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A smartwatch patent by Apple has just been released, revealing that the company is indeed planning to release the iWatch.
In the patent filing, Apple created a square smart watch design however sources speculate that this design may change.
In the patent, the device appears to have many of the same features as competitors including a touch screen, an accelerometer, a GPS receiver, Bluetooth and vibration alerts.
The iWatch will also be able to sync with your iPhone and displays notifications of phone calls and text messages. Users will also be able to receive notifications from social networks and relevant news alerts.
One of the most interesting features of the iWatch is that it can store music and video and play it back directly on the watch. You can even plug a set of headphones into the watch in the upper left corner.
It also seems that the iWatch will have the ability to respond to your movements. While its not clear exactly what this will be used for, it could be a way that users can decline or accept a call.
While no real details were released on what materials would be used, the patent does state that the band will be made of a non-metal material.
The iWatch is expected to be released in the next few months but Apple is yet to confirm anything.
Our lives are often busy so, the thoughtful people at Facebook have introduced a new save feature which allows you to store posts and come back to them later.
Facebook has introduced a new function that will allow users to essentially create a library of content to read and re-visit at a later time.
“Every day, people find all sorts of interesting items on Facebook that they don’t have time to explore right away. Now you can save items that you find to check out later when you have more time,” stated software engineer at Facebook, Daniel Giambavlo.
The new save feature will appear in a drop down menu to the left of the post on desktop versions and on both iOS and Android devices.
Facebook will also send you a friendly notification, reminding you that you have content stored away in your saved folder.
The saved folder is set to appear as a tab on the top left corner of the website.
Facebook will begin rolling out the new save function in the next few days.
Verizon has announced that they are boosting FiOS upload speeds to match download speeds.
FiOS, which is the fastest internet service that Verizon provides is now on a mission to boost upload speeds.
The cheapest FiOS option will now deliver 15 megabits per second for upload speeds which is around 10 megabits faster.
On the most expensive FiOs option, upload speeds will be 500 megabits per second.
These changes will put the upload speed at exactly the same rate as the download speed.
“Faster upload speeds means better sharing experiences,” stated Mike Ritter, Verizon’s chief marketing officer for consumer and mass business. “All Internet sharing — whether videos, large photo files or gaming — starts with uploading.”
Current residential customers will be transitioned to these new speeds free of charge in the coming months with businesses to follow.
Verizon commented that uploads are becoming increasingly popular which is why they decided to increase their service.
While FiOS is one of the fastest internet services around, it wont be long before competition heats up as companies like Google work to install internet with speeds of 1 Gigabit per second.
Forget having your notifications pop up on a screen, why not your hand?
Ritot, a new wristband concept device projects your notifications, such as emails and incoming calls straight onto your hand.
Ritot is being marketed as the first projection watch and has already raised $375,000 on Indiegogo to bring the wearable device to consumers.
The device uses light from a pico projector that displays personalized content directly onto the top of the wearers hand. The projected display appears for about 10 seconds and can sync with your smartphone to get notifications.
The wrist band is available in as an aluminium style bracelet and also in rubber for more of a sportsband look.
Ritot is expected to retail for around $120 and will ship starting in early 2015.
As increasing pressure builds over in-app purchases on children’s games, Google has decided to remove them from the “free” section of the Google Play store.
Companies like Google, Amazon and Apple have all come under fire from parents and government agencies over deceptive in-app purchases in children’s games which caused them to rack up huge bills.
Known as “freemium” apps, they are often free to download however, as you start playing or engaging with the app you need to pay in order to keep going. Purchases can also be made inside the app to collect tools needed for the game.
The argument has also been made that these in-app purchase options are deceiving, and that many children had no idea they were actually spending money by clicking on the option.
While companies like Apple, refunded customers who complained, Google is taking it one step further by agreeing to remove apps that offer in-app purchases from the “free” section.
The change by Google comes as the European Commission begins to crack down on app stores over in-app purchases which caused some parents to receive charges of over a thousand dollars.
Apple has also made changes to apps that are targeted towards children by making each in-app purchase protected by a user name and password.
Google is doing the same, which means that in order to make an in-app purchase, children will need to get their parents consent.
In app purchases are big business for both Apple and Google however, it seems that now they will have to be more transparent and responsible when it comes to how they are advertised.
Apple has teamed up with their former competitor, IBM to help deliver iPads and iPhones to the corporate market.
Apple and IBM are teaming up to create over 100 different applications designed exclusively for corporate companies and government agencies.
It has never been a secret that Apple’s late co-founder, Steve Jobs had a distain for IBM. In fact, at one point Apple stated that the company was a “soulless company devoid of new ideas.”
Back in the 1980′s, the two companies were the biggest rivals in the personal computer space however, now it seems that they have put their differences aside and are working together.
The iOS apps are expected to be released in the next few months and will feature IBM’s exclusive data-crunching and analytical tools, as well as bonus security features and encryption services.
CEO of Apple, Tim Cook said the reason they had turned to IBM is because they have a strong understanding of the needs of corporate customers.
CEO of IBM, Ginni Rometty also stated that the alliance with Apple will help the company widen its demographic and provide bigger returns.
“This is about two powerhouses unleashing the power of mobility for businesses. This is going to remake professions and industries,” stated Rometty.
So, the question remains- would the late Jobs be turning in his grave over the decision to team up with his former enemy?
Apple analyst of Creative Strategies, Tim Bajarin stated, “Steve would have loved this, it shows that the post-PC era is in full swing now.”
Off the grid connectivity is now possible thanks to GoTenna, which gives people the ability to communicate with no data, network or signal connection.
GoTenna has been designed to connect your phone over Bluetooth and use a longer-range, low frequency radio to communicate to other GoTenna’s up to several miles away.
The lower frequency, which is used on devices such as walkie-talkies, can travel long distances and does not interfere with Wi-Fi and 4G signals.
GoTenna is specifically designed to be used when your phone is offline and out of cellular range and as long as the person you need to communicate with also has a GoTenna, you will be able to get through.
Currently, the GoTenna only supports text based chat however, unlike other off-the grid communication devices it does not use satellites or require a monthly fee to remain activated.
GoTenna is completely free to use and each network is self contained. “It has no infrastructure whatsoever, your network can just be you and one other person,” stated CEO, Daniela Perdomo.
GoTenna’s are also waterproof and the battery can last up to a few days. All the data sent through the GoTenna is also encrypted and the texts do not pass through any data center.
GoTenna can currently be pre-ordered for $150 for two devices.
Love to read? Amazon is launching a subscription service that includes unlimited access to a library of electronic and audio books for $9.99 per month.
Amazon, who is one of the largest e-commerce giants in the US stated that the new Kindle Unlimited service would allow users to have access to over 600,000 electronic books and 2,000 audiobooks.
Anyone who has a kindle or the kindle app will be able to subscribe to the service and as a special promotion, users can sign up for a free 30 day trial.
E-books are becoming more and more popular and it is currently estimated that their popularity is growing by about 9 percent per year.
In the last few months, Amazon has come under scrutiny from publishers over book prices and even pulled some popular titles down from their site.
It is not yet clear what kind of negotiations Amazon made with publishers over this new subscription service however, some major publishers are not involved including HaperCollins and Hachette.
The move is definitely a good one for Amazon however, as more people prefer, and are more likely to stay on a subscription service.
Amazon is not the first e-book subscription service, however, they may very quickly take market share due to their overwhelming popularity.
Samsung has just announced the release of their new headphone range called Level.
In an effort to compete with Beats, which Apple recently acquired, Samsung has launched their own headphones called Level.
The style is much similar to Beats and has an over-the ear design with soft cushion pads.
The headphones are wireless and bluetooth compatible and start at $349.99, a price point that is significantly lower than Beats’ $379.95 price tag.
Samsung are also offering a cheaper alternative for just $179.99 which are bud like ear phones that compare to Beats Solo, which retail for $199.95.
While there is not much difference in the technology of the headphones, Level definitely has a more neutral look and may appear more desirable to a wider demographic.
Price is also another key difference, but it may not be a significant enough price drop to sway those who are considering purchasing Beats.
Samsung and Apple often go head to head, so it really comes as no surprise that Samsung has now released their own headphones just months after Beats was acquired.
Samsung is expected to launch their headphones on July 20th.
Got something to sell? Facebook is now testing a ‘buy button’, making it easier for businesses to sell products directly to customers.
In an effort to help businesses boost sales and make advertising on Facebook more enticing, the social media giant has begun testing a “buy button” that allows consumers to purchase products straight from their feeds.
The new buy button will be featured at the bottom of sponsored ads and will allow users to make a purchase without having to even leave Facebook.
This is the latest move for Facebook, who has been expanding their advertising business by offering boosted posts, apps and now, a buy feature.
In the past, Facebook was viewed as a platform for businesses just to promote, but with this new ad feature, the social media site is set to become a major e-commerce company as well.
In 2013, Facebook accounted for 5.8% of the global digital ad spending and this year is expected to be even stronger with 7.8%.
While the buy button is still in testing stages, it won’t be long before Facebook becomes a shopping hub.


