text:
Traffic hit near-record levels on Twitter on Wednesday after news spread of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' death.
Web 2.0 and Web Apps
A brokerage and investment banking firm downgraded Google from "buy" to "hold" because of the growing threat from social media companies like Facebook.
The Internet and social networks like Facebook and Twitter immediately lit up Wednesday night with the news of the death of Apple Chairman Steve Jobs.
Facebook's tracking technology has landed the social network in hot water, with two lawmakers calling for a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation.
Google's share of the U.S. search engine market has dropped below 65% for the first time in two years, new data shows.
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Kogan Agora 4G Pro review: the final word on Kogan's best smartphone
- 2 Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet (LTE) review: The tablet of choice for anyone on Android
- 3 Bose SoundLink Mini II Bluetooth speaker review
- 4 Apple MacBook Air 2015 review: Only better with time
- 5 Lenovo ThinkPad T550 laptop
Join the PC World newsletter!
Deals on PC World
- Networking, Wireless & VoIP
Deals on PC World
Latest News Articles
- Apple falls to third in China smartphone rankings, while Xiaomi vaults ahead
- Cleaning up botnets takes years, if ever, to complete
- Yahoo tackles large 'malvertising' campaign in its ad network
- Plantronics BackBeat Sense Bluetooth headphones
- OneDrive finally lets you sync shared folders
GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
- FTField EngineerNSW
- FTBusiness Development Manager & Account ManagerVIC
- CCMarketing Coordinator - World's largest search engine!NSW
- CCLead Generator - Software SolutionsNSW
- FTDevOps Consultant - Microsoft Experience - Digital ConsultancyVIC
- FTDesktop Engineering ManagerNSW
- FTSenior Network EngineerNSW
- CCAccount Strategist | Sales Executive | Global Search EngineNSW


text:
The Foods That Keep You Hydrated
“Water doesn’t have to come in eight 8-ounce glasses daily. Fresh fruits and vegetables, and various beverages, are viable sources of hydration.
Sign up for the Well newsletter, for Times subscribers only. Essential news and guidance to live your healthiest life.
To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.
With a summer of record-breaking heat upon us, hydration is more important than ever. If you’re not taking in enough fluid to produce adequate sweat on a hot day, you may be more vulnerable to heat stroke. Dehydration can be caused by extreme heat, but it can also exacerbate other heat-related conditions like heat cramps.
So taking in liquids is crucial, but hydration can go beyond simply drinking water. The popular belief that we all need to be drinking eight cups a day to be truly hydrated persists, though it has been debunked again and again.
“There’s really no data behind the eight glasses of water a day thing,” said Dr. Dan Negoianu, a nephrologist at the University of Pennsylvania. For example, “just because your urine is dark, that doesn’t prove that you’re dehydrated.”
Being hydrated simply means consuming enough fluids to the point where you’re not thirsty, Dr. Negoianu said, and that amount varies for everyone.
There are plenty of things besides plain water that will keep you hydrated, experts say: These include the foods and drinks that appeal to you, the things that will keep you consistently reaching for them. Here are a few suggestions.
Look to your favorite fruits, veggies and drinks
“We think that we need to drink a lot of water all the time because we hear that all the time,” said Tamara Hew-Butler, a sports medicine scientist at Wayne State University who specializes in fluid balance. “You gotta drink your eight glasses — hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.”
But any food or drink that has fluid content will be hydrating, she said: “Your body doesn’t care where hydration comes from, it just needs fluid.”
Fresh fruits and vegetables are ideal sources because not only do they tend to hold high water content, but they also have fiber, which provides other benefits for your diet and health. Melons, such as watermelon, honeydew or cantaloupe, are especially juicy. Strawberries, oranges, grapes, cucumbers and celery are also packed with water.
Beverages of all sorts can be hydrating. Juice, milk, tea and coffee each contain fluids that your body can use. Drinks with high sugar content may not be the best nutritional choice, but research shows that sugar-sweetened beverages are just as good as water at delivering fluids to your system. In the heat of summer, of course, frozen desserts like ice pops and sorbets are handy vessels for liquid consumption.
“You can achieve, and exceed, your daily fluid requirements through the ingestion of beverages and high moisture foods without drinking a single glass of plain water,” Dr. Hew-Butler said in an email.
Caffeinated drinks can be hydrating, too. Though caffeine is often deemed a diuretic, or dehydrating substance, research shows that consuming coffee or other caffeinated beverages has about the same hydrating or dehydrating effects as if you just drank water — especially if you’re a regular caffeine consumer.
If you’re having a significant amount of caffeine after a long period without it, you might experience a small blip of dehydration, said Kelly Hyndman, a researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who studies kidney function and fluid retention. But otherwise, caffeine will not cause dehydration, she added — at least not at the levels people typically consume it.
Don’t be afraid of savory foods
You have probably heard that salty foods are dehydrating, but that is not strictly true, Dr. Hyndman said.
Our bodies are constantly looking to maintain a salt-to-water balance, which they do with the help of a number of hormones. One of the most prominent of these is the antidiuretic hormone, or ADH.
When we consume a lot of salty foods at once, our brains will secrete ADH, which in turn tells our kidneys to hold onto water, preventing us from peeing out excess fluid. At the same time, the brain secretes another hormone, vasopressin, which is linked to feelings of thirst. Together, all these hormones signal that you need more fluids. Consuming too many salty foods is only an issue if you are also ignoring your thirst cues, Dr. Hew-Butler said.
If you’re looking for savory foods that are hydrating, olives and pickles areacceptable choices, though it’s rare that people consume those in large quantities. Soup, especially with water-based broths, can also help you get your fill of water.
But what is actually dehydrating is alcohol. “Alcohol suppresses ADH,” said Dr. Hyndman. So when you consume it, “you don’t have this hormone telling your kidney to reabsorb water” and any fluids you consume will go straight through you.
Make sure kids, the elderly and those with medical needs get their fill
“Most of us who say we’re dehydrated probably aren’t,” Dr. Hyndman said. While there are probably some people who are walking around a little dehydrated, she added, the majority of folks are adequately hydrated or even a little overhydrated. If you’ve complained of having a small bladder, or you’re just peeing more often than you’d like, maybe you don’t need to be consuming so much fluid — it’s just flowing through you.
Those who need to be most diligent about actively hydrating are children, older adults and people with underlying medical conditions, Dr. Hyndman said.
The rest of us simply need to have a drink or eat foods full of fluids when we are thirsty, Dr. Hew-Butler said, and trust our instincts. “We don’t need to overthink it,” she added.
“I think the ‘drink when you’re thirsty rule’ is one that’s hard to argue against,” Dr. Negoianu said, barring medical conditions or ultra-harsh environments that might cause abnormal water loss. “When it comes to the amount of water you need, it’s like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Just as Goldilocks had to decide for herself which porridge was just right, every person has to find the hydration level that’s just right for them and their situation.”
Post a Comment

domain: news


text:
LOS ANGELES - Barely four months since barging into the U.S. market, the quirky Honda Element has attracted a younger crowd than the average Honda buyer. In fact, the Element's audience ranks among the youngest of any vehicle in America.
But before you imagine tens of thousands of goateed twentysomethings spilling out of the Element's ultrawide doors and onto America's adventure lands this summer, think again.
The average age of the Element owner so far is a seasoned 41. That's just two years younger than the average Honda buyer.
How can that be?
The discrepancy between Honda's marketing target and the actual buyer illustrates the difficulty automakers have in carving out a starkly younger audience for their products. Buyers of the most "youthful" car out there - the Volkswagen GTI - average 37 years old. So for every 24-year-old owner, there is another who is 50.
The Element's importance to Honda goes beyond the 75,000 U.S. sales it is expected to generate each year. Consumers ages 16 to 25 are not embracing Honda at the same rate as their older siblings or parents did.
While Honda never stated an age goal for the Element buyer, the company made it clear from the start that it was aiming for Generation Y - those born between 1978 and 1995. The company hired kids on skateboards to help set the stage for the vehicle's public unveiling - as the Model X - at the Detroit auto show in 2001. TV commercials pitch the car directly to guys heavily into kayaks, mountain bikes, surfboards and bongos.
And the Element, like Toyota's Scion line, is using a dramatically different product to capture the hearts of active youth. Deliberately polarizing in its styling and interior fitments, the boxy Element features a wipe-down floor and impressive cargo room for its compact size. But those amenities also may be attractive to soccer moms.
The 41-year-old buyer makes the Element the 14th youngest vehicle in the U.S. market - from a field of 253. Twelve other vehicles share that figure - including the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Mustang and Mazda Protege - according to the Power Information Network, an arm of J.D. Power and Associates in Westlake Village, Calif.
Another plus for Honda: 36 percent of Element buyers are under the age of 35. That is a better rate than Honda's previous best, the Honda Civic coupe.
The Element also fares better than the entry-SUV segment. Power Information Network data show that 30 percent of under-35 buyers get entry-level SUVs. Across the entire market, only 27 percent of buyers are under 35 years old.
To be sure, these ages are of vehicle buyers rather than drivers. So there's no easy way to track the number of parents who have footed the bill for their kids' wheels.
But either way, about two-thirds of Element buyers are 36 or older. And the Element has attracted fewer under-25 buyers than the Nissan Xterra, or even the Honda franchise overall.
Still, Honda sees the early results as a success.
"Every month, the demographics are getting younger," says Dan Bonawitz, American Honda vice president of corporate planning and logistics. J.D. Power data show the average age dropping by one year each month that the Element has been on sale.
"More importantly, from the psychographic point of view, it's hitting the lifestyle customer we're aiming for - an active, outdoor type of customer," Bonawitz says.
Another crucial measure: new customers. According to Honda figures, 54 percent of Element buyers are first-time Honda owners.
And they're snapping them up quickly. According to J.D. Power data, days-to-turn - the number of days the average Element spends on a dealer's lot - was 11 days in February and 13 in March.
That compares with 53 days for entry SUVs in general and 35 days for the rest of the Honda lineup.
Bonawitz says Honda has a 27-day supply of the Element as of April 1. Should it maintain its full-production sales rate of March - when 6,234 were sold - Honda will hit its target of 75,000 units a year.
But how much impact the Element is having on the Honda franchise is unclear.
Honda is trying some underground marketing methods, such as having Los Angeles alternative-rock radio station KROQ place a modified Element in its promotional fleet. Station executives declined comment as to what listeners think of the vehicle.
Power Information Network data show that the Element has a two-humped bell curve of buyers. One hump is in the 31- to 35-year-old bracket; another is in the 41-to-45 set. By contrast, the Xterra spikes for 26- to 35-year-olds and drops off sharply from there.
What's more, although the Element is priced from $16,560, including freight charges, and the upscale EX from $19,130, J.D. Power data show initial transaction prices reaching above $21,000. That's typical for new products soon after they enter the market; customers tend to load them up with extra features.
Jerry Powers, dealer principal of West Hills Honda in Bremerton, Wash., near Seattle, sees very few young adults coming in. "They're still buying Civic DXs and certified used cars; the kids can't afford an Element," he says.
"It's the active over-40 crowd buying the Element. I don't think the intended buyer can afford it. It's the kayakers, hikers and mountain bikers who want an SUV without all the glitz and still get the great fuel economy. They see it as a miniature Hummer H2, especially if it's a black one with 20-inch wheels and tires."
Anecdotal observations by this reporter over a four-week period support Powers' view. Several dozen Elements were spotted in the Los Angeles area. They typically were driven by mothers with young children or older men. There was no sign of pierced eyebrows or snowboard racks.
Honda's Bonawitz counters that: "Our development target was a 22-year-old male, but you're certainly not going to sell every one to that person in the real world."
Lincoln Merrihew, an analyst with Compete Automotive in Boston, calls it "the curse of Honda and Toyota."
"They are so practical and functional, they attract people who want that," Merrihew says. "Kids buy coupes because they are not functional or practical, but more for image. The kids are trying to be different so as to alienate. The functionality of the Element may outweigh its styling."
According to Compete Automotive data, the vehicle most cross-shopped with the Element is Honda's own
CR-V - by a large margin. More than 20 percent of Element buyers cross-shopped CR-V. The next vehicle on the Element list was a Toyota RAV4, at just 9.6 percent.
Bonawitz disagrees with those numbers. Honda data show 46 percent of Element buyers didn't consider any other vehicle. While the CR-V was the top vehicle cross-shopped, it was at a 7.8 percent ratio. Every other product fell below the 3 percent mark. Of vehicles traded in, 15 percent are Hondas, and only 3 percent are CR-Vs, Bonawitz says.
Merrihew says younger customers used to do less research on the Element than other vehicles, but that trend has shifted as marketing campaigns have been launched.
"It has taken marketing rather than product itself that is reaching the kids, but the marketing is actually working," Merrihew says. "It's attracting those people Honda wants, and unattracting those they don't."


