text:
Amicus curae brief claims verdict will stifle innovation, hurt consumer choice
Silicon Valley powerhouses are giving opinions on the ongoing Apple-versus-Samsung court battles. In an amicus curae filing, Dell, Ebay, Facebook, Google, and HP are asking the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals that Samsung turning over full profits of some phones found in violation of Apple patents would set a dangerous trend, and threaten the entire industry with waves of patent-infringement lawsuits which would stifle innovation, and limit choices for consumers.
Company reports initial loss will result from merger
Digital money transfer providers PayPal and Xoom have announced a definitive agreement under which PayPal will acquire Xoom for $25 per share in cash or an approximate $890 million enterprise value. The transaction represents a premium of 32 percent over Xoom's three-month volume-weighted average price and was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, as well as the Board of eBay, PayPal's parent company (for the time being).
Split expected to occur on July 8
Online auction giant eBay today announced that its board of directors has approved the completion of the previously announced separation of eBay and PayPal into independent publicly traded companies. The separation will occur through a pro rata distribution of all of the stock of eBay's subsidiary PayPal Holdings to eBay stockholders. The stock distribution still awaits necessary regulatory approvals, both in the US and overseas.
Second major specialist to make same leap
Auction site eBay has poached Bora Chung, a woman who until recently worked on global payments technology for Apple's online stores, says SFGate. It's believed that eBay is building up a new payment platform in anticipation of PayPal being spun off into its own firm later this year. Chung has actually worked for PayPal in the past, having once been chief of staff to Dana Stalder (senior VP of global consumer and merchant services) and Dickson Chu (VP of global products and experiences).
Device accidentally sent by Verizon, seller claims
A seller on eBay is auctioning what is claimed to be a functioning, 64GB iPhone 6 prototype. The person says that they were accidentally sent the device when renewing their contract with Verizon. The unit is running test software, rather than iOS 8, and lacks FCC markings or even a model number. Another point of interest is the Lightning port, which is surrounded by a red lip not present on finished iPhones.
Splitting of eBay, PayPal expected to be beneficial to each business
Auction site eBay and payment service PayPal are splitting apart into two separate companies. A plan has been approved by the eBay board of directors to separate the two into independent publicly traded companies by next year, subject to regulatory approval, with each company set to be presided over by two new chief executives.
Costs start at $449
Apple appears to have opened another "factory outlet" storefront on eBay, in this case offering unlocked, refurbished GSM iPhone 5 models, notes AppleInsider. The page is similar to one launched last year that was selling products like refurbished iPads. Each phone is said to be officially inspected and include a one-year warranty, as well as a manual and charger.
Argos, eBay Click and Collect delivery partnership expanded to 650 UK stores
Auction site eBay has expanded last year's trial of its Click & Collect delivery scheme partnership with Argos across the United Kingdom. The scheme, which initially allowed customers to buy from 50 eBay sellers and pick up orders from 150 London-centric Argos stores, is expected to cover 650 stores around the country by the end of the year, with over 65,000 eBay sellers expected to offer the delivery option.
Money could be put towards transportation projects
Both Democrats and Republicans in the US Senate are considering going through with a possible tax "holiday" for repatriated corporate profits, Reuters reports. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has told reporters that the idea "enjoys a good deal of support" among Republicans; a spokesman for another party Senator, Rand Paul, says that Paul has been talking with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about legislation.
Ebay initially thought user data was safe, three states launch probe
Three states have launched an investigation into Ebay's security measures after the auction site announced a widespread breach in its system last week. The breach, which occurred in late February into early March, saw the personal data of approximately 145 million Ebay users accessed. Connecticut, Florida and Illinois have joined together to take part in the investigation.
Account names, e-mails, encrypted passwords accessed in eBay breach
Auction site eBay has asked all its registered users to update their passwords, after a database holding account information was compromised. The breach, which took place between late February and early March, was first detected by the company just two weeks ago, with an internal investigation into what was taken resulting in today's announcement.
eBay updates apps for iPhone and iPad, featuring in-store pick-up option
Today, eBay announced updated apps for iPhone and iPad, adding improvements to its buying and selling features. Allowing eBay users to access the online marketplace to buy or sell items, v3.3 for iPhone and iPad features increased app speeds -- and for iPad only, a new in-store pick-up option for local purchases is included. Also available is new Passbook support that enables quick access to key information like store location, directions, hours and order number. For iPhone, the app now includes a personalized feed preview, displaying items based on a user's interests.
Digital Heaven announces release of utility software Disksomnia 4.0
Digital Heaven today announced the release of Disksomnia 4.0, a new version of its utility software that stops hard disks from going to sleep. Its latest version offers an entirely rewritten structure, presented as a menu bar app that works in the background to keep disks awake. Users can now see when Disksomnia is active, and also adjust how frequently disks are kept awake, with options ranging between five and 999 seconds. A new visual countdown is featured, displaying the next "poke" to selected disks. Priced at $10, Disksomnia 4.0 is available for systems running OS X 10.7.3 or later.
eBay, Amazon, HP, Oracle near bottom of major corporations
In terms of datacenters, Apple has scored the top position on a new Greenpeace list of the most environmentally-friendly high-tech businesses. The company is the only one with a 100 percent figure on Greenpeace's "clean energy index," since its datacenters are completely free of any dependence on coal, nuclear power, or natural gas. It also has an "A" score under categories of Energy Transparency, Commitment & Siting Policy, and Deployment & Accuracy. It achieved a B in terms of Energy Efficiency & Mitigation.
Plans still nebulous
Apple is among of a number of US corporations that have agreed to change hiring practices to avoid discriminating against the long-term unemployed, says the New York Times. The pledge comes at the behest of President Obama, who is hosting a meeting of CEOs at the White House later today to promote his efforts. White House officials say that about 300 businesses have agreed to alter hiring policies, including 21 of the 50 biggest American corporations, and 47 out of the top 200.
PayPal tech would be 'white-labeled' to blend into Apple system
PayPal has approached Apple about integrating itself into the latter's rumored payment technology, three payment industry executives claim. The people tell Re/code that PayPal is effectively willing to white-label portions of its payment service if Apple is willing to use them. Some shared components might include fraud detection, backend infrastructure, and actual payment processing.
Etched with unusual test-related markings
A device claimed to be a "very rare original iPhone engineering prototype" has sold for $1,499 on eBay. The unit is physically similar to the first-generation iPhone, but has unusual markings in the back, including "Ver. 1.1.1," and numbers associated with different wireless bands including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GSM 800/900/1800/1900. The unit is also depicted running previously-seen test software for components like sensors and audio hardware; interestingly, a "touch" component is included, even though fingerprint recognition didn't arrive on the iPhone until this year's iPhone 5s.
Genius LuxePad A110 microUSB keyboard enhances Android typing
Accessory manufacturer Genius today has revealed the the LuxePad A110, which provides a convenient way to write quickly and comfortably on most Android tablets. Combined together, a tablet and the LuxePad A110 weigh less than 2 pounds. The A110 includes a stand that lets users position their tablet at an angle that suits them best. Ten specific keys on the MicroUSB keyboard are designed for handling media, Internet and settings options. The LuxePad A110 is currently available in North America for the suggested retail price of $20.
Was responsible for Apple's online sales platforms
eBay has hired on Apple e-commerce head R.J. Pittman as its new chief product officer and senior VP, according to an official statement. The executive will report directly to eBay president Devin Wenig. While at Apple, Pittman was "responsible for worldwide design, product management, and e-commerce innovation," including "growing the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac e-commerce businesses via the web, mobile commerce, and contact center," according to his LinkedIn profile.
Laws would only offer more precision in reporting gov't. requests
Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Yahoo are among the companies that have signed a new Center for Democracy and Technology letter asking the US Congress to pass Rep. Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) Surveillance Order Reporting Act of 2013, and Sen. Al Franken's (D-MN) Surveillance Transparency Act of 2013. The bills were first introduced in August, and would let companies be more precise about when and how often they receive national security-related requests and hand data over to the government.
Buyout to bolster PayPal capabilities
eBay has agreed to acquire Braintree, a company that specializes in payment systems, for approximately $800 million in cash. The startup will initially operate as a separate division under eBay's PayPal division, which has served as a dominant competitor in the payment-services market.
Service to compete with eBay, Amazon
Google has announced that its same-day shipping program is now available to the general public in much of the Bay Area peninsula, from San Francisco to San Jose. The service, known as Google Shopping Express, had begun as a limited pilot program early this year.
Pilot scheme adds eBay collection points to 150 Argos stores
Auction site eBay is launching a in-store pickup service in the United Kingdom, as well as expanding its eBay Now same-day delivery scheme outside of the United States. A partnership with retailer Argos will allow eBay users to order from 50 merchants and have goods delivered to a store, which in the case of the Click & Collect pilot, consists of 150 Argos branches across the country.
Desire for new color option far outstrips supply; Apple making more
[Updated: seller cancelled transaction] Though MacNN has previously reported on the mania surrounding new gold-colored iPhone 5s -- with units routinely selling for between $900 and $1,500 depending on capacity and unlocked status -- a new record was set on auction site eBay on Monday when a 16GB unlocked GSM gold iPhone 4s sold for a record-shattering $10,100. The buyer was a long-time eBay user with a history of buying cellphone accessories.
While Apple increases orders, crunch on new color could last for weeks
The "gold rush" was a series of events generally considered to have lasted for much of the second half of the 19th century -- until Friday, when Apple officially sold completely out of the gold iPhone 5s model around 10AM ET. Within hours, many of the lucky few that secured a gold iPhone 5s were listing them on eBay and other auction sites. Asking prices have been seen in excess of $2,500, and active interest and bids have appeared as high as $3,850 (for a group of three gold 64GB models). There are currently over 2,000 iPhone 5s eBay auctions in progress.
Gmail gains improved Drive and Google+ integration
Google has updated the official Gmail iOS app with improved Drive and Google+ integration, allowing links to the services to open in their respective apps. For those who would rather these links open in a mobile browser, that can still be set within the app's preferences. Also new to the v2.4 update is a full screen mode for viewing larger image thumbnails. Gmail is a free download in the App Store.
Child buys herself her own sweet 16 birthday present
While many parents let their children play with their smartphone or other mobile device for temporary amusement, a story out of Oregon may make some think twice about the practice. According to reports, a 14-month toddler named Sorella Stoute managed to bid on and win an auction on eBay for a 1962 Austin Healy Sprite, buying the junked vehicle (with the name "FrankenSprite" printed on its door) for $225 using her father's logged-in account with the eBay app. While the parents could have nullified the sale, they ultimately decided to keep the car -- and the father, Paul Stoute, plans on restoring it and presenting to Sorella on her 16th birthday. The parents learned of the purchase through an email from eBay after the auction.
eBay update brings many new features
eBay has released an updated version of its iOS app featuring a redesigned interface with multiple search views, new shopping car functionality, and larger photo views. Unlike previous versions, users can now add multiple items into their shopping cart and pay for all of them simultaneously. The iPad version has also received several new image editing tools, while the iPhone version includes a new account creation tool that can setup a new account by scanning the barcode of a drivers license. Other changes include new "Search By Best Offer" options, feedback filters, and support for uploading multiple photos from a library.
Offered better deals than official refurb outlet
An eBay store that sold refurbished Apple products -- seemingly with Apple's blessing -- at prices equal to or below those of Apple's own refurbished store has been closed, at least temporarily. The store, which sold officially-refurbished Apple products under the seller name "refurbished_outlet" (a long-standing power seller on eBay) now has no products listed after zeroing out all inventory sometime Saturday. The store gained notoriety by selling some items below normal refurb prices, offering a PayPal option, and avoiding taxes in some states.
EBay forecasts $23.5 billion revenues in two years
EBay has a bright outlook on its future, as its most recent sales forecast has topped even Wall Street analysts' estimates. The Internet auction site, which is increasingly positioning itself as a retail outlet, estimates that its total volume of merchandise sold will hit $110 billion by the year 2015. EBay also sees a significant portion of its growth coming from developing markets.
Discounts up to $50 available on iPads, iPods
At its eBay refurb store, Apple is now selling the 13.3-inch MacBook Air for $899 -- $100 less than the price of a similarly refurbished model at the official online Apple store, AppleInsider notes. Other products are also getting unusual deals, such as 32 and 64GB iPod touches, which are going for $179 and $229 -- $30 and $50 off Apple's normal refurb costs. Verizon models of the iPad 2 are listed at $429 for 32GB and $529 for 64GB, in each case $50 less than normal.
Companies can require addresses, phone numbers in California
Apple and other online retailers aren't breaking state law by requiring people to submit their address and phone number when making credit card payments, the California Supreme Court has ruled. The decision at least temporarily ends a proposed class action brought by David Krescent, who charged that Apple should not be able to require the extra information for iTunes purchases. Reuters reports that eBay and Walmart submitted briefs in support of Apple.
PayPal account and eBay user growth accelerating
The last quarter brought significant year-over-year revenue gains for eBay, the online marketplace reported today, with an improvement of 15 percent over the same quarter last year. The third quarter of this year saw eBay pull in $3.40 billion in revenues, up slightly from $3.39 billion for the second quarter, but a significant jump from 2011, when the company pulled in $2.97 billion. The company saw acceleration in the growth of its PayPal accounts and eBay user counts as well, and it raised its full year guidance.
Must-have tech for the savvy jetsetter
If you're a gadget addict and a jet-setter, you probably already know you're living in something of a golden age for both of your big interests. Travel has become cheap and easy; meanwhile mobile technologies have advanced to the point that one can bring a staggering range of gadgets on the road without breaking the bank or breaking one's back lugging them around. Still, there is a wide range of devices out there, and it can be hard to know what to choose for the best travel gadget setup. Electronista has your back, though: and we've tracked down the best gadgets to rig yourself out with for the open road, the train station, the air terminal, and all parts in between.
Partners with retail businesses for San Francisco orders
Auction site eBay is experimenting with same-day delivery through its new mobile app. The eBay Now beta app for iOS now lists the same-day delivery option for $5, though the service is limited to San Francisco and orders in excess of $25. E-mail invitations have been sent out, and beta users will gain both a $15 discount on their first purchase and free delivery on the first three orders.
User's eBay account used same password as lost Yahoo data
A Yahoo Voices user from New Hampshire is suing the search engine for the compromise of his eBay account as a result of a hacker intrusion. Jeff Allan is suing the crowd-sourced question-and-answer service in California court for improper personal information safeguards, and is seeking compensation for himself and other users affected by the loss of over 400,000 users' data, which included emails addresses and unencrypted passwords on July 11.
Internet Association is formed by four web giants to help lobby in Washington
Four giants in the tech and Internet world have banned together to form the Internet Association. It's meant to be a lobbying group that is dedicated to advancing public policy solutions and protect an open, innovative, and free Internet. Heading up the group will be the one-time Deputy Staff Director to the US House Energy and Commerce Committee Michael Beckerman.
Historic predecessor of Commodore PET
A MOS Kim-1 single-board computer, originally released 36 years ago in kit form for $245, recently sold on eBay for $1,550. Following the acquisition of MOS by Commodore International, the historic computer became the basis of the Commodore PET.
eBay app gets redesigned interface, requested features
eBay has released an overhauled iPad app, bringing it to v2.0.0. The app now supports the Retina display on the third-generation iPad, but also has a new interface, for instance featuring a customizable homescreen. Several user-requested features have been added, such as better search, a Back button, and the ability to revise listings.
Plans added services beyond traditional payments
In February, PayPal provided new details on how it planned to roll out its in-store payment services. The subsidiary of eBay plans to demonstrate at the SXSW conference in Austin how it hopes to distinguish its consumer-side digital wallet service from the competition, including Google Wallet and Isis. PayPal hopes to expand its attractiveness by offering more payment flexibility, generating wish lists, and providing greater account control.
eBay offers guaranteed trade-in value
Following the iPad keynote on Wednesday, SquareTrade has announced that it will be offering an $89 Accident Protection Plan for the latest generation iPad. The 2-year iPad service, which provides coverage against iPad drops, spills and general accidents, includes free express shipping to and from SquareTrade's depots, with most repairs taking less than 48 hours. Users also have the choice of taking their device to a local Apple Genius Bar, with SquareTrade reimbursing the repair costs.
Eolas sees web patent lawsuit claim tossed
Eolas' attempt to patent the "interactive web" may have been dealt a permanent blow after a jury in the normally patent lawsuit-friendly town of Tyler, Texas ruled that the patent was invalid. The decision negated both any attempts at claiming damages and also negated three future trials. The rejection came in part after testimony from the spiritual creator of the web, Tim Berners-Lee, as well as individual creators whose work predated that of Eolas owner Michael Doyle.
PayPal mission not fazed by CEO departure
Despite the abrupt leaving of its CEO in January, PayPal is unfazed in its mission to make money off in-store payments, AllThingsD learned. Owned by eBay, the outfit had a number of demonstration set-ups of a grocery store, hardware store, and clothing store. In the San Jose area, PayPal has working registers set up in numerous Home Depot locations as part of a pilot program.
Motorola Woot auction slips Xooms with user info
Motorola has started up a return program after a minor but still significant privacy gaffe during a Woot auction. About 100 of 6,200 refurbished Xoom Wi-Fi tablets sold during auctions between October and December are believed to have still had some private data stored inside. These could have included anything from account logins through to personal files, Motorola said.
HP TouchPad up for sale again for 220 at Woot
Despite being discontinued, HP's TouchPad tablet is up for sale again, at Woot. It's a refurbished 32GB model, priced at $220, or about $70 more than the last refurbished 32GB TouchPads sold on eBay. Shipping is a much more manageable $5 for the new sale, however.
Will beat out Schmidt, other tech leaders
Apple CEO Tim Cook may be about to vastly increase his personal wealth, notes an executive compensation tracking firm, Equilar. Parts of two separate restricted stock unit grants belonging to Cook are vesting in the current quarter. Based on Apple's closing stock price on December 30th, the shares are estimated to be worth about $96.2 million.
Yahoo settles on permanent CEO from eBay division
Yahoo confirmed rumors Wednesday and picked PayPal president Scott Thompson as its new CEO. The nomination of the eBay division head followed months of uncertainty at the company following the firing of Carol Bartz in September. Thompson takes the position January 9.
Modded GameCube available on eBay for $950
A modder who calls himself Slipstream has breathed new life into the 10-year old GameCube home console from Nintendo through a portable hack. He calls his creation the Sly Cube, and it includes a seven-inch LCD flip screen. The integrated 7.2V, 600mAH battery is said to provide between three and four hours of play time.
Apple helped by Black Friday, iTunes shopping
Early holiday shopping helped push Apple past some of the largest stores online for visitors, comScore said Thursday. Apple's website and iTunes combined got over 79.2 million unique visitors in November, large enough to push it past eBay (72.1 million) and even retail giant Walmart (58.5 million). Other major shopping sites it eclipsed included Best Buy (36.5 million) and Sears (31 million).
Google to pay $300m per year in Mozilla deal
When Google and Mozilla renewed their search royalty deal earlier this week, they didn't reveal that Google will pay $300 million per year, AllThingsD learned. For this amount of money, Google will be the default search engine in Mozilla's Firefox browser. The numbers are a sharp increase from the previous arrangement because of the new competition from Yahoo and Microsoft.


