text:
Producers of black pigs see red over ACCC decisionCATHY WALKER June 24, 2014 3:10am
Barham’s Lauren Mathers says bad publicity over Saskia Beer’s pork products has damaged the industry.
The headline writers had fun with jokes about telling porkies and how pig claims don’t fly when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last week exposed food guru Maggie Beer’s daughter, Saskia, for misleading the public about her Barossa Farm Produce.
The news was less amusing for heritage-breed pork producers, when Ms Beer’s Black Pig smallgoods were found not to be made from Berkshire pork as stated on the labelling.
Barham farmer Lauren Mathers of Bundarra Berkshires said such negative publicity was ‘‘bringing the whole industry down’’.
‘‘Saskia Beer is a name we all sort of trust. People put so much trust in labels. We as an industry lose a bit of trust when this happens and that’s a shame,’’ Mrs Mathers said.
She and husband Lachy sell their farm-raised Berkshire pork from their on-farm butcher’s shop, at farmers’ markets, online and through their local IGA supermarket.
The Mathers have just built a dry-curing room to complement the butchery, and were preparing for a ‘Hog Fest’ last weekend.
Further south at McIvor Farms at Tooboorac, Berkshire farmer Belinda Hagen did not wish to comment on the Beer case.
But in general terms, she said customers were taking the information provided on labelling as honest and truthful, ‘‘particularly if you are direct marketing’’.
‘‘We like to think there is a taste difference; it depends on how processed it is,’’ Mrs Hagen said.
‘‘From a fresh pork point of view, our pigs have black hair in the pork skin.’’
Black pig breeds, which include Berkshire pigs, are heritage breeds. Berkshire pork is known for its texture and flavour due to a higher fat-to-meat ratio than white pig breeds.
In the Saskia Beer judgment the ACCC found:
‘‘Between about December 9, 2010 and May 28, 2013, Barossa Farm Produce made various representations that the pork used in its Black Pig smallgoods was from heritage Berkshire pigs, or other heritage black pig breeds; and/or free range pigs, when that was not the case.’’
A statement made on the websites www.saskiabeer.com and www.barossafarmproduce.com that ‘‘we know the origin of every animal that makes its way onto the plate’’ in relation to the pork smallgoods was also misleading, the ACCC found ‘‘as Barossa Farm Produce did not in fact know the origin of every animal used in those products’’.
‘‘A business must not make claims about the characteristics of its products when it has no reasonable basis for doing so,’’ ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.
Mr Sims said Ms Beer’s company had accepted an undertaking to not mislead customers again and would be forced to publish a corrective notice on its website.
In a statement last week Ms Beer apologised and described the use of white pork as a miscommunication on the part of her supplier.
Shepparton Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate a fatal collision near Congupna on Friday afternoon.
Dawn Tabor 10 January 1944 – 10 September 2016
The Aboriginal and wider community is mourning the death of revered Bangerang Aboriginal elder, Uncle John ‘‘Sandy’’ Atkinson.
MOSQUITOES look set to start biting earlier than usual thanks to our wetter than normal winter.
OUR Lady of the Sacred Heart Elmore was a sea of colour earlier this month for Footy Colours Day.
THERE were picnics galore at St Augustine’s College recently as the school celebrated St Augustine’s Day with a whole college mass and a community picnic on the school oval.
Seymour A and B-grade in season decider
Extensive rainfall in the Southern Riverina is having a negative impact on farming.
When Pyalong Primary School does something, it does it well. Here are the students all dressed up for the school's recent Roald Dahl day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the author’s birth on September 13, 1916.
Former Moira Shire mayor Marie Martin will be running in the upcoming council election.
Nick Caruso will compete in tumbling at the National Clubs Championships in Bendigo tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 16
The News magazines are online - read high quality magazines in your time. Check in regularly for the latest editions.
Riverine Herald's well regarded locally produced magazines. They're now online, so you can read them whenever and wherever you like.
Search for published and unpublished photos from McPherson Media Group newspapers and magazines. All our photos are available to purchase.
Place an advertisement in any one of McPherson Media Group's local newspapers.


text:
Android fan have been able to buy an unlocked Google Nexus One from the US since early January, but now the phone is finally going to be available on contract here.
The Google-branded phone, which was developed with HTC, has been available for around £331 unlocked but was only available on contract Stateside with T-Mobile and Verizon as partners. This meant that residents of this Fair Isle that bought the phone direct from Google had to pay import fees. If you decided to send the phone back, you had to apply for a refund from the shipping firm.
However, the phone is covered by a two-year warranty and customers were able to get a faulty phone fixed by HTC in the UK instead of forking out to send the phone overseas.
Vodafone UK is now taking pre-orders of the phone (Wired's review here), and says that Android fans could be taking delivery by 5 May. It will be available on a range of plans starting at £35/month.
For those comtemplating the merits of the Android system, here's Wired's guide to Google Android.

domain: news


text:
Marvel’s latest movie, Avengers: Age of Ultron, opened to the second largest weekend ever at the box office. The comics industry – from which so many of today’s top blockbusters are derived — earned about $540 million last year. That’s a 20 percent increase from five years ago. Current sales trends show those numbers continuing to rise. Richard Evans is the owner of Bedrock City Comics in Houston.
“We always talk about it, those of us who have been collecting comics for a long time – how cool it is to be involved in this stuff now,” Evans says. “Because the things we were marginalized 30 years ago when we were teenagers – now it’s embraced by everybody because now – the general public –are all geeks.”
Texas has some of the world’s most dedicated fans. This year, the state will host about a dozen comic book and sci-fi conventions. John Simons is the chairman of Comicpaloozza, in Houston.
“We’re starting to get looked at kind of differently – we actually have a movie premiering, a world premier,” Simons says. “That sort of thing is something that does not happen to your average convention.”
Comicpalooza started out with a dozen comic writers and artists signing books in the lobby of a movie theatre. Six years later, it’s drawing more than 100,000 visitors and hosting a dozen celebrity appearances. But as with any industry seeing explosive growth, competition is tough.
“There are more comic conventions in the country than ever before, and more that are bigger; now there are actually large multinational companies that own some of them,” Simons says. “They have essentially limitless money if they wish to spend it. So the amount of competition for someone like me – who have $450 when he started – is tremendous.”
If you’re at this year’s convention, remember the collector’s mantra: buy comics if you want, maybe get them signed. But think twice before you throw anything away – today’s Comicpalooza program could become tomorrow’s comic book gold.


text:
Another game runs and hides from CD Projekt Red’s blockbuster release.
Piranha Games has pushed back the launch of Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries on Steam thanks to Cyberpunk 2077.
In a blog post, the studio said that it wasn’t eager to go toe-to-toe with CD Projekt Red’s eagerly-anticipated sci-fi RPG, which is set to launch on December 10. Mechwarrior 5 will now be released on Steam and GOG in spring 2021, alongside the Heroes of the Inner Sphere DLC that was set to launch at the same time.
“Any developer wants their titles to get as much attention as possible, and obviously sharing a release date with Cyberpunk was less than optimal,” the developer wrote.
“Day one sales and marketing are so important to a successful product launch, and we believe that rescheduling our release date will allow MechWarrior 5 Mercenaries to have the opportunity and attention it deserves.”
But Piranha is looking on the bright side of the whole situation. The studio is now able to bring Mechwarrior 5 to Steam, GOG, the Microsoft Store as well as Xbox Series X, Series S and Xbox One consoles at the same time. The developer hopes that this will result in more exposure. Piranha also hopes to make some improvements to the title, including its AI, UI and art.
Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries was released as an Epic Games Store exclusive in December 2019.
Piranha isn’t the only studio worried about Cyberpunk 2077 eating up all the attention around its release. Developer Grinding Gear recently bumped the launch of its next big update for Path of Exile to get away from the juggernaut.


text:
Analise Gonzales, the director of specialty brands with Trident Seafoods Corp., has been elected to the board of directors of SeaShare, a nonprofit based on Bainbridge Island, Wash. that provides seafood to food banks nationwide.
Her appointment, which was announced on Feb. 13, is the latest change in leadership of the 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1994.
In January, SeaShare announced the August retirement of Jim Harmon, who has served as executive director for 23 years. Global marketing executive Hannah Lindoff of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute was named to succeed Harmon.
In a statement, Gonzales said she was honored to join the SeaShare board.
“As someone who is an omega (healthy fats) enthusiast, I am genuinely thrilled to contribute to SeaShare’s mission, and to highlight the nutritional value, versatility and sustainability of seafood,” she said.
Gonzales, who grew up in a fishing family, began working for Trident Seafoods in 2018. She leads the company’s strategy and development for their specialty human and pet health products, and has a professional background in sales, training and marketing with Allergan Pharmaceuticals and Target Corp.
Rasmus Soerensen, chief commercial officer of American Seafoods Co., serves as president of the board, while Greg Englin, executive director of the Port of Kingston, Wash., is vice president. Richard Mullins, managing director of NAIA Natural Products, serves as treasurer and Pat Shanahan, president of food marketing organization the Shanahan Group, was recently appointed as secretary.
Other board members include Casey Campbell, a commercial harvester; Jan Jacobs, past director of government affairs, America Seafoods Co., LLC; Michael Lieberman, senior vice president, Food Industry Insurance Division, FOA & Son Corp; Tom Enlow, president, Unisea Inc.; Doug Christensen, president of Arctic Storm Management Group; Chris Barrows, catcher vessel fleet manager with Golden Alaska Seafoods, and Tom Zaffiro, president, Channel Fish Processing.