text:
Take Two Apps and Tell Us How You Feel
A partnership of Apple, IBM and a company called Japan Post plans the in next five years to provide millions of elderly Japanese people with new health services that combine electronic gadgetry and data analysis with personal visits.
Japan Post Ltd. is a government-owned holding company that runs a postal service. It already offers a service called “watch over,” which charges a small fee to have postal employees check up on elderly customers and report back to their families on how they are doing. The plan is for Japan Post to buy some five million iPads from Apple and distribute them to elderly customers. The iPads will be loaded with apps for scheduling medical appointments, hiring home maintenance professionals, coordinating travel and getting reminders to take medicines, and other “quality of life” apps. When postal employees visit, they will explain how to use the devices and answer any questions about the apps. Japan Post will charge a fee for the service.
As a Fast Company story by Sarah Kessler points out, it’s smart for a company with workers that have daily access to people’s homes delivering mail to expand into elder care. It’s also a good deal for Apple to have a big market for all those iPads. IBM, which is designing the apps, will analyze the data collected through their use. Customers will be able to share their data with their postal helpers, or have IBM make it anonymous.
Japan Post does more than handle mail. According to its website, it has 24,000 post offices and 195,000 employees—making it Japan’s largest employer. It’s also a bank and an insurance company, and CEO Taizo Nishimuro says it is the biggest life insurer in Japan. Fast Company reports IBM executives say the data will help identify trends, effectiveness of treatment and medicines, and enable personalized healthcare on an unprecedented scale.
As a Forbes story by Mathew Herper notes, Japan Post already has a massive big-data style collection of health care information, and additional information could help its insurance business by helping customers live longer, healthier and more independent lives.
Japan has a rapidly aging population; 25 percent of its people are aged 65 or older now, and the population I that age group is expected to grow 40 percent in the next 40 years. A siliconangle story by Collen Kriel reports the global aged population is expected to rise from 11.7 percent to 21 percent by2050.
Would a program of the type planned in Japan work in the U.S.? Herper of Forbes writes that many pilot studies, including initiatives by Apple and IBM are being tried in the U.S. But he says the U.S. healthcare market is far more fragmented than it is in Japan and no one company has the reach that Japan Post does. In addition, he writes, “trust issues about giving information to insurers are a bigger hurdle in the U.S. than in many other countries.
CEOs of Apple and IBM spoke at a news conference announcing the initiative in Japan. Tim Cook of Apple hailed the prospect of building a useful service that will be scalable around the globe and “put a ding in the universe.”Ginni Rometty of IBM said the service could “re-imagine life” for the largest generation of elderly the world has ever had.


text:
IceCure Medical Ltd. is a developer of the next generation cryoablation technology that destroys tumors by freezing without the need for surgery. Today the company announced that an expanded distribution agreement in Thailand with its strategic partner, Terumo Corporation a leading Japanese medical devices company with a global footprint, was signed on December 28, 2020.
IceCure Medical advises that the expanded partnership reflects the ongoing success of the initial agreement, which was signed in September 2019, and included distribution rights in Japan and Singapore. The signing of the new multi-million dollar agreement follows IceCure’s earlier Letter of Intent announcement in October 2020 and will grant Terumo exclusive rights to distribute IceCure’s products in Thailand for six years, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional six years.
IceCure Medical CEO, eyal Shamir notes, “I am thrilled to have ended such a significantly challenging year with a big leap in positive results. By strengthening business relations with strategic partners such as Terumo, finalizing new distributor agreements, and obtaining additional regulatory approvals for IceCure’s technology to freeze benign and cancerous tumors for indications such as breast, lung, kidney, bones, and other types of tumors, we are working to further expand our global activities in 2021,” Shamir stated.
In exchange for granting exclusive distribution rights and knowledge-sharing for ProSense™ and its consumables for the initial six-year period of years, the agreement includes a payment of $450,000 that will be paid by Terumo in three installments over two years. The first payment of $150,000, along with Terumo’s first purchase order (PO) of approximately $329,000, will be due upon execution of the final agreement.
IceCure has been approved by the Thai government to market the ProSense™ cryoablation system and related consumables for the destruction of benign and malignant tumors in the breast, lung, kidney, bone, and additional indications. Other.


text:
New models of Mac mini, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air were recently launched with Apple’s acclaimed M1 chip. However, it seems that the company does not intend to abandon Intel completely yet, at least if we can believe the Twitter leaker
In a comment on yesterday’s news that the MacBook Pro
will get a new design in 2021, the well-informed leaker writes that this doesn’t just apply to Apple Silicon, which indicates there will be talk of Intel variants as well.
A month ago, Apple accidentally revealed that a
new 16in MacBook Pro with Intel processors was on the way. The idea was probably that it would be shown at the company’s November event, but the launch was postponed for some reason.
Check out the latest savings on current Macs in our
Black Friday Apple deals roundup.
This article originally appeared on
Macworld Sweden. Translation by David Price.


text:
With only a few months to go before the release of Kingdom Hearts III, Square-Enix has dropped another trailer of the long-awaited game.
Scenes included are from Tangled, Winnie the Pooh, Big Hero 6 and Pirates of the Caribbean, along with a glimpse at some of the new mini-games, as well as interactions with Organization XIII members Demyx and Vexen.
Kingdom Hearts III has a release date of January 29th, 2019 on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Tags2019, Disney, Gaming, Kingdom Hearts III, PlayStation 4, Square-Enix, video, Winnie the Pooh, Xbox One
- Nintendo announces new Smash Bros. DLC, Animal Crossing, and other titles for E3 2019
- Sequel to Breath of the Wild announced at E3 2019
- Uniqlo releases for manga themed t-shirts just in time for Summer
- Final Fantasy VII Remake to launch March 3, 2020
- Kingdom Hearts III DLC to come in Winter 2019
Leave a Reply
You may leave a comment to this article. Comments will be removed if they are deemed inappropriate, offensive, or abusive as per the comment policy.


