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A new study out of the United States has found that couples today are putting off having kids in favour of a new house, a new car or even just a new mobile phone. Yes, it seems that their desire to keep up with the latest fads and trends is causing a decline in reproduction.
To prove the case, Paul Hooper at Emory Health Sciences in Atlanta, came up with a mathematical model demonstrating how reproduction goes down as the cost of maintaining status goes up, proving that although the news in unsurprising, the argument is plausible from a biological point of view.
“Our model shows that as competition becomes more focused on social climbing, as opposed to just putting food on the table, people invest more in material goods and achieving social status, and that affects how many children they have,” Hooper told the Detroit News.
He says that social inequality in most countries makes status competition more intense.
Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important. – T.S.Eliot
— Famous-Quote.net (@famousquotenet) March 31, 2016
Other factors the report cited as being responsible for fertility decline in the modern world included lower child mortality rates, more access to birth control and the choice to delay childbirth to get a higher education.
Hooper tested the theory during his time living with a family in the Amazonian rainforest. He says that during that time he found that while the family lived within the confines of the rainforest they were only consumed by their need to provide for their family, so food, shelter and clothing.
But when members of the family moved closer to the towns the increased contact with consumer goods also increased the importance of social status.
“When they start getting earnings for the first time, they spend money on things you wouldn’t really expect, like an expensive wristwatch or a nylon backpack for a child attending school, instead of sending them with a traditional woven bag,” he said.
The model was also related to modern society where Hooper said today’s couples are over-investing in social standing.


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India’s largest mobile carrier by subscriber base, on Monday reduced rates of fourth-generation 4G services by 30 per cent, to bring these down below the 3G rates. Last year, operators had reduced 3G rates by 70-80 per cent.
With the price cut, a 10GB pack would cost just Rs 999 a month in 4G, while Airtel charges Rs 1,500 a month in 3G. While the new price for a 3GB data pack in 4G is Rs 650, Airtel charges Rs 675 for 3.1GB data pack in 3G. But a 2GB data pack would cost Rs 450 a month on 4G, Bharti Airtel said. A similar 2GB data pack costs Rs 450 a month in 3G.
The development comes within a week after the top three mobile service providers — Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and — reduced 2G data prices by 80-90 per cent in select service areas, aiming to get fresh data cust


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Downtown residents and workers now have quicker access for buying fruits or vegetables, as Downtown Grocery officially opened its doors Monday morning. The store, on the corner of Third and Florida streets, will offer a variety of convenience items, but also will feature eggs, bread, milk and fresh produce.
Mayor-President Kip Holden said young people are playing a huge part in developing new businesses in Baton Rouge. “We have a grocery store downtown,” Holden said. “Isn’t it ironic that young people made this a reality.” Michael Matroodnejad, 30, Mutaz Abusada, 25, and Michael Stewart, 31, owners of the grocery store said it was exciting to finally open.
“It was a no-brainer,” Abusada said when asked about locating in downtown. He said older generations have been skeptical of locating businesses in downtown Baton Rouge but Abusada, who also has ownership in Aztecas on Lafayette Street, sees a lot of growth potential in the downtown area.
Sunanna Chand, community outreach coordinator for the mayor’s office, said Downtown Grocery is filling a void for people who live and frequent downtown.
“This is such a blessing,” Councilwoman Tara Wicker, who represents District 10, which includes the downtown area. Wicker said she is excited that people in downtown now have somewhere to shop for fruit.
Downtown Grocery did not qualify for any tax exemptions before it opened, but Matroodnejad said ownership plans to follow up with the city to see what incentives the store can apply for.
The store will open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.


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Its amazing what can happen when four avid homebrewers stumble across a commercial brewing system. About a year ago Glenn Valgardson, David Freeman, Brent Babyak and Josh Morrison, who are all longtime homebrewers and stalwarts of Regina’s Ale and Lagers Enthusiasts of Saskatchewan (ALES) – one of the country’s biggest and most successful homebrew clubs – were offered an opportunity to take over the derelict brewing system in the basement of O’Hanlon’s Pub.
O’Hanlon’s is a longtime, popular downtown Regina pub that has long offered Saskatchewan beer as part of its diverse beer line-up. About a decade ago they made a short-lived attempt to become a brewpub. They installed a 7-barrel brewhouse in the basement of the pub and tried to make beer. Unfortunately it was a day early and a dollar short. “They found out it was difficult to operate a brewery in the Regina market, especially if you didn’t use real brewers,” says Freeman. O’Hanlon’s cut their losses and shuttered the brewery. It has sat dormant for years.
But the four partners jumped at the opportunity to revitalize it, even if it was not the ideal space. You see, it is located in the basement of O’Hanlon’s, basically in “a storage room of the parkade garage underneath the pub,” notes Valgardson. They spent the last year renovating and upgrading the space and equipment to make it suitable for a production brewery – including an insane amount of cleaning and sanitizing the derelict equipment. Still, it remains an unusual system. “It is Saskatchewan’s only electric-fired brewhouse. We also have three dish-bottom fermenters,” says Freeman. Dish-bottom fermenters have a flatter bottom than conicals, which can change a number of factors in the brewing process.
They have called their burgeoning operation Pile O’ Bones Brewing. They have had beer on the market since mid-December and they are slowly ramping up production. At the moment they are keg-only, given their space constraints, but do have some bigger plans for the future.
Their vision for the beer sticks close to their homebrewing roots. “We aim to create classically styled craft beer that is executed well,” says Babyak. “We are about malt and hops. Not saying we won’t use experimental adjuncts, but that is not what we are about. We are not worried about throwing a bunch of spices in. We want to produce traditional beer. None of us are afraid to do things the hard way.”
They are also trying to carve their own niche in Regina’s beer scene. “We looked at the market and tried to see where the holes are” says Freeman. They don’t see local operations like Bushwakker and Rebellion as competitors, and so want to find a way to co-exist alongside them.
As for the beer themselves, for now they have landed on four beer to focus on, with seasonals coming in the future. Their core line-up includes: a Red IPA, “hoppy but not too light or too dark”; a White IPA, “we wanted something that the occasional beer drinker would like as well as craft drinkers”; a Chocolate Stout, “a darker beer but we didn’t want it to be too roasty or have too much coffee”; and their most recent, a Pale Ale, which is “something approachable for the average beer drinker”.
They have also just released their first attempt at a Blonde Ale. They are not sure if it will join the others as a regular offering and are waiting on customer reaction to decide.
As mentioned, the plan is once the core beer are established (and they buy more fermenters), they will release various seasonals and one-offs. The immediate plan is to offer keg only, but in the longer term they hope to upgrade to a packaging line of some sort. One of their hopes is to have the space to age some unique beer that they can sell in bottles as a special offering.
In addition to being homebrewers, the four bring other valuable skills to operating a brewery. Valgardson is a certified mechanic, Morrison is a lawyer, Freeman is involved in communications and market research, and Babyak is in IT. Not a bad combination of skills for opening a brewery. For the moment they are all keeping their day jobs, plus some of them have young families. “We are being weekend and night-time warriors,” says Valgardson.
As for the name, most locals understand the reference. It is connected to the original name for Regina. It was a good hunting ground for Indigenous hunters. They developed the practice of leaving piles of buffalo bones behind with the thought that the remaining buffalo would come back to visit the bones. As a result, original European settlers called the area Pile of Bones. The name Regina came after when they formally incorporated the town.
“We picked the name because we wanted to pay homage to the history of Regina and the place we come from,” says Freeman. “We wanted to make sure when a customer saw the logo and the name they knew we were from Regina and not some random craft brewery. We want them to know it was beer made right here in Regina.”
The group is a bit vague on their long term plans – they are focused right now on just getting up and running, but they envision an operation that supports them all full-time and produces beer that can be sold across the province. Whether that is in their current space or they open a new brewery elsewhere is still an open question.
But for now Regina beer drinkers can pile on in their support for Pile O’ Bones Brewing.
[edited Mar 1/17 to fix a couple minor details.]


