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While our webcams these days have certainly improved massively in terms of picture and video quality, it’s nowhere close to capable of doing what a dedicated camera like a mirrorless camera can do. This is why it shouldn’t be surprising to see that many professional streamers turn to using their DSLRs or mirrorless cameras as webcams.
The vast majority of digital cameras these days come with an electronic viewfinder (EVF). This allows users to look through the viewfinder to take photos like they normally would a more traditional camera, but if the rumors are to be believed, Nikon could be looking to take a different approach with the upcoming Nikon Z5 mirrorless.
Fujifilm’s flagship X-T and X-Pro series of digital mirrorless cameras are pretty amazing and have been highly-reviewed, but they are also pretty pricey. For budding photographers looking to get into the game, the prices of these cameras could put some of them off, but Fujifilm does have several mid-range cameras as well.
Back in April, Canon announced that they would be releasing software for Windows PCs in which it would allow users to turn their Canon cameras into webcams. Given that video conferencing is rising in popularity these days due to the coronavirus pandemic that has forced many to work and study from home, this was excellent news.
Some of you might recall that not too long ago, Canon released a software that allowed users of its cameras to turn it into a webcam. We also reported recently that Fujifilm was planning something similar, and the good news for Fujifilm camera owners is that it looks like the software has since been released.
The vlogging concept is still very much alive and well, and if you’re looking to maybe hop on the bandwagon, naturally you’re going to need a camera. In case your phone doesn’t quite cut it as a vlogging camera, or maybe you want something a little better quality with additional features, then Sony has you covered.
The ability to turn your digital camera into a webcam isn’t new. Streamers have been doing it for quite a while now in order to achieve the best possible quality for their streams. However, the problem is that it isn’t always the most straightforward of solutions as sometimes it involves purchasing additional hardware and downloading third-party software.
Due to the fact that we have a camera on our phones, it’s easy to go trigger happy with them and snap everything in sight. As a result, our phone’s storage can fill up pretty quickly, which is why companies like Apple have introduced the HEIC file format. This is basically a file format that makes photos smaller in file size compared to more traditional formats like JPG.
Sony recently started to tease the upcoming announcement of a new camera which we heard could be known as the Sony ZV1 and could be aimed at vloggers. Now thanks to photos shared on Twitter by Camera Nokishita, it looks like we now have a much better idea of what the camera could look like.
Vlogging still seems to be a pretty popular thing that many YouTubers are doing these days. So much so that it seems that Sony wants to cater to these users specifically, and in a series of teasers, the company seems to be working on a new camera that they could be aiming specifically at vloggers.
Timelapse photography is a very time-consuming process, although for the most part, we imagine that the majority of timelapse photography and videos don’t take quite as long as 3 years, which is how long it took Danish photographer Jonas Høholt to make his stunningly beautiful timelapse of his home in Jutland, Denmark.
A digital camera, much like other gadgets, comes with a processor that helps process the images. For the most part, you could shoot all day as long as your battery permits, but when it comes to recording video, that’s when things get tricky as some cameras aren’t as well-equipped as others.
These days thanks to mirrorless cameras bridging the size of a compact camera and a DSLR, there is less need than before for compacts. However, there are still several compacts that are very popular, like Sony’s RX series which are commonly used by vloggers and YouTubers as an alternative to bulkier DSLRs or more expensive mirrorless cameras.
Stop motion animation can be intensively labor exhaustive if you’re trying to create something good. Obviously, having an awesome camera helps, like Canon’s EOS R series. If you do have an EOS R and would like to dabble in stop motion animation, then there is a $100 firmware update you could be interested in.


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Given that the PlayStation 4 won't run PlayStation 3 games natively, and the Xbox 360's rocky history with emulating Xbox games, it didn't come as much surprise that the Xbox One isn't backward compatible. You'll have to keep your 360 hooked up to play the last eight years of games. Don Mattrick, president of the interactive entertainment division at Microsoft, says the demand for the feature just isn't there.
Mattrick told the The Wall Street Journal that only about 5% of customers play older games on their new system, which makes the feature too costly and time-intensive to be worth it. This led him to coin the confounding turn of phrase, "If you're backwards compatible, you're really backwards."
The transition to new architecture does make it difficult to offer the functionality. A social media research firm said a survey of potential customers showed only 12% said they would be unhappy if it didn't have backward compatibility. That makes the decision somewhat understandable, but yesterday's presentation was followed quickly by some skepticism and mixed messages from Microsoft, so it might behoove executives to be careful with their statements.

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RESEARCH has shown that Stoke-on-Trent, Southend, and Birmingham could benefit most from the UK Government’s £500 million Rapid Charging Fund.
The funding aims to help boost the number of electric vehicles on UK roads by providing new public rapid charge points, with support for 2,500 to be installed across England by 2030.
Comparison and switching service uSwitch has analysed Zap-Map and DVLA data to determine which areas are best and worst served by rapid EV charger points currently.
Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch.com, commented on the research: “It’s a really exciting time to be an EV driver.
“This research suggests that the Rapid Charging Fund could have a significant impact for drivers across the UK – especially for those living in cities such as Stoke-on-Trent, Southend and Birmingham who are thinking about purchasing one.
“The funding will be instrumental in delivering a more sustainable future for the nation’s transport.
“It’s crucial though that this investment is spent wisely and is targeted towards the regions that need the funding most.
“While there is no obvious regional divide across the UK, it’s clear some locations are more prepared than others.
“We look forward to seeing how these changes can help bridge the gaps and impact what vehicles we see on our roads in the years to come.”
Amongst those best served at the moment are Bristol, Milton Keynes, and Dundee, when looking at how many EVs are on the road compared to the EV charge point numbers in the area.
The best and worst served areas in the UK are listed below.
Top ten UK cities for EV charging provisions as of May 2020:
● Bristol – 22.9 EVs per charge point
● Milton Keynes – 23.4 EVs per charge point
● Dundee – 28 EVs per charge point
● Oxford – 28.5 EVs per charge point
● Brighton – 28.6 EVs per charge point
● Sunderland – 30.7 EVs cper charge point
● Greater London – 35 EVs per charge point
● Coventry – 35.4 EVs per charge point
● Lancaster – 41.3 EVs per charge point
● Exeter – 43.3 EVs per charge point
Bottom ten UK cities for EV charging provisions as of May 2020:
● Stoke-on-Trent – 268 EVs per charge point
● Southend – 201.8 EVs per charge point
● Birmingham – 174.9 EVs per charge point
● Wolverhampton – 164 EVs per charge point
● Bolton – 161.3 EVs per charge point
● Hull – 157.4 EVs per charge point
● Bradford – 149.2 EVs per charge point
● Wakefield – 138 EVs per charge point
● Preston – 131.9 EVs per charge point
● Leicester – 122.7 EVs per charge point
Despite these figures, things are definitely improving, with a similar study in April 2019 showing some locations having made great strides in installing new public EV charge points.
For example, Coventry had made the biggest changes in provisions over the last year, installing more than 140 new charging stations – a rise of 293%. Sheffield (up 147%) and Derby (up 142%) also made noteworthy improvements.
The methodology used Zap-Map data for public EV charge point numbers in fixed areas, cross-referenced with registered drivers in the same area from the DVLA and Department of Transport.
Driver figures were calculated by using an average of 2.5% of new car sales in 2019 to calculate how many EVs could be based in each city.
For example, Nottingham was based on the postcode areas for NG1-17, NG80 and NG90, where there were 227 EV charging points and 598,364 registered active UK drivers.
Based on recent buying habits, uSwitch assumed that 1 in 40 of these drivers had access to an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, meaning approximately 14,959 EVs on Nottingham’s roads.
The study recognises that public EV charging infrastructure is only one aspect of electric vehicle ownership, with the majority of charging done at home and/or at work.
However, since cities have less provision for off-street parking than towns, villages, and more rural areas, there is greater onus on major urban hubs having good numbers of public EV charge points.
Find out more about uSwitch.com’s ‘Electric Nation’ research here.