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Australian shoppers may be ready to start splashing their cash again as solid savings rates and low inflation lifts consumer confidence, Westfield boss Peter Lowy says.
Mr Lowy made the comments as the shopping centre giant posted an 18.3 per cent rise in annual profit.
He said while there were always external factors which could influence retail sales, current conditions in the Australian economy pointed to an improvement during the year.
"Retail sales have been relatively flat for three or four years," he told AAP.
"There has been a very high savings rate in Australia and that has stabilised now, you see higher consumer confidence than you've seen before.
"January was relatively good in the sales and with the country with about two per cent GDP growth and inflation at about two per cent we just think that all adds up to retail sales to finally start growing again."
Mr Lowy said he expects sales growth of 1.5-2.0 per cent in Westfield's Australian and New Zealand shopping malls during 2013.
Sales growth at its US and UK centres is expected to be even higher at 4.0-5.0 per cent.
Bell Direct analyst Julia Lee agreed that it was likely that Australian consumer sentiment would improve during 2013.
"Retail has been cyclically low and at some time in the next 18 months we expect to see cyclical conditions improve and we've already seen a number of interest rate cuts which will hopefully seep through to the retailers," she said.
"The retailers have been moving ahead of that expectation and generally the market does tend to move between 12 to 18 months before it happens."
Westfield Group, which manages 150 shopping centres in five countries, lifted its net profit to $1.72 billion profit in the year to December 31, from $1.532 in 2011.
Westfield's speciality stores experienced 0.5 per cent sales growth for the year.
That trend strengthened in January, with sales up four per cent.
The speciality stores continued to outperform department stores, which experienced a 0.5 decline in annual sales growth.
Mr Lowy said Westfield was focused on building large premium shopping centres in the world's major cities such as London, Milan, Sydney and New York.
But he did not believe the struggling Italian economy would impact on plans for Westfield's Milan centre as it was a global fashion capital with a shortage of premium malls and wealthy shoppers.
Westfield shares closed six cents higher at $11.14.

domain: news


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Franklin Township is accepting free submissions for ArtWalk, a juried exhibit and sale showcasing all two-dimensional art forms, that will be displayed at the Franklin Day Festival on Sept. 22 at Colonial Park in Somerset.
The theme is “Celebrate New Jersey.” The Princeton Photography Club will provide curatorial management for the second year.
Submission deadline is Aug. 4. Visit franklintwp.seamlessdocs.com/f/artwalkcall4art to apply.
In an effort to brand the ArtWalk exhibit, there will also be a logo design contest. PPC will provide a $50 award for the best judged logo that will be used to represent the ArtWalk this year and in years to follow. The winning logo will be used on entrance posters, business cards and/or advertising. Combine ArtWalk and the Franklin Day Festival to create a unique, colorful, attractive and eye-catching logo.
Submissions must be received by June 1. Visit franklintwp.seamlessdocs.com/f/artwalklogo to apply.
For more information, call Sharon Geisler at 732-422-3676.


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Supreme Court rules on highly anticipated Tennessee wine case
The wine industry has been sitting on pins and needles for the last month waiting for a Supreme Court decision that had the potential to change liquor laws nationwide. With a mounting backlog, the Court delayed the decision on Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas (previously Blair), then finally made their decision public this morning.
Read Full Opinion: Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas
Justice Alito delivered the 7-2 opinion, which struck down Tennessee’s residency requirement. Justices Gorsuch and Thomas dissented. On top of striking down the residency requirement, the Court also took an expansive view of the case and clarified that Granholm was not limited to producers and that states can not discriminate against out of state businesses for protectionist reasons.
Here are a few key passages from the opinion:
Applying the appropriate §2 analysis here, Tennessee’s 2-year residency requirement cannot be sustained. The provision expressly discriminates against nonresidents and has at best a highly attenuated relationship to public health or safety.
Given all this, the Association has fallen far short of showing that the 2-year durational-residency requirement for license applicants is valid. Like the other discriminatory residency requirements that the Association is unwilling to defend, the predominant effect of the 2-year residency requirement is simply to protect the Association’s members from out-of-state competition. We therefore hold that this provision violates the Commerce Clause and is not saved by the Twenty-first Amendment.
And Granholm never said that its reading of history or its Commerce Clause analysis was limited to discrimination against products or producers. On the contrary, the Court stated that the Clause prohibits state discrimination against all “out-of-state economic interests”
Tom Wark, Executive Director of the National Wine Retailers Association, is celebrating the decision as a major development for retailers.
“The era of protectionist state laws banning interstate shipment of wine by out-of-state retailers is over. The Supreme Court made clear that the non-discrimination principles it applied to winery shipping in 2005 in Granholm v Heald also apply to retailer wine shipping. The only question now is if states, still desiring to harm their consumers ability to access the wines they want in order to protect in-state interests, will force long expensive court battles. Today’s decision is big win for wine consumers, free trade and fine wine retailers.”
Tom Wark, Executive Director, NAWR
Michael Bilello, SVP Communications and Marketing from the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, also provided a public statement on the case.
Although WSWA disagrees with the outcome of today’s Supreme Court ruling, we agree with the Court that the promotion of public health and safety is a primary function of alcohol regulation, with the three-tier system being paramount to the creation of the safest alcohol market in the world.
NPR: Supreme Court Hands Total Wine, Other Out-Of-State Liquor Retailers A Big Win
Washington Post: Supreme Court strikes down Tennessee liquor sales law
Irish Liquor Lawyer: Wow: Alito expands Granholm in Tennessee Wine Decision settling the long debate in the liquor world
Lex Vini: Supreme Court Decision is a Victory for Wine Retailers
Strike & Techel: The Supreme Court Rules in Tennessee Retailers: What Does it Really Mean?
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Kenyan Inflation Shoots To A New Record High Of 8.3 Percent.
- All News, Money & Markets, Uncategorized
- cost of living kenya, inflation kenya, kenyan economy
- Nyambura Tabitha
The Kenyan inflation has hit another record high after it supersedes last month’s record of 7.9 percent to now 8.3 percent. The current inflation rate is at a 61-month high despite central bank fiscal policy and state subsidies on key commodities and tax reduction policy applied last month.
Inflation was mainly driven by the increase in food prices and non-alcoholic beverages which is up by 15 percent.
The figures in detail
The Kenya Bureau of Statistics [KNBS] has released detailed data on the current state of Kenya’s consumer price index. According to the released data, the annual rate of inflation as measured by the consumer price index [CPI] was 8.3 percent, in July 2022.
The monthly food and non- Alcoholic beverages index rose by 1.1 percent between June 2022 and July 2022. The retailing price of white rice increased to 13.4 percent, the cost of potato has also increased by 15.4 percent while the price of a kilogram of maize has increased by 31.5 percent which in turn has led to high maize flour prices.
Carrot prices had the biggest price rise of 41.1 percent now retailing at sh 105.31 per kilogram in July.
The cost of laundry soap was also high jumping to sh 165.70 per 800 gram that’s a 34 percent increase from the previous retail price. The cost of fuel also rose by 30.5, 29.8and 25.0 percent for kerosene, diesel, and petrol consecutively.
Did the previous fiscal policy fail?
The high rate of inflation rose despite the government’s efforts of introducing some fiscal policy last month to curd the upward trajectory.
Last month, the central bank of Kenya responded to the rising inflation, through the monetary policy committee by raising the benchmark central bank rate [CBR] reducing the interest rates from 7.5 percent to 7.0 percent.
To be fair the central bank chair expressed caution, he told the media lowering the bank interest rates couldn’t have the desired effect since the inflation was supply-driven inflation.
Maize Subsidy Deal
Also, the government last week sealed a subsidy deal with maize millers to reduce the price of maize flour by almost 50 percent to sh100 per 2-kilogram packet which previously retailed at sh205.
The maize floor price cap hasn’t been reflected yet, it is expected to come down maybe this month of August.
The central bank of Kenya this month preferred to let its benchmark lending rate unchanged advising lenders to keep the cost of loans steady. They defended this position arguing the only solution is moderating international prices of oil and food items will flatten the curve. CBK governor Patrick Njoroge said he expects the rate of inflation to keep rising even this month.


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(Cybertech) – Netflix has announced The Witcher season 2 will debut on its streaming platform shortly before Christmas, and it also released the first trailer for the new season.
The show is set to return 17 December 2021. Netflix announced the news during an inaugural WitcherCon event. It also provided the first full-length look at the upcoming season, which you can watch above. From what we can tell, the second season picks up where the first season ended, with Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill) meeting up with exiled Princess Cirill. The duo goes to Kaer Morhen – the mountain fortress where Geralt trained – so that Ciri can become a witcher, too. It doesn’t look easy, to say the least.
That’s all folks – the #WitcherCon is over! Thank you all for joining and celebrating the Witcher universe with us
And if you missed some parts of the stream, you can re-watch it on YouTube:
1st Stream: https://t.co/Ny2iZcgsdL
2nd Stream: https://t.co/PhTPplGoEa pic.twitter.com/YGi8PZupIn
— The Witcher (@witchergame) July 10, 2021
In addition to the trailer and date, Netflix teased a behind-the-scenes featurette with Anya Chalotra and Freya Allan (who play Yennefer and Ciri, respectively), as well as Jaskier’s new maroon wardrobe, and vague episode titles for season two. Cavill even said the next season will have a new song from Jaskier.
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) July 9, 2021
Also announced was a release date for an animated prequel film, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which will come to Netflix on 23 August 2021. Finally, at WitcherCon, CD Projekt Red revealed a next-generation PS5 and Xbox Series X update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that will arrive for free later this year with DLC based on the Netflix show.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt next-gen update is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC this year! Here’s a sneak peek of our updated cover art.
Spoiler alert: we also prepared some free DLCs inspired by @witchernetflix
More info coming soon! pic.twitter.com/Hs7LwWzUAt
— The Witcher (@witchergame) July 9, 2021
Writing by Maggie Tillman. Originally published on .