text:
To the usually harmonious trade relations among the nations of North America, potatoes have proved an unhappy exception.
The U.S. ban on imports of the vegetable from Canada’s Prince Edward Island (PEI) has just been lifted, but exports of U.S. potatoes to Mexico remain limited to a 26-kilometer distance of the border between the two nations.
That appears to be changing.
On April 5, USDA secretary Tom Vilsack and Mexican secretary of agriculture and rural development Victor Villalobos announced an agreement stating, “The United States and Mexico have concluded all necessary plant health protocols and agreed to a final visit by Mexican officials in April that finalizes expanded access to the entire Mexican market no later than May 15 for all U.S. table stock and chipping potatoes according to the agreed workplan.”
The U.S. National Potato Council (NPC), which represents the $4.5 billion industry on legislative, trade, and other issues, expressed cautious approval of the agreement: “Given the history of this 25-year trade dispute, we are waiting to declare victory until we see durable exports of both fresh processing and table stock potatoes throughout all of Mexico as required by the November 2021 signed agreement. We hope the April site visit by Mexican officials will be the last hurdle we need to clear and that no last-minute roadblocks will be erected prior to Mexico finally—and permanently–reopening its border to U.S.-grown potatoes.”
Actually, the Mexican government had allowed the importation of U.S. potatoes in 2014, but this was challenged by CONPAPA (National Confederation of Potato Producers of the Mexican Republic, the Mexican equivalent of the National Potato Council). After years of legal wrangling, last April the Mexican supreme court ruled in favor of the U.S. industry.
But phytosanitary hurdles have remained. The latest agreement between Vilsack and Villalobos appear to have removed them, but the U.S. potato industry has reason for its reservations.
The NPC estimates that an open Mexican market could bring in $250 million per year within five years.
Trade disputes are particularly frustrating in that the ostensible reason for stoppage (say, phytosanitary concerns) is not the only, or often even the main, reason for them. Some PEI potato growers contend that the ban on their product was a move in a larger trade gambit, and U.S. potato growers can feel much the same way about Mexican restrictions.
The situation is especially complex because trade disputes are not one-dimensional—squabbling about potato imports is not just about potatoes, but is tied in with other, larger issues. The U.S.’s quickly reversed flash ban on Mexican avocados post-Super Bowl looks like part of the same picture.
Individual citizens often feel that they are often small fry caught in the intricate mechanisms of government. Entire industries can feel the same way.


text:
Six months ago, the team behind WP All Import and Oxygen opened Poopy.life to the public, a service that offers free unlimited WordPress installs for anyone who needs a temporary testing site. Public testing went well enough that a commercial tier of the service is now available at WPSandbox.io, with plans ranging from $49/month – $699/month, depending on the number of installs required.
“On any given day we have around 3-4K active installs,” WP All Import team lead Joe Guilmette said. “We actually got around 7K the first day and the infrastructure didn’t go down. So we were pretty stoked.”
Guilmette said a few plugin and theme shops are using the service and one developer even wrote a script to iframe their poopy.life installs for use in their theme demos.
“We’ll probably put a stop to that at some point, but it was pretty cool to see,” Guilmette said. “Tons of people use it for testing plugins, themes, and just all sorts of general WordPress testing. We’ve been using this internally for years, and every time we’d fire up localhost or a testing install, it’s just faster to use poopy.life.”
Pro users get all the convenience of Poopy.life under the more business-friendly wpsandbox.pro domain with a dashboard to manage installs, SSH and SFTP access to their installs, and the ability to hot-swap between PHP versions. Having Poopy.life open to the public has given the team an opportunity to address any remaining pain points with hosting thousands of test installs.
“Since launching poopy.life everything has actually been pretty smooth,” Guilmette said. “We’ve already been using various versions of this internally to sell millions of dollars worth of plugins over the last five years. So it’s already been hacked to pieces, DDoSed, etc. We’ve already been through all that.”
When the team first started Poopy.life as an internal project for WP All Import, they had a difficult time trying to host it on a VPS with the requirement of isolating installs from each other without any professional systems administrators on board.
“We were getting hacked all the time, so we started using CloudLinux, the same software that a lot webhosts use for their shared hosting servers,” Guilmette said. “This also prevents resource hogging, where someone could start mining bitcoin and then everyone’s installs would take forever to load.
“Then came the spammers, using their installs to send out email spam. So we learned we had to discard e-mail silently while allowing scripts that expect e-mail to be available to still function correctly.
“Once we went on that whole journey, it was kind of a no-brainer to share this tool with everyone else. We’ve been through a lot of pain in building this platform, and in opening this up to the public we hope we can help others avoid those same issues.”
The team now has two systems administrators on call 24/7 to get the service back up and running quickly if anything breaks.
WP Sandbox Service is Aimed at Theme and Plugin Developers
In the past six months since opening Poopy.life to the public, Guilmette’s team has learned several valuable lessons in how to market the commercial service.
“We use the Sandbox for so many different things, so the in the beginning the temptation was to kind of market it to everyone who we thought would find it useful,” Guilmette he said. “We didn’t find a whole lot of success, and are now focusing on plugin and theme developers. It’s helped us so much for WP All Import and Oxygen – everything from increasing sales to making tech support much easier by giving users isolated places they can reproduce problems. We know plugin and theme developers need this tool, so it makes the most sense for us to focus our marketing directly at them.”
Having a way to allow users to try a product like Oxygen before purchasing will be particularly useful in the Gutenberg era, where many users are unsure about the differences between what core will offer and what a site building product can bring to the table. Guilmette and his team are optimistic about what Gutenberg will bring to the customization experience.
“We can’t wait for it to ship in core,” Guilmette said. “I think a lot of the negativity about Gutenberg is from folks who make page builders and view it as competition. But Oxygen is a site builder, not a page builder (i.e. you design headers, footers, etc.). We don’t see Oxygen as competition; we think it will enhance the Oxygen experience. We think Gutenberg is great, and are excited to see some other talented teams out there working hard to make WordPress easier to use for everyone.”
He said his team is hoping to provide a Gutenberg component that users can drop into Oxygen and then edit that area of the site with Gutenberg. Having a sandboxed version of this available for users to test will help them to understand how the product works before purchasing.
Regardless of whether or not WP Sandbox takes off with other WordPress product companies, WP All Import and Oxygen have benefited from bringing sandboxing to the sales experience and continue to make use of the architecture the team has developed.
“We generally avoid big, coordinated releases,” Guilmette said. “We prefer to slowly build a product around a group of slowly growing users. If you release a finished product to the world, chances are you spent too much money making something no one wants.
“It hasn’t paid for itself yet, but that’s to be expected. We have enough users to make us optimistic, and some very exciting customers in the onboarding process. Once we get a few big names using it and other plugin developers realize the benefits of using it, we think it will take off.”


text:
TikTok today launched new advertising solutions to empower small and mid-size businesses to tap into the power of TikTok For Business to grow their brand.
The global availability of TikTok’s self-serve advertising solutions gives marketers the tools to tap into the creativity of the TikTok community, reach new audiences and optimize their marketing campaigns with an easy-to-use platform. At a time when small businesses have been severely impacted around the world, TikTok is also introducing its Back-to-Business ad credit program, including $100 million in ad credits for small businesses worldwide to use on their journey to rebuilding.
Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of TikTok For Business with the introduction of self-serve tools designed to support advertisers at each step of the campaign creation process. TikTok, a platform that celebrates creativity and storytelling from its users, aims to give marketers innovative tools with which to create authentic, creative content unique to the app.
More and more brands are realizing TikTok’s unique ability to reach and engage with a broader audience, and today’s launch of new advertising solutions for SMBs makes it seamless, easy, and efficient for all brands to now meaningfully connect with the TikTok community.
“Supporting small and local has been part of our vision since we opened our doors in Australia, and over the past few months has become more important than ever” said Brett Armstrong (pictured), General Manager, Global Business Solutions at TikTok Australia.
“With the launch of TikTok for Business and our evolving marketing solutions, we’re delighted to extend our support to Australian SMBs as they rebuild and engage creatively with new audiences. We look forward to continuing to support the growing needs of our partners and the Australian business community as we all build for the future.”
“There’s so much potential for businesses of any size to grow with TikTok,” said Daniel Chan, Managing Director of Snap Shades, a manufacturer of car window sunshades.
“The measurable impact that TikTok had on our business was huge: site visits and sales increased by almost a third, while the CPC was three times cheaper than other platforms. To put this into perspective, TikTok is more than tripling our potential customers at the same cost. We’re excited to keep leveraging the creative features and tools to further engage and connect with our target audiences.”
Please login with linkedin to commentTikTok
Locked down Victorians who don’t currently have an Optus Sport subscription will have complimentary access to Optus Sport from this weekend to enjoy the UEFA Champions League tournament plus access to premium health and fitness content through the Optus Sport app. UEFA Champions League – the world’s premier continental football tournament – kicks off at […]
Torrens University Australia has launched ‘Career Crush’ via VCCP Sydney and Lash, to help match students with a career they’ll love. Career Crush is an online quiz that determines prospective students’ personal strengths, passions and aspirations to match them with the careers and courses they’re most compatible with. One of the toughest decisions young people […]
Pedestrian Group has partnered with Nine subsidiary Mi9 New Zealand to offer NZ brands the opportunity to partner with the likes of Business Insider Australia, Pedestrian.tv and Gizmodo Australia. Next month, Mi9 New Zealand will be representing Pedestrian Group in the NZ market, offering clients the opportunity to work with leading youth publications including Lifehacker […]
ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI), a division of ViacomCBS, is launching a premium streaming service internationally, appealing to audiences of all ages. The new SVOD service will start its international roll-out early in 2021, offering exclusive premieres of all new SHOWTIME series, including Halo and American Rust. CBS All Access originals will also premiere exclusively on the new service, such […]
As part of a larger project to refine their brand with partner branding agency Re, Optus have engaged experimental creative studio FutureDeluxe to explore how the iconic ‘Yes’ brand mark behaves in a sophisticated 3D environment. FutureDeluxe have produced a series of 8x idents and a number of static key visuals which will be used […]