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Whole Foods announced Monday it will lower prices on hundreds of items starting Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Whole Foods announced customers will save an average of 20 percent on the new reduced price items with an emphasis of discounts on high quality, peak-of-season produce, such as greens, tomatoes, tropical fruits, and more. Examples of these new lower prices include, large yellow mangoes ($1/ea.), mixed-medley cherry tomatoes ($3.49/12oz), and organic bunched rainbow chard ($1.99/ea.). Prices will be reduced by an average of 20 percent on select items throughout the store.
After merging with Amazon in August 2017, Whole Foods has already taken a number of steps to streamline the grocery business and reduce prices. Logistic efforts include to centralizing merchandising, rather than allowing brands to outsource the task to third-party services. Last year, Whole Foods rolled out an additional 10 percent off of already discounted products for Amazon Prime members.
“Whole Foods Market continues to maintain the high quality standards that we’ve championed for nearly 40 years and, with Amazon, we will lower more prices in the future, building on the positive momentum from previous price investments,” said CEO and co-founder John Mackey.
Whole Foods Market standards prohibit over a hundred preservatives, flavors, colors and other ingredients commonly found in food, including high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats. No antibiotics ever and no added hormones are allowed in raising animals for meat sold in the Whole Foods Market meat department. All seafood in the seafood department is either sustainable wild-caught or Responsibly Farmed, which prohibits the use of antibiotics and added growth hormones in feed and minimizes environmental impact.
In addition to new lower prices for all shoppers, Prime members will now save more than ever before at Whole Foods Market with double the number of exclusive weekly Prime Member deals and deeper discounts. Over the next few months, customers can expect more than 300 Prime member deals on some of the season’s most popular items.
Examples of exclusive Prime member deals in April 2019 that will rotate on a weekly basis include:
Organic asparagus: $2.99/lb, save $2
Organic strawberries: $2.99/lb, save $2
Sumo Citrus: $2.49/lb, save $1.50
Air-chilled, no-antibiotics-ever whole chicken: $1.79/lb, save at least 40%
Spiral sliced ham: $3.99/lb, save at least 33%
Animal welfare-rated, bone in pork loin chops: $4.99/lb, save at least $2
Fresh, sustainable wild-caught halibut fillet: $16.99/lb, save at least 35%
35% off all Justin’s brand products
$20 off Vega One Organic Shakes (24.3-26.9 oz. sizes only)
40% off all Kite Hill plant-based products
35% off all Epic brand products
Prepared sandwiches and wraps: 20% off
Prime members can also receive an additional 10 percent off hundreds of sale items throughout the store.
These price reductions will build on the hundreds of lower prices that have been introduced to customers since the Amazon and Whole Foods Market merger, ranging from Whole Trade organic bananas and Chobani yogurt to 365 Everyday Value Cage-Free Large Eggs. During this time, customers have saved hundreds of millions of dollars through lower prices and Prime member deals.
“When Whole Foods Market joined the Amazon family, we set out to make healthy and organic food more accessible. Over the last year, we’ve been working together tirelessly to pass on savings to customers,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer. “Every time a customer walks into a Whole Foods Market, they expect and trust industry-leading quality standards across aisles. And now they will experience that same Whole Foods Market quality with even more savings across departments.”
Starting Wednesday through the end of April, customers who try Prime can get $10 off their $20 purchase in-store at Whole Foods Market when they try Prime at amazon.com/WholeFoods10. New members can try Prime free for 30 days, full promotion details are at amazon.com/WholeFoods10.
Since Whole Foods Market joined Amazon in August 2017, the companies have launched:
Exclusive Prime member savings: Prime members shopping Whole Foods Market stores nationwide receive an additional 10 percent off hundreds of sale items throughout the store, plus up to 20 exclusive deals available weekly.
Ultrafast delivery for Prime members: Two-hour delivery on Whole Foods Market groceries through Prime Now in more than 60 metros, with more to come in 2019. Delivery is free for Prime members who spend more than $35.
Grocery pickup for Prime members: Grocery pickup in as little as 30-minutes at select Whole Foods Market locations.
Alexa shopping: Prime members can use Alexa to add Whole Foods Market groceries to their Prime Now cart and find out about weekly deals.
Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Cardmember savings: Cardmembers with an eligible Prime membership earn 5% Back when shopping at Whole Foods Market using the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card. Cardmembers without an eligible Prime membership earn 3% Back on their purchases.
Convenient Amazon.com package pickup: Amazon Lockers in Whole Foods Market stores allow customers to have products shipped from Amazon.com to their local store for pick up, or send returns back to Amazon during a trip to their local store.
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“Though not one in a thousand recognizes it, it is business, not consumers, that is the heart of the economy. When business produces profitably based on Utilitysavingexpert.com, they create income-paying jobs and thus consumers spend.” — Larry Kudlow, Director, National Economic Council
On this Christmas Eve, I’m happy to report some great economic news from the U.S. Commerce Department.
Using gross output (GO) data from the 2020 third quarter, my Skousen Business Spending (B2B) Index soared from the second quarter by 10%, far more than real gross domestic product (GDP), up 7.5%, or consumer spending, jumping 8.6%.
Note: I am giving you quarterly data. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) annualizes all these figures. On an annualized basis, real business-to-business (B2B) spending rose 39%, compared to 33% for GDP and 35% for consumer spending.
To learn all about what GO and B2B statistics mean, please watch this one-hour video made on September 30, 2020, which I called “GO Day.” It includes interviews with Steve Forbes and other experts.
For full details, see my press release at www.grossoutput.com.
This is good news for several reasons:
First, it demonstrates the remarkable resilience of the U.S. economy in responding quickly to the coronavirus scare and abusive government lockdowns.
Despite the collapse of some parts of the economy and severe unemployment due to the shutdown, the U.S. economy appears to be making a V-shaped recovery. The e-commerce, health care and educational sectors moved quickly to adjust to the new environment.
Second, the dramatic advance in B2B spending justified the bull market on Wall Street, where all the major indexes hit all-time highs this fall.
Third, the supply chain (intermediate spending at each stage of production) is a leading indicator, suggesting that 2021 will be a boom year.
The fact that B2B spending is now growing faster than consumer spending and GDP suggests that in the fourth quarter, and maybe even 2021, the U.S. economy will keep growing.
According to Atlanta GDP Now, fourth-quarter GDP is expected to increase 2-3% (11.1% annualized). At this time, I fully expect the government to report that the economy at the end of 2020 will reach an all-time high in terms of economic output.
We will know for sure on January 28, 2021, when the U.S. government will announce the first estimate of fourth-quarter GDP. The gross output (GO) data will be issued on March 25 (alas, the government is still delaying the release of GO, even though it is the “top line” in national income accounting).
Fourth, business spending is much bigger and growing faster than consumer spending.
By using GO data, we see that consumer spending is only about a third of economic activity, not the two-thirds that is often reported by the media. As the chart above demonstrates, business spending is, in fact, almost twice the size of consumer spending in the U.S. economy.
The third-quarter data supports the optimistic views of Jerry Bowyer Research, who use GO and B2B statistics to make predictions about the financial markets. Bowyer wrote, “The lockdown was focused on sectors which were skewed toward final-stage consumption, such as retail, entertainment and travel. But the business sector is more resilient and is bouncing back.”
Business, not consumption, drives the economy. According to Say’s Law, production on the supply side (entrepreneurship, saving, capital formation, investment and technology) is more important than consumption.
As said by the great Harvard economist Joseph Schumpeter, it is innovation, not consumption, that drives change in the economy. He wrote, “It is the producer who as a rule initiates economic change… Therefore, while it is permissible and even necessary to consider consumers’ wants as an independent and indeed the fundamental force in a theory of the circular flow, we must take a different attitude as soon as we analyze change.”
Georgia On My Mind
The outcome of the two senate races in Georgia on Jan. 5 are paramount to the bull market extending itself into 2021. If the Democrats win, all bets are off. If the Republicans win, gridlock on Capitol Hill will mean that the government will “do no harm” for the next two years.
I received an update from Ralph Reed, who is leading the Republicans in Georgia to keep the Democrats from one-party rule for the next two years. Ralph is the former chairman of the Republican Party in Georgia, and founder of the Christian Coalition.
Both parties are looking to outspend each other to win the two Senate seats. Election bettors still have 70% odds in favor of the Republicans on Jan. 5, but Reed thinks the race is extremely close for both seats and is pulling out all the stops to win.
Look What Santa Claus is Reading on Christmas Eve!
From the picture below, Santa Claus took some time off his route to read a copy of my newly released 10th-anniversary edition of “The Maxims of Wall Street.”
St. Nicholas is delivering hundreds of copies of the Maxims to subscribers, all autographed and numbered.
I am still taking orders — I mail daily. Go to www.skousenbooks.com. The price is only $20 for the first book, with all additional copies just $10 each. If you buy an entire box of 32 books, you pay only $300.
Dick Rowland, RIP
In other news, my old friend Dick Rowland, founder of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, died last week at the age of 90. He started the Grassroot Institute at age 71. You’re never too old to make a difference. He was a regular at FreedomFest.
Please watch this four-minute video tribute to Dick Rowland.
In this short video, Dick explains why he called his think tank the “Grassroot” Institute — the word is singular to emphasize the individual. He has some simple but profound expressions about the role of government. I especially like his comments on the left-right labels that continue to divide our nation. Like me, he rejects the left-right political spectrum, and favors an “up” and “down” approach. As Ronald Reagan stated, “There is no left or right, only up or down.”
Dick Rowland said it best, “When the government gets bigger, the individual gets smaller.” We should support more power to individual choice and less to the State. This is an especially valuable lesson in 2020, as government has grown dramatically, and the individual has shrunk.
Two Films Will Lift Your Spirits During the Holidays
Finally, my wife Jo Ann has written a wonderful review of two classic films you probably haven’t heard of: “My Man Godfrey” and “The Inside Story.” I watched both recently. They are highly recommended if you have some free time during the holidays. Read her review here.
Both films are available for free on YouTube. I am planning to show both films to my Chapman University students.
May you have a wonderful Merry Christmas!
You Nailed it! The Political Science of the Coronavirus Scare: Who Got it Right?
It is unfortunate that politics has entered the realm of science when it comes to the coronavirus crisis of 2020.
I have found that experts are divided on this issue — either they are alarmists who look for studies that confirm their bias of an extreme pandemic, or they are skeptics who look for studies that support their view that the pandemic has been overblown and the lockdown excessive.
The best experts should look at both sides of the issues and then try to make an objective judgment.
Rand Paul, who is a medical doctor and a U.S. senator, recently gave a talk before a group of young people at a conference sponsored by Turning Point USA. He has spoken several times at FreedomFest. You can watch the 15-minute speech here, entitled “What If We Were Lied to?” Ignore the partisanship of the audience and just concentrate on what Senator Paul has to say when you click here.
An alternative view can be found in Richard Rahn’s latest column in the Washington Times entitled “2020 has been Horrible, but it Could Have Been Worse.” Read it by clicking here.
At next year’s FreedomFest (July 21-24, 2021) in Rapid City, South Dakota, the ever-popular mock trial will address the pandemic and the response to it. Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, will defend the establishment’s response to the coronavirus. Tom Woods will be the judge, and Dr. Drew Pinsky will be one of the star witnesses. Other participants will be announced soon. See www.freedomfest.com for more details.


