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Besides Z10, BlackBerry also launched Q10 series is still equipped with its flagship QWERTY physical keyboard. What is interesting about the BlackBerry Q10?
BlackBerry Q10, The design is quite pleasing to the eye with four curved corners are not rigid. [...]
Unfinished news about the iPhone 5S, the latest info is precisely focused on the iPhone 6.
Quoted from BGR, Wednesday (1/5), an analyst mentioned that this smartphone will be released in June 2014.
Analyst named Peter Misek it seems pretty confident [...]
After a long time not been heard, the latest info says that LG soon release updates to Jelly Bean Optimus 4X HD.
Quoted from Techradar, Friday (2/1), the site claims to have Italian named Caotic email updates about this from a LG spokesman.
The first [...]
Review TechBoom this time about the arrival of new notebooks from ASUS that has been fully supported Windows 8 OS, VivoBook X202E.
What kind of sophistication? Consider the following short review.
Simple yet beautiful look. That first impression [...]
You look forward to welcoming the Microsoft Office applications on Android and iOS seems to be more patient.
Because, the latest news says that Microsoft is delaying its release until 2014.
Quoted from ZDNet, Thursday (11/4), the largest software producer [...]
Google Drive Users get 5GB for free rations from Google.
Google announced on Tuesday (11/27), will integrate Google Drive into Gmail. The move will create a Google e-mail service users can send files of up to 10 GB.
Requirement Gmail users also must [...]
Want to buy the BlackBerry 10 but doubt whether it can be better than Android or iPhone? There are ways to overcome these doubts.
Quoted from Cnet, Tuesday (2/4), you can try this new OS directly either on Android or iOS devices via the browser.
Microsoft also released membership on Xbox live has increased by 15% during the third quarter of 2012.
Based on data obtained from a number of media releases Microsoft, stated that the number of sales of the Xbox 360 console has sold over 70 million [...]
A Russian astronaut managed to record a new record as the oldest still active astronauts ‘walks’ in outer space.
Quoted by FoxNews, Monday (22/4), Pavel Vinogradov is recorded as the oldest astronaut at the age of 59 years.
Pavel has been [...]
Inspired by the MacBook Air.
Google seems to be more serious about growing its business into hardware, not only playing in mobile platforms, search engines, and internet advertising. The proof is in cooperation with Samsung, Google launched its Chromebook [...]
Without compromising on quality and technology.
Lenovo finally decided to enter the smartphone market with the signing of five champion Indonesia in the launch event which took place on Tuesday night (16/10). Fifth smartphone is Lenovo Ideaphone A60 [...]


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To mark the 100th birth anniversary of their spiritual leader, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Bufhanuddin Saheb, the Borah Community in Sri Lanka is organising a trade and consumer fair –‘Burhani Expo 2011’,on May 13-15 in Colombo.
There will be 130 stalls showcasing items such as ready-made garments, jewellery, hardware, processed food and packaging, specialized authentic Borah cuisine of snacks and sweets and much more, it was explained at a press conference this week to promote the fair.
The Borah religious leader operates from Mumbai and has visited Sri Lanka several times. His representative in Sri Lanka, Nooruddin Saheb said that such trade exhibitions and fairs and other activities are held all over the world to celebrate the birth anniversary of their spiritual leader.
The Sri Lankan Borah community numbers around 3,000 and this is the contribution they make to the economic development of multi-ethnic Sri Lanka. He said that while they practice their religion they are loyal to the country they live in and work to help the nation.
He said that during the last 250 years they have been participating in activities leading to social and economic development. He said that there would be a number of Pakistanis and Indians participating in the Burhani Expo 2011.

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Apple’s iPhone in first thirty hours caused some (minor) shifts in the overall wireless market share, according to data compiled by UBS Research. As reported earlier, iPhone resulted in 146,000 activations for AT&T, while the actual sales of the device were around 270,000.
“Net adds were probably boosted by the 60K iPhone gross adds which likely didn’t make it into the churn counts in the first 30 hours,” UBS analysts write in a note this morning. Here is the final tally:
* AT&T took 29% of national postpaid wireless net adds, up from roughly 25% the previous two quarters.
* Verizon saw its share of postpaid net adds fall to 49% from 56% last quarter and a whopping 62% in 4Q.
* T-Mobile also lost share falling to 22% from 27% last quarter.
* Sprint broke into positive territory with 16K net adds equating to 0.5% of national postpaid net adds.
UBS predicts going forward, AT&T’s share of industry net adds to increase to 34% in 3Q and 36% in 4Q at the expense of all three national (wireless) carriers.


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According to sources, Amazon and Nike are interested in partnering with Peloton, an exercise business. During the epidemic, Peloton’s exercise cycles and treadmills sold at an all-time high, attracting them. Suitors have not been deterred by the company’s return to market following the lockout, which has reduced its value to less than a sixth of its high $50 billion estimate. There have also been recent public relations disasters with Peloton machines and TV actors having heart attacks. Amazon will not confirm or deny whether it was exploring a bid for the US workout equipment company. When the rumour was first reported in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, the company’s stock soared more than 30% in after-hours trade.
The once-popular stock has seen its value plummet in recent months, losing more than 80% of its value in the previous year. Demand for Peloton’s training equipment and remote workout courses skyrocketed when the Covid epidemic forced gyms to close in 2020, sending its stock price soaring. The demand for its bikes and treadmills has fallen as lockdowns have relaxed. In the same month, the US Departments of Justice and Homeland Security announced that they were looking into the corporation after a kid was died after being pulled beneath one of their treadmills, and other customers had reported injuries. Peloton cautioned investors in November that revenue will drop in the coming year.
“We expect a number of technology and consumer brand heavyweights will be circling for a potential deal, with activists pushing for a sale as well.” Peloton gained news recently after characters in two television series, the Sex and the City remake And Just Like That and Billions, experienced heart attacks while riding the company’s bikes. On Tuesday, the corporation is expected to release its second-quarter profits.


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Before automobiles, there was no reason to put up a stop sign on a country gravel road. Before there were enough children to fill a one-room school, there was no need for compulsory education. With no food processing and packaging industry, nobody needed a label to identify a sack of potatoes.
So it is with innovations. A clever inventor comes up with a great idea, tests it out, finds the funding to ramp up production, and takes it into the commercial realm. (It’s more complicated than that, I know, but just wait for The Point.)
Today, assuming said inventor did his or her due diligence in adhering to known guidelines and regulations, if there are any, the product may be launched and on the shelves in your favorite big box store (or online marketplace) in no time. However, in time, potential problems may surface with this product, particularly if “knock-offs” appear with little or no oversight to restrict their proliferation.
“What’s the standard?” concerned industry participants and consumers alike begin to ask. Where are the regulations governing the materials and manufacture of this product? The answer could be, “There aren’t any. It’s just too, well … new.” This is pretty much what happened with e-textiles—those “shiny objects” that some brands (and startups), anxious to be in the forefront of commercializing e-textile innovations, have found so irresistible.
This happens, and it’s not all bad, by any means. Thankfully, there are many in the e-textile industries’ market segments who have recognized the need to have standards that hold up to the demands placed on these high-tech innovations.
I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that e-textiles would not just fuel a swath of new collaborations among diverse experts, but it would quickly involve an organization I’d never heard of, since it’s not a textile organization, per se. Nevertheless IPC International Inc., an electronics organization, has emerged to coordinate the effort in building a properly standardized future for e-textiles.
The work underway in IPC’s volunteer committees will assure that e-textile products will be far more likely to offer end consumers reliable information about the products’ response to “acid, microbes, saltwater, perspiration, alkali, abrasion, stretch, torsion, flex endurance and washability.” That quote is lifted right out of our feature by Chris Jorgenson, IPC director, Technology Transfer, “What to know about e-textile standards.” This article will give you the the latest information on the progress made by a dedicated group of volunteers, representing a variety of industries and markets, who are collaborating on making sure solid standards are in place for an industry that’s going nowhere but up.
Janet Preus is senior editor of Advanced Textiles Source. She can be reached at email@example.com.


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Sporty’s has released a four-part weather flying series, now available for iPad and iPhone, featuring general aviation weather expert Richard Collins breaks down the challenges and opportunities for flying in the different seasonal weather conditions.
Sporty’s has assembled a pint-sized cleaning kit to keep in your airplane. One pint containers of an assortment of cleaning supplies will ensure your airplane gleams even after a long flight. The small size of the containers makes sure your weight and balance won’t be thrown off with bulky gallon bottles, company officials note.
Sporty’s Annual Fly-In and Open House is set for Saturday, May 19, at Clermont County/Sporty’s Aiport (I69) in Ohio.
Whether it’s your own first solo or that of a friend or family member, Sporty’s First Solo Commemorative Wooden Plaque will keep that memory vivid. The alder wood, laser-etched plaque is custom engraved with the pilot’s name and airplane on two lines.
Sporty’s Pilot Shop has introduced the first completely wire-free weather receiver for the iPad — and it requires no monthly subscription. Stratus combines an ADS-B and GPS receiver into a single unit that wirelessly streams NEXRAD radar, text weather, TFRs and aircraft position to the popular ForeFlight Mobile app for iOS devices.
Now at Sporty’s are two new models of NFlightcam Cockpit Video cameras ideal for CFIs, students and owners.
General aviation icon Hal Shevers, founder of Sporty’s, will be the featured speaker at this week’s Wichita Aero Club luncheon. [Read more...]
Sporty’s has launched a new Learn to Fly Course, which provides learning tracks for Private, Recreational and Sport Pilot – or any combination.