text:
KARACHI: Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has urged Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the date for making payment for amnesty scheme declarants.
The KTBA in a letter to FBR chairperson on Thursday pointed out that the due date of payment of tax under section 6 of the Assets Declaration Ordinance, 2019 (“ADO, 2019”), which in terms of section 6 of the ADO was June 30, 2019.
A declarant was also provided with an option to pay the tax on deferred payment basis in installment till the date of June 2020.
This late payment, however, had to be made along with default surcharge at the rates given in Clause (2) of the Schedule to the ADO, 2019.
The KTBA said that the maximum rate of default surcharge is 40 percent which would apply if the tax payment is made by 30 June 2020.
The ongoing circumstances in the wake of current pandemic of COVID-19 which, undisputedly, has affected the life and business of every individual, adversely and taxpayers are no exception.
The fall out of the cessation of business activities in the last three (03) months due to intermittent lockdown orders has effected every ones’ taxpaying capacity as well.
“It has become quite difficult for the taxpayers to make the payment of tax as per the proviso discussed above, by 30 June 2020,” the KTBA said.
In this connection, on behalf of our members, we would suggest that the following may be considered:
1. the due date of payment of tax may be extended up to 31 December 2020 without increasing the rate of default surcharge further
2. allow adjustment from tax refund, if any, available to the taxpayer, against the aforesaid payment.
The measures will not only repose confidence to the taxpayers but will also show the resolve of the FBR to address a genuine issue.


text:
McDonald's is recalling millions fitness bands that had been given away in Happy Meals because they might cause skin irritation or burns to children.
The fast-food chain said last week that it would stop distributing the bands in Happy Meals. Now it's recalling 29 million of them in the U.S., and 3.6 million in Canada.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the company, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, received more than 70 reports of incidents after children wore the bands, including seven reports of blisters. The Step-It Fitness bands look like watches and are supposed to track physical activity.
The promotion had turned heads even before the recall, given the reputation of McDonald's as a seller of junk food.


text:
Developer Level 5 has revealed that it has no plans to bring its popular DS puzzler Professor Layton to the Nintendo Wii.
In an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine, company CEO Akihiro Hino confirmed that the series will continue on the DS but is unlikely to make the move to Nintendo's home console.
"This trilogy comes to a conclusion with Professor Layton And The Last Time Travel, but we will be releasing the first title of the new trilogy, Professor Layton And The Flute Of Malevolent Destiny, in Japan," he said.
"The new trilogy will also be based around solving puzzles, but will also include greatly-improved bonus modes, so I think that players will be able to enjoy the games for even longer. We currently have no plans for a Wii release."
Professor Layton made his European debut in 2008 with The Curious Village. This was followed by a successful sequel The Diabolical Box earlier this year. Nintendo is yet to announce when the new entries in the series will arrive in the territory.


text:
When Timothy Egan decided to pen a predictable hit piece against Wal-Mart for the New York Time’s Opinion Pages, he probably didn’t expect America’s biggest retailer to strike back by publicly fact-checking his claims. But that’s exactly what David Tovar, the company’s Vice President for Corporate Communications decided to do - in epic fashion.
The Time’s op-ed was a boilerplate condemnation of Wal-Mart’s business practices, which they decried as contributing to income inequality. The piece accuses the retail giant of being a drain on taxpayers and of contributing to reliance on food stamps and welfare in the US by not paying their employees high enough wages.
Using red ink, Tovar marks up Egan’s article as if he were a high school English teacher correcting a student’s sloppy term paper.
“Tim - Thanks for sharing your first draft,” writes Tovar at the top of his corrections. “Below are a few thoughts to ensure that something inaccurate doesn’t get published.”
Of course, Egan’s op-ed slamming Wal-Mart had already run in Friday’s paper. But the tongue-in-cheek critic of the multiple fallacies contained in Egan’s column show that the goal of the response was more of an effort to counter the left’s long standing attacks on Wal-Mart with hard facts, rather than to actually obtain corrections or a retraction from the paper.
The Wal-Mart fact check challenges long-standing liberal talking points against Wal-Mart’s business practices by responding to almost every claim made by Egan and includes links to information and fact-checking sites to back up their defense.


text:
If you were to sum up the Australian economy in 2017 using just one chart, Paul Bloxham, Chief Australia and New Zealand Economist at HSBC, reckons this would be it.
It shows real and nominal GDP growth on an annualised basis going back to 2000.
While real GDP, measured in volume terms, currently sits around trend — a level where it inflationary pressures are generally stable — nominal GDP, capturing both volumes and price changes over the year, has been growing strongly, rising to the highest level since Australia’s mining boom earlier this decade.
Bloxham says the lift in nominal GDP means that the story of this year has been all about “nominal reflation”.
“The real economy kept growing at around its trend rate, but the nominal economy picked up pace after years of weakness. The driver was rising commodity prices,” he says.
“The headwind from falling commodity prices became a tailwind in 2017 and started to re-inflate the economy. Mining profitability rose and this, along with increased spending on infrastructure, boosted the profitability other sectors and tax revenues.”
While that acted to boost business confidence, as seen in various PMI reports and the NAB’s monthly business surveys this year, the improvement in the nominal economy — the one in which we all live in — was not felt by households to the same degree, helping to explain why consumer confidence remain subdued.
To Bloxham, this largely reflects a lag effect from previous weakness in the Australian economy.
“We all spend and earn in a nominal world, so we feel less wealthy when the nominal economy is sluggish,” he says.
“Squeezed margins force businesses to seek ways to cut costs [in prior years], which included giving smaller and fewer wages rises. It also weighed on our ability to consume and on corporates ability and willingness to invest and hire.”
However, those headwinds started to dissipate this year. Non-mining corporate investment began to pickup and employment growth surged, culminating in close to 400,000 Australians finding work in the year to November, the second-fastest annual increase on record.
Given those trends, Bloxham expects the strength in the nominal economy will be far more noticeable to households in the year ahead.
“We expect the return to solid nominal GDP growth — which we expect to continue in 2018 — and buoyant business conditions will continue to support jobs growth and that the tightening labour market will start to deliver some modest growth in wages,” he says.
“The boost to wages and jobs growth should lift household incomes and, in turn, support a modest pick-up in consumer spending.”
Should Bloxham be on the money, he says that will add a bit of upward pressure to inflation, an outcome that he predicts will see the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) begin to lift interest rates.
“We expect the RBA will deem that their current record low cash setting may not be needed,” he says, adding that the RBA will “start a slow and steady hiking cycle in 2018”.
Business Insider Emails & Alerts
Site highlights each day to your inbox.


text:
AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
Owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles with overstated fuel economy ratings will now be given the option for a lump sum settlement payment, or continue with the Korean automaker’s debit card reimbursement plan.
After admitting to overstating fuel mileage on many of their cars, both Hyundai and Kia are seeing “purchase intent” numbers dropping, according to data from Edmunds.


text:
Hong Kong becomes more of a draw for niche European brands as mainland customers move away from bigger retail names
Devialet, a Paris company that sells top-end amplifiers, has opened its first Asian outpost in the IFC shopping mall in Central
Hong Kong is still one of the best places to do business in the world, despite the city’s dropping retail sales figures and mainland visitor numbers, according to a French start-up founder, who received part of the company’s investments from the pop superstar Jay-Z.
Devialet, a Paris company that makes pricey and also reference-grade amplifiers, has opened its first Asian outpost in the IFC shopping mall in Central, with its co-founder and CEO Quentin Sannié saying Hong Kong is the first step for the brand to having a stronger Asian presence, and the city remains highly attractive to him.
“Hong Kong is a wonderful and trendy place for us to be,” said Sannié. “We first wanted to start in Shanghai three years ago but then thought it would be faster to do business in Hong Kong.”
Sannié said he was not worried about the city’s declining sales numbers as the sales performance of Devialet has already been promising since its opening in the city.
The city has seen its retail industry struggling for months as mainland visitor numbers kept dropping, with retail sales for 2016 down 8 per cent compared to 2015, the biggest drop in consumer spending since 1999, according to government figures.
“Hong Kong’s retail industry is suffering at the moment, but not all sectors are hurting as badly as people think,” said Sandro Hinds, director of the retail department at JLL, who was approached by Devialet last year to help with finding a site then its opening.
A long-time retail industry professional, Hinds said niche European brands like Devialet might have a better chance in terms of attracting mainland Chinese customers, compared with traditional major luxury names.
Italian knitwear and cashmere brand Falconeri will also open a store in Hong Kong, according to JLL, while Denmark-based juice bar chain Joe and the Juice, which opened a shop in Times Square last year, plans to open more outlets in Hong Kong.
Hinds said European brands continue to increase in number in Hong Kong but maybe at a slightly slower rate, which is normal for any mature retail environment – momentum slows as the retail landscape matures.
“Mainland customers are becoming more sophisticated and moving away from those loud and brush coloured products,” said Hinds. “Areas that are not that well known and more special are thus performing better.”
He said he has noticed some mainland customers have been giving up on traditional luxury consumption choices such as watches and jewellery, and turning towards smaller, boutique European brands.
“The big brands used to be the powerhouses of the Asian luxury retail sector are still struggling, going through tough times, while some quiet and smaller English and Italian brands are doing quite well when they move to Hong Kong.”he said.
What used to be a scene of mainland tourists wearing big brand logos on Hong Kong’s streets is now becoming much less prominent than before, said Hinds.
In addition to Hong Kong, Devialet is also eyeing opening stores in mainland China next year. Shanghai is going to be the first city, said Sannié, with three other Chinese cities also on its future expansion list.


