morning Consult, patterns of NFL fandom vary markedly across gender, age, and income, providing insights that could refine targeted eCommerce efforts.
Men are predominantly avid NFL fans (51%), making them a promising target for online sports merchandise. Women, in contrast, mainly identify as non-fans (42%), suggesting specialized engagement strategies might be more effective for this group.
Age also plays a pivotal role here. Young adults (18-34) exhibit a balanced fan distribution, while those aged 35-44 have the highest percentage of loyal NFL followers at 41%. As consumers age, however, their enthusiasm for the NFL appears to wane, signaling the need for a more diversified eCommerce approach for older demographics.
Lastly, income levels reveal additional layers. Those with higher incomes (above US$100,000) are more often die-hard football fans (45%), potentially indicating a higher spending capability on premium items. In contrast, those earning less than US$50,000 are largely non-fans (37%), suggesting the need for unique marketing tactics to engage this group.
With this in mind, how is the league tailoring its eCommerce initiatives to reach this diverse demographic? One way is through direct partnerships between individual teams and online sports apparel and equipment retailers, such as the deals the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings have struck with Fanatics.
NFL in eCommerce: Fanatics' Role & Cowboys and Vikings Deals
As the sports merchandising landscape evolves, Fanatics has gradually tightened its grip on NFL eCommerce. Two 10-year deals, one with the Dallas Cowboys and another with the Minnesota Vikings, have fortified Fanatics' position as a central player in the league's merchandising ecosystem.
One of the NFL's most valuable franchises, The Dallas Cowboys - the most followed National Football League team account on Facebook with over 8 million fans - inked a 10-year exclusive merchandise agreement with Fanatics in 2021, set to run until 2031. This was a considerable milestone for both entities. By partnering with Fanatics, the Dallas Cowboys are leveraging their significant brand strength to expand into a broader retail network.
In a similar vein, the Minnesota Vikings also signed a 10-year omnichannel merchandise and retail partnership with Fanatics back in March 2022. What distinguishes the Vikings' agreement from Fanatics’ other partnerships is the promise of a full retail experience that spans online, mobile, and physical store locations. Since then, the Minnesota Vikings have revamped their online store using Fanatics' in-house cloud commerce platform, promising better customer experiences and more payment options, while Fanatics also commits to upgrading the team's physical store locations.
Beyond the NFL, Fanatics – currently estimated to be worth US$31 billion – has rapidly expanded its global reach through a series of acquisitions. The company has recently moved into the Latin American and European markets by acquiring Fexpro and EPI respectively. These acquisitions give the NFL added confidence in Fanatics' ability to manage their online retail operations effectively.
The long-term deals with the Cowboys and Vikings illuminate how seriously the NFL and its key players are taking eCommerce. But what happens when the league branches out of its traditional sphere and taps into social media for sales? This brings us to the league's collaboration with Instagram, an effort that brings the sports world and social commerce closer.
NFL in Social Commerce: Instagram Collaboration
In 2019, the NFL and Instagram joined forces, innovatively blending sports enthusiasm with digital retail capabilities. This partnership, unveiled ahead of the critical NFL draft event, let fans buy New Era draft day hats directly through Instagram.
The collaboration involved no financial exchanges between Instagram and the NFL, it rather aimed to boost fan engagement and open a new avenue for sports-related sales. The move was a landmark in seamlessly integrating shopping into football's social experience, showcasing the growing harmony among sports, social media, and eCommerce.
While the Instagram collaboration presents an innovative blend of social engagement and shopping, another dimension opens up when a behemoth like Amazon steps into the NFL's eCommerce arena.
Amazon's Black Friday NFL Broadcast
Amazon's broadcast of its first NFL game on Black Friday last year represents a significant development in the NFL's eCommerce initiatives. The move was designed to fortify Amazon's partnership with the NFL and broaden the league's role in American holiday customs.
Black Friday has traditionally been a pinnacle day for shopping in the U.S. By teaming up with Amazon for a live game broadcast, the NFL strategically situated itself to attract more customers. In turn, this alignment boosted traffic to Amazon's platform, enhancing the NFL's licensing revenue and merchandise sales. The initiative was part of the NFL's wider strategy to diversify and amplify revenue streams through eCommerce.
The Black Friday collaboration serves as a key indicator of the NFL's aspiration to integrate itself into American holiday traditions via digital channels. As for what's next, the NFL's positioning in an increasingly digital landscape remains a point of keen interest.
Learn More About ECDB
NFL Teams Up with Roblox to Target Younger Fans
In a strategic move to tap into the burgeoning metaverse, the NFL has launched a virtual storefront on Roblox, a popular online gaming platform primarily targeting younger audiences. This digital venture allows Roblox users to purchase official virtual helmets for all 32 NFL teams using the game's virtual currency, Robux. The move is particularly relevant given that – as per the April 2023 survey referred to earlier – among Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, only about a quarter (26%) identify as avid NFL fans, and a significant 47% are not fans at all.
The NFL's entry into Roblox aims to directly engage this younger demographic, whose engagement with the league is lower than other generations. In collaboration with its retail partner Fanatics, the NFL is not only branching into the virtual world but also exploring new avenues like sports betting. Far from a mere experiment, this strategy reflects the NFL's concerted effort to diversify revenue streams and adapt to evolving fan habits.
Source: Morning Consult, Facebook, Sportcal, SportsPro Media, CNBC, Amazon, Hypebeast, Statista, ECDB

domain: news


text:
In the world of nutrition, supplements live in murky territory. While we want to make sure we're getting all of the vitamins and minerals we need, research from Harvard Medical School shows that these nutrients are more powerful when they come from real foods as opposed to pills.
There's one vitamin in particular, though, that's pretty hard to get on your own, unless you live in a tropical locale: vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin. Here's why vitamin D is so important— and what you need to know about supplementing.
The Benefits of Vitamin D One of the biggest roles vitamin D plays in your body is helping your bones grow, says Shanna Levine, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. "It has also been found to play a role in cell growth, reduction of inflammation, and neuromuscular function," she says.
Your body creates vitamin D when exposed to UVB rays from the sun— but if you live north of Atlanta, due to the way the sun is positioned, that only happens between April and October, says Holick.
But you won't really know that you're deficient unless you get tested— and vitamin D screenings aren't exactly standard. That said, if you think your levels are lagging(being super drained and experiencing aches and pains are both signs you could be in need of D), it's reasonable to consider the blood test. (Just go in the winter, when your levels are most likely to be low, says Levine.) If you are indeed deficient, your doc may prescribe 1,000 to 2,000 International Units a day or more, depending on your levels, she says.
So, Should You Actually Take a Supplement?
In the scientific community, whether or not we all need a daily supplement of D is a controversialquestion that depends on a lot of different factors. Research supports both sides— as do experts. Holick says, "absolutely, positively yes," we all should all supplement. The National Institutes of Health recommends the average person get 600 IUs a day. But if you're a big seafood fan, get plenty of sunshine, and don't have any symptoms, it's likely not necessary, says Levine.


text:
More than Half of the Men in the region are Washing Their Faces with Something as Dirty as a Circulated Dollar Bill…Their Hands1
Clarisonic®, the maker of the #1 bestselling skin cleansing devices, is asking men – and the people who love them – to up their game with skin care. As many of us have witnessed, men typically don’t take care of their face. An online survey commissioned by Clarisonic and conducted by Harris Poll among over 2,000 U.S. adults confirmed that men aren’t taking care of their faces as well as they could be. Sure, some men shave, but when it comes to cleansing their face, a majority (56%) use their hands – with one third (33%*) doing so with body wash or a bar of soap, 14%* using facial cleanser, and 9%* using their hands with just plain water. Alpha Fit, Clarisonic’s new sonic cleansing device for men, is designed to cleanse men’s skin 6X better than using hands alone and effectively cleanse both shaven and bearded skin.
Clarisonic Alpha Fit is specifically engineered to sweep away dirt, oil, sweat and pollution from a man’s tougher, thicker skin from the first use. The waterproof, compact design fits easily in a suitcase, gym bag, shower or bathroom cabinet and features a unique men’s brush head jam-packed with 26,000 bristles. The technology is easy to use with two simple settings – one for clean-shaven skin and one for bearded skin. In another recent study conducted by Clarisonic, after a month of use, 100% of men felt their skin was cleaner, more comfortable, and smoother2, and more than 90% felt their skin was energized, revived, and hydrated3.
“We’re thrilled to announce that Alpha Fit is available across the nation for all men to use and experience just how great it feels to have clean and healthy-looking skin,” said Dr. Robb Akridge, co-founder and global president of Clarisonic. “For over a decade, Clarisonic has been loved by women and men alike. But let’s face it, men’s skin is different and they deserve a Clarisonic device built just for them – providing a great cleanse, a better shaving experience and a way to clean the hard-to-reach skin underneath facial hair.”
Alpha Fit isn’t an extra step for men in their cleansing regimen, just a better one. To explain why cleansing with hands alone isn’t good enough, Clarisonic created an infographic sharing the results of the Harris poll and what those results mean when it comes to cleansing skin. Hands are the most exposed part of the body to germs, and on average, a man’s hand carries 3,200 bacteria from 150 species (about the same amount as found on a circulated dollar bill).1 Plus, men (17%) are more likely than women (12%) to admit they do not always wash their hands after using the bathroom* and men (76%) are significantly less likely than women (82%) to say they always use soap when washing their hands.* Not only are they using those dirty hands to wash their face, if they’re using a bar of soap to wash their face instead, which can actually dry out your skin, it can be assumed that they are also using the same bar of soap or cleanser to clean their feet, their derriere, and…some other body parts that shall remain nameless.
Clarisonic aims to remind each man that investing in his face is the most important, most authentic, most long-term investment he can make. He is likely to spend hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on his shoes, his watch, his car—his image. So why not his face?
Alpha Fit retails for AED850 and will be available in Sephora stores on June 20th 2016.
Clarisonic invented sonic skin cleansing in 2004 and today has sold over 10 million of its patented – and much loved – devices that help to reveal younger-looking skin. Available in more than 50 countries around the world, Clarisonic’s mission is to beautifully transform skin and it does that by cleansing skin 6X better than hands alone. Gentle enough for twice-a-day use, Clarisonic devices are the #1 most recommended by US dermatologists. Clarisonic’s award-winning devices are distributed through dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons, spas, prestige retailers and online at Clarisonic.com. Clarisonic is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA and is part of the L’Oreal Group.
²Clarisonic Research: 4 week pre-shave evaluation on 52 males using Alpha Fit device, Men’s Daily Cleanse Brush Head and Alpha Cleanse.
3Clarisonic Research: 2 week study on 51 bearded males using Alpha Fit device, Men’s Daily Cleanse Brush Head and Alpha Cleanse.
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Clarisonic from August 4-6, 2015 among 2,016 adults ages 18 and older, among which 1,089 are women, 927 are men, 667 are men who have facial hair, and 260 are men who do not have facial hair. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Erin Banks at Alison Broad Public Relations at 212.230.1800 or email@example.com.