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Meta Plans Pricier Quest 3 With Features to ‘fire up enthusiasts’
Meta’s Quest 3 headset, which the company has confirmed will land this year, is said to be positioned as a slightly pricier headset with features designed to appeal to VR enthusiasts.
For Quest 3, due out sometime later this year, Meta may be focusing more on its existing VR customers rather than trying to reel in brand new users.
According to a report by The Verge, Meta’s VP of VR, Mark Rabki, told thousands of employees that for the company’s next consumer headset, Quest 3, “we have to get enthusiasts fired up about it […] we have to prove to people that all this power, all these new features are worth it.” The Verge cites an internal Meta presentation held today as the source of this information.
Those features, which are largely expected to be a subset of what’s on Quest Pro, would make the headset cost “a bit more,” Rabkin said, than Quest 2 which currently sells for $400.
Leaks have consistently pointed to Quest 3 having pancake lenses, a more compact form-factor, and better augmented reality capabilities. The device is reportedly codenamed ‘Stinson’.
The improved AR capabilities, Rabkin hopes, will make Quest 3 feel easier to use.
“The main north star for the team was from the moment you put on this headset, the mixed reality has to make it feel better, easier, more natural,” he told employees, according to The Verge. “You can walk effortlessly through your house knowing you can see perfectly well. You can put anchors and things on your desktop. You can take your coffee. You can stay in there much longer.”
That would be swell, but Meta hasn’t exactly demonstrated that natural feeling with Quest Pro yet, meaning there is still significant work to do on the user-experience side if Quest 3 will meet those goals.
Something else that would surely ‘fire up enthusiasts’ for Quest 3 would be a dedicated video pipeline for PC VR tethering, rather than using the compressed Oculus Link or Air Link method that’s currently available on Quest 2. However, the company has shown little appetite for appealing to PC VR users as of late.
As for leaning into existing VR customers rather than pulling in new ones, this may be an effort to address Quest’s retention issues; while the headset has certainly sold well, Meta has been disappointed with the rate at which customers continue to use their headset after buying.
With regards to Quest 3 being more expensive than Quest 2, it seems that Meta has learned its lesson; having not established a substantial ads business in VR, heavily subsidizing headsets to get them out the door probably isn’t a good idea. Meta had to very publicly reverse that strategy when it raised the price of Quest 2 last year, by as much as 33% (though this was also related to inflation and broader economic turbulence).
The report from The Verge includes more info about the company’s XR roadmap, which you can read in full here.
Meta Has Sold Nearly 20 Million Quest Headsets, But Retention Struggles Remain
Meta has sold nearly 20 million Quest headsets, but the company continues to struggle with keeping customer using VR.
According to a report by The Verge, citing an internal Meta presentation held today, the company has sold nearly 20 million Quest headsets. This likely includes Quest 1, Quest 2, and Quest Pro, though by all accounts Quest 2 appears to be the vast majority. And while the figure wasn’t publicly announced, this would be the first official confirmation of Quest unit sales from the company.
This info was shared by Mark Rabkin, Meta’s VP of VR, during an internal presentation to “thousands” of employees, according to The Verge.
And while the 20 million unit Quest sales figure is impressive—and well beyond any other single VR headset maker—Rabkin went on to stress that the company has to do a better job at keeping customers using the headsets well after their purchase.
“We need to be better at growth and retention and resurrection,” he said. “We need to be better at social and actually make those things more reliable, more intuitive so people can count on it.”
Curiously, Meta’s latest wave of headset customers are less enthusiastic than those that bought in early.
“Right now, we’re on our third year of Quest 2,” Rabkin said, according to The Verge. “And sadly, the newer cohorts that are coming in—the people who bought it this last Christmas—they’re just not as into it [or engaged as] the ones who bought it early.”
The report from The Verge includes more info about the company’s XR roadmap, which you can read in full here.
Report: Meta to Open ‘Horizon Worlds’ to Younger Teens Amid Renewed Retention Push
Meta’s social VR app for Quest, Horizon Worlds, is lagging behind the competition when it comes to attracting and retaining VR users. According to a leaked memo obtained by The Wall Street Journal, the company is now ostensibly looking to boost numbers by more transparently appealing to younger teens in addition to funding a slew of new second-party content.
WSJ only posted snippets of the memo, entitled ‘Horizon 2023 Goals and Strategy’, which was allegedly written by Meta Vice President of Horizon Gabriel Aul. The memo is said to outline the team’s objectives for the first half of 2023.
Here’s some highlights we formatted into a bulleted list, which also includes additional info supplied by a source cited by WSJ:
- Competitors are outperforming HW. Improving user retention is most important, especially among teens and young adults
- HW to open to teens aged 13 to 17, which could come as early as March
- Meta is working with outside studios to build new worlds and experiences for HW
- The team is aiming to launch at least 20 new Horizon-hosted experiences built by second-party studios. Of the 20, it’s hoping for five medium hits and at least one a major hit
- The flatscreen version of Horizon for mobile and desktops is set to come sometime in H1 2023
Additionally, WSJ reports the memo outlined some key performance metrics, claiming Horizon Worlds’ weekly retention rate was 11% in January, which the company aims to increase to 20%. The goal for monthly active users for the first half of 2023 is said to be 500,000, with hopes of reaching one million for the full year. Currently the platform is at 200,000, or just below the December peak, the reported memo outlines.
The previously reported flatscreen version, which is said to launch by the end of the first half of 2023, is hoping to achieve 150,000 monthly cross-screen Horizon users.
Meta’s Quest 2 headset is technically only available to users aged 13 and up. Horizon Worlds on the other hand has been limited to users 18+ since it was launched in 2021, and only to those in US, Canada, UK, France, Iceland, Ireland and Spain.
While none of this seems to have hindered children below 13 from playing all the Quest 2 has to offer, Horizon Worlds included. More transparently appealing to young teens though will likely come with a host of safety requirements that the company needs to fulfil for liability reasons.
Meta issued a response to WSJ, supporting in part its move to focus on teens:
“Teens are already spending time in a variety of VR experiences on Quest,” Meta spokesman Joe Osborne told WSJ, “and we want to ensure that we can provide them with a great experience in Horizon Worlds as well, with age-appropriate tools and protections in place.”
This comes hot on the heels of Meta reducing its workforce by 13% late last year, one of the biggest tech layoffs in recent memory, which saw 11,000 jobs cut from payroll.
Meanwhile, the company’s Reality Labs XR division has dramatically increased its operating budget in an ostensible bid to maintain market dominance over similar metaverse pushes from the likes of Apple, Google, etc. At the same time, Meta has slashed some XR projects, including first-party title Echo VR.
Provided the report is true, it appears Meta is making another important step towards competing more directly with cross-platform social gaming titans like Roblox and Rec Room.
Horizon Worlds VR Metaverse Coming To Web & Mobile
Meta has also begun testing “members-only worlds” featuring exclusive content.
Meta this week announced that it has given a select group of users the ability to grow and moderate their own communities by creating “members-only worlds.” These closed spaces feature exclusive VR content accessible by a hand-picked group of Horizon Worlds users.
According to an official press release, creators can invite up to 150 members to each world as part of the alpha test. Each members-only world can support up to 25 concurrent visitors at one time. Here users can engage in a variety of multiplayer activities, such as organizing a book club, attending a support group, meeting up with friends and family, and more.
“Every community develops its own norms, etiquette, and social rules over time as it fosters a unique culture. To enable that, we’ll provide the tools that allow the creators of members-only worlds to set the rules for their communities and maintain those rules for their closed spaces,” said the company in an official release.
“Creators can choose whether or not to share their moderation responsibilities with other trusted group members and decide if they’ll allow members to visit the world without a creator or moderator present,” they added. “Everyone will always have the ability to report worlds to Meta and report others for behavior that violates our Code of Conduct for Virtual Experiences.”
In addition to members-only worlds, Horizon Worlds will also be expanding to additional platforms beyond VR. Meta’s social VR metaverse will soon be available on the web as well as mobile devices, allowing those without a Quest 2 or Quest Pro VR headset the ability to jump into the action.
As previously mentioned, Meta is partnering with a select group of Horizon Worlds users as part of the ongoing alpha test. This test is designed to confirm that creators have the tools required to properly moderate and grow their members-only worlds.
For more information check out the official release here.
Image Credit: Meta
Meta Reality Labs Earnings Reveal a Less Successful Holiday Season & Highest Operating Costs Yet
Meta today revealed its latest quarterly earnings results, showing that Reality Labs, the company’s XR and metaverse arm, had a smaller holiday season than the last, while operating costs have reached their highest levels yet.
Today during the company’s Q4 earnings call, Meta revealed the latest revenue and operating cost figures for its XR and metaverse division, Reality Labs, providing one of the clearest indicators of the success the company is seeing in this space.
The fourth quarter has consistently been the best performer for Reality Labs, no doubt thanks to the holiday season driving sales of the company’s offerings.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the company saw $727 million in revenue, which was 17% less compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 when the company pulled in $877 million in revenue.
The fourth quarter of 2021 was a good performer for Reality Labs revenue thanks to the success of Quest 2 which had launched earlier that year.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the company’s latest headset to launch was Quest Pro, it’s high-end MR headset. Unsurprisingly, the more expensive device—which has yet to find a strong value proposition at $1,500—doesn’t seem to have performed as well as Quest 2 did in its launch year. Just days ago, Meta temporarily discounted the price of the headset to $1,100, appearing to test the waters at that lower price. Granted, XR headsets aren’t the only product Reality Labs offers, which means the division’s other product lines—video calling speakers and smart glasses—may have had a role to play.
In addition to a smaller holiday season than last year, the latest earnings for Reality Labs show the division’s expenses were greater than in any previous quarter, surpassing $4 billion for the first time.
This continues a trend of Meta’s ever-growing investments in Reality Labs which the company has warned investors may not flourish until the 2030s.
In the face of operating costs far outpacing revenue, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told investors that his management theme for 2023 was “efficiency,” saying he wants to focus the company on streamlining its structure to move faster while being more aggressive about shutting down projects that aren’t performing.
Mil-Sim Shooter ‘Onward’ to Drop Quest 1 Support Later This Year
Meta’s Social VR App is Coming to Web & Mobile Soon, Alpha Begins for Members-only Rooms
Horizon Worlds, Meta’s social VR platform for Quest users, is expanding with alpha tests of new members-only spaces, allowing creators to manage up to 150 card-carrying members in their private worlds. Meta says it’s also gearing up to release Horizon Worlds on non-Quest devices for the first time.
Meta is now rolling out alpha access to its new members-only worlds, which aims to let creators build and cultivate a space in Horizon Worlds. Each members-only world can have up to 150 members, although only 25 concurrent visitors can gather at any given time.
“Every community develops its own norms, etiquette, and social rules over time as it fosters a unique culture,” the company says in a blogpost. “To enable that, we’ll provide the tools that allow the creators of members-only worlds to set the rules for their communities and maintain those rules for their closed spaces.”
Meta says moderation responsibilities can be shared among trusted members, so creators can better control who gets in and who’s kicked out, however the company says its Code of Conduct for Virtual Experiences is still in effect in privately owned spaces.
What’s more, the Quest-only social platform is also going to be available on the Web and mobile devices “soon”, the company says, adding that rules will be made and enforced “similarly to how mobile operating systems manage experiences on their platforms.”
As it is today, Horizon Worlds plays host to a growing number of user-generated content in addition to first-party worlds. The release of Horizon Worlds outside of Quest would represent a massive potential influx of users and user-generated content, putting it in direct competition with cross-platform social gaming titans such as Roblox and Rec Room.
As a similar free-to-play app, Horizon Worlds offers an Avatar Store featuring premium digital outfits—very likely only a first step in the company’s monetization strategy. For now, the company says it allows creators to earn revenue from purchases people make in their worlds, which includes hardware platform fees and a Horizon Worlds fee, which Meta says is 25 percent.
In late October, Meta showed off a tempting preview of its next-gen avatars, although it’s clear there’s still a ton of work to be done to satisfy its existing userbase. Floating torsos are still very much a thing in Horizon Worlds, and that’s despite Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s insistence that full body tracking was in the works. It was too good to be true.
For now, Horizon Worlds is only available on Quest 2 headsets in the US, Canada, UK, France, Iceland, Ireland and Spain—something we hope they change well before it ushers in flatscreen users.
Eli Roth’s BE MINE: A VR Valentine’s Slasher Revealed
The horror icon is back with yet another immersive experience for Quest headsets.
Eli Roth, director of iconic horror films such as Hostel and Cabin Fever, is returning to VR with a new horror experience. Written by Roth and directed by Adam MacDonald, Eli Roth’s BE MINE: A VR Valentine’s Slasher tells the story of Becca (played by Peyton List), a young girl being stalked by a murderous psychopath wearing a Cupid mask.
According to Meta, the combination 180 and 360-degree film is around 30 minutes long and will be available on Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets via Meta Quest TV and Horizon Worlds, Meta’s own social VR metaverse. Meta will be hosting a special premiere event in Horizon Worlds at 7pm PT on February 10th. You’ll also be able to watch the short film on Facebook and Instagram.
“I had the most incredible experience making Trick-VR-Treat with Meta, and we wanted to push the experience even further with BE MINE, creating a true narrative experience where you’re at the center of a slasher film,” said Roth in an official release.
“I wrote BE MINE knowing what worked best in VR, but pushing the boundaries with new ideas and techniques, and the results are nothing short of thrilling. We have created a true immersive horror experience. I have been a huge fan of Adam MacDonald for a long time, and what he and the incredible cast brought to life is something unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I think horror fans are going to absolutely love it. Get ready, it’s a bloody good time.”
Eli Roth’s BE MINE: A VR Valentine’s Slasher premiers at 7pm PT on February 10th on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro headsets. The film was produced by Crypt TV and Roth in collaboration with Cream Productions. For more information visit here.
Image Credit: Meta
Meta Acquires 3D Lens Printing Firm Luxexcel to Bolster Future AR Glasses
Meta has acquired the Belgian-Dutch company Luxexcel, a 3D printing firm creating complex glass lenses for use in AR optics.
As first reported by Belgian newspaper De Tijd (Dutch), the Turnhout, Belgium-based company was quietly acquired by Facebook parent Meta in an ostensible bid to bolster the development of its in-development AR glasses.
Details of the acquisition are still under wraps, however confirmation by Meta was obtained by English language publication The Brussels Times.
“We are delighted that the Luxexcel team has joined Meta. This extends the partnership between the two companies,” Meta says.
Founded in 2009, Luxexcel first focused on 3D printing lenses for automotive, industrial optics, and the aerospace industry. Over the years Luxexcel shifted to using its 3D printing tech to create prescription lenses for the eyewear market.
In 2020, the company made its first entry into the smart eyewear market by combining 3D printed prescription lenses with the integration of technology. One year later, Luxexcel partnered with UK-based waveguide company WaveOptics, which has since been acquired by Snapchat parent Snap.
Meta’s interest in Luxexcel undoubtedly stems from its ability to print complex optics for both smart glasses and AR headsets; Meta’s Project Aria is rumored to house Luxexcel-built lenses. Project Aria is a sensor-rich pair of glasses which the company created to train its AR perception systems, as well as asses public perception of the technology.


