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US-based retail giant Walmart has agreed to acquire augmented reality (AR) optical technology company Memomi Labs for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 2014, Memomi leverages AR, deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to offer virtual try-on experiences.
The acquisition is part of Walmart’s efforts to offer frictionless, personalised and affordable access to omnichannel optical care.
Walmart Health & Wellness Specialty Services vice-president David Reitnauer said: “Customers are looking for access to care digitally, in their homes, and purchasing eyeglasses is no different.
“This acquisition supports our health and wellness mission to provide accessible care to the communities we serve.”
Memomi is one of Walmart’s existing partners, having offered digital measurements for Walmart and Sam’s Optical customers since 2019.
These services are available across more than 2,800 Walmart Vision Centres and 550 Sam’s Club outlets.
Memoni also powers the optical e-commerce experience on SamsClub.com.
The acquisition is intended to support Walmart Health & Wellness’ plan to provide integrated, omnichannel healthcare services.
Walmart Global Tech, New Businesses & Emerging Tech senior vice-president Cheryl Ainoa said: “We’re excited to welcome the Memomi team to Walmart and add their capabilities to our leading virtual reality technology that is transforming the retail experience for our customers and members.”
The deal is scheduled to close in the coming weeks, after which Memomi employees will be transferred to the Walmart Global Tech organisation.
Memomi CEO Salvador Nissi Vilcovsky said: “We are looking forward to joining Walmart and offering our innovations and user experiences to such a large scale both in-store and online.”
Walmart recently announced two AR features for its mobile app, which are intended to improve its shopping experience.
The first feature will allow customers to view furniture and home décor items digitally from Walmart’s mobile site, while the second will provide them with product information on specific items.


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HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones is the official phone partner for the 25th James Bond movie, No Time To Die. The movie is now set to hit cinemas globally starting November 12, delayed from its intended April 2 launch. HMD Global Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas believes that with the delay, there is an opportunity to build up excitement.
First Nokia 5G smartphone
The film will feature Nokia’s first ever 5G smartphone. Alongside it, you will also see other future-proof Nokia phones. A 90-second video will form part of the company’s largest ever global marketing campaign, which will be released on March 8, teasing the smartphone. Of course, HMD Global will later unveil the smartphone on March 19 at an event in London.
The iconic Nokia 3310 makes a cameo
Nokia’s other future-proof phones that you will see in the film include the Nokia 7.2 and 3310. With the 7.2, you get a powerful 48MP triple-camera with Quad Pixel technology and ZEISS optics. The Nokia 3310 on the other hand requires to introduction. With this partnership, HMD Global wants to demonstrate its status as a global provider of Android smartphones. Furthermore, it aims to showcase its commitment to security, speed and innovation.
In the movie, the character of 00 agent Nomi is played by Lashana Lynch. Speaking to HMD Global, the actor said that her first phone was a Nokia 3210, which offered button and face customisation. Above all, it also offered the company’s iconic Snake game. Now, seeing the evolution of Nokia phones and being able to help unveil a new smartphone for the brand as Nomi is exciting for her.