text:
NASA has also released a brand-new video that describes why the icy moon's vast sea might just be the perfect place to find life beyond Earth.
The hit point-and-click classic has been soft-launched in Australia and New Zealand, and is coming soon to the rest of the world.
The Audiophiliac chats with the project's mastering engineers to get the inside scoop on the Beatles sound.
The inimitable Adam West talks about playing Batman once again for a special level based on the much-loved 1960s TV show in LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, and why he's the "luckiest actor in the world".
We're all about bringing people together during the holidays, but we're not sure UAVs carrying mistletoe around a crowded restaurant (and trying to get people to kiss under it) is the way to do it. Hold the onions and garlic on your orders!
If you're in the market for a TV, PlayStation 4, a tablet or, yes, a laptop or desktop, Dell has sales starting Thanksgiving day.
The player-matchup issues in the new Halo: The Master Chief Collection have been partially resolved on the back end, but the developer promises an update to fully patch the problem.
The Audiophiliac is always on the prowl for great new recordings. Here's the latest batch of gems.
Ahead of the fall's biggest game releases, software sales are climbing out of a ditch.
Over the past two weeks, sales of Microsoft's video game console have surpassed Sony's PlayStation 4 for the first time this year.


text:
Paper Mario, Mario Kart Stay, and Pikmin 3 Deluxe additionally every bought greater than one million models final 12 months.
Whereas Animal Crossing: New Horizons was Nintendo’s largest smash final 12 months, transferring a staggering 30 million copies in simply 9 months, it was hardly the one hit the corporate had in 2020. The traditional compilation Super Mario 3D All-Stars was additionally an enormous success, promoting 8.32 million models in response to Nintendo’s earnings report.
Launched as a part of Nintendo’s Tremendous Mario thirty fifth anniversary celebration, Tremendous Mario 3D All-Stars packages the plumber’s first three 3D adventures–Tremendous Mario 64, Tremendous Mario Sunshine, and Tremendous Mario Galaxy–together in a single assortment. The compilation has been a fast vendor since its launch in September; not solely did it have one of the year’s biggest launches in the UK, but it surely was additionally the second-best-selling game on Amazon in 2020.
3D All-Stars’ gross sales figures already put it inside attain of Nintendo’s prime 10 best-selling first-party Change video games. Quantity 10 on that checklist, New Tremendous Mario Bros. U Deluxe, stands at 9.82 million models as of December 31. Animal Crossing, in the meantime, is already closing in on the highest spot. The present prime vendor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, has bought 33.41 million models, which suggests Animal Crossing might conceivably surpass it earlier than lengthy.
Nintendo’s different 2020 sport releases had been huge successes as effectively. Paper Mario: The Origami King bought greater than 3 million models, whereas Pikmin 3 Deluxe bought 1.94 million, making it the best-selling entry in its sequence up to now. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, the bodily Mario Kart AR toy that gamers can management utilizing their Change, was additionally an enormous vendor, transferring greater than 1 million models.
The Change itself, in the meantime, bought 11.57 million models throughout the vacation quarter, bringing its lifetime gross sales as much as nearly 80 million. With that milestone, the console has now surpassed the 3DS in lifetime gross sales and is shortly approaching the Wii, Nintendo’s best-selling dwelling console up to now. Regardless of latest reviews of a “Change Professional” within the works, nevertheless, Nintendo continues to deny it will release a new Switch model this year.


text:
For Petaluma resident Barry Torassa, 10, during the pandemic, video games built on Roblox have become his social life, his after-school entertainment — and the main place he spends his birthday and chore money.
“You can play any game that you want or you can make a game that you like,” he said of the 3-D virtual universe spawned by San Mateo’s Roblox. “You get to hang out with your friends.”
He named his avatar — a graphical character that represents him in the game —Faze Cewy. “He has the same hair color as me but not the same clothes,” Torassa said. “He wears Gucci.”
He’s among millions of kids, largely ages 8 to 13, who flocked to Roblox when schools closed as a way to stay connected with their friends. Daily active users hit 31.1 million, up 82% for the nine months ended Sept. 30 compared with a year earlier, the company said.
That runaway popularity may have spurred Roblox — at 16, the company is a bit older than its typical user — to head to Wall Street, where it plans an initial public offering this month that would value it at $8 billion.
Roblox isn’t a single game but an immersive environment that hosts games of all different genres, as well as tools to write those games. It features millions of games crafted by some 7 million developers.
Playing is free, but users can buy in-game currency called Robux to give their avatars superpowers, customize their appearance and purchase vehicles and other gear. Roblox splits those revenues with developers. Users can also buy monthly subscriptions to give them a certain amount of Robux.
“It’s a wildly successful model for social gaming to make it free so you get everyone on it and so everyone wants to be on it,” said Robert Hendershott, a professor of finance at Santa Clara University. “You only have to sell a few dollars here and there. Kids want to get on because their friends are on it.”
Revenue was $349.9 million in the first nine months of 2020, up 68% from last year.
“All those in-game purchases of kids buying different-colored hair, etc., added up,” said Scott Willis, director of research at Grizzle, a financial media website. “Roblox got a lot of cash in the door.”
Sarah Blanchard of Mill Valley has always been strict about screen time but her three daughters — 8-year-old twins and an 11-year-old — now all play Roblox to varying degrees.
“I was initially really against the kids playing it, but this is their generation’s version of video games and it is actually pretty cool,” she said. Parents at her kids’ school email each other to set up Roblox play days for their offspring.
Her kids use their allowance to buy special things, such as the Halloween Egg, only available on that holiday. “They had to give me actual dollar bills, then I log on and let them do it,” she said. “They convinced me to break my rules so they could get their eggs.”
Cate, her 11-year-old, said she likes trading pets in the game “Adopt Me,” one of the more popular Roblox games, and buying potions to make them rideable or able to fly or to change their looks. “My favorite animal is my turtle,” she said. “You get them out of eggs, but you don’t know what you’re going to get.”
Evan Doll of Palo Alto said Roblox games have been a main attraction during the pandemic for his sons, ages 7 and 9.
“It’s become a really important way for them to stay in touch with their friends and play with their friends,” he said. “It lets kids play on their own terms; there are a lot of games to choose from. A lot are like ones kids make up on the playground — they don’t always make sense to adults but have a certain internal logic that makes sense to kids.”
His sons have become more vigilant about saving their allowances so they can get superpowers or personalize their avatars.
“It’s a way for them to have some control and agency, which for kids is often in short supply, especially kids during a pandemic, who don’t have much control over anything,” Doll said.
Correction: This story has been updated to note that Roblox is 16 years old.
Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: email@example.com Twitter: @csaid


text:
inauguration of the 4th assembly line at the Karnataka plant of Honda
Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), India is now the biggest production base
of Honda worldwide. The new 4th line of 0.6 million annual capacity at Honda’s
Narsapura plant has started commercial production.
expansion, the Karnataka plant is now Honda’s biggest plant worldwide with 2.4
million units annual production capacity. In the process, India also becomes
No. 1 production base of Honda worldwide. HMSI’s total capacity from 4 plants has
now increased from 5.8 million to 6.4 million units in FY’2017-18.
Honda and its
allied suppliers have invested over Rs. 5,400 crore in Karnataka. HMSI has cumulatively
invested over Rs 2,600 crore directly at its 3rd plant. The 26 suppliers of the
company have invested an additional Rs 2,800 crore and set up ancillary plants in
Karnataka. At the HMSI plant in Karnataka, the company has provided direct and indirect
employment to 22,000 people in state.
has provided 7,000 direct employment at
its new 4th assembly line. Another 15,000 indirect employment opportunities have
been ushered in by the Honda’s suppliers. On the environmental front Honda’s
3rd plant is the company’s first plant with 100% rain-water harvesting and Solar
power system. The plant has a state-of-the-art paint booth and an automatic air
balancing system (World First in Honda’s 2wheeler operations)
the line inauguration at Honda’s third plant in Karnataka were Shinji Aoyama,
Chief Officer - Asia and Oceania Regional Operations, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.), Minoru
Kato (President & CEO – Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd) and
senior management officials from Honda.
Honda 2Wheeler India total annual
Renon India, one of India’s leading energy storage companies, has launched its swappable smart batteries, Groot, for electric 2-wheelers. The Li-ion battery pack for low and medium speed EVs is built ...
MG Motor India introduced ‘MG Service on Wheels’ initiative to provide customers with car repair and maintenance services from the comfort of their homes. This service outreach programme reinforces th...
Apollo Tyres, introduced the Tramplr range of Enduro Off-road and Enduro Street tyres for Indian premium motorcycles market (150 – 500cc). Tramplr range will cater to various motorcycle segments like ...