text:
2 days ago
The Breakthrough Prizes, created in 2010 by a group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, are the most richly endowed awards in science, disbursing more than the Nobel prizes.
Read more at The Hindu
These are the winners in the “HOME CINEMA AUDIO” category: · EISA COMPACT SOUNDBAR 2022-2023. Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX · EISA Home Theater Amplifier 2022-2023 · Combined prize with Expert Group “Hi-Fi”: · EISA LOUDSPEAKER SERIES 2022-2023 · Joint Prize with ...
Read more at Socialpost
The 2022 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced with the Washington Post winning for its coverage of the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Read more at Hollywood Reporter
Intel has added an alternative prize pool, comprising a Core i7-12700K for Arc A770 grand prize winners and a Core i5-12600K for Arc A750 first prize winners, in instead of merely offering brand-new Arc A770 and Arc A750 graphics cards as the prize.
Read more at TechnoSports
The jackpot is the nation's fourth-largest lottery prize, and the biggest in more than a year. The $830 million prize is for winners who choose the annuity option, paid annually over 30 years. Most winners opt for the cash option, which for Tuesday night's ...
Read more at KTVU San Francisco
The Daily Lotto Jackpot on Sunday, 3 July 2022 was R250,000. There were two winners on the previous day's Daily Lotto draw. The winners received a prize money of R187,745.80.
Read more at Political Analysis South Africa
Chelsea are the reigning champion of UEFA Super Cup after defeating Villarreal, know the winners list and 2022 prize money.
Read more at The SportsGrail
But still check those tickets! Four lucky ticket-holders have won the second-place prize of $1 million, three of them are Megaplier winners making the tickets worth $3 million. These lucky winners ...
Read more at New York Post
News in tech Category
QuakeCon 2022 kicked off digitally today, featuring streams and spotlights on a ton of Bethesda and id Software's games. And while new games are being celebrated, the hits are getting their fair share too. Several classics hit Xbox Game Pass for PC ...
Read more at Destructoid
Google has released a patch for a vulnerability in its desktop version of the Chrome browser. Users are urged to initiate updates immediately as the bug is considered dangerous and actively exploited by hackers. The high-severity bug patch will bring ...
Read more at The Denver Channel
Diablo 4 isn't due for release until next year, but in their latest quarterly update Blizzard have laid out their plans for post-release updates. Those plans include seasonal content, a paid season pass, and an in-game cosmetics shop.
Read more at Rock Paper Shotgun
Since its release in 1989, Janet Jackson's iconic 'Rhythm Nation' has been played millions of times at clubs and discos all over the world. But it turns out the dance pop classic had an impact beyond driving people wild on the dancefloor - it also had ...
Read more at Newshub
When I left work on Tuesday, I immediately rushed to my nearest McDonald's in order to secure Pokémon cards from its latest Happy Meal promotion. I bought two kids meals (I do not have any children), and I was slightly disappointed when the employee ...
Read more at Kotaku
Originally released for the PlayStation 4 in 2018, Marvel's Spider-Man finally arrived on PC on August 12. The remastered port proved to be a big hit with PC gaming fans, becoming Sony's second biggest launch on Steam. However, few ports are perfect, ...
Read more at Game Rant
Google released a stable channel update for Chrome on desktop that fixes the fifth zero-day exploit discovered this year.
Read more at BGR
As a promotion for the Pokémon World Championships Nintendo is giving away a free Victini to any player with a code for Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Read more at CBR
Vampire Survivors, the popular PC video game currently in Early Access, has released a new patch that adds a fairly significant amount of new content to the title. That includes new achievements and weapons, Victory Sword and Sole Solution, ...
Read more at Comicbook.com


text:
With the arrival of the Pixel Tablet with a charging speaker dock at Google I/O this week, Google did what it does best: killed a product. Only this time, it didn’t just kill its product; it foreshadowed the death of the entire smart display category. Ah well. They had a good run, but folks, it’s the end of the line. The precise time of death was when Google exec Rose Yao described the new Pixel Tablet on its dock like this: “It feels like a smart display, but it has one huge advantage … Android apps.”
When one of really only two companies that make smart displays proudly proclaims that its shiny new smart home control device is not a smart display, the game is up. Yao also correctly pointed out one of two major problems with smart displays: their software is frustratingly limited. The other problem? Their hardware is bad, too. That’s a powerful double blow.
So, where did it all go wrong?
The original idea of the smart display was a smart speaker with a screen to display additional information. In The Verge’s review of the first Echo Show, Dieter Bohn praised the device for not trying to be a tablet. “Its strength is in its simplicity,” he wrote.
Six years later, smart displays are anything but simple. Today’s smart displays attempt to do too much with too little and largely fail at everything.
The Nest Hub (second-gen) is also a sleep tracker — using soli radar tech to measure your breathing.Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
Is it a smart home control interface? Is it a household calendar? Is it a tiny TV? Is it a smart speaker? Is it a video-calling device? Is it an alarm clock? Is it a digital photo frame? Yes. Does it do any of those things really well? No. (Well, maybe a digital photo frame — I’ll give them that.)
To be clear, I am specifically ragging on smart displays here. Smart speakers are excellent devices. They’re better for playing music than smart displays (no giant screen to mess up the acoustics) and better at responding to voice commands (for the same reason) and, therefore, at controlling your smart home. In fact, the only thing a smart display really adds to a smart speaker is problems. My original Echo speaker from 2014 is still going strong, but I’ve had multiple smart displays bite the dust.
The only thing a smart display really adds to a smart speaker is problems
The two companies that make most smart displays — Amazon and Google — have made them largely closed ecosystems that run poorly designed software on underpowered hardware. The one benefit of this is that they’re cheap — especially compared to a device that can actually do all of the above. The entry-level Echo Show 5 costs $85, and the Nest Hub is $99, and both are frequently available for much less thanks to aggressive discounting. An iPad, a Google Pixel Tablet, or this very cool-looking shared family tablet from Hearth start at around $300 and go up to $700.
Amazon, with its four smart displays, and Google, with its two Nest hubs, have tried and failed to find compelling use cases in our homes for their increasingly multitasking gadgets. From sticking a creepy rotating screen on one and turning another into a sleep tracker to making nearly all of them security cameras (something no one was asking for), a lot has been thrown at the smart display, and very little has stuck.
Obviously, Amazon is going to continue selling these things. Google might, too. But it’s clear we’ve reached an inflection point, and the industry has realized it’s time to move on. If the smart home is going to work, we need control devices that work, too.
All promise, no action
The main uses I have for a smart display are as a touchscreen option when I want to turn a light off, lock a door, or adjust a thermostat without using my voice, a video intercom for security cameras, a family calendar / whiteboard, and a countertop screen for my kids to watch a show on while they eat breakfast.
In theory, Echo Shows and Nest Hubs can do these things. But they are either so slow at doing them or make it too complicated to set up that I invariably reach for my smartphone or tablet to get the job done. (Then there were those two months when the Nest Hub Max would only play Teen Titans Go in Spanish, resulting in me reluctantly allowing my kids to bring their tablets to the breakfast counter.)
The Echo Show 10 streams a live feed from a security camera. A great feature of a smart display that’s hampered by slow processing power.Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Tablets and smartphones do everything smart displays do, and they do it better. But they’re personal devices, not ideal for family use. This is why I’m excited about the Pixel Tablet with its dock and communal user interface. It’s the next evolution of the smart display — the smart home tablet. It has the power to do all its jobs well, especially smart home control, thanks to a unique Home Panel feature that allows for quick access to devices and useful features like camera live streams.
Yes, I wish the Pixel Tablet did more for the smart home. That charging dock should be a Nest smart speaker / Matter controller / Thread border router. The screen needs to be smaller and less obtrusive on a kitchen counter or bedside table — useful places for smart home controllers with screens. I’m also not wild about its detachable nature — but that’s a personal preference. But thanks to a lot more power under the hood, a better touchscreen experience (hopefully), and apps that will let you intuitively control anything in your smart home without learning a new interface, the Pixel Tablet is a good step in the right direction.
Tablets and smartphones do everything smart displays do, and they do it better
The Pixel Tablet is not the first attempt at reimagining the smart display as a usable smart home controller. Last year, Samsung touted a nearly identical concept that had me all excited but never launched. There’s the Ava Remote, which takes the concept and shrinks it down to an even more familiar format — a TV remote (at $1,300, it won’t catch on). Then there are devices like Brilliant’s touchscreen switches, $400 panels designed to make smart home control as easy as flipping a light switch.
Of course, you can also stick an iPad on your wall and try and shoehorn it into this role — something I tried but ultimately found lacking. But rumor has it that an iPad on the wall is not the final form for an Apple smart display. The smart home is primed for Apple to come in with a HomePod with a screen concept and say, “Look, guys, this is how you should have been doing it all along,” similar to what it did to the tablet market with the iPad and the smartwatch market with the Apple Watch.
The common theme with these smart home controllers is they’re all expensive devices. That’s because running a smart home is like running a computer; you can try and do it on cheap hardware, but it will be a bad experience.


text:
Like its rival Dell, Lenovo has its own online store to sell its computers and accessories through in addition to making them available via retailers like Best Buy and Costco. That also means Lenovo.com has its own Black Friday deals to provide you more options if you’re looking to buy a laptop or desktop from the company.
As is the trend this year, Lenovo’s Black Friday deals span multiple weeks — Nov. 16 through Dec. 6 — and sales on some of the products below may already be available. In other words, keep checking our links to deals you’re interested in to monitor if the price drops before Black Friday.
Be sure to wake up early on Black Friday, as this massive price drop is slated to kick off at 9am ET. For under $500, you get a convertible ThinkPad with Intel Core i3


text:
Apple Music has finally launched a browser application, as Billboard reports. Paying subscribers can now access the streaming service from any web browser by logging in with their Apple ID. The browser version of the application is currently in beta and gives listeners full access to their playlists as well as Beats 1 radio. Check it out here.
In June, Apple confirmed that it would be phasing out its iTunes software and replacing it with a new suite of apps: Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple TV. The company is set to hold a massive announcement, reportedly to announce the next iPhone, on September 10 at its Cupertino headquarters.
Read our recent feature, “How Artist Imposters and Fake Songs Sneak Onto Streaming Services.”