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The survey, released by Dalhousie University, did a nationwide scan for what Canadians’ perceptions were on food affordability, as well as on what they were willing to do to offset the costs of food inflation next year.
“We’ve done a survey on Canadians in terms of perceived food affordability because everyone enjoys complaining about food prices,” said Sylvain Charlebois, senior director of Dalhousie’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab. “But the real question is whether or not Canadians actually feel that they’re falling behind relative to their revenues.”
According to Charlebois, the number of Canadians feeling concerned about food prices relative to their income was way higher than expected.
“We were expecting perhaps to see the majority of Canadians being concerned about food affordability, but we weren’t expecting 87 per cent,” he said. “Maybe something a little south of 60.
“But 87 per cent is quite substantial — it means that the vast majority of Canadians actually do feel that food prices are moving much faster than their own income. And so food affordability is clearly an issue in the country.”
According to a previous report released by Dalhousie and the University of Guelph, food prices could increase as much $487 in 2020 for the average Canadian family. It’s an increase that could bring total household food expenditures to $12,667 for families following Canada’s food guide.
That report cited changes in consumer preferences, continuing trade wars, global growth deceleration and failure for wages to adjust for inflation as factors for the increase.
“I think everyone is realizing that they can afford less food for the same amount of price, for the same amount,” said Charlebois.
Food Banks Canada CEO Chris Hatch said that Charlebois’ sentiment is a reality shared by many Canadians — as much as one in eight.
According to Food Banks Canada’s annual Hungercount report, food bank visits across the country reported a total of over one million visits in the month of March alone — a number that’s stayed relatively the same since 2010.
In the last year, about one in eight households across Canada experienced food insecurity, according to Hatch, who attributed the rate to stagnating wage growth, as well as the increase of housing, rent and food prices across the country.
“We’re just seeing every day, day in and day out, more and more people having to turn to food banks in some of the major cities because housing costs have gone up and up and up,” said Hatch.
“And they will pay their rent first, they will keep their shelter over their heads first, and then what gives are things they can flex, such as food, they start skipping meals, they become food insecure or severely food insecure and they eventually, unfortunately, turn to a food bank as a last resort.”
The survey also explored what Canadians were looking to do in order to offset food inflation in the new year, suggesting that 53 per cent of Canadians were looking to change their food shopping habits come 2020.
In order to save money, Canadians were planning to make several concessions to their shopping and eating habits — with more than half saying they would eat out less at restaurants and almost 50 per cent saying that they would use flyers and coupons more often.
Dalhousie’s survey also separated Canadians’ concerns geographically, with people in Alberta and Quebec feeling the most concerned about their ability to pay for food and British Columbians feeling the least concerned.
Dalhousie’s survey found that Canadians were most worried about rising vegetable prices, with close to 7 out of 10 expressing concern.
Charlebois said to not only expect vegetable prices to increase in 2020 — which rose more than 15 per cent this year, according to the survey — but also the price of meat.
Canadians can expect meat prices to increase between four to six per cent next year, while seafood and vegetables could jump as much as four per cent, according to the Canada Food Price Report 2020.
Hatch, who was also frontline food bank worker during the 2008 recession, said that Canadians need to prepare for what’s coming tomorrow.
“If we say we’re currently in ‘good economic times,’ which is what they’re saying, and we’ve got 1.1 million visits to the food bank in a month during ‘good economic times,’ my concern is when the economy turns south,” he said.
“So, you know, we’re like the canary in the coal mine … people ask me what keeps me awake at night as the CEO of Food Banks Canada, and I say that’s what keeps me awake at night.”
Dalhousie’s end-of-year survey was conducted in early December 2019 through Angus Reid. There were 1,507 Canadians surveyed. The margin of error for the survey is 2.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
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KFC, renowned as a global leader in the chicken restaurant industry, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a coveted position on Fast Company’s esteemed list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024. This recognition, placing KFC at an impressive No. 14 in the Advertising and Marketing category, underscores the brand’s pioneering approach to marketing that has set new benchmarks within the industry.
Val Kubizniak, the esteemed Global Chief Marketing Officer at KFC, expressed profound pride in the brand’s acknowledgment, highlighting the innovative marketing strategies that have been pivotal in shaping KFC’s global presence. KFC’s marketing endeavors are strategically crafted to authentically showcase the brand’s iconic taste, resonating deeply with fans across the globe.
Among KFC’s standout campaigns is the ingenious integration of the beloved Colonel Sanders character into the popular video game Street Fighter 6, offering gamers a unique and engaging promotional experience. In Canada, players who chose the Colonel avatar were treated to in-game challenges with the opportunity to win KFC gift cards, resulting in widespread participation and enthusiasm.
Similarly, in Spain, KFC leveraged a serendipitous connection between The Legend of Zelda game series and Colonel Sanders to create the innovative “Recipe Run” challenge. This challenge encouraged gamers to cook Original Recipe chicken within the game, sparking significant user-generated content and generating buzz within the gaming community.
In South Africa, KFC embarked on a captivating campaign centered around a fictional food inspector with an insatiable craving for KFC’s delectable offerings. Through innovative storytelling, this campaign captured the imagination of consumers, leading to a surge in sales and solidifying KFC’s position as the preferred brand among youth in the country.
The acknowledgment by Fast Company further underscores KFC’s unwavering commitment to innovation and its remarkable ability to connect with consumers through inventive marketing strategies that resonate on a global scale.
Established over 90 years ago by the visionary Colonel Harland Sanders, KFC has cemented its status as a trailblazer in the restaurant industry. With a presence in nearly 150 countries, KFC remains steadfast in its dedication to serving feel-good food while adhering to principles of inclusivity, equity, and sustainability. While honoring its rich heritage, KFC continues to embrace modernization and innovation, ensuring its offerings remain relevant and appealing to a diverse global audience.
Fast Company, a leading media brand at the forefront of business, innovation, and design, recognizes the significance of KFC’s achievements. Through its insightful coverage, Fast Company provides valuable insights into the future of business, engaging influential leaders and thinkers in shaping industry trends. Based in New York City, Fast Company is a pivotal platform within the global business landscape, driving conversations and fostering innovation.
KFC’s remarkable ascent to global recognition on Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024 is a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence and its ability to continually push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the ever-evolving landscape of marketing and advertising.
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Dawn of a new era for port city
THE sun was shining, the people were smiling and the passengers were pleasantly surprised to see the "mining port city" they'd heard so much about went beyond expectation.
The Pacific Dawn pulled into Gladstone just before 6am as morning light was breaking across Gladstone harbour.
The atmosphere grew gradually as people made their way off the ship throughout the morning and into East Shores where more than 70 stallholders had set up their markets.
By midday the precinct was a hive of activity.
Sea planes and helicopters flew above taking tourists to Heron Island or for bird's-eye view of the port.
For one Gold Coast family, Gladstone was the last place they expected to find themselves on holiday, but they were eager to learn more about what made Queensland's industrial powerhouse port city tick.
"We just thought it was a big port for mining," Craig Felici said.
That might not seem like a selling point, but according to P&O's Carnival Cruise spokesman David Jones, Gladstone's reputation as a town built around one of Queensland's biggest pieces of infrastructure will attract the curious tourists.
"People say why would you take a cruise ship to an industrial port?" Mr Jones said.
"Well the fact is Australians are actually fascinated by nation building infrastructure and that's what they see here. This is a fabulous cruise destination."
But there are teething problems. GAPDL CEO Darryl Branthwaite said next time there will be more tour coaches and more information about the available tours online.