text:
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Three Zambian ministries have started consultations to come up with a strategic business plan to help Zambia Telecommunications (Zamtel), which is in a financial crisis that leaves it facing operational difficulties.
The ministries of Communications and Transport, Finance and National Planning, and Commerce, Trade and Industry are working on the business plan. Zamtel, which is state-run, is retrenching more than 800 workers due to financial problems.
Zamtel needs more than an infusion of money and different management — it needs a new business model, Minister of Communications and Transport Dora Siliya said last week. The company has the potential to offer more services than it currently does, Siliya said.
Zamtel is the only company in Zambia that provides fixed, mobile and Internet services to its customers. The company also has the infrastructure to sub-lease to other service providers in the telecom industry, Siliya said.
The company owns the Mwembeshi satellite station that provides the country’s international gateway to other service providers, including Celtel and the mobile telecommunication network providing mobile services.
One of the business plans being considered includes separating CellZ, Zamtel’s sister company providing mobile service, from Zamtel. Currently, CellZ operates under Zamtel management.
Zamtel acting CEO Mukela Muyunda said the two companies can operate independently to save Zamtel from closing due to financial problems.


text: The European Commission has released a new study suggesting that there is no evidence linking illegal downloads of video games and other media affecting legal sales of said content. Conducted by research firm Ecorys across the EU, the survey reports that 51% of adults and 71% of minors in the EU downloaded or streamed illegal content. Lowering prices "would not change piracy rates" and also did not have an affect on consumers spending with 55% willing to pay market price or higher for the content. Those of you interested in reading the report can find it here at a whopping 307 pages to weather through. Thanks cageymaru! One section of the report actually claims that piracy has a positive effect on legal sales in the games industry. A table shows the displacement rate for video games is +24%, "implying that illegal consumption leads to increased legal consumption."


text:
Able to leap worrisome wardrobes in a single bound, he saved those dealing with terrifying attire from the dangers of committing fashion faux pas on the Emmy-winning series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, but on September 12th celebrity stylist Carson Kressley will use his star wattage to shine a spotlight on courageous canines and human heroes for animals at American Humane Association’s Super Heroes Among Us event.
Stepping out from the pages of Marvel comic books and into Gotham Hall, Avengers Captain America and The Hulk will join Kressley (who is an American Humane Association National Spokesperson and a judge for the 2012 Hero Dog Awards) at the evening of dogged devotion, which will include cocktails, dining and the 2012 Hero Dog finalists.
Tickets are now on sale, with proceeds benefiting the American Humane Association.
When: September 12, 2012 from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Where: Gotham Hall at 1356 Broadway in New York City
For more information:
- visit www.americanhumane.org
Super Heroes Among Us will kick off the countdown to the Hero Dog Awards, which was hosted last year by Carson Kressley:
Photo Credit: Amazon


text:
Update 9/29/21: Telfar’s latest bag, the Duffle Bag, went live as part of the first of three DRIPS collections. At noon, the most coveted accessory of the season will be available for purchase exclusively on the company’s 24-hour broadcast network, TELFAR TV. A QR scan code will appear for 1 minute as direct payment. The barrel-shaped vegan bag is available in three sizes. Keep an eye out for the Bag Security Program III announced via TELFAR TV later this week.
There is no such New York brand as Telfar. You may have seen Telfar Clemens’ iconic tote bags tucked under your favorite celebrity’s arm or flooding your TL with memes when a bag sells out in 0.05 seconds. What you may not know is that they are building a media empire brick by brick. PBS News is shaking.
Instead of a traditional parade, the Telfar team decided to hold a press conference to announce the launch of its new 24-hour live linear television channel, dubbed TCTV – or Telfar Clemens Television – as well as a collaborative FTV. They are both publicly accessible, meaning anyone can watch them at any time, accessing a figurative “void” meant to be filled by people’s love and passion for the brand.
To be honest, we didn’t really know what it was either. Fortunately, we’re here to break it down: Telfar TV aims to be a 24/7 live show, showing fan-made videos and content.
During the broadcast, QR codes will also appear randomly, allowing customers to access an exclusive link to buy bags directly, which will reduce the problem of Shopify’s bots and only serve the most demanding customers. The quantity of bags produced will be the exact number of viewers the channel has at any given time, almost guaranteeing everyone to get the bag of their dreams. The new system is called a “drip” rather than a “drip,” which prompted a few laughs and a random musical number at the press conference.
âI want to show you 17 years of my job, and that’s what TCTV is,â Clemens said at the press conference. The space allows him to penetrate deeply into the community announcing the phenomena of frenzy that he has created without knowing it. For many, it’s more than just a bag. That just clothes
Telfar TV’s democratic process seems natural to the brand, which has actively championed bags as a physical representation of darkness and queerness in our larger fashion landscape. Naturally, as a brand approaches cult status, more and more people exist to violently capture it from the hands of the people for whom it is directly designed.
The announcement comes with the launch of a new Telfar signature bag, a cylindrical duffel bag arriving on a TV near you. The structured handbag comes in three sizes just like the original, with each end of the vegan leather bag stamped with the brand’s signature initial monogram. The number of colors that will be produced is still pending, but for now we can assure you that neutral black and white color palettes will be available for purchase.
The group explained that the pivot to a bigger community selling platform, rather than a filtered website that can be hacked, is a goal of taking back every bag a bot has stolen from people and handing it straight over. in their hands.
Here is to finally get that mini chocolate brown Telfeezy that we have always wanted.
You can find both channels on Apple TV, Roku TV, and on Telfar.TV
Photography: David Gannon
From your Articles site
Related articles on the web


text:
Canon announces EOS Rebel T6 SLR cameras
Canon has announced the release of two new EOS Rebel cameras. The Rebel T6s and Rebel T6i both have a new 24.2 megapixel Canon CMOS sensors with native ISO Ranges of 100-12800. AF has 19 cross type points and 1080 video recording is available at 30 fps.
New shark sanctuary announced in Madagascar
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reports that the government of Madagascar has created the country’s first shark sanctuary. Antongil Bay, the largest bay in Madagascar, now offers protection to 19 species of shark and also restricts international fishing trawlers from fishing in the area.
Earthtouch video: Creepy critters of the tidal lagoon
Earthtouch has been posting a series of videos entitled “Wild Oceans” onto their YouTube channel. The latest entitled “Creepy critters of the tidal lagoon,” features cameraman Bart Lukasik exploring Mozambique’s mangroves and captures some of nature’s underwater oddities on film, including sea moths and snake sea cucumbers.
Final call: Our World Underwater 2015
This is your last chance to enter the 2015 Our World Underwater Contest. The competition is viewed as being one of the most prestigious in the world and offers over $50,000 in prizes. The deadline is Saturday 7 February at 11.59 PST, so if you haven’t entered yet, now is the time to do so!
Canon announces 11-24mm f4 wide-angle lens
Canon has released details of their new EF 11-24mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide-Angle Zoom Lens. Billed as having the widest angle of view of any rectilinear full-frame lens, the L series lens has 16 elements in 11 groups. However, the minimum focus distance of 11 inches may present some optical challenges with conventional dome ports.
Canon announces the EOS 5DS SLR cameras
As widely rumored, Canon has announced the EOS 5DS and RDS R SLR cameras. Both feature a new 50.6 megapixel full-frame image sensor and Dual DIGIC 6 Image Processors, with the 5DS R not having a low pass filter. AF is provided by a “61-Point High Density Reticular AF array” including up to 41 cross-type AF points and the EOS Scene recognition system. Native ISO range is 100 to 6400 and HD video is 1080p at up to 30p.
Samsung unveils the NX500 4K compact camera
Samsung has announced the NX500 compact camera. This offers 28MP still images and 4K video recording at 24fps (UHD at 30fps) and uses an “Back Side Illumination” APS-C sized sensor offering native ISO from 100 to 25600. It has the DRIMeV processor, offering 9fps continuous shooting.
GoPro releases firmware updates
GoPro has released two new firmware updates for their HERO4 Black and Silver models. Version 02.00.00 adds a time-lapse video mode; a burst photo capture rate of 30 frames in six seconds; auto rotate mode; and HiLight Tags, which allows a user to mark key moments. HERO4 Black version cameras also get two new frame rates: 720p/240 fps and 2.7K at 60 fps.
- NG photo of the Day by Thomas Peschak (via )
- Olympus releases firmware update for OM-D E-M1 (via )
- Dolphin whistle translated by computer (via )
- Galapagos shark by Thomas Peschak - NG photo of the day (via )
- Seaglider shows marks from giant squid (via )
- Tonic immobility potentially harmful to sharks (via )
- Sony updates A7 and A7R. Major performance improvements (via )
- Canon releases bug fixing firmware for EOS 6D (via )
- Nikon updates D4 firmware to v1.10 (via )
- Spearfisherman films aggressive reef shark with GoPro (via )