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One local real estate agent says you can find a home in the range of $500,000 in Windsor, but it might be on the smaller side and it may need renovations.
Amy Bailey, Sales representative with RE/MAX Preferred Team Brad Bondy, says the reality is that homes that once sold for $150,00 to $175,000 are now going for $500,000.
The Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors reports 417 homes were sold in the $420,000 to $549,999 price range as of the end of March, the price range with the most sales in Windsor-Essex.
The second most sales were in the $550,000 to $699,999 price range, with 401 units sold.
Bailey told AM800's The Shift with Patty Handysides that they sold a home on Virginia Avenue in Windsor on Tuesday for just over $500,000.
"That's a ranch with a full basement, but dated and not very large bedrooms," she says. "I think you're going to be looking for homes like that. Your $500,000 will get you smaller ranch homes, might get you a 1.5-storey in the east end, it might get you a fully renovated home in the west end."
Graphic showing the volume of residential units sold by price range in Windsor-Essex between Jan. 1, 2022 and Mach 31, 2022. (Graphic courtesy of the Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors)
Bailey says there was one that sold not that long ago on King Street for over $500,000 and it was a two-storey.
"Anywhere throughout the city, it could get you a different size of home. But if you're looking to live in South Windsor, LaSalle and things like that, you're not going to get much for $500,000 anymore," she says.
Bailey says when she works with buyers, she wants them to know if they can find a home that's structurally good, they can always work on the inside.
"If you're spending $500,000, I think you should anticipate that you're still going to be doing renovations," she says. "You might have a dated kitchen and a dated bathroom, you may have to finish a basement, that's just the reality."
WECAR reports the average sales price in Windsor-Essex was $723,739 in March of 2022, a 35.10 per cent increase compared to the average sales price of $535,708 in March of 2021. The increase represents a $188,031 difference from the same time a year ago.


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SPRINGFIELD — A parent of a student killed in the 2018 mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida has filed a federal complaint against Springfield-based gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson.
The parent, Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jamie was among 17 killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was joined by two gun control advocacy groups in filing the complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, according to the New York Times.
Guttenberg and the advocacy groups — Brady and Everytown for Gun Safety — accused the firearms manufacturer of using what they described as “deceptive and unfair marketing” to promote assault-style rifles, the Times reported.
A spokesman for Smith & Wesson was not immediately available for comment.
A spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission declined comment, saying FTC complaints are “nonpublic.”
The mass shooting at the Florida high school in February 2018 triggered protests outside Smith & Wesson’s headquarters on Roosevelt Avenue. Smith & Wesson is the maker of the M&P15 .223 rifle used in the attack by the 19-year-old Parkland shooter.
The FTC complaint accuses Smith & Wesson of targeting teens and young adults with advertising that relies on imagery similar to first-person-shooter video games, the Times reported. The company’s marketing campaigns for its AR-15-style firearms “attracts, encourages and facilitates mass shooters” and “played a significant role” in the Parkland shooting, according to the complaint, as described by the Times.
Smith & Wesson is among the largest firearms manufacturers in the country.


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Panama: Rising Costs of Building Materials
Products like stone No.4, espavé wood, concrete and sand mix became more expensive by 23.2%, 12.9%, 7.1% and 5.9% respectively in the month of July.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
These four materials had the largest increases in their prices according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census of the Controller General of the Republic.
The Guatemalan PreCon Group has opened its production plant at km 17.5 on the road to Leon.
Some 13 products, including sand, steel rods and the stone became more expensive by up to 18% in December.
The company will begin production of a new brand of concrete that offers better quality and resistance, and that is currently being sold in international markets.
It is the third destination country for Colombian exports of construction products; this is due to the boom in that sector of Panama's economy.
- Daily Update
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OCONOMOWOC — Almost a year after announcing their closing, the former Ben Franklin space in the Whitman Park shopping center off of Summit Avenue remains vacant.
The popular arts and craft store closed in fall of 2020 after the owners of the store decided not to renew the lease on the space.
Oconomowoc Economic Development Director Bob Duffy said he hasn’t heard of anything concrete about businesses filling the space.
“A couple people have been looking at it, but the city hasn’t been approached by any one entity about occupying the space,” Duffy said.
The space is one of the largest in the shopping center, which also houses Books and Company, Rocky Rococo’s, Brueggers Bagels and many other shops.


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NoiseFit Core launch offer: Smartwatch now available with a massive price cut
NoiseFit Core launch offer: The smartwatch has been launched and it comes with a great offer. In fact, NoiseFit Core price has received a 50% cut.
NoiseFit Core launch: Indian tech brand Noise has launched a new smartwatch in India. Noise's newest smartwatch is called NoiseFit Core and it targets budget smartwatch users in India. In fact, NoiseFit Core price is available at almost half of the listed rate. The newly launched NoiseFit Core smartwatch comes with several interesting features including 13 sports modes, up to 30 days of battery life on standby mode and dust and water-resistant coating among others. Noise says that the NoiseFit Core smartwatch is aimed at fitness enthusiasts in India.
NoiseFit Core price and availability
The listed NoiseFit Core price is ₹5,999 in India. However, the smartwatch is available in the market at an introductory price of just ₹2,999 after getting a discount of 50%. The NoiseFit Core smartwatch is available for purchase via Noise's website in Charcoal Black and Silver Grey colour variants.
NoiseFit Core smartwatch specs and features
As far as the specifications are concerned, the NoiseFit Core smartwatch comes with a 1.28-inch TFT round display with a resolution of 240x240 pixels and it comes with a zinc alloy body. The NoiseFit Core smartwatch features a single button on the right side of the dial that can be used for navigating across its user interface. It comes with IP68 dust and water-resistant coating and customisable watch faces.
The NoiseFit Core smartwatch features 13 sports modes, 24/7 heart rate monitoring system, a calorie counter, and a sleep tracking system. In addition to these, the NoiseFit Core smartwatch comes with smart features such as caller name information, find my phone feature, remote music control, sedentary reminders, wake gestures, alarm clock, and do not disturb mode among others.
For connectivity, the NoiseFit Core smartwatch features Bluetooth version 5.0 and it can be paired with an Android smartphone to run on Android 7 or newer version of the OS or iOS 9 or newer version of the OS. Coming to the battery, the NoiseFit Core smartwatch comes with a 285mAh battery that can provide a run time of up to 7 days on regular usage or up to 30 days on standby mode. Noise says that the NoiseFit Core smartwatch can be fully charged in just 2.5 hours.
Follow HT Tech for the latest tech news and reviews , also keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is scheduled to grace the historic first edition of Ghana Cocoa Awards (GCA) scheduled for November 22, 2019, in Accra.
Nominations for the GCA opened September 20 and due to close on October 31, 2019.
“With over 30 Awards, the GCA would be honouring the true heroes behind Ghana’s economic backbone”, a statement signed by Founder and Events Director, Kojo Hayford noted.
Categories awards include Cocoa Sustainability Literacy Award that’s an Essay competition, Best Journalist for Cocoa Reporting, Best Certification Scheme of the year and Best Cocoa Financing Institution of the year.
by: Naa Anyema


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OTTAWA, CANADA--(Marketwire - Aug. 3, 2011) - Wi-LAN Inc. ("WiLAN" or the "Company") (TSX:WIN)(NASDAQ:WILN), today announced that the Company will present at the Canaccord Genuity 31st Annual Growth Conference being held at the InterContinental Hotel, Boston, MA. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 2:30 pm Eastern Time. Presenting from management will be Jim Skippen, Chairman CEO.
The presentation will be webcast live and will be archived for replay for a period of 90 days. The webcast can be accessed from the events section of the Company's website at http://www.wilan.com/company/Investors/Events/default.aspx.
WiLAN, founded in 1992, is a leading technology innovation and licensing company. WiLAN has licensed its intellectual property to over 250 companies worldwide. Inventions in our portfolio have been licensed by companies that manufacture or sell a wide range of communication and consumer electronics products including 3G cellular handsets, Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, Wi-Fi/DSL routers, xDSL infrastructure equipment, WiMAX base stations and digital television receivers. WiLAN has a large and growing portfolio of more than 1400 issued or pending patents. For more information: www.wilan.com.
All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.