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Pink Hunting Attire Bill Moves Through Wyoming Legislature
A bill that would let big game hunters in Wyoming wear fluorescent pink has advanced in the Legislature.
The House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee approved Senate File 61 on Monday.
It now goes to the House floor for further debate.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Affie Ellis, R-Cheyenne, has already passed the Senate.
Under current state law, big game hunters must wear Blaze Orange as a safety measure to help distinguish themselves for other hunters.
Ellis said the fluorescent pink is considered by one textile expert to be superior to blaze orange in terms of visibility during fall hunting.
She wants to give hunters a choice in safe hunting attire, she said.


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Many of the UK’s major multi-modal operators will be heading to the Multimodal exhibition at the Birmingham NEC later this month. Potter Logistics will be redesigning its stand (237) to highlight some of its major milestones as it celebrates 50 years in business. “Meeting up with new clients and customers is never easy, Multimodal is a fantastic platform for everyone to maximise their time with multiple meetings in a day or two,” a Potter spokeswoman said. Pentalver (pictured right) plans […]
Members of the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) will be among those showcasing their products and services at this year’s Multimodal.
Derrick Potter, founder and chairman of Potter Logistics, celebrated the company’s 50th anniversary by receiving the Chairman’s Award at the annual UK Warehousing Association Awards at the Dorchester Hotel yesterday (1 July).
UPS is to build a £120m package sorting and delivery facility at DP World’s London Gateway.