text:
More Vion jobs under threat
Vion is planning to close its frozen sausage facility in Cumbria, putting over 100 jobs at risk.
The Dutch processing giant wants to transfer all work currently undertaken at its Shap site to its processing plant in Hull, which has the capacity to produce sausages, burgers and other seasonal products.
Alasdair Cox, director of corporate affairs, said “Vion has a clear commitment to build its UK business and sausages continue to be part of our core product offer.
"However, it is crucial to establish sound foundations upon which we can grow the UK business and the proposed changes will provide a stronger platform upon which Vion can satisfy both customer and consumer demands. "
Staff were notified of the proposals today and Vion has entered into a 90-day consultation period with the 118 people affected. The company has pledged to explore ways to avoid redundancies, including transfers to other sites within the wider Vion company
"We very much regret the need for these changes in our activities announced today and have informed our employees of our commitment to consult with them. The commitment from the team at Shap has never been in question," Cox added.
The plan to close the Cumbria plant is the latest in a series of changes resulting from Vion’s review of business operations last year. The company has already made hundreds of meat processing staff redundant in Lancashire, Suffolk and Yorkshire.
27 October, 2016, 8:30
Next steps for tackling obesity: prevention, sugar consumption a
01 - 03 November, 2016
China Foodtech 2017
07 November, 2016
Butcher’s Shop of the Year
01 December, 2016, 8:30 - 13:30
Policy priorities for the UK food, drink and farming industry


text:
Want to join the conversation?
$URBN, a lifestyle retail company, reported lower 4Q16 results, hurt by underperforming apparel sale and lower gross profit. $URBN said net income fell 9.3% to $72.88MM, or $0.61 per share from $80.3MM or $0.60 per share a year ago. Revenue was flat YoverY at $1.01Bil. For the quarter, gross profit fell 12 BP.
Any idea why some investors are happy about the disastrous $UA results??
Wow! GM killed it with earnings today! Did not expect this after $F gave the feeling it will eclipse the Chevy maker completely!
Oil rebound starting to show up in energy stocks. $XOM $CVX
I have a feeling "CLOUDy" days are ahead, with $AMZN leading the pack.
$AAL is giving pay hikes to its employees but investors are sulking.


text:
JANESVILLE, Wis. - Janesville police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man suspected of stealing from a store.
The police department shared two surveillance photos Tuesday; one of th a man in a ball cap inside the store, and one of a dark-colored minivan in what appeared to be a parking lot.
The man is a suspect in a retail theft from Blain's Farm & Fleet on Humes Road.
Anyone with information about the incident or the man's identity is asked to call the Janesville Police Department at 608-755-3100 or Crime Stoppers at 608-756-3636.
Police said citizens can also report information to Crime Stoppers anonymously using the P3tips app, which is free in the Apple store or Google Play store.


text:
SOFI Stock Rally: Thriving Comeback Kid Set to Excel in Second Half of 2023
SoFi Technologies, a fintech firm aiming to disrupt traditional banking, may see a longer-term rally as inflation eases.
SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ:SOFI) has faced challenges in the banking sector during the first half of 2023. However, the company has managed to navigate the upheaval and is now gaining favor among investors. While there are no guarantees, SOFI stock could potentially be in the early stages of a longer-term rally, making it appealing to risk-tolerant financial traders.
It's important to note that one prominent big-bank analyst firm is not very optimistic about SoFi Technologies. However, it's worth considering that SoFi and the big banks have different visions and objectives.
SoFi Technologies is on a mission to disrupt and replace the traditional banking system. This unique fintech firm may be suitable for investors who are willing to take a chance on something truly innovative.
Morgan Stanley analyst Jeffrey Adelson recently downgraded SoFi shares to an "underweight" rating. This is similar to a "sell" rating and is based on the belief that SoFi Technologies is increasingly resembling a bank and should be valued accordingly.
However, most analysts do not rate SOFI stock as a "sell" or equivalent. Stephens analyst Vincent Caintic, for example, initiated coverage of the stock with an "equal weight" rating, which is similar to a "hold" rating.
It's important to recognize that SoFi Technologies should not be compared to traditional banks simply because it has a banking charter. The company's website clearly appeals to a younger demographic and emphasizes helping young students manage their debt.
SoFi represents the next generation of personal finance and offers a comprehensive range of services for novice bankers. Investors who agree with Adelson's assessment may prefer to stick to big-bank stocks, as SOFI stock is known for its volatility and may not be suitable for all portfolios.
SoFi Technologies is benefiting from the easing of inflation, which is an external tailwind for the company. In June, annual Consumer Price Index growth fell to 3%, while annual core Personal Consumption Expenditures growth declined to 4.1%, the slowest rate since September 2021.
Lower inflation is positive news for SoFi Technologies and its stakeholders. The market has already responded to this by pushing SOFI stock up 5% on July 28 following the announcement of the PCE growth rate.
With lower inflation, consumers have more spending power, which can lead to increased demand for mortgage loans, travel, and investments. SoFi Technologies can assist consumers with these activities, positioning the company for success in the coming quarters if inflation remains under control.
It's important for investors to evaluate SoFi Technologies based on its own merits rather than comparing it to traditional banks. The company's uniqueness is its strength, and it may provide powerful returns to stakeholders in the second half of 2023.
In conclusion, SoFi Technologies has faced challenges in the banking sector but has managed to survive and gain favor among investors. While there are differing opinions among analysts, it's important to consider SoFi's disruptive vision and unique position in the fintech industry. With the easing of inflation and its focus on a younger demographic, SoFi Technologies may thrive in the coming quarters. However, it's essential for investors to carefully evaluate their risk tolerance and consider whether SoFi's unconventional approach aligns with their investment goals.


text:
Microsoft's just released financial results for the quarter that ended on March 31 include some interesting tidbits of information about the company's various businesses.
Even though Microsoft is just months away from launching Windows 8, the PC sales numbers show there is still demand for machines that run on Windows 7. Microsoft said the overall PC market grew between two to four percent in the last quarter, with business PCs growing by as much as eight percent. That should show that the PC industry still has some life in it, despite some people saying we live in a "post-PC" era.
Even though Microsoft released Office 2010 nearly two years ago, Microsoft's numbers showed that Office 2010's multi-year licensing revenue went up a whopping 13 percent in the last quarter, with business transactional revenue up by five percent.
The Entertainment and Devices Division, which includes the Windows Phone, Xbox and Skype divisions, took a rather big hit in terms of revenue. It generated just $1.6 billion in the last quarter, down 16 percent from the same period a year ago. On the plus side, Microsoft said that its new Skype division generated a whopping 100 billion minutes of calls last quarter, up a massive 40 percent from the same period a year ago.
Images via Microsoft
8 Comments - Add comment


text:
At least five restaurants served sprouts linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 30 people in nine states, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But consumers wondering which restaurants are involved will be left to wonder as health officials are not releasing the names.
Sprouts Extraordinaire of Denver has issued a recall for the sprouts which are tainted with two strains: Salmonella Reading and Salmonella Abony. They were sold in 5-pound boxes labeled “Living Alfalfa Sprouts.”
Onset of illness dates range from May 21 to July 20. Five people have been hospitalized. States reporting illnesses include: Colorado (13), Kansas (8), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (2), New York (1), Oregon (1), Texas (1) and Wyoming (1).
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that can be bloody, usually develop within six to 72 hours of exposure and last about a week. For some, the diarrhea and vomiting can be so severe it causes dehydration, and hospitalization is required. If the infection travels from the gastrointestinal tract to the bloodstream, life-threatening complications can occur. Anyone who developed these symptoms after eating sprouts should contact a doctor and mention possible exposure to Salmonella.
Sprouts are grown in a damp environment that makes it difficult to control for bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children, seniors, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind and that others thoroughly cook sprouts before eating them. To see FoodSafety.gov’s fact sheet on sprouts click here.