text:
A CSRC official met with executives of Western banks, saying China and the US are making progress in coordinating regulations governing New York-listed Chinese companies, according to Reuters.
China and the United States were making progress in coordinating regulations governing Chinese companies listed in New York and could see a "positive surprise" by June or earlier, a China Securities and Regulatory Commission (CSRC) official told Western banking executives, Reuters said today, citing people familiar with the matter.
Fang Xinghai, the vice-chairman of the CSRC, held a virtual meeting this week with executives from more than a dozen top Western banks and asset managers in an effort to reassure them about the country's economic prospects after a regulatory crackdown in 2021, according to the report.
Fang told attendees that China will achieve "respectable growth" in 2022 as it prioritizes this year's economic growth, according to the report.
For US-listed Chinese companies, the ongoing standoff between Chinese and US regulators over audit papers has become a major uncertainty they have been facing.
A number of companies, including XPeng Motors, Li Auto, Baidu and Alibaba, have listed in Hong Kong in the past year or two as a response to potential risks.
NIO has yet to list in Hong Kong, though it is considering a secondary listing in Singapore as early as this year, IFR said on January 26, citing people familiar with the matter.
With a Hong Kong listing in limbo, NIO has begun considering a Singapore listing, the IFR report said, adding that NIO will not abandon its Hong Kong plans entirely and will continue discussions with Hong Kong regulators.
Battered by a series of uncertainties, the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) that tracks the leading Chinese Internet stocks listed in the US and Hong Kong, has fallen 52 percent last year.
So far this year, stocks of US-listed Chinese companies continue to sell off as uncertainty continues and the Federal Reserve signals a tightening of monetary policy.
The KWEB was down about 8 percent this month, while electric vehicle company stocks have been sold off even more severely, with NIO down 33 percent this month, XPeng down 35 percent and Li Auto down 27 percent.
NIO, XPeng, Li Auto: What could get their stocks out of slump?