text:
DETROIT (Nov. 26, 2003) — Ford Motor Co. has revised several warranty payment schedules to placate car dealers who say technicians aren't allotted enough time to make some repairs.
Ford compensates dealerships based on the time it says is needed to complete warranty work. But technicians say some fixed labor times aren't realistic.
Francisco Codina, Ford's vice president of customer service, said four or five warranty repair concerns have been brought to his attention, “and we have fixed them.”
Ford was criticized for reducing repair times and compensation while updating warranty procedures in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Last summer, a committee of car dealership technicians was set up to review a new set of changes to Ford's procedures that will be implemented Nov. 16.
Mr. Codina said Ford would post the changes on its internal Web site and allow technicians up to 60 days to voice concerns. Ford will meet again with the committee Dec. 6 to review the adjustments.
The committee consists of technicians from Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealerships—including at least two from each of the auto maker's 17 sales regions.
Mr. Codina said Ford wants to build trust between technicians and the company. “If we have some labor times wrong, we'll fix them,” he said. “There is nothing to hide. We will make changes as they are required.”
He said the panel does not have veto power over the proposed changes.
“But their influence will be huge,” he said. “We have to have a collaborative environment.”


text:
The global supply chain shortage is not a new issue, and it isn’t going away anytime soon. Customers have become just as aware of the issues the supply chain is facing as the retailers who are having to deal with the fallout in their inventory. There has been a shift in demand on almost everything – from household items and food to personal care and electronics – and items that were once taken for granted are now a hot commodity (remember the toilet paper and disinfectant shortage of 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic?).
From when they make that first click to the delivery of that item on their doorstep, consumers want insight into every step of the journey. Online shopping, along with other types of purchase fulfilment strategies such as curbside pick-up, have become the norm and retailers need to adapt to make improvements to the buyer’s journey.
Even though customers are making changes to how, when and where they shop, they are still demanding a superior customer experience. For retailers, this presents both opportunities and challenges when creating the right formula for success. SOTI’s latest report, From Clicks to Ships: Navigating the Global Supply Chain Crisis, dives into the expectations of the retail consumer in 2022 – not only how to keep customers happy, but the importance of their overall experience.
Want to know what consumers are saying about supply chain shortages?Download our free report, From Clicks to Ships: Navigating the Global Supply Chain Crisis
A Great Experience from the First Click
As the saying goes, the customer is king (or queen). Good customer service is the quality and timely assistance provided by a business to the people who use or buy its products and services. A positive or negative customer experience can have a big impact on any businesses’ bottom line. It’s been estimated that acquiring a new customer can cost an organization over five times more than simply keeping an existing customer happy.
In SOTI’s latest report, 68% of respondents said they expect to know, at all times, where their order is within the delivery process. Have their new shoes been packaged yet? Are the dog’s new toys out of the warehouse and on a truck? Is their new book out for delivery today? If there’s a hold up, what is it and how will it be resolved? Customers want to know. And if a retailer can’t tell them, they’ll shop somewhere that can.
With shopping habits changing, no one can afford to take their customers, new or long standing, for granted. Consumer expectations have not only changed, but if their preferred retailer is unable to provide information for any step along their shopping journey, they are happy to look for a retailer who can deliver.
The relationship between a business and its customers doesn’t look the same today as it did even 10 years ago. That means customer service shouldn’t look the same today as it did in the past either. It doesn’t have to be only larger companies revolutionizing the retail world – any company can build processes or products to improve the buyer’s experience.
If a shipment will be delayed, customers want to know, in detail, when it will arrive at their doorstep. If an item is out of stock, customers demand to know when it will be available. Just 13% of consumers surveyed say retailers are providing accurate information of which items are currently in stock. One could surmise that this means consumers feel that 87% of retailers aren’t doing something right or know what is happening with their own inventory. Being among those who provide accurate information on merchandise availability will surely stand out from their competition.
Shoppers Know About Supply Chain Shortages. But It’s Not Their Problem
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. With the current state of the supply chain, there seem to be a few links contributing to shortages felt around the globe. To name a few:
- There are not enough drivers for transport trucks
- Factories temporarily halting production due to COVID
- Increase in demand from consumers
- Shipping costs are now higher for companies to get their goods to where they need to be
The shortages in the supply chain have greatly impacted businesses and consumers in nearly every industry in every corner of the globe. From delays of food deliveries, backorders for new appliances and the bottleneck in the Suez Canal, the supply chain has made headlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers know what’s going on, but they still want their goods when they want them.
It’s more than just boats or shipping containers stuck at a port. Supply chain issues have been felt every step of the way, with 57% of consumers saying they haven’t been able to buy items they want or have had to opt for alternatives.
The math is simple, more tech + more information = happy customers. With this new awareness, shortages and supply chain constraints are changing consumers’ shopping habits such as buying locally (within their own country) as opposed to relying on overseas shipments. Now more than ever, retailers need the right mobile technology in place to respond to constantly shifting demands to give the consumer the information they require to receive their goods.
WhAT DO consumers WANT FROM RETAILERS IN 2022?Download our latest report to find out
How Tech Can Help Retailers with Customer Experiences
When customers feel appreciated, companies gain measurable benefits, including the chance to win more of their customers’ spending dollars. The payoffs for great experiences and being made to feel valued are tangible: up to a 16% price premium on products and services, plus increased loyalty. And a premium customer experience can help increase revenue by between 4% and 8%.
With customer service comes convenience – another high priority for customers when selecting a retailer. There are tech trends expected to impact and influence the retail industry for the upcoming year, but what conveniences are consumers expecting?
- The ability to start shopping on one device and pick-up where they left off on another device
- Items placed in a shopping cart are still in the cart when they come back later to complete the transaction
- A personalized shopping experience
- A simple way to search for desired items
- A quick checkout experience with few forms to fill out
- An easy, convenient return policy
- Seamless, fast delivery
Technology from different systems, devices and locations must talk to each other and experience the highest possible levels of uptime. When they don’t is when retailers are unaware of what’s happening in their supply chain and that is when customers get frustrated. Whether it’s developing and deploying apps, securing sensitive data, remotely resolving device issues or managing Internet of Things (IoT) enabled devices, retailers have an obligation to provide the highest level of customer service to thrive through the supply chain crisis. Wherever retailers can make investments that alleviate shopping pain points, they will keep their customers happy and reap the benefits of having happy customers.


text:
The UK’s franchised car retailers have been praised for their ability to adapt and meet the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic after the SMMT reported a 29.4% decline in new car registrations during 2020.
Jato Dynamics said there are signs that “big issues need to be addressed” to ensure that Europe’s automotive sector delivers a COVID-19 recovery following an 18% decline in August new car registrations.
Vertu Motors chief executive Robert Forrester has said that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) June registrations data “didn’t tell the right story”, insisting that the reality was far more positive.
"This is not a recovery and barely a restart," warned SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes today as its data showed 145, 377 new cars were registered in June, the first month out of lockdown for car showrooms in England and Northern Ireland.
The UK’s leading event for motor retailers is going VIRTUAL.
TWO days of insightful, engaging content that Automotive Management LIVE is known for whilst enabling our audience to connect with the full range of suppliers to motor retail, learn and share industry best practice, and discuss how to prepare for the future of motor retail.


text:
You are here
No new anti-smoking laws coming—Fuad
The Tobacco Control Act already exists and T&T should not expect new legislation similar to Australia’s draconian anti-smoking legislation to be passed in T&T anytime soon, says Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan. He was responding to questions from the Guardian on whether the Government intends to take a tougher approach with stronger anti-smoking legislation. “Not in the near future. There is already a Tobacco Control Act in T&T,” he told the Guardian yesterday.
He added that if the Government takes stronger action, they will have to do the same with alcohol and other “destructive products.” “Smoking is associated with lung cancer and respiratory disorders. Soft drinks and fast food are associated with obesity and its complications of death by cardiovascular disorders. Non-communicable diseases are causing more such deaths. If we follow the no-brand image on cigarettes, then we may have to do the same to a lot of destructive products like alcohol also,” he said.
Australia’s High Court has ruled that from December 1, cigarettes and tobacco products must be sold in plain olive green packs with graphic health warnings, such as pictures of mouth cancer and other smoking-related illnesses. British American Tobacco, Britain’s Imperial Tobacco, Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco challenged the law in Australia’s High Court, claiming the rules were unconstitutional because they effectively extinguished their intellectual property rights.
Australia’s Attorney General Nicola Roxon hailed the ruling as “a watershed moment for tobacco control around the world.” A release to the media from Witco calls the Australian High Court ruling a disappointment but added that they do not expect the same to happen in T&T.
“We do not believe that the same thing will happen in T&T in the future.This court’s decision only concerns Australian constitutional law as the scope of the proceedings was strictly focused on addressing the issue of whether plain packaging legislation is contrary to a specific provision of the Australian constitution which prohibits the taking of property without compensation.
In addition, the court is yet to provide its written judgment setting out any reasoning for their decision. Australia is also currently facing other challenges to the plain packaging issue under other investment and trade-related disputes.” Witco also said if something similar were to happen in T&T a black market would emerge.
“If the same measure was being considered for T&T, we can expect that the illegal cigarette black market will grow further when all packs look the same and are easier to copy. The principal driver of illicit trade continues to be the economic benefits available to consumers and smugglers through tax evasion but there are other factors such as weak border controls, inadequate sanctions and corruption that facilitate it.”
Witco added there is no proof that plain packaging would discourage youths or other groups from smoking. “As a company, we are prepared to fully support any form of evidence-based regulation but there is no proof to suggest plain packaging of tobacco products will be effective in discouraging youth initiation or encouraging cessation by existing smokers. West Indian Tobacco will continue to take every action necessary to protect its valuable brands and its right to compete in this market as a legitimate commercial business selling a legal product, based on the full legal use of our intellectual property rights.”
User comments posted on this website are the sole views and opinions of the comment writer and are not representative of Guardian Media Limited or its staff. Guardian Media Limited accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for user comments.
Please help us keep out site clean from inappropriate comments by using the flag option.
Guardian Media Limited reserves the right to remove, to edit or to censor any comments. Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites or repeats previous comments will be removed.