text:
Network Transformation Remains the Key to Success as TelcoBridges’ Technology Helps Large Carriers, Service Providers, Solutions Providers and Enterprises Evolve their Networks from TDM to IP
Montreal, Canada – November 22, 2022 – TelcoBridges, a leading designer and manufacturer of carrier-grade VoIP gateways and virtual session boarder controllers, today celebrated the 20th anniversary of the company’s founding, which took place on November 22nd, 2002.
During the last 20 years, TelcoBridges’ story has evolved from a technology story into a solutions story, and the success of the company has mirrored the network transformation that has evolved around the globe. For 20 years, TelcoBridges’ technology has helped large Tier-1 carriers, smaller service providers, innovative solutions providers and enterprise customers of all sizes upgrade, evolve and transform their networks from TDM to IP.
Throughout the last two decades, TelcoBridges has won dozens of industry awards. The detailed chronology of product and corporate milestones is available here: Major highlights include:
• 2002 – TelcoBridges launches its first media gateway.
• 2007 – Significant expansion to the media gateway portfolio, and the introduction of the ToolPack analytics software.
• 2010/2011 – Launch of the media gateway partner program & solution development partner programs.
• 2014 – TB Academy training programs launched at ITEXPO, Mobile World Congress, and CommunicAsia.
• 2017 – TelcoBridges enters the Session Boarder Controller market with the launch of FreeSBC.
• 2019 – FreeSBC surpasses 10 million session-downloads; broader range of capabilities brought to market with the introduction of ProSBC.
• 2021 – TelcoBridges establishes leadership position in the service provider SBC market with the introduction of ProSBC+.
• 2022 – Significant partnerships and customer deployments around the globe illustrate TelcoBridges’ innovation successes.
“TelcoBridges was founded with a simple goal – to provide products to carriers and solutions providers around the globe that help them make the transition from TDM to IP,” said TelcoBridges Founder and CEO Gaetan Campeau. “Twenty years later, these principals haven’t changed. Our success continues to grow because the technology we provide works as advertised, is easy to deploy and maintain, and it helps service providers of all sizes increase their revenues. We’re extremely proud of the success that we’ve achieved during these last 20 years, and we look forward to continued growth and success in the years, and decades ahead.”
• For additional information on TelcoBridges products and services, visit https://telcobridges.com/products/.
• To learn how customers are replacing legacy equipment and improving their network capabilities, please visit: https://telcobridges.com/case-studies/.
• For support inquiries, please visit: https://telcobridges.com/docs-support/.
TelcoBridges is a leader in the design and development of carrier-grade and high-density SBCs and VoIP gateways, facilitating connectivity for cloud communications and traditional telco applications. With expertise in SIP, ISDN, SS7 and many other signaling protocols, TelcoBridges products and services solve difficult telco connectivity challenges. Based in Montreal Canada and with offices in Buffalo, NY (USA), Turkey, Columbia, Vietnam and Hong Kong, TelcoBridges has deployed VoIP solutions in more than 100 countries worldwide. TelcoBridges’ brands include: FreeSBC™, ProSBC™, Tmedia™ (VoIP media gateways), Tsig™ (signaling gateways), and Tmonitor™ (real-time network monitoring equipment). For more information, visit prosbc.com or www.telcobridges.com.


text:
Rising factory output provides boost to U.S. growth
Washington - Industrial production climbed in June to cap the strongest quarter in almost four years as manufacturers provided a bigger spark for the U.S. economy.
A 0.2 percent increase in output at factories, mines and utilities last month followed a revised 0.5 percent advance in May, figures from the Federal Reserve showed Wednesday in Washington. While the June gain fell short of expectations, production rose at a 5.5 percent annualized rate from April through June, the most since the third quarter of 2010.
The fastest pace of car sales in eight years and a recent pickup in bookings for business equipment point to further output gains. Improving overseas markets, underscored by a report showing faster growth in China, would also keep assembly lines busy and propel the economy after a first-quarter slump.
"The industrial sector of the U.S. economy has been doing well," said Neil Dutta, head of U.S. economics at Renaissance Macro Research in New York. "It's indicative of an improving economy."
The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 82 economists called for a 0.3 percent advance in U.S. industrial production. Estimates ranged from a drop of 0.1 percent to an increase of 0.6 percent after a previously reported May gain of 0.6 percent.
Manufacturing, which makes up 75 percent of total production, grew 0.1 percent in June, less than forecast as automakers cut back and factories slowed output of nondurable goods such as energy and clothing. The median estimate in the Bloomberg survey called for a 0.3 percent June increase.
In the second quarter, factory production advanced at a 6.7 percent annualized rate, the fastest since the first three months of 2012.
Utility output fell for a fifth straight month in June, dropping 0.3 percent after a 0.4 percent decline the previous month. Mining production, which includes oil drilling, increased 0.8 percent.
The gain in manufacturing was held back by a drop in auto production. The output of motor vehicles and parts decreased 0.3 percent in June after a 1.9 percent surge a month earlier, Wednesday's report showed. Factory output excluding vehicle and parts production rose 0.2 percent last month.
"Things slowed down a little bit in June," said Ryan Sweet, senior economist at Moody's Analytics Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania. "The auto plant production schedules point to a pickup in auto manufacturing over the next couple of months."
MOST VIEWED MEDIA


text:
Elon Musk Is Working on a 'Top Secret Tesla Masterplan' -- Start Up Your Day Roundup
Grow Your Business, Not Your Inbox
1 min read
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Wait a minute. Uber paused its app for one minute to prompt people to reflect on gun violence.
Time saver. TSA is looking to cut down wait times thanks in part to the help of 750 new transportation security officers.


text:
Would you like some tips and insights on how to activate good energy for an auspicious year ahead? The Araneta Center ushers in the colorful Year of the Fire Rooster with a Feng Shui seminar and other practices to bring in a bright and prosperous 2017.
Discover practical Feng Shui tips that can come in handy to invite good health, wealth, and love into your homes, schools, and offices. Also, get insights as to how you will fare this year under your Chinese Zodiac sign, as he talks about the 12 animal fortune forecast for each sign.
The Chinese New Year 2017, which is characterized by lucky colors gold, brown, and yellow, is considered to be a Yin year. With rooster being the sign of dawn and awakening, free palm and tarot card readings will also be available at the event for insights about your future when it comes to career, love life, and health.
Moreover, ring in the Year of the Fire Rooster with free fortune cookies for the first 1,000 visitors to the new Tweet Shop at Gateway Mall Activity Area. Simply visit the Tweet Shop and tweet your new year's wish using the hashtag #MyAranetaCNYstory.
The festivities will not be complete without the traditional Lion and Dragon Dance that will snake around the streets of the Araneta Center. A spectacular fireworks display will also be held at 7 pm to cap off the festivities.
To know the latest happenings at the Araneta Center, visit www.aranetacenter.net and follow Araneta Center on Facebook and Twitter.


text:
Bethesda’s Doom reboot is finally out, and if we were wondering that console runs this vital and one of a many awaited games of a year better, a good folks over during Digital Foundry have got we covered. According to their initial opening analysis, a latest first-person shooter set on a Red Planet delivers a flattering well-spoken gameplay knowledge on both a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in terms of support rate and resolution. However, a altogether opening is partially improved on Sony’s console.
Digital Foundry has released a video about a initial impressions of id Software’s latest masterpiece, and interjection to a developer’s efforts, a latest first-person shooter pretension runs neat on both a eighth era video diversion consoles. id Software had promised that a diversion will move full HD 1080p fortitude and 60 frames per second integrity to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and a early research shows that with occasional drops in fortitude and support rate, Doom does conduct to keep adult with targeted settings many of a time, and broach “very liquid animation” and “beautiful lighting and effects work.”
PlayStation 4 does have a corner here, according to a report, as a altogether turn of opening of a diversion in terms of adhering to a targeted fortitude and support rate on Sony’s console is aloft in comparison to a Xbox One version, that can tumble “well below” 1080p in terms of fortitude in some sequences. “It’s flattering elementary to contend that it looks and runs smoother on Sony’s console. But a Xbox One chronicle is no slouch, either,” pronounced Digital Foundry. According to a video report, however, a gameplay knowledge stays well-spoken even when a game’s support rate falls next 60 on consoles.
Doom also allows players to adjust certain visible settings on console. Players can toggle chromatic aberration, and also tweak things like suit fuzz and margin of view. The video also discusses a game’s loading times. Of course, it is critical to note that this finish support rate and fortitude research is of a single-player debate of a diversion usually and has zero to do with how a multiplayer mode runs on consoles. You can check out a video below.
Bethesda Softworks expelled Doom yesterday, May 13, on PC and eighth era consoles. The diversion is a reboot of a long-running Doom array and is a initial vital pretension in a array given a recover of Doom 3 in 2004. To weigh a tender energy of a latest GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card, NVIDIA showcased a demo of a Doom reboot using with Vulkun API during ultra-high settings during 1080p and achieving adult to 200 frames per second. You can check it out here. You can also check out approach feed gameplay display how a diversion looks like using during plain 60 frames per second powered by Vulkan API and GeForce Titan X here.
Before You Go!
Get Latest Tech News Daily
This entrance upheld by a Full-Text RSS use – if this is your calm and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, greatfully review a FAQ during fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.


text:
BMW has cut the price of the new M4 CS by $22,000.
The new price, $189,900, will apply to both new customers and those who have already ordered the hero of the M4 range.
“We have been working hard behind the scenes to deliver strong pricing for our M vehicles,” BMW Group Australia CEO, Marc Werner, said.
“By introducing the M4 Pure local editions, we have made this core M car more accessible than ever.
“In addition, internal and customer feedback has allowed us to re-examine the flagship M4 CS pricing. The result is a new price point of $189,900, and is available to customers who have pre-ordered a CS, as well as those planning to purchase in the future.
“This new M pricing structure is a sensational early Christmas present for BMW M customers,” Werner said.
The BMW M4 CS is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six which made its debut in the current-generation M4 range.
Changes in the engine’s electronic management system has led to a 7kW power increase over the M4 Competition, with 338kW available at 6250 revs.
Peak torque has been bumped up by 50Nm to around 600Nm, available betweeb 4000 and 5380 revs – a match for the legendary M4 GTS.


text:
If cell phone subscribers can receive services from other mobile phone carriers without changing their actual phones, the convenience of using mobile phones will be greatly improved.
In using mobile phones, including smartphones, customers insert a subscriber identity module (SIM) card containing their subscription information into the phone before using it.
Each mobile phone company puts “SIM locks” on the handsets so that subscribers cannot use their cell phones with other firms’ SIM cards, with the aim of preventing customers from switching to other companies. If customers transfer to other companies, they have to buy new phones from the companies to which they want to switch.
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry intends to oblige mobile phone carriers to remove SIM locks for handsets from fiscal 2015 as corralling customers with the locks narrows the range of customers’ choices for phones and service providers.
Each time customers change to other mobile phone companies, they have to also stop using phones which they had long used, a situation with which many mobile phone users may not be satisfied. It is natural that mobile phone carriers are being ordered to remove the SIM locks.
The three major mobile phone carriers — NTT Docomo, KDDI and SoftBank — have monopolized the market with an almost uniform set of services and rates.
In other countries, such as the United States and European nations, mobile phone carriers, in many cases, are obliged to remove SIM locks after a certain period of time after a subscription begins.
Voluntary action lacking
In 2010, the communications ministry asked mobile phone firms on a voluntary basis to remove their SIM locks, but there has been limited success. It can be said that the mobile phone industry has not changed its negative approach to the ministry’s request, resulting in the ministry resorting to ordering them to do so.