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Rich and Vicki Fulop, the co-founders of Brooklinen, have a leg up when it comes to understanding who their consumers are and what they really want. Like their core consumer base, they are Millennials who can spend a little more on high-quality products.
That knowledge has helped the husband-and-wife duo build Brooklinen, a Brooklyn, New York-based startup that sells luxury bedding and other home accoutrements like candles and blankets--all for less than $200 and only purchasable online. On Thursday, the company announced it has raised $10 million in series A funding from FirstMark Capital, an investor in Airbnb. Since it's inception in 2014, Brooklinen has generated more than $30 million in sales.
The Fulops, both 31, came up with the idea for Brooklinen after trying to buy a set of sheets they liked at a hotel. The bedding cost about $800, a price way out of their budget. As they searched online for alternatives, they discovered chat forums where other folks faced the same dilemma. The couple soon realized that when it came to bedding, there were only two purchasing options: high-quality and pricey, or low-quality and cheap.
"We were 20-something Millennials who had our own apartment, and no one was making cool and chic bedsheets that were both awesome quality and affordable," says Rich, who is also CEO of Brooklinen. "We knew there were enough people out there looking for the same thing."
Rich and Vicki began building out their startup plan with a rigorous amount of research. They wanted to know exactly who their customers would be, and how to appeal to them. As it turns out, they are Millennials with a steady income who prefer to shop online. Through email campaigns and in-person surveys, the couple asked about 500 of their target consumers what they wanted in bedding and how much they would pay. The two looked into which blogs these people frequented, what magazines they read, and even what coffee shops they visited.
Once they had a physical product and price point, they rented a van and delivered sheets to editors at multiple publications. Each included a handwritten note that asked them to try the products and write an article if they were impressed. The reception was positive, the Fulops say.
Early in Brooklinen's development, the Fulops approached investors that Rich met through connections at New York University Stern School of Business. But they didn't take the idea seriously. To prove the concept, the couple decided to launch a Kickstarter in 2014, with an initial ask of $50,000. Instead, they received $236,888 in preorders.
In 2015, Brooklinen's subway ads filled a station in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a well-known hipster haven. Vicki, who had previously worked in public relations, wanted the ads to be creative and show the product in a real way. The advertisements featured people eating, snuggling, and lounging in bed.
The bedding industry may have similar companies fighting for business, but the market is large: The home textiles industry is a $22 billion market, according to Home and Textiles Today. Brooklinen isn't the only startup hawking sheets. Companies like Parachute and Casper also sell luxury bedding within the same price range. However, Parachute offers additional goods like towels and Casper also acts as a mattress company. But Brooklinen considers retailers like Bed Bath and Beyond, Bloomingdale's, and Macy's as their competition.
As business continues to grow, the Fulops make a point to stay connected to their clients. The company continues to collect feedback, suggestions, and complaints to come up with new product ideas and improve existing items.
"We bank everything they are saying and asking for and implement changes quickly," says Vicki, adding that these requests have included "long side" or "short side" tags on sheets or bigger buttons. "Everything our customers say, we really listen to. It's a community-driven brand."


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Concerns about the impact of blue light exposure on the skin are well-documented in scientific literature and are an area of consideration for consumers of cosmetics and personal beauty care products. Last year, CosmeticsDesign released an article highlighting the results of a J&J study that explored the known effects of consistent blue light exposure on the skin and emphasized the need for improved methodology for further research.
In January of this year, the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published a review of “The Impact of Blue Light and Digital Screens on the Skin,” which aggregated the results of several studies on blue light exposure. It concluded that there is strong evidence “being exposed to blue light accelerates the aging process and produces cutaneous hyperpigmentation,” which “may eventually cause more general skin damage and may hasten the aging process.”
Some cosmetics and personal beauty care companies have already formulated and released products to protect skin from blue light exposure, like Kadalys Anti-Blue Light Shield Cream or Best Face Forward’s Probiotic + Blue Light Protection Cream. However, for manufacturers and companies formulating new products to address this skin issue, there has been a consistent need for better testing methods to establish efficacy.
To better meet this consumer need, companies can now turn to Genemarkers, LLC, a Michigan-based company specializing in clinical and research testing methods for pharmaceutical and consumer product development. Earlier this year, the company announced the publication of the paper “Reproducible method for assessing the effects of blue light using in vitro human skin tissues” in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, which details the development of a new testing method for the efficacy of blue light blocking topical products.
The method has successfully been adapted into a new blue light testing service which includes “a gene expression panel containing 52 genes specifically impacted by blue light; the genes regulate biological pathways such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and skin aging”, according to their recent press release, and the service enables cosmetics and personal care product manufacturers to better determine how well their formulations both protect against and potentially repair blue light damage to the skin as a result of repeated blue light exposure.
To learn more about the technology’s development, the launch process and its potential impact on the cosmetic and personal beauty care product industries, CosmeticsDesign spoke with Rishabh Kala, Director of Research Services at Genemarkers, LLC.
Explaining the technology
The study began after years of repeated client requests for blue light testing services and researchers “discovered that there were no blue light devices that could be used in an incubator for cell/tissue-based research,” said Kala. To jumpstart the development process, Genemarkers, LCC researchers collaborated with a specialist to design a blue light box/chamber for testing.
“The blue light box was created to mimic the effects of a true environmental exposure – a total of 30J/ cm2 was exposed in a period of 5 days”, explained Kala. Using the chamber, researchers conducted “a series of experiments to optimize the length of exposure and specific biomarkers to further develop this new testing service.”
To determine their results, Kala further explained, researchers “screened approximately 300 gene expression biomarkers and found that 54 were consistently regulated in in-vitro skin tissues exposed to blue light and now our blue light testing panel consists of 54 of those genes.”
From these determinations, researchers concluded that “exposure to blue light increased the expression of genes that regulate inflammation and oxidative stress and decreased the expression of genes maintaining the skin barrier and tissue integrity, and significantly increased biomarkers associated with aging and tissue damage” as relayed in a recent press release. For manufacturers and suppliers to the cosmetics and personal beauty care industries, these results are invaluable to informing future formulation decisions.
Applications for use
The newly available testing technology is the first time a method has been developed that “mimics everyday exposure to blue light and can be used to investigate the mechanism of action of a raw material that will be used in a cosmetic finished formulation and the specific dose that is most effective,” said Kala. This fully validated method allows “formulators and raw materials suppliers to know more about the efficacy of their products and use levels and will also help them streamline their clinical studies,” Kala further explained.
Many cosmetics and personal beauty care product manufacturers and suppliers already use in vitro testing methods to streamline clinical trials, and the newly developed blue light testing technology will allow companies to isolate specific testing parameters better and “will increase their chances of reaching statical significance in the clinical trial,” Kala stated.
Testing can also serve as a measure of “cost savings and marketability, rather than actual expense. For all study designs, the cost is similar to a gene expression study with UV exposure”, and the assurance of product and/or ingredient efficacy against blue light exposure is undoubtedly worth the investment in test results.
Much more research is needed to fully understand the mode of action behind chronic blue light exposure and cellular oxidation resulting in signs of aging. Still, the advent of technological developments like Genemarkers, LLC’s blue light testing methods can afford cosmetics and personal beauty care companies the opportunity to formulate more effective products to meet consumer needs. The blue light testing method is already available, and concluded Kala, “the cosmetic industry can continue to test products to ensure they meet consumer needs against exposure to blue light.”


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New Super Smash Bros. character to be revealed on Monday
Nintendo will announce the latest character to be added to the Super Smash Bros. roster on Monday, July 14 creator Masahiro Sakurai has announced.
He posted the news on the Miiverse website.
"Instead of doing the unveiling on something like a Nintendo Direct, we're going to live-stream the reveal on the official website on Monday, July 14, at 7am PDT/10am EDT(3pm UK/4pm ECT)," he wrote.
"Looks like we're nearing the bottom of the stash of new challenger videos that we've made... Like always, we put a lot of effort into it, so I hope you'll enjoy watching it live."
Super Smash Bros. 3DS is due in October, and the Wii U is out sometime during the holidays.