text:
Taboola and Outbrain’s Clickbait Marriage: What Happened When the Justice Department Showed Up
Antitrust officials, after studying proposed merger of industry leaders, don’t object at the altar
The Justice Department decided not to challenge a merger of rival internet companies whose sponsored-content offerings generate revenue for publishers around the globe.
The department’s antitrust division recently informed ad networks Taboola Ltd. and Outbrain Inc. that it wouldn’t stand in the way of their proposed merger, people familiar with the matter said. A Justice Department spokeswoman said the department had closed its investigation of the merger without taking action but didn’t provide further details.
Up to 15% off + free shipping at Wayfair
Save up to an additional $15 with TurboTax May 2022
- H&R Block Tax:
H&R Block promo code: 5% off all tax services
Up to 60% off - Target Promo Code
30% off smartphones + free shipping - Samsung promo code
- AT&T Internet:
Get an extra $50 Reward Card with AT&T Internet Promo Code


text:
You are here
Singapore headline inflation up 0.7% in March
PRICES in Singapore rose at the same clip for March, brought on by rising prices abroad and weakening wage pressures at home.
The headline inflation came in at 0.7 per cent year-on-year, while core inflation rose 1.2 per cent, said the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Monetary Authority of Singapore in a joint release on Monday.
March's hikes in consumer price index and core inflation, together with their drivers, were similar to February.
Looking ahead, the agencies expect prices from abroad to rise further. "External inflationary pressures have picked up amid a turnaround in global commodity markets. Global oil prices have risen from their trough in the previous year, and are likely to average higher in 2017," said the release.
It, however, sounded caution on the labour market here. "Conditions in the labour market have slackened, and this is expected to dampen underlying wage pressures, even as commercial and retail rents have eased," it said.
This will have knock-on effects on businesses in coping with cost pressures. "The subdued economic environment will also limit the extent to which businesses pass on higher import and administrative costs to consumers."
For 2017, core inflation is expected to average one to 2 per cent, compared with 0.9 per cent in 2016. Headline inflation, or CPI-all inflation, is projected to rise to 0.5-1.5 per cent from -0.5 per cent last year.


text:
TUSKER HARLEY-DAVIDSON,NO 55/2,LAVELLE ROAD,BANGALORE-560001
HARLEY-DAVIDSON® celebrates 115th ANNIVERSARY WITH
FREEDOM DEMO DAYS
In celebration of Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary, the American motorcycle manufacturer launches Freedom Demo Days in India from 27 March until 30th June 2018.
Freedom Demo Days is Tusker H-D’s open invite to all riders to experience its legendary bikes under the “All for Freedom, Freedom for All” brand platform, which was launched in 2017 to celebrate H-D’s enduring legacy and the pursuit of freedom that unites all. To take part in Freedom Demo Days, one can either book a test ride online or via walk-in at Tusker H-D Lavelle Road,Goa & Indiranagar dealerships, test ride a H-D bike they desire, Book H-D bike and commemorate the day with a H-D 115th Anniversary pin.
Those who purchase a new H-D motorcycle during the campaign period just need to submit a photo of their new bike with caption, to enter the contest to win an amazing all-expense paid trip for two to Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary celebration in Milwaukee, birthplace of H-D.
Celebrating Harley-Davidson’s 115th anniversary in Milwaukee promises to be an incredible experience, connecting people from all over the world who share a passion of the freedom of two wheels. Happening from 29 August until 2 September 2018, the anniversary event in Milwaukee will feature activities such as flat track motorcycle racing, beach racing, factory tours, skills competition, local rides, street parties, and a parade through Milwaukee. There’s also the chance to visit the Harley-Davidson museum – with machines from every decade of our 115 year history.
Peter Mackenzie, Managing Director of Harley-Davidson India and Greater China said, “Harley-Davidson has been through an amazing journey since 1903. Freedom Demo Days is a celebration of how far we’ve come, as well as an outreach for all our fans to experience freedom through the legendary bikes that we offer.”
In addition to taking part in these exciting activities, the Freedom Demo Days winner’s prize package also includes the use of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle whilst at the event, USD 3,000 spending money to cover food and expenses, and limited-edition H-D 115th Anniversary Rally Pack, all for an unforgettable dream American ride in H-D’s motherland.
Winner of Freedom Demo Days will be announced on 8 June 2018. For more information, please reach out to our dealerships Tusker H-D Lavelle Road & Indiranagar.Back to previous page


text:
Global independent music marketing service and distribution company, Ingrooves Music Group has been issued a new patent for their new AI marketing technology set to improve the way artists reach new audiences and sustain a fanbase. Titled as the “Artificial Intelligence Prediction of High-Value Social Media Audience Behavior for Marketing Campaigns,” the new AI feature will identify, analyze and capitalize on user-generated content (UGC) trends on short form video platforms such as Tik Tok, Youtube Shorts and Instagram Reels. Ingrooves’ new invention will highlight trends in UGC that are transferable opportunities for growth on digital streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
“We are innovating to address two of the most important challenges artists and labels face in the music industry – getting their music heard and building loyal fan bases,” said Dr. SK Sharma, Ingrooves’ Chief Analytics and AI Officer. “With this invention we are taking the guesswork out of which UGC-driven events have the most potential to be powerful growth moments for marketers to act on. Our rigorously quantitative and highly scalable methods drive results that are both attributable and verifiable.”
Click here to read more from Celebrity Access.


text:
Automania 2009 will air on February 3rd, at 7PM with a rerun on February 7th at 1PM.
The show is filled with a carload of information to help consumers make smart choices for future buying.
We’ll give you first hand reports from the experts in the auto industry, give you the scoop on new gizmos and gadgets and breakdown the new models that manufacturers are rolling out for 2009. And what’s Auto Mania without highlights of what’s new at this year’s Philly Auto Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. So stay tuned and catch it all.


text:
Samsung Galaxy A20 gets Android 11-based One UI 3.1 update in India
Samsung Galaxy A20 announced back in March 2019 with Android 9 Pie received Android 11 based One UI 3.1 a few weeks ago. The update was released in Russia, but the rollout has now been extended to India.
The Android 11 update for Galaxy A20 in India comes with firmware version A205FXXUACUF3. It includes the June 2021 Android security update, and you can expect a redesigned user interface with the usual Android 11 goodies like chat bubbles and one-time permissions.
The Android 11 update for the A20 should reach all the devices in the country in a few weeks, but if you can not wait for the update prompt on your device, you can check it manually by going to your Galaxy A20’s Settings > Software update menu.


text:
An exhibition showcasing the contemporary Indian sari – the first large-scale show of it’s kind in the UK – is set to open this spring.The Offbeat Sari, at the Design Museum in London in May, will bring together more than 90 examples of innovative and iconic saris from trailblazing studios and designers across India – including the first ever sari worn at the Met Gala and a foil jersey sari worn by Lady Gaga.
It aims to give visitors a snapshot of the fashion revolution that the sari is experiencing right now.
“A sari is one of the most ubiquitous garments in the world,” says Priya Khanchandani, the exhibition’s curator.
The sari – a single piece of unstitched cloth that varies in density and is draped across the body – has a long history of around 5000 years.
“Over the course of its history it has survived and evolved in texture, material, ornamentation to reflect changing social context.”
Khanchandani adds: “30 years ago, as a young person, you may not have worn it at all, [it was] more of a mother or grandmother thing. It was nostalgic and elegant. While it was beautifully crafted and adored, it may not have been worn.
“Today it is appreciated in a different light by a younger generation, it is being played with. Handloom fabrics are appreciated now, a variety of materials – shimmer saris for example, or translucent saris – as shown in the exhibition.”
The evolution of the sari will be well-documented at the museum, with innovative techniques and new materials being used in this traditional style of dress by designers such as Abraham & Thakore, Raw Mango, Akaaro and NorBlackNorWhite.
Examples of couture saris such as Tarun Tahiliani’s foil jersey sari made for Lady Gaga in 2010, and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla’s ruffled sari worn by Bollywood star Deepika Padukone at Cannes Film Festival in 2022, will also be on show.
“We are seeing changes in its form, with pre-stitched, hybrid sari dresses and changes in the material,” says Khanchandan. “I am wearing a distressed denim sari today, by Diksha Khanna, which is unconventional. I am wearing it with a white shirt, while a sari is normally worn with a blouse. There is one in the exhibition made of recycled plastic bottles and sequins made from cut up X-rays.”
With saris now being worn at major fashion events, like the outfit by designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee worn by Natasha Poonawalla at the MET Gala last year, young women are keen to change the narrative of the traditional dress.
Mukherjee said at the time: “I interpreted the dress code, Gilded Glamour, with an Indian gaze that revels in our multiculturalism and the authenticity of our design, aesthetic and craft legacies.”
Khanchandan, who is passionate about diversity in design and the amplication of under-represented voices, says now: “The role of women in India has been problematic, the country has been slower to change for women.
“But, when the MeToo movement took hold in India and had a significant impact, the sari became a kind of symbol of female empowerment.”
“We have seen a female skateboarder wearing it, it’s being worn by mountain climbers, and its presence is showing different depictions of Indian women. They are being liberated from domestic Indian stereotypes. The sari was once worn by objectified women in Bollywood, but now this is being subverted.”
Today, she says, people are choosing “to drape them differently, embellish them, knot them in interesting places and make them more individual, helping women promote their individual creativity more. We have seen the rise of sari-wearing influencers and the hashtag #SariNotSorry.”
Some are even pairing theirs a T-shirt and trainers for their own urban version of the traditional dress.
The Offbeat Sari runs from May 19 to September 17, 2023. Adult tickets are £12.60, on sale now. To book and for more information designmuseum.org.