text:
Seamless and GrubHub have signed a definitive agreement to merge as the two companies look to build an organization with enhanced financial strength that can better scale in the rapidly growing food-ordering industry.
Multichannel retail support
Marble Slab Creamery and MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream and Treatery recently ran a pilot program to drive in-store traffic through mobile promotions.
Visa is leveraging location-based mobile offers as it looks to expand its platform and take on the competition in this space, including foursquare and Groupon.
NEW YORK – A Home Depot executive at the 2013 MMA Forum said that mobile opens an array of opportunities for the company and is an effective way for consumers to shop its 400,000-plus product inventory.
Groupon reported yesterday that 45 percent of its North American transactions in March came from mobile as users increasingly look to the company for local offers when they are on the go.
Outdoor gear brand JanSport is leveraging QR codes and NFC to mobilize transit shelters around New York’s Union Square neighborhood and drive foot traffic into retailer Paragon Sports’ nearby location.
NEW YORK – A Walgreens executive at the Mcommerce Summit: State of Mobile Commerce 2013 conference said that focusing on increasing mobile and tablet engagement levels helps drive the retailer’s overall digital engagement level.
Re/Max real estate agents are putting QR codes on their business cards to link homebuyers to relevant information and, ultimately, help close sales.
Kmart is giving Shop Your Way members a way to check-in via the loyalty program’s mobile application at an upcoming event in New York’s Grand Central Terminal to access special offers and content.
Starting this week, users of several newspaper mobile applications can easily access sales information from nearby retailers such as Macy’s and Walgreens via the new Find & Save program.


text:
The panel consists of social media all-stars: Pete Cashmore (CEO and founder of Mashable), Chris Hughes (founder of Jumo, former co-founder at Facebook) and Matt Flannery (founder of Kiva.org).
The panel of social media gurus joined Lance Armstrong, world-renown cyclist and founder of Livestrong, along with Doug Ulman, President and CEO of Livestrong, an organization that greatly benefit from using social media to distribute its message.
So, how can social media contribute to the greater good? Cashmore, Armstrong, Hughes, Flannery and Ulman discuss.
Manuel Castells’ new book, Reconceptualizing Development in the Global Information Age, co-edited by Pekka Himanen and due to be published by Oxford University Press in August, is based on a comparative research project involving an international neread more
Best selling author and CEO of Moven, Brett King discusses unprecedented disruption in the banking industry with industry leaders including BitCoin, Google, Citi Bank, among others in his new book Breaking Banks. “In the next 10 years there will beread more
James Rickards (Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis): No Way Fed Will Stop Easing
Professor of International Business Administration at Wharton School, Guillén is is the Director of the Joseph H. Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.
Innovation & strategy. Expert in creative thinking, innovation and strategy, best selling author.


text:
Epic Games takes jab at Apple with new in-game Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite short
Epic Games and Apple's feud reaches a new height with a short that mocks a classic Apple ad.
In just a couple of hours, the situation between Apple and Epic Games went from a terms of service violation to a full blown legal feud right in the public eye. After Epic slashed microtransaction prices and added a direct payment feature to the Fortnite mobile app, Apple removed the game from the App Store and blocked it from receiving new updates. Epic Games has released a short that takes direct aim at Apple.
Titled Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite, the new short was shown in-game at Fortnite’s Party Royale. The ad is a clear spoof on the 1984 Macintosh ad that references the George Orwell novel that debuted decades ago. The original ad envisions Apple as the underdog railing against the oppressive cooperation. Epic Games’ Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite short sees Epic Games looking to dismantle Apple’s monopoly.
The video below is the original Macintosh ad released by Apple back in 1984.
We originally reported on Epic Games’ move to circumvent Apple’s App Store fees in the early hours of August 13. Shortly after, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store and blocked it from receiving new updates. It only took a few hours for the matter to escalate into a full-blown feud right in the public eye. Epic Games has filed a lawsuit against Apple, which can be read in full here.
This was clearly a calculated move by Epic Games. After prompting Apple to remove their game from the iOS App Store, Epic Games had a short film and lawsuit ready to go.
The situation between Apple and Epic Games is one that could not only have an enormous impact on the gaming industry, but the tech industry at-large. We’re far from a resolution here, but you can expect to see the latest updates on the story right here on Shacknews.
Donovan Erskine posted a new article, Epic Games takes jab at Apple with new in-game Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite short


text:
Don't you just love the holiday season? It's that time of year for giving, reflection, thoughtfulness, and, oh yeah…new stuff! Well, feast your eyes on our comprehensive, gear-packed ETS-LDI New Product Guide. It's crammed full of gear that debuted during the past year and, in most cases, at the ETS-LDI show in Las Vegas. You can also check out additional coverage of the tradeshow in the FOH section of the New Product Guide.
Gear certainly wasn't the only news coming out of ETS-LDI this year. In a move that underscores the controversy that's been brewing in the world of LEDs, over 40 manufacturers met during ETS-LDI to discuss the growing concern of the seemingly never-ending stream of patents being secured by Color Kinetics.
Words such as “blackmail,” “outrage,” and “stifling” are being used to describe CK by members of the industry who feel they have a real bully on their hands. These LED manufacturers see CK as not only taking a monopolistic approach, but also applying for and holding patents that should never be approved by the patent office because of the existence of prior art.
CK doesn't seem too rattled about the meeting, calling these “baseless allegations” that disregard the company's open OEM/licensing program — a program that offers use of the company's patented technology for a price. Those opposing CK feel the industry shouldn't have to “pay to play,” since the technology has been around for decades and, certainly, prior to the existence of CK. Ellen Lampert-Gréaux covers the full story on the meeting and CK's official response in our FOH section.
Knowing what many manufacturers think and where they stand on these issues, what does the end user think? How does this affect the designers, programmers, technicians, sales and marketing pros, etc., who just want the best gear available? Is this good for the industry? Who is right here, and is it that simple? Let us know what you think. Email me with your thoughts, and we'll share some viewpoints next month: [email protected].
In the meantime, try not to obsess too much about LEDs, and enjoy our New York-focused issue, just in time for Gotham to freeze over. (Baby, it's cold outside!)


text:
on 12 Mar 2020
New publisher plans redesign in print and online to reach global audience
Asia-Pacific Boating is under new management, now published by Two2 Company Ltd in Hong Kong, with the first print edition coming out in September. Two2 was formed to take over publishing one of Asia’s oldest ongoing magazine titles and redevelop it into a print/digital media platform that serves the needs of the modern yachting world, especially in Asia.
Future print issues of Asia-Pacific Boating magazine will feature the best in new yachts, from established and also up-and-coming yards in Asia, and globally. The Asia-Pacific region has an extraordinary array of places to drop anchor, and the title will continue to showcase them in detail, with insider tips on where to go and what to look for while there.
Increasingly, superyacht owners are working in partnership with marine biologists and oceanographers to explore and conserve the waters that boaters love so much. In print and online, Asia-Pacific Boating will reflect this global trend.
Over the course of the next few months, the website will be redesigned and social media presence enhanced, all to better suit a global audience of people interested in yachting and Asia, be it as yacht owner, marine tourist or industry insider.
The publishers and editorial team are looking forward to a new era for Asia-Pacific Boating, which began life as a simple, type-written newsletter to boat owners in Hong Kong in 1976. The yachting world has evolved into something those boat owners might never have imagined. Asia-Pacific Boating is evolving with the times and an eye on the future.


text:
Taste the mountains – 150 years AVS.
In 2019 the Alpenverein Südtirol celebrates its 150th anniversary together with the DAV (German Alpine Association). For this occasion we of the Advertising Agency Mugele’s Brand Identity developed an anniversary label, which will decorate all communication media for one year, starting from the kick-off event on the International Mountain Day, 11 December 2018. After a mountain tour, hungry and thirsty hikers will be able to enjoy the new anniversary line: wine, chocolate and beer in the anniversary design. The fact that the Alpenverein Südtirol is not only a strong brand, but also, with its 70,000 members, a strong community that stands up for others, is shown by the establishment of the solidarity fund “Seilschaft” (rope team). The corresponding logo was also presented to the public at the kick-off event in the Museo Civico di Bolzano.


text:
Zappos is known for its quirky culture, and now the online footwear retailer plans to strip all management titles and oust any semblance of a top-down hierarchy, news website Quartz reported.
CEO Tony Hsieh said that the traditional corporate structure will be replaced by Holacracy (a term taken from the Greek word "holon," meaning a whole that is a part of a larger whole).
Zappos will now be a self-governing structure without managers or job titles. It will consist of various circles, within which employees can have different roles. The company will have up to 400 circles by December 2014, when it expects to complete the rollout, according to Quartz.