domain: news


text:
NIO delivers 10,707 vehicles in June, including 6,383 premium smart SUVs and 4,324 smart Sedans
Shares of NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO) are soaring 4.85% in pre-market trading on Monday following the company’s announcement of its delivery results for June and the second quarter of 2023.
In June 2023, NIO delivered a total of 10,707 vehicles, with 6,383 being premium smart electric SUVs and 4,324 premium smart electric sedans. This contributed to a second-quarter total of 23,520 vehicle deliveries. Remarkably, NIO’s cumulative vehicle deliveries reached a milestone of 344,117 as of June 30, 2023.
One of the key highlights for NIO was the successful launch of the ET5 Touring, a smart electric tourer, on June 15, 2023. The ET5 Touring, designed with families in mind, boasts versatile space, exquisite and dynamic design, high-performance genes, and advanced intelligent features. It’s the perfect vehicle for users looking to explore future journeys across all scenarios. Deliveries of the ET5 Touring commenced on the very next day.
Moreover, NIO made significant progress with the All-New ES8, a smart electric flagship SUV, as the company started its delivery ramp-up on June 28, 2023.
The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer witnessed a positive start to trading on June 30, 2023. NIO’s stock opened at $9.63, surpassing the previous close of $9.39. Throughout the day, the stock fluctuated between $9.59 and $10.09, with a total volume of 63,465,224 (63.46 million) shares traded.
Analysts Bullish on NIO Inc.
The latest data from CNN Money reveals that 30 analysts have shared their 12-month price forecasts for NIO Inc. The median target price provided by the analysts is $9.71, which represents a 0.98% increase from the last recorded price. This means that, on average, the analysts believe NIO Inc.’s stock has room for growth and could see a slight uptick in value.
While the median target price provides an overall outlook, it’s also important to consider the high and low estimates. The high estimate stands at $19.88, suggesting the possibility of significant growth in NIO Inc.’s stock price. On the other hand, the low estimate is $6.32, indicating a more conservative projection.
Taken together, these forecasts indicate a generally positive sentiment among analysts regarding the future performance of NIO Inc.’s stock. It’s worth noting that analysts’ opinions can vary, and these forecasts should be considered as informed predictions rather than definitive outcomes.


text:
Yahoo and AOL are said to be discussing a merger.
The move comes as Yahoo reshuffles its leadership after the board dismissed chief executive Carol Bartz.
AOL chief executive officer Tim Armstrong is returning to proposals for a merger rebuffed by Bartz last year.
AOL's CEO has held talks with advisers to Yahoo to gauge interest in combining the companies, according to Bloomberg.
Citing anonymous sources, the Bloomberg report said Tim Armstrong is discussing options for a combination aimed at strengthening the two internet companies. AOL and Yahoo have faced declining fortunes in recent years as they struggled to compete against companies such as Google and Facebook for users and advertising revenue.
AOL is valued at $1.68bn, having lost almost $800m since it was spun off from Time Warner in 2009. Yahoo is worth just over $17bn, down from $80bn at its peak.
Under one scenario now being considered, the sources say, Yahoo would acquire AOL and Armstrong would become CEO of the combined company. But analysts say Yahoo is still unlikely to be interested in a deal because of AOL's losses and declining revenue.
However, if a merger were agreed, it would attract regulatory scrutiny in the US as AOL and Yahoo remain big players in the online industry despite their decline, according to the Guardian.
As the merger talks are not official, both companies have declined to comment.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Users' naked love for their iPads, tablets, isn't PC
Send this story to a friend
Two new reports show that people's love for their tablet computing devices knows practically no bounds.
The latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) on electronics shows that people are happier than ever with PCs, but that is mostly because of how happy they are with tablets.
And a survey by online presentation tech provider Brainshark shows more than a third of iPad owners have used their device while naked and 13 percent would choose the Apple device over their significant other if stranded on a desert island.
People really, really love their iPads and tablets, it seems.
The rating of 80 given in the satisfaction index is the highest ever for PCs, up two points from the rating of the past two years.
ACSI says that they lump tablets in with PCs because that is how users view them, when asked, even though a good argument can be made that they are a different animal.
"As tablets gain market share, overall customer satisfaction with the PC industry picks up," said Claes Fornell, ACSI founder and author, in a prepared statement.
Apple led all others in the group on customer satisfaction, with a rating of 86, compared to 81 for Dell, the closest competitor. Hewlett-Packard was tied for third with Acer, both having a rating of 79.
The Brainshark survey, meanwhile, found that 47 percent of those who responded said they expect their iPad to be their primary computing device within two years. Four percent said it already is.
It also found that the things people would take an iPad over include: a dedicated parking space (68 percent), a laptop (65 percent), a bigger, better office (47 percent), an extra week off (23 percent) or a 10 percent pay raise (14 percent).
Cromwell Schubarth is the Senior Technology Reporter at the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
- Most popular
- Box wraps up deal for Crossing/900 in Redwood City
- Chinese tech company in San Jose-area golf course deal
- Oracle founder Larry Ellison steps down as CEO; Hurd, Catz to replace
- CIA-backed Palantir adds $50M to its war chest
- Asian investor to buy, build out major Burlingame development site
- As Apple Watch looms, Pebble founder hopes to learn from Palm
- L.A. better burger titan Fatburger plans a dozen Bay Area locations
- Tesla shares fall 9% on analyst warning — biggest one-day slump
- Los Gatos says 'no' to North 40 plan, for now
- See futuristic BART trains headed for Fremont, Milpitas, San Jose
Sign up to receive Silicon Valley Business Journal's Morning Edition and Afternoon Edition newsletters and breaking news alerts.
National Sales Manager The Business Journals | San Francisco, CA
Sales / Marketing & Management Training Summit Solutions Inc. | San Jose, CA
Retail Sales Solutions Specialist - Santa Clara Verizon Wireless | Santa Clara, CA
Roadside Character Party City | San Jose, CA
Bridgestone Leadership Development Internship (Northern CA) Tires Plus | San Jose, CA


text:
NBA 2K24 will be the 25th installment of the iconic sports video game franchise and we’ve seen the game evolve in a huge way over the years. From simply being a basketball simulation to introducing the Park for online play to now having a whole City to explore and hoop in, the game has come a long way since its roots.
NBA 2K has become so extensive now that modes like the City/Park, MyTEAM and MyNBA all have their own, huge communities. The Park itself has become a major staple of the 2K experience since its inception in NBA 2K14 on new gen.
In fact, it has become such an important part of the fabric of the game, that it’s usually one of the last things 2K announces before launch. It was made popular thanks to the online competition and the affiliations which led to plenty of vying for bragging rights.
They then took out the affiliations and then eventually brought them back to everyone’s delight but with different names and with a fourth team. Rivals Days was also something that was a part of past NBA 2Ks with the affiliations.
One idea that sort of made its way around social media simply sounds amazing. As we know, Crossplay is going to be available in NBA 2K24 on new gen consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S), marking a first for the longtime franchise.
So this means we get to see PlayStation and Xbox players battle it on the court at the same time. This led to the idea of either replacing affiliations and have two courts representing PlayStation and Xbox players or having a Rivals Day event, pitting PlayStation and Xbox players against each other with bragging rights and rewards on the line.
I can definitely see the latter idea being the case. The way 2K promoted crossplay and the way it’s gotten gamers on both consoles chirping already, it makes too much sense. We can take so much pride in our consoles (or if you’re like me, you don’t pick sides in the console wars) so it’d be smart for 2K to take advantage of this and put together a nice event where players could showoff that pride.
It’s simple really. Rep your console, win games, win console themed prizes. Let’s make this happen, 2K.


text:
Vijayawada: Due to lack of proper sensitisation, generic medicines are not popular among the people of capital city. The state government’s initiative to promote low cost medicine is getting diverted as some hospitals and branded medical stores are creating apprehensions in the public regarding the efficacy of generic drugs.
So far Vijayawada has around 50 private generic medical stores selling branded generic drugs. One can buy generic drugs at these shops at a very reasonable price. Union and state governments are promoting the use of generic drugs by establishing ‘Jan Aushadi’ and ‘Anna Sanjevani’ stores.
Despite offering the medicines for cheap, the generic medical stores are lagging behind in sales as people are worried about the quality of drugs. Branded companies like Cipla and Ranbaxy have also entered generic market and made available their branded medicines at generic medicine prices.
Corporate hospitals in city are not encouraging the use of generic medicine. Doctors do not mention the generic name of medicines on their prescriptions.
IMA former national president Dr G. Samaram speaking with Deccan Chronicle said that he prefers generic drugs as they are much effective.
He alleged that corporate hospitals do not prescribe generic drugs as they are not profitable. He added that 90 percent of private medical practitioners are willing to switch to generic medicines. People should come forward and use generic drugs and decrease the burden on their wallet, he said.
P. Rambabu, additional director at drug control department opined that people should set aside their apprehensions and come forward to buy generic drugs.
He asked people to complain if found any discrepancies.
He opined that the Central government should frame guidelines to differentiate generic drugs with branded drugs so that it will be easy to control misuse of these drugs by the doctors.