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“Back in the 90s … there was a series of assumptions everybody had to accept in order even to be allowed to enter serious public debate. They were presented like a series of self-evident equations. “The market” was equivalent to capitalism. Capitalism meant exorbitant wealth at the top, but it also meant rapid technological progress and economic growth. Growth meant increased prosperity and the rise of a middle class. The rise of a prosperous middle class, in turn, would always ultimately equal stable democratic governance. A generation later, we have learned that not one of these assumptions can any longer be assumed to be correct.
… Capitalism does not contain an inherent tendency to civilise itself. Left to its own devices, it can be expected to create rates of return on investment so much higher than overall rates of economic growth that the only possible result will be to transfer more and more wealth into the hands of a hereditary elite of investors, to the comparative impoverishment of everybody else.
… The period when capitalism seemed capable of providing broad and spreading prosperity was also, precisely, the period when capitalists felt they were not the only game in town … rather than high rates of growth allowing greater wealth for capitalists to spread around, the fact that capitalists felt the need to buy off at least some portion of the working classes placed more money in ordinary people’s hands, creating increasing consumer demand that was itself largely responsible for the remarkable rates of economic growth that marked capitalism’s “golden age”.
… The 1% are not about to expropriate themselves, even if asked nicely. And they have spent the past 30 years creating a lock on media and politics to ensure no one will do so through electoral means.”
An inspiring read on the story of Fairphone. A promising glimpse into what future business may look like?
The company started life as an advocacy group, initially aiming to raise awareness among Dutch consumers and telcos about the issue of conflict minerals in mobile devices and then subsequently about the sustainability of mobile supply chains as a whole.
… In January last year, it became a social enterprise, a startup with a handful of staff and the ambition to build a fairer phone — a device that put the social aspects of mobile hardware front and centre, that opened up the mobile supply chain, and that would be funded purely by the public.
… Almost a year ago, Fairphone opened up its crowdfunding appeal … it reached 10,000. And that’s when the fear kicked in.
… Nevertheless, Fairphone found a Chinese contract manufacturer … Fairphone signed a memorandum of understanding with the factory, agreeing if Fairphone managed to raise the money, the project would go forward.
… It took van Abel a month to work up the courage to press that button and send the money onto GuoHong. Only when he did, he found that a single push was not enough … and then finding out you cannot transfer more than €250,000 in one go.
… Due to the size of Fairphone’s production batches, it had to rely on other mobile makers placing similar orders to get its own device made.
… The factory management were watching the orders rack up along with Fairphone’s execs … For them it was impossible that people had paid for something we still had to produce, and that we were were taking the risk on the one hand, and that people were taking the risk on something that wasn’t there yet on the other.
… From the the beginning, the company had wanted to make sure worker wages were reasonable … The idea of a worker’s welfare fund was hatched — a scheme whereby Fairphone would stump up an extra $2.50 per device made at the factory on top of the normal production costs, and the factory would do the same … The $5 extra raised on each device ($2.50 from Fairphone and $2.50 from the factory) is put into a fund — a separate legal entity to the factory — with the workers then able to vote on how the money should be spent.
… For most phone makers, mobile operators are the keys to the market — offering discounts on hardware when consumers sign up to long term contracts, getting their sales teams to push devices to corporate customers, and putting marketing collateral in retail shops have always been understood parts of how manufacturers sell their devices.
… Earlier in 2014, the company did a small deal with KPN — the biggest mobile operator in Fairphone’s home market of the Netherlands … It’s also in talks with Deutsche Telekom, the German mobile giant with operators across Europe, as well as UK carrier Vodafone …
… Fairphone, however, decided to stick with supplies from the country, working with the Conflict Free Tin Initiative and Solutions for Hope. It did so knowing that sourcing its tantalum and tin from the DRC could mean using mines with poor working conditions or child labour … we’re going to join initiatives that put economic perspectives into the region, otherwise people will join the militia because they don’t have any work any more … Further on down the line, it hopes to expand the the amount of conflict free and fairly traded minerals that are included in the phone …
… Fairphone hopes to eventually allow other operating systems to be ported to the phone, and has been in talks with the likes of Mozilla and Ubuntu on the subject.
So far, Fairphone has taken over €7m, shipped over 25,000 phones, and is planning a second manufacturing run in 2014 that will see it put 35,000 more devices in consumers’ hands … “
I am looking forward to seeing what Fairphone produce in 2015, especially the ability to use mobile Ubuntu … maybe 2015 will be the year I “go smartphone”
In my reading about the current battle in the war on Internet freedom taking place in the USA I came across these two articles which provided interesting and well presented information on the engineering and business aspects of this wonderous machine we all take for granted – the Internet:
I am happy to say this experience is not part of my life, but when I do venture out I see more and more of this … it isn’t new … I recall first signs of it over 10 years ago.
via Rob Hopkins
I enjoyed the short “demonstration” in the beginning of this inteview with Jane Goodall in which she shows how she would approach a dominant male:
Despite the comedic tone I felt that she brought to the surface something profound which continued to resonate throughout the short and unimportant interview. Colbert portrays a cynical individual that dominates interviews that usually succumb to humor and irony … and it was beautiful to watch her disarm him using the same feminine wisdom she introduced in the “demonstration”.


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A company has created a device that can transform car windows into digital screens and display ads to anyone outside.
Posts Categorized: Advertising and Marketing
An e-commerce platform has implemented blockchain technology to keep product and seller history on a secure digital record forever.
A mentorship platform connects startups, founders and marketers with growth marketing mentors.
A new service allows users to send their Facebook posts as promotional email newsletters.
A social media platform is collaborating with a professional soccer league to produce innovative new ways to share live matches.
A shoe brand is using a messaging app to add direct-to-customer personalisation online while also engaging with millennials and Gen Z luxury consumers.
A popular brand of chewing gum is using YouTube pre-roll ads to support emerging artists by pairing them with well-known musicians.
An AR app allows users to view videos that leap off the page of a print newspaper.
A new service hopes to allow users to take back control of their personal data usage.
Students created T-shirts and hoodies to encourage US citizens to vote in upcoming gun control legislation.
As dockless bike rental firms struggle, one has come up with a new way to potentially increase revenue.
A new makeup line tailored to men is being released by a cosmetics industry leader.
A drinks company has developed flavoured, edible straws to complement its drinks while cutting down on plastic waste.
A new connected drink glass collects data and allows customers to order drinks without going up to the bar
A real estate start-up has developed a connected ‘For Sale’ sign that attracts the attention of passersby.
An ARKit developer has enhanced the regular business card by adding AR and image tracking.
High end clothing brand uses smart tags to allow users to collect points as they wear items.
A new campaign was created to test how people interact with advertising stunts and rewards participants for being observant.
A new wearable display is flexible, shows full colour and claims to be the world’s thinnest.
A new beer label combines NFC, AR and facial recognition technology to create a unique customer experience in connected products.
A German airline is offering passengers the chance to eat the same meals as those served to astronauts to enhance the customer experience on long-haul flights.
New television advertising from British broadcaster uses artificial intelligence to place products alongside TV scenes that are relevant to their brand.


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When I visit every popular local market in Salt Lake City, I become more aware that virtually all of the vendors are white men.
The urban flea market in July was more diverse than many markets I’ve visited, but it still seemed to consist mainly of white people. As a community program, flea markets need to be more accessible to vendors who are marginalized, especially women of color. We must create space for these groups and support them in local markets.
Flea Market History
Immigrants introduced flea markets to the United States for opportunities that were otherwise unavailable to them. Decades later, flea markets became popular among the middle and upper classes. However, he used these for entertainment purposes rather than out of financial necessity. The media praised these markets, while law enforcement targeted and shut down flea markets that served immigrants. This has continued in recent years with immigration and customs enforcement threatening to raid flea markets.
Sellers should understand the history of flea markets. They must protect the core purpose of flea markets, supporting the community and what others try to push out.
At the Urban Flea Market, some vendors sold clothing at high prices, while other vendors’ items were cheap. Thrift gentrification is the practice of buying goods at thrift stores and then reselling them at higher prices. This makes the items less accessible to buyers and increases competition among sellers, making the point of a flea market disappear altogether.
Demographics in Local Markets
Some vendors are working to make products accessible to the community. I spoke with 11-year-old Roma, who started a slime business called Little House Slimes in November with her mom, Lulu. Lulu stresses the importance of increasing access to products sold in local markets, starting with their own markets. She explained that slime is a multi-sensory toy that has mental health benefits for anxiety and ADHD.
“My ultimate dream is to be successful enough that we can donate slime, that we can make slime more accessible, that we can be in markets that serve a wider community, not just the East Side. To make sure everyone gets mud, not just those who can afford it,” she said.
We also need to make it more accessible to be a seller. Roma noticed that markets like the Salt Lake Downtown Farmers Market are predominantly white.
“I see more and more ethnic vendors coming out, which I think is great because I think we need more diversity,” Roma said. “We are Latina. We are feeling very proud. because you don’t really see a lot of people who are ethnic [minorities] starting a business.”
I also talked to Tavia Milburn, an African American salesperson who has a small business making and selling items like mugs and car accessories. Milburn said she can count on one or two hands the number of other African American salespeople she’s worked with. According to Milburn, one of the biggest barriers to vending is cost.
“Luckily I usually get my money back and make a profit,” she said. “But for some, it’s hard to see because the base fee itself can be around $200, and then you have to promote it, you have to get your inventory.”
Since starting a small business is expensive, it is more accessible to upper class individuals. These people already have more privileges and are often white. Because flea markets were created by and for marginalized groups, we should work to make them more accessible to these groups. We can start by promoting and supporting their work.
what should the market be like
Sellers are “the building blocks of any community,” Lulu said. We should focus on the community aspect of local markets, supporting each other instead of being competitive and focused on making high profits.
Milburn said she would like to see more marketing to different demographics.
“Coming from an African American background, none of my family members, the older generation, had really heard of bazaars,” she said. “So now I’ve opened that door for my family and other generations of my family.”
There are some flea markets specifically for people of color, women, and gay people. Roma mentored the Strength in Shades Market, a Utah marketplace that supports small businesses owned by women and people of color. Salt Lake Mutual Aid also has similar community resources.
All markets in Utah should take note of these organizations, especially the Downtown Farmers Market and the Urban Flea Market. They should focus their efforts on inclusivity and creating space for diverse vendors to find success and build relationships. Those who benefit from local markets should support and promote small businesses owned by women and people of color.


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Ford Australia has issued a recall for 2787 examples of the MY19 Focus small car over concerns of a wiring fault that could lead to the engine stalling.
According to the Blue Oval, “the transmission stud may chafe on the engine wiring loom, the engine warning light may also illuminate”.
“Damage to the wiring loom may lead to reduced engine power and engine stall. This can increase the risk of injury and death of vehicle occupants and other road users in an accident,” Ford Australia adds in its recall notice.
- 2787 vehicles affected by this recall
- Vehicles available for sale between 28 September 2018 and 22 May 2019
- VIN list attached here
- Original recall notice attached here
Owners of the affected Focus vehicles will be contacted by Ford Australia, and requested to arrange the inspection and repair of their vehicle with their preferred dealer.
Find your nearest Ford dealer via the online look-up tool, or call 1800 503 672 for more information.