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Sometimes the sweetest way forward is with a big change. Frozen Greek yogurt brand Yasso announced that it will relocate its headquarters to Boulder, Colorado, led by new CEO Craig Shiesley, a 25-year CPG industry veteran.
Paleo-focused Hu Master Holdings, owner of Hu Kitchen and Products, announced today that Sir Kensington’s co-founder and former CEO Mark Ramadan has joined the snack brand as CEO. Ramadan assumes the role from former PepsiCo executive Rita Hudetz who departed the company earlier this month. Co-founders Jason Karp and Jordan Brown told NOSH Ramadan brings a skill set that will help the brand scale to its next phase of growth.
Over the past week several emerging brands announced the appointments of experienced CPG executives to their leadership teams. Tosi Health, 8Greens and The Modern Pod brought on talent from CLIF Bar, Kraft Heinz and Whole Foods Market, respectively, to help their businesses scale.
Farmhouse Culture has gone back to basics in order to grow. Over the past eight months new CEO Scott Lerner has revamped the fermented food business — including a new look, new headquarters, and a shift away from in-house production — in an attempt to move beyond its natural channel roots. “We’ve totally retooled the business,” Lerner told NOSH.
It’s a changing of the guard — or at least of the former beverage CEOs. Snack brand Beanfields announced today that Mark Rampolla has left his role as CEO of the company and former Califia executive Arnulfo Ventura has stepped into the role.
Caveman Foods, a producer of paleo-inspired snacks, announced today that former Starbucks Coffee executive Jeff Hansberry has joined the company as president and CEO.
Executing a series of strategic moves, grass-fed beef brand Teton Waters Ranch this month signalled it is ready to expand. The sausage brand announced yesterday that it had brought on CPG veteran Mike Murray as its new CEO and, earlier this month, rolled out a new rebrand and package “reconfiguration.”
Now under new — albeit temporary — leadership, a plant-based dairy leader is launching a new product set. Almond-based cheese and yogurt brand Kite Hill announced this week the launch of three new products to expand the brand’s presence in the dairy set.
Longtime bottling and sales executive Chuck Muth announced his retirement from Coke in 2016, but apparently he couldn’t retire from Seth Goldman, his former boss at Honest Tea. The visionary environmental entrepreneur and the execution-focused beverage guy are reuniting, this time around Beyond Meat, the plant-based protein brand where Goldman serves as executive chairman.
Now armed with cash and plans for growth, plant-based nutrition bar company D’s Naturals is taking the next step in its “no cow revolution” with the hiring of health and wellness veteran Chris Hickey as CEO.


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Capitol Hill’s Garage keeps evolving with new chef, open patio
- Glenn Drosendahl
- Contributing Writer- Puget Sound Business Journal
A key to business survival in a rapidly changing neighborhood is keeping up with the changes. Exhibit A is Garage, now in its 18th year on Seattle's Capitol Hill.
It started out as a pool hall. Then it nearly doubled in size and added bowling lanes. It expanded again in 2008. And now it’s opened up its front to street viewing and gone back to something it tried at the beginning, but the Hill wasn’t ready for at that time.
Garage’s restaurant, known for diner-style food that never changed, now has a skilled executive chef and a seasonal menu worthy of a first-rate gastropub.
The chef is Garrett Michael Brown, formerly of Branzino and Verve Wine Bar. He came on board in late April. His menu quietly debuted June 11. Food sales since then are up 25 percent, owner Alex Rosenast said.
“We were a little anxious about it. People were used to seeing the same food. Suddenly there’s no Mike’s Mom’s Meatloaf. But they’ve adapted to it,” Rosenast said. “Finding Garrett is opening a book on something. It’s re-energized everyone at Garage.”
Coinciding with the new food is a remodel of Garage’s 2,300-square-foot patio that runs along Broadway. The old patio was just a concrete pad with plastic furniture added when the weather turned nice. The new patio’s middle part is 85 percent enclosed and has heating and a bar. One of the outer sections has a covered fire pit; the other has umbrella-covered tables.
Rosenast figures he has just increased his patio season from 2 1/2 months a year to eight.
The street-front remodel is symbolic of how the neighborhood has changed since Garage opened in 1996. The patio originally was hunkered behind a concrete barrier. That barrier now has openings that allow for street viewing.
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Microsoft: Users May Have To Prove Legal Windows Use
Last fall, the Redmond, Wash. software giant extended its year-old Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) anti-piracy online program that notifies Windows customers if they are using counterfeit or illegal copies of Windows.
A pilot of the notification service – called Genuine Software Initiative (GSI) -- was initially launched in November in Norway and Sweden and then later in five additional countries.
This week, Microsoft expanded the WGA notifications pilot to a "random subset" of English speaking customers in the U.S., U.K., Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.
Microsoft said the notification service for Windows Genuine Advantage in pilot is voluntary but acknowledged that it may become mandatory later this year.
"The WGA Notifications pilot is opt-in, so all participants are given a choice about whether or not they wish to participate. Users can choose to suppress the notification," according to a statement issued by Microsoft to CRN Thursday. " While the pilot is presently opt-in, as it expands later in the year, AU and WU customers may be required to participate."
Launched in July 2005 WGA is an online validation tool that enables customers to determine whether they have a genuine, legal copy of Windows on their PCs. This week, that program was expanded to include Office, called Office Genuine Advantage (OGA).
The notification service is currently in pilot testing for Windows Genuine Advantage, Microsoft said.
As part of the notification service, customers who opt-in to the pilot and are found to be running non-genuine versions of Windows will get a message during log-on that they are running non genuine Windows and will be directed to the WGA web site for details or a recommendation, Microsoft said.
Microsoft said if the customer chooses not to obtain a legal copy of Windows at that time, they "will receive reminders" until they are running genuine Windows,
Microsoft on Thursday said it filed lawsuits against eDirectSoftware of Montana and two Chicago-area resellers -- Nathan Ballog and Easy Computers-- for allegedly distributing illegal copies of Windows.
In the case against Nathan Ballog, for example, Microsoft said it received electronic evidence of alleged wrongdoing via its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) online program.
Last September, Microsoft filed eight lawsuits against computer companies in Arizona, New York, Minnesota, California and Illinois.
In one of the cases, against MicroCity4less.com, of Torrance, Calif, Microsoft relied in part on evidence submitted by consumers through the WGA program.
The notification service is currently in pilot testing for Windows only. While privacy advocates may take issue with making it mandatory to get updates, many resellers and system builders – whose business is undermined by unscrupulous resellers who load illegal copies of Windows on PCs, Microsoft says – have endorsed WGA.
At least one Microsoft solution provider and system builder, however, said the notification service may go too far if it harasses customers.
"Microsoft already has a major issue with customer respect and trust. Often times an end user isn't aware of the main components of their system, let alone their authenticity," said Mike Healey, CEO of TenCorp, Needham, Mass. which was recently acquired by Greenpages. "I'm not defending real crooks, but notifications to an end user are simply too confusing. Let's hope the notification gives them an 800 number with a tech support person that will help them resolve their question - rather than leave the customer frustrated."
Microsoft is attacking the piracy problem on both technical and legal fronts.
In the cases filed Thursday against eDirect Software, of Billings, Montana, and Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, in the District of Montana, Microsoft alleges violations of copyright and trademark law, the Digital Millenium Copyright Act and Anti-Counterfeiting Amendments Act.
Microsoft claims that eDirect Software – "a well known Internet company in the channel" has repeatedly distributed counterfeit software, tampered with software and provided illegal product keys with unlicensed software not authorized for resale.
In the other two cases, Microsoft alleged counterfeit and hard disk loading violations against the two Chicago area resellers based on complaints called into its anti-piracy hotline and Microsoft's own test purchase program to net violators.
One observer said Microsoft has rolled out the WGA program slowly to ensure it could handle the number of validations and flag false positives and claims it benefits resellers as well as customers.
'Microsoft has offered incentives to people who have been defrauded to get a genuine copy [of Windows]," said Michael Cherry, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft, a newsletter in Kirkland, Wash.
"There are definite risks to customers running non-genuine Windows, if files were altered or substituted to get around activation or to otherwise create the pirated version, then the customer is at risk for damaged data or security vulnerabilities," Cherry added. "I don't think Microsoft has to supply security patches to customers who cannot validate that their copy is genuine."


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Habanero, a developer of casino slots and other gaming solutions, will be entering the regulated Italian market thanks to their recent deal with Microgame. Microgame is one of the leading companies in the country's iGaming market, catering to more than 30 online operators and 80 licensed brands.
Landmark Deal for Habanero
According to Arcangelo Lonoce, Habanero's Head of Business Development in Europe, this is one of the most significant deals for the company to date. Microgame has a great presence in Italy and will represent an excellent partner for the developer.
According to Lonoce, although the company has always been certain of the quality of their products, the deal with Microgame is a clear sign this quality is recognized by the important stakeholders in the industry. Microgame isn't just one of the leading casino solutions' providers in the country but also one of the best content aggregators whose platform will now expand to include leading Habanero titles like Knockout Football and Ways of Fortune as well as more recent releases like Presto! and London Hunter.
More Quality Content for Italian Players
On the Microgame side of things, this deal will enable them to provide their partners operating in Italy with more top-quality games to offer to their players. The company's General Manager Marco Castaldo didn't try to hide his enthusiasm in the press release accompanying the announcement of the deal.
Castaldo emphasizes that Habanero has many entertaining titles in their portfolio, many of which come equipped with innovative and engaging features and mathematical models. These things combined should make them appealing to the Italian player-base and Microgame is convinced Habanero titles will achieve the same level of success in the country that they've been enjoying in other markets where the developer has already been present for a while.


text: Want your kid to eat more fruits and veggies? Join the club — literally. In May of 2011, the Oregon City Farmers Market launched the Power of Produce Club to encourage youngsters' interests in farm-grown foods. POP Clubs have since cropped up across the U.S. and Canada, including this year at the Winooski and South Burlington farmers markets. Kids ages 5 to 12 can register for a Passport to Health and receive market tokens to purchase produce or plant starts. Each return trip to the market earns them a passport stamp and more tokens. Both markets also offer food-focused kids activities each week, from seed planting to cider pressing. Says the Winooski Farmers Market's Tana McCoy, "It's a great way to show kids where their food is coming from."