text:
PM Narendra Modi departs for Russia
Indian envoy to Russia Pankaj Saran on Sunday exclusively told ANI that the two leaders will discuss mutual cooperation to improve each other's economy and influence in the international sphere.
US makes India a catspaw with CAATSA sanctions legislation
In India’s case, the immediate efforts are aimed at nixing New Delhi’s plans to buy five S-400 Triumf air defence systems for around $4.5 billion from Russia.
Modi gets real on China: Wuhan summit demonstrated that a weak economy gives India few cards to deal
Trump has struck a blow to globalisation with his ‘America First’ policy. On the trade front, Trump seeks to create tariff barriers to reduce China’s over $200 billion trade surplus.
Buy Security and Intelligence Services (India), target Rs 1490: IIFL
Buy Security and Intelligence Services (India) Ltd. at a price target of Rs 1490.
India Inc finds RBI's latest loan default guidelines rigid
Industry captains said the latest guidelines are “rigid and too strict”, especially for the infrastructure sector.
Chinese bike-sharing giant Mobike to begin India journey from Pune
India is the second major market that the company will be launching in, post its $2.7-billion acquisition by Meituan Dianping.
When God asked self-proclaimed ‘Kalki’ to travel ticketless
“I am an instrument of Durga! I get directions from Goddess Jagdamba (Durga) or Lord Vishnu and act for humanity’s sake,” Rameshchandra Fefar tells Mirror in an exclusive chat.
Sony to make more smartphones and televisions in India
The company’s parent in Tokyo is in the process of finalising whether to expand third-party manufacturing or set up a plant in India, said Sony India managing director Sunil Nayyar.
Market Now: PSU bank stocks trade up; PNB, SBI gain over 1%
Andhra Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce were the only two components in the PSU bank index that were down around that time.
IAS officers may get cadre only after course
Currently, civil servants for 24 services, including Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Revenue Service and others, are allocated cadre and services before commencement of the foundation course.
Renault to build India business with focus on a few products: Fabrice Cambolive
Renault is challenged by declining volumes in India with average Kwid sales falling to 5,000-6,000 units a month, almost half from its peak of 10,000 units.
Walmart take note, Amazon India valued at $16 billion
India has emerged as the most-valuable emerging market retail segment, which is altogether valued at $44 billion in the report seen by ET.
India now wants artificial intelligence-based weapon systems
The critical need to be prepared for this new revolution in military affairs was even stressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the DefExpo in Chennai last month.
Why petrol price has hit a record high
For petrol and diesel, prices are the highest in India. Effective cost of LPG cylinder after DBTL is the lowest in India. Only Sri Lanka has a lower price of kerosene oil.
Market Now: Over 160 stocks hit 52-week lows on NSE
Most sectors were in the red, barring IT and PSU bank on NSE.


text:
News about Samsung’s Android Oreo plans emerged about two weeks ago when a new very early firmware builds for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ were spotted in the wild.
Today, new information about the Android Oreo update for Samsung’s flagships surfaced, and things seem to be looking good. It appears that the South Korean company is already readying an Android Oreo beta program for the Galaxy S8 and S8+.
Two new firmware builds tagged with numbers that are often used for beta versions has been spotted by the folks over at SamMobile: G950FXXE1ZQI7and G955FXXU1ZQI7. Apparently, the letter “Z” …
Powered by WPeMatico


text:
LOS ANGELES — VR Bangers’ has released its newest 6K UHD scene, “Sorority Hookup: Wanna Cum Purchasing?” to launch its Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales with a batch of sexy schoolgirls.
“Sorority Hookup: Wanna Cum Purchasing?” characteristics Scarlit Scandal, Kenzie Reeves, Vanna Bardot and Morgana Rain as co-ed shoplifters out to really save in the course of their Black Friday buying spree, but “they’ll be caught red-handed and punished for their crimes in VRB’s sexy type,” said a firm rep.
“Even though saving some money on a new iPhone or television is great, paying out less for porn is always even a lot more satisfying, especially when it contains reductions on VRBangers.com, VRBGay.com and VRBTrans.com,” the rep notes.
The bargains cover every little thing from particular lifetime memberships, two-for-1 offers and other reductions on the sites’ standard charges.
“We would not be VR Bangers if we did not celebrate Black Friday and Cyber Monday with a blast,” said producer Roman Lit. “Personally, I am most hyped about our newest VR porn scene which is sort of a spin-off of the ‘Sorority Hookup’ saga.”
“Our oldest supporters must surely value this idea as significantly as I do!” Lit enthused. “The newest virtual actuality porn film combined with reduced charges of our providers must be a cause good enough to convince all the horny guys to join, rejoin or extend their membership on VRBangers.com!”


text:
WASHINGTON — Consumers shaken by the volatility in the stock market and the contentious debate in Congress over spending and the nation’s debt pulled back on spending in August, as retail sales fell at specialty and department stores, according to the Commerce Department’s monthly report released Wednesday.
Sales at clothing and accessories stores fell a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent to $18.7 billion in August compared with July, while sales at department stores dropped 0.3 percent to $15.3 billion. General merchandise stores, which includes discounters and department stores, managed to gain a little ground, posting a 0.1 percent increase to $52.8 billion.
“I am still going back to the issue of moderate versus affluence,” said Kevin Regan, senior managing director at FTI Consulting. “When you look at Macy’s, Nordstrom and Saks, they are the three biggies and they are more affluent, customer-related department stores, and they are doing well, whereas a Penney’s is struggling and Kohl’s has disappointing numbers. To me, moderate consumers are being more cautious and probably stretching the dollar more and only spending if they have to.”
In addition, Regan said, “The stock market in the month of August was volatile. Usually when things are volatile, confidence is not high and people sometimes pull back.”
Regan said he was not surprised by the decline in retail sales because several macro issues are “haunting consumers.”
“Whether it’s housing [prices falling], unemployment or stagnant incomes, these are things that continue to remind people we are not out of the woods,” he said. “We lose confidence in leadership and, as a result, people are sitting there worried about putting money aside for a rainy day.”
Hurricane Irene, which slammed the East Coast last month, also affected consumer behavior and showed up in the retail sales, he added.
In the overall economy, retail sales remained flat in August at $389.5 billion, falling below economists’ expectations of a 0.2 percent increase.
“August’s retail sales are pointing to an economy that has stalled,” said Chris G. Christopher, Jr., senior principal economist at IHS Global Insight. “Clothing, department stores and restaurants fell for the second month in a row. This is pointing to a very weak back-to-school shopping season and a consumer that is facing strong headwinds.”
Christopher said the American economy is in a catch-22 situation — companies will not hire at a faster rate until they see consumers spending more, while consumers will not start spending until the employment situation improves.
“Since the back-to-school shopping season looks very weak, retailers will be planning for a relatively weak holiday season,” Christopher added.


text:
Ubuntu celebrated its fifth anniversary yesterday, to celebrate this ARS Technica took a look at five ways that Ubuntu helped make Linux more human. Here's a snip:
2. Short, time-based release cycles
Ubuntu was born as a derivative of the venerable Debian project. One of the most serious weaknesses of Debian is its long development cycles and unpredictable release schedule. Ubuntu adopted a consistent six-month cycle based on the GNOME release model. This means that users always have access to the latest desktop software. The predictability has also helped to make Ubuntu popular with hardware vendors.


text:
Upbeat Reuters rolls out a bigger dividend
NEWS and financial data giant Reuters cheered the market today as it raised its growth forecasts for the year and increased the half-year dividend for the first time in five years.
Chief executive Tom Glocer said the group, whose customers were hit by the fall in world financial markets at the start of the decade, had switched from recovery to growth mode. He tweaked his expectations for 2006 revenue growth from 5% to between 5% and 6% after recent acquisitions.
The interim dividend goes up 6.5% to 4.1p, which the company said reflected its confidence over the second half. Earnings per share rose 33% to 85p.
Reuters plans to pay out half its earnings as dividends in the long term. Glocer-said: 'It has been an encouraging first half. We delivered a 9% increase in revenues, after adjusting for currencies, while strong cost discipline has given us room to invest.'
He added that the group remained on course to hit its targeted £440m of cost savings by the end of this year but its Core Plus initiative to drive sales would mean an extra £120m of charges against its profit and loss account.
While headline trading profits were unchanged at £156m, that was better than the slight fall most analysts had expected. Revenues grew by 12% to £1.27bn in the six months to end-June.
Most watched Money videos
- Aston Martin showcase the new Vantage with a top speed of 195mph
- Ford Europe teases the release of new Ford Focus in latest clip
- Jack Whitehall stars in Jaguar I-PACE promotional video
- Range Rover races through the 99-turns of the Tianmen Road
- Ray Massey takes Range Rover new plug-in hybrid PHEV for a spin
- British car maker Morgan shows off new Aero GT in Geneva
- A look at the new 2018 Mercedes-Benz A-Class A200 model
- Car shop shows their Seat Toledo 1.6 TDI 115 Style Advanced
- New Jaguar I-Pace takes on Tesla in race against the clock
- Jaguar I-Pace prototype smart cones driving test in Geneva
- Tips to invest your Isa - and why it is worth doing
- Take a look at the brand new Jaguar I-Pace prototype