text:
Bathrooms are 'most hygienic place to eat' in hotel rooms
The thought of eating dinner in the bathroom would make most people lose their appetite but this could be the most hygienic area of a hotel room to tuck into room service, according to new research.
A survey found that the majority of people instead opt to eat their food in bed but this is often the dirtiest part of the hotel room where bacteria is left to thrive.
Hidden hazard: The majority of people said they opted to eat room service while sitting on the hotel bed but it can contain a host of harmful bacteria
The research by Check Safety First, a company that offers health and safety risk management systems to hotels, focused on female business travellers and found that 80 per cent of them chose to eat while sitting on the bed.
Shockingly, they found that mattresses and duvets are rarely changed and can contain a host of harmful bacteria.
The company said that many surfaces in hotel rooms carried a risk as they were usually neglected by cleaners.
It used Relative Light Units (RLU) to measure dirt and bacteria on surfaces: the higher the RLU, the higher the amount of bacteria.
Hotel bathroom sinks recorded an average of 535 RLU but toilet seats had an average of 34 RLU and showers an average of 44 RLU.
However, when it came to plates, cutlery and tea-making facilities provided by hotels, the average reading was 277 RLU.
The company said that tea-making facilities were often overlooked by cleaners and recommended that guests wash their hands after coming into contact with them or avoid them completely.
Overlooked: The company recommended that guests wash their hands after coming into contact with tea-making facilities
Ninety-eight per cent of travellers said they watched TV in their room but this can also expose them to a host of germs.
TV remote controls recorded an average of 128 RLU, telephones an average of 207 RLU, light switches an average of 127 RLU and door handles an average of 63 RLU.
The company found that 75 per cent of hotels they had audited did not meet acceptable hygiene standards.
And even the food you are served can present a hazard - people are advised to check that their room service meal is hot to avoid potential food poisoning as bacteria thrive in lukewarm food.
Not surprisingly, nearly one in five (18 per cent) of respondents said that they had fallen ill while staying in a hotel.
Uncomfortable fact: Mattresses in hotel rooms are rarely changed and can contain a host of harmful bacteria
Check Safety First recently launched website Room-check.co.uk which enables customers to choose hotels based on high cleanliness scores.
"It is important that guests realise how poor hygiene levels in a hotel can be," said Steve Tate, chairman of Check Safety First.
"People often associate illness and their stay with the hotel food, but our auditing finds that the room can also be a major cause.
"With a high turnover of hotel cleaning staff, maintaining high standards is difficult, with some of the most reputable hotels not living up to these standards."
Mark Harrington, chief executive of Check Safety First, said that hotels should implement a scientific approach to hotel bedroom room hygiene to ensure clean and safe accommodation for guests.
“Hotels at all levels need to increase room hygiene scrutiny as even a full team of cleaning staff can miss hazardous bacteria,” he explained. “How many of us have been ill on holiday and put it down to the food we ate when actually it could be from harmful bacteria lurking in your hotel room?"
Most watched News videos
- Moment carjackers drag tourist from car by her hair in Johannesburg
- Activist moved away by police at Oxford Circus protest
- Lisa Marie Presley avoids questions on Leaving Neverland
- Heart-warming moment monkey comforts grieving woman at funeral wake
- Terrifying moment giant python is found crawling on Detroit garage
- Convicted murderer sobs upon his arrest over girlfriend's death
- Heartbreaking moment Orangutan tries to stop a bulldozer
- Little boy calls 911 asking for McDonald's while grandma was asleep
- Filipino Christians re-enact Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday
- Cops pepper spray black teen before slamming his head into pavement
- Armed militia catch asylum seekers after they cross US border
- Man sentenced to life in prison for rape of young woman in Leeds


text:
Fletcher, Quantel, Yamaha Renew with SVG
The Sports Video Group is pleased to announce that Fletcher, Quantel, and Yamaha have renewed their corporate sponsorships. For 20 years, Fletcher Chicago has serviced the digital film and video community. Quantel is dedicated to bringing its users the most powerful and efficient tools for content creation and production in the digital age. Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems manufactures and distributes professional audio products that provide complete systems solutions for broadcast, sound reinforcement, touring, commercial recording, and post production markets.
Fletcher Chicago’s rental and sales divisions feature the latest 16mm, 35mm and 24p HD cameras packages while its sports division has created some of the most innovative shots in broadcast television. For more information, visit Fletcher online at http://www.fletch.com/.
Quantel systems combine performance with scalability in both hardware and software. The product range spans post-production, graphics, news, sports, and digital intermediate with multiple-resolution, teamworking environments. Quantel products deliver performance, quality, and workflow at SD, HD, and beyond. Visit Quantel online at www.quantel.com.
Yamaha also offers comprehensive in-house and field product training, a dedicated dealer network, and 24/7 technical support for its customer base in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit Yamaha online at www.yamahaca.com.


text:
Sales of HTC Touch, the touch-controlled smartphone made High Tech Computer (HTC), surpassed one million units at the end of October after the phone was launched in June, according to HTC CEO Peter Chou. Total sales of the HTC Touch lineup, including the HTC Touch Dual and Touch Color, are expected to reach 1.5-1.8 million units by year-end 2007, Chou estimated. HTC also looks forward to posting a more than 20% growth in handset shipments in 2008, up from the 11 million units projected for 2007, Chou added. In related news, the integration of HTC and its subsidiary Dopod International has helped strengthen Dopod's competitiveness in Asia, according to Jack Tong, vice president of marketing, Asia Pacific, HTC.
View: Full Story @ DigiTimes


text:
On one hand, this is great news. As spacious as 660GB sounds like, it’s ultimately not a lot. Especially not when two games in a single series can take up the bulk of it. But on the other, it’s not know yet if SIE has made significant progress with the certification of third-party SSDs.
Well, that and the fact that the PS5 isn’t exactly an easy console to get a hand of at the moment. But if you’re one of the lucky ones to own the console, then this may be the good news you’ve been waiting for.


text:
The Pampers Koala "Fit Stop" will visit more than 40 retail locations around Houston this summer, teaching parents about the importance of a properly-fitted child safety seat.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 73 percent of all child seat restraints are fitted incorrectly.
Parents can drive their car up to their local "Fit Stop" event, where certified technicians will check the car seat to make sure it is properly secured. The Koala "Fit Stop" campaign is part of Pampers' continued commitment to children's safety.
For more information on "Fit Stop" events in the Houston area, call 1-800-PAMPERS or visit www.PAMPERS.com.


text:
RIVERHEAD - Suffolk lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday that will charge customers a 5-cent fee for every plastic or paper bag they use at store checkouts.
The 5-cent bag fee will apply to grocery stores as well as convenience stores, delis, bagel shops and clothing stores in some cases.
The bill passed with 13 votes in favor, 4 against, 1 pass and 1 absent. Supporters say it will reduce litter and protect the environment.
Legislator William Spencer says he's been working on the bill for six months and says it's time for those one-time use bags to go, with some exceptions.
"We're excluding things such as bags for poultry or prescriptions or dry cleaning bags," says Spencer.
The bill will go into effect in January 2018.


text:
Over the past few days, Sony’s gaming controller has been released for the iPhone, and iPhone users can use it to experience the titles of the PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles.
Backbone one PlayStation Edition is the name of this new product of Sony company, which users of the company’s 8th and 9th generation consoles can use to stream games on their iPhone and use their smart gadget as a display. The price of this new Sony controller will be $99.99.
Details about the release of Sony gaming controller for iPhone
In the past, we saw a technology similar to the Backbone one PlayStation Edition, which was released by Japanese developers under the name Remote Play. Remote Play made it possible for gamers to stream and experience PlayStation games on their tablet, phone or PC.
This company collaborated with Backbone in order to develop and manufacture the Sony gaming controller for the iPhone. Backbone is actually a start-up company in the field of manufacturing and manufacturing portable gaming controllers. It should be said that Sony’s gaming control hardware for iPhone is completely based on Backbone controllers, but its design is compatible with Sony’s gaming consoles and is available to users in white.
The final weight of this product is 140 grams, and to charge the controller battery, you have to connect it to the iPhone. This product supports all Apple smartphones released after the 6s series. Currently, only owners of iPhone smartphones can use this technology; But it is likely that the technology similar to Backbone one PlayStation Edition will be made for the owners of smartphones with the Android operating system.
This new product of Sony is currently available in the markets of North America, New Zealand, Australia and Europe. It should be noted that Backbone has unveiled a new application for this product, using which you can check many PlayStation titles.
What do you think about the release of Sony’s gaming controller for iPhone phones? Share your opinion with Tekrato in the comments section and follow the technology news with us.


text:
A new report from NPD Group, a market research company, suggests gamers in the Untied States have spent over $15.39 billion on video games and gaming content, $15.39 billion to be exact, in 2013.
The group also gave a breakdown of the money spent, including a $6.34 billion on new physical video and PC game software, with the spending on used and rental of video games reaching $1.83 billion, followed by “content in digital format (full game and add-on content downloads, subscriptions, mobile games and social network games) generated $7.22 billion.”
“Growth in digitally distributed content is vital to overall industry health. Since this is such a topic of high interest to the industry, we recently conducted additional in-depth research into consumer behavior with regard to digital content acquisition, and found that 36 percent of the US population ages 13 and older was playing games acquired digitally, with incidence highest among teens and young adults. Interestingly, however, there is no particular point after age 25 where incidence declines significantly,” said Liam Callahan, industry analyst, The NPD Group.
The reported cited strong hardware sales growth for the fourth quarter, which could be due to the launch of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and ended up being 5 percent higher than the figure in 2012. Callahan further stated, “The bottom line is that the overall games market is growing. NPD reported declines in content and hardware spending in both 2011 and 2012, so the growth in 2013 is a positive indicator for future market growth as we enter the first full year with all three new consoles on the market.”
These are some interesting figures, what do you think about 2014. Will the spending increase, remains the same or decrease? Share your thoughts.
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.