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After almost 40 years of providing the town with home-baked produce, Market Rasen Country Market is no more.
But all is not lost, as some of the traders will still be setting out their stalls in the Salvation Army Centre on a regular basis.
“The customers won’t notice any difference really,” said Pam Litchfield, who sells plants at the market.
“It is the Country Market entity that is going, but some of us will continue trading.”
Starting in February, they will be renting tables from the Salvation Army to continue the Friday sessions for produce and craft, as well as fulfilling orders as before.
The refreshments bar will also continue, but will be run by the ‘Sally’ team.
Mrs Litchfield explained there were a number of reasons for the market closure.
“Footfall has certainly dropped off since the closure of the banks,” she said.
“People go to Louth to bank, so stay there to do their shopping - you can’t blame them.
“To run the formal Country Market we need a committee structure and that is a big commitment
“Some of us have been doing it for a long time and want to retire and there is nobody else willing to take it on.”
The first of the new look sessions is on February 3.


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In some disappointing news for Reliance Jio customers, TRAI has forced the company to withdraw its Summer Surprise offer. According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, or TRAI, the Jio Summer Surprise offer is in violation of some terms of the regulatory body. Subsequently, Reliance Jio was sent a legal notice in this regard and the company has accepted it.
This withdrawal will affect Reliance Jio customers soon. According to the original terms of the offer, customers had time until April 15th to apply for Jio Prime basic subscription and an applicable Summer Surprise plan. That time limit now changes. Reliance Jio has already revealed that the company is going to withdraw the Summer Surprise offer completely as soon as operationally feasible.
Regulator advises Jio to withdraw 3 month complimentary offer. pic.twitter.com/Hva86XN66b
— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) April 6, 2017
While we do not want to speculate, this means it will be most probably done by today midnight. Ergo, you have less than two hours to subscribe to Jio Prime and Jio Summer Surprise offers if you haven’t already.
Those customers who have already subscribed to Jio Summer Surprise offer will get all the benefits as promised.
To recap, here is what the Jio Summer Surprise offer gives you:
All plans greater than and including Rs. 303 will continue your benefits for a total of 4 months – for the price of one month, you get a total service of three months.
The eligible Reliance Jio Summer Surprise plans include:
If you haven’t subscribed already, do so before 11:59 PM tonight to get all the Reliance Jio Summer Surprise benefits.


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Unilever has switched its Carte D’Or ice cream brand in the UK to paper-based packaging from Huhtamaki. With this, the company aims to save more than 900 tonnes of new plastic every year in the UK. Whether the paper container is really more sustainable than the previously used plastic packaging remains an open question and has caused discussion on social media.
The paper for the new packaging produced by Huhtamaki comes from sustainably managed forests and is PEFC certified (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). According to the manufacturer, both the cup and the lid can be recycled with normal household paper. But even this paper solution cannot do without a proportion of plastic. An inner coating is supposed to ensure that the taste and quality of the product are not affected after conversion and that the packaging also remains stable and durable. While the thin coating should not affect recyclability, an additional plastic seal on the lid is currently not recyclable, the company says. However, a team of experts is already working on the conversion to a fully recyclable solution.
Paper packaging has been gaining ground in the food sector for several years now. While experts from industry, politics and science are critical of the trend towards substituting pure plastic packaging with paper composites, consumers are happy to buy products packaged in paper. Last year, a study by the Gesellschaft f├╝r Verpackungsmarktforschung (GVM) (Society for Packaging Market Research) investigated how the switch from plastic packaging to paper composites affects the circular economy. The material mix of paper and plastic is often advertised as “less plastic”, suggesting to the consumer that it is particularly environmentally friendly. According to the GVM study, however, the increasing share of material-mix packaging often causes problems when it comes to recycling, despite the high fibre content of usually over 70 per cent. It is particularly regrettable when plastic packaging that can be recycled well is replaced.
Criticism of replacing recyclable packaging
In a reaction to the report in packaging journal, the packaging consultancy, FuturePackLab, a network of researchers, brand experts, designers, material and packaging technicians and lawyers, writes that the role model function of a company like Unilever is problematic in this respect. A report like the one from Carte D’Or suggests that such a change is the way to achieve more sustainable packaging. Start-ups, in particular, often rely on the big players and also make paper their preferred packaging solution.
The Carte D’Or report has provoked further critical reactions. One follower on LinkedIn writes that a recyclable PP packaging was replaced by a paper composite packaging for marketing reasons. Another says that 93 per cent less plastic sounds great at first, but it means: paper/plastic composite with seven per cent plastic. What matters most is which streams are used to collect such packaging. Because whether it is collected in the blue or yellow bin determines the next recycling step. Another reader says: “The only thing that helps here is consistent education. Unfortunately, it will probably be difficult to reach as many consumers with appropriate campaigns as Unilever did with their misleading Less Plastic declaration.”
A longer comment comes from Tilisco packaging expert, Sonja B├Ąhr: “The attentive reader may have missed the fact that this packaging is used in the UK. Since 1 April, a plastic tax of 200 GBP has been levied in the UK on plastic packaging that does not contain at least 30 per cent recycled material and is either manufactured in the UK or imported into the country. With this solution, Unilever saves itself the plastic tax, as the company cannot prove a 30 per cent recycled content with the polypropylene box. Saving plastic is Unilever’s stated goal, so they can tick that box. “As far as the recyclability of paper-based composites is concerned, the better the plastic layer can be detached from the cardboard in the pulp, the better the pure fibre yield.ÔÇŁ Says Sonja B├Ąhr. “With about seven percent plastic content, this is at least a smarter solution in terms of good recycling than all the functional papers or barrier papers that are currently being used to replace plastic bags for Smarties and Ritter Sport, for example. Here, a large part of the polymers goes with the fibre into the recyclate during recycling and has a quality-reducing effect.”
The demand for plastic-free packaging solutions continues unabated despite all the criticism. Manufacturers are responding: Huhtamaki recently announced the conversion of its German Alf site from plastics to Smooth Moulded Fibre (SMF) products. The automated production facility is expected to produce up to 3.5 billion fibre products annually and would be the first large-scale production facility of its kind in Europe.
More packaging news
In the Middle East, consumersÔÇÖ purchasing decisions are increasingly changing, especially when it comes to beverages. The demand for bottled water is increasing, and water accounts for a third of all soft drink sales in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today. Water suppliers have to confront the rising demand and increase their capacities. Mai Dubai also faced this challenge, and turned to packaging solution provider Sidel for support in mastering it.
Beverage cartons consist of valuable raw materials that can be recycled. A plant near Cologne, Germany, has already proven that beverage carton recycling is technically possible as of last year. Now, two beverage carton manufacturers are assessing its feasibility in the Benelux countries together.
The world of packaging is undergoing a radical change. The looming consequences of the climate crisis are a reason to rethink the materials and substances used in packaging and to examine tried and tested packaging materials with an eye towards the circular economy. One measure that more and more companies are taking is to switch to mono-materials. However, this can also be challenging.
For medication, clear product identification is a fundamental requirement. Folding boxes, cartons and pallets generally meet this requirement, but primary packaging such as blister packs does not. Two companies have launched a solution that comprises a whole range of technologies for printing, inspecting and packaging serialised blister packs and for their aggregation in boxes.