text:
FIFA sponsor and American beverage giant Coca-Cola has requested a third-party commission to oversee reforms within soccer's governing body.
According to BBC Sports' Dan Roan, Coca-Cola told FIFA on July 9 that it wants an independent, outside group to help with internal reforms in wake of the corruption scandal that rocked world soccer at the end of May 2015. The company has formally requested that FIFA support the idea.
Per the report, Coca-Cola wants “one or more eminent impartial leaders to manage the efforts necessary to help reform FIFA's governance and its human rights requirements.”
In correspondence obtained by the BBC, Coca-Cola says: "We believe that establishing this independent commission will be the most credible way for Fifa to approach its reform process and is necessary to build back the trust it has lost."
According to the report, the International Trade Union Confederation called for other FIFA sponsors including Visa, Adidas and McDonalds to join Coca Cola in taking a stand.
McDonald's issued an official statement to SI.com Friday detailing its stance on the matter, also pressing FIFA for change.
“At McDonald’s, we know our customers around the world are passionate about football, and we share their enthusiasm. That’s why we’ve sponsored the World Cup globally for more than 20 years. But recent allegations and indictments have severely tarnished FIFA in a way that strikes at the very heart of our sponsorship.
“As a result, we have expressed our concerns directly to FIFA. We believe FIFA internal controls and compliance culture are inconsistent with expectations McDonald’s has for its business partners throughout the world. We are not satisfied with FIFA’s current handling of the recent incidents that go clearly against McDonald’s culture and values.
“FIFA must now implement meaningful changes to restore trust and credibility with fans and sponsors alike. The world expects concrete actions and so does McDonald’s.”
Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter will reportedly discuss his reform plans with a FIFA executive committee on Monday.
- Jeremy Woo


text:
Oklahoma town reduced to rubble by tornado
A Placer County man and his father-in-law are accused of trying to steal money from investors with a complicated Ponzi scheme.
Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One on Tuesday, and with it comes the next generation of content for its Kinect motion control technology.
From a hardware standpoint, while everything is more powerful, little is radically different from the Xbox 360. Sim...


text:
October 17, 2012 |
MUMBAI: Pharma major Lupin today said its subsidiary, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, has received approval for its Irbesartan tablets from US Food and Drugs Administration ( FDA ) to market a generic version of Sanofi Aventis's Avapro tablets. Irbesartan tablets are available from 75 to 300 mg and are the AB-rated generic equivalent of Sanofi Aventis's Avapro tablets, the company said in a statement issued here. Irbesartan is indicated for the treatment of hypertension and nephropathy in type II diabetic patients, it added.
November 5, 2008 |
NEW DELHI: Drug firm Sun Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday said it has received the approval US health regulator Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing the generic version of Sinemet, carbidopa and levodopa tablets used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. US FDA has granted the approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market carbidopa and levodopa tablets in 10 mg / 100 mg, 25 mg / 100 mg and 25 mg / 250 mg strengths, Sun Pharma said in a statement.
August 9, 2010 |
NEW DELHI: Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals today said it has received US health regulator's approval to sell anti-epileptic levetiracetam tablets in the American market. The company has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for levetiracetam tablets," Orchid Chemicals said in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The company has received approval from USFDA for levetiracetam tablets in strength of 1,000 mg, it said.
May 16, 2012 |
NEW DELHI: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals today said it has received tentative approval from the US health regulator for generic Zolmitriptan tablets used for treating migraines. Glenmark Generics Inc, the US arm of Glenmark Generic has received tentative approval from United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said in a statement. The approval is for zolmitriptan tablets in the strengths of 2.5 mg and 5 mg, Glenmark said.
September 20, 2012 |
MUMBAI: Dr Reddy's Laboratories today announced the launch of antibiotic Amoxicillin tablets, capsules and oral suspension -- a bio-equivalent generic version of Amoxil -- in the US Market . Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria. Amoxicillin tablets, capsules and oral suspension are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), a company statement said here. The Amoxil brand and generic tablets have US sales of about $22.2 million, capsules worth $67.2 million and oral suspension to nearly $89.5 million during 12 months ending June 2012, according to IMS Health .
May 3, 2013 |
NEW DELHI: After completing supply of 1 lakh units of Aakash tablets to IIT Bombay for Rs 2,263 apiece, Datawind today said it is ready to provide the next version of the device at a tentative price of Rs 2,500 apiece. "As per my information, the committee on Aakash tablets is looking to higher version of the device at Rs 2,500 a piece and we are ready to match the price on order for every 10 lakh units," Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli told reporters here. When queried about alleged delays in supply of Aakash tablets under the previous tender, he said Datawind has supplied all tablets more than a month in advance.
January 13, 2010 |
NEW DELHI: Pharma major Wockhardt on Wednesday said it has received tentative approval from the US drug regulator to market Levofloxacin tablets, used for treatment in a broad spectrum of bacterial infections. The United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) has given its approval for marketing Levofloxacin tablets in the strengths of 250mg, 500mg and 750mg, Wockhardt Ltd said in a statement. Levofloxacin is the generic name for the brand Levaquin, marketed in the US by Ortho Mcneil (Johnson & Johnson)
June 23, 2011 |
NEW DELHI: Drug firms Lupin Ltd and Natco Pharma today said that they have entered into an alliance to jointly market generic Lapatinib Ditosylate tablets, used for treating breast cancer, in the American market. Natco has filed an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) seeking United States Food and Drug Administration ( USFDA ) approval for marketing these tablets in the strength of 250 mg, Natco and Lupin Ltd said in separate statements. "Natco has partnered with Lupin for marketing of the product," Natco Pharma said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)
September 27, 2011 |
MUMBAI: Drug firm Glenmark on Tuesday said its US subsidiary has received tentative approval from the US health regulator for its generic Zolmitriptan tablets used for treating migraine. Glenmark Generics Inc, the US-based subsidiary of Glenmark Generics has received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Zolmitriptan tablets, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said in a filing to the BSE. The tablets are generics version of Zomig tablets from IPR Pharmaceuticals, it added.
October 18, 2012 |
NEW DELHI: Drug firm Lupin today said its subsidiary has received American health regulator's approval to market its generic oral contraceptive tablets 'Kurvelo' in the US market. The company's subsidiary -- Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc has received final approval from US Food and Drugs Administration ( USFDA ) for its oral contraceptive Kurvelo tablets, Lupin Ltd said in a statement. Lupin's Kurvelo tablets are the generic equivalent of Teva's Nordette tablets and are indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women , it added.


text:
US inflation is at the highest level since the early 1980s, when Ronald Reagan was in the White House and the Cold War was at its peak. With signs that inflation may now be starting to cool, we look at the prospects for precious metals in a world of “higher, longer, slower” interest rate rises.
US inflation on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure hit 9.1% in June 2022, the highest since late 1981. Food and energy prices remain high owing to disruptions stemming from the Russian war in Ukraine. Supply chain bottlenecks and a broad post-pandemic recovery in demand have continued to exert upwards pressure on inflation in 2022, and though there have been four successive months of declining inflation to the end of October, CPI remains at a still -40-year high of 7.7%. In an effort to bring inflation under control, US interest rates have risen at the fastest pace since 1981 – with the Federal Reserve lifting rates by fully 3% between June and November, and signalling that it will continue to raise rates into 2023.
Though gold and precious metals tend to shine as havens in a high inflation environment, this has been more difficult in 2022 as bullion and its sister metals have faced the twin headwinds of rising US government bond yields and a stronger US dollar. Yields on 10-year US Treasuries have surged and, adjusting for longer-term inflation expectations, have moved into positive territory this year for the first time since the initial COVID wave in March 2020. Higher yields of course make non-yielding precious metals look less attractive, and this has contributed to a trimming of physical gold longs in the ETF market and a reduction in speculative length on COMEX.
IN AN EFFORT TO BRING INFLATION UNDER CONTROL, US INTEREST RATES HAVE RISEN AT THE FASTEST PACE SINCE 1981
The US dollar for its part has surged to 20-year highs against a basket of major currencies on the back of investment inflows in response to the aggressive interest rate hikes in the US, which has left the US with by far the highest benchmark interest rate of major developed markets. The strong dollar has left USD-denominated gold under the weather, while gold in euros and sterling has fared somewhat better. The dollar has also arguably reverted to its traditional safe haven role as geopolitical risks, from Ukraine to Taiwan, remain elevated and the combination of rising rates and the impact of high inflation across many economies brings the risk of recession.
With an increasingly gloomy and uncertain outlook, the IMF has downgraded its GDP forecasts and now expects the world economy to grow by 2.7% in 2023, down from the 3.8% it forecast at the beginning of 2022. Eurozone GDP growth is expected to also slow down next year, while China’s growth is expected to accelerate, though the country’s zero tolerance COVID policies and periodic lockdowns could threaten this rise.
This slowdown in growth is not especially positive for the demand side of the precious metals markets, implying reduced offtake in the manufacturing of jewellery and industrial products. Turnover of bullion on the Shanghai Gold Exchange, much of it destined for the jewellery market, has been impacted by the periodic lockdowns in China this year and lower consumer spending as the cost-of-living squeeze is felt around the world.
While demand for high-grade gold and silver has been decent in the electronics sector despite wider supply chain challenges, consumer pull in the consumer electronics space is ultimately at risk from rising inflation and squeezed household budgets. In the automotive sector, where gold and silver are used in speciality electronics and PGMs are used in emissions control, the supply of vehicles continues to be impacted by ongoing supply chain disruption and demand for new cars is constrained by rising auto financing costs and lower consumer confidence. This is also resulting in a buoyant used-car market and fewer end-of-life vehicles available for recycling in the near term.
THE US DOLLAR HAS SURGED TO 20-YEAR HIGHS AGAINST A BASKET OF MAJOR CURRENCIES ON THE BACK OF INVESTMENT INFLOWS IN RESPONSE TO THE AGGRESSIVE INTEREST RATE HIKES IN THE US
Given that inflation remains consistently higher than interest rates in many markets, a period of major interest rate tightening is likely to continue over the next year or more. Wary of triggering a recession, central banks and governments may vary in their appetite for squeezing inflation out of the system and we are likely to see a greater degree of speculation over rate decisions manifest in higher market volatility. As inflation-adjusted yields remain low to negative, gold and its sister metals may continue to benefit from a degree of risk hedging, perhaps augmented by worryingly high levels of inflation in certain markets.
Europe in particular is at risk of a long and difficult winter as sanctions on Russian energy supplies and possibly supply interruptions weaken industrial output, add to higher costs and redouble inflationary woes, contributing to negative economic sentiment. Though this may weigh on the more industrial-facing white metals, it will likely create some further investor interest in bullion. With little room for the ECB to raise rates without creating further economic pain, the Euro may continue to slide, giving a lift to EUR-denominated precious metal prices.
If the Fed continues to raise rates, which it is likely to do given persistently high inflation and few signs of a slowing labour market, the dollar is likely to continue its bull run and temper the gains in USD-priced precious metals. However, ongoing aggressive rate hikes are likely to eventually slow the economy and result in a landscape of high inflation and weaker growth – one in which precious metals can provide portfolio diversification and help manage downside risks.
As we take stock of the past year and look towards 2023, we contemplate a combination of high inflation and rising rates last seen a generation ago. While this may be challenging from an industrial demand point of view, for those brave enough to navigate the inevitable volatility, it contains opportunities for hedging and risk mitigation not seen for many years.