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Amazon, Flipkart add star power to make their brands a hit
Amazon, Flipkart have roped in A-lister celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor as the battle for customers hots up
The battle for customer acquisition has taken a fresh turn with the top online marketplace companies Amazon and Flipkart roping in A-lister celebrities to push their brands. For the first time since it began operations in India, Amazon has roped in Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt and Salman Khan among a few others to promote Amazon Prime Video and its upcoming Prime Day. Rival Flipkart named Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor as its brand ambassadors last month.
Amazon’s promotion for both Prime Video and Prime Day, titled ‘keep that smile on this Prime Day’, also features Rani Mukerji, Varun Dhawan and Salman Khan urging viewers to ‘keep smiling on Prime Day’ and watch Prime Video.
Amazon India, which is set to kick off its Prime Day today (July 16-17), has introduced a virtual reality experience which includes setting up ‘experience zones’ in malls across metro cities where the screens will also flash the videos featuring celebrities like Bachchan, promoting it. India is the fastest growing market for Prime globally with over a few million Prime subscribers. The number of Prime customers in India has doubled in the last 12 months.
Flipkart has rolled out a film, each featuring Ranbir and Shraddha Kapoor offering ‘kidults’ fashion advice.
Flipkart chief marketing officer Shoumyan Biswas said: “Bollywood celebrities are one of the leading inspirations for fashion and so it was natural to associate with two biggest fashion icons as brand ambassadors for Flipkart Fashion. The campaign reiterates Flipkart as a fashion destination.”
Endorsing Flipkart Fashion, the campaign is now being rolled out across television, digital, print and outdoor medium.
Vijay Subramaniam, chief executive of talent management firm Kwan, the agency representing Ranbir Kapoor, said: “Ecommerce companies have fairly sizeable media budgets, compared to say, a traditional consumerfacing company, and hence the campaigns are more visible.”
Kapoor, one of the highest paid celebrities in the country, is learnt to have inked a multi-year endorsement deal Flipkart.
E-commerce companies have been by and large using celebrities to promote sales events. For example, Bollywood stars Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone separately co-own brands with Myntra. Last year, lakhs of Myntra customers received recorded phone calls from Padukone and Roshan pitching Myntra’s flagship ‘end of reason sale.’ Both Padukone and Roshan sell their respective celebrity brands of All About You and HRX and Myntra has been using the duo extensively to pitch products via television ads and social media — and calling consumers with recorded ads.
“Hi this is Deepika Padukone. Get ready to shop All About You,” the recorded message of the actress said promoting her brand during Myntra’s sale last year.