text:
In this post, we will look at the smartphones expected to be launched in India in February 2021 month. Here is the list of upcoming…View More Upcoming Smartphones of February 2021 with latest features.
Flipkart comes with new offers; you will get 100 percent cash back in your bank account which you spend on buying the phone. Flipkart is…View More How to get New branded Smartphone free from Flipkart?
Last days Sony mobile has announced to stop production of Xperia Z series. The company has promised that next generation series will be more adaptive…View More Reasons to replace sony Xperia Z with Xperia X by Sony


text:
- Burger King said the operator of its 800 Russian restaurants "refused" to close them.
- But the businessman who manages the restaurants said he didn't have the power to close them himself.
- Parent company RBI owns just 15% of the joint venture partnership behind its Russian restaurants.
Burger King's attempts to close its Russian operation have been thwarted after the operator of its 800 outlets in the country said he is unable to close them because he doesn't have the necessary shareholder backing to do so, the BBC reported.
The company's Russian business is carried out through a joint venture partnership with Alexander Kolobov, who oversees the restaurants' day-to-day operations, investment firm Investment Capital Ukraine, and VTB Capital, an affiliate of Russia's second-biggest bank. Restaurant Brands International, Burger King's parent, has a 15% stake in the joint venture.
Kolobov told the BBC that he owns a 30% stake in the business and that he himself didn't have the "authority or power" to stop Burger King's Russian operations.
"The decision to terminate and suspend operations of the franchisee which employs about 25,000 persons must be taken by all shareholders considering impact it may have on the employees and their families," Kolobov told the BBC on Sunday.
Restaurant Brands International and Burger King did not immediately reply to requests for comment from Insider.
His remarks to the BBC followed a statement made by the president of Restaurant Brands International on Thursday in which he said that the company had tried to have the restaurants close but was unsuccessful.
"We contacted the main operator of the business and demanded the suspension of Burger King restaurant operations in Russia," RBI President David Shear said. "They have refused to do so."
Western companies have been scrambling to pull out of Russia since the country invaded Ukraine in late February. Firms have been shutting stores, closing offices, and halting trade.
Burger King – which opened its first Russian restaurant in Moscow in 2010 – is among the restaurant chains limiting their operations in Russia. But, rather than closing its restaurants there, Burger King has instead only been able to withdraw its corporate support.
Shear said in the statement on Thursday that RBI was working to divest its ownership stake in the business, but noted that this would "take some time." In the meantime, RBI has removed all corporate support for its Russian restaurants, including operations, marketing, and supply-chain support, and won't approve any new investment or expansion, he said.
It's not just Burger King facing this problem. Insider reported that some McDonald's and Papa John's outlets in Russia have remained open due to franchise agreements with third-party operators.
Shear added that any profits RBI makes from its 15% ownership stake in the business would go to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.


text:
The two companies have announced a strategic partnership that will see more Android phones coming to market–some within the next few weeks.
Integral to this agreement is a commitment by the companies to devote substantial resources to accelerate delivery of leading-edge innovation that will put unique applications in the hands of consumers quickly…Verizon Wireless and Google plan to co-develop several Android-based devices that will be pre-loaded with innovative applications from both parties as well as third-party developers.
This is a big win for Google. While the iPhone has seen impressive market gains, there’s no doubt that it won’t realize its full potential until it can break free from its current AT&T (NYSE:T) bonds. While consumers are left waiting for the iPhone to become available on Verizon’s arguably better 3G network, Google gets to sweep in and try to make as many of them as possible convert to Android.
I’ve spoken to many Verizon Wireless customers that feel left out of the smart phone race because their desire for a reliable network outweighs their desire for an iPhone. If Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) doesn’t cozy up to Verizon soon, it could find it misses the boat. All of the hundreds of thousands of patiently waiting Verizon customers might decide the Android is good enough–locking them in for another two years and locking out Apple in the process.


text:
One of the locomotive sectors of the economy, the automotive sector will meet new milestones in 2018, according to KPMG Turkey
Having transformed via technology, the automotive sector might manufacture the number of 100 million vehicles across the world globally in 2018. In Turkey, the sector production is expected to reach by 1,7 million units.
The sector will continue to discuss autonomous vehicles, zero emission and zero accident works in the world. As for the agenda of Turkey there are tax rates, increased hybrid automobile sales and domestic made automobile manufacturing. Hakan Olekli, Head of Automobile of KPMG Turkey, said; “The automotive sector has divided into two parts as traditional design and production makers and autonomous solution providers along with the technology firms have entered the market. Now, the automotive companies have turned to an R & D center. The year 2018 will be a year to comply with harmonizing with transforming plans for Turkey.”
According to the automotive sector outlook report posted by KPMG, Olekli said, “The automotive sector has entered into a great transformation. The plans of the UK, Germany, Norway, France and China which is the biggest automobile market of the world to forbid gasoline and diesel-powered automobiles have brought together a great vision. Having entered an extraordinary activity in order to build the future, the automotive companies have transformed to R & D centers. From now on, transforming the automotive companies from their traditional production to new trends not a choice is a mandatory. In 2018, zero emission, zero accident, autonomous vehicles take place on the agenda of the world.”
As for the highlights which emerge forefront in KPMG Automotive Outlook 2018 as follows:
In 2017, the automobile domestic market constricted some in Turkey, light commercial vehicle market grew. The sales of automobiles became 722,759 units in 2017. In 2016, the sales were 756,938 units. Reduction rate was 4.52%. In light commercial vehicle market surged 2.93% in 2017.
The new tax application compliance with engine volume affected the customer preferences. The biggest share in the sales was taken by the automobiles under 1600cc with 96.1 percent. The total sales of 1600cc and under volume engine became 694,464 units.
The automobiles between 1600-2000cc engines took 3 percent from the total sales with 21,568 units. The sales of automobile share over 2000cc were 0.3 percent plunged 47% over the previous year.
Increase in hybrid vehicles is huge
The sales of electric and hybrid vehicles have remained under expectations. In 2017, a total of 76 electric vehicles sold. In hybrid market, a total of 4,507 vehicles were sold in the domestic market. So, the sales of hybrid vehicles showed a drastic increase with 334 percent in 2017 over the previous year. The sales of diesel powertrain vehicles decreased 5.2 percent to 440,890 units in 2017. The share of diesel powertrain vehicles in the total sales did not show a crucial change.
The total automotive production upped 16 percent to 1 million 544 thousand units in the first 11 months of 2017 over the same period previous year, according to the Turkish Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD).
77 percent of the sector exports made to European Union countries in 2017. In Turkey, 12 firms maintain their operations with 18 plants in the sector. In exports, Ford Otosan ranked atop, followed by Oyak Renault, Tofas, Toyota and Hyundai Assan respectively.


text:
Intel hasn't had much luck to date with its system-on-chip designs for living room set-top boxes, but that hasn't stopped the chip giant from rolling out a new processor for the next generation of connected home theater devices.The Atom CE5300 Media Processor, code-named Berryville, is the first 32nm CPU Intel has offered for set-top boxes and "smart" TVs.
There are plenty of obstacles to the Internet TV service Intel is rumored to be considering. So why is it pursuing the idea?
A former Apple audio engineer has developed Unity, a TV stand with built-in speakers, Blu-ray player, and Internet streaming capabilities,
Netflix wants the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act amended so it can share its subscribers' viewing choices via Facebook, but it wants to share all of those choices, not just ones that the subscriber wants to share.
Apple may have ultimately earned the upper hand over the music industry with the iTunes store, but its similar bare-knuckled negotiating tactics don't seem to be working as well with the TV industry, according to a recent report in the NY Post.At issue is a streaming TV service that Apple is supposedly trying to develop, presumably to work with a rumored Apple television set (though it could also be a possibility for its Apple TV boxes and even the iPad).
Rumor has it that the new Apple TV will emerge this month with a faster processor to finally bring 1080p support to the device.
Google prepping pay TV service in Kansas City. Is it the start to competing with cable TV elsewhere?
In addition to laying a high-speed fiber-optic network in Kansas City, Mo., Google is applying to offer that city's customers a pay TV service that puts it in competition with local cable TV providers.
Not to be outdone by the rumors that Apple's iTV will (eventually) arrive with a built-in Siri of its own, Google has filed for a patent for a voice-based remote control that would tie into Google TV.
New York City residents will soon have another way to cut the cable cord thanks to a new start-up venture called Aereo, which will stream local channels to your Internet-enabled device.
Google is working on a wireless home entertainment system, according to the Wall Street Journal. Will it succeed where Google TV has not yet?
The latest rumors about Apple's purported television set suggest you can control it via voice or gesture controls. Also, Best Buy surveys its customers about their interest in an Apple TV.
Vizio is taking a chance that there's a set of TV buyers who is looking to recreate the ultra-widescreen experience of the movie theater in its living rooms. The company introduced its new CinemaWide set, which uses a 21:9 aspect ratio instead of the 16:9 aspect ratio of conventional HDTVs, at CES last month, and has just put a (big) price tag on it.
In addition to controlling home theater devices like DVD players and home automation systems, the remote concept could also work with your computer to run iTunes or execute other functions.
Last November, Boxee announced a USB dongle that would provide over-the-air TV channels in addition to the Boxee Box's streaming capabilities. Yesterday, the company made Boxee Live TV available for consumers for $49.
Sony has given up on consumer OLED HDTV production, leaving it to the LGs and Samsungs of the world, but that doesn't mean it has lost sight of it as a potentially disruptive display technology. So in response, the electronics giant has unveiled at CES a competing concept that it's calling Crystal LED Display.