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Actor Matt Damon tells CNBC he hopes to reprise the Jason Bourne character in a fifth installment of the popular movie franchise.» Read More
The Writers Guild and the producers association sat down Monday morning for their first negotiations in three weeks. Those negotiations are continuing right now--all a very good sign that a deal is in the works. I've been talking to sources on both sides and the consensus (for today at least) is that the strike is expected to be over before the end of 2007.
Striking TV and movie writers kept up the pressure on studios by picketing and intensifying an Internet campaign that uses the very medium at issue in the contentious negotiations.
Black Friday is a big day for DVD and player sales but some people may be confused. If you buy "Ratatouille" in high def, you've gotta have a Blu-ray player. If the new high def "Transformers" is your thing, that Blu-ray player on your PS3 is totally useless, you need an HD DVD player.
Steven Spielberg has very fond feelings for his home of 30 years at Universal Studios. So much so, that he never moved offices. Even though his DreamWorks studio is owned by Viacom, he never made the move over to the Paramount lot. Now the fact that he kept his studio at Universal may prove convenient.
Third quarter advertising numbers are in and the good news is that online newspaper advertising grew 21 percent to $773 million according to the Newspaper Association of America. The bad news is that even that growth couldn't overwhelm the downward trend in the industry, overall ad revenue dropped 7.4% in the quarter.
There's hope in sight! The Writers Guild and the Producers association, the AMPTP, is planning to resume formal negotiations on November 26. That's the Monday after Thanksgiving, so maybe everyone will be so stuffed with Tryptophan (a chemical in turkey that makes you sleepy and happy) that they'll be in good moods to strike a deal.
DreamWorks principals David Geffen and Steven Spielberg have been negotiating to move their studio to NBC Universal from Paramount Pictures, the New York Times reported Saturday.
With the worst Hollywood labor crisis in 20 years headed for its third week, striking screenwriters and major studios have agreed to renew contract talks, offering the first glimmer of hope their deadlock can be broken.
The reviews for the new blockbuster-in-the-making Beowulf, released today, have been pretty good these last few days, but when it comes to the ground-breaking technology used to make the film, the reaction has been nothing short of overwhelming.
Facebook introduced a new ad platform last week, and since then dissent in the media has been slowly growing. After all the buzz about the hot Internet 2.0 company, it remains to be seen if Facebook will fall flat when it actually comes to delivering promised ad revenue.
The entertainment divisions of every media company will suffer from the writers' strike. But media giant Sony is rather well positioned because it's so diversified. I chatted about the strike with Sony CEO Howard Stringer last week and he said if there's a void of new content on TV
It's not funny business in Hollywood. A guerrilla labor action is happening today on location in Pacific Palisades, west of Los Angeles, where Eddie Murphy is filming a movie called "Nowhere Land." A source tells me producers got the Teamsters to line up trucks in a "circle the wagons" move to keep picketing writers from getting onto the set.
A video made by the Writers Guild is circulating the web. As of now it's been seen 111,000 times on Youtube. It dramatically argues that the studios are cashing in on digital distribution and the writers aren't getting a penny. It starts with Disney CEO Bob Iger saying that Disney has about $1.5 billion in digital revenues.
I've spent quite a bit of time reporting on the strike, and being posted in front of the picket lines is perhaps the most surreal environment to be reporting from. I'll admit, I watch a fair amount of TV and it was kinda weird to be jammed in the middle of a sweaty crowd of all the actors from all my favorite shows.
So I'm in Canada. Vancouver, to be exact. Cold. Brrrrr. Canada is like the quiet brother you love but ignore. Then one day he comes home with a brand new Porsche and a red hot girlfriend. Maybe you should have been paying attention.
We're in the second week of the writers' strike and there's no sign of any negotiations on the horizon. I've been polling writers, actors, and producers I know and they're all already fed up. But that doesn't mean that there's any resolution in sight.
If you've been following the Writers' Strike gripping Hollywood--and how can you not since it might be the single biggest entertainment business story of the year--or even if you're somebody who just watches TV, sickened that a strike will cut short your favorite shows like "Grey's Anatomy" or "24", you're not alone.
Jerry Seinfeld's "BeeMovie" had plenty of sting left during its second weekend, replacing "American Gangster" as the No. 1 choice for North American moviegoers.
Ok, this is not funny. I don't watch that much TV, but every January I watch "24," and every Thursday night I watch "The Office." That is, I record them, I don't actually watch them live. This way I can skip through the ads, which, I guess, is part of the problem with making money in television these days.
I just reported on Disney earnings, and once again it's double digit earnings growth for the mouse house. Disney beat analyst expectations, reporting 42 cents a share, excluding a tax benefit. It was across-the-board growth: strong performance in the media networks--operating income in the division up 23 percent--driven by ESPN and the Disney Channel, especially overseas.
'Frozen' toy, Snow Glow Elsa, has the task of reviving Jakks Pacific, which has reported losses for the last two years.
"The Lion King" earns $6.2 billion and is now the most successful work in any media of all time.
The Suitsy connects the shirt to the pants to the jacket—a professional onesie fit to wear to work.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska— A television reporter quit her job on live TV with a big four-letter flourish after revealing she owns a medical marijuana business and intends to press for legalization of recreational pot in Alaska. After reporting on the Alaska Cannabis Club on Sunday night's broadcast, KTVA's Charlo Greene identified herself as the business's owner.
Sept 22- Sony Corp said PlayStation TV set-top box, which allows users to access movies and TV episodes from the PlayStation store, will hit stores in the United States and Canada on Oct. 14. Sony is trying to expand its entertainment network services to compete against players like Amazon.com Inc..
CNBC's Julia Boorstin MGM has acquired a 55 percent stake in two Mark Burnett firms.


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2011 Volkswagen Polo R WRC. Volkswagen officially enter a team in the World Rally Championship the season 2013. The announcement was made in Italy, where journalists have had the opportunity to take a look for the first time at the car Volkswagen will launch the competition, the 2011 Volkswagen Polo R WRC as a prototype. Still in development, the supermini prepared rally will be powered by a turbocharged, direct injection 1.6-liter TSI turbo engine and will use a four-wheel drive system.
2 Photos Gallery of: 2011 Volkswagen Polo R WRC Prototype Review
The new Volkswagen Polo R WRC comes with four-cylinder engine producing about 300 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque (258 lb.-ft.) and will be equipped with an air port 33-millimeter high speed, according to the rules. The 2011 Volkswagen Polo R WRC will be mated to a sequential gearbox.
The dry weight of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC will be 1,200 kilograms (2.645 lbs). The factory team will be managed by the Volkswagen Motorsport, division race that has won the last three Dakar. Work on the vehicle design concept for the Volkswagen Polo R WRC began in February, while preparation of the first chassis is planned for later this year. The team will begin a comprehensive testing program in 2012 and the Polo R WRC learn from this year as the VW group cars selected Skoda rally into the end of the season.


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Ever have a recipe everyone wanted to get their hands on? Now local restaurant Fruitive wants it.
But it has to be entirely organic and vegan and include certain seasonal ingredients.
For the second year, local restaurant owner Gregg Rozeboom is launching a recipe competition to raise money for charity.
The winning recipes are sold on Fruitive's menus in four locations in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Washington, D.C., in November. Half of the proceeds from a winning recipe in Hampton Roads will go to the Virginia Beach SPCA. Half from a winning recipe in Washington, D.C., will go to City Dogs Rescue.
At least three of these ingredients need to be in the dish: apples, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, squash, turnips, pumpkin, and cranberries. Any other ingredients must be vegan and contain no refined sugars, preservatives or additives.
Around 50 recipes were entered in last year's competition, which drew more than 400 votes. The winning recipe was a coconut curry soup, which raised around $1,500 for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.
Submissions are due Oct. 26. Fruitive employees will create a video of the top three recipes being cooked and post them on Facebook. The public vote starts Oct. 27 and the winner is announced two days later.
Besides bragging rights, the winners each receive a $1,000 Fruitive gift card. Recipes can be submitted at www.fruitive.com.
Briana Adhikusuma, 757-222-5349, firstname.lastname@example.org


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Small Business Security
@ltpate3, great question!
Small business security is becoming increasingly important, as hackers have been placing greater emphasis on targeting small businesses in recent years. Every breach that occurs doesn’t make the front page of the news, but that doesn’t mean that breaches aren’t happening every day to businesses of every size.
Data published in Symantec’s 2016 Internet Security Threat Report indicates there has been a dramatic rise in small businesses being the target of phishing scams. In 2015, small businesses made up 43% of phishing attack targets. Compare that to 2011 when small businesses were only 18% of phishing targets. A sharp increase in just 4 years time!
But these statistics don’t answer the question of why a hacker would choose to target smaller firms over larger ones. Does it make sense for a hacker to “waste” time going after a small business when they could steal greater amounts of money and data from larger firms? The answer: Yes!
Hackers looking to profit off businesses can be seen as businessmen themselves; Hackers need to make strategic choices on how they will spend their time and money to get the best return on their investment. Many small businesses take minimal security precautions, making their data and money the lowest hanging fruit. If a hacker is looking to target firms, going after the businesses with no security make for quick and easy targets. At the end of the day, stealing 100,000 credit card numbers from 1 large firm is as valuable as stealing 1000 credit card numbers from 100 smaller firms. If smaller firms are doing little to protect their data, then hackers have to invest less of their time and resources into stealing information from them.
Long story short, small businesses are targets for hacking, and the statistics exist to prove it. Every business should take security seriously and do what they can to keep from being the lowest hanging fruit.
If you are a business looking for low-cost improvements to your security, follow @soteriasecurity on Twitter for easy-to-implement tips curated by our expert security consultants. It’s a simple and free way to start getting your small business security on the right track!


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Fashion retailers are facing an uphill struggle to attract new, loyal customers to their online stores - according to a poll commissioned by Apptus and carried out by YouGov. AI may be the key.
The online research, which questioned 1676 people who buy fashion items online, found that:
- 62 per cent have a core group of favourite online retail stores that they tend to buy fashion items from - a figure that rises to 68 per cent for women.
- Younger shoppers are more likely to stick to a narrow selection of sites - 78 per cent of 18-24 year olds, and 70 per cent of 25-34s
- Just three sites make it into picky shoppers’ core selection of fashion sites - 63 per cent of those favouring a few sites have three or fewer in their core group
- Consumers who play favourites, typically only stray from their core sites around once a quarter - 46 per cent do so only once every two to six months.
Quick buck or long term growth?
The findings also suggest that fashion retailers seeking to grow online must move away from pure price competition and instead implement longer term strategies based on building loyalty - by delivering relevant and tailored experiences.
When asked how fashion sites could break into their select favourites, consumers said:
- Offer value for money - 66 per cent
- Make it easy to find products they are looking for - 48 per cent
- Have a website that is tailored to their tastes - 22 per cent
- Offer relevant recommendations - 12 per cent
- By contrast, just 4 per cent pointed to providing ‘lifestyle content’ as a means of grabbing their attention and building loyalty.
- 76 per cent say their core favourites are at least fairly relevant - compared with 45 per cent for other fashion sites
- Sites outside consumers’ core group are more than three and half times less likely to be very relevant (7 per cent versus 26 per cent)
- What’s more they are more than twice as likely to display products that are not relevant (43 per cent compared with 18 per cent for favourite sites).
“But delivering that kind of custom experience for each visitor is going to require a new approach to online merchandising - it simply cannot be done manually, which is why forward-thinking brands like very.co.uk are already adopting artificial intelligence driven approaches.”