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The Strand Book Store in New York City has stood as a source of pride for the Bass family for 93 years. With its famous slogan “18 Miles of Books,” the Manhattan shop has weathered the Great Depression, survived 9-11, and gone to battle with Amazon (AMZN) — all without a single layoff.
That all changed in March, when owner Nancy Bass Wyden, the granddaughter of founder Benjamin Bass, made the painful decision to cut nearly 200 jobs because of the coronavirus.
“We shut everything down. We shut our store down, we shut our website down, we shut our warehouses down, because we were very concerned about the safety of our employees and the customers,” Wyden told Yahoo Finance. “We went from over 200 employees to 12 employees to conserve the payroll.”
More than two months later, the Strand is still in limbo: A little more certain about its next few months with loans secured through the government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), but uncertain about its long term viability, given business lost from a sudden economic shock.
The store partnered with a third party seller to revive its online business, but Wyden worries if health concerns will trump the bookstore experience when she reopens.
“There’s probably going to be a mandate on how many people can be on each floor, how many people can come to events, having to distance people six feet apart … everybody’s going to wear a mask,” Wyden said. “I wonder about those components because people love to come in the store and just get lost in the stacks, and they love to browse, and I just worry is that going to get in the way of people having that freedom to browse here as long as they want to.”
Wyden’s concerns mirror those of small businesses across the country. As states lift stay-at-home restrictions allowing some stores to reopen, business owners are assessing the cost benefits of drastically reduced traffic with their ability to conduct limited activity.
‘Teetering on the edge of bankruptcy’
The economic pressures are magnified for small businesses, which account for 50% of total employment in the U.S. A recent study by Deutsche Bank found that one quarter of small businesses only had enough cash on hand to operate for one to two more months, while 7% said they had no liquidity.
“Many [small businesses] are in sectors that require face to face interactions with consumers. Many of them have a hard time getting credit to tie them over the types of liquidity problems they’re facing now,” said Jason Furman, who served as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama. “There aren’t mechanisms like Chapter 11 bankruptcy that work particularly well that would help a small business restructure, shed some of its debt and continue operating and moving forward.”
The PPP, established by Congress back in March, set aside $660 billion in SBA loans to help small businesses make payroll for eight weeks. But larger, publicly traded companies like Shake Shack (SHAK) and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (RUTH) took advantage of carve-outs for the hotel and restaurant industry to secure $1.52 billion. Lawmakers have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the program, with businesses most in need of the cash being left out.
“I think the PPP was misconceived. Many businesses are getting a windfall from it, where you know there are profits for their owners, but it won’t ultimately help their workers,” said Furman. “Many of the businesses getting those loans and effectively those grants would have continued anyway. And then if you’re teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, just covering two months of payroll probably isn’t enough for you and you still may go bankrupt.”
‘We have no idea what to expect’
Brothers Paul and Pat Ryan, who own four restaurants in the Philadelphia area including Smokey Joe’s, offer a rare example of hope. While social distancing restrictions slashed revenue by 98% in the initial weeks of the pandemic, the third-generation business owners say they can comfortably stay afloat, in part because they own the real estate in three of their locations, eliminating rent costs. PPP loans have also helped, though neither wanted to disclose the amount of loans they were approved for.
Still, Paul Ryan says the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic are unlike any his faced by previous generations, including his grandfather who experienced the Spanish Flu. He expects his restaurants to operate at half their capacity, even after restrictions are lifted.
“Everyone’s trying to practice social distancing, but I don’t know how you can do that in a restaurant setting. I mean, you can make the seats further apart, but people have to walk back and forth. The waiters have to walk back and forth,” said Paul Ryan. “We’ve been shocked with everything that the government’s been doing so far, so we have no idea what to expect.”
Wyden says she hopes to eventually hire Strand employees back. But she’s also realistic about her economic prospects. Regardless of how slowly her business recovers, she says closing is not an option.
“My lifeblood is to keep the store going. I just love books, that’s my passion,” Wyden said. “I have to get the cash flow going, it’s got to make some kind of sense. But really, this is my mission, to keep the strand going for, for another 93 years.”
Akiko Fujita is an anchor and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @AkikoFujita


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For the worth of a cup of espresso, your teen can learn to spend money on cryptocurrency.
In the present day, Stack launched what CEO Will Rush says is “the primary crypto training and buying and selling app for teenagers and their mother and father.”
The subscription-based app prices $3 per thirty days per person and is out there for Android. It was designed with Gen Z in thoughts, a technology that may develop up with the blockchain and most definitely personal some form of digital belongings, Rush informed TechCrunch.
He co-founded the corporate with CTO Natalie Younger and CCO Angela Mascarenas in 2021. The founding crew has an eclectic background that features teen fintech app Copper and securities for Rush, whereas Mascarenas helped digitize the cookie ordering system for the Woman Scouts and Younger was a T-Cell engineer.
Whereas at Copper, Rush led efforts to show youngsters about investing, however discovered that changing the phrase “inventory” with “crypto” was driving extra engagement. He would additionally see Reddit posts from teenagers making an attempt to get into crypto utilizing their mother and father’ data to create an account on exchanges like Coinbase or Robinhood and having them be frozen — and rightly so — for not being of-age to have an account.
“Clearly this was a thesis that nobody was taking a trailblazing effort on,” Rush informed TechCrunch. “How can we be the nice guys and create a protected and academic ecosystem?”
Coinbase and Robinhood already dominate the crypto change house, however Rush believes Stack stands out from the gang by providing options like entry to the tax and management benefits of a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) account and a buying and selling surroundings designed particularly for teenagers. And, when teen customers attain 18 years outdated, the belongings switch into their title. Customers may earn rewards as they be taught, which can translate into getting the app without cost.
Additionally it is limiting the belongings being provided to guard its customers, Rush mentioned. It’s going to begin with seven cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Cardano. Stack additionally doesn’t permit off-platform transfers, which Rush believes will minimize down on as much as 98% of the cryptocurrency fraud and scams that plague exchanges.
“By making these few selections we predict we are able to supply a greater academic product,” he added.
In the meantime, the app launches with greater than 6,000 customers on the waitlist and follows a $2.7 million funding from Madrona, The Enterprise Collective, Santa Clara Ventures and a gaggle of angel and particular person traders. The brand new funding offers Stack simply over $3 million in complete funding so far.
The brand new capital infusion will allow the corporate to proceed constructing out its app and its excessive school-focused monetary literacy program. Rush additionally needs Stack to realize extra monetary licenses and broaden its choices. The corporate has eight staff presently, and he expects to rent two extra this yr.
Subsequent up, the corporate will carry out what Rush calls “a extra considerate overhaul of its academic content material” that features creating compelling monetary content material comparable to what’s standard on TikTok and YouTube.
“We want an enormous carry to make it related to youngsters and are taking a look at academic subjects like NFTs, metaverse and web3,” he mentioned. “We purpose to be the trusted account for democratizing investing for younger folks.


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The Coal India Limited (CIL) Board has approved a pre-feasibility study for setting up an aluminum project in Odisha.
Maharatna received key approval in December 2020 to enter the aluminum and solar energy sectors.
CIL’s Greenfield aluminum project in Odisha will include a bauxite mine, an aluminum refinery, and a captive power plant operated by Mahanadi Golffields Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.
Coal India is the largest dry fuel producer in the country with over 80 per cent supply of coal.
In its recently released agenda for 2021-22, the company plans to diversify into new sectors such as electric vehicles, charging pieces and other sunrise sectors.
The company said it was seeking the approval of the pre-feasibility study panel in filing the regulation.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook announced during an interview on Bloomberg TV that the company's streaming service now has more than 50 million users. The number accounts for both subscribers and those enrolled in a free trial – a factor that usually wasn't included in previous totals.
The 50 million total marks the latest in a steady increase for the company, which had 36 million subscribers in February, 38 million in March and 40 million in April. The free trials, of which there were 8 million, were not included in the total of 40 million users. But the company remains on the track of gaining 2 million paid subscribers per month.
Apple still lags behind Spotify, which announced 75 million users after going public in April. But the entertainment streaming service has a slower growth of subscribers than Apple: Spotify is increasing at a monthly rate of 2%, while Apple's growth rate is 5%.
Apple was prominent in music sales as users purchased downloads through its iTunes Store. As streaming became more popular, the company launched its Apple Music streaming service in 2015.
Now, second only to Spotify and with the possibility of overcoming the company soon, Cook confirmed that Apple is preparing to launch a video content business next.


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Despite being a memorial for one of the most celebrated West Coast rappers of this generation, The Marathon was up until recently a hub for economic vitalization for The Crenshaw and Slauson community.
That was always Nipsey Hussle’s idea. He wanted a location that could be for us and by us, employing people from the community and feeding the sociological beast created by gentrification, racism, and poverty.
And yet, this place that was created to be a haven is now a revered tourist spot for those who loved the message behind the deceased Crip turned Mogul’s music.
Now, the store has been vandalized, according to a video posted on social media by DJ Akademik.
The footage shows broken windows and spray paint all across all the stores in the entire strip mall, including The Marathon.
“Whoever did this s###,” someone says as they film the destruction. “If a Crip n***a ever find out who did this, it’s ugly for them cuz.”
While the damage is extensive, it is unclear who are the culprits. Authorities are looking at security footage and hope to find who is responsible for the vandalism.
This case is still open, even as Holder has been indicted by the local authorities for Nip’s death.


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Updated, 11:41 a.m. |
LAS VEGAS — The famous short-seller James S. Chanos is questioning Valeant Pharmaceuticals’ business model and its $46 billion bid to acquire the Botox maker Allergan.
Mr. Chanos, who is best known for predicting the fall of Enron, has made a bet against Valeant, arguing that it generates growth only by purchasing companies.
“There is a real business there, but there is no growth and the Street is paying up a huge amount for future growth based on acquisitions,” Mr. Chanos, president of the hedge fund Kynikos Associates, said on the sidelines of the Skybridge Alternatives Conference in Las Vegas.
Since the company was formed in 2010 after a merger of Valeant and Biovail, it has done dozens of deals. These include, among its most recent, an $8.7 billion acquisition of Bausch & Lomb last year and $2.6 billion for Medicis in 2012.
Valeant, which is based in Canada, and the hedge fund manager William A. Ackman have teamed up to take over Allergan, announcing a multibillion-dollar cash-and-stock hostile bid three weeks ago. Mr. Ackman has a more than 9 percent stake in Allergan. Mr. Chanos also has a long position in Allergan.
On Monday, Allergan rejected Valeant’s bid, saying that the unsolicited offer “substantially undervalues Allergan, creates significant risks and uncertainties for the stockholders of Allergan, and is not in the best interests of the company and its stockholders.”
Allergan also indicated that it might consider making an acquisition of its own.
“At the end of the day, why is this a good deal?” Mr. Chanos asked, adding that Valeant’s proposal to cut research and development would harm Allergan’s business.
“The problem is that chief executive Mike Pearson and Valeant will anniversary their last big deal, Bausch & Lomb, in mid-August, and if there are no new companies in the pipeline, you’re going to see the real Valeant ‘apples to apples,’” Mr. Chanos said.
It’s all in the accounting, according to Mr. Chanos, who draws inspiration for his bearish bets from the balance sheets of companies and governments. His biggest bet is against the Chinese economy.
“Valeant loses money,” he said. “They put out a pro-forma cash earnings per share number that has no reflection in reality.”
Mr. Chanos also threw doubt over Valeant’s management, pointing out that six of its senior executives have left the company over the last 15 months. These include Dan Wechsler, who joined Valeant from Bausch & Lomb and was an executive vice president and company group chairman, and Vince Ippolito, a former senior vice president, who came from Medicis.
“Why are all the executives leaving?” asked Mr. Chanos, who said he built a short position against Valeant before it announced its hostile bid.
A spokeswoman for Valeant declined to comment.