text:
- All Industry
- Aerospace / Defense
- Alternative Energy
- Apparel / Textiles
- Construction / Building
- Energy & Oil
- Food Safety
- Fraud / identity Theft
- Leisure / Hospitality
- Logistics / Shipping
- Manufacturing / Production
- Mining / Metals
- Oil / Energy
- Paper / Forest Products
- Plumbing, Heating & AC
- Public Utilities
View Releases by:
July 16, 2014 -- Download a comprehensive HIPAA security training PowerPoint (PPT) presentation - and other supporting material - from the health care experts at myhipaasecuritytraining.com. Covered entities, business...
July 16, 2014 -- This wonderful gem on Greenville’s eastside has been thoroughly refreshed throughout and will soon have additional event space in the former indoor pool area.
July 16, 2014 -- Greenbee Parking, a rapidly growing airport parking service, has announced that Hyatt Place will be their new business partner in Baltimore. Now all travelers using the Baltimore (BWI) airport can...
July 16, 2014 -- Thoughtful Presence, well known for creating one-of-a-kind gift baskets with hand selected gift products, recently added a unique collection of inspiring gift books to its collection.
July 16, 2014 -- The Panama and Ethiopia varieties also receive outstanding scores
July 16, 2014 -- Agoda.com, one of Asia’s leading hotel booking sites and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq:PCLN), announced today the results of its most recent Travel Smart study: a trip-planning...
July 16, 2014 -- Smart Destinations begins a new sale on July 18th, featuring significant discounts on their best-selling Go City Cards and Explorer Passes.
July 16, 2014 -- The 3rd annual "iCAN TRI Youth triathlon" scheduled for Sunday, July 20th, 2014 will return to the Clovis North Educational Center. The youth triathlon division will be open to youth ages...
July 16, 2014 -- Possibly the most insane franchise idea ever is being brought home by Colorado's native son. French Fry Heaven is opening in the home state of its founder, Scott Nelowet.
July 16, 2014 -- Watching a cycling race with a million other spectators, attending a fashion show, and enjoying an arts & crafts festival are just a few of the popular things to do in Denver in August. Hotel...
July 16, 2014 -- David Hill is the newly appointed General Manager of Bintan Lagoon Resort.
July 16, 2014 -- From Cape Town to Tsitsikamma National Park, Cyclists Explore Coastal Towns, Scenic Winelands and Lush Gardens; Starting at $4,995 Per Person Including International Airfare
July 16, 2014 -- Tuckaway Shores Resort on Florida’s Space Coast announced that they are the recipient of a tourism grant from VISIT FLORIDA , the state’s tourism source for travel planning. The grant will enable...
July 16, 2014 -- The Mad Matter’s Piazza Logo Mats are the perfect way to spruce up hotels entranceways during the busy summer season.
July 16, 2014 -- B&R Selected Among Top Tour Operators by Travel + Leisure Readers for Record-Setting 15th Time
July 16, 2014 -- One Lucky Traveler Will Win 50 Trips by Downloading CheapOair’s Mobile App
July 16, 2014 -- Leonardo Technology for Hotel Media Management, Distribution and Display to be Implemented by Three Iconic Hotel Brands
July 16, 2014 -- Border City Comedy Fest blends laughter with a cause, as top comedians battle it out on stage in the name of charity from July through September in Windsor, Ontario.
July 16, 2014 -- With widespread deployments of advanced wireless networks and a solid strategy for the future, Major League Baseball is clearly the digital fan-experience leader among large U.S. sports leagues,...
July 16, 2014 -- A mobile application from hospitality technology firm Intelity allows hotel guests to check in or out and use their mobile device as a keycard for keyless room entry with new advanced mobile features...
July 16, 2014 -- The Lloydshare Repayment Plan is known throughout Latin American as being the go-to repayment plan in the vacation industry today.
July 16, 2014 -- Accelerank Internet Marketing celebrates 4 years of exceptional service and rapid growth in the Miami community.
July 16, 2014 -- See the “America’s Got Talent” finalist and amazing vocalist live in concert in multiple cities across the nation beginning this September. Performances will feature Varela’s popular repertoire of...
July 16, 2014 -- Houston-based online communications firm WebsiteAlive has become an affiliate member of the World Tourism Organization. The new partnership increases WebsiteAlive’s global reach and reaffirms its...
July 15, 2014 -- Results Uncover Planning and Traveling Insights for National Family Reunion Month


text:
Magic 8 Ball Pool Has Been More Popular with Adults Than Kids
Posted by MMOB2CALEX on November 29th, 2019
Miniclip are set to launch their flagship game 8 Ball Pool in China. The game, which has been a major cross-platform hit for Miniclip, has been fully localised for a Chinese market with new features and mechanics. Miniclip, a leading digital games company with over 70 million monthly active users, has been working with its Chinese partner iDreamSky to bring the hugely popular 8 Ball Pool? game to one of the world's most lucrative and fastest-growing markets.
A 13-year-old Mandurah 8-ball prodigy has taken out a win in the national under 18s girls championships in Darwin with an undefeated showing. Should you loved this informative article and you would want to receive details relating to 8BP Coins assure visit the web page. Despite her young age, Holly-Jane Va'aelua dismantled her opposition to win nine straight games before taking out a pair of finals to claim the title. The win is just another notch on the belt of what is becoming many achievements for the up and comer, who has already represented the Australian women's national team and won a number of state-based events.
The woman charged with felony assault for stabbing a man with her stiletto on a subway for wearing an ugly 8-ball jacket took a plea deal Thursday in Manhattan court. Danay Howard, 21, copped to assault in the second degree and assault in the third degree for a wild brawl captured on cellphone video that broke out on an F train in Greenwich Village on Nov. 8, 2014.
It was 1950, and for the previous four years, Bookman's company Alabe Crafts had tried to market the Syco-Seer. Sold as a "miracle home fortune teller," the toy was a cylinder filled with dark liquid containing a pair of floating dice, their surfaces scribed with fateful predictions. Users would ask a question, shake up the Syco-Seer and then wait for the device to give them the answer. Only there weren't many users, and Alabe's nesting the cylinder inside a crystal ball in 1948 hadn't helped.
Miniclip's "8 Ball Pool" has become the number one grossing app in the UK. The billiards game also is the number two most downloaded game in the US on Android devices. Gaming website GamesIndustry.biz reported that Miniclip has now surged ahead of some of the most well-known mobile game developers. It has finally been able to head the list of top grossing apps. That's the message the creator of the iconic 8-ball jacket has for Jorge Pea, the straphanger who hit back after he was attacked on the subway for wearing the retro duds.
To set the scene, you've got Mark and Josh in the backyard playing a high-stakes game of billiards with the loser having to drink a cup of pickle juice with hot sauce mixed in. 8 Ball Pool is already enjoyed by millions of users in the West, where it boasts 1 billion monthly gameplays across mobile, web and social platforms. The game has been given an overhaul for a Chinese audience, with the introduction of new features, controls and game mechanics as well as translation into Chinese.
Like it? Share it!
About the AuthorMMOB2CALEX
Joined: November 29th, 2019
Articles Posted: 18
More by this author


text:
One of the major challenges utilities face is getting the consumers to trust them. Eggert Gudmundsson has an interesting background, after receiving an MBA degree he worked for several years for Philips before returning to Iceland to become the CEO of the countries biggest fishing companies and then became the CEO of Iceland’s biggest fuel and retail company. With this background in commodities, electronics and finally energy, Eggert is now heading the innovative energy enabler eTactica which has developed an EMS for SME’s. The eTactica solution enables energy companies to create tighter bonds with their customers and adds measurable value to their services.
When preparing for his presentation in the track on the branding of sustainable energy, search engines turned Ayoola Brimmo to the CHARGE website. In the introduction of the presentation, he noted that this was the only place to discuss how to successfully brand sustainability.
A brand needs to take a look at the past to be able to build towards the future was the key point to take from Ayoola Brimmo’s lecture at CHARGE 2016. Ayoola works at the Nordic Innovation hub in Abu Dhabi and used the case of Dubai as an example of a city brand that has become more valuable due to a strategic brand building that focuses on the perception of luxury. Another example of a city brand that has been developed in the Emirates is Masdar City. When Dubai is the luxury city brand, Masdar takes footing as a luxury brand but goes further to differentiating itself by focusing on the sustainability of the city. Even though sustainability has become sort of a buzzword in the last decade, Masdar has yet to become a city brand with a worldwide recognition.
One of the more interesting energy brands to hit the retail energy market in Germany is Shell PrivatEnergie. The company behind the brand is the UK’s largest challenger to the Big Six, First Utility. First Utility entered the market utilizing one of the largest known brands in the energy world, Shell – with over 100 years of brand recognition in the German market and around 2.000 retail outlets. The German market has over 1.400 electricity retailers and is one of the most active energy markets in the world.
Maik Neubauer, CEO of First Utility in Germany is responsible for the Shell PrivatEnergie offering and participated in the Understanding the Energy Consumer track of the conference. He went over the Shell case; which elements of the brands were transferred to the electric energy brand and how to create a credible quality energy brand that is trusted by the energy consumer.