text:
Petition No 0049/2015 by S. de R. (Dutch), on the compulsory vaccination of puppies
The petitioner complains about the rules for vaccinating puppies against rabies which have been in place since 29 December 2014. According to these rules, puppies cannot travel or be imported or exported for 21 days after they have been vaccinated against rabies. For pedigree puppies, this means that they have to stay with the breeder for 15 weeks. According to the petitioner, this is detrimental to puppies that have been sold abroad, since they thus miss out on the most important phase of their rearing – between the eighth and twelfth week (the primary socialisation period) – with their new owner. As soon as the puppies are allowed to travel to their new family (16th week), they are already in the second phase (secondary socialisation period). According to the petitioner, the new rules lead to behavioural problems in dogs, meaning that there will be less import and export of pedigree dogs and more inbreeding of pedigree dogs. She understands that the rules are there to provide better protection for puppies and better supervision of breeding establishments, but she expects that breeders will forge the dates on the pet passports. The petitioner claims that the EU does not take into account the breeding system used by pedigree dog breeders, or their breeder’s certificates and DNA record. Pedigree dog breeders have been struggling to gain this recognition for years. She states that a breeder’s certificate or DNA record containing all of the data relating to a puppy is a reliable system. The petitioner will continue to argue for pedigree puppies to be able to be imported and exported at 8 weeks.


text:
WHAT do you get when you combine the Apple iPhone 6s’ body with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s internals? This. And if you’ve been waiting for this flagship smartphone, we have good news for you: The Meizu Pro 6 Plus (click for complete specs) is finally coming to the Philippines, based on this post on the manufacturer’s Facebook page.
REMEMBER the smartphone with two front cameras that we wrote about two weeks ago? It’s finally coming to the Philippines! We already got an invite to the launch. In fact, the Vivo V5 Plus is now being teased on the company’s Facebook page, just in time for the local unveiling on January 21.
THE countdown to Chinese New Year is on. And just in time for the festivities at the end of the month, OPPO has launched a New Year Anniversary edition of the R9s in red (click for complete specs). Devilishly hot red. It’s an absolute stunner — the company’s best-looking phone to date — and we have the photos to show it.
A few days ago, videos by Total Tech set the mobile world on fire when they showed what is supposedly Nokia’s upcoming flagship smartphone, the Nokia 8, in Qualcomm’s booth at CES 2017. After all, many people are still rooting for the brand. And with TK O’Connors — the man behind the YouTube channel — talking about specs that could catapult Nokia to the top of the smartphone charts again, who wouldn’t hope that he was right?
THE latest report of market-research firm IDC did not surprise us; we had already expected the PC industry to shrink in 2016. Based on the data, worldwide shipments of traditional PCs — desktops, notebooks, and workstations combined — fell to 260 million units, down 5.7 percent from 2015. It was the fifth straight year that the industry shrank. And Apple took the biggest hit.


text:
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – CJ Healthcare Corp takes hangovers seriously, so seriously in fact that it announced on October 30 that it has opened the country’s first ever research facility devoted to finding a cure for alcohol-induced woes.
CJ Healthcare was the first company to introduce a hangover alleviation drink in 1992 with “Condition”. The facility will build on the data CJ Healthcare has accumulated since then, with the aim of discovering new hangover remedies.
In November, the company is planning to release a “premium anti-hangover drink”.
CEO Kang Seok-hee said, “Armed with the knowhow that elevated Condition to its status as the representative anti-hangover drink over the past 25 years, the company intends to pursue R&D efforts vigorously to produce a superior anti-hangover product.”
Kevin Lee (email@example.com)


text:
Vengeful politician seeks to bankrupt group that won a court order against a new tax
Ever since Sean Connery uttered the words "the Chicago way," the rest of humanity has been on notice that a different rulebook applies to the territory around the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. "He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue! That's the Chicago way." The boundaries of this moral universe apparently extend all the way to the county line, as Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle has filed a jaw-dropping lawsuit.
Greg Hinze of Crain's Chicago Business writes:
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is sending a strong message to anyone who wants to mess with her pop tax: Don't.
In an action a judge said could have "a chilling effect" on government and citizens' rights, county attorneys are seeking $17 million in damages from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the group that, with a couple of co-plaintiffs, won a temporary restraining order delaying the levy by about a month.
Preckwinkle spokesman Frank Shuftan says seeking damages is appropriate: "Actions have consequences."
If David Mamet were ever to pen a sequel to The Untouchables, the line "actions have consequences" would be the perfect coda to a scene in which violent retribution takes place. And make no mistake: Preckwinkle's lawsuit is about nothing other than vengeance, as the Chicago Tribune editorial board thunders today in an editorial titled "Preckwinkle doubles down on foolish: Vengeance is mine, sayeth the soda taxer."
While consumers have been busy rebelling against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's soda tax, she has been busy plotting revenge. Preckwinkle assigned her lawyers the task of punishing the group that sued her.
According to Crain's Chicago Business, Preckwinkle's lawyers will try to extract a crushing $17 million from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association [IRMA], a private interest group that represents retail stores. The group had challenged her tax in court, arguing that it was unconstitutionally arbitrary.
The retailers won a temporary order blocking the tax, but then suffered a loss they're appealing. So the penny-per-ounce tax took effect Wednesday, about a month later than Preckwinkle planned.
A county spokesman says Preckwinkle believes the merchants association should pay the costs of her court fight and revenue the county couldn't collect. But really, the message is: Don't dare to challenge her, not even through the judicial system – the branch of government in a democracy that, among other things, gives citizens a way to challenge heavy-handed governments. Don't dare.
IRMA has gotten the message:
IRMA says it will fight the county's attempts to make it pay up.
"We filed a timely lawsuit to have the tax declared unconstitutional and to stop the tax from taking effect on July 1st because it was the right thing to do on behalf of retailers in the county. This filing sends a very distinct signal to any person that believes they have a legitimate challenge to any law passed by the Cook County Board that they should think twice," a statement from the group said.
The premise of the soda tax – that it is a health measure – has been disproven by the simple fact that some of the largest consumers of sugary soda – the ones using food stamps – are exempt from the do-gooders' tax. It's all about the money, and if you get in the way of Toni Preckwinkle's money-grab, she will bankrupt you using taxpayers' funds.
It's the Chicago way, the approach that Barack Obama brought to the national stage.
Hat tip: Peter von Buol


text:
Warning labels unveiled by the FDA would be the first change to
cigarette pack warnings in 25 years. Nine graphic images were chosen
using consumer surveys that involved 18,000 people.
Announcing the first change to cigarette pack health warnings in
25 years, the US Food and Drug Administration unveiled nine graphic
warning labels Tuesday that cigarette companies will be required to
print by the fall of 2012 on the top half of every cigarette pack
and 20 percent of every poster or ad.
Some of the images are grisly - showing the top half of a cadaver
after an autopsy - and designed to perhaps shock smokers into
quitting. Others are somewhat educational, showing smoke drifting
toward a young child's face with a warning that tobacco smoke can
harm your children. And, every pack will contain the 800 number to
call for help quitting smoking.
"This represents the most dramatic change in the history of the
United States efforts to curtail smoking, because it's the first
time health warnings on smoking were selected because of
effectiveness instead of political acceptability," says Matthew
Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in
But, will it make any difference once the warnings are in place?
They are supposed to be slapped on by October 2012, although tobacco
companies are contesting the new regulations in court.
According to Margaret Hamburg, the commissioner of Food and
Drugs, economists at the agency calculate 213,000 smokers will quit
in the first year. "That does not start to calculate the number who
choose not to start smoking," says Ms. Hamburg in an interview.
Although this number represents only half of 1 percent of the 40
million smokers in the US, antismoking advocates say it could save
60,000 to 70,000 lives if the tobacco-users quit for good. "Very few
actions save 70,000 lives," says Mr. Myers.
Images chosen after consumer surveys
The nine images are the result of what Ms. Hamburg terms one of
the largest consumer surveys, in which 18,000 people were asked for
their impressions of the warning labels. "We collected a lot of
information and I think we will see an increased awareness," she
says, "Importantly, they will discourage individuals who are not yet
smokers from becoming smokers."
Already some 43 countries have graphic warnings. However, even
advocates for the images say there are no conclusive studies that
show a direct correlation between the ads and individuals quitting
"In every instance, there was an increased awareness, an
increased sense of the real dangers of smoking and a significantly
increased motivation for quitting," says Myers. "But, it's very hard
to measure precisely how many quit because of the addition of
According to an FDA public comment filing by antismoking
advocates, pictorial warning labels introduced in Australia in 2006
made 57 percent of smokers think about quitting, helped 36 percent
of smokers reduce their consumption, and helped 34 percent of
smokers try to quit. …


text:
The Gem of South Africa: Namibian diamonds
Located in Southern Africa, Namibia is one of the top diamond producing countries in the world. According to data by the Kimberley Process, Namibia was 9th in the world in terms of carat production in 2014, with more than 1,689,000 carats produced.
According to Namdeb Diamond Corp, a joint venture between Namibia and De Beers and the company responsible for mining and manufacturing in Namibia, diamonds have been mined in the country since 1908. In 2014, Namdeb has reaffirmed its plans to mine gems in the southern African country until at least 2050 by deploying new technology.
Recently, The Government of the Republic of Namibia and De Beers have announced an agreement, in principle, on the terms of a new 10-year sales agreement for the sorting, valuing and sales of all of Namdeb Holdings diamonds.
According to the agreement, Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) will continue to sort and value all of Namdeb Holdings’ production. De Beers will continue to support the domestic cutting and polishing industry in Namibia, and will increase its commitment by making more diamonds available for manufacturing businesses operating in the country.