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Tesla shareholders elect former CTO, co-founder JB Straubel to board
JB Straubel is formally again at Tesla — this time as a board member.
The previous Tesla CTO and co-founder was elected by shareholders Tuesday as an unbiased board of director. A crowd of Tesla shareholders, who had been on the firm’s Gigafactory Texas in Austin for the occasion, cheered when the preliminary outcomes had been learn and Straubel was formally declared its latest board member.
Shareholders elected three administrators to serve for a three-year time period. Tesla had nominated Musk, present chair Robyn Denholm and Straubel.
Previous to Tesla’s 2023 shareholder assembly, Tesla’s eight-person board was comprised of Musk, his brother Kimbal Musk, lra Ehrenpreis, chair Robyn Denholm, Hiromichi Mizuno, Joe Gebbia, James Murdoch and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson.
Straubel, who at the moment runs the battery supplies and recycling firm he based, will take over the spot vacated by Mizuno, the previous chief funding officer of Japan’s $1.5 trillion pension fund. Mizuno joined the board and its audit committee in 2020 and won’t stand for re-election.
Straubel joined Tesla in 2004 and was CTO for 14 years. He was largely considered because the quiet regular hand behind its controversial CEO. Straubel was chargeable for among the firm’s most necessary know-how, notably round batteries. Consequently, he’s a wildly in style govt. When he was nominated to the board, it was assumed he could be elected to the place.
Throughout his tenure at Tesla, Straubel led the development and idea of Gigafactory Nevada and the manufacturing ramp of its Mannequin 3 sedan. Straubel left Tesla in 2019. Drew Baglino, vp of know-how, took over his duties. On the time, Tesla mentioned Straubel would keep on in a senior advisor position.
After Straubel left the automaker he threw himself into scaling Redwood Supplies, a battery supplies provider and recycler that was based in 2017. Redwood Supplies, which relies in Carson Metropolis, Nevada, has since landed tons of of hundreds of thousands in company and enterprise capital and locked in a number of high-profile buyer offers with firms like Panasonic and Amazon.


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Holland Cakery 'n' Sweets grateful for 10 'solid' years in Holland Township
HOLLAND TWP. — When Holland Cakery 'n' Sweets first opened its doors, specialty cakes and cupcakes weren't really "a thing."
"Before the reality shows hit, people didn’t know the phenomenal labor that goes into constructing a wedding cake, the engineering that’s behind it,” the bakery's manager told The Sentinel in 2011.
Decorative baking might have been a new concept when owner Katy Bopp launched her bakery, but after years of shows like "Cake Boss," “Cupcake Wars," and "Sugar Rush," customers are getting the hang of it.
Today, there are entire YouTube channels dedicated to cake decorating. Customers download photos of their favorite designs and send them along to specialty bakeries for creation.
"We've grown so much over the past 10 years," Bopp said. "It's been huge."
Holland Cakery — specializing in wedding cakes, birthday cakes, cupcakes, cake pops and sugar cookies at 11539 E. Lakewood Boulevard — will celebrate its milestone anniversary 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept 11.
"We'll have a balloon artist and a face painter," Bopp said. "Salt & Pepper will sell lunchbox-type meals. We'll have prizes and everything in the bakery will be fully stocked."
Bopp, a West Michigan native, studied baking and pastry arts at Grand Rapids Community College. After six years working in a Costco bakery, she decided to open her own shop.
Since then, it's been all about community engagement.
"We're very involved in local events," Bopp said. "I think that's really drawn people to us. We love the support and look forward to growing even more. That's just our biggest thing, is community."
That was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, when bakeries struggled through shutdown orders.
"We stayed busy the whole time, but we had to think outside the box," Bopp said. "We made cookie kits and other things people could do at home. We kept trying to switch things up to be what people needed during that time."
Holland Cakery is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. To learn more, visit facebook.com/hollandcakery.
"We just want to thank the community for 10 solid years."


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Latest news about Bitcoin and all cryptocurrencies. Your daily crypto news habit.
After the White House sanctioned five major banks in Russia — VTB, Sovcombank, Otkritie, Novikombank, and Promsvyazbank — as a result of its attitude towards Ukraine, the sanctioned banks no longer will be able to support services like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
As per the announcement by the Central Bank of the country, the credit and debit cardholders in these banks will not be allowed to use Apple Pay and Google Pay. However, the contact and contactless payment would still be fully available across Russia.
Cards issued by banks that have been sanctioned by Western countries work and will continue to work in Russia without limits. Customers’ funds in card-linked accounts are likewise fully stored and accessible.
However, the customers of sanctioned banks would be unable to use their cards to pay for services at online stores and service aggregators registered in countries that support sanctions.
Bank of Russia informs sanction of Sberbank
The Bank of Russia, in a separate statement, said that the country’s biggest bank, Sberbank is also on the sanctioned banks list. The sanction particularly targets its correspondent accounts.
Apart from some Russian cards being prohibited from Apple Pay and Google Pay, some sanctioned Russian banks are also experiencing troubles with the Apple Store and Google Store as a result of their role in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Apple apparently removed mobile applications from the App Store by the sanctioned Promsvyazbank, with at least three applications being withdrawn. Google is also said to have removed the bank’s main application from its store.
Rising fear and huge outflows
As TheCoinRise reported, there is massive fear among citizens of getting their funds seized if the sanctions go too far, as a result of which, the citizens are withdrawing their funds in large numbers. On the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, users reportedly withdrew 111.3 billion rubles ($1.3 billion) from banks, the largest outflow since the COVID-19 outbreak began two years ago.
On Friday, many users online reported ATMs running dry and long lines to cash out, indicating that the substantial bank outflows have apparently continued.
People standing in queue outside of Sberbank to withdraw the money from their accounts. #Czechia #russia #Ukraine #UkraineRussia pic.twitter.com/WOnTbPsFad
— alexandra (@alxsndrew) February 25, 2022
The post Sanctioned banks in Russia would not be able to support Apple Pay and Google Pay appeared first on Blockchain, Crypto and Stock News.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the views of Bitcoin Insider. Every investment and trading move involves risk - this is especially true for cryptocurrencies given their volatility. We strongly advise our readers to conduct their own research when making a decision.


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March 21-23, 2023 | Philippines
The ASEAN Gaming Summit gathers the region’s leading operators, regulators and suppliers, to educate and inspire them for the next generation of gaming. The event takes place in Manila, Philippines, and is produced by leading gaming news and events producer, Asia Gaming Brief.
May 10-11, 2023 | UK
The Media Production and Technology Show was back with a bang this year, firmly cementing its place as the UK’s largest broadcast show that brings the creative and technical industries together.
MPTS connects experts across all aspects of content creation, including the latest technological advancements in audio, remote production, lighting, post, sports broadcasting, training, production, virtual production and much more.
Whether you're interested in discovering new products in the exhibition or gaining exclusive insights from leading industry experts in one of the theatres, there's something at the show for you.
December 12-14, 2022 | Canada
A veteran games industry team from Reboot, besides being the founders and event holders of Reboot Develop games industry and game developers conference, are also runners of one of the most influential games media brand in Europe, besides that Reboot team is preparing the huge seventh annual Reboot InfoGamer games show, one of the biggest consumer centric game conventions in the whole Europe.
February 4-10, 2023 | UK
A unique festival of all things gaming, celebrating games culture, design and production with special industry guests—returning to the museum in February 2023.There will be loads for everyone to enjoy cross our three strands—the Let’s Play! Family Weekend full of activities and gameplay, Young Developers Conference schools days, and our Game Talks conference-style event.


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Spied! Here's our first look at the all-new 2014 Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S hardtop.
Read This Article
Mini is on the move, both literally and figuratively.
Mini announces pricing on the new Cooper Hardtop which will be on sale later this year.
When we saw this morning that the Mini Countryman and Paceman Cooper crossovers would be getting optional all-wheel drive for the first time, we actually kinda sorta got excited about it.