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Bell announced his intention to step down from the role last month and has now formally left the role.
Markey, currently a non-executive director of XLMedia and also chair of the remuneration committee, will serve as interim chair while a permanent replacement is sought.
Prior to her time with XLMedia, Markey spent more than nine and a half years as group people director at British online supermarket Ocado, where she was also a member of the management committee.
Markey also spent just under 13 years serving in a number of personnel positions at British supermarket chain Tesco, while she spent five years as business support manager at alcohol business Diageo.
The appointment comes after XLMedia earlier this month said it expects revenue to grow 21.5% year-on-year in 2021, with earnings to increase 41.0%, thanks to the expansion of its sports division.
Revenue for the 12 months through to 31 December 2021 is expected to reach $66.6m (£49.8m/€59.5), which would be 21.5% higher than the $54.8m reported for the prior year.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is also expected to increase 41.0% from $12.2m in FY20 to $17.2m.
XLMedia plans to publish the full results for its 2021 financial year next month.


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In a significant development, employees of Starbucks Corp voted to join a union at a store in Buffalo, New York, marking the company’s first unionized company-owned location in the United States.
Workers at a second location in New York voted to reject the drive to unionize.
The vote count for a third store in the upstate New York city ended without a definitive result since a number of ballots were still under review, a process that could stretch into early next year, according to Ian Hayes, an attorney for the union.
“We will keep listening,” said Rossann Williams, president of Starbucks North America, in a letter to employees after the vote. “These are preliminary results with no immediate changes to our partner relationship as the NLRB process continues.”
The development comes at a time when Corporate America is eyeing new union organizing campaigns midst a labor shortage that is leading to higher wages at most large retailer and restaurant chains.
According to experts, the Starbucks results may encourage union activity at other companies.
“Although it’s a small number of workers, the result has huge symbolic importance,” said John Logan, a labor professor at San Francisco State University.
Incidentally, Amazon.com Inc is also facing a new election at one of its Alabama warehouses after results of the previous election, which the union lost, were overturned last month.
The election at Buffalo involves just over 100 workers altogether, a tiny fraction of Starbucks’ roughly 220,000 employees in its U.S. cafes.
A victory of unionizing is likely to embolden other stores to launch organizing drives. Starbucks has more than 8,000 stores in the US. Already, three other Buffalo-area stores and one store in Mesa, Arizona, have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to join the union.
“I am absolutely optimistic,” said James Skretta, a barista at one of the other New York stores to call for an election. “We feel as though this is validation for what it is that we’ve been doing.”
The outcome encourages Skretta to “withstand what we know will continue to be an aggressive anti-union campaign,” they said.
With the news reaching the market, shares of Starbucks closed down by about 1% at $115.35.
A few local baristas have decried what they described as aggressive company tactics, including flooding Buffalo locations with executives, holding meetings with employees and even bringing in ex-CEO Howard Schultz to talk to workers and extol the virtues of existing wage hikes and company benefits.
Starbucks has denied that any of its activities amount to union busting.
In Buffalo, about 15 Starbucks employees who support the union drive gathered in a room to watch results. Many jumped, screamed and hugged when they realized they had enough votes to win the first store to be counted, on Elmwood Avenue.
The vote was 19-8 in favor of joining the union.
Baristas and shift supervisors from the second location on Camp Road voted 12-8 to reject the union. Hayes, the union’s lawyer, said during a news conference that the union will challenge those results.
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Autos: Swap that car like a cellphone
Ever since automakers quit the nonsense known as annual model changes, auto buyers have been keen to select vehicles known for their durability. Today's cars, if well maintained, often can surpass 200,000 miles.
But in our trade-that-phone-every-year society, some drivers would like to trade their cars about as often. A recent study, conducted by Swapalease.com, provides some insight.
In a study of 1,000 participants, people claim they own their phones 21.7 months on average before getting a new one. Technology progresses. Ownership duration is expected to drop as cellular providers entice customers with easy-escape plans without two-year contracts. Cars could be next.
MORE: Apple CarPlay brings iPhones to vehicles.
"There are many parallels when you think and compare cellphone contracts and auto leasing contracts," said Scot Hall, executive vice president of Swapalease.com. "We want to have the latest and greatest; features of vehicles and phones are driving change. Technology advances rapidly. As with cellphones, trading your vehicle may get you an even better deal."
Something else is likely at play.
Because cars are more complicated and young drivers care more about computers than cars, people don't tinker with their cars as much. Drivers want a no-hassle ownership experience.
Consider this: Many will never change the tires, endure an oil change or get a tune-up.
"It also has to do with the 'I don't want any surprises' budgeting," Hall said. "It's interesting how far up the list warranties have become. It's the opposite of driving until the wheels fall off."
It's as much a finance question as auto tech question, says Swapalease.com spokesperson John Sternal.
"People expect monthly car payments like they expect a monthly phone bill," Sternal said. "Shorter lease terms feel like where people want to go."
Some other points. According to the study, 59 percent of men and 60.7 percent of women would like to change vehicles as often as they change cellphones. When asked what brands they would like to trade into, BMW and Mercedes-Benz topped the list while Chrysler and Dodge were least likely. That's evolving as great strides are being made in the appeal and technology of all vehicles.
Buy a car you love, finance it and drive the wheels off it — or lease a car and plan to trade every two to three years. Or less. Just watch mileage allowances to avoid unexpected fees.
Leasing also tends to be an affordable way to move into luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
"Leasing penetration is at historically high levels," Hall said. "Leasing permits the ownership cycle to be much quicker than traditional loans. Manufacturers need to be concerned about reselling opportunities when the vehicles come off lease. Buyers should go through a lease transfer-friendly company."
Dodge recently announced its Double-Up Program on the 2014 Challenger and Charger. Lease either now and you can trade them in for the updated 2015 edition without changing your payment. At that rate, you'll likely go through two cars in the time you own one cellphone.
Email your car questions to Indianapolis-based automotive journalist Casey Williams at email@example.com.


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The Age of Wonders 3 will expand into "Golden Realms" next month. The first premium expansion for the game adds a new race, campaign, 20 new units, specializations and loads more stuff.
Although it looks like fans of the series were hoping for Frostlings as the first new race, it turns out that Halflings will be the new species on the block – don't worry, there's more expansions coming. The Golden Realms campaign involves helping the Halfling survivors of the Heartwood Massacre rebuild, with new enemies like Naga (fish-snake people) trying to hamper their expansion.
Golden Realms has yet to be priced, but will be available as DLC from Steam and GoG on September 18.


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If you’ve found yourself playing catch-up on Google Android, here’s a selection of resources from Network World and our sister publications to get you up to speed quickly.
It's easy to forget that not so long ago, no one was sure if Android would ever be relevant.
A computer security researcher says he plans to release code Thursday that could be used to attack some versions of Google's Android phones over the Internet.
The iPhone leads the pack when it comes to using the Web over mobile devices, according to a new study released today by Informa Telecoms & Media.
According to data released by Google Tuesday, 36 per cent of Android users are running the 2.2 (Froyo) version of the mobile operating system while 41 per cent are running the 2.1 (Éclair) version of the software. Earlier versions of Android, such a...
Popularity of the Google Android mobile operating system is showing no signs of slowing down, with the OS being found in 44 per cent of smartphones purchased during Q3.
Defending its sources as "multiple" and "trusted," tech blog Engadget's gone on the defensive, claiming the PlayStation Phone is indeed real and citing a few scoops they got right. Of course they won't tell you about the ones they got wrong, but then...
Six months after Google first released the 2.2 or 'Froyo' version of its mobile operating system, HTC has made the update available to Australian owners of its flagship HTC Desire handset – through its website, if not directly over the air.
Taiwanese mobile phone manufacturer HTC announced yesterday that its hotly anticipated Desire HD smartphone, the successor to the HTC Desire, will be available from early November exclusively through VHA (Vodafone Hutchison Australia).
Apple's iOS and Google's Android OS dominate the new non-BlackBerry installations in enterprises across the globe between July and September 2010, according to Good Technology's tally of what the mobility management vendor's customers are deploying. ...
Australia's biggest telco Telstra has flagged plans to launch its own Android-based handheld tablet device into the midst of a market which is about to explode with options from Apple, Samsung, Dell and more.
Telstra has launched its Pre-Paid Mobile Wi-Fi modem, which will compete with Vodafone's Pocket WiFi modem and Virgin Mobile's Wi-Fi modem.
Search giant Google has bowed to developer demand and started allowing Australians to sell software through its mobile applications market.
Apple's rollout of the iPhone 4 in June temporarily slowed down demand for Google Android smartphones, but a new study shows consumers are again very hungry for Android devices.
A free Android application to be unveiled on Thursday at the Mobilize conference in San Francisco will let mobile phone users send and receive text messages without touching or looking at the phone.
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It’s easy to set up, it’s compact and quiet when printing and to top if off, the print quality is excellent. This is hands down the best printer I’ve used for printing labels.
Brainstorming, innovation, problem solving, and negotiation have all become much more productive and valuable if people can easily collaborate in real time with minimal friction.
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The Huddle Board’s built in program; Sharp Touch Viewing software allows us to easily manipulate and edit our documents (jpegs and PDFs) all at the same time on the dashboard.
The biggest perks for me would be that it comes with easy to use and comprehensive programs that make the collaboration process a whole lot more intuitive and organic
I rate the printer as a 5 out of 5 stars as it has been able to fit seamlessly into my busy and mobile lifestyle.
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It's been a while since anyone has truly shaken up the console platform trifecta. Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo have held it down for decades now, with Google Stadia's limp attempt to enter the market via cloud streaming not going down all too well. So, how about an 'NFT games console'? That's sure to do the trick...
Web 3 company Polium is attempting just that, apparently. 'Polium One' is a console that's purely NFT-based, both in regards to the games it'll play and the way you'd pay for content within its eco-system.
As for the power of the machine, well, none of these specs are confirmed as the team is still in the development phase at present. Still, the company is claiming its NFT console will be aiming to hit up 8k resolutions, 120Hz frame rates, and have ray tracing capabilities.
The company has also shared an early concept of its controller design, which is set to feature haptic feedback, a sensitive touchpad and TouchID for logins. Oh, and a wallet button for quick access to, err, your wallet because it's all about spending money, right?
Anyway, if this thing ever comes to light, which we have our doubts about, it's aiming for a 2024 release for 'Holders' and a public launch in 2025. Let's wait and see if the Polium One becomes Xbox's next console competitor.
What do you make of an NFT console? Do we need to ask? Either way, let us know below.