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LONDON: Renowned celebrity chef, Cyrus Todiwala best known for appearing on The Incredible Spice Men and BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen, has announced he will be opening his fifth restaurant alongside Café Spice Namasté and Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen, in his first move outside of London. In late August, Todiwala will be launching Tandem, a celebration of authentic Indian cuisine and cocktail mixology located in a picturesque and decorative Grade II listed building in the heart of Leicester city.
The restaurant and bar will offer accessible luxury, with the memorable interior taking inspiration from both Portuguese and Goan influences. The heavily anticipated restaurant will seat 150 diners, but the structure and striking interior will allow for an intimate experience with five distinct spaces, including an exclusive chef’s table for executive dining and a stunning rooftop terrace.
Having teased the launch on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen, Todiwala said: “I have always wanted to expand my restaurants outside of London with Tandem having been in the pipeline for a long time and I’m thrilled to bring the vision to life in Leicester. The foodie scene in Leicester is taking flight and we’re excited to launch Tandem in such an exciting and vibrant city.”
Tandem will remain true to Todiwala’s Indian routes and beliefs with the menu carefully crafted using traditional Indian cooking techniques and ethically and sustainably sourced British produce, ensuring each dish is fresh and beautifully presented. The unique menu blends traditional flavours that span the Indian subcontinent with ethically sourced, primarily British produce.
“Tandem is an exciting concept which offers something different to my other restaurants but takes inspiration from what we know our customers love. It was important to me to fully showcase the beauty of Indian cuisine by using traditional cooking techniques and influences from my personal experience.”
Iain Mitchell, UK Commercial Director at Hammerson, said: “The fact that an award-winning chef like Cyrus Todiwala has chosen Highcross for his first site outside of London is a real vote of confidence both in Highcross, and in Leicester as a city. Leicester already has a thriving food and drink scene, and Tandem is going to be a great addition to that. Tandem is exactly the sort of innovative, immersive offer that we are looking for across our portfolio, as we know our customers are looking for unique experiences.”
Cyrus Todiwala was born and brought up in Bombay. He was first inspired to become a chef by his mother’s unforgettable cooking which has led to now over 42 years working with food. From India to Australia and the UK and running four restaurants in London, Cyrus has achieved many things including, transforming Café Spice Namaste restaurant into a renowned culinary institution.
Today, Cyrus is known for his refined, elegantly spiced and sophisticated cooking. He has cooked for royalty, presidents and international celebrities and is often invited to be a regular guest chef on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen and the Radio 4 Food Programme.
Ever the keen environmentalist and a champion of sustainability, Cyrus chooses to cook with organic and sustainable products wherever possible and firmly believes in ‘buying British’. Furthermore, Cyrus has a deep passion for education and training, often devoting his time to training fresh talent and influencing tomorrow’s chefs.
Cyrus works hard for charity and the future of the culinary arts, and has been awarded both an MBE and an OBE. Above all else, Cyrus is a family man at heart with his two sons and his devoted wife, Pervin strongly by his side throughout his entire career. No matter who he has cooked for, according to Cyrus, his wife and sons are still, and will always be, the most difficult to please!


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The Duchess of Sussex turned heads as she stepped out in London last night.
The 37-year-old wore a smart tuxedo dress as she greeted guests before a charity performance of hit musical Hamilton.
As always, onlookers were a big fan of Meghan’s style.
But while many complimented her on her modern look, some wondered if her outfit broke royal protocol.
So can you see why the get-up was so controversial?
Meghan and Harry looked chic in tailored black garments as they watched the West End show.
While the former Suits actress opted for a button-down mini dress, her husband played it safe in a matching suit.
As pictures of the smitten couple emerged, many Brits complimented them on their outfits.
One Twitter user said: “Meghan Markle is so stunning I can’t get over it.”
Another agreed: “They both look so wonderful. Meghan is absolutely stunning.”
Even though social media users gushed over the pair, the Duchess’ outfit may raise eyebrows because the royal didn’t wear tights.
Following Harry and Meghan’s engagement, royal expert Victoria Arbiter revealed why going bare legged could be seen as a fashion faux pas.
She told INSIDER: "You never see a royal without their nude stockings.
“Meghan, from what I can see from the engagement photographs, it doesn't look like she was wearing tights or stockings.
“I would say that's really the only hard, steadfast rule in terms of what the Queen requires."
Previously, it seemed that Meghan had adopted the unofficial fashion rule.
In May, onlookers noticed she had begun wearing tights under her dresses.
Even though she wore a sophisticated midi dress, she made sure to keep her calves covered.
This decision sparked debate online, with many commenting that the Duchess’ style has evolved.
One responder tweeted: “Meghan Markle is wearing tights. She’s officially a Royal.”
Another agreed: “Her look has changed since the wedding, this is a very conservative look.”
Earlier this month, Prince Harry sparked a frenzy after stepping out in broken shoes.
He wasn’t alone, as Meghan Markle caused a stir by flashing her lacy bra.
Thankfully, many felt more endeared to the happy couple knowing that they are both capable of making style blunders.


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General Electric Co.’s energy unit, GE Energy, plans to increase its’ growth in India through some domestic alliances and localizing production in key businesses such as wind power.
“We can do partnerships, we can do licensing, we can do this in many areas, and we are looking at all these different possibilities,” Kishore Jayaraman, GE Energy’s president and chief executive for the India region, told Dow Jones Newswires recently. GE Energy’s efforts to accelerate growth are in line with the recent statement of Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of the U.S.-based General Electric, that he was frustrated with GE’s growth in India and the group had missed opportunities here.
Mr. Jayaraman added that GE Energy is looking for tie-ups in the power transmission and distribution sector and for its optimization control products, which help maximize the economic performance of systems. “We are also looking for partners for the industrial products that we have,” he added.
Mr. Jayaraman said GE Energy’s goal in 2009 was to ensure execution of projects, position products in the market and create a platform for growth. “The next step in the whole equation is to make sure the products I sell in this country are applicable to this country.” He said wind turbine generators, gas turbines and power transmission and distribution will be GE Energy’s main focus initially in India. The company is aiming at a market share of 20% to 25% for these products in three to five years.
He also said order intake for the company’s existing products is “as healthy as it can be.” He expects order size to increase due to a “healthy and robust business” in India. “There is a lot of demand-supply gap in this country in the power generation and distribution segments,” said Mr. Jayaraman.
In its attempt to go local, GE Energy–through a joint venture–acquired in May a majority stake in Indo Tech Transformers Ltd., a power transformer manufacturer based in the southern Indian city of Chennai. GE’s joint venture with Mexico’s Xignux–Prolec-GE–owns a 74.35% stake in Indo Tech, according to data from the Bombay Stock Exchange Web site.
Mr. Jayaraman said transformers are GE Energy’s first step in capacity building in India and it is looking for similar tie-ups in other areas. “As generation ramps up, I think there are going to be a lot of opportunities for growth in the transmission and distribution sector,” he added.
India’s current five-year economic plan aims to add a generation capacity of 78,700 megawatts by 2012 to meet rising demand in the fast-growing economy. Also, GE Energy, one of the largest makers of wind turbines in the world, has begun the construction of a wind turbine assembly unit in Chennai. The company is looking to create a local supply chain to source components such as blades, towers and gear boxes. The plant will start production in the second half of 2010. It will have a capacity of making 300 wind turbines, or 450 MW, a year.
Mr. Jayaraman added that India is now giving generation-based incentives and the lobby to drive wind energy has strengthened.
Filed Under: Uncategorized


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USDA Recalls Frozen Egg Burritos Branded As 'Chicken'Culinary International, LLC is recalling chicken burrito products after it said they were misbranded as egg burritos.
More Than 6 Million Honda, Toyota Vehicles Recalled For Air Bag ProblemsIn all, more than 6 million vehicles worldwide are being recalled by Toyota and Honda for two different air bag glitches that present different dangers to motorists.
CPSC Issues Recall For Baby Trend's Tango Mini StrollersThe Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for a brand of baby strollers sold at Target and Amazon.
Nearly 700,000 Toyota Cars & Trucks Recalled To Make Fuel Pump RepairsNearly 700,000 vehicles are being recalled by Toyota because the fuel pumps can fail and not only cause engines to stall, but increase the risk for a crash.
Trader Joe's Egg, Potato Salads Recalled Due To Possible ListeriaTrader Joe's egg salad and old fashioned potato salad have been recalled due to possible listeria contamination.
Tailgates Are Opening Unexpectedly, Now Ford Is Recalling Some Big PickupsFord is recalling more than 250,000 heavy-duty pickup trucks because the tailgates can open unexpectedly.
BMW Telling Some Customers To Park Their Older 3-Series Cars Due To Air Bag DangerAnother recall of dangerous Takata air bag inflators has BMW telling owners of some older model 3-series cars to stop driving the vehicles.
Frozen Foods Company Recalls 170,000+ Pounds Chicken Fried Rice For Possible Plastic ContaminationAjinomoto Foods North America, Inc. is recalling 172,692 pounds of chicken fried rice products possibly contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of plastic.
640K GM Pickups Recalled Because Seat Belts Can Cause Carpet FiresConcerns about possible fires has General Motors recalling more than 640,000 pickup trucks because hot gas from a high-tech seat belt can ignite the carpeting.
More Than Two Million Pounds Of Chicken Recalled For Possible Metal ContaminationSimmons Prepared Foods, Inc. is recalling more than two million pounds of chicken products over fears they "may be "contaminated" with metal.
Johnson & Johnson Says No Asbestos In Recalled Baby PowderJohnson & Johnson says that 15 new tests from the same bottle of Johnson's Baby Powder previously tested by the USDA found no asbestos.
Nationwide Recall Of Xanax Due to Possible "Foreign Substance"Mylan Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily recalling one lot of Alprazolam -- the prescription anti-anxiety drug sold under the name brand Xanax.
Subaru Recalls Cars, SUVs For Engine Control, Debris TroubleSubaru is recalling over 400,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix problems with engine computers and debris that can fall into motors.
Ikea Recalls Infant Bibs Because Of Potential Choking HazardAfter receiving two reports about problems Ikea is recalling some 7,000 baby bibs because of a choking threat.
Recall: Marie Callender's Pub-Style Steak Is Actually ChickenRockwall-based Astrochef LLC., is recalling 11,475 pounds of frozen chicken pub style entrees labeled as beef pub style entrees.