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If you obtain bedbugs, you don't need to call a certified pest control firm, but you would certainly be foolish not to, is the take-away message from a warning released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last August. "Using the incorrect chemical or utilizing it incorrectly to treat for insects can make you, your family members, and your family pets unwell," the EPA said in a consumer sharp quoted by The Hill Healthwatch online. "It can likewise make your residence unsafe to reside in - as well as may not fix the vermin trouble."
Upset by reports of hazardous chemical abuse and extreme procedures being taken by some home owners and house residents in diy initiatives to get rid of bed bugs, the U.S. EPA as well as Centers for Condition Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint declaration last July alerting customers versus making use of outdoor pesticide products inside their homes in attempts to do away with bed pests. Records from qualified pest control professionals in the field and news media of people dousing their beds, their pyjamas as well as even bathing their youngsters in garden insecticides has caused growing issue among government officials, the clinical area, public health guardians, and also the National Pest Administration Organization (NPMA). Using severe chemicals not authorized by the EPA for property usage can trigger extreme burn-like inflammation of the skin and also eyes, feasible damages to the main nerve system, as well as may even subject you to carcinogens.
There have actually likewise been various news records of home as well as apartment fires started by determined people making use of very flammable liquids to eliminate insects. In July 2008, an Eatontown, New Jacket guy blew up his apartment while trying diy pest control.
" Pest control firms reported seeing many inefficient as well as possibly harmful measures made use of by do-it-yourselfers, consisting of ammonia, bleach, fire, smoke, kerosene, wasp spray, as well as insect bombs, as well as focused pesticides acquired online," College of Kentucky entomologist as well as national bedbug specialist Michael Potter, writes in Bugs Without Borders, Specifying the Worldwide Bed Bug Rebirth, a worldwide survey of pest administration companies lately carried out by the College of Kentucky along with the NPMA. "As insect victims come to be a lot more desperate, severe injury might arise from such applications, especially among those who pick not to employ a professional," he alerts.
To kill, pest control items should come right into straight physical contact with the bug; and also their eggs are unaffected by products presently accepted by the EPA for domestic usage. This combination of biology and also behavior makes it nearly difficult to eliminate an entire bedbug invasion with a solitary pest control therapy. 3 professional pest control treatments spaced two weeks apart are normally called for to successfully eliminate an insect invasion and also make certain that all hidden bugs and newly-hatched eggs have been killed.
Expert elimination by a qualified pest control firm with a know-how in bed pest removal is the most efficient method to get rid of bed pests. The EPA, on the Bed Bug Info Page published on its internet site, states, "Obtaining a pest management professional (PMP) involved immediately instead of requiring time to attempt to deal with the trouble on your own is really reliable at protecting against more infestations."
Bed pests replicate at a disconcerting rate and infestations can expand promptly. It is usual to see three or more bed bug generations existing in a well-known invasion.
To effectively treat bedbug problems, accredited pest control experts employ a combination of environmental management treatments, called Integrated Pest Monitoring (IPM), as well as a variety of pest control products accepted by the EPA for residential usage just by certified pest management specialists. Reliable insect extermination begins with precise pre-treatment preparation to get rid of clutter, garments, bedding and also various other products that may allow bedbugs to leave direct exposure to pest control materials. When site preparation is full, a mix of pest control products is used to strike insects on multiple degrees.
Issues about health and wellness problems that have emerged from misuse of pest control chemicals by incorrectly trained or unlicensed pest controllers and also unqualified specialists trying to profit public worry motivated the EPA to alert consumers to stay clear of insect extermination solutions made with "unrealistic promises of efficiency or low cost."
Last July, a Newark, New Jacket pest control company was charged of unlawful application of chemicals not approved for household use. While giving bed insect therapies to 70 houses and also apartment or condos systems, specialists splashed powerful chemicals on cushions and kids's toys. In Cincinnati, Ohio last June, an unlicensed specialist hired to get rid of bed bugs saturated an apartment building with an agricultural chemical, sending 7 tenants to the healthcare facility and also triggering public health authorities to quarantine the building.
In the hopes of avoiding such cases, the NPMA recently developed Finest Management Practices for Bed Bugs (BMP) to act as a guide for both the market and also consumers. A listing of customer tips for choosing a pest specialist provided in the BMP suggests that customers hire only certified and certified pest administration companies to safeguard their health and wellness and also ensure that the pest control services they get are secure and also effective. The NPMA additionally advises that consumers provide preferential factor to consider to certified pest administration companies that have actually attained QualityPro certification, indicating that they display the highest possible technological, moral and also educational criteria in the industry.
Reports from certified pest control experts in the area and also information media of individuals snuffing their beds, their pajamas and even bathing their kids in yard pesticides has actually created expanding concern among government officials, the clinical community, public health and wellness guardians, and also the National Pest Monitoring Association (NPMA). 3 expert pest control therapies spaced 2 weeks apart are commonly required to successfully eliminate a vermin infestation and ensure that all hidden bugs and newly-hatched eggs have been killed.
To successfully treat bedbug infestations, licensed pest control professionals employ a combination of environmental management procedures, called Integrated Pest Management (IPM), as well as a variety of pest control products accepted by the EPA for domestic use only by licensed pest management experts. Efficient insect extermination starts with thorough pre-treatment prep work to get rid of mess, garments, bed linens as well as other items that might allow vermins to run away direct exposure to pest control products. A checklist of customer ideas for choosing a pest expert offered in the BMP recommends that consumers employ only qualified and licensed pest management companies to shield their wellness as pest control queen creek well as security and ensure that the pest control solutions they obtain are secure and also efficient.


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A little more than a year after merging JN Phillips and Techna Glass to form the nation’s “second largest automotive glass and claims-management company,” CenterOak Partners announced it had sold that No. 2 to the No. 1 Safelite Group.
“In 2007 we welcomed Safelite to Belron and watched the business grow to be the largest, most respected leader in the industry,” Gary Lubner, CEO of Safelite parent Belron, said in a statement Tuesday. “Today, it’s an honor to do the same with TruRoad. As third-generation leaders of family businesses, I have the highest respect for Bob and the accomplishments both he and his teams have achieved. It’s going to be a wonderful and prosperous future for our companies.”
The sale closed Aug. 19.
“We have shifted our attention to communication plans, welcoming our new associates to our Safelite family, informing our key clients and suppliers, and are moving into the discovery/planning phase,” Safelite communications director Keriake Lucas wrote in an email Saturday.
The Safelite Group has 7,800 “MobileGlassShops and facilities” and a presence in 50 states, while TruRoad has 2,000 “company‐owned, franchised, and contracted providers” in 17 states, according to Safelite. (CenterOak describes a TruRoad footprint including an “affiliated network of over 5,000 independent auto glass shops”.)
Besides Techna Glass and JN Phillips, TruRoad also owns Harmon AutoGlass and Windshield Center. Since its 2018 launch, TruRoad has made “nine strategic acquisitions,” CenterOak wrote in a news release.
“We are proud to have partnered with Bob Rosenfield and the TruRoad team in forming a leading platform in the highly fragmented auto glass replacement and repair market,” CenterOak managing partner Randall Fojtasek said in a statement. “The company has grown organically and through acquisitions while investing in new technology, key talent and support, training and recruiting technicians, and undergoing a large-scale integration effort. The management team’s talent and execution allowed the company to capitalize on these growth opportunities while maintaining their commitment to a differentiated customer service experience.”
“We are extremely pleased to have created and grown our organization and established great consumer relevance with simple, uncomplicated resolution to complex vehicle glass and ADAS repair needs. Our partnership with the CenterOak team has truly helped us to increase our capabilities much faster and smarter than we otherwise would have been able to accomplish,” TruRoad CEO Robert Rosenfield said in a statement. “TruRoad and CenterOak shared a vision to capitalize on the fragmented nature of the auto glass replacement and repair market through a buy-and-build strategy. Over the course of the partnership we invested in technology, consolidated supply chain and purchasing power, implemented a single IT platform, and harmonized best operational practices, which all created value at an accelerated pace.”
The TruRoad companies will be renamed to carry the Safelite brand, Lucas confirmed in an email Saturday.
“We have invested significantly in building the Safelite brand—a brand consumers trust for convenience, quality, and innovation,” she wrote. “Safelite is also the only national company that provides the only true national warranty, serving anyone in the United States (in all 50 states) within one day of their service needs. We take pride in delivering unexpected happiness to people’s everyday lives. It’s our purpose and it guides our work every day.
“That said, ultimately, all brands will convert to Safelite. We deeply respect and admire the combined businesses of TruRoad and the associates who have worked hard to build the success of each. As we approach the discovery phase in a planful and deliberate manner, we will invest time in getting to know more about each other and welcome the feedback of associates as we develop our strategies and timetable.”
Asked if the company planned any layoffs or closures, Lucas reiterated that “we have just started the discovery/planning phase. We anticipate this phase will continue into Q4 and will not know the answer to your question until this phase is complete. Our focus is on associate, client, customer, and sales retention. This focus will guide our future actions.”
Safelite wrote in its Tuesday news release that buying TruRoad would help “accelerate growth.” Safelite also said the merger would help with its advanced driver assistance system recalibration business.
“ADAS recalibrations will be a top priority as best practices, tools, and trainings are shared,” Safelite wrote.
Safelite noted that another TruRoad company, StrategicClaim, pairs well with its own Safelite Solutions. This combination will be worth watching by collision repairers, given that both firms are involved in third-party claims work for auto insurers.
“TruRoad’s insurance services combine contact centers, self‐service solutions and real‐time service networks to optimize the auto and homeowner claim reporting and resolution cycle – easily, quickly, and accurately – for insurers and their policyholders at the time of incident,” Safelite wrote in its Tuesday news release. “TruRoad’s approach to strategic client relationships aligns strongly with Safelite Solutions’ claims management services, making this acquisition a perfect fit to improve upon its world-class service.”
Still a fragmented market
Asked about regulatory review on a No. 1 buying a No. 2, Lucas pointed out the large number of small businesses remaining in the auto glass industry.
“Auto glass repair and replacement is a highly segmented industry, meaning there are countless small businesses in this space and plenty of room for everyone to compete for market share,” she wrote. “That said, we followed all proper reporting protocol and government regulations when working through the logistics of the deal.”
Sometimes regulators will approve a merger overall but require divestments in certain markets to keep the region competitive. However, Lucas said the company didn’t expect to divest any TruRoad businesses either.
Safelite, Aug. 20, 2019
CenterOak Partners, August 2019
Featured image: The Safelite Group logo is shown. (Provided by Safelite via PR Newswire)


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Healthcare sector outlook stable: ICRAJune 10, 2019
India’s healthcare sector outlook remains stable despite regulatory headwinds, says ICRA, an Indian credit rating agency.
The hospital sector’s performance has been falling in the last two years due to several regulatory restrictions, including demonetisation, the cap on prices of stents and knee implants by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), stiff regulatory action by certain states and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
In the latest order, issued on March 8, 2019, the NPPA put a cap of 30 per cent on the trade margin earned on 390 drugs that are primarily used for treatment of cancer. The price cap led to a reduction of up to 87 per cent in the prices of the anti-cancer drugs. The current order by NPPA adds on to the list of products already placed under price restrictions. Most of the cancer-related drugs are high-value medicines and are sold directly through the hospital chains, oncology being one of the highest-value-added specialty for hospitals due to the increasing incidence of cancer-related ailments. Nonetheless, several oncology drugs are still out of the purview of the price cap.
“The regulatory environment continues to be the overarching challenge for the hospital sector and the recent NPPA order reinforces this view. The wide-ranging regulatory restrictions from multiple authorities have suppressed the margins of the players,’’ said Shubham Jain, group head and vice president – corporate sector ratings, ICRA, in a statement.
However, hospitals’ decision on repricing of service/product component of packages and usage of different drugs is expected to correct the lopsided pharma component margins and partly negate the impact of the current NPPA order, he noted.