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Pizza Hut had to face the ire of netizens after it launched an offer for a free pizza to anyone named 'Abhinandan' on March 4.
The Twitterati did not like the food brand’s initiative and trolled its move, calling it a misplaced and insensitive marketing opportunity.
Several other brands who tried such tactics in recent times also had to face criticism from consumers. Homegrown brand Burger Singh had launched a discount offer the day Balakot strikes were conducted by the Indian Air Force.
Experts told BestMediaInfo.com that piggy-backing on events that are sacred for the country was completely wrong marketing and brands tend to lose more than gain in terms of brand reputation.
Pizza Hut would like to take this moment to thank the Bravehearts of the nation. In honour of Abhinandan, we would like to give away a free pizza to anyone with the same name as this legend!— Pizza Hut India (@PizzaHutIN) 3 March 2019
Valid only on 4th of March, Monday, 2019. T&C apply (https://t.co/9DmidHuGDa) pic.twitter.com/888CiRhbzI
This is terrible .. sheer opportunism .. instead how about donating to help martyrs ‘ families ..— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) 4 March 2019
Since you guys are so keen to cash in on domestic Indian issues can we now expect you to give us discounts to make up for the tariffs that President Trump has imposed on India?— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) 5 March 2019
If you are going to be a shameless US multinational exploiting the Indian market, then go all the way! https://t.co/TBZIQ1EPEM
Karthik Srinivasan, Independent Brand Consultant, found the marketing activity in ‘poor taste’ and a tactic to ride on something popular. “It looks like they simply wanted to ride on Abhinandan's name since everyone's searching or reading about it now. The offer is a free personal pan pizza, which makes it a rather cheap tribute. The intent that comes out is simply that Pizza Hut wanted to tag itself to the name just because it is popular now. Instead, if they had offered those free pizzas to people with the names of the martyred CRPF jawans or IAF pilots, people would have looked at that idea as a way to make the names of those martyrs more popular and memorable.”
Harish Bijoor, Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults, agreed, “This is totally incorrect marketing practice. The marketer looks nifty and has acted on a topical event, but this topical event is a sacred event for the country. Piggy-backing on such an event is totally wrong.”
On the other hand, the brand must have intended to celebrate Abhinandan’s return to India and hence offered free pizza to someone with his name as one of the topicals that Pizza Hut does often. The idea would have been to utilise the opportunity to connect and come closer to the consumers but it never thought it would backfire.
Although, there were a few people who came in support of the brand.
Very good gesture. Much appreciated. Don't bother about the criticism. You have lots of support.— Soumyadipta (@Soumyadipta) 5 March 2019
Nowadays, everybody with a smartphone consider themselves as social police. Social media has given a free platform for anyone and everyone to act as influencers and make opinions on various matters that have the potential to harm people, brands and seed negativity in the society and vice versa.
So brands should be careful while picking up topics to comment on and associate with as the social media police is always on the alert to attack or protect.
Kiran Khalap, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Chlorophyll Brand and Communications Consultancy, said, “It is best for brands to avoid sensitive subjects like religion, caste and politics. Sports, entertainment and history are relatively safe subjects to comment on.”
It’s alright for brands to latch on to topics, but they should be very careful while drafting the communication and look at the intent that the piece is projecting to the consumers. “Particularly when such themes have negative connotations or can easily be misconstrued,” added Srinivasan.
Also, the context of the topic or the event should somehow relate to the brand’s ideology and positioning, pointed out Shivaji Dasgupta, Founder, Inexgro Brand Advisory. He said, “The context should be in line with the brand business.”
Recently, when the Indian Army attacked the Jaish terror camps in Pakistan in answer to the Pulwama attack, Bajaj Allianz rejoiced and ran an electronic banner outside its office, calling out ‘How is the josh and Jai Hind’.
The Bajaj Allianz electronic banner video:
Going further back in time, in 2016, when India did a surgical strike in Pakistan, brands like Burger Singh, Smaaash, Mobikwik offered discounts to the consumers to celebrate the move. But they were also not spared by the social media police and had to face the aftermath of riding on a sensitive national issue.


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Since 2015, when it inaugurated the OnStar system in Brazil and, with that, opened the doors to the connected car segment, Chevrolet has become a reference in the matter. After 7 years, the company issued a statement to celebrate the brand's recent figures in the market.
The 5 Most Technological Compact Hatches in Brazil
Discover 5 technologies that connect your cell phone to the car
According to the automaker, the service grew above 30% in the comparison between 2021 and the previous year. The number is 10 times higher than the growth of the car and light commercial vehicle market in the same period.
Chevrolet reported that it has 265,000 customers using active connected cars, that is, they have services such as vehicular Wi-Fi, OnStar and the myChevrolet app.
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“Connected services grow exponentially because the driver has already qualified how much they add in terms of convenience, practicality and, above all, tranquility. So much so that one of the greatest benefits brought by the technology is greater safety for passengers”, commented Jaime Gil, chief executive of GM's connected services area in South America.
Chevrolet: Connected cars are safer
The secret of success can be summed up in one word, according to the brand: safety. For the manufacturer, this is the key point in the rise in searches for vehicles with these technologies.
Chevrolet recalled that Bluetooth itself was born to bring more security. "After all, it allows the driver to answer phone calls through the vehicle's audio system without taking their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road."
The second level came with the arrival of Android Auto and Apple Carplay , both systems that make it possible to project applications from the user's smartphone directly onto the vehicle's screen.
The OnStar service also features other features that have helped to preserve the safety of users of Chevrolet connected cars, with a call center and monitoring in case of accidents, scheduling of reviews, WhatsApp alerts with diagnostics about battery conditions and others. items and much more.
It is worth remembering that the brand ended 2021 betting even higher on connected cars and, therefore, extended services, which were exclusive to high-end models, to the entire line, from the most complete Camaro to the simplest version of Onix. The next step, according to the executive in charge, will be the implementation of native streaming services.
Read the article on Invasion News .
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Sony announced today during its Gamescom press event that 10 million PlayStation 4 units have been sold through to consumers worldwide since the console launched last November. This marks another huge milestone for the new generation console as Sony continues to stay well ahead of the competition from both Microsoft and Nintendo.
The last official sales figures from Sony had the PlayStation 4 at 7 million units sold back in April, while Microsoft revealed they had moved 5 million Xbox One units at around the same time. There haven’t been any official figures since then, but Microsoft has seen plenty of progress since the Kinect was removed from the standard Xbox One package.
Sony and Microsoft will both be bringing new bundles to the market this fall to entice customers who didn’t pick up the consoles last November, and if you’ve been waiting for new color options, both the white PS4 and white Xbox One will debut in the coming months.


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New iPad parts cost more than its predecessors
Hot on the heels of iFixit's wonderful tear down of the new iPad is a component analysis from the Wall Street Journal. According to their calculations, parts for the new iPad with 4G total US$309. That's about $30 more than the iPad 2 which costs $276.27 and the original iPad 3G which totals $270.86.
This extra cost is likely due to the retina display and the 4G LTE chipset, both of which are unique to the new iPad. Which leads us to the question - was Apple wise to up the cost of components and cut its margin in order to give consumers a tablet with a faster wireless internet connection and a gorgeous display?
Hot on the heels of iFixit's wonderful tear down of the new iPad is a component analysis from the Wall Street Journal. According to...
Deals of the Daymore deals
Software Updatesmore updates
- Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 Update 14.3.4
- Pixelmator 2.2 available with over 100 new features and improvements
- DabKick for iPhone lets you share photos, watch videos and now listen to music in real-time
- Google Now added to search app on iPhone, iPad
- GateGuru for iPhone has been updated and greatly improved
- Twitter updates its OS X client


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As JPMorgan has enjoyed success with its Sapphire Reserve card that launched three years ago, the banking giant is also dealing with a strained relationship with one of its airline partners.
In addition to the Sapphire Reserve, JPMorgan offers several United Airlines cards. However, the Sapphire Reserve delivers more points for travel and dining, allowing users to redeem them for a variety of rewards — including United flights, making the United card redundant for many customers.
“There wasn’t anything the United card was doing for me that the Chase Sapphire Reserve couldn’t,” said Al Sanzari, a card user who carried both cards before canceling the United one in March, according to The Wall Street Journal.
As a result, sources revealed that United executives expressed their belief to JPMorgan that the Sapphire Reserve card is competing directly with the airline’s cards, and impacting customer spending. Though the deal between the companies is set for another six years, United President Scott Kirby said executives have had conversations about the JPMorgan partnership, and want to get more money from it by asking the bank to pay more for miles, among other things, according to anonymous sources.
JPMorgan, however, said the cards aren’t direct competitors, adding that the airline should be doing more on its part to boost traveler loyalty.
“This is a solid, long-standing relationship, and we’re working together to find new ways to grow our partnership for years to come,” the companies said in a joint statement.
JPMorgan and United have been partners since 1987, with the bank currently issuing five cards for the airline. Yet, when JPMorgan launched Sapphire Reserve in 2016, applications for the United cards slowed, and United executives were unhappy. Sapphire Reserve points are worth 50 percent more when used to book travel, which is especially beneficial to customers not loyal to one airline.