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Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.
06-22-2012, 08:45 PM #1
Next Generation iMac Rumored to Not Have a Retina Display
Earlier, the developer behind Instapaper, Marco Arment published his thoughts on the potential timeline for upgrades to Apple’s iMac and Mac Pro lines. In it, he suggested the need for an ultra-high resolution 5120x2880 Retina Display (either inside the 27-inch iMac or as a standalone display) is likely the most significant hurdle preventing major updates for the specific product lines.
Anticipation for new Retina iMacs has been high since the previous rumors which stated Apple was planning to bring Retina Displays to its next-generation iMac line and suggestions of updated models were rumored to be right around the corner. Unfortunately for Apple and iMac fans alike, Arment is now hearing that although the next iMac update will come later this year, it isn’t likely to include Retina Displays. He mentioned the following in his post:
I’ve now heard from multiple sources that while an iMac update is indeed coming this fall, it will not have Retina displays.
One possible reason is that the Cupertino California company is waiting to release OS X Mountain Lion in late July with the intent of following last year’s trend of launching the new line of iMacs, Mac Pros, and even Mac Minis alongside Mountain Lion. The speculation however remains unconfirmed and there isn’t any evidence to provide concrete information regarding the matter.
Source: Marco Arment
Last edited by Akshay Masand; 06-23-2012 at 04:58 AM.
06-22-2012, 08:48 PM #2
Retina iTV would be cool.
06-22-2012, 10:37 PM #3
I'm not crazy right? This is the same article from MacRumors, right?
06-23-2012, 12:27 AM #4
Man I'm sick of rumors...
Retina display or not, I can't afford it.
06-23-2012, 06:50 AM #5
no need for retina in an imac. and my apple dealer here says, new imacs will likely be out next tuesday, as his distributor has none in stock anymore
06-23-2012, 06:55 AM #6
06-23-2012, 08:35 AM #7
06-23-2012, 09:40 AM #8
The 27" already has a wonderful display. The point of "retina" is to have indistinguishable pixels. We certainly have this in the 27'' iMacs.
06-23-2012, 04:44 PM #9
Seriously Apple, just bring the damn refresh out already! A retina display of that size on a 27" iMac would be very expensive and outside most peoples comfortable price ranges.
I could easily see a Retina iMac being $2999 or more with maxed out hardware specs.
The current display is already awesome and it would be best to let the retina display costs come down even further before attempting to bring these to the iMac and possibly the iTV.
06-23-2012, 06:28 PM #10
I'm so sick of the term "retina"...Reminding you all that YOU'RE ≠ YOUR
06-24-2012, 04:11 AM #11
06-24-2012, 08:01 AM #12
06-24-2012, 02:37 PM #13
06-25-2012, 07:24 AM #14
Doesn't really matter if the new iMac has a retina display or not....just release the damn thing already! They're already got amazing screens as is, I don't need another $1,000 tacked on for a nicer display.
06-26-2012, 12:38 AM #15


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The moves came as the automaker as company disclosed the results of an internal investigation into allegations made by the short-selling firm Hindenberg Research.
Yahoo Finance's Emily McCormick joined Yahoo Finance Live to break down the key takeaways from PayPal's recent earnings report.
HELSINKI (Reuters) -Nokia on Thursday raised its full-year outlook as promised after reporting a stronger-than-expected second-quarter operating profit, as the telecom equipment maker benefits from a sharp turnaround in its business. Shifting geopolitics and a sharp round of cost cutting have put Nokia firmly back in the global 5G rollout race just a year after CEO Pekka Lundmark took the reins, allowing it to gain ground on Swedish arch-rival Ericsson. "We have executed faster than planned on our strategy in the first half which provides us with a good foundation for the full year," Lundmark said in a statement on Thursday, but added that Nokia still expects typical seasonal effects to be less pronounced this year.
(Bloomberg) -- China’s largest private education firms are moving swiftly to overhaul their businesses to adjust to a harsh new reality after Beijing launched a sweeping crackdown on the $100 billion sector.Two of the sector’s biggest names have in past days reached out to reassure investors and managers their businesses remain viable and won’t abruptly collapse, according to people familiar with the matter. Yuanfudao, the $15.5 billion startup backed by Tencent Holdings Ltd. and DST Global, pla
Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley breaks down Qualcomm's Q3 earnings report.
Santosh Rao, Manhattan Venture Partners Head of Research, joined Yahoo Finance to discuss Facebook’s latest earning results.
Pfizer CEO is no stranger to risks, and hopes to repeat the company's COVID-19 success with an oral treatment.
The Federal Reserve is making an announcement on interest rates this afternoon after two days of meetings. Collin Martin, Director and Fixed Income Strategist for the Schwab Center for Financial Research, joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss what he expects to hear from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
What happened Shares of Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) rose on Wednesday after fellow drugmaker Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) reported strong sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and raised its full-year revenue forecast. As of 3:30 p.
The stocks of companies focused on alternative energy development -- and the hydrogen economy in particular -- jumped today, bringing them back into the black for the week. Specifically, as of 3:45 p.m. EDT, shares of electric vehicle maker Nikola (NASDAQ: NKLA) bounced 7.7%, Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) stock was up 5.4%, and Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) shares jumped 6.75%.
What happens when tech stocks slip into the penny profile? Huge potential – and solid reviews from some of the Street’s top-rated analysts. And why not? For investors, the digital tech field is a target-rich environment. Established companies and their newer competitors make headlines, and a spate of IPOs has brought new billion dollar unicorns to our attention. And with the rollout of 5G digital networks, there are more opportunities than ever in tech. And penny stocks – equities priced under $
Growth stocks are moving, and the popular ETF money manager is making moves. Let's dive into her shopping list to see some of the stocks she bought on Tuesday.
(PYPL) stock was tumbling after the payments company beat second-quarter earnings forecasts but offered below-consensus guidance. PayPal reported an adjusted profit of $1.15 a share, beating forecasts for $1.13 on sales of $6.24 billion, missing analyst estimates for $6.27 billion. PayPal highlighted the impact of (EBAY)‘s transition to a “managed payments” system as one source of slower growth.
EV charging stocks ChargePoint, Blink Charging and EVgo jumped on reports that funds for charging stations are in the infrastructure deal.
(Bloomberg) -- Activision Blizzard Inc. Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick responded to the threat of an employee walkout with an all-staff email Tuesday, apologizing and calling the company’s recent actions “tone deaf.”Employees at Activision Blizzard called for the walkout on Wednesday to protest the company’s responses to a recent sexual discrimination lawsuit and demanding more equitable treatment for underrepresented staff.In Kotick’s message, the CEO said the company had hired law firm W
Jim Suva, Citi Managing Director in Equity Research specializing in technology joins the Yahoo Finance Live panel to discuss Apple’s latest earnings.
After a three-day slide, Chinese tech stocks were recovering today. Tutoring stocks like New Oriental Education and Tal Education Group started rebounding after nearly all of their value was wiped out in the sessions on Friday and Monday, and today much of the Chinese tech sector followed suit as news of the crackdown faded. Investors seemed to be eager to capitalize on the sell-off, anticipating that prices would only temporarily be depressed.
Robinhood's shares are priced ahead of its IPO and ready to trade on Thursday.
Anyone involved in the investing game will know it’s all about “stock picking.” Choosing the right stock to put your money behind is vital to ensure strong returns on an investment. Therefore, when the Wall Street pros consider a name to be a “Top Pick,” investors should take note. Using the TipRanks platform, we’ve looked up details on three stocks that have recently gotten ‘Top Pick’ designation from some of the Street’s analysts. So, let’s dive into the details and find out what makes them so
Flora Growth (NASDAQ: FLGC) surged as high as $7.95 in afternoon trading Wednesday, a rise of more than 50% to the highest level the stock has touched since its initial public offering in May. Colombia-based Flora, which just announced plans to move its corporate headquarters to Miami from Canada, cultivates cannabis and processes it into medicinal-grade cannabis oil and other products, which it supplies to pharmacies, cosmetics companies, and medical clinics. The cream, already sold in Canada, will now also be sold through Flora's distribution channels in Latin America.
Shares of BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX) climbed sharply higher on Wednesday, gaining as much as 11% earlier in the session, though the stock ended the trading day up 10.3%. The biotechnology company is known for partnering with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to co-develop the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. BioNTech road Pfizer's coattails higher today as the company reported strong sales of its vaccine and raised its full-year forecast as a result.