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A man from Santa Ynez California has been sentenced to serve six years in federal prison for operating a scam falsely promising bartending and mystery shopper jobs. Approximately 87,400 victims across the United States were defrauded by the scheme, which ran from 2001 through 2004 and caused nearly $6.2 million in losses.
Stevan P. Todorovic, 40, was sentenced by United States District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. In sentencing Todorovic, Judge Hatter noted that, in addition to taking money from victims, Todorovic caused a “loss of hope, a loss of opportunity.”
Last July, a federal jury convicted Todorovic of seven counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud for making false promises to people seeking work.
According to Federal investigators, Todorovic set up two companies—American Bartending Institute and Consumer Response Group—to sell bogus training programs and job referrals. Todorovic placed advertisements in newspapers across the country offering bartending and mystery shopper jobs. Those who responded to the ads were misled into beliveing they had to purchase Todorovic’s certification programs in order to receive referrals to businesses that wanted to hire bartenders or mystery shoppers. The certifications, however, were not recognized by legitimate mystery shopping companies or other businesses, and Todorovic had no jobs to offer.
Before paying for any training or service, ask questions. Who is behind the offer? What is their experience or what credentials do they have? Who recognizes a certification? Watch for someone who is making promises they can not keep, such as promising jobs or income.
Although this one scammer is off the streets, there are still hundreds out there, trying to get your money. Exercise caution when you are working with an unfamiliar person or organization. Check them out carefully.


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With capacity up 2.6 per cent, higher ticket prices and onboard revenue were the main drivers for Royal Caribbean Cruises reporting record results today in the second quarter.
Royal Caribbean reported net income of (GAAP) $466.3 million, or $2.19 per share, on revenues of $2.3 billion for its second quarter ended June 30, 2018, compared to net income of $369.5 million, or $1.71 per share, on revenues of $2.2 billion last year.
Ticket revenue per passenger day was $163.76 for the second quarter of this year, compared to $158.92 last year and the onboard spend was $65.12 compared to $61.70 per passenger last year.
Operating expenses rose moderately at $128.70 per passenger day with increases in all expense categories, from $126.30 last year.
With operating income of $456.9 million this year, up $37.2 million from $419.7 million, $9.4 million in interest and other income this year, compared to a $50.2 million in interest and other expenses last year, contributed further to boost net income to $466.3 million over $369.5 million.
The increase in per share income was also boosted by fewer outstanding shares, a result of Royal Caribbean’s share buyback program. Outstanding shares numbered 212.5 million, compared to 216.1 million for the same period last year.
Royal Caribbean reported 10,213,067 passenger cruise days this year, up from 9,950,570 passenger cruise days last year, and 1,461,055 passengers, compared to 1,433,339 in 2017.
Cruise line yields could fall in the future due to the volume of new ships entering the market in the next decade, according to the boss of MSC Cruises.
A total of 106 ships are expected to launch between 2017-26, including 12 alone from MSC Cruises. Other mainstream cruise brands such as Royal Caribbean International has six ships on its order books and Norwegian Cruise Line has seven. 48 expedition and luxury ships are also planned.
Asked whether occupancy levels were at risk of falling from so much growth, chief executive Gianni Onorato told delegates at the ITT Conference in Sicily: “No, we are not crazy. But in difficult times it can have an impact on yields more than occupancy. So I think this will be more of an issue than occupancy levels.”
Onorato said the slowdown in cruise bookings last year in the UK was due to a “lack of capacity” in 2017 and said he was very “optimistic” about the British market going forward.
He said the biggest challenge facing cruise lines was future proofing ships which are built to last 20 years.
“Knowing what guests want in 2040 when you’re building them now is very difficult to predict so we need to have a flexible mindset and be able to follow guests’ needs (in terms of technology) but at the same time maintain human contact,” Onorato said.


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'Everyone worries about me': Cara Delevingne admits seeking advice from Kate Moss and Rihanna as she poses topless
She's the model of the moment whose off-catwalk antics create just as much of a stir as her work.
And while Cara Delevingne concedes her friends and family do worry about her, she has found two famous friends to turn to for advice - Kate Moss and Rihanna.
The 21-year-old opened up on adapting to life as one of the most in demand models in the world as she posed for the front cover of the September issue of W magazine.
The Anti-Role Model: Cara Delevingne poses topless for the new issue of W magazine
While Cara has caught the eye of fashion brands such as Burberry and DKNY, she has also been garnering plenty of headlines for her wild partying.
Discussing her reputation, she admits: 'Everyone worries about me.
'It’s hard for my family, and I know I have to be careful.
'People have to realise that I can take care of myself. I’ve done a great job so far.'
As many know, Cara has a best friend in her 'wifey', pop star Rita Ora, who she spends a lot of time with.
Cover girl: Cara poses in a white bra for the cover of the September issue of W
However, she also admits turning to veteran supermodel Kate Moss and pop star Rihanna for advice.
On a recent holiday to Greece, Cara admitted feeling lonely being surounded by singles so phoned Rihanna for a chat.
She said: 'She said "It’s easy to drown yourself in work. That’s a form of escapism. So, if you’re alone and you want to cry, cry."
'And I did. But by then, it was time to leave and get back to my life.'
My girls: Cara in an Instagram photo with Rihanna and flatmate Georgia May Jagger
In the interview, Cara speaks openly about her skin condition psoriasis, which flares up when she's stressed.
She recalled: 'It only happened during Fashion Week! Which is, of course, the worst time of the year for me to be covered in scabs...
'Kate saw me before the Louis Vuitton show at 3 am, when I was being painted by people to cover the scabs.
'She said, "This is horrible! Why is this happening? I need to help you." She got me a doctor that afternoon; Kate gives really good advice.'
The full interview is in the new September issue of W magazine, on sale now.
For more information, visit the W magazine website.
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H2 2020: The State of E-Commerce in Singapore
Singapore is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia, with a projected e-commerce revenue of US$ 2.8 million in 2021. Driven by pandemic-related measures like social distancing and closing off non-essential retail businesses, Singapore’s e-commerce sales continued to surge through 2020.
A recent survey by Rakuten Insight suggested that 32% of Singaporeans made online purchases weekly in 2020. It is no secret that consumers were shopping online more frequently in 2020 compared to the years before.
We wanted to measure how much Singapore’s e-commerce sector has grown from 2019 to 2020: with that, we compared our State of E-Commerce in Singapore for 2019 and made some insightful observations:
The average transit time to the first delivery attempt was 1.4 days
In our previous Singapore study, we found that the average transit time to first delivery was 1.3 days in 2019. As soon as the pandemic hit in 2020, we were expecting the average transit time to the first delivery attempt to increase tremendously. Our joint study with iPrice Group showed that the transit time in Singapore increased from 1.3 to 1.5 days – a slight increase of 15% compared to neighboring countries like Malaysia – which saw a 119% increase.
In the second half of 2020, the Singapore government announced the start of the second phase of re-opening, also known as the “circuit breaker period”. As Singapore moved into phase 2, more stores were allowed to reopen (essential and non-essential). Singaporeans were able to get their necessities and relive the physical shopping experience in stores. This might have had a positive impact on transit times as consumers began to make their way to physical stores and became less reliant on online shopping.
98% of parcels were successfully delivered at the first attempt
As more consumers were working from home, the number of missed deliveries have decreased with t 98% of parcels successfully delivered at first attempt. Many companies in Singapore also decided to continue work-from-home arrangements despite the relaxation of government restrictions. The inconvenience of having to reschedule missed deliveries was greatly reduced as there was always someone home to receive all the parcels.
55% of international shipments came from China, the US, and Malaysia
This comes as no surprise as it is wholly consistent with our previous study on Singapore where the top 3 international shipments origins were China, the US, and Malaysia. The top e-commerce sites in Singapore are Shopee, Lazada, Qoo10, and Amazon; and these online marketplaces host sellers from all over the world.
For more exclusive reports, insights, and interviews on the latest updates in e-commerce and logistics, follow us on LinkedIn or join our community as a member.