text:
In a time where social media is king yet still a moving target, email marketing continues to thrive, engaging consumers more than ever during the most disruptive year on record. While most traditional marketers struggle to break through the digital landscape, a HubSpot survey indicates that 80% of email marketers saw an increase in engagement in 2020, gaining $42 for every $1 spent on email marketing.
Scott Hirsch: Connections Are Key to Growing Your Audience in the Future
Marketing entrepreneur Scott Hirsch has consistently touted the increasing value of email marketing and has examined the industry’s successes and failures in 2020, looking ahead to new challenges in 2021.
“You can sell all day long,” says Hirsch, “but the key to growing your business with email marketing is by building trust in your customer relationships, taking them on an ongoing journey in the process.”
Personalization is the name of the game, and Scott Hirsch has emphasized that companies should create human connections through personalized messaging. Audience segmentation is the one that is here to stay, with 3-5 emails per week seeing the highest customer ROI.
“Mistakes are easy to make but even easier to avoid,” Hirsch stressed. “If marketers want to stay in the game in 2021, a few simple tweaks on the ground floor of campaign strategy can make all the difference.”
For Scott Hirsch, the biggest mistakes that email marketers can make are all tied to having a clear vision. “Make your CTA easy to find, foster urgency with your CTA, and grab the customer right away with an engaging subject line.” Hirsch sees setting concrete objectives as the simplest yet most effective strategy to drive engagement in email marketing.
“Most importantly,” Hirsch notes, “those objectives must be tied to specific audience segments, instead of trying to reach everyone at once. Combining these segmented campaigns with the right email template will ensure engaged messaging reception. For instance, utilizing lead-nurturing campaigns or targeted automated campaigns that take users on a journey to impact their buying behavior.”
Scott Hirsch: Mobile Optimization is Vital for Long-Term Success
Finally, in 2021, Scott Hirsch sees email marketers who optimize for mobile as the ones who will continue to see more substantial gains in the new year. Up to 70% of readers will read marketing communications on mobile devices, and simple clean formatting will keep customers engaged.
“Keep the space generous, but not lonely, with single-column, readable text, in a package built for conversions. Don’t rely heavily on images, as this is an often-overlooked mistake not to be repeated by successful marketers paving the way for the future. Without being heavy-handed – always be converting.”
Scott Hirsch understands consumers’ continued preference to connect with brands via email and encourages fellow email marketers to embrace human connections to foster long-term returns.


text:
Assessing the Wu Yi Visit
Kevin Nealer (Senior Fellow, Forum for International Policy)
While overall Sino-U.S. bilateral relations have never been better, it is arguable that, if current trends hold, the economic relationship could become the worst ever.
The annual ritual combat of renewal of China's "normal" trade status has been exchanged for the more authentic drama of the annual U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT). The JCCT process has been around since 1983, serving as a forum where trade concerns and bilateral commercial relations are discussed. Since China's World Trade Organization (WTO) accession and the signing of bilateral market opening commitments, the JCCT has transformed from a talk shop to a work shop, achieving a new potency. It has become the issue-forcing event for managing the thorniest problems of WTO compliance, export frustrations, and import sensitivities.
This year's meeting on April 21 in Washington marked the most senior-level dialogue on trade since China came into WTO disciplines. China's delegation was headed by Madame Wu Yi, China's "Iron Lady" of trade policy. Now a vice premier, Madame Wu is best known to Americans as the leader of China's WTO membership effort during her tenure as trade minister. China's leadership has repeatedly turned to the pragmatic, hard-working intellectual to manage some of the most challenging issues on the political landscape. Since the departure of Premier Zhu Rongji, Wu Yi has taken charge of the external sector economic portfolio in the Chinese Cabinet. When the SARS crisis threatened public confidence in the new leadership and China's economy, Madame Wu assumed responsibility as health minister. Large-scale resurgence of SARS never materialized, and she used the credibility gained through crisis management to reshape the new government's approach to HIV/AIDS. Wu Yi's team includes the formidable Madame Ma Xiuhong, perhaps China's most impressive economic diplomat and an internationally respected expert on trade law and policy.
Her counterpart is Commerce Secretary Donald Evans. Secretary Evans' China team is led by Congressional and State Department veteran Grant Aldonis, a high-energy professional and master of trade law details. Aldonis' "China hand," Hank Levine, was the State Department's consul general in Shanghai - the key envoy to China's business and economic opinion leaders.
As with Chinese WTO commitments, the JCCT meeting found itself freighted with unrealistic expectations for change. The backdrop was daunting:
-- The breathtaking bilateral trade deficit of $124 billion is growing.
-- The booming U.S. economy that once tolerated trade deficits has failed to create enough new jobs. The recent jobs report offers hope of a nascent recovery, but the debate over the loss of manufacturing jobs is a symbol of a larger economic discontent that is being translated into political vocabulary and foreign policy problems. Reversing the experience of past recessions, two out of three American jobs lost are now due to structural, rather than cyclical, problems.
-- The Chinese have made specific WTO commitments that are not being implemented on the timetable that was agreed. This fact allows the trade and economics issues to be framed as a question of "honoring agreements," bringing into question China's trustworthiness across the range of the relationship.
These factors are making "China-bashing" a temptation in an already over-heated American campaign season, in a way that may be reminiscent of the "Japan bashing" of the mid-1980s. All that remains to be seen is how bad the campaign rhetoric gets and how much lasting damage is done.
These macroeconomic realities have set the table for several high-profile trade cases in the U.S.
-- The AFL-CIO filed a Section 301 trade petition with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), attacking China on the basis of unfair labor practices. USTR must decide whether to accept the petition by April 30.
-- Prior to the JCCT, the United States was preparing its first case against China at the WTO, regarding China's discriminatory application of its value-added tax (VAT) to imported semiconductors and other products.
-- Last year's trade case targeting Chinese textiles failed to achieve a negotiated result that avoids U.S.-imposed limits on PRC products, and import restrictions are expected to begin sometime in April or May. A flood of additional cases is likely when the textile quota system ends next year.
-- A case against Chinese furniture imports alleging as much as 400 percent dumping margins is scheduled for final consideration in the late fall or early winter.
-- A slew of legislative bills have been introduced in Congress, threatening trade action against China's currency regime, and a Section 301 case on that issue may be filed by U.S.companies.
More specifically, the JCCT agenda was focused on China's industrial policies relating to encryption for wireless computers and telecommunications standards, where billions of dollars in U.S. business hung in the balance. Perhaps most importantly, China's inadequate intellectual property regime (lack of criminal penalties, pervasive IPR infringement) had become a point of neuralgia that united many sectors of American business in a demand for fundamental improvements. In addition, WTO compliance on issues ranging from agriculture to services rounded out a large "must do" list of U.S. demands.
Scorecard and Road Ahead
Premier Wu Yi and Secretary Evans were able to celebrate agreement on an action plan for intellectual property protection, as well as substantial progress on several of the industrial policy challenges. For its part, the U.S. agreed to consider more lenient treatment of trade cases alleging dumping. Progress on the semiconductor VAT issue proved illusive when the Chinese refused to back down. Left for another day was the most contentious issue in the trade equation: China's currency regime. The administration's muted tone in the recent Treasury Department currency report, and the appointment of Ambassador Paul Speltz as "currency czar" - as economic and financial emissary to Beijing - are meant to move the renminbi(RMB) valuation issue into a holding pattern. The hope is that currency concerns can be relegated to economic diplomacy while China moves to gradually rebalance the RMB, perhaps relying on a basket of currencies which more closely resembles the mix of its massive $400 billion foreign exchange holdings.
The financial press and many U.S. industries directly involved received the news of the JCCT accomplishments with approval. For the Chinese, whose trade with the rest of the world (and its near neighbors) is in rough balance, the JCCT deals are another chapter in the playbook of "managing" the U.S. relationship. As China faces increased risk of inflation and fundamental challenges in its internal sectors, it remains to be seen how much political capital the new leadership will spend to guarantee stability in Sino-U.S. relations. Those decisions are likely to be informed, in part, by how bilateral relations emerge from the U.S. elections this November.
[Editor's note: After this article was written, on April 28, the Bush administration announced that it was rejecting the Super 301 petition by the AFL-CIO to impose tariffs on Chinese imports. Administration officials also signaled that they would reject a planned Section 301 case that an alliance of manufacturers and unions are preparing to challenge China's pegged currency.]
(Posted here with the permission of Pacific Forum CSIS)