text:
Americans have learned that while Coke may be "it" and that "nothing else is a Pepsi," drinking a lot of soda has negative health consequences.
That's an obvious lesson, but it's one that has led to not only a drop in sales for Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), but also for water to have overtaken soft drinks in 2016 sales. It's been a major fall for some well-loved drinks, which has included some stunning drops for America's fastest-declining soda brands.
STOCK PRICE FOR KO
The biggest losers, Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, may seem like healthy alternatives to their full-sugar sister brands, but changing attitudes has led them to being America's fastest-declining soda brands at a time when the overall market for sodas in general has declined steeply.
What's happening in the beverage market?
Americans have finally accepted the idea that soda can harm their heath. That has led to an increase in bottled-water consumption.
STOCK PRICE FOR PEP
In 2016, each person in the United States drank 39.3 gallons of bottled water, compared with 38.5 gallons of carbonated soft drinks, according to data from Beverage Marketing Corp., Reuters reported. That's a dramatic drop for soda consumption from its heights in the late 1990s and early 2000s of over 50 gallons per person.
"When Perrier first entered the country in the 1970s, few would have predicted the heights to which bottled water would eventually climb," Beverage Marketing Corp. CEO Michael Bellas told Reuters.
Which brands are America's fastest-declining sodas?
In the 1980s, 1990s, and even some of the 2000s, people believed that substituting diet soda for regular counted as being healthy. That made sense on a pure-calorie basis, but it proved to not be true when people began considering what went into diet sodas. That led to a rejection of diet sodas, which knocked the two industry leaders -- Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi -- off their thrones.
In 2016, Diet Pepsi was America's fastest-declining soda, seeing sales slip 9.2%, according to data from Beverage Digest, as reported on by Fortune. That was more than twice the drop for the second-fastest decliner, Diet Coke, which dropped by 4.3%.
The carbonated-soft-drink industry has lost 1.6 billion cases in volume since 2004, according to Fortune, but the news isn't all bad. While sales by volume has fallen, revenue has increased because Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and other soda brands have smartly marketed higher-priced-per-ounce smaller servings to cater to consumers who are concerned about health but still want soda.
Diet soda may come back
While it's unlikely that the growth of bottled water slows down in the short term, it's not impossible to see Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi making a comeback. For that to happen, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo will have to find a way to make their product better for people.
That's a difficult, but not impossible, challenge in a nation where people have swapped smoking for vaping -- essentially trading one unhealthy habit for another that seems like it's a little better for you. Americans probably still want to drink soda; they just need a reason to feel better about doing so.
10 stocks we like better than Coca-Cola
When investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*
David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Coca-Cola wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.
Click here to learn about these picks!
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 5, 2017


text:
MILAN — Initial public offerings are taking over as this season’s must-have in Italy, as Brunello Cucinelli revealed it is the latest Italian company to be tempted by the stock market.
Prada, Moncler and Ferragamo IPOs are expected to take place in the first half of the year, and founder Brunello Cucinelli said he is toying with the idea of a stock market listing, but that it is still in the very early stages of the process.
“This project of ours, to go public, is part of our development plans for the near future, to reach our full potential,” said Cucinelli. “It will allow us to gain international prestige as well as to compete with companies at a certain level.”
Indeed, this seems as good a moment as any, given the luxury brand has experienced continuous growth in revenues over the last four years, ending with a 27 percent increase to 201 million euros, or $265.3 million at average exchange, in 2010. “Honestly, we didn’t expect these results, especially considering the economic situation,” said Cucinelli, adding that he expects double-digit growth for 2011, as well. Additionally, he believes an IPO could bring the company the clout it needs to attract top-level managers to its Solomeo headquarters, which is, though by all means picturesque, a bit off the beaten track.
“I feel there is a good atmosphere right now for the luxury and Made in Italy sectors,” said Cucinelli. Indeed, Bain & Co. came out with a study earlier in the week that showed a peak in luxury goods consumption and forecast continued momentum for the industry.
The company has already taken the first step toward certifying its balance sheet, which is being carried out by Ernst & Young; Merrill Lynch and Mediobanca are in place to act as the global coordinators of the operation.
Cucinelli said it was too early to say when or where the IPO would happen, though he did admit, “I’m Italian, and I believe in my country, so when the time comes, I would hope to list here.”


text:
News by Topic
- Search Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Loyalty Marketing
- Mobile Marketing
- Social Marketing
- Viral Marketing
- Trends & Ideas
- Internet Marketing 101
BuzzFeed, BBC most-shared publishers on Facebook and Twitter
BuzzFeed and the BBC were the most-shared English language publishers on Facebook and Twitter during the month of February, according to new data released by social monitoring platform Newswhip.
Using data from their content discovery tool, Spike, Newswhip has released findings showing the publishers that dominated social media during February. By monitoring content that is shared on social media and the conversations around it, BuzzFeed was found to be the most-shared on Facebook and the BBC on Twitter.
BuzzFeed received more than 50 million interactions on Facebook - which includes comments, shares and Likes. This, says Newswhip CEO and founder Paul Quigley, is on account of the popularity of BuzzFeeds' recent quizzes.
"BuzzFeed haven't upped their article count so much but the social numbers on some of those quizzes," said Quigley, "they're like a new form of content. It's almost unfair to stack them up against news content because they're evergreen, they just keep rolling and rolling around the web, living on. They may live on for years, accumulating shares."
Meanwhile, on Twitter, the BBC had the highest number of shares in February totaling just under 25 million compared to second place Mashable with 14.6 million.
"There are different motivations for sharing and different relationships," said Quigley. "Twitter is public, there are professional relationships mixed with personal ones there and those dynamics create a different type of sharing atmosphere and I think without Twitter you'd lose a lot of the fast reaction to news stories."
Image via Shutterstock
- Ecommerce Roundup: As digital increases, so does fraud
- Survey: Health Lifestyle grabs consumer interest
- Alibaba forms alliance with big brands to fight counterfeiting
- Expert: What marketers need to know about RegTech
- Mobile 'click injection' fraud forecast to become prevalent in 2017
- Less than half of consumers satisfied with retail app experience
- Study: Order struggles a problem for B2B
- Ad Roundup: Solution expansions, investments
Featured White Papers
- How to Deliver Content Your Employees Will Love to Share
Your employees are your greatest asset. It makes perfect sense that companies would double down on their own talent, empowering...


text:
San Francisco is tapping into its innovators and entrepreneurs to make the city's government more efficient and connected through web-based technologies.
The city announced what it's calling the world's first "civic startup accelerator." Partnering with the nonprofit Code for America, the program will support startups with innovative Gov 2.0 ideas.
“San Francisco is home to some of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs, the ones who have ‘disrupted’ numerous industries and made our City a hub for innovation,” said Mayor Lee. “The challenge now is to bring those same disruptive technologies to make government more accountable and engaged, and make San Francisco, the world’s first City 2.0.”
Code for America, which recently received a grant from Google to further their work in Gov 2.0, will hold a citywide civic app-building competition and the winners will enter the accelerator program.
"[T]his year we will be opening the doors to City Hall to the country’s great entrepreneurs,” said Code for America Founder Jennifer Pahlka. “As we’ve seen from disruptive companies like TurboTax, SeeClickFix, and Socrata, there’s a real opening for new businesses in the civic space; we want to turn those examples from the exception into the norm. We want entrepreneurs everywhere asking, ‘How can I disrupt government?’”
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com