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The development of gaming smartphones this year is growing rapidly, several companies have presented gaming smartphones with specifications and screens that really spoil the eye when playing games with high refresh rates for mobile phones, such as Nubia with Red Magic 5g has a screen with a refresh rate of 144hz which is among the highest at this time, then what about Asus with ROG Phone-his?
Product Specification Asus ROG Phone 3 / III (Rumor)
Asus reportedly was preparing to present the latest gaming cellphones from the ROG Phone series, which rumors referred to as Asus ROG Phone 3 / III, the latest leak has now confirmed that the presence of the Asus ROG Phone 3 / III will not be long, the latest is the emergence of gaming smartphones carrying 12GB of RAM (the highest) revealed through the GeekBench site.
Asus ROG Phone 3 / III on GeekBench
Asus ROG Phone 3 / III has the ASUS_II003D product code. Speculation for smartphone specifications in the kitchen section of the pacemaker might be powered by Snapdragon 865 processor and 12GB RAM, which gets 910 points in single-core tests and 3,229 points in multi-core tests, a feature of the screen hasn't been revealed much whether it will come with support for refresh rates of 120Hz, 144Hz or even higher, who knows.
In addition to information from ROG, we also have a list of hundreds of smartphones in Indonesian online stores, the numbers will continue to be added in the future so, Stay connected with Dhiarcom to get more interesting updates notifications by pressing the bell below or subscribe via email, greeting Indonesia


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Some aggrieved Customers of Menzgold Ghana Limited have hit the streets in protest against the embattled gold dealership company’s failure to pay them their principal investments.
According to the conveners of the group, the demonstration presents an opportunity for the customers to bring to the notice of Government and Parliament, the woes of the customers of the company.
The demonstrators plan to submit petitions to the company, Parliament, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other authorities.
In an interview with Citi News’ Hanson Agyemang, the President of the Coalition of Aggrieved customers of Menzgold Ghana Limited, Timothy Binob, said they hit the streets in a bid to compel Menzgold to honour the numerous promises made by the company to pay their customers
“Our expectations from Menzgold is that they pay us the full amount of our principal investments that is with them. We have had several stakeholder meetings and they promised and assured that they will pay our investments fully within 90 days. It was supposed to start from 9th October but as at now, those promises haven’t been fulfilled by Menzgold. They are going around throwing dust into the public domain saying that we have been paid. We are no longer going to accept that.”
Mr. Binob added that the Coalition will also petition a number of foreign embassies if their principal investments aren’t paid after two weeks, in their bid to seek redress.
“We are now up to task to petition the Government and other state agencies. Two weeks after this there will be another demonstration to petition the foreign embassies so that they know the situation.”
He further disclosed that today’s demonstration is a prelude to the presentation of their petition to the President, Parliament, the National Peace Council and Inspector General of Police.
“We are petitioning the President through the Minister of Information, we are petitioning the Peace Council, we are petitioning the Majority leader and the IGP.”
Some demonstrators held placards with inscriptions such as, ‘NAM is 419’, ‘SEC lift the ban’ ‘We shall die for our monies’ Gov’t order NAM 1 to pay us’ ‘NAM 1 pay us, you can’t hide forever’ ‘Sell Menzgold properties to pay’.
Mr. Binob also revealed that they are expecting in excess of 1,000 customers to partake in the on-going demonstration.
The demonstration by the aggrieved customers appears to be in defiance of pleas from the company’s management to customers to boycott the demonstration as payments to customers has commenced.
The company said although the customers have the right to stage such a protest, it believes that the action is unnecessary as it is honouring its promise of paying monies to the customers.
The Head of Communications of the gold dealership company, Nii Armah Amarteifio in an interview with Citi News said aggrieved customers who are still unsure about the payment of their investments must approach the company and dialogue, rather than hit the streets.
We won’t pay Menzgold customers’ locked up cash – Finance Minister
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori – Atta, has stated that government will not pay customers of gold dealership company, Menzgold their locked up investment.
Describing the situation as disturbing, Mr. Ofori-Atta disclosed that the company has lots of customers from reputable state institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Ghana and the military.
“…As I look at the Ministry of Finance and I see some people who are at the Ministry of Finance who have invested there, I look at the Bank of Ghana and I see some people who have invested there, and of course the military etc [who have invested there].”
He said such people invested their monies in Menzgold at their own peril.
Menzgold was asked to suspend its gold trading operations with the public by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
According to the SEC, Menzgold has been dealing in the purchase and deposit of gold collectibles from the public and issuing contracts with guaranteed returns with clients, without a valid license from the Commission.
This, the SEC said this was in contravention of “section 109 of Act 929 with consequences under section 2016 (I) of the same Act.”
The company was however cleared to continue its “other businesses of assaying, purchasing gold from small-scale miners and export of gold.”
Despite initial protests, Menzgold complied with the directive. It has however failed to fully pay its numerous aggrieved customers the value on their gold deposits as well as their entire investments.
By: Jude Mensa Duncan | CitiNewsroom.com | Ghana | email@example.com
Photos: Kwame Adzaho-Amenortor


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Plenty of businesses, such as PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) and Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), have been under the microscope on fears of potential earnings decreases due to growing use of products like Novo Nordisk A/S' (NYSE: NVO) Ozempic, and similar drugs made by Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY).
While PepsiCo and Walmart have swatted away those concerns, investors are now wondering about the prospects for DexCom Inc. (NASDAQ: DXCM).
DexCom specializes in the development and manufacturing of continuous glucose monitoring systems to help diabetes patients manage blood sugar levels.
DexCom's technology offers real-time, continuous data on a person's glucose levels using a small sensor placed beneath the skin, typically on the abdomen.
This sensor sends the data to a compact, wearable receiver or a smartphone app, allowing users to monitor their blood sugar on a 24-hour basis.
Stock Rolled Over After Q2 Report
Look at the DexCom chart: The stock had been trending sideways throughout this year until rolling over into a steep and sudden correction in July. That sell-off followed its second-quarter report, which beat views by a long shot, as you can see using MarketBeat's DexCom earnings data.
In the earnings conference call, CEO Kevin Sawyer said, "Q2 was our highest revenue quarter ever and represented the largest year-over-year dollar growth in our company's history." He also said the quarterly results were "like a highlight reel."
So what happened?
Unfortunately for DexCom, investors have become concerned about the possibility of more expansive applications of obesity drugs and their impact on medical devices used to manage diabetes.
In fact, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro is approved to help treat type 2 diabetes, as is Novo Nordisk's Ozempic.
DexCom Not Seeing Impact of Weight-Loss Drugs
Fears of people using diabetes drugs to successfully treat their condition, while ditching their subscriptions to glucose monitors, are not unwarranted.
However, DexCom's sales haven't yet seen a dent from sales of Novo Nordisk's or Eli Lilly's diabetes drugs.
DexCom's revenue grew at double-digit rates in each of the past eight quarters, while earnings grew at triple-digit rates in the past three quarters.
The company has been profitable every year since 2018.
Reassuring Investors About the Pace of Sales
It's been attempting to stave off concerns about business going away due to diabetes and weight-loss drugs. In early September, in an investors' presentation, the company said it anticipated adoption of its products to continue at a rapid clip.
After that news, the stock got a modest bump, but the aftereffect didn't last; shares are down 18.06% in the past month.
Other medical device makers, such as Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ZBH), have also seen selloffs due to worries about weight loss and diabetes drugs. Zimmer Biomet sells equipment to treat sleep apnea, a condition closely linked to obesity.
Zimmer Biomet shares are down 26.04% in the past three months.
Analysts See Upside in Price Target
MarketBeat's DexCom analyst ratings show a consensus view of "moderate-buy" with a price target of $129.59, a 61% upside.
Think about that for a minute: That's a pretty hefty increase in expected share price, indicating that despite the 30.28% year-to-date decline, Wall Street hasn't thrown in the towel on DexCom stock, despite several analysts lowering their price targets in recent weeks.
Analysts anticipate that DexCom will maintain a yearly revenue growth rate of approximately 20% through 2027. Wall Street is eyeing earnings growth of 43% this year, to $1.24 a share. Next year, that's expected to grow another 30% to $1.61 per share. If profit margins increase, earnings per share and revenue could grow at fast rates.
All of that adds up to a stock that could be perceived as a good bargain right now.
You could view DexCom's downturn as a "right-sizing," as the price-to-earnings ratio is still 70, firmly in growth stock territory. A high P/E can indicate an overvalued stock, but with DexCom's revenue and earnings projections, it may simply mean the stock is selling at low valuations relative to its potential.


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In my years discussing disruptive innovation while teaching Newspaper Next concepts, I often said that newspapers’ advertising/circulation blinders kept us from developing a digital marketplace such as Amazon.
Well, now, we finally have Amazon’s disruptive founder in the newspaper business, with the Washington Post’s announced sale to Jeff Bezos.
I don’t have time to analyze the deal today — and wouldn’t trust such swift analysis if I did — but I am glad to see such a disruptor coming to the newspaper business. I think we can count on the Post moving beyond the narrow advertising/subscriptions model that is collapsing.
To see Bezos bringing his disruptive approach to the newspaper of Katharine Graham, Ben Bradlee, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Dana Priest, Carol Guzy and Gene Weingarten is exciting and intriguing. I look forward to it in anticipation.
It’s not what Matt Thompson and Robin Sloan forecast in EPIC 2014, but that did forecast an amazing Amazon merger. So I’ll post it here as a reminder.


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CHIPMAKER Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 835, its next-generation mobile processor and the first to be built on the 10nm FinFET manufacturing process.
The Snapdragon 835 - not the Snapdragon 830, as expected - will be built by Samsung, the first company to start mass producing chips using the 10nm manufacturing process.
Compared with Qualcomm's current 14nm Snapdragon 821 processor, also made by Samsung, the new CPU will offer a 30 per cent increase in area efficiency yielding 27 per cent better performance, and a 40 per cent lower power consumption, with Qualcomm touting "significant improvements" to battery life.
Using 10nm FinFET, the Snapdragon 835 processor will also have a smaller chip footprint, giving OEMs more usable space inside upcoming products to support larger batteries or slimmer designs.
Keith Kressin, senior vice president of product management at Qualcomm, said: "We are excited to continue working together with Samsung in developing products that lead the mobile industry.
"Using the new 10nm process node is expected to allow our premium-tier Snapdragon 835 processor to deliver greater power efficiency and increase performance while also allowing us to add a number of new capabilities that can improve the user experience of tomorrow’s mobile devices.”
Support for Quick Charge 4.0 is also included, which Qualcomm claims offers 20 per cent faster charging than its last-gen tech, giving you up to five hours of extra battery life with just five minutes on charge and 50 per cent battery in 15 minutes.
Qualcomm also said that Quick Charge 4.0 is fully compliant with Google’s new specifications for Type-C charging thanks to its more accurate measurement of voltage, current and temperature to protect devices and chargers from damage and overcharging.
This comes after Google said last week that Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 tech is not compatible with Nougat.
The Snapdragon 835 is in production now and expected to ship in devices in the first half of 2017. Samsung's Galaxy S8, tipped to be released in April, is likely to be one of the first Snapdragon 835-powered smartphones. µ
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Phishing attacks were launched against the candidates' staff