text:
Powering the Payment Stream
This is the third of a five-part series on “The Local Stack” in local commerce that appears on Mondays. This piece focuses on consumers’ “buy” stage. Read an overview of the full stack, and check back next Monday for the fourth layer in the local stack. The full series is being underwritten by Yext.
For years, local search has fed consumers to a technological black hole. The systems on which local businesses rely to manage day-to-day operations — services like payment processing, inventory management, scheduling, and the point of sale systems that tie it all together — have remained offline, relegated to legacy tools or silo-ed in digital products not built for the web.
But that’s changing. Thanks to a number of new companies that are reimagining the way consumers shop and reprovisioning the systems that business owners use to monitor and transact the exchange of goods locally, that “source code” is coming online, filling a critical gap in the local commerce stack.
From Food Truck To Point-of-Sale
In late 2011, Seth Priebatsch, a 22-year-old startup founder, outlined a potentially jarring scenario for the payments industry: the interchange, the long-held profit center for payment processors, would go to zero. The argument centered on the concept that money was information, and the web naturally undercuts industries which made their money moving information (like media).
Priebatsch, who runs LevelUp, a mobile payments startup in Boston, was right — to an extent. Industry interchange rates are not zero, but increasing competition in mobile payments has put a downward pressure on fees. In turn, companies have looked to package payments with other ancillary services, pitching payment processing as a loss leader to sell scheduling, inventory management, loyalty, and a host of other services that could build on top of the so-called “payment stream.”
Payments are a crucial part of the “buy” layer of the Local Stack. They provide the linchpin between acquiring and retaining consumers, connecting the search and discovery experience with the re-engagement efforts that are critical for a business to grow. Forrester Research projects that mobile proximity payments — the kind of products powered by companies like Square – will grow to $90 in 2017, a 48% annual growth rate (CAGR) from the $12.8B spent in 2012.
The first half of 2013 marked an important turning point. Early on, companies like Square, the celebrated payments startup headed by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, focused on bringing payment technology to a largely underserved market of very small businesses (VSBs) — many of whom only accepted cash — in order to gin up adoption in a remarkably static and complex payment ecosystem where legacy systems haven’t evolved since they were introduced in the ‘90’s. The rapid adoption of smartphones by business owners, as well as the emergence of highly efficient software distribution frameworks in Apple and Google’s app stores, dramatically reduced the costs of selling and the requirements for adopting payment processing services. Suddenly, everyone from a food truck to an art dealer was a dongle away from processing credit cards.
But in the spring of 2013, both Square, and its largest rival eBay, introduced strategies to capture slightly larger businesses such as coffee shops, restaurants, and boutique retailers — many of whom already accept card payments. Square introduce Square Stand, an iPad dock with a credit card reader, while eBay announced partnerships with a number of the smaller POS startups such as Leaf, Erply, and ShopKeep, offering incentives for merchants to trade in their cash registers and adopt these new systems.
In moving from an underserved VSB market, which clamored for even the most basic of solutions, to a saturated one, bound by high switching costs and outdated technology, payment players now face a substantially more difficult task. Instead of creating a new market, these companies need to iteratively dismantle and reassemble a legacy industry, all the while making sure that key services like scheduling, inventory and employee management, bookkeeping and a host of vertical-specific services work seamlessly with their systems.
Finding Scale in Fragmentation
From a consumer perspective, the future of shopping locally is not hard to imagine. Each part of the buying experience, from making a reservation to engaging with staff to paying for a product or service, will work together, creating a seamless and personalized shopping experience that makes up the Local Stack. No need for a 20-something salesperson with an encyclopedic memory, the system will recognize a mobile device when we entering the store, alert the appropriate associate to help, remember your size, and ring you up without lifting a finger.
But the challenge in any disruptive innovation is often in bringing the service to market, not building the technology. Over the past year, two prevailing models have emerged to solve the problem: an open approach, championed by eBay and a host of smaller startups, in which each services is developed independently and threaded by APIs through a central platform, and an integrated model, largely espoused by Square, in which a host of services are bundled together and sold together by a single provider.
Today, that contest centers on the point-of-sale, and the accompanying software that serves as the operating system for most local businesses. Legacy systems built by public firms like Micros, which can sell for over $3,000, have started to feel pressure from Square and a host of smaller ePOS companies like Shopkeep and Revel that offer tablet-based solutions for penny’s on the dollar.
Don’t expect adoption to come quickly though; the POS is often the largest technology investment a business makes, making the switching costs higher, and the adoptions cycles longer. But when modern POS reaches a critical mass, expect innovation in brick-and-mortar technology to explode: the POS not only plays traffic light, coordinating the intersection of a growing set of services, but also provides the much-needed distribution structure through which technology companies can deliver, and manage software for local businesses.
Retail Tomorrow, Local Services Today
The local retail market is massive, but it only accounts for a portion of local spending. There are a number of inherently-mobile local service categories — verticals like transportation and home improvement — in which consumers purchase outside of a store that present a unique opportunity for startups to avoid the congested retail world, and find immediate adoption for new technologies.
Without a counter, desktop technologies could never touch the front-end of these service business. But mobile devices have opened that market, creating new opportunities for companies to reinvent the way these businesses interact with customers without competing with entrenched legacy services. Uber, the poster child for the model, has created an entire marketplace for cabs, effectively undercutting the existing entities that controlled the taxi industry in major cities like San Francisco and New York. Meanwhile, ReachLocal has combined a customer relationship management system of sorts for home service providers with an accompanying consumer facing property to create an integrated tool for consumers to buy services from plumbers, electricians and the like.
With this “source code” opened to the web, the local marketplace becomes programmable. Just as we can find and order products from Amazon’s warehouses instantly, local consumers will soon be able to search the shelves of local businesses, reserve or buy products in advance, and then pick up those products in-store or have them delivered. One of Amazon’s traditional advantages over brick-and-mortar commerce — a coordinated technology stack — fades, and the benefits of a decentralized, local model start to emerge.
For five weeks, Street Fight will take a deep dive into each layer of the local stack, detailing the dynamics and key companies that will help to build the future of local commerce. This series, which is underwritten by Yext, is aimed at educating industry players new and old on the inner workings and ecosystem of the new local stack. Next week, discover new insights and the inner workings of the “Buy” level of the stack.
Steven Jacobs is Street Fight’s deputy editor.


text:
August 18, 2008 – The global solar cell market will surge fourfold to roughly ¥4.6T (US $41.74B) by 2012, with much faster growth in the sector for silicon-conserving solar cells, according to Japanese market research firm Fuji Keizai, cited by the Nikkei Business Daily.
The firm projects the market for crystalline silicon solar cells, the most widely used, to more than triple to nearly ¥3.5B ($31.76). But demand for solar cells such as spherical and thin-film models, which use significantly less silicon (and also don’t compete for demand with semiconductors), is seen growing 11× to ¥640B ($5.81B). Silicon-free compound solar cells are seen reaching ¥560B ($5.08B), about 7.5× the size of that market in 2007, with more than half of that (¥300B/$2.72B) projected to be copper-indium-selenide (i.e. CIGS), the paper notes.


text:
Pet insurance customers fare the best of all insurance policy holders
Aquarium Software says pet insurance is fast becoming a worthwhile investment, following new figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) which shows the average pet insurance claim is now exceeding the average premium. Pet owners have historically been losing out as the average premium topped the average claim – but with the situation now flipped, Aquarium is urging owners to take advantage of the change in the market and do the right thing by insuring their furry friends.
With pet insurance premiums becoming better and better, Mark Colonnese, Aquarium’s Sales and Marketing Director, says even the most frugal pet owner should now be ensuring their four legged friend is covered by the correct form of insurance.
“Pet insurance has always been a worthwhile investment, but for too long it has lagged behind other more traditional forms of insurance when it comes to value for money,” said Mark. “It is now a fairer price for the consumer and presents a better investment with the price of claims racing ahead of the price of premiums. For pet owners, it’s finally a much more level playing field both when it comes to claiming, and when it comes to initially purchasing cover. There’s no reason for owners not to invest and cover their pets.”
ABI’s research revealed 2010 was the first time that the average claim for dog insurance exceeded the average premium, a trend that has continued the following three years. Mark says with the trend set to continue, pet owners insuring their pets not only help their own loveable companion, but other pets as well. The more animals insured, the better the information databases provide insurers and vets with – information which could prove handy if the worst should ever happen to Fido. With Aquarium managing such information when it comes to the policy administration and claims processes, Mark says he’s seen first hand the importance of insurance.
“Other forms of insurance aren’t ignored anywhere near as much as pet insurance is,” said Mark. “Price may be a reason for that, but with the ABI’s recent findings, our message is clear - it’s time more pet parents started insuring their four legged friends,” concluded Mark.


text:
Taha Car Collection, an auto salvage company based in Auckland, NZ, recently gave their point of view on the impact of COVID-19
New Zealand (NZ), as a country, has been blessed to eliminate COVID-19 within a couple of months. However, the impact on small and medium-sized businesses during and past the lockdown period has been extremely devastating. And for salvage yards, this is no exception.
The global finance market has been smashed in 2020 and this has also affected New Zealand. Things are becoming brighter but still not good enough to meet similar proceeds like past years. The only chance of endurance for any country is doing business globally, something which is not possible at the moment. Financial instability for bigger businesses is making things worse and unemployment is rising.
Overseas Market Crash
The majority of salvage yard businesses are dependent on overseas buyers who purchase spare parts and recycled metal at competitive prices. Due to border closures, everything is stuck in the middle and companies are losing millions because of sporadic trading. During the lockdown period, the revenues decreased by 70% and still struggled to meet the expenses. Even though the gulf market is half-open, the overseas trading is still cold and the market condition continues to be low.
Temporary Closures and Unemployment
The NZ government has introduced some excellent help to get through these hard times using wage subsidies and business loan policies, but unemployment is still rising. Businesses are still shutting down and people are losing their jobs. The same thing has happened in the salvage and recycling industry. The NZ government is considering extra help to push the situation forward, but unemployment is still on the rise.
Uneven Business Proceeds
Even though NZ has won over COVID-19, the global pandemic is still going on. People continue to be affected emotionally and financially. Business revenue continues to decrease because people are not ready for actual trading and everyone is keen to save some money for rainy days. Overall business proceedings are really crumbling at the moment and not looking positive in terms of recovery.
The automotive industries have been devastated by the global pandemic. However, thanks to the local wreckers like Taha Car Collection who are trying to keep things moving in a safe way by offering free car removal service across Auckland and paying top cash for cars on the spot.
All citizens of New Zealand are highly encouraged to support local businesses, especially automotive, tourism and hotel trades.
The original release was published on openPR.


text:
BY SHAREEN PATHAK, DIGIDAY
When it comes to threats to advertising, Martin Sorrell is a keen student. He quickly identified Google as a frenemy during its rise. And now, it’s Amazon that’s keeping him up at night.
The reason: Amazon boasts a gigantic pool of data, not just likes and habits, but actual purchases. It could position its ad platform to be the arbiter of what ads work in actually driving people to make purchases — and the one best positioned to target those ads.


text:
Encore Theater has been home to such headliners as John Fogerty and Diana Ross ever since “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers” closed in December . But the resort has not stopped creating original productions.
“The Holiday Show” is the latest. The winter production runs Nov. 30-Dec. 30; tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday.
As reported in this space a couple of weeks ago, the show is being created and directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, with choreography by Marguerite Derricks. Both have worked on productions at the Wynn (including “Showstoppers” and the relaunch of “Le Reve”). The musical is a roll-out of holiday favorites, “Santa Baby” and “This Christmas” among them, with a variety of dance numbers.
“It’s a joy to be able to create a first for the Las Vegas Strip,” McKinley said in a statement. “An experience for the entire family, ‘The Holiday Show’ has given me the opportunity to create a musical revue that will immerse the audience in the sights and sounds of the holiday season.”
The show features new arrangements of a dozen holiday songs with six singers, more than 200 costumes and elaborate settings. As Derricks said in the release formally announcing the show, “The choreography for The Holiday Show’ will feature an eclectic mix of the most current dance styles. Performed by 18 talented dancers, each routine will bring to life moments and traditions inspired by the most wonderful time of the year.”
The show is designed for an all ages , and the hotel is offering dinner and show packages for restaurants Jardin, Lakeside, Sinatra and The Buffet. Packages start at $95 per person.