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The Straits Times The Straits Times $18m investment in tech research to help keep supply chains agile, secure
SINGAPORE - Technology could help smaller companies deal with any major future disruptions in the supply of products or services.
By analysing data in the supply chain and running simulations of such incidents before they happen, companies can figure out what to do during an actual crisis, such as reallocating resources to where the disruption has taken place.
This is one of the potential outcomes of the new Supply Chain 4.0 Initiative announced on Monday (Nov 22) by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat as part of a series of announcements made on the first day of the Industrial Transformation Asia-Pacific (Itap) 2021 event.
Itap 2021, held at Singapore Expo, is expected to have 5,000 physical attendees over its three-day duration and is slated to be one of the largest gatherings in Singapore since the onset of Covid-19 early last year, said Mr Heng, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies.
Among other things, the announcements at the event seek to give the manufacturing and supply chain sectors a technology and partnership boost.
On the matter of disruptions, Mr Heng said Covid-19 exposed the weaknesses in supply chains, citing the challenges posed by factory lockdowns and border restrictions.
He also noted that vulnerabilities existed before the pandemic and will persist after it, giving as an example the Ever Given container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March and disrupted global trade.
But diversifying supply chains is not enough, said Mr Heng, adding: "We must also tackle the significant inefficiencies in the flow of goods, and the magnitude of documentation required as the cargo flows through the supply chain."
Efforts like the Supply Chain 4.0 Initiative can help. With a total investment of $18 million over two years, it comes under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and is supported by two research partners - the National University of Singapore and the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
The initiative aims to develop digital and automation solutions to meet the demands of businesses, and use technology to make supply chains more agile, resilient and secure.
In particular, it would allow small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - which might lack the resources - to tap such solutions and have better visibility of supply chains, things that only multinational corporations (MNCs) often have the means to access.
These solutions will be tested at A*Star's new Supply Chain Control Tower, which is housed in the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre in Jurong West.


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Athens, Ga. – FineLine Technologies, based in Norcross, GA was honored on January 21, when the UGA Alumni Association announced the rankings of the 2012 Bulldog 100: Fastest Growing Bulldog Businesses at a celebration in Atlanta.
FineLine Technologies, helmed by Richard Stamper, 1984 UGA graduate, ranks as this year’s 18th fastest growing Bulldog business. The firm specializes in ticketing and labeling solutions for retailers, brands and manufacturers worldwide.
“With so many nominees, it is a great honor to be included in this group for the third consecutive year”, said Richard Stamper.
The Atlanta CPA firm, Gifford Hillegass and Ingwersen, LLP has annually partnered with the UGA Alumni Association since the inception of the program three years ago to verify the information that was submitted by each nominated company. GH&I then ranked the companies based on compounded annual growth rate.
Nominations were collected between January and June 2011. To be considered for the program, an organization must have been in business for at least five years, had revenues of $100,000 or more for the calendar year 2008, and be owned or operated by a former UGA student who owns at least 50% of company or be the CEO, President or Managing Partner. The program recognizes the fastest-growing businesses regardless of size by focusing on a three-year growth rate average.
Nearly 800 nominations were submitted for this year’s program. The class of 2012 includes companies ranging in all sizes and services, from athletics equipment producers to web design and internet marketing firms. Several different areas of the country are represented, including companies from Connecticut, Nebraska, and New Mexico.
UGA alumni and friends celebrated the 2012 Bulldog 100 honorees at a special event held at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis on January 21, 2012. The evening began with a reception, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony. Keynote speaker, Deborah Norville, anchor of “Inside Edition” and 1979 UGA graduate, led attendees to the highlight of the evening—the release of the final rankings and countdown of the 2012 Bulldog 100.
“The UGA Alumni Association is thrilled to honor our graduates who demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence that bring honor to their alma mater,” said Deborah Dietzler, executive director of the UGA Alumni Association. “We are proud of the accomplishments of these alumni, whose achievements during the Great Recession are noteworthy indeed.”
Nominations for the 2013 Bulldog program will open January 30. The full listing and rankings of the 2012 honorees and photos of the celebration can be found at: www.alumni.uga.edu/b100 .