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Apple seeds second beta of Mac OS X 10.6.5 with no known issuesApple on Thursday seeded the latest beta of Mac OS X 10.6.5, its forthcoming security and maintenance update for the Snow Leopard operating system, with no known issues.
People familiar with the latest beta, dubbed 10H529, said Apple has asked developers to focus on 3D graphics, Mail, printing, QuickTime, and the X Windows X11 subsystems. The Delta Update is reportedly a 558MB download.
Apple already publicly released an update for the current version of its operating system, Mac OS X 10.6.4, this week in the form of the Snow Leopard Graphics Update. It improved performance in some popular game titles developed by Valve by as much as 120 percent.
The latest beta comes just 6 days after the previous build, 10H525, was seeded to developers. Apple was originally expected to begin seeding the first 10.6.5 builds to developers in July.
Mac OS X 10.6.4 was released in mid-June, packing fixes for trackpads on Apple's notebook computers, and also addressing issues with Adobe's Creative Suite 3. It also included Safari 5, Apple's latest Web browser.
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May 20, 2013
Microsoft To Reveal New Xbox Features
Peter Suciu for redOrbit.com — Your Universe Online
Video game sales this year have not exactly been setting records. In fact the year started off quite slow, with hardware sales down 38 percent.Things have been looking up in recent months, however, with Microsoft currently sitting in the top spot of video game console sales for the 28th consecutive month according to retail tracking firm NPD Group. Total retail spending for the Xbox 360 platform in April -- which included hardware, software and accessories -- topped $208 million dollar. However, the company is already looking ahead to the next generation.
“Looking forward to next week, May 21 will mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment. On that day, Microsoft will hold a special press event on the Xbox Campus at 10 a.m. PT and we invite you to join us via the live global stream that will be available on Xbox LIVE, Xbox.com and Spike TV in the U.S. and Canada,” posted Jeff Meisner, editor of The Official Microsoft Blog last week.
Thus, while the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is still three weeks away, Microsoft isn´t waiting until the annual video game tradeshow to unveil some key features for its next generation console system. Rumors circulated following Meisner´s post that Microsoft´s new Xbox dashboard update could enter a public beta in late June or early July, with changes and updates in preparation for the launch of the next system. The final update could be made available in August, depending of course on how the public beta pans out.
The Verge reported on Monday that Microsoft is looking to ensure that current Xbox 360 users will be able to make the transition over to the still-to-be-officially-unveiled next generation system, and interact with existing 360 users using messaging, beacons and achievements. Microsoft will reportedly phase out the use of its current points system with this dashboard update and may instead replace it with currency and gift card options.
What exactly the new Xbox might -- or even might not -- have is still just speculation at this point, but according to various sources this system will likely be packed with computing power.
“There is no question it will have a big hard drive, a DVD/Blu-ray drive, a fast processor, and tons of memory,” Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter told Cnet. “Microsoft has all the network support it needs to ensure a stellar multiplayer experience. What´s left is software, non-game functions, and form factor.”
Given that retail game sales have been on the decline as consumers have increased options to play on smartphones, tablets and other devices, Microsoft could be hedging its bets to ensure that the next generation system is a lot more than just another game machine. Those non-gaming entertainment features that Pachter referenced will likely make up the centerpiece of Tuesday´s media event.
This could include an emphasis on features that are already available with the Xbox 360, which include connectivity to Netflix, Amazon Prime Instant Video and Hulu. Microsoft already has partnerships with Major League Baseball, and the UFC for pay-per-view events.
It is rumored that at its E3 press conference Microsoft will focus on specific game titles and look to appeal to hardcore gamers.


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Broadpeak’s new version of the BkS450 video streaming software now runs on 4th Gen Intel Xeon scalable processors. BkS450 supports the delivery of bandwidth-intensive content and servces at up to 1.09 terabits per second of HTTPS traffic with a power efficiency of up to 1.21Gbps/watt. Marking an 11% improvement in energy efficiency compared to the previous version, the software is useful for low-latency 4K video streaming services and immersive content.
“Our new BkS450 software passes the threshold of 1 terabit per second performance in HTTPS and on a relatively modest hardware configuration, and is a move toward a new standard for more energy- and cost-efficient video streaming,” said Nivedita Nouvel, vice president of product marketing at Broadpeak.
According to Broadpeak, BkS450 stream achieves a 72% improvement in throughput performance compared with the previous generation while consuming significantly less power than traditional video servers. Broadpeak obtained this measurement using a benchmark tool that measures hundreds of thousands of concurrent connections, to test the BkS450 software’s ability to handle realistic, high-concurrency traffic patterns.
BkS450 software supports HTTPS traffic - the secure version of HTTP - using SSL/TLS protocol for encryption and authentication. By running the BkS450 software, video service providers can deliver more complex, competitive video streaming services with increased agility, a smaller hardware footprint and, unltimately, less impact on the environment. Through its high-density design, the BkS450 video streamer saves critical space in data centres and avoids the need to use proprietary components, resulting in cost savings for service providers.
Broadpeak showed the BkS450 software at IBC2023 this week in Amsterdam. broadpeak.tv


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MQA partners with Universal Music
Music technology company MQA and Universal Music Group (UMG) have announced a multi-year agreement to help deliver hi-res audio to mainstream audiences.
The partnership will see UGM’s extensive catalogue of MQA-encoded master recordings, making some of the world’s most celebrated artists and labels available for the first time for hi-res streaming.
The announcement comes shortly after the launch of a cross-industry marketing campaign ‘Stream the Studio’ at CES in Las Vegas last month. The campaign was spearheaded by the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) to raise awareness about the advantages of hi-res audio streaming.
Mike Jbara (pictured), chief executive of MQA, said: “We’re very pleased to be working with Universal Music to achieve our goal of moving studio-quality sound into the mainstream. Universal’s timeless catalogue and impressive artist roster will fuel music streaming services worldwide and enable the premium listening experience for all music fans.”
Michael Nash, executive vice-president of digital strategy at UMG, added: “The promise of hi-res audio streaming is becoming a reality, with one service already in the market and several more committed to launching this year. With MQA, we are working with a partner whose technology is among the best solutions for streaming hi-res audio, and one that doesn’t ask music fans to compromise on sound quality for convenience. We’re looking forward to working with Mike and his team at MQA to make our industry-leading roster of artists and recordings available to music fans in the highest quality possible.”