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Digigram has a nice surprise for NAB Show attendees in the market for direct digital MPX to the transmitter. The company has announced such an option for select members of the Iqoya IP codec line.
A software addition for the Iqoya *Link and Iqoya *Link/LE IP codecs make it possible for digital AES192 composite MPX signals to be sent straight to transmitters.
At the show Digigram will also announce the Iqoya *VIP audio over IP software engine for “high-performance” encoding, transcoding and streaming with Windows and Linux applications. The company says, “Refined and optimized over five years and more than 3,000 installations for leading broadcast and telecom operations, the easy-to-integrate Iqoya *VIP engine from Digigram features native high-performance MPEG-TS and ACIP AoIP streaming formats; top-of-the-range MPEG, AAC, OPUS, and apt-X encoding/decoding; and accurate PTP clock synchronization.”
NAB Show Booth: N8414


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The Trump administration has been a huge advocate for tariffs. Recently, the administration increased them on Chinese imports. The administration has also removed India from special trade status. This means Indian imports will be subject to billions of dollars in tariffs. The president further threatened to levy tariffs against Mexico if the government does not do more to stop the influx of migrants crossing into the U.S. illegally. But China and Mexico are the #1 and #3 importers to the U.S., respectively. Trump, with his trade war, will raise prices for the average consumer.
According to the Washington Post, Chinese internet users now refer to President Trump as Marvel villain Thanos. President Trump has been negotiating a new trade deal that would attempt to reduce the US’s trade deficit with China. Similar to Thanos snapping his fingers, Trump threatened to increase tariffs to 25% on Chinese goods causing a sharp decline in the Chinese stock market on Monday. Continue reading “Thanos Trump Threatens China ahead of Trade Talks”
Nickolas Roberson | United States
A newly published report by the Tax Foundation on the 5th of December has found that the Trump administration’s recently imposed tariffs on aluminum, steel, solar panels, and a plethora of other industrial goods from China will increase taxation on Americans by $42 billion.
A tariff, as defined by the said report, is “a type of excise tax that is levied on goods produced abroad at the time of import.” Their intent is to “increase consumption of goods manufactured at home by increasing the price of foreign-produced goods.” This pricing of foreign goods is artificially increased, as the government is taxing its citizens for purchasing and consuming products. Things affected are foods, such as bananas or rice, personal goods, such as televisions or furniture, or commercial goods that could be tractors, cars, airplanes, etc. Why? The governments of our world state that their intentions are to protect their domestic industries from the competition and “vices” of foreign businesses and companies. In reality, tariffs are further methods for big brother to increase his control over us, regulating our methods of voluntary exchange, what goods we trade, and by taking away our money in the form of extended taxation.
Regarding the Trump administration’s tariffs specifically, there will be a 25 percent tariff on imported steel ($7.3 billion tax increase), a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum ($1.7 billion tax increase), 25 percent tariff on imported goods from China that have a total value of $50 billion ($12.5 billion tax increase), and a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion worth of other imports from China ($20 billion tax increase). Thus, as reported by the Tax Foundation, the overall tax increase will be near $42 billion on American citizens. Additionally, the administration threatened to implement another $129 billion worth of tariffs on more Chinese products and merchandise.
When analyzing the economic impacts of the President’s current protectionist tariffs, the Tax Foundation found that they would “reduce long-run GDP by 0.12 percent ($30.4 billion) and wages by 0.08 percent and eliminate 94,300 full-time equivalent jobs.” If the proposed tariffs are implemented as well, “long-run GDP would fall by 0.38 percent ($94.4 billion) and wages by 0.24 percent, and 292,600 full-time equivalent jobs would be eliminated.” It should be reiterated that tariffs are artificially increased prices of imported products and services by the government to discourage consumers from purchasing them. It is truly a form of taxation. No Chinese business or manufacturer is paying this tax, as the Trump administration continues to attempt to debate and establish.
Now, what are the origins of tariffs? For centuries, European nations practiced a trading system dubbed mercantilism, which attempted to prevent goods and services from leaving a home country, preventing trade value from leaving the said country. Incredibly high tariffs and other trade barriers were put into place, leading to high costs for manufactured goods and multiple trade wars throughout the world. However, in 1776, an economist named Adam Smith published his work titled Wealth of Nations.
This magnum opus regarding economics questioned the systems of mercantilism and proposed the idea of free trade: an economic theory that promoted competition between businesses and individuals across a global scale, voluntary trade without regulations such as tariffs, and no discrimination against imports or exports. As this new idea spread across the globe, nations and its citizens experienced a rapid flow of commerce, development of economies, and increases in productivity and innovation. The practice of the aforementioned theory was so successful. Organizations such as the World Trade Organization, NAFTA, and the European Union were developed to continue to promote its benefits to the human race.
Unfortunately, President Donald Trump and his administration seem to be ignoring this history of free trade and its plethora of benefits. With their tariffs, both current and proposed, competition will be stifled in the economy of the United States, resulting in higher prices for goods and services; jobs will be lost, GDP will fall, and the overall economy could possibly become a bear market. The next question that must be asked: will these tariffs counteract the benefits of Trump’s deregulation plan, with it increasing the economic freedom and reducing the regulatory costs of the nation? Furthermore, when will this expansion of government end? When will big brother stop raping and pillaging people for their capital and assets to pay off its own enormous debt? Only time will be able to answer this question, but one thing is obvious to the naked eye: the future of the United States of America is a foggy and obscure one.
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By Daniel Szewc | Poland
One simply cannot deny the modern geopolitical warfare going on between China and the USA. On the surface, China is ahead, winning influence over land in Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Of course, America, the world power of our era, cannot be earning much, since they already dominate so much of the globe. But how can the USA maintain its power?
China and the Line of Defense
Firstly, the “line of defense against China’s rise”. This is exactly what the USA used against the Soviet Union. Instead of an open conflict, they want a geopolitical version of Reagan’s military buildup. This caused the Soviets, who wanted to out-compete America, to go bankrupt and ultimately collapse.
Using this method, Trump wants to tie China’s hands and give better deals than the Asian nation. China proposed building a new silk road? Trump gave Central Europe the support for the Intermarium. China proposed being the arbitrator of Israel-Palestine talks? Trump acknowledged Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. China wants a good deal with Duterte? The Trump administration has been trying to schedule Duterte’s visit to the White House since May 2017. He even recently had the U.S. Ambassador to Manila say that America has a “strong interest” in pursuing Duterte’s visit. North Korea is China’s closest ally in East Asia? Trump manages to secure peace talks with Kim Jong Un, and pushes for reunification, just to move the Chinese sphere of influence back to its border.
Another great resource that the USA can use against China is the rise of India. Since they are so close, their spheres of strategic interest collide, especially in Asia. The division of influence between America and India would be much more useful for America than one with China. This is simply because India does not have as much of a global outreach as China does.
China is also already trying to grip on India by allying with their biggest regional rival: Pakistan. To weaken its neighbor, India would likely seek the help of the USA. They could also try to outmaneuver the Western superpower, but this would be immensely difficult and irrational, considering that the two countries have no major fight right now.
The Key Role of Russia
A great advantage that America has in the fight for control of Central Europe is its historic rivalry with Russia. This plays in stark contrast to China’s alliance with Russia in the New Silk Road initiative. For most of Europe, Russia still holds the negative stigma of Soviet imperialism. Alas, America does not even have to prove its might. It simply has to prove itself better than Russia, which is not difficult to do, in their eyes.
Ironically, America’s chance is in its established brand, whereas China may have a more uphill battle towards continued success. Will Uncle Sam fulfill his potential? Only time will tell.
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By Kaycee Ikeonu | Canada
In a 1978 talk, the great economist, Milton Friedman, famously stated that tariffs protect consumers from one thing: “it protects the consumer against low prices!” Friedman, of course, could not have been more right, but his words are ignored with today’s trade wars and tariffs.
Such words of wisdom are essential today amid harsh criticism of free trade from the Trump administration. Some of these critiques include that the United States is losing jobs overseas to countries like Mexico, that the United States has large deficits compared to her trade partners, and most significantly, the need to protect steel and aluminium industries in the United States from going out of business.
An in-depth economic rebuttal of all of these proposals exists. Yet, it is not fully necessary, as the basic rules of economics outline the clear benefits of free trade. Adam Smith, in his famous book, The Wealth of Nations, declares it perfectly. It is in people of any nation’s interest to buy whatever they want from whomever sells it the cheapest.
This is a concept that could not be easier to grasp. When people buy products at lower prices, they then have more money to spend on other goods in the economy.
Now, let’s take a case that is about to happen: The U.S. imposes a tariff on Chinese imports, and now China threatens to put a tariff of $60B on U.S. goods. So, who benefits? The American economy? The American and Chinese consumers now pay a tax on goods. Without the taxes and subsidies on both sides, both countries would strengthen their economies. But instead, they are resorting to subsidizing the hurt regions after hurting them in the first place.
Thus, very few people benefit from this policy. Perhaps, exceptions exist in a few big manufacturers and the ego of the President of the United States.
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Opinion | Trump Economy Soars; Tariffs May Impede
The May job reports were revealed earlier this week, revealing that the unemployment rate under President Trump has now reached a nearly 50-year low. Trump took the opportunity to credit his administration for facilitating such economic success, which he knows is the most popular attribute of his administration. Certainly, Trump deserves credit for the tax cuts which had begun to take effect earlier this year, as well as the rigorous efforts to cut unnecessary regulations on business. However, there are those who are skeptical of the notion that the current economy will remain vibrant.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, suggests that the future of the Trump economy could experience turbulence. “There are a lot of fissures out there, and some of them are starting to blow”, Zandi said regarding the impending downturn. He continued “volcanoes can blow when you least expect.” Although most available information suggests that America will likely remain safe for the remainder of 2018, several reports were written in 2017 that say the next two or three years will create fertile soil for an abounding recession that can alter Trump’s re-election chances. Aside from the forecasts, The stock market has been characteristically unstable but gaining after the pleasant surprise from recent job reports.
Should Trump be Afraid?
Although his performance on the economy has been undoubtedly successful, the new state of global economic affairs ought to startle those who want Trump to maintain his good grade on the economy. Days ago, the Trump Administration announced tariffs on steel and aluminum, affecting both Canada and the EU. Trudeau called the tariffs “insulting and unacceptable”, while the European Union warns Trump that the new tariffs are a “dangerous game”. In fact, besides global opinion against Trump, the domestic opinion also falters at the idea of such impediments to trade. A survey conducted during Trump’s first year in office found that 72 percent of Americans thought free trade was good for the U.S. economy, 78 percent thought it benefited consumers like themselves, and 57 percent thought it helped create jobs in the United States. On this front, the American people are correct. Free trade is the capitalist gift to consumers who wish to buy products at lower prices. Effectively, the Trump tariffs could potentially undo the economic gains that were generated by the GOP tax cuts.
Lastly, these tariffs are a dark reminder of the Great Depression, especially leading up to the stock market crash in 1929. Senator Ben Sasse, a fervent Trump critic, reminded us that blanket protectionism is a “big part” of why America had a Great Depression. The Great Depression had already begun six months before the United States passed the Smoot-Hawley tariffs that helped exacerbate the Depression. President Trump must stay away from these tariffs at all costs going into the future.
Trump has largely been on the right economic track, and given the continued prosperity of his Presidency, Republicans will have an easier time keeping as many seats as possible during the midterm elections.
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- Products & Services
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SANTA CRUZ, CA, September 16, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Smith & Vandiver Corporation - a Watsonville natural bath, body and skincare company - has produced a special run of 1,000 16oz pump bottles of hand cleanser and is donating 100% of the sales of this limited edition item to Jacob's Heart Children's Support Services.
The company's goal is to raise $16,000 for Jacob's Heart, a non-profit organization whose tireless efforts go to improving the quality of life for children and teenagers with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Jacob's Heart serves families in Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and south Santa Clara counties. The limited-edition 16oz Pump Bottle of hand cleanser will raise awareness and money for services that make battling cancer in the midst pandemic for families of sick children less stressful and lonely.
Smith & Vandiver is actively urging the community to join hands in lending support to Jacob's Heart children by purchasing one or more of the limited run bottles on their website: www.svnaturally.com
"Families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. At Jacob's Heart, our number one priority is keeping medically fragile children and their families housed, fed, emotionally supported, and safely transported to treatment," says Lori Butterworth, Founder and Executive Director of Jacob's Heart.
"Giving back is what we should all do," says Jeff Slaboden, President and CEO of Smith & Vandiver Corp.
For more information on Jacob's Heart mission please visit their website
Smith & Vandiver, a purpose-driven family enterprise founded 40 years ago, strives to deliver thoughtful skin products by combining the best of science and nature.
To learn more about Smith & Vandiver's visit www.svnaturally.com
For further media information please contact Fani Nicheva or Jeff Slaboden
Ph: (831) 722-9526 | Email: email@example.com | firstname.lastname@example.org
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Mobile search is now approaching 60 percent of all queries and a substantial percentage of those queries carry local intent. It’s critical now for all search marketers — indeed all marketers that sell offline — to have a location strategy.
Even pure e-commerce companies can benefit from a location-data-based audience-targeting strategy. However, that’s a separate discussion.
Share of online searches initiated on a mobile device, by industry
The Local Search Advantage workshop takes place this Monday, September 26 ahead of SMX East. It will tackle the full range of local SEO and mobile search issues with tips and content that won’t be part of the main SMX conference.
The sessions will be lead by expert local search practitioners: Adam Dorfman, Dan Liebson, Conrad Saam, Andrew Shotland, Chris Silver Smith, Matt Siltala, Purna Virji and me, your host, Greg Sterling.
SMX East has great sessions and content but the main conference doesn’t allow the kind of deep dive and informal Q&A that this workshop provides. There’s still time to register. Looking forward to seeing you there.
The post Local Search Advantage: SEO, Linkbuilding, Voice Search, Mobile Wallets & More appeared first on Search Engine Land.