text:
Static Control Components is preparing to duel legally with Lexmark, the No. 2 printer and printer accessories manufacturer in the world, in a hearing scheduled for Friday in U.S. District Court. Lexmark is seeking a preliminary injunction against Static Control Components, a family-owned business in North Carolina, on the grounds that Static Control's Smartek computer software chip violates Lexmark's copyright protections under the DMCA. Static Control's Smartek technology is a chip that allows printer toner cartridges to be reused. Static control sells its Smartek chips to remanufacturers of toner cartridges, who in turn refill and resell the toner cartridges to businesses.
Lexmark's beef with Static Control is over the Smartek chip itself. Lexmark claims that Lexmark's printer toner cartridges are sealed, not refillable and contain a chip inside the cartridge that prevents the cartridge from being refilled. Lexmark's legal brief filed in December argues that the Smartek chip "circumvents the technological measure" contained in the cartridge that certifies the cartridge as original and not refilled (remanufactured). Static Control countered in its pleadings filed this week that Lexmark is trying to stifle competition as well as deprive consumers of the ability to save money by purchasing remanufactured/recycled toner cartridges. Static Control also claims that Lexmark is using the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) as a sword for purposes for which the DMCA was not intended. The brief argues that if Lexmark prevails in its claim, a dangerous precedent would be set. "One readily could envision, for example, an automobile manufacturer applying technological measures...to prevent competition in the aftermarket for replacement tires, wiper blades or other automotive parts; camera manufacturers attempting to foreclose the use of competitors' lenses or brands of film; a ball-point pen manufacturer using a technological measure and an 'ink low' program to shut out replacement ink refills; or a cell phone manufacturer applying technological measures to replacement batteries."
The basic provisions of Section 1201 of the DMCA provide that it is 'generally' unlawful to circumvent technology that restricts access to a copyrighted work or to sell a device that can do so. But Congress did allow exemptions in the DMCA explicitly permitting activities such as encryption research and interoperability of devices. Static Control is basing its defense largely on the last exemption, which permits reverse engineering "for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs," and claims that traditional fair use rights also protect its Smartek chip under U.S. copyright law. Static Control also claims that Lexmark's code that is allegedly protected by the DMCA is "not more than bare-bones implementations of mathematical formulae and scientific observations that cannot be protected by copyright." Lexmark's method of verifying that its cartridges are original is reportedly based on the government-standard Secure Hash Algorithm-1 (SHA-1/news:link) to calculate a 'hash' value.
One of Hewlett-Packard's top executives, Senior Vice President Pradeep Jotwani, spoke out strongly against Lexmark on Wednesday, claiming that Lexmark, HP's top competitor, is improperly trying to use the DMCA. "We think it is stretching it. The DMCA was put in place (to protect) things like movies, music and software applications."


text:
label.m success at world's largest hair trade fair - Cosmoprof 2014!
label.m made a huge impact at this year's Cosmoprof 2014 - the world's biggest trade fair for the professional hairdressing industry which was held in Bologna on 4-7 April.
The incredible four day event was attended by over 200,000 visitors from around the globe, with a total of 2,450 exhibitors showcasing from 134 different countries.
Partnering up with both TONI&GUY and essensuals, label.m exhibited for the very first time and had great visibility for increasing its brand presence in Italy, as well as globally and the busy stand was one of the most visited at the event.
A summary of the key highlights included: an exclusive hair show (650 invite-only tickets for potential new salons) presented by the International Artistic Team doing demos from the current label.m advertising campaign, plus promoting label.m Professional Haircare backstage favourites as used at London Fashion Week.
There was also an amazing 'Try Me' area, where a team of highly trained label.m Ambassadors and International Artistic Team members were consulting and selling lots of one our latest and most popular products to date - Powder Pink Spray and ONE WAS SOLD EVERY 60 SECONDS during Saturday 5th April!
label.m Italy exclusively launched the recently introduced Texturising Volume Spray (which debuted at London Fashion Week in February) and our renowned Triple Barrel Waver - both of which saw a total stock sell-out in ONE DAY!
We're so proud of our presence at this year's event and the fact we can say that label.m attracted the attention of over 150 new salon enquiries, which marked the potential for continued business growth internationally.
We thank everyone who visited us and look forward to 2015!


text:
India’s Adani Ports Group has seen a significant acceleration in traffic during the third quarter of the 2017/18 financial year. Cargo volumes were up by 16%, to 47.6 million tonnes, in this period, with container volumes in particular surging ahead by 29% compared to the equivalent months in the previous financial year. Coal traffic also rose by 13% and crude oil by 10%.
The rapidly rising cargo volumes were reflected in improved financial results. Adani Ports’ operating income rose by 22%, while profits on an EBITDA basis jumped 46%, the company reports.
Karan Adani, chief executive, said, “Cargo volume growth in the third quarter rebounded after a tepid second quarter, and this was led by double digit growth in all the major cargo types we handle. We foresee a continued upturn in cargo volumes in India and we are confident of exponential growth in ports on the eastern and southern coasts of India.”
Mr. Adani said the company plans to continue to expand in the logistics sector, to improve port to hinterland connectivity. He adds, “We aim to become a truly fully integrated player, providing end to end services to our customers.”


text:
Macy's Inc. disclosed in its fourth-quarter 2017 earnings release its plans to continue to explore opportunities to unlock the value of its real estate portfolio in fiscal 2018.
Specifically, the department store chain said it would "identify opportunities where the redevelopment value of its real estate exceeds that of non-strategic operating locations."
In February, Macy's reached a deal to sell seven floors of one of its sites in Chicago to a private real estate fund sponsored by Brookfield Asset Management Inc., which the asset manager plans to convert into office space. The transaction, set to close in the first half of fiscal 2018, will see Macy's receiving an aggregate $30 million.
Macy's also reached a deal under which Brookfield will redevelop nine properties in an approximately 50-asset portfolio. Upon receipt of certain approvals, Macy's will either sell its stakes in the assets to Brookfield or inject them into individual joint ventures. The cumulative value of these assets, if sold, is estimated to be about $50 million. The purchase price may also increase if certain financial targets are met for the three largest assets, the retailer said.
Additionally, Macy's is looking at opportunities to sell the roughly 240,000-gross-square-foot, stand-alone I. Magnin portion of its main Union Square building in San Francisco. It is also converting street-level selling space at the Union Square main building into high-end retail shops that it will lease to third parties. It expects the building to contain about 700,000 gross square feet.
In fiscal 2017, Macy's said it received cash proceeds of $411 million from asset sales, which included stores and nonstore real estate such as warehouses, outparcels and parking garages.


text:
COVID UPDATE: MAY 20, 2020
Premier Legault announced today that some personal care businesses will be allowed to open as of June 1st.
Unfortunately, this is only applicable to businesses OUTSIDE of the greater Montreal area.
We have NOT been given a reopening date yet!
We will continue to keep you updated as to when we are able to to take appointments.
Hoping to see you soon!


text:
Virtual reality arcades are popping up around the world as an inexpensive way for people to try out the technology with friends. Upload’s Josh McConnell visits a new Toronto business, VRPlayin, to check out this new trend and what it means.
As cobalt prices spike, some support levelling and gutting Cobalt, Ont., for mining's return and economic prosperity, but others find the prospect ‘heartbreaking’
Kevin Carmichael: If the PM doesn’t trust Beijing enough to pour concrete, how will he ever negotiate a free-trade deal with Xi Jinping? Answer: He’s not
Monthy rate of $9.99 brings its subscription price close to behemoth competitor Netflix
'Can’t possibly be good' for ongoing efforts to launch formal talks, but how Canada handles it could quell potentially negative aftermath