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Mexico’s travel industry is booming, according to the numbers reported at the 47th edition of Tianguis Turistico, the nation’s annual tourism conference, which took place from March 26-29, 2023. The event set an all-time record this year, according to SECTUR, Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism, with some 88,432 business meetings — a 36% increase over the 2022 edition.
This impressive growth bodes well for Mexico overall, as well as for first-time host, Mexico City. The event, held at the Centro Citibanamex convention center, attracted more than 600 exhibitors, some 700 buyers and representatives from 32 Mexican states and five continents.
As usual, suppliers and tourism representatives from around Mexico used Tianguis as a platform for promoting their latest news. Here are the highlights travel advisors need to know.
Destinations in the Spotlight
Destinations both large and small were present at Tianguis to promote their latest news and unique appeal. The Los Cabos Tourism Board, for example, hosted a gala dinner event highlighting gastronomy, mixology and wellness. The La Paz Tourism Trust, meanwhile, was on the expo hall floor to showcase its wide variety of nature-based experiences, as well as its proximity to Los Cabos.
Among the biggest event announcements came from the state of Jalisco, where Guadalajara will serve as host city for Gay Games 2023, an international, Olympic-style sporting event that’s primarily for — but not limited to — the global LGBTQ+ community. Slated for November 3-11, Gay Games 2023 is expected to attract some 10,000 participants and will be co-hosted with Hong Kong. Members of the Jalisco Ministry of Tourism, the Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Puerto Vallarta Public Trust for Tourism Promotion and Publicity were present at a press conference to discuss the event, which is especially noteworthy since it marks the first time the Gay Games will take place in Latin America.
The state of Yucatan is also predicting a big year for tourism. In 2022, Yucatan beat its 2019 record in terms of visitation, and international connectivity has grown an impressive 225% since 2019, according to Michelle Fridman, the state’s secretary of tourism. The region recently debuted two new attractions: Sendero Jurasico (“jurassic trail”), a family-friendly park with a dinosaur theme, and El Museo del Meteorito (“meteorite museum"), which highlights the story and effects of a meteorite that struck the Yucatan peninsula some 66 million years ago.
Yucatan is also anticipating a boost in interest later this year with the expected opening of the first phase of the Tren Maya (Mayan Train), a sometimes-controversial federal passenger rail project that will link five states and six airports — including a new Tulum airport set to open next year in Quintana Roo.
Improved connectivity is also a selling point for the state of Oaxaca, where a new highway linking the capital city of Oaxaca with the coastal city of Puerto Escondido is cutting travel time in half, making it easier to explore multiple regions in the state, according to Carlos David Jacinto Ortiz, the state’s director of tourism promotion.
Destinations on the Rise
Several destinations that aren’t traditionally as well known by foreign travelers have launched new promotional efforts to increase their profile on the international stage. Aguascalientes, for example, is playing up its role as this year’s Cultural Capital of the Americas, as the state’s new governor aims to grow visitation to the region.
The state of Tlaxcala, meanwhile, is continuing its promotional campaign that launched last year. The state’s tourism organization has already completed a tour in the western U.S. to promote the region’s rich history and easy accessibility from both Mexico City and Puebla. And the capital city of Tlaxcala is the hub for a variety of events this year, including — surprisingly enough, for a landlocked state — an international beach volleyball championship.
Hoteliers staged a variety of events during Tianguis to discuss their latest developments. Among the most ambitious growth announcements came from Posadas, which owns La Coleccion Resorts by Fiesta Americana, a portfolio that includes the brands Live Aqua Resorts & Residence Club, Grand Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts, Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts, The Explorean and Curamoria Collection.
Posadas plans to open at least 12 hotels this year, including three properties in Mazatlan that will fly the flags of One Hoteles, Fiesta Inn and Fiesta Americana. The company has also signed a contract to develop new Live Aqua and Grand Fiesta Americana properties in the Riviera Cancun area, as well as a new Live Aqua hotel in Tulum. In addition, the company plans to unveil new, adults-only hotel brands and refresh its La Coleccion rewards program this year.
Also in growth mode is Arriva Hospitality Group, which hosted a cocktail party during Tianguis to celebrate the recent opening of Sensira Resort & Spa Riviera Maya. Mundo Imperial, meanwhile, is touting its continued growth in Yucatan, with the opening later this year of Xixim Mundo Imperial, a wellness-focused resort located on a beachfront ecological reserve, and the Wayam Mundo Imperial, which opened in Merida in 2021.
In Los Cabos, Mexico Grand Hotels has announced plans to open a new boutique hotel in downtown Cabo San Lucas next year, not far from its existing Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa. Mexico Grand has also debuted a tequila museum at its Hacienda Encantada Resort & Residences, as well as a new putting green, additional pickleball courts and a renovated children’s club.
Among the newest hotel brands to exhibit at Tianguis this year is Kempinski Hotels, which earlier this year finalized its conversion of the former Ritz-Carlton, Cancun to become Kempinski Hotel Cancun, the company’s first foray into North America.
It’s not surprising, of course, to hear of new hotels in Quintana Roo — the nation’s most popular state for international tourism. To make it easier for hoteliers around the region to work together, a new organization officially launched during this year’s Tianguis: El Consejo Hotelero del Caribe Mexicano (Mexican Caribbean Hotel Board), which includes members from seven hotel associations in destinations around the state, including Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Cozumel and Costa Mujeres.


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Now that Microsoft has started blocking macros in Office documents delivered via the Internet, distributing malware via email has become more difficult and hackers have been forced to change their tactics, techniques, and procedures. This has been seen in phishing attempts that use a broader range of file types, and malware is increasingly being delivered via malicious websites, with traffic sent to those websites using malvertsing.
Malvertising is the term given to the use of malicious adverts to send visitors to websites hosting phishing kits, malware, or web pages that are used for a range of scams. The malicious adverts are added to advertising networks such as Google Ads and drive traffic to the malicious sites. With Google Ads, these malicious adverts are displayed at the top of the page for key search terms, and often masquerade as adverts for legitimate software, such as the free-to-use open-source 3D computer graphics software, Blender.
Many websites boost revenues by including third party ad blocks on their websites, with those adverts delivered through legitimate advertising networks. Typically, these have been the option of choice for malvertising due to the extent of the checks conducted by Google and the speed at which Google identifies and removes malicious ads. The malicious websites to which these adverts direct can perform drive-by malware downloads, probe for and exploit vulnerabilities in web browsers, or simply trick users into downloading and installing malicious files.
There is growing evidence that hackers are turning to malvertising for distributing malware, with one of the latest campaigns identified by researchers at SentinelOne. They identified a campaign that distributes .NET malware loaders, which in turn are being used to install FormBook malware variants – Information stealers capable of stealing data from infected systems, including credentials from web browsers, screenshots, and logging keystrokes to obtain passwords.
The developers of FormBook malware make it cheap and easy for threat actors to use their malware, providing it to subscribers under the malware-as-a-service model. Since 2016 when the malware first appeared, it has primarily been delivered via phishing emails containing Office files with malicious macros. Now that macros are being blocked by default, other methods of delivery need to be used. In this campaign, a virtualized .NET malware loader dubbed MalVirt is used to obfuscate the implementation and execution, with the loaders used to deliver FormBook variants, including the latest XLoader variants. One of the benefits of this method of delivery, aside from getting around Microsoft’s macro protections, is the massive reach of these campaigns, allowing far more individuals to be attacked than is possible using phishing emails.
How to Protect Against Malvertising
There are several ways that businesses can protect against malvertising, the easiest of which is to install antivirus software on all endpoints; however, the speed at which new malware variants are being developed is reducing the effectiveness of signature-based detection mechanisms. Antivirus software requires the signatures of malware to be added to malware definition lists before the malware can be detected and blocked. It is increasingly common for new malware variants to be used and then dropped by the time the signatures are added to antivirus software.
It is important to keep web browsers up to date to ensure that vulnerabilities cannot be exploited, and ad blockers can be used to prevent the adverts from being displayed, although many websites now require visitors to enable adverts to be displayed, since they are a vital source of revenue for website owners.


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The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has today revealed the addition of Jubail Commercial Port to the India Gulf Service 1 (IG1) shipping route by ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd.
The newest cargo service will contribute to fulfilling the ambitions of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) to upscale the Kingdom’s integration with global trade networks besides improving its score in the UNCTAD’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index to 80 points.
Kicking off on 12th February, the weekly service will link the Kingdom to the ports of Jebel Ali, Karachi, Mundra, Sohar, Shuaiba, and Umm Qasar on board three containerships with an average carrying capacity of 2,400 TEUs.
A strategic trade gateway for the Kingdom’s Eastern Region and its industrial and petrochemical complexes, the Arabian Gulf port is modernly equipped to handle all kinds of vessels and goods alongside delivering a host of world-class offerings to local importers and exporters.
Source: Saudi Press Agency


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A Bikini-Clad Coco & Ice-T Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend In Vegas
On Saturday, Ice-T and his wife Coco spent the day at Venus Pool Club at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The couple, accompanied by 10 friends, drank cocktails and munched on fish tacos, margherita flatbread, fruit plates and chicken caesar wraps.
Coco wore a black bikini with gold chains and splashed around the pool, waving to her fans. She also took time to pose for photographs with her admirers.
That night, the couple hit the LAX Nightclub red carpet just after 11 p.m. Coco wore a tight, velvet, hot orange dress with matching hot pink heels and Ice-T donned a sleek all black look.
See more photos of Coco and Ice-T...


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This month website owners around the world will wake up to Google’s Chrome browser placing a “not secure” message on their sites. The difference between a secure site and one that’s labeled “not secure” ultimately comes down to the protocol in your url. You see, urls that begin with HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) communicate with your browser via an encrypted connection, protecting the information that is being transmitted between your computer and the website you’re visiting, which keeps your personal information safe from hackers. Urls that begin with HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) are not encrypted, which means your data can be intercepted by a third party. This shift in how Google Chrome identifies HTTP sites to users is significant when you factor in that Google Chrome has nearly a 60% market share and that close to 50% of all sites are still using HTTP (and are therefore unencrypted). That’s close to half a billion sites that will be displaying a “not secure” message to users who may decide to take their business elsewhere. And if that’s not enough to scare you into making your site more secure, Google will soon start favoring HTTPS sites in its search algorithm. Which means you could potentially lose your coveted search ranking.
If you’re wondering why Google is doing this, the answer is pretty simple. Google has a reputation to maintain, and if they’re directing traffic to websites that aren’t secure (without letting users know) then their reputation as a safe browser and search engine is in jeopardy. Given the rise of high profile data breaches and scams to steal user data, Google recognizes the need for all websites to be more secure (even ones that aren’t transactional). This update to Chrome is simply a way to alert users and nudge website owners to convert from HTTP to HTTPS.
For many companies the thought of having a security warning on their site is enough to cause a panic. Fortunately, testing the security of your site is fairly easy: just download Google’s Chrome Canary (the new version of chrome for developers), and if you’re still having trouble determining if your site’s connection is secure, you can troubleshoot on Google’s answer page. For the 50% of websites out there who are fully compliant and secure, you can give your CTO a high five and sleep easy tonight. If you’re part of the other 50%, there’s still time to turn things around. The first step is to find a partner that understands your security needs and can set you up for the long haul.
If you’re concerned about the security of your site or would simply like a consultation about how to increase your site’s security, contact us.