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google shareholders gave CEO Larry Page what he wanted Thursday by approving an unconventional stock split meant to cement his authority, but he wasn't around to hail the victory.
NEW YORK (AP) - Twitter users were unable to access the micro-blogging service for part of Thursday.
FREMONT (AP) - It's a make or break moment for electric car maker Tesla Motors.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - As it struggles to gain a foothold against the iPhone and Android phones, Microsoft Corp. is planning to issue a dramatic update to its phone software, one that won't be available to current Windows Phones.
NEW YORK (AP) - With the unveiling of the Surface tablet, Microsoft is heading into unusual territory: competing with its partners, the very same companies that make Windows PCs. But Microsoft has little to lose, since PC manufacturers are having little success with their own tablets.
SAN JOSE (AP) - The chipmaker Integrated Device Technology Inc. said Wednesday that it will name two directors recommended by one of its major stakeholders to its board, heading off a fight over control of the board at its next shareholder meeting.
NEW YORK (AP) - For decades, the tablet computer was like a mirage in the technology industry: a great idea, seemingly reachable on the horizon, that disappointed as hopeful companies got closer. Microsoft has experienced this cycle of hope and disappointment many times.
Barnes & Noble 4Q loss narrows
WASHINGTON (AP) - One of the biggest misconceptions about President Obama's health care overhaul isn't who the law will cover, but rather who it won't.
NEW YORK (AP) - Facebook is letting app developers charge subscription fees, in addition to existing one-time payments, for games and other applications on its site.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The music-subscription company Spotify is joining Pandora, Slacker and Songza in offering a free radio service for mobile devices in the U.S.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate on Tuesday began plowing through 73 amendments to a $500 billion bill that will set farm policy and fund the food stamp program over the next five years. One of its first votes was to reject a proposal to trim food stamp spending.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Microsoft has unveiled Surface, a tablet computer to compete with Apple's iPad.
NEW YORK (AP) - In the latest sign of turbulent times at J.C. Penney Co., the mid-price department store chain said Michael Francis, the former Target Corp. executive brought in to help redefine the brand, is leaving the company.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Oracle's latest quarterly earnings climbed 8 percent, beating analysts' expectations.
CUPERTINO (AP) - Apple had more than 4 million advance orders of its new, larger iPhones in the first 24 hours, exceeding its initial supply, the company said Monday.
NEW YORK (AP) - Do you leave a tip in your hotel room for the maid? Marriott is launching a program with Maria Shriver to put envelopes in hotel rooms to encourage tipping.
NEW YORK (AP) - Microsoft's decision to spend $2.5 billion for the creator of the hit game "Minecraft" could help the Xbox maker grab attention on mobile phones, a new priority for the company.
NEW YORK (AP) - Olive Garden is defending its practice of giving customers as many breadsticks as they want, saying the policy conveys "Italian generosity."
NEW YORK (AP) - Maybe there is such a thing as too many breadsticks.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Criminals from around the world buy and sell stolen credit card information with ease in today's digital age. But if they commit their crime entirely outside the United States, they may be beyond the reach of federal prosecutors.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A massive structure described by NASA as the world's largest spacecraft welding tool has been completed at the Michoud (MEE'-shoo) Assembly Center in New Orleans, which was chosen in 2011 to build components of a major new rocket system.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government says Bayer is making unsupported claims in advertisements for its dietary supplement designed to help with digestion, in violation of a federal court order.
SAN JOSE (AP) - From Apple's new smartwatch that tracks heartbeats to contact lenses that measure blood sugar - Silicon Valley is pouring billions into gadgets and apps designed to transform health care. But the tech giants that have famously disrupted so many industries are now facing their own unexpected disruption: regulation.
NEW YORK (AP) - Home Depot's data breach could wind up being among the largest ever for a retailer, but that may not matter to its millions of customers.
SUNNYVALE (AP) - Yahoo said Thursday the government threatened to fine the company $250,000 a day if it did not comply with demands to go along with an expansion of U.S. surveillance by surrendering online information, a step the company regarded as unconstitutional.
CUPERTINO (AP) - Apple is poised to reveal its next big thing in a crucial attempt to prove its technological tastemakers still have the power to mesmerize the masses.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Twitter is taking its users shopping.
RENO, Nev. (AP) - Coming to Nevada's high desert: A massive, $5 billion factory that will pump out high-tech batteries for hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles.
BERLIN (AP) - Samsung unveiled two smartphones and a virtual-reality headset Wednesday in a bid to draw consumer attention before its fierce rival, Apple, announces its holiday lineup next week.