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All the signs are there…
By LVEDC Staff on June 11, 2013
The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. has launched its most aggressive billboard campaign ever with 19 digital screens and vinyls that are blanketing Lehigh Valley with a series of “Wow!” messages that show why the Valley is a top-flight business destination.
The bulk of the campaign that will run through December is being handled by billboard behemoth Adams Outdoor Advertising, but ads will also appear in other venues, including Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
“We want to show how cool it is to live here, work here and prosper here,” said John McGran, LVEDC’s vice president of marketing. “There’s a lot of great things happening locally – and a lot involves the economy, our workforce and the businesses that call this place home.”
McGran noted that the first five messages were crafted in-house for the campaign launch. But there are as many as 10 more in the works.
“We want to keep this fresh, so not only will the billboard locations change, but so will the ‘Wow!’ facts they express,” said McGran.
The first five facts:
Whose $30 billion economy is larger than 104 nations?
What region has more college grads than Stanford, Harvard & Notre Dame combined?
What region was awarded more patents than 11 states?
Who puts the pinstripes on the Yankees?
Who brews more Samuel Adams beer than Boston?
The answer to each question: Lehigh Valley!
McGran says LVEDC wanted to put the spotlight on Lehigh Valley – and not on LVEDC.
“Our job here is to market the Lehigh Valley – and this is one way we plan to to do that!” he said.
While five of the 19 signs are located along heavily traveled Route 22, you will encounter the rest throughout the Lehigh Valley.
The goal is simple: By the end of the campaign there won’t be a single person in the Valley who has not seen the signs.
“And it will be icing on the cake if the signs grab the attention of a business prospect or two,” said McGran.
Specialty Logistics Company to Expand Operations; Add 258 New Jobs in the Lehigh Valley
Gov. Corbett announced today (6/4) that Yourway Transport, Inc. (Yourway), a specialty transportation and logistics company, will expand its BioPharma services and create 258 [...]Continue to Next Page


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Heavy Metals Cause Organ Failure: Is Your Vape Safe? New case report on heavy metals testing in vape carts after extended use Heavy metals are systemic toxicants that are known to cause multiple organ damage, even at low exposure levels. Additionally, they are classified as human carcinogens according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Research has shown that heavy metals exposure to humans can cause vomiting, liver failure, kidney injury, cancer formation and even death. It remains imperative for all cannabis products, including aerosol vaporing devices, to be screened for heavy metals to promote transparency and safety to the consumer. A new, groundbreaking case report was completed after successfully lab testing iSpire LVL 280 disposable vaporizers for heavy metals.
The report was inspired by a recently published study titled, “Strategies for Nonpolar Aerosol Collection and Heavy Metals Analysis of Inhaled Cannabis Products”, which demonstrated trace amounts of metals detected within the distillate oil from different vape devices/brands, after simulated use. A total of nine vape devices were distributed to nine participants who took 50, two-three second puffs, over 7 days.
The devices were recovered and delivered to Excelbis Labs in Santa Ana, CA to undergo heavy metal testing. The contents in the vape cartridge was full-spectrum Hemp/CBD oil and was previously screened for heavy metals. By screening the distillate oil prior to the experiment ensured a clean, unadulterated product from the start. Testing the oil after normal consumer use of the vape device, provided the best means to accurately measure the device itself, and whether it would contribute to heavy metal contamination.
After successfully testing each individual vape device, results showed that the heavy metals detection were well below the action limits set by the DCC. Essentially, each iSpire LVL 280 passed heavy metal testing and demonstrated a quality product that safeguards consumer health. Excelbis Labs chose to volunteer its testing services for the case report to help manufacturers add more transparency to their product line and demonstrate safety to the consumer. Keven Brahmbhatt, President of Excelbis Labs, stated, “At times, health crises can be exaggerated and cast a generalized narrative that isn’t manufacturer specific. If a single manufacturer engages in questionable business practices, it could pose a threat to the entire vaping community.” Brahmbhatt added, “Brands and manufacturers should be proactive in addressing concerns to avoid undue criticism.”
More vape device manufacturers should consider testing their products for contaminants before and after consumer use. Remaining proactive will help manufacturers advance the industry and identify any manufacturing flaws or components that may contribute to heavy metals, and other contaminants, from leaking into cannabis and Hemp CBD distillate oils.
Due to the CDC’s e-cigarette, or vaping product, use-associated lung injury (EVALI) crisis in 2019, vape device manufacturers need to test their products to avoid another health crisis and remain more transparent to consumers and the industry.
The need for testing what we ingest, is equally important to any safety protocol. Testing coffee for example.
This is interesting but, I would like to know how the testing was conducted on a disposable vape after 50 puffs were taken. Normally in a cannabis lab it take several of these pens to even accumulate enough sample mass to perform a single test. Second at 2 to 3 seconds per a puff that's barely enough time for the element to heat up. Which is the main factor of concern, since it's this heating element that normally degrades and causes leeching and contamination. So a longer puff of 5 seconds would be a better minimum. Also who the hell is excelbis? Is this another new startup California testing lab, are they ISO accredited? Lastly this test would be best performed using aerosol collection and testing the captured vapor that is extracted after heating. Then performing accelerated shelf life testing and then testing. So this along with testing the contents before entering the device as they did, and testing the devices contents at the end of each procedure. I applaud them for even doing any testing. This is something the industry needs more of.
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