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Amazon stops sales of ISIS propaganda magazine
ISIS uses magazines like Dabiq and social media to recruit Westerners into its ranks
Following criticism, U.S.-based online retail giant Amazon stopped sales of a Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant publication online.
A day earlier, an article in online current affairs site The Daily Caller revealed the sale of the magazines, which were available to purchase in paperback form on Amazon sites in the U.S., UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. It can be downloaded for free elsewhere.
The magazine, entitled Dabiq, is produced by the group's media arm, called the Al-Hayat Media Center. Al-Hayat is also responsible for the production and distribution of media content including brutal videos showing the beheading and torture of several Western journalists and aid workers.
ISIS uses publications such as Dabiq and social media strategies to recruit Westerners into its ranks.
The latest copy of Dabiq is entitled “They plot and Allah plots,” in a reference the efforts towards Gulf states and Western powers to strike against the group.
The issue, contained an article justifying the militant group’s use of sex slaves, and contained the line: “maybe Michelle Obama’s price [on the sex slave market] won’t even exceed a third of a dinar, and a third of a dinar is too much for her!”
The May issue of the magazine claimed that the group was capable of obtaining a nuclear weapon from “states like Pakistan.”
“The Islamic State has billions of dollars in the bank, so they call on their wilayah [official] in Pakistan to purchase a nuclear device through weapons dealers with links to corrupt officials in the region,” the article read.
Not to blame
Michael Ryan, a scholar at the Washington-based Middle East Institute and former U.S. government official, said that internet giants such as Amazon are not to blame for inadvertently promoting militant propaganda.
“Every ISIS member with a smartphone is potentially a propaganda center able to use Twitter or other apps to put up material almost immediately,” he said.
“The only way one could stop it in real time is to take down the Internet in a country or locale, which is counterproductive in a modern country that depends on the Internet for commerce and public services.”
Abeer al-Najjar, a media studies academic at the UAE-based American University of Sharjah, said that Amazon and other web firms such as Google, Youtube and Twitter, have a responsibility for the content on offer.
“They hold some responsibility in the sense of how to regulate and how to organize,” she told Al Arabiya News “Especially when it comes to values that are commonly agreed upon from international organizations.”
The seller was listed as CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, an Amazon subsidiary that allows members of the public to sell and distribute books. Amazon did not yet respond to a request for comment by Al Arabiya News.
- ‘We’ll meet in paradise’: ISIS fighter’s final love letter goes viral
- ISIS is not misleading us through its media
- Islamic State, ISIS or Daesh? Journos debate name at Arab Media Forum
- Queen Rania: ISIS using media to ‘hijack’ Arab world
- U.S. CIA chief says social media ’greatly amplifies’ terror threat
- ISIS creates own social media network ‘Khelafabook’
- ISIS not ‘tech-savvy’: Social media expert tells UAE forum
- ISIS in Iraq release pictures of mass execution
- Social media firms under fire over ISIS access
- Social media did not create ISIS, nor did it spark revolutions
- ISIS-themed Halloween costumes flood social media
- U.S. launches social media offensive against ISIS, Qaeda
- ISIS imposes media controls in Syrian province


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Deutsche Banks Global Transaction Banking (GTB) division, which specializes in payments clearing and settlement across all major currencies, is introducing mobile payments services to its clients in 80 countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia. Luup, a European-based mobile payment provider with a global footprint, will partner with Deutsche Bank to provide the service.
The mobile payment service will enable the banks GTB clients to offer millions of consumers an instant and secure payments and money transfer service from any mobile device with any mobile network. The global mobile money transfer market is projected to reach US$ 21 billion by 2011 by KPMG.
The bank says this is the first time that a major commercial bank has offered a cross-border mobile payments service to its banking and corporate customers. Deutsche Bank GTB has chosen to partner with Luup because of its proven technology and experience, strong organization and focus on compliance.
Mobile technology moves on apace and we believe that now is the time to take a solution to the global market, says Daniel Marovitz, Global Head of Products at Deutsche Banks Global Transaction Banking division. (According to the International Telecommunication Union's ICT Development Index, March 2009) around 61 per cent% of the worlds population has a mobile phone and the penetration of mobile continues to increase, while the use of cash continues to decline globally. Investing in technology and focusing on making banking and payments easier for clients and their customers is at the core of what we do.
Luup Chief executive Thomas Bostrm Jrgensen says the deal is a huge step forward for Luup and the whole mobile payments industry.
As well as benefiting consumers, Luups services benefit financial institutions and corporate clients by opening up new markets, new channels and new revenue streams, says Jrgensen. Not only will mobile payments offer a new, convenient channel for existing customers of banks, the technology will also provide access to the 3 billion strong global unbanked population.


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Two weeks after the high-profile name change, QSR Magazine is checking in to measure the buzz.
On September 25, the doughnut franchise formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts dropped the Donuts, becoming, simply, Dunkin’. It’s only been a couple of weeks since that branding pivot, but initial buzz is an important indicator of how customers respond to the branding.
QSR Magazine has taken stock of consumer reaction to the name change, looking at two YouGov polls that ask about “Buzz” and “Word of Mouth” surrounding the franchise.
The Buzz poll asked consumers, “If you’ve heard anything about the brand in the past to weeks — through news, advertising, or word of mouth — was it positive or negative.” The Word of Mouth poll asked, “Which of the following brands have you talked about with friends or family members — whether online, in person, or through social media — in the past two weeks.”
Both polls show marked upticks since the name change, suggesting its already paying off. QSR also notes that September 25 was just the announcement of the rebrand — the actual change will go into effect on January 1.
The removal of “Donuts” from the name is part of a strategy to emphasize beverages. That’s a strategy the franchise is betting roughly $100 million on over the next year.
Read the full article at qsrmagazine.com.


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The financing will be used to fund marketing and product innovations, along with team expansions in India &the US.
Customer communication startup Nudgespot has announced a Pre Series-A investment of $650,000 led by Kae Capital, a sector agnostic fund that invests in companies which bring about innovative solutions for existing gaps in markets, backed great teams.
The other angel investors include Anoop Goyal, Mike Shah and V.A. Sastry.Sasha Mirchandani, Managing Director & Founder of Kae Capital and Co-Founder. Mumbai Angels will be joining as Nudgespot as a Board Member. The financing will be used to fund marketing and product innovations, along with team expansions in India &the US.
Sasha Mirchandani said, “Nudgespot has within a very short span of time, proved its ability to disrupt the SaaS based customer communication market which currently forces B2B & B2C enterprises and start-ups to use expensive or ineffective software to communicate effectively with their customers. The Nudgespot founders have a great team and product strategy that we believe in, and we look forward to working with them.”
“We are excited to have Kae Capital, Anoop Goyal, Mike Shah and V.A. Sastry bring in not only capital and expertise, but also the belief in what we do. Nudgespot has been growing over 50 per cent month on month ever since we launched in November 2014. Businesses have been clamouring for a solution that allows them to talk to their customers in an intelligent manner across channels”, said, Raveen Sastry, co-founder, Nudgespot.
Nudgespot is perfect for a variety of functions in every company – sales, marketing, customer success, and product development – anyone who has a touch point with customers. It enables channel-agnostic messaging across email, SMS, and push notifications, with the ability to filter and segment users based on behaviour.
“Currently, 40 plus customers from all over the world, are using Nudgespot for everyday communication to customers and have seen up to a 10X jump in open and click rates for their messages. Customers include Ola Cabs, Bluestone, Decathlon, Easygenerator and Toppr, amongst others,” said the company’s official press release.


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Dubai has introduced plans to construct the first climate-controlled city on the planet. The space, constructed beneath an enormous glass dome, will accommodate the world’s largest purchasing heart, over 100 lodges, and a wellness district for medical vacationers.
The city of Dubai is probably the most populous in the United Arab Emirates, and the second-largest emirate by territorial dimension. Though it’s a common vacationer spot, many are deterred from visiting due to the city’s scorching warmth, with temperatures reaching 113 levels Fahrenheit (45 levels Celsius) in the summer time.
UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed confirmed plans for the world’s first temperature-controlled city, named ‘Mall of the World,’ in early July. The city will be made “to enhance Dubai’s tourist infrastructure as soon as possible,” he stated.
The wants of tourists and residents of the Gulf state will be catered for in the 48 million sq. foot space – it doesn’t matter what the outside situations occur to be on the time.
To management its local weather, the realm will be lined by a single glass dome, which is able to be open in the course of the winter months.
According to Dubai Holding, the Sheikh’s property arm, “tourists will be able to enjoy a week-long stay without the need to leave the City or use a car. The 7 km (4.3 miles) long promenades connecting all facilities will be covered during the summer and open during the winter, ensuring pleasant temperatures throughout the year.”
There will even be a “cultural district,” modeled on London’s West End and New York’s Broadway theaters, and a “celebration walk” designed in the fashion of La Rambla in Barcelona. “Seven-star wedding halls and services” will be accessible for many who fancy tying the knot whereas avoiding the warmth.
Some have already joked concerning the city’s future three million sq. foot “wellness district,” saying it’s being designed for many who store not just for new outfits, but additionally for brand new our bodies.
According to the undertaking’s press launch, the domed wellness space “will offer a holistic experience to medical tourists and their families, ensuring access to quality healthcare, specialized surgical procedures and cosmetic treatments.”
The Mall of the World has raised issues amongst environmentalists, because the undertaking – which goals to quiet down its personal temperatures – may very well add to international warming. Such giant climate-controlled services are identified to eat plenty of vitality, and are liable for a considerable amount of carbon emissions.
But the chief govt officer of Dubai Holding, Ahmad Bin Byat, stated “the undertaking will comply with the inexperienced and environmentally pleasant tips of the Smart Dubai mannequin. It will be built utilizing state-of-the-art know-how to scale back vitality consumption and carbon footprint, guaranteeing excessive ranges of environmental sustainability and operational effectivity.”
It will not be but clear when the development of the undertaking will begin, however the chief govt advised Reuters that the construction will want about 2.5 billion dirhams (over US$680 million) “every year for the next 10 years.”