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A federal Department of Justice lawsuit filed today to block AT&T‘s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA Inc. could trigger a $3 billion breakup fee, according to AT&T.
“The stock purchase agreement contains certain termination rights for each of the (companies) and (T-Mobile parent) Deutsche Telekom,” AT&T said in a previously released statement. “In the event that the stock purchase agreement is terminated because of the failure to obtain regulatory approval, the company may become obligated to pay Deutsche Telekom $3 billion in cash,” among other penalties.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and alleges the deal would “substantially lessen competition for mobile wireless telecommunications services across the United States, resulting in higher prices, poorer-quality services, fewer choices and fewer innovative products for the millions of American consumers who rely on mobile wireless services in their everyday lives.”
Four nationwide providers — AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon Wireless — account for more than 90 percent of mobile wireless connections, according to the Justice Department. “The proposed acquisition would combine two of those four, eliminating from the market T-Mobile — a firm that historically has been a value provider, offering particularly aggressive pricing,” according to the announcement.
In a previous interview with NJBIZ, J. Michael Schweder, mid-Atlantic president for AT&T, said the company would allow T-Mobile customers to keep the lower-cost plans the provider currently offers its subscribers.
“We are surprised and disappointed by today’s action, particularly since we have met repeatedly with the Department of Justice, and there was no indication from the DOJ that this action was being contemplated,” said Wayne Watts, AT&T senior executive vice president and general counsel. “We plan to ask for an expedited hearing so the enormous benefits of this merger can be fully reviewed. The DOJ has the burden of proving alleged anticompetitive effects, and we intend to vigorously contest this matter in court.”
But a Mountain Lakes-based telecommunications analyst praised the government’s action.
“The consumer will be (a loser) if this deal goes through,” said Robert Rosenberg, president of Insight Research Corp. “There are other, smaller providers that aim for smaller markets — but coverage quality suffers when there’s less competition.”
In New Jersey, the merge has several high-profile backers, including the state Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey.


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SYNNEX Australia plans to have its New Zealand operation running within the next six weeks, but is not yet revealing which vendors it will represent here.
The distributor, which is part of Synnex Corporation, the world’s third-largest distributor of IT products, announced plans to open a local subsidiary last month.
It has already registered a local company, Synnex New Zealand, and Synnex Australia’s Melbourne-based MD Frank Sheu was in the country this week to conduct interviews for several managerial positions and to scout for premises in Auckland.
But Sheu could not yet reveal which brands the company will stock in New Zealand, saying he is in final negotiations with a number of vendors.
“We are not ready to release details yet. Vendors have been asking us to set up a New Zealand subsidiary for some time,” he says.
In Australia Synnex distributes several major vendors including Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Microsoft, Canon and Philips.
Sheu plans to appoint an operations mana-ger, product manager and sales manager.
“We’ve had a good number of applicants for various positions,” says Sheu, adding the local management team will be responsible for appointing additional support staff.
The local Synnex office is likely to be based in Mt Wellington, just south of the Auckland CBD and on the opposite end of the city to its largest rival Ingram Micro.
Sheu says the recent decision by fellow Australian Bluechip Infotech to shut its New Zealand operation has not soured the company on expanding across the Tasman. He believes Synnex will succeed as it has the backing of an international group, strong relationships with mainstream vendors and a proven business model. “With margins decreasing there is no room for mistakes in distribution. If you do not have very effective business processes you will not survive. We have 25 years of accumulated knowledge of managing channels, vendors and warranties,” he says.
In Australia Synnex is particularly strong in supplying local system builders and it will initially focus on the same market here.
Sheu aims to build the New Zealand operation into a $50 million-a-year business within three years, but believes the company could eventually turnover $100 million annually.


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New Lumia Users in India Recieve Special Office 365, OneDrive Pricing... November 26, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
Take Evolution to a Whole New and Colorful Level With Sparkle 2 Evo... November 25, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
Take It, Modify It, and Publish It With Today’s Windows Phone App Deal... November 25, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
FLAC File Support Coming to Windows Media Player on Windows 10... November 25, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
Windows “Phone” 10 Early Builds Being Issued to Partners... November 25, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
Credit Karma Pulled from Windows Phone Store Due to Unknown “Issue”... November 25, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
Developers Can Now Add Twitter Feeds to Windows App Studio... November 25, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
View Sticker Comments and More on Windows Phone With New Facebook Beta Update... November 25, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
Threema Secure Messaging App Coming to Windows Phone on November 27... November 25, 2014 | Josh Robert Nay
While there are some third party apps for Windows Phone and Windows that allow FLAC playback, it’s unfortunately not something that is available in Windows Media Player. Yet. But it’s coming to Windows 10 Technical Preview.
Windows App Studio now allows you to include Twitter Data Sources and also now includes a new and improved Instagram Data Source (more on this later), both of which allow you to authenticate using the OAuth protocol.
With the new …
Using Facebook Beta on Windows Phone? Well now you can view sticker comments for the very first time, pushing the app nearly on par with its iOS and Android cousins.
This provides you with a fun way to communicate with …
Pastry Paradise isn’t the only thing launching on Windows Phone on November 27. Threema’s secure messaging app is also launching on the same day.
Threema finally announced the release date for its secure messaging app on Twitter:
As I was browsing publisher Facebook pages this morning, I noticed something that nearly fell through the cracks, with Gameloft teasing a new game called Pastry Paradise that’s coming for Windows on the 27th, less than two days away. While …
If there’s one game I’ve been addicted to over the past few months, it’s Star Wars Commander and the game’s recent update, released this week, took some of the issues that have been plaguing the game since day one and …
Mobile payments company Fortumo announced today that they have formed a partnership with India’s biggest mobile gaming company Octro to start powering in-app purchasing for their popular game Teen Patti on Windows Phone.
Teen Patti by Octro is multiplayer card …