text:
BERLIN (AP) — The number of people falling sick as a result of E. coli contamination has slowed to a trickle, Germany's national disease control center said Tuesday, even as the death toll from the outbreak rose by one to 37. The Robert Koch Institute said a total of 3,235 people in Germany have been reported ill, only seven more than the previous day.
OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) — ConAgra Foods Inc. has purchased the Marie Callender's trademark for $57.5 million, the food maker announced Tuesday. ConAgra said deal was effective last week, before the bankruptcy protection filing by Marie Callender's parent company Monday. The packaged food maker has licensed the Marie Callender's name since 1994 for the frozen meals and pot pies it sells in stores.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Unified School District is taking a stand against child obesity, becoming the nation's largest school system to stop serving sugar-laden flavored milk. The school board on Tuesday voted to eliminate chocolate and strawberry milk from schools as of July 1.
(AP) — In this June 13, 2011, file photo the Missouri River floods farmland north of Hamburg, Iowa. While flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers is cutting into this year’s corn crop, raising concerns about decreased supplies and increasing food prices in the coming year, experts said good weather this summer could help turn things around.
(AP) ― In this photo taken Tuesday May 31, 2011, Peter Baye, left, and Joel Chabon walk down a road past vineyards planted in the 1970s in Annapolis, Calif. The ocean fog and cool climate of California’s rugged northern coast allow redwood trees to thrive and help give wine grapes a distinctive flavor.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Federal agencies have broken ground in St. Paul, Minn. for a state-of-the-art greenhouse that will help combat a growing threat to the world's wheat and barley supplies. The 2,880-square-foot greenhouse will be operated by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.
HARRISON, Ark. (AP) — A food distribution company says it will lay off 225 workers after closing a plant in Harrison as part of an acquisition by another company. Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods said last week it would sell its non-food and general merchandise lines to L&R Distributors in New York.
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — In a converted mechanic's garage in the resort town of Park City, visitors to Utah can sample some of the state's new more liberal liquor laws. Policies now permit High West whiskey, bourbon, vodka and rye to be distilled, bottled and dispensed from one location, something that five years ago was prohibited.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Efforts to outlaw the undercover recording of animal abuse in livestock operations appear to have stalled in Iowa and other states in the face of complaints that the proposals were intended primarily to protect the industry with little concern for animals' welfare.
GEIR MOULSON, MARIA CHENG Associated Press - June14, 2011 BERLIN (AP) — The battle against Europe's deadly E. coli outbreak descended into cacophony and confusion. Now that the crisis is stabilizing, German officials acknowledge lessons to be learned. Among the problems: a tangle of federal and regional authorities, chaotic communication and a system for reporting cases that many say is antiquated.
LONDON (AP) — Scientists are quickly combing the DNA of the killer bacteria behind the world's worst E. coli outbreak to find clues about how to treat patients and prevent future epidemics. So far, one strain from a German patient has been sequenced by Chinese and German scientists.
TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Tyson Foods Inc. $70,000 in the wake of a fatal collapse at the company's Nashville, Ark., feed mill. The Texarkana Gazette reports OSHA cited Tyson earlier this month, saying a collapsed grain silo was "structurally unsound.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — New England's largest egg producer is in negotiations to sell its operations to Minnesota-based Land O' Lakes, a Maine lawmaker said during a legislative debate. The possible sale of Jack DeCoster's egg operations in Turner, Maine, came to light while lawmakers debated a bill that would remove the right of DeCoster's workers to unionize.
BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese butcher was sentenced to life in prison on Saturday for adding industrial-grade nitrates to meat that were blamed in a man's poisoning death. The harsh sentence handed down to Gao Yanjun reflects authorities' efforts to crack down on widespread chemical contamination of food and other products that has caused repeated health scares in China and blackened the reputation of the country's exports.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan's leader has overseen the destruction of 2.3 tons of beverages believed to be tainted with a dangerous chemical. President Ma Ying-jeou called on makers to improve food safety after the products were dumped into a waste treatment plant Saturday. Authorities have inspected 16,000 stores over the past month and removed drinks, teas and health supplements containing DEHP, a plasticizer added to improve color and texture.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Scientists say they're close to producing new "super varieties" of wheat that will resist a virulent fungus while boosting yields up to 15 percent, potentially easing a deadly threat to the world's food supply. The research is part of a global drive to protect wheat crops from the Ug99 strain of stem rust.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Brown-Forman Corp.'s fourth-quarter profit spiked from the sale of its California-based Fetzer Vineyards, capping a year that showed strong growth for its flagship Jack Daniel's brand and el Jimador tequila. The company, whose brands include Southern Comfort and Finlandia vodka, on Thursday reported a 26-cent-per-share gain from the sale of Fetzer to Chilean wine producer Vina Concha y Toro S.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Costa Rican health officials say 13 children had to be hospitalized after swallowing a lead ball that was part of a toy that a food company included inside bags of corn chips. The children thought it was candy. Authorities say only one of the children remains in the hospital from eating a lead ball.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jobs are scarce and food prices are likely to stay high through next year, according to new data that reinforced evidence of a U.S. economy stuck in a weak patch. There was some good news in the spate of reports released Thursday. The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in April after American companies sold more goods overseas and imports fell.


text:
flucon GmbH is exhibiting at this year’s Aachen Colloquium.
We’re proud to announce that from the 8th to the 10th of October 2018 we will present some of our products at the 27th Aachen Colloquium, the renowned trade fair and specialist event for vehicle and engine technology in Germany.
flucon research activities on controlled oil aeration will be funded by government agency.
Good news for our product development: flucon’s latest research project will receive finacial support from ZIM, a program of the Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy specially designed to promote innovational projects in medium-sized enterprises.
The result of our efforts will hopefully be available soon in the form of an innovative device that will be of valuable assistance whenever problems arise in machine systems and components due to oil aeration.
As the developers of the successful inline aeration sensor CGS team flucon is thrilled by the opportunity to apply and expand our unique know-how on the subject of two-phase mixtures to the benefit of our customers.


text:
1 Oct 2010
Liverpool residents have another Bicentenary event to look forward to this month – the Bicentenary Food & Wine Festival!
The event will be held on the 16th and 17th October 2010 at Woodward Park and it is expected to become an annual event for Liverpool.
The Bicentenary Food and Wine Festival also known as “Liverpool Bites” will be showcasing cuisines from some of the 176 different cultures that live in Liverpool. There will be food and wine tasting, cooking demonstrations, barista competitions, rides, entertainment and even fireworks to top off the Saturday night.
With the tagline “World in One City”, the Bicentenary Food and Wine Festival should be a great event for everyone in the Liverpool community.


text:
(New York, NY) The hotel chain that owns Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza says malware stole customers' credit and debit card information at more than a thousand hotels.
InterContinental Hotels Group said yesterday the malware infected front desk cash registers at more than 12-hundred hotels between September 29th and December 29th last year. The chain says thieves stole data from people who stayed at Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites hotels.
Copyright © 2017TTWN Media Networks Inc.
Photo: flickr, Nannette Turner


text:
Black Friday 2020 has encompassed the entire month of November for many retailers, including Target. We can confirm Target has had Black Friday-worthy savings all month long, and some of its best deals are returning for the final week!
DealNews respects your right
to privacy and will not sell your email address to
other companies based on your subscription.
Please see our
for information on how we protect your email address.


text:
Razor market disruption kicked off the halcyon days of the direct-to-consumer boom with brands like Dollar Shave Club and Harry’s pushing people to reconsider their razor preferences via Facebook and Instagram ads that became the DTC playbook. Long-time razor-maker Bic is now pushing a new EasyRinse razor to bring in new users.
“We have our biggest innovation in over 40 years with the EasyRinse razor,” said Katie Potocki, marketing director for Bic Blade Excellence, adding that the innovation came from consumer insight around clogged razors and the annoyance they cause. “We have our largest investment in our [advertising] campaign in over five years. This is a big priority for us as a company.”
To pitch the new razor, Bic is focusing its media spending on digital, social and influencer marketing working with celebrities like comedian Eric Andre, actress Annie Murphy and, most recently, Vanderpump Rules reality star Ariana Madix.
That partnership with Madix, in particular, used humor to connect the product benefit of the new razor — unclogging — to Madix’s recent breakup and the cheating scandal that’s been the focus of Vanderpump Rules and reignited cultural interest in the series in recent weeks. Aside from a 30-second spot that appeared during the season finale of Vanderpump Rules on Bravo, Bic has stopped spending on linear TV.
“Digital and social is where consumers are at so we’ve shifted from more traditional channels like linear TV to more digital, social and influencers,” said Potocki.
It’s unclear how much Bic is spending on the effort as Potocki declined to share budget specifics. Throughout 2022, Bic spent $870,633 on media placements for its razors, up from $640,867 during 2021, per data from Vivvix, including paid social data from Pathmatics.
Finding ways to make a brand relevant via a cultural moment like working with a reality star at the center of an ongoing scandal is a logical albeit risky move for a brand, according to Mat Zucker, senior partner, co-lead of marketing and sales at brand consultancy Prophet. “It’s high risk, unknown reward,” said Zucker of the strategy. “Hitching a ride to culture could have no pay off, high payoff or something in the middle.”
Bic has already “seen tremendous results in terms of sentiment and social listening” and added that they’ve also seen a sales increase, per Potocki. Whether the brand will aim to tap into a cultural moment again will depend on brand fit and target consumer.
Going forward, the company is focused on “bringing new consumers into the Bic franchise,” said Potocki. “Historically, we have not been a leader in new technology. We’ve been a fast follower. This is the first time we’re leading with technology.”
More in Marketing
TikTok has officially launched its new e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, earlier this month on August 1. Using the new e-commerce platform, brands and creators can sell products directly on the platform, potentially creating new revenue streams, and tap into the short-form video platform’s growing popularity.
‘The influencer industry can be really vile’: Confessions of an influencer marketer on the industry’s unfair hiring practices
While the influencer industry might sound exciting and like it’s full of opportunities, one marketer can vouch for the horrific scenarios that still take place behind the scenes.
After a tumultuous 12 months, marketers are getting a clear picture of how they really did during a time of true uncertainty. And, as it turns out, it wasn’t all that bad.
Ad position: web_bfu


text:
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
Disney Reveals Slate of New 'Star Wars' Attractions
Disney’s Hollywood Studios announced Monday that guests will have the chance to experience the “Star Wars” brand every day of the year when the park opens the first series of movie-based attractions on Dec. 1.
Source: Disney Parks’ Blog
SeaWorld Shutting Down Killer Whale Shows in San Diego
On Monday, SeaWorld officials announced that the theme park’s killer whale show at its San Diego location would be phased out next year. The announcement coincides with proposed federal legislation that would regulate the company’s interactions with captive and wild orcas.
Source: Fox News
Cedar Fair Announces Major Upgrades to Portfolio of Parks
Last week, Cedar Fair amusement park officials announced an array of new rides and attractions for the 2016 season coming to the parks owned by the company, including upgrades to popular parks such as Carowinds, California's Great America, King's Dominion and more.
Source: Cedar Fair
First Wet'n'Wild Water Theme Park Coming to China
Mission Hills China, Guangxi Investment Group and Village Roadshow Limited have teamed up to build China's first Wet'n'Wild water theme park, Wet'n'Wild Haikou. The attraction will be similar to the Wet'n'Wild parks in Sydney and Las Vegas.
Source: Mission Hills China
Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Celebrating 75th Anniversary in 2016
Knott's Berry Farm announced that its Ghost Town attraction will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year, and to celebrate, the amusement park is offering two new events. "Ghost Town Alive!" and "GhostRider" will help usher in the excitement in 2016.
Source: Knott's Berry Farm


text:
greatest streaming music is still Spotify, but there is actually a point where Apple beat the Swedes on the fingers – namely unique users per month.
Analyst firm Verto has published a report showing that Apple had 40.7 million unique monthly users in February 2017. As the Verto measure only mobile use may be significantly higher number.
Spotify for its part had 30.4 million, which is much less. The reason why the outcome is said to be the three free months that Apple provides to its customers. When, and if, the iPhone manufacturer catching up competitor to other figures that the number of subscribers remains to be seen.