text:
Amazon is opening a massive new office in the Big Apple next year. The Seattle-based web giant has signed a lease for 359,000 square feet at Brookfield’s 5 Manhattan West, where it intends to open in 2018. It will receive up to $20 million from the state in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and expects...
NYS Entity Status
NYS Filing Date
JANUARY 15, 2014
NYS DOS ID#
NYS Entity Type
DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
2014 - BIG APPLE LIVERY LEASING LLC
Around the Web
- Amazon is opening a massive new office in New York City
By Lois Weiss - Thursday Sep 21, 2017
- Elon Musk: ‘Big f–king rocket’ will take us from NY to London in just 29 minutes
By Yaron Steinbuch - Friday Sep 29, 2017
SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced out-of-this-world plans Friday for a 29-minute trip from the Big Apple to London aboard a “big f–king rocket” — that would also travel to Mars. The billionaire Tesla CEO and fanciful futurist discussed his ambitious vision in a speech in Adelaide, Australia, where he outlined new plans to colonize the...
- Jony Ive’s creativity pales compared to Apple’s App Store lawsuit defense
By David Kravets - Wednesday Oct 11, 2017
Apple sells "software distribution services to developers" who lease App Store space.
- New patent-holder grabs Nokia patents, sues over Apple iPhones
By Joe Mullin - Tuesday Oct 10, 2017
Patent-licensing shop that enforced Nokia and Sony patents has changed hands.
- Is This the Woman Who Will Save Uber?
By SHEILA MARIKAR - Saturday Jul 22, 2017
Bozoma Saint John, the marketing star who’s worked with Beyoncé, Apple and more, brings humanism, Instagram savvy and Chanel to the beleaguered brand.
- Apple Leasing Equipment to Suppliers to Make Sure Key iPhone 8 Components Get Made
By Juli Clover - Friday Jul 14, 2017
Apple recently purchased expensive production equipment to produce the rigid flexible printed circuit board for the iPhone 8, reports The Korea Herald. Apple doesn't plan to use the equipment itself, but is instead leasing it to suppliers to ensure it can get the components it needs for the iPhone 8 amid rumors of production difficulties.
The equipment cost Apple "tens of millions of dollars" and will be used to create the aforementioned circuit boards, which are a key component that connect parts like the iPhone's display and camera. A rigid flexible printed circuit board (or RFPCB), which combines both flexible and rigid technologies in a single board to conserve space, is reportedly more difficult to produce than standard rigid or flexible PCBs.
iPhone 7 logic board, image via iFixit
Apple made the purchase after one of three suppliers it planned to source parts from backed out of the deal. Interflex and Youngpoong Electronics, two Korean companies, are said to be producing the components going forward.
"One of the three suppliers recently decided to back out," a source told ET News on condition of anonymity, saying that the supplier is a Taiwanese manufacturer.With one supplier pulling out of the deal, Apple decided to make sure the remaining suppliers can meet capacity. "To fill the loss, Apple is supporting the other two suppliers, both Korean, to beef up production," said The Korea Herald's source.
The exact reason why the Taiwanese supplier withdrew from the deal with a big client Apple was not revealed. But sources say the firm may have felt a pinch on the tricky production and strict quality requirements along with low profitability.
Rumors have suggested Apple is struggling to produce several of the new iPhone's components, including the 3D sensor and the display lamination process, which many analysts believe is going to lead to some delay in production ramp up.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often accurately predicts Apple's plans, believes production ramp up could be delayed by a month or two, which means the iPhone 8 could be available in limited quantities with Apple unable to meet demand until late in 2017 or early in 2018.
Discuss this article in our forums


text:
Deschutes Brewery, a craft brewery from Bend, Oregon will make its products available in Kentucky and Ohio starting Friday, January 24. To celebrate the launch of their beers to our local market, brewer Cal Vaccaro and his team will be meeting and greeting—and more importantly—pouring tastes of their beer at the locations listed below. Stop by and check out their Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter (my personal fave), Red Chair NWPA. and Inversion IPA.
Friday, January 24
5 to 9 p.m. Friday Night Pints at Jungle Jim's (Eastgate and Fairfield locations)
Saturday, January 25
Meet, Greet, and Sample at Jungle Jim's (both locations), Kroger (Anderson and Hyde Park), Whole Foods (Mason) and Country Farm Fresh (Beechmont)
7 p.m. Hats off to Homebrewers at Rhinegeist Brewery
7 p.m. OTR Pub Crawl at Arnold's Bar and Grill, Kaze, The Lackman, and The Eagle
Sunday, January 26
11 a.m. Brewers Brunch at Fifty West Brewing Company
6 p.m. Beer Dinner at Teller’s Hyde Park
Monday, January 27
Meet, Greet, and Sample at Party Source, Cork 'N Bottle (Buttermilk), Party Town, and DEP’s Fine Wine and Spirits
8 p.m. Service Industry Night at Molly Malone’s
8 p.m. Mug Club Monday at Flipdaddy’s (Union)
8 p.m. Tap Takeover at Mellow Mushroom (Wilder)
Simply confirm your registered email address below and click "Reset Password." We will immediately email you a link back to the site where you can enter a new password for this account.
We've found your existing Cincinnati Magazine Insiders account. Please login below to complete the Facebook login process.
Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.
In partnership with Marketron Interactive


text:
The crypto ATM market size was $75.01 million in 2021 and is predicted to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 59.2% between 2022-2028. In January 2021, there were more than 14,000 of these ATMs worldwide, and by July 2021, the installation statistic had reached 50.9 units per day. This rise in installations is one of the driving factors behind the increase in the crypto ATM market size.
Governments in different countries are implementing policies to attract cryptocurrency businesses. The El Salvadoran government accepted Bitcoin as a legal tender and installed more than 200 Chivo Bitcoin ATMs across the country.
Also, the rising adoption of smartphones is one of the main factors opening doors for crypto ATMs providers. Smartphones enable Crypto ATMs to read cryptocurrency wallet addresses directly from QR codes and conduct financial transactions. Coin Dance revealed that globally 34.45% of individuals exchanged Bitcoin via smartphones in March 2021, while 3.03% and 62.53% people used tablets and desktops, respectively, to research and exchange crypto.
Crypto ATM providers are focussing on reducing cyberattacks on the machines. This factor, along with increased security measures, is expected to pave the way for more opportunities, adoption, and increased crypto ATM market size. For instance, August 2021 witnessed the formation of Cryptocurrency Compliance Corporation by Bitcoin ATM providers in the United States. The 15-member group’s mission is to create a compliant and secure landscape for the cryptocurrency industry. Moreover, other security measures are also being implemented, such as biometrics, facial recognition, time-stamps, QR codes, KYC, and compliance with AML rules.
Below are some of the most vital parameters that have dominated and are expected to impact crypto ATM market growth:
- Type: 2021 saw the one-way segment lead the crypto ATM industry, accounting for roughly 68.0% of revenue.
Between 2022-2028 the two-way sector is predicted to grow at the fastest rate. The segment’s growth is likely to be fueled by various initiatives, including new product introductions.
- Offering: In 2021, the hardware category influenced the market, accounting for roughly 78.0% of total sales, including door switches, ATM stands, cash recyclers, and extension boxes.
Over the projected period, the software category is predicted to grow at the fastest rate because it ensures connectivity and control for the operators.
- Type of Coin: In 2021, the Bitcoin category led the market, accounting for nearly 30.0% of total revenue.
Over the projection period, the Litecoin category is likely to increase significantly. LocalCoinATM, for example, stated in July 2017 that their Bitcoin ATM will now accept Litecoin transactions.
- Application: In 2021, the market witnessed a large number of installations in restaurants and other hospitality spaces. Bitcoin ATMs are increasingly being installed at nightclubs throughout the world.
Over the projected period, the commercial spaces category is predicted to increase at the fastest rate. For example, Blue Ridge Bank established cooperation with Bitcoin ATM software developer BluePoint ATM and LibertyX in February 2021.
- Region: North America led the 2021 crypto ATM market. It houses several of the market’s major companies, including Coin Cloud, Bitcoin Depot, and CoinFlip.
The use of two-way crypto ATMs, smartphones, and 5G in Asia Pacific nations is projected to fuel regional industry expansion.
The subject market’s growth forecast reflects the rise in secure installations, legislative initiatives, and an increase in smartphone usage. Consequently, crypto ATMs may soon emerge as an important tool for cryptocurrency transactions.


text:
Ford said it will begin selling a new seven-passenger van, or “people mover,” called the Transit Connect Wagon late next year. The company said it designed it to have the flexibility of a utility vehicle, the driving characteristics of a car and the hauling capability of a full-size pickup truck.
The wagon comes in five- and seven-passenger versions with two wheelbase lengths. It will have up to 100 cubic feet of cargo space and be able to carry up to 1,200 pounds or tow 2,000 pounds.
The van will be available with either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbocharged engine with estimated fuel economy of more than 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
Driver’s Seat is a blog featuring news, views, and advice about cars, auto safety, driving, and transportation. Driver’s Seat is written by Jonathan Welsh with contributions from auto critic Dan Neil, columnist Joe White and Wall Street Journal staffers and others.


text:
UPDATE – Spyker’s Victor Muller on Video, below.
As mentioned here over the weekend, representatives from Spyker were set to visit Trollhattan this week and it looks like that’s happened in the last 36 hours.
TTELA are carrying the story:
Here is picture proof that Dutch Spyker Cars is one of the interested parties still into buying Saab. Yesterday, the company visited Trollhättan to take a closer look at Saab.
There’s been frequent speculations recently about which interested parties are still in negotiations to buy Saab, and which have fallen away.
Koenigsegg Group’s defection opened things up for new entrants. One is the Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker Cars, which in early December came in as a new hot candidate to take over Saab.
As TTELA said last week, Spyker has confirmed on its website that with its major shareholder Convers Group backing them up, they’re negotiating with GM to buy Saab.
And Spyker Cars is demonstrably still in discussions. Because last Tuesday, while the Minister for Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson (C) and Minister for Employment, Sven Otto Littorin (M) held a press conference in Trollhättan City Hall, representatives from Spyker Cars where seen arriving at the Saab Car Museum together with representatives from Saab’s management.
One of them was Hans Go, Controller and boardmember of Spyker, who stepped out of a car driven by Jörgen Nylén. Presumably, Spyker Cars got the same review of Saab as a dozen other interested parties, including the Koenigsegg Group, received last spring.
Sneaky guys, getting Maud Olofsson to run interference for them 🙂
I bet that when Peter Backstrom dismantled the “showroom of the future” that was shown to prospective buyers at the Museum earlier this year, he wouldn’t have thought he’d he’d have to get it all ready again.
I hope we call learn more about Spyker’s bid and their intentions for Saab, and soon.
Thanks to various parties for the tip, and Jakob for this translation.
This one’s popped up my news feeds this morning. It’s a video from the LA Auto Show by the Auto Channel, in which they interview Spyker’s CEO Victor Muller, including some questions about their interest in Saab.
Content from interviews with Muller was covered last week, but it’s good to hear these words from the man himself.
We’ve come across a number of very impressive individuals during this process. Add Victor Muller to that list. He seems very aware of all the conditions surrounding this deal.
Comments are closed.