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14 Mar Automotive most important growth driver for Semiconductor industry
The most important growth driver for semiconductors is on wheels.
As reported in Manufacturing Asia, the industry portal serving Asia’s manufacturing landscape, the 2023 KPMG Global Semiconductor Industry Outlook report found that the automotive industry is the top application driving semiconductor companies’ revenue streams. This is thanks to the electrification and increased autonomous features of new vehicles.
Additionally, the research by KPMG estimates that automotive semiconductor revenue will reach $200b annually by the mid-2030s and surpass $250b by 2040. What is perculiar is that this is the first time that the automotive sector is considered the most important growth driver among other applications by a significant margin.
Key reasons behind this are growing availability of electric vehicles (EV) and recent legislation pushing for long-term electric vehicle production in Europe and Canada. In 2023, the most important growth products for the semiconductor industry are key components of EVs such as sensors.
With this growth in the industry, there is a need to ensure the consistent supply of chips, especially in case of a shortage. Manufacturers from high-growth sectors have recognised this need and are building more direct relationships with chip companies. Such partnerships involve longer term commitments and more hands-on approaches. Thus, chip companies are reorganising themselves around these new partnerships, helping them better manage their costs and risks.
As fast-growing and established firms continue to capitalize on market opportunities, reach out to our Senior Consultants on hiring top talents to lead the growth of your business.


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Macquarie Capital has launched a UK logistics management platform with Peel Land and Property Group.
The Peel Logistics joint venture will be seeded with capital from both partners and develop logistics facilities for long-term ownership.
The joint venture will look to build a £1bn (€1.41bn) portfolio of UK assets upon merger control clearance and target land ready for development.
Demand for logistics is being driven by the e-commerce sector, the UK’s resurgent manufacturing industry and a move to on-shoring, the companies said.
Two developments in the northwest of England, the 280,000 sqft Port Salford scheme and a 175,000 sqft speculative scheme in Liverpool will form part of the partnership as it looks to provide “build-to-suit” facilities.
Port Salford, occupied by Culina Logistics and next to the Manchester Ship Canal, will be accesible by road, rail and short-sea shipping.
The joint venture said plans have been submitted for Liverpool International Business Park. Based on current configurations and market needs, this could deliver in the short-term approximately five million sqft of logistics capacity across multiple sites, including Liverpool International Business Park, Port Salford, Robin Hood Airport, and Knowsley.
James Whittaker, development director for Peel Land and Property Group, said: “This exciting new partnership combines the complementary skills and expertise of Peel and Macquarie. Our shared vision is that Peel Logistics will evolve into a full service enterprise undertaking the development, ownership and management of logistics assets alongside institutional capital partners.”
Steven Underwood, chief executive of the Peel Group, added: “The Peel Logistics platform aims to leverage not only our extensive land bank but also the Peel Group’s wider links to the supply chain and logistics via our longstanding and ongoing involvement in the port, airport and retail property sectors in the UK”.
Jonathan Harris, Macquarie Capital head of European Real Estate, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Peel on this significant initiative which will benefit from our considerable experience in advising and investing in logistics real estate businesses in the UK and globally.”