text:
KFC’s a.m. strategy seems to be failing due to the lack of imagination. Look at McDonald’s, the company has stormed the market with its headline-grabbing free breakfast campaigns. People were seen queuing at McDonald’s outlets since early morning to get their share of freebies. Yours truly was one of them. What the McDonald’s breakfast campaigns have achieved after giving out thousands of free burgers was to make consumers warm up to the idea of having burgers (US: breakfast sandwiches) and coffee/tea for breakfast. With the trial, the US fast food giant hopes to turn unique consumers into repeat users and better use of the underutilised morning daypart.KFC conducted a very much muted campaign by giving away vouchers for discounted breakfast meals as part of its March 2013 breakfast deals. However, the breakfast meals were not free and as a result of that it failed to excite consumers. Getting the coupons itself was a tough job too. The two contrasting marketing styles mean that consumers are more aware of McDonald’s breakfast offerings as many have tasted them through the free breakfast promotions. What KFC needs to do is to promote its breakfast fares to consumers and one of the best ways is to have a free breakfast day.
Alternatively, localisation of food can help drive visit. Porridge has already appeared in the breakfast menu of KFC, followed recently by McDonald’s. Malaysians love their nasi lemak. So why not introduce a Colonel Nasi Lemak Combo served with KFC chicken and sambal? What about soft boiled eggs with coffee and hash brown? OldTown is doing quite a good job with its affordable breakfast sets. Therefore, there are still a lot more KFC can do to make breakfast really interesting.


text:
(PRWEB) July 10, 2006
Back in February 2006, a new solicitor listing website was launched, different from others. It offered users a chance to leave reviews about solicitors, letting other users know about potentially good and bad solicitors.
Since the launch, the website has grown into the largest solicitor listing website in the United Kingdom, according to Alexa, a search engine that offers estimates of traffic to certain websites.
With daily visits in the thousands, the site has become extremely popular and has a lot of reviews for various solicitors. Hundreds of solicitors have submitted updated details of their firms, a sign that they want to be listed on the website.
The website has also launched facilities allowing premium membership for solicitors listed on the website, which includes additional details being displayed on solicitor’s listing pages, not just their address. Even though the website is now the largest in the United Kingdom, the fees are considerably lower than any competitor, only £4.95 per month, half of what the nearest charges.
Founder of the website, Peter Zaborszky, has said that he is extremely pleased with the growth of Solicitor List, and hopes it helps the best solicitors get more clients, as well as weeding out the incompetent ones. He also said that the website is looking to start offering solicitor services online, for example writing wills for users at a fraction of the normal costs.
The website can be viewed at the following URL: http://www.solicitorlist.co.uk


text:
Arino has trouble keeping it up
"It" being the box set for Retro Game Master: The Game Center CX Collection, of course. Discotek also had issues keeping the DVDs up at Amazon leading up to Christmas, but it’s now back in stock. Surprisingly, Amazon — through third-party sellers — also has import copies of Game Center CX 2 on sale. Some of the used prices (as low as $50.11) are much cheaper than the $80 Play-Asia is asking for.


text:
The B2B API Tracker®, done in collaboration with Red Hat, is your go-to monthly resource for updates on trends and changes in B2B APIs.
Inside the July Tracker
- An interview with Gareth Gaston, executive vice president and head of digital platforms at U.S. Bank, on how legacy systems have hindered the advancement of B2B payments via APIs in the U.S.
- The latest B2B API developments, including a new real-time payments services from BBVA and Visa Direct as well as why 40 percent of U.S. business payments are made with paper checks
- A Deep Dive detailing how open banking can be a gamechanger for B2B payments by enabling seamless transfers between processing banks


text:
The AFA called on its followers to #BoycottTarget until the chain reversed its decision, saying that they had “concerns about safety and privacy”.
The group has been further angered by Target’s relaunch of the #TakePride clothing range—a selection of rainbow apparel and accessories first released in 2015 that celebrates diversity, Pink News reports.
“Target appears content with its sprint into self-destruction,” the AFA says in a statement.
“Target [has an] all out love affair with the LGBTQ.
"For the past two years, Target stores have entire sections dedicated to products normalising homosexuality.
“In many instances, profits from the sale of the products are donated to gay advocacy groups for the promotion of the lifestyle to children in public schools.
“While AFA’s boycott [has] focused on Target’s bizarre and dangerous dressing room and bathroom policy, the company has a history of distaste for traditional family values.
“Pray that Target‘s leadership will realise it gravely misjudged the 1.5 million families who have signed a pledge to boycott its stores,” the statement reads.
One supporter of the group wrote to Target on Twitter saying: “I saw on FB where you're dbling down on LGBT rainbow pride. Hope this isn't true. Rainbow is symbol of God's promise not perversion.”
The Family Research Council has similarly taken offence to the colourful clothing.
“If the Target corporation is imploding, then it’s going down in a rainbow blaze of glory,” the group said.
“Despite taking a year-long beating on Wall Street, the stubborn LGBT ally is clinging to the radical agenda that earned it the scorn of almost 1.5 million consumers.”
However, many Twitter users expressed their support of Target and thanked the retailer for continuing to celebrate the LGBT+ community.
“Thanks Target for standing with your #LGBT families and friends,” wrote @Audeeryz.


text:
A listing of the top prescription brands by 2016 DTC spend according to Nielsen data.
A listing of the top prescription brands by DTC spend in 2016 according to Kantar Media data.
A listing of the top companies by total DTC spend in 2016 according to Nielsen data.
A listing of the top brands by DTC television spend in 2016 according to iSpot.tv data.
If U.S. companies are to successfully compete on a global stage, we need to welcome talented immigrants who are pursuing their American dreams.
Whatever comes out of Congress on the “repeal and replace” of the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) matters because it will affect the bottom line of the life sciences industry as well as all of its industry partners.
The 28th annual Manny Awards event was held on April 20th at New York City’s Chelsea Piers.
The HBA’s 28th annual Woman of the Year luncheon was held on May 11th at the New York Hilton Midtown.
A shift from traditional project management practices, EPC is designed to accelerate drugs to market.


text:
Sweden’s official online gaming and sports betting regulator has issued a warning to potential licensees that they are at the risk of losing out on the launch of the new market at the beginning of next year. They explain that many applications have errors that may see them scrapped for a number of applicants.
There have been 60 licence applications submitted to the Lotterlinspektionen began offering new licences for the re-regulated market, with 55 of them for online gaming.
The regulator has urged that all applicants resubmit their current applications as was possible after they opened the system on the first of August – with 22 being received on the first day alone. Despite the influx of applicants, Camilla Rosenberg, director general, has warned that they may be forced to delay the launch due to the number of applications that have not been fully completed.
The Swedish regulator has also explained that its current priority is processing all of the applications rather than answering questions about the new market, Rosenberg has also said that while the regulator may answer questions for some companies, it would primarily exchange information with trade associations SPER and BOS.
Rosenberg has also confirmed that they are not able to define some of the more technical terms of the Gambling Act or the application process itself, such as advertising, as it regulates along with the Consumer Agency. They did add that more terms would be explained in further detail as the new regulations fall into place.
|1||5/5||$1600 NZD|| Play now|
|2||4.9/5||$1000 NZD|| Play now|
|3||4.8/5||$350 NZD|| Play now|
|4||4.7/5||$750 NZD|| Play now|


text:
Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe plans to start manufacturing a rugged off-road car in the style of Land Rover’s discontinued Defender in a massive investment that breaks new ground for his Ineos group.
Mr Ratcliffe made his fortune with the Ineos chemicals company but is known for his interest in the car sector and is a fan of the Defender.
He sees a gap in the market with the Defender going out of production a year ago and Land Rover not due to introduce a replacement until 2019.
Rumours have been circulating since last summer that Ineos had been considering a move into the car sector, though the company has been tight-lipped about its plans.
However on Monday Ineos confirmed it expects to spend “hundreds of millions” on the plan, which will move the company into a new sector.
Ineos has completed a six-month feasibility study into the project and believes it is viable, with hopes that the new car could be built in the UK, potentially creating 1,000 jobs in a new factory.
Calling it a “fantastically exciting project”, Mr Ratcliffe - one of the UK's richest men - said he wanted to “build the world’s purest 4x4 and we are aiming at explorers, farmers and off-road enthusiasts across the world”.
The new vehicle will not be a replica of the Defender but will “reflect its philosophy” according to Ineos, which claims the car will “offer a real and pure alternative to the current crop of standardised jelly-mould SUVs”.
Tom Crotty, a director at Ineos, said the company envisages a market in the "tens of thousands, not hundreds" per year for the new car and that building it Britain would be an important selling feature.
"Having Made in Britain would add a certain cachet but we have to be realistic," he said. " We want to build this but we are not going to die in a ditch over the location."
Building a factory and getting design work would mean that the first vehicles would not be ready until 2020, Mr Crotty said, with pricing expecting to be around the same level as the old Defender - which cost around £25,000 for an entry-level model.
Producing a car is not a vanity project for Mr Ratcliffe, and the company sees a real market opportunity said Mr Crotty.
"It's a massive undertaking but we believe we are pretty good at big projects," he said. "We've just spent $2bn on a project that allows us to import gas from the other side of the world."
Ineos has appointed Dirk Heilmann, the company’s former head of engineering and technology, to lead the newly formed Ineos Automotive, which is now recruiting experts from the car industry.
“This is an amazing project for everyone involved,” said Mr Heilmann. “Our job is to create the world’s best 4x4 and we are already moving forward with our plans.”
Land Rover is protective of the Defender brand and last year stopped a Canadian company using the name for an off-roader it launched.
In a statement, Jaguar Land Rover called the Defender "an iconic vehicle that is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s past, present and future. The success of our business is based on unique design and engineering attributes, and we intend to protect the brand robustly around the world."
How far the project will go remains to be seen with the car industry working on notoriously low margins.
Professor David Bailey, an industry expert at Aston University, said: "There could be a small market opportunity but there is a lot of competition.
"When Jaguar Land Rover closed the Solihull Defender production line, which was too small, it started restoring old Defenders and selling them and is probably making more money on those than it did on new ones."
He also highlighted the challenges of making a car from scratch that will meet motorists' expectations.
"People underestimate just how hard it is to build a car which has the reliability we have come to expect and is also cutting edge," Prof Bailey said.
"But then there are some niche sports car manufacturers building a handful of cars for die-hard enthusiasts and maybe this car could find the same sort of market."