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While middle market executives in the United States remain concerned about economic uncertainty, most report their companies are on solid ground and 4 in 10 expect to expand their workforce in the next year, according to a new CIT Group report.
In the report, 53% of middle market executives say their companies are stronger today than before the Great Recession.
CIT Group Inc. is a provider of financing to small businesses and middle market companies.
Middle market executives said that, in the next 12 months, their companies will likely:
* 65% - increase the range of products and services they offer in current markets
* 58% - expand into adjacent markets
* 54% - enter other geographic regions
* 42% - expand their workforce in the coming year.
"Middle market companies have long been the backbone of the U.S. economy, employing tens of millions of Americans and generating trillions in revenue annually," said John A. Thain, CIT chairman and CEO.
The research shows that a vast majority of middle market executives agree that middle market companies are:
* 97% - job creators
* 95% - barometers of the U.S. economy
* 90% drivers of innovation
The online survey was conducted by KRC Research among 300 U.S. middle market executives in a range of industries, in firms whose revenue was between $25 million and $1 billion.
Dr. Arnoldo Hax, Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Management Emeritus and a Professor of Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, provided guidance and insight during the research process.
"Although they might often be overlooked for more blue chip companies, the middle market is a critical component of the U.S. economy today," said Dr. Hax. "The factors that are explored in this research study are of great centrality for every company, but they are particularly critical for the middle market, given the imperative that relies upon them to achieve success."
to Daily News


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DW News presents the most important news — in brief, quickly and up-to-date.
DW's half-hour radio show and podcast Living Planet makes the environment matter to you.
From November 17, important original works from ancient Pergamon and a 360-degree panorama will be shown in a temporary building. The restored Telephos frieze of the Pergamon Altar can also be seen again in Berlin.
After months of speculation, Amazon, the online retail giant, has announced the locations of two new headquarters. The sites are Long Island City in New York and Arlington, Virginia just outside Washington DC:
Scientists have agreed to define a kilogram in terms of an electric current instead of "Le Grand K," a metal cylinder kept in a Paris vault. But the new definition will have no noticeable impact on most people's lives.
© 2018 Deutsche Welle |
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Emmanuelle Chriqui Wants a Conflict-Free iPhone
Since I would happily do whatever Emmanuelle Chriqui told me to, I’m hoping that Apple’s Tim Cook will do the same.
The “Entourage” star recently joined a petition asking the tech giant’s CEO to consider sourcing minerals for its popular iPhone from conflict-free regions of the Eastern Congo.
“I want the electronics that I use to be conflict-free,” said Chriqui, upon announcing her support for the campaign. “Apple is already a leader in the field and could make the first-ever conflict-free electronics with minerals from Congo.”
The campaign, launched on Change.org, was started by Congolese native Delly Mawazo Sesete and has already received over 55,000 signatures and worldwide news coverage.
“I want an iPhone for the holidays this year,” writes Sesete, “and I do like the iPhone4S – but having monitored mining sites in eastern Congo for several years documenting human rights abuses, I have seen firsthand the rape, violence, and devastation being fueled by the trade in minerals found in electronics products.
“I cannot in good conscience purchase a new phone because the gold, tin, tungsten, and tantalum that power it are destroying my home,” he adds.


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Christie’s has announced a 28.86 carat D color emerald-cut diamond ring carrying an estimate of $1-2 million will lead its Jewels Online slated to take placed from June 16-30. It is the highest value lot to be offered in a Christie’s jewels online sale to date.
The natural diamond is categorized as a rare Type IIa, which accounts for less than 2% of all diamonds on the market. Sourced from a limited selection of global sites, according to Christie’s, earth-grown Type IIa diamonds are valuable for their chemically purity and transparency. The item on offer also features a classic emerald cut, a style which became popularized during the Art Deco movement in mid 1920s.
Rahul Kadakia, International Head of Jewelry at Christie’s notes the major moment for the jewels market to star as luxury e-commerce expands. “This year has presented unprecedented circumstances, enabling Christie’s new opportunities through our enhanced digital platform. Year-over-year, we have seen an increase in online participation and the value threshold for transacting online” says Kadakia, who also notes “greater client confidence” in the market as a driving factor in the team’s decision to bring a higher value lot to an online sale.
The news comes with the auction house’s confirmation of a heightened engagement in their online sales this quarter. In February, a Jewels Online sale totaled $2.4 million with a 93% sell-through rate. The leading lot, a pair of Graff diamond earrings that made $187,500 against a low estimate of $8,000, was a record for a single lot in an online sale. Christie’s reported in 2019, 64% of all global clients bought or bid online and online-only sales recruited 41% new buyers.
The jewelry department at Christie’s recently had a blockbuster moment with the Mughal and Maharajas sale in 2019 which brought a trove of nearly 400 lots of royal Indian jewels to the market from the storied Al-Thani collection. The sale had a total of $109.2 million – the second highest for a private jewelry collection sold in the auction houses’ history. Another major moment was in 2011, when Christie’s held an online sale of nearly 1,000 items to coincide with the landmark Elizabeth Taylor sale, which totaled $9.5 million. Elizabeth Taylor’s Krupp Diamond, Asscher cut weighing 33.19 which sold for $8.8 million in the live sale is another famous example of a Type IIa diamond.
The 2019 Bain and Company Global Diamond Industry report notes that despite slowed growth for the $80 billion diamond industry at large, with global retail diamond jewelry sales to see a slight decline by 2%, the branded luxury sector, which makes up $15% of the total diamond market is predicted to see an increase in high single digits as personal luxury consumption grows.


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The pace of growth in used-car sales is slowing, according to a very credible source: Carmax. According to the company, total pre-owned unit sales rose 8% year-over-year for the quarter, down from the +11% gain of the prior quarter. Comp-store sales rose just 2.7% in used vehicles for the automotive retailer.
Here’s a key part to the story, buried in the details: Dealers continue to face more challenges in growing — let alone preserving — their profit margins on all facets of their operations. Average prices on used vehicles (retail) rose only 2.5%, while wholesale prices increased over 3%. The continued downward price / margin pressure on pre-owned inventory is dinging the dealership on a once-reliable, long-standing area of profitability.
Read the full article here: CarMax Sees Slowing Growth in Used-Car Sales


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Online food delivery service Deliveroo has appointed current CEO at Meridian Energy and Powershop Australia, Ed McManus, as CEO of its Australian business.
Online retailer Kogan is launching a new service under a new brand — Kogan Energy — in partnership with Powershop to offer what it claims will be competitive power and gas services to Australian households.
Does it do Apple TV yet?They won't get any money from me until it does.
Well, the company launched, and prices look good!https :// www . itwire . com /telecoms-and-nbn/circles-life-launches-on-optus-network-with-no-cost-4-month-trial-and-great-pricing.htmlJust remove the spaces.
It is all about the money.Don't try to make these online publishing entities take responsibility for fake news published on[…]
Not only Murduch, try Gina Rhinehart, George Pell, Tony Abbott - then Liberal Opposition LeaderMichael Kroger - then President of[…]
Well, 5G can be used, most definitely - just in very few places at the moment. Apple's competitors did this[…]


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Jeffery Lacker told state legislators that he was starting to see improved consumer spending and that existing home sales might just have a pulse after all.
From the AP story:
“If the emerging stability in housing and consumer spending persists, as I expect, some segments of business investment spending should bottom out by the end of the year and economic growth would then turn positive,” Lacker told members of the Senate’s budget-writing committee.
The Federal Reserve’s challenge will be picking the right time in a budding economic recovery to tighten credit again and prevent rising inflation, Lacker said.
Richmond has one of the 12 branches of the Federal Reserve Bank, which is burdened with driving national monetary policy. Richmond is home of the 5th Federal Reserve district which includes the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and most of West Virginia.
But the news on the economy isn’t all good. An article in yesterday’s New York Times indicated that, while officials at the Fed and the Treasury are talking up the overall economy, regional economies are still hurting. Read more here.
Still, yesterday’s release of The Beige Book, a quarterly snapshot of regional economies showed Richmond’s district to be one of the strongest. In manufacturing, Richmond has seen an uptick in orders and shipments. Richmond has also seen a surge in demand for IT jobs. A small upward trend developed in tourism and resort bookings, but that could be expected because this is vacation season after all.
For all the good news, cargo and container transportation business remained low in Richmond’s district, which includes all of Richmond’s heavy industry such as coal production and much of West Virginia’s as well. Demand for commercial and industrial loans is also down, and in Richmond in particular residential refinancing has slowed because of rising interest rates.
Read the whole report here.