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Anna Heim is the founder of MonoLibre and a freelance writer for various tech and startup publications. She is a polyglot French news junkie Anna Heim is the founder of MonoLibre and a freelance writer for various tech and startup publications. She is a polyglot French news junkie with a love for technology.
Disney movies are coming to YouTube, Variety reports. Besides “Winnie the Pooh” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” the deal also includes titles from Dreamworks and Pixar such as “Cars 2” and “Alice in Wonderland”, which will be available for rental on Google’s video platform.
The information was also confirmed on YouTube’s official blog, and comes right on time for the holiday season. As a matter of fact, “Cars” and “Pirates” already available for American users to rent right now, and are priced at $1.99. According to YouTube’s Movies & TV Marketing Manager Minjae Ormes, more titles will be added in the weeks to come, including both classics and new releases.
This deal comes only a couple weeks after the two companies closed a partnership around an original video series to be produced by Disney and made available on YouTube. At the time, the co-president of Disney Interactive James A. Pitaro declared:
It’s imperative to go where our audience is [and] bring Disney’s legacy of storytelling to a new generation of families and Disney enthusiasts on the platforms they prefer.
This new deal is a big achievement for Google, as the company has been reportedly trying for months to add more professional, high-quality long-form content to YouTube’s movie offering. Still, it’s not its first deal with a Hollywood studio, as its rental store already includes films from Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures. Here’s what the store currently looks like in the US:
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It's the Beatles stupid! Not you... This will only help you to be soon forgotten, Placido.
Superior Naxos Historical and Pristine CD's will be valuable collectors items...
The superior Naxos Historical and Pristine CD's will not be valuable collectors items.
All recordings now public domain, will remain public domain. Recordings from 1961 will also enter the public domain and maybe 1962. Therefore these will continue to be available and more will be added.
The major labels are currently lobbying national EU governments to implement the directive as soon as possible to stop 1961 & 1962 recordings entering the public domain.
There are number of important facts not included in the Music Week article:
The directive has to be implemented by all EU countries within two years, i.e. 12 September 2013. Therefore recordings released in 1963 are not due to go public domain until 1 January 2014 under the 50 years rule, and remain in copyright until 1 January 2034.
Although if one or more of the EU countries have not implemented the directive due to possible due to legal issues, 1963 may be available in the public domain.
The rules of the Single European Market overrule national copyright law. If a third party release a recording in a country where extension has not been implemented, it can lawfully sell it in any EU country even if the extension has been introduced in that country.
This is the reason why composers’ copyright was increased from life + 50 years to life + 70 years, so all of the EU had the same as Germany.
There is a major loophole in the directive, the extension only apply to legally released or broadcasted recordings. Unreleased or unbroadcasted recordings, i.e. live concerts, demos, alternative takes and mixes enter the public domain after 50 years.
So The Beatles concerts and alternative takes (currently bootlegs) can be lawfully released after 50 years.
There is also question mark over TV performances as the directive contradicts itself.


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Nestlé will buy Pfizer infant nutrition business for $11.85B
- Staff L.A. Biz
Nestlé has agreed to buy Pfizer Inc.'s infant nutrition business for $11.85 billion in an effort to tap emerging markets and clinch its spot as the world's top provider of baby formula, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The Swiss company estimates 2012 sales for its purchase at $2.4 billion, mostly from emerging markets. Nestlé expects the deal, which needs regulatory approval, to add to earnings per share in the first full year, the report says.
The company's United States headquarters is in Glendale.
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Mangopay, a payment infrastructure provider for marketplaces and platforms, has launched an end-to-end foreign exchange (FX) solution that aims to expand its cross-border capabilities and support clients’ global expansion.
The FX solution offered by Mangopay provides platforms with a flexible and modular cross-border strategy, the company said in a Wednesday (Nov. 15) press release.
The solution includes two key features: Spot FX and Guaranteed FX, according to the release. Spot FX allows platforms to access real-time exchange rates for instant conversion, while Guaranteed FX briefly locks in rates to mitigate the risk of currency fluctuations.
This comprehensive solution addresses the concerns of chief financial officers and treasurers who have experienced reduced earnings due to avoidable FX risk, the release said.
By leveraging Spot or Guaranteed FX, platforms can offer local buying experiences that reduce checkout churn, take control of treasury and liquidity management, and enable buyers and sellers to collect and convert funds in multiple currencies, per the release.
In addition to its FX solution, Mangopay is expanding its payout network to facilitate faster and more cost-effective global payouts, according to the press release. Over the coming months, it will grow its payout network to offer local settlement in over 20 currencies and the ability to make payouts in over 60 currencies.
“Our FX solution completely removes the friction associated with traditional currency conversions, providing the flexibility to easily manage cross-border payment flows,” Kirk Donohoe, chief product officer at Mangopay, said in the release. “It simplifies FX for the platforms we work with and their customers, from pay-in to payout and money movement within their ecosystem.”
For companies that are looking to steer their business strategy to drive growth, thinking globally should be a priority right from the onset, Mangopay Chief Growth Officer Pierre Lion told PYMNTS in an interview posted in July.
“When you start building your project or your proof of concept, especially for a payment solution, you need to think beyond your local markets from day one because you don’t want to totally rebuild your infrastructure and technology after just a year or two,” Lion said.
PYMNTS Intelligence has found that many entrepreneurs are expanding their focus to include international deals along with domestic ventures. As they do so, they are being aided by streamlined digital payments that simplify cross-border transactions, according to “International B2B Payments: A Guide for Entrepreneurs and Digital Businesses,” a PYMNTS and Payoneer report.
For all PYMNTS B2B coverage, subscribe to the daily B2B Newsletter.


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Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state's governor, has supported controversial proposals by the California's energy commission to impose strict energy consumption limits on TVs with screens that are more than 40 inches wide.
The commission claims that California's estimated 35 million televisions and related gadgets account for about 10 per cent of household energy consumption in the state.
Experts say that the large LCD or plasma screen sets can use three times as much power as traditional models.
Some TV manufacturers are fighting the plan but have reportedly said little to sway the commission, which could vote on it within weeks.
The new law, the first of its kind in America, would set maximum energy consumption standards for TVs that would be implemented over two years from January 2011.
Similar energy requirements have applied for decades to electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners.
The powerful Consumer Electronics Association has argued that such a law would hurt consumers and manufacturers, stifling innovation and effectively taking 25 per cent of sets off the markets.
Although some TV makers are happy with the proposed restrictions, industry critics point out that manufacturers are already working on a new generation of more eco-friendly screens.
The commission argues that television owners would save around $30 (£18) a year per set in reduced energy consumption. The state itself could benefit by as much as $8.1 billion and could drop plans to a new natural gas-fired power station.
"We would not propose TV efficiency standards if we thought there was any evidence in the record that they will hurt the economy," Julia Levin, an energy commissioner, told the Los Angeles Times.
"This will actually save consumers money and help the California economy grow and create new clean, sustainable jobs."
The European Union considered a similar proposal two years ago but it was never adopted.