text:
As NVBOTS has evolved, our focus has always been on a three-part evolution: education, innovation and commercialization. And for the past couple of years, NVBOTS has had great success in the education sector, being viewed as the 3D printing solution of choice for many schools, responsible for inspiring students to innovate in new and exciting ways. In fact, The Sizer School just became the first public school in the world to open 3D printing access to its entire student body and our 3D printing experience at Citizen Schools has had a direct impact on improving student efficacy rates.
Now, with last week’s NVLABS announcement, I am proud to say we are delivering on the commercialization phase of that evolution.
As 3D Printing Industry put it, the world of metal 3D printing became “a lot more interesting” with our announcement. NVLABS, an R&D division dedicated to the development and implementation of never- before-seen 3D printing technology is led by renowned metallurgy expert Dr. Paul Burke as Chief Research Officer. The first deliverable coming out of NVLABS? Ultra-high speed multi-metal 3D printing capable of fabricating stainless steel, titanium, nickel, copper nickel, aluminum, zirconium, silver and palladium in the same build — and at 10x the speed of current metal 3D printers.
Through the establishment of NVLABS and bringing on Dr. Paul Burke, we are breaking new ground in enterprise 3D printing by delivering unmatched multi-metal printing capabilities, allowing companies on a global scale to commercialize their innovations in ways never before thought possible – and significantly cheaper than any 3D printer on the market.
Further, not only do companies partnering with NVLABS get to benefit from what is essentially an automated factory in a box, they are able to take advantage of NVBOTS expertise. This is critical, since the benefits of combining metals opens up completely new methods of design unprecedented in the world of manufacturing. Designing for multi-metal production requires a different mindset that far surpasses any “new” 3D printing approaches being discussed today.
NVLABS is defining multi-metal 3D printing in a way that will forever change manufacturing and engineering processes – and we are just getting started.
Interested in being considered for the NVLABS alpha program? Contact us at [email protected].


text:
The Nike and Jordan x Doernbecher Freestyle 2014 Collection release date is officially set for tomorrow, 11/23, at select Nike retailers. The collection will also be available, minus the Air Max Penny 1 and Nike Free 5.0, at 10am EST on Nike.com.
After a long wait, and some confusion, the release date for this years Air Jordan 11 holiday release, the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Columbia”, is confirmed and that release date is 12/20. This means that this powerhouse of a release will release just three days ahead of the Air Jordan “Ultimate Gift of Flight Pack” making things either confusing, or, really expensive. The retail price will be $200 and the sneaker will be available at select Jordan retailers including Nike.com.
If you haven’t gotten your fill yet by the time the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Infrared”, Air Jordan 11 Retro “Columbia”, and the Air Jordan “Ultimate Gift of Flight Pack” have dropped, Jordan has another big hitter on deck with the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG x Fragment. The release date for the “Fragment” Jordan 1 High is set for 12/27 at very select Jordan retailers including Nike.com.
One of, if not the most, anticipated releases of the year, the Air Jordan 6 Retro “Infrared”, is official as Jordan has released the official release date and images. While you have no doubt put this into your calendar already, the release date is set for “Black Friday” 11/28 at a retail price of $185. The sneaker will be available at select Jordan retailers including Nike.com.
December is going to be a huge month for Air Jordan sneakers as there are several key releases dropping throughout the month which includes the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Columbia” and Air Jordan Retro 1 High OG x Fragment. Taking the whole month up a notch, we now have a confirmed release date for the Air Jordan “Ultimate Gift of Flight Pack”. The “Ultimate Gift of Flight Pack”, which will feature the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Pantone” and the Air Jordan XX9 “Ultimate Gift of Flight”, will drop on 12/23 at select Jordan retailers. Retail price will be $500. Stay tuned for more.
After surfacing a number of months back, the Air Jordan 13 Retro “Black/Gym Red” has an official release date and that release date is 12/13. The “Black/Gym Red” Jordan 13 represents the end of a very successful run of Air Jordan 13 sneakers that dropped throughout 2014. The sneaker will be available at select Jordan retailers including Nike.com. Retail price will be $185.
The lux leather woven Jordan Future premium is set to return this Fall in the “Black/Gum” colorway. Part of the Air Jordan $375 line of Future sneakers, the Jordan Future Premium “Black/Gum” features a Black leather woven upper sitting on a White midsole and a translucent Gum outsole. Release date is set for 11/22. Check out the official images.


text:
Vivo V23e 5G launched in India on Monday (21 February). The new Vivo phone is a watered down variant of the Vivo V23 5G model that debuted in the country alongside the Vivo V23 Pro 5G in January. The Vivo V23e 5G comes with a 20:9 AMOLED display and triple rear cameras. Vivo also equipped the phone with an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 810 SoC. Furthermore, the Vivo phone carries 128GB of internal storage and comes in two distinct color options. Vivo V23e 5G will compete against Xiaomi 11i 5G, Lava Agni 5G and Realme 9 Pro+ 5G.
Vivo V23e 5G price in India, availability
The price of Vivo V23e 5G in India has been set at Rs. 25,990 (MRP Rs. 28,990) for the single 8GB + 128GB storage variant. The phone comes in Midnight Blue and Sunshine Gold colors and is on sale now. Vivo V23e 5G is available for purchase through Vivo India E-store and in all major retail stores.
Launch offers on Vivo V23e 5G include up to 10% cashback for customers using ICICI Bank credit card or EMI transactions.
In November last year, Vivo V23e 5G was launched in Thailand for THB 12,999 (approximately Rs. 30,100) for the same 8GB + 128GB option.
Vivo V23e 5G Specifications
The dual-SIM (Nano) Vivo V23e 5G runs on Android 12 with Funtouch OS 12 on top. It has a 6.44-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display (1080×2400 pixels) with a 20:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone has the MediaTek Dimensity 810 octa-core SoC along with 8GB of RAM. The Vivo V23e 5G comes with a triple rear camera setup that houses a 50-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor.
For selfies and video chats, the Vivo V23e 5G comes with a 44-megapixel selfie camera on the front with autofocus lens.
The Vivo V23e 5G comes with 128GB of internal storage expandable via a dedicated microSD card slot. Connectivity options include 5G, 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.1, GPS/A-GPS and a USB Type-C port. Onboard sensors include accelerometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, magnetometer and proximity sensor. The phone also comes with an under-display fingerprint sensor.
Vivo V23e 5G comes with a 4,050mAh battery that supports 44W FlashCharge fast charging. Furthermore, the phone measures 160.87×74.28×7.32mm (Midnight Blue) or 160.87×74.28×7.41mm (Sunshine Gold) and weighs 172 grams.


text:
Much of the recent press about the new Sam’s Club MasterCard has focused on the technology in the card aimed at fraud prevention.
It is big news that Sam’s Club is the first American retailer to use EMV chip technology, but we’re more impressed with the generous new rewards package, which represents a significant improvement over the old card.
The credit card, available June 23, offers 5% cash back on the first $6,000 (!) of gasoline purchases you make, 3% on dining and travel and 1% on everything else. This card is available to Sam’s Club members only, but can be used wherever credit cards are accepted.
While there is a cap on how much cash back you can earn, you’re not likely to approach it, unless you’re a business owner. You can earn up to $5,000 cash back in a year.
To earn that much in rewards, for example, you’d have to spend $250,000 on travel and restaurants annually.
The old Discover-branded card offered 2% cash back on all purchases for Advantage Plus club members (up to 1% for non-Plus members). However, you didn’t earn the full 2% until you spent $10,000. Before that, you earned anywhere from 0.25% to 1.75%.
How does this rewards program compare?
The BankAmericard Cash Rewards card, for example, pays 2% at grocery stores and 3% on gas, but only for the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter. It also pays an unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
Like the Discover card, the new Sam’s Club MasterCard will carry no annual fee, although you still have to pay the warehouse store’s annual membership dues: $45 for the basic Savings and Business memberships and $100 for Sam’s Plus.
The APR is unchanged on the new card compared with the old: either 14.9% or 22.9%.
Existing Sam’s Discover cardholders will receive a replacement MasterCard between July 1 and Aug. 30, although the old card will remain valid until Feb. 28, 2015.
One thing that doesn’t impress: how redemption works.
Sam’s will send you a check once a year in February, and you must bring the check to a Sam’s Club location to cash it within 180 days of its issue.
As for security, the new card will include both the traditional magnetic strip as well as an embedded electronic chip for added security.
Chip-enabled technology, which is common in Europe and other foreign countries, is considered more secure than the magnetic strips found on most cards in the U.S., which can be easy to counterfeit because they contain a single, static security code. Chips, by contrast, generate a different security code for each transaction.
Sam’s Club is the first mass retailer in the U.S. to implement chip-enabled technology. It began integrating chip technology seven years ago, and all of its locations already have chip-enabled sales terminals.
The technology has so far failed to catch on in the U.S., largely because merchants have been reluctant to make the investment to install chip-based readers to replace their existing boxes.