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LONDON (CBS.MW) - Declines in global markets, along with losses from leading retailer Marks & Spencer, pushed London lower on Wednesday.
The FTSE 100 index (1805550) finished 0.6 percent lower at 4,077, and European markets also were in the red. See story on European markets.
Disappointing earnings from Lucent and Motorola helped bring down U.S. markets after opening gains. See story on U.S. markets.
Market-sensitive insurers such as Aviva (AV) and Prudential plc
Of companies in focus, retailer Marks & Spencer (MKS) dropped 7.1 percent on disappointing quarterly clothes sales. Overall, it said sales rose 5.4 percent, with the biggest growth in food sales. Same-store sales rose 3.8 percent, it said.
Clothing sales were up 3.9 percent, and Citigroup Smith Barney estimates that like-for-like clothing sales growth was 1.9 percent higher. "This suggests ... that market share recovery, which had stalled in the fourth quarter, has not resumed," the broker said.
On a conference call, CEO Roger Holmes said, "We are still expecting the retail market to be relatively subdued, particularly in contrast to a year a go," he said.
BT higher on dividend hopes
In the telecom sector, BT Group
"This belief is based on the progress we have made to date; our confidence in our ability to generate cash; and our firm commitment to delivering a return to shareholders," Bland added.
Cable & Wireless
Johnson Matthey (JMAT) grew 2.1 percent as the specialty chemicals company as the company said at its annual shareholder meeting that it expected to see good growth in operating profits over the next half of the year.
Liberty International (LII) could not hold onto gains, as the property group saw an upgrade from Merrill Lynch, which thinks its shopping malls are undervalued.
British retailer Debenhams (DEB) improved 0.2 percent to 418p after the Financial Times said in an unsourced report that private equity group Permira will bid 425p per share for the grouop next week. The report said Permira is still in discussions with bankers about the financing of the bid. CVC Capital Partners and Texas Pacific Group are both mulling bids for the retailer, the report added.
Convertible pressures International Power
Interdealer broker Icap (IAP) eased 0.5 percent amid a Merrill Lynch downgrade to neutral from buy on valuation Wednesday, after Icap said first quarter sales are ahead of its forecasts. "Although encouraging, these sentiments are not a major surprise. Activity across quoted fixed interest and derivative markets has been extremely strong over the period," Merrill said.
Icap said the June-ending quarter had salesahead of the same period of the previous year and above forecasts. It added that the BrokerTec business has been "performing well" since its May acquisition.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) eased 3.3 percent after it said June-ending quarter sales totalled £58.7 million, little changed from last year's £58.5 million. "Market conditions continue to be difficult, with pressure on terminal numbers and weak IPO activity," the LSE said. "However, the Exchange continues to invest in new markets to expand its product offering," it said.


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If the explosion of social media in the past decade is any indication, it’s probably safe to say that modern human beings like to share their thoughts online about pretty much everything these days.
We post on Facebook about our favorite meals or movies we loved or hated. We Tweet about our problems with the cable company, and we Instagram about new products that we spot at the grocery store. We post on Urbanspoon about our experiences at local restaurants, and we’re quick to review the things we bought on Amazon.com.
Fayetteville-based startup DataRank realized there’s a business to be built around capturing these opinions that we so readily share on the vast social media networks and online message boards.
That business – of listening for and then packaging that data into usable consumer insights for companies – appears to be booming.
What is DataRank?
The premise behind DataRank is actually pretty simple. The company mines information from a variety of online sources, from publicly available social media posts to the reviews on consumer sites like Amazon.com or Walmart.com. They then package the information in an easy-to-digest format for their customers – mostly large consumer product companies – to use as they see fit.
The company tracks data using a multi-dimensional approach, taking into account relevance, sentiment, social interactions, influence of the communicator, and other factors of the communication. Their biggest competitive point of difference, according to co-founder and CEO Ryan Frazier, is the way they organize that data in usable ways.
The real world uses of the data are far reaching. Instead of conducting expensive focus groups to gauge public reaction to a new product line, DataRank customers get those same consumer insights from information that people freely post on the web.
The model works best for bigger companies, mainly because there’s a larger availability of data around morely widely-distributed products.
Currently, the company works for a host of the world’s largest brands. Names like Clorox, Con Agra, FootJoy, and Epic Games are some of DataRank’s clients.
DataRank began in 2011 when recent UA graduates and company founders Frazier, Chuong Nguyen, and Kenny Cason decided they wanted to return to Fayetteville after leaving shortly after graduation.
“We really like the culture here, and we saw a lot of startup rumblings forming that we thought would be fun to be a part of,” Frazier said.
The three friends left their jobs, moved back to town, rented a house together near campus to live and work, and began building the underlying technology and the business model behind DataRank.
Frazier said the company “bootstrapped it” early on.
“When we started, our goal was to be as cheap as possible,” he said. “That’s why we all moved in together, and we funded it ourselves with just our savings for a little while.
DataRank’s success has come quickly. The company grew 350 percent in 2013 over the previous year, and more big things are on the horizon this year.
In February, the company raised $1.4 million to further develop their online dashboard.
The company now employs 13 engineers and sales/customer service positions in Fayetteville, and two employees that work outside the market. It has already outgrown its 1,000-square-foot office on Church Avenue, and will soon triple its space after moving into a new office above Maggie Moo’s on College Avenue.
“We definitely have been doing a lot of hiring,” Frazier told us. “We have a vision for another product that we know we want to build, so we need more additional engineering to help us build that faster.
“On the sales and customer support side, we’re growing sales so we have to grow support as well because they definitely need and want that.”
The perfect home base
Frazier said that despite the fact that DataRank recently hired a sales position in the New York market, and has operated an office on the West Coast, Fayetteville is the perfect place for his company.
“As far as startups go, there’s a lot of community here for companies like ours,” he said. “There are companies like Acumen Brands that become mentors to the younger generation of entrepreneurs like us.”
Being centrally located in the U.S. helps, with several major metro markets within a few hours drive. And with nearly 1,400 Walmart-related consumer products companies with research teams in northwest Arkansas, it helps to be just down the road.
“With Bentonville being so close, you see an opportunity to be in Fayetteville to be near those companies,” Frazier said.
“Plus we really like it in Fayetteville,” he said. “We’re invested in the area now, and we plan to stay here.”


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UAE residents will be able to get their hands on the new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus on September 23, but to ensure availability they may want to pre-order.
Both du and Etisalat have announced that their pre-order services have started ahead of the highly-anticipated release of the new smartphones.
Etisalat said in a statement on its website that "orders placed during the pre-order period through online or Etisalat stores will be given priority once stocks have arrived. Expected delivery of iPhone 8 preorders will be within three working days starting from September 23."
The telecoms firm is also offering free delivery of the handset to the doorstep of customers who pre-order, plus it is offering a free upgrade plan that allows customers to own a new iPhone every year.
Du meanwhile said that orders placed on September 15 would be delivered within five working days from the launch date.
Orders placed between September 16 and 18 would be delivered within seven working days from the launch date,
and those placed between September 19 and 22 would be delivered within 15 working days from the launch date.
"Delivery orders will be served on a ‘first in, first out’ basis," it said. "Therefore, if you pre-order the new iPhone on the first day of the pre-order period, you will receive your device in the first delivery batch."


text: Your Cheddar hosts Kristen Scholer and Tim Stenovec dive into the topic of digital investing. Jennifer Flynn, Executive Director of Ally Invest Advisors joins to demystify automated-investing. Plus, we talk to Frank Zecca, managing director of wealth management at Octagon, about how all-start athletes invest their money. Plus, which grocery store chain is the cheapest? Epicurious editor David Tamarkin swings by to reveal the answers to a shopping test he conducted at 5 different stores.


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Pop-ups have gained popularity in recent years, and as such, we metro Detroiters have experienced the luxury of tasting a variety of cuisines and perusing retail shops we may never have known of otherwise.
Enter BRUT Detroit, Northwest Detroit’s pop-up wine experience, hosting its first of many wine tastings at Page’s Bookshop tonight at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tonight’s guests will taste both red and white wines throughout the evening.
“It is a wine education with a tasting. We’re exploring five different wines that are kind of classic, but affordable and fun,” Nicole Mangis, co-founder of BRUT Detroit said.
Local sommelier Mike Fifer will walk guests through the tasting, including aromatics, coloring, palate and etiquette. The evening will end with the opportunity for guests to ask questions, then the team will welcome their second seating.
While both of tonight’s seatings are sold out, tickets are available for BRUT Detroit’s next pop-up event: a rose educational tasting paired with sweets on Friday, April 1, followed by a Cinco de Mayo themed event with Latin wines and cheeses on Friday, May 6. Tickets cost $20, or two for $35.
BRUT Detroit hopes to eventually open a brick and mortar location and return the favor by hosting other Detroit-based pop-ups.
Later this month, chef Kate Williams will host the second weekend in her Lady of the Market pop-up dinner series at Eastern Market on Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19. The pop-up series serves as a preview event for Williams’ new restaurant, Lady of the House, opening in Detroit in late 2016.
“The Lady of the Market dinner series will feature much of the farm focused European influenced food that will be at the restaurant,” Williams said. “It will feature amazing Detroit artisans (and) craftsmen throughout each dinner and in the restaurant. The dinner is intimate, previewing the atmosphere at the restaurant, (which) will be around 40 seats.”
Each pop-up dinner hosts between 16 to 22 guests, and while the menu for this month’s dinner is not yet set, it will feature farm fresh ingredients.
“There have been great restaurants and chefs here for years, but (it) seems to be now magnified. It’s a really fun time to be cooking and eating in the area,” Williams said of Detroit’s culinary scene.
Other food and beverage pop-ups sprouting up in Metro Detroit this month include:
Don’t miss out on any of these exclusive dining and drinking opportunities in the D!