text:
Using the internet in a holiday park cafeteria, how prehistoric is that?
Thanks to Citymesh
, a Wi-Fi specialist from Bruges, holidaymakers no longer have to leave their RV to surf at the coast.
And there's more: thanks to Citymesh, you will soon also have free access to the large-scale Wi-Fi network of your own city!
The Citymesh team is ambitious, and rightly so! In 2006, five young engineers established Citymesh. Their successful pilot project in Blankenberge – when an urban communication network freely accessible to everyone was set up – put the wireless network integrator on the map immediately. Not only are (almost) all holiday parks on the Belgian coast now equipped with a Wi-Fi network, but thanks to constant innovation Citymesh also serves other niche markets.
"Connectivity over long distances and areas with a high concentration of users is the focus of the Citymesh services", says Citymesh founder Mitch De Geest. "The idea of establishing large-scale wireless networks in all major towns and cities came up in 2006, but at the time, they weren't yet ready for it. So we turned to the market of holiday parks on the coast and exhibition halls. That really hit the mark. As well as holiday parks, we now serve almost all the exhibition halls in Belgium, with the exception of Brussels Expo. That means Wi-Fi for everyone: from visitors to stand holders and the organisation."
2012 was the year of events: "Visitors at festivals like Jazz Middelheim and Les Ardentes could benefit from free Wi-Fi", says Mitch De Geest. "And in 2014, we also started rolling out a large-scale wireless network in Antwerp city centre. The cities market seems to be ready now."
As well as providing Wi-Fi services, Citymesh also offers its customers the chance to use the network for marketing purposes. For instance, the network owner can collect all sorts of information about its customers. "Even when they're not logged into the network, we can record the number of smartphones and tablets present", explains Citymesh founder Mitch De Geest. "This information can be used to generate reports, such as the busiest visitor times, the busiest places in the city, the profile of returning customers, the average length of time people stay, etc. This insight helps gain a better understanding of the customer/visitor and provide them with the right information at the right time."
Who are your main competitors? "They're the Telenets and Proximuses of this world. But what makes Citymesh stand out from them is that we build the network for everyone and create a platform that can be used by residents, visitors, municipal services and emergency services."
What does the future hold? "We are currently talking to train stations, football stadiums, museums, libraries, shopping centres, etc. In short, places where large groups of people gather and need to be able to communicate with one another free of charge via wireless networks."
We look forward to it!


text:
Ding Guangwei (L) the supervisor for Guangwei Agricultural Machinery Cooperative, speaks with CGTN in one of his soybean farms in Suihua's Beilin District. (CGTN Photo)
September 23, 2018 marks China's first ever harvest festival, which is dedicated to farmers and their hard work. In northeastern China, farmers are busy planting and tending to soybean crops to reduce China's high reliance on imported soybeans. And they say a good local soybean harvest awaits.
Local farmer Ding Guangwei told CGTN that farmers are more willing to grow soybeans this year with new government allowances of 500 dollars per hectare for growing soybeans.
At Ding's farm in the northeastern Chinese city of Suihua, Heilongjiang Province, over 150 hectares worth of soybeans have been planted, a 35-percent increase from last year. And each hectare of Ding's farm can yield 3.5 tons of soybeans, which is much more than in years past.
Also, at least three tons of soybeans per hectare are expected across Suihua.
While China's main soybean growing areas like Suihua are seeing a bigger harvest for legumes this year, domestically grown soybeans still have a long way to go to compete with imported ones.
The country only produced some 15 million tons of soybeans domestically last year.
The good news though is that as companies replace their demand for American soybeans with domestic ones amid the ongoing trade tensions, the inventory of domestic soybeans has been decreasing, making room for new harvests and presenting a positive sign encouraging soybean farmers.
Chinese firms have halted their orders for American soybeans — an estimated 30 million tons of them. That's over twice China's own soybean production. The huge demand for soybean imports comes with more competitive prices overseas, namely from Russia and South America.
"Domestic soybeans in fact are pretty good, especially those grown in northeastern China. But due to cheaper prices of soybean imports, domestic soybeans are still not favored by the market," said Zhang Shuchun, a national agricultural technology extension researcher and also in charge of agricultural technology extension in Suihua's Beilin District.
Zhang said improving the quality of domestic soybeans such as protein and oil content can help China gravitate more towards domestic soybeans.


text:
OPENING DAY: Shares of Trulia Inc. jumped in their first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. If the gains hold, it would mark the biggest climb in a U.S. trading debut since the July IPO of teen retailer Five Below Inc.
THE COMPANY: Trulia, based in San Francisco, runs a real estate website and mobile app that helps people research home listings and neighborhoods.
FINANCES: While Trulia's revenue is growing, nearly doubling last year, it is unprofitable. In 2011, it posted a loss of $6.2 million. In the six months through June 30, its loss grew to $7.6 million.


text:
Patron is seeing more than 6,000 sessions a month for its Alexa skill
Two years ago, Patrón launched a skill for Amazon’s Echo. The skill, called Ask Patrón, serves up cocktail recipes and facts about tequila.
In those two years, Patrón has accumulated 36,000 users and is seeing 6,000 to 7,000 sessions a month of people using the skill, according to the company.
The overall number of users in those two years doesn’t seem like a lot considering that, in October, Amazon said 20 million people own an Amazon Echo.
Still, for any nascent technology, the number of overall users comes almost secondary to the number of returning ones. While Adrian Parker, vp of marketing at Patrón, said the skill is gaining new users, the majority of monthly sessions are by people opening up the skill again, which shows that while overall adoption may be low, there’s a loyal following among users. Patrón goal with voice is to have 500,000 people making Patrón cocktails at home they normally would have enjoyed with another type or brand of spirit, said Parker.
Parker said the skill has been so successful that Patrón adapted it to Amazon’s Echo Show in January, so people can see the cocktails they search for. As with its original Echo skill, when people say the prompt, “Alexa, ask Patrón for a cocktail recipe,” Alexa replies, “Would you like to search by cocktail type, flavor or occasion? You can also say, ‘Surprise me.’” With the skill, Patrón also tries to nudge people to use tequila beyond margaritas and tequila sunrises — instead of gin in a gin and tonic, for example.
According to a new report by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, which cites findings from Juniper Research, more than 70 million U.S. households will have smart speakers by 2022. Patrón, which spirits company Bacardi acquired in January, is counting on that growth as it tries to connect these sessions with actual sales, and it has built purchase intent signals into all of its voice platforms the skill is available on, which, besides Amazon Echo, include Google Home and Sonos’ One.
The Echo Show directs people to an interactive purchase screen when they ask Alexa to buy Patrón, said Parker. Users confirm their ZIP code with Alexa for a list of Patrón sellers near them. The screen also gives information on how to send Patrón as a gift through the service ReserveBar as well as to their phones. Patrón would not say how many people show an intent to purchase, but it said 1 out of every 3 people who do buy purchase the tequila as a gift.
‘Find operational efficiencies’: Nokia’s handset marketers adopt hybrid model in pursuit of smartphone marketshare
The company that owns the license to make and sell Nokia-branded handsets is looking to take certain aspects of its media management in-house.
‘It’s all in the name of profit’: Confessions of a media buyer on short-staffed burnout during the pandemic
For one media buyer at a holding company agency it's become more difficult to take time off this year as the agency has single staffers doing the jobs of multiple positions.
‘Everyone is grasping for nostalgia and happiness’: Why marketers are ringing in the holiday season with more influencers
Ahead of this season, influencer marketing agency execs say here’s been a lift of between 20-30% from last year in requests for holiday influencer campaigns.
SponsoredWhy ad buyers (and sellers) need to pay more attention to viewer attention
By Yan Liu, CEO, TVision Like the proverbial tree falling in the forest, we all recognize that oftentimes the TV is on, but no one is in the room to hear or see it. And yet some ad buyers continue to rely on a metric that fails to account for this. To mix metaphors, buyers […]
‘We want our brands to be where people are’: As gaming becomes a culture touchstone, advertisers toggle in
As the gaming audience grows, advertisers have a new batch of businesses pursuing their media dollars — video game developers.
Member Exclusive‘Cyber Monday has become Cyber November’: How the digital shopping day’s evolution is affecting marketers
Even if it’s a logical move to stretch out discounts typically reserved for Cyber Monday, it can create a more difficult environment for marketers.


text:
The 2015 Legacy model matches other midsize sedans point for point. Then it goes and adds uniquely Subaru features such as standard all-wheel-drive and EyeSight adaptive cruise control.
Thanko's Handy Salt Meter works on hot liquid dishes, but you'll have to do some math. Just don't stick it in that bag of Pringles.
A research paper explains just how Google is able to give users speedy, accurate query returns with its new voice search tech -- it boils down to huge amounts of data.
After having worked with Steve Jobs to create Apple stores, Ron Johnson explains the lessons he learned and why the stores appeal to people in a Harvard Business Review guest post.
Ivy Bridge chips have tiny fins that Intel is calling 3D technology, as the company prepares to get more of its chips into mobile phones.
The "Never Burn" Pauli Sauce Pot uses a hidden layer of silicon oil for heat distribution.
This story incorrectly stated the number of Netflix subscribers. Netflix has 16.9 million subscribers.
The hit rental service does more than write checks. It sits on valuable data, has great access to the right customers, and doesn't look down on Hollywood.
With a dash of 3D and a soupcon of 1080p video stirred in with a touchscreen, it's the new the Micro Four Thirds Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2.
We'll reveal the *real* range you can expect from the Nissan Leaf...Find out what secret sauce Tesla will use to build the coming Model S...See where Chrysler hid the owners manual...and drive a Lexus SUV that straddles more than creeks & gullys.