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Digital Banking | 2023 #21
Weekly news up to Monday, 22nd of May 2023
⚫ Nubank’s Q1 2023 Financial Results are on 🔥:
The neobank recorded USD 1.6 billion in revenues, an all-time record nearly doubling the company’s performance a year ago.
Over the past 5 years, Open Banking has evolved into a common banking practice and has expanded to encompass insurance, savings, and investments under the new term Open Finance.
⚫Check out this interesting #fintechreport: "A Legal Framework for the Digital Euro"
The European Central Bank (ECB) announced the launch of the digital euro project. After an initial investigation phase, they are now addressing key design and distribution issues for the digital currency.
👀 NEWS HIGHLIGHT
Swan, the emerging leader in embedded finance, has open-sourced its no-code banking interfaces and reduced the time to market of new pilots by 75%.
Swan is dedicated to opening up opportunities for any type of business to embed financial features into its offering, like accounts, cards, and payments.
71% of APAC senders and receivers said they were irritated with the repetitive and time-consuming paperwork associated with cross-border money transfers.
Whilst all components of the anti-money laundering process are critical to adhere to the AML laws imposed by countries, KYC and the Customer Identity Verification process are slightly more important.
KYC/IDV is where key data points about individuals are captured (name, address, ID number), and any relevant documents and usually government-issued physical IDs are uploaded.
👉I highly recommend reading the complete deep dive article by Jas Shah on this very important subject in FinTech and Banking.
While many challengers and neobanks struggle to turn a profit, OakNorth Bank has cracked the profitability code early on.
NOW, ON TO THE SUMMARY OF LAST WEEK'S NEWS
🔦 DIGITAL BANKING HIGHLIGHTS
⭐Revolut is locked in a fight with top shareholder SoftBank and UK government requests meeting as neobank awaits licence decision.
⭐ Nubank reached over half a million customers in Mexico within a week of launching their saving service, "Cuenta Nu". Mexico could become more relevant for Nubank than Brazil, and investing in artificial intelligence is a "great priority", according to David Vélez, the bank’s CEO.
⭐ Fintech Talents Festival, known as the UK's biggest fintech event, will return for its 5th edition on November 13-14, at The Brewery in London.
🌎 REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Since Revolut’s CFO resigned last week, Sifted's identified two more senior leaders who have left the neobank.
LHV Bank announces the extension of its maximum loan size to £5 million, enabling further support for UK SMEs aiming to grow.
Standard Chartered Bank has partnered with merchant acquirer Worldpay from FIS to expand the market coverage of its Straight2Bank Pay solution.
Wise CFO Matthew Briers to stand down in wake of bike accident.
Bud Financial teams with Google to provide insights from transaction data.
Allica Bank offers 5% cash savings fixed rate bond.
ING and Quantexa have announced a strategic partnership.
Synctera is expanding its partnership with Mastercard by integrating Mastercard’s open banking platform (provided by Mastercard’s wholly owned subsidiary, Finicity).
N26 introduced a new savings account in Spain, offering a competitive interest rate of 2.26% TAE without any conditions or fees.
After losing two C-suite leaders earlier this year, N26 is cutting 71 jobs.
Moss | Spend smarter selected Deutsche Bank to handle payment transactions for its customers in the EU.
National Bank of Georgia streamlines Open Banking Services.
America First Credit Union selects FirstClose to offer instant home equity.
MoneyLion to add ChatGPT-powered search to its marketplace.
Sagicor Bank Barbados has gone live on US-based fintech Mbanq’s Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform.
FRSH offers banking products and services to help returning citizens — those who have been released from jails and prisons.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said it's not likely that his bank would acquire another struggling lender after its government-brokered acquisition of First Republic.
You can now earn 5% on your savings with neobank Step, says CEO CJ MacDonald on his socials.
Meridian Bank taps Corserv to launch business credit card programme.
Nu México reaches 500,000 debit card users and Ualá doubles down on offering for businesses.
Whampoa Group is to set up a digital bank in Bahrain offering traditional banking services as well as round-the-clock payments.
Revolut Business is officially live in Australia.
DigitalX and fund manager TAF Capital were involved in the trade of eAUD to USDC stable coin, with blockchain fintech Canvas central to the test FX transactions.
UAE Emirates NBD Bank partnered with PWC and digital asset custodian and settlement provider FireBlocks to launch its Digital Asset Lab. PWC Middle East and Fireblocks will be founding council members.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Tuum announced the appointment of Myles Bertrand as Chief Executive Officer.


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Another South Congress domino falls with closing of 28-year-old Austin boutique
One of the longtime businesses on Austin's iconic South Congress Avenue is closing its doors after nearly 30 years.
Maya Star will be shutting down early in 2024.
The boutique is run by the woman whom the store is named after, Maya Krauss.
"I was 25 in 1995. I saw a cute store up for rent on South Congress and thought I could do that, and the rest was kind of history," Krauss said.
Krauss says she's a big traveler, and a lot of the jewelry and the clothes in the store came from her travels around the country and the world.
"Bring that to Austin, and other people that come in, it's kept me busy," Krauss said. "I have got to live my dream."
The boutique has been open for 28 years, but Krauss says her time has come.
"I get to retire," Krauss said. "The street has grown and changed a little bit. I want to move on. It's time."
Maya Star is one of the oldest businesses still on the South Congress. There are some staples still left in the area, like Allen Boots, but others have closed shop like Lucy In Disguise With Diamonds, which closed last year.
Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.


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Two Nissan Leaf models have been bought back from their owners by the automaker as what the company is calling a “goodwill gesture” due to complaints that the ev’s batteries are aging too quickly.
Although they claim the battery loss is expected for all electric vehicles, Nissan has initiated an independent study of the Leaf after the Pheonix, AZ area owners made their claims. Projected battery life is said to reduce to 80 percent after 5 years and 70 percent after 10 years with average usage.
“The company’s investigation has determined that there is no defect with the Nissan Leaf, but we did use a buyback formula modeled on an Arizona state repurchase law,” wrote David P. Reuter, Nissan Americas vice president of corporate communications, in response to an e-mailed query WITH Edmunds.
While the amount that Nissan paid to buy the vehicles back remains undisclosed, the company says it used the formula the Arizona state repurchase law offers.
Reuter added: “Also, keep in mind that the customer concerns in Phoenix are from a very small handful of Leaf owners in the context of our worldwide population of vehicles. We have sold more than 38,000 Leafs worldwide to date, with more than 14,000 of those in the United States. In Phoenix, we have sold approximately 450 vehicles, with the majority of those to very satisfied owners. It’s important that this perceived issue is placed in context. We are not happy that we have any customers with concerns and we’re working hard to improve our customer communications to better meet their expectations.”
-By: Alexandra Koken


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Costa Rica site of first Bulgari Hotel in Latin America
Luxury hotel chain Bulgari Hotels and Resorts recently selected Costa Rica as the site of its first hotel in Latin America, the daily La Nación reported. The brand Bulgari is famous internationally for its high-end Italian jewelry stores. Bulgari Hotels is operated by Marriott’s luxury division, and room rates could reach $4,000 a night. According to the paper, the hotel will be built at the Papagayo EcoDevelopment in the northwestern Guanacaste province at a cost of $100 million.
Bulgari currently operates hotels in Milan, Bali and Tokyo, and plans to open its fourth hotel in London next year. No word yet on when work will begin on the Costa Rica hotel.
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Stress-related dental problems rising due to COVID: More patients choose Costa Rica dental tourismJames Madigan / Costa Rica Dental Guide - March 5, 2021
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A growing number of people have turned to the dream of a "digital nomad" lifestyle -- answering emails from the…


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There is a new rumor about the upcoming Nokia Lumia 825 Windows Phone device. Nokia is working on a successor to Lumia 820 with a larger display and powerful processor. According to the benchmark results spotted on GFXBench, Nokia’s upcoming Lumia device will sport a 720X1280 display and a quad core CPU with Adreno 305 graphics. The above benchmark was spotted long back, but the new rumor is that the device on benchmark is the upcoming Lumia 825 device which will sport 5.2inch screen as well.
Being a mid-range device, I won’t be surprised if Nokia decided to have 720p screen on a 5.2 inch display. What do you think?


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The representatives of Carsolize in Africa have announced that Mr. Ken Lubbe has joined Carsolize as a full time consultant for Southern Africa and the Africa region.
Mr. Lubbe brings a wealth of experience and market expertise he gained during his 40 years of involvement in the African travel industry.
Mr. Lubbe have spent many years with British Airways, and ran his own travel agency, catering to the South African corporate as well as FIT travel segments. By joining the African team of Carsolize, Mr. Lubbe will take an active part in developing African-specific product and in formulating the market penetration strategy of the company on the African continent.
“We are delighted to see Mr. Klotz growing his operation, by having an industry expert to join his team. We see a tremendeous potential in Africa, which now can be better realized, with local expert guidance” says Mr. Andrey Spektor, company’s Founding CEO.
Carsolize is a unique travel technology which enables travel companies to merge all direct supplier agreements onto a single platform, instantly deploy online booking engines, and grow their B2B operations, utilizing extensive distribution capabilities. The first live version was launched in Sept. 2011, and is presently in use by 22 travel companies in 17 countries.
The African Team of Carsolize, Led by Mr. Udo Klotz is handling all sales and customer support issues originating from the African continent, as well as working closely with the development team in bringing the most relevant solutions and resources to travel companies based in Africa.
African office address and contact information:
Prism Office Park, Building 1
Ruby Close, Fourways 2055
Johannesburg, South Africa
+27-11-367-0638 ext. 2022/3


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The search giant announces a handful of new features, including new capabilities that make a watch run independent of a phone, all ahead of the Apple Watch's launch on Friday.
After a bootleg version leaked late Thursday, Warner Bros. officially releases a dark and gritty trailer for next year's 'Batman v Superman.'
Technically Incorrect: A YouTube video shows a spirited argument between a parent and a Philadelphia school principal. It also shows the problems of tech in schools.
Apple Watch all alone: what can it do? Not a lot -- it's mainly an iPhone accessory -- but there are some key things that it can handle on its own.
The social network now allows users to receive direct messages from other users regardless if they follow each other.
The dark and foreboding atmosphere of the new "Batman v Superman" trailer gets lightened up a little with some classic superhero footage.
The Korean electronics maker, best known for TVs and mobile devices, also makes the processors powering those devices. Here's why it's now angling to be first with new chip technology.
The actor reacts with such emotion to the "Force Awakens" trailer you'd think he's been away from his children for years. Oh, wait...
CNET's Luke Westaway and Rich Trenholm debate whether Apple's iconic tablet is headed for the scrapheap, or has a long and happy future ahead. Which side are you on?
Find apps, pay for things on the go and find your way around Apple's advanced new watch: here are the key ways to navigate on it.