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- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 05:29 06:43 12:35 15:51 18:21 19:35
The Federal Tax Authority, FTA, asserted that as of 1st May 2019 the import of any type of cigarettes into the UAE that do not bear the ‘Digital Tax Stamps’ will be strictly prohibited, adding that it will be illegal to sell any unmarked cigarette packs in local markets as of 1st August 2019.
The FTA explained that this step is part of the timeline for the ‘Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products Scheme,’ which went into effect on 1st January 2019, and which allows for the electronic tracking of cigarette packs from production until they reach end consumers, to ensure full compliance with Excise Tax obligations, in accordance with Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2018 on Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products, as well as FTA Decision No. 03 of 2018.
In a press statement issued today, the authority reported receiving a large volume of orders for the Digital Tax Stamps from manufacturers and importers to apply them on cigarettes supplied to UAE markets, noting that the month of April saw several batches of FTA-approved Digital Tax Stamps reach cigarette suppliers around the country.
FTA Director-General Khalid Ali Al Bustani asserted that manufacturers and suppliers showed initiative and commitment in acquiring the Digital Tax Stamps, processing all required paperwork and registering the stamps in FTA databases.
The stamps store digital information that can be read with a dedicated device to verify that the Excise Tax due on said products has been duly paid. The scheme will be gradually expanded to cover all tobacco products and support the authority’s efforts to collect taxes, combat tax evasion and protect consumers against low-quality, contraband products that harm their health and the environment.
The scheme facilitates inspection and control at customs ports and markets to halt sales of contraband products, Al Bustani explained, adding, "In collaboration with the international company hired to operate the system, the Federal Tax Authority organised an extensive awareness campaign through its official website, social networking platforms, newspapers, and audio-visual media. A series of workshops and training programmes was also held, where all concerned departments and authorities participated, and where FTA experts gave presentations to introduce the scheme and answer all queries from attendees."
"Phase two of the Scheme is scheduled to be launched in the last quarter of 2019, where it will be expanded to cover tobacco products used in shisha (known in Arabic as ‘Mu‘assel’) and electrically heated cigarette rolls, whether imported or locally produced," he revealed.
Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2018 on Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products stipulated that the Digital Tax Stamps be fixed on specified excise goods within the production facility immediately after packaging if produced locally – or prior to importing them in the case of imported tobacco products – in the place and manner specified by the Federal Tax Authority.
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When Lenovo launched the Smart Display last year, it offered a great visual way to interact with the Google Assistant. Fast forward to 2019 and Lenovo has launched a follow up to with the Lenovo Smart Clock which does most of the same features but just in a smaller package.
It was only a few years ago when Android tablets would be selling like hotcakes and could keep up with Apple’s iPad sales. But now, there are hardly any Android tablets on the market, partially because of Apple but the other reason being that there really isn’t a need for a tablet when smartphone screens are getting bigger each year.
Nowadays, there is no shortage of Amazon Echo devices that come with a number of features and sometimes at a cost. One of the most recent devices is the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) which is one of the cheapest Echo devices and a vast improvement over the previous version.
The Apple HomePod has to be one of the more interesting Apple products to come out in the past couple of years. It neither a phone nor a computer, it’s a smart speaker that sounds good but can’t do a lot partially because it’s locked in the Apple ecosystem.


text: Well, we can’t have the new Dash 3G getting lonely now can we? All set for a July 15th launch alongside Tmo’s updated Dash (aka HTC Snap), our ninja just dropped screen caps of this entry-levelish full touchscreen offering from Samsung on us. It definitely has the tween demo lined up in its sights with specs that include a 3.1 megapixel camera with auto-focus, video recording support, Bluetooth, GPS, multimedia player, integrated IM and a microSD slot. No word on pricing just yet but our ninja says it will definitely be on the cheap side of the spectrum. What say you, T-Mobile customers — going for the Dash 3G or the Highlight on the 15th? Hit the jump for a larger version of the image above along with two more screen caps.


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Blackberry messenger dating groups
Other chat applications, such as We Chat, Kakao Talk and Facebook Messenger, were only used by between 7 and 28 percent of Indonesian smartphone users.Antony said that BBM, which can now be used on non-Black Berry devices, would linger in the country as it provided emotional benefits for the users.'Whats App and other chat applications have minimum engagement to replace BBM.She chose the two because they allow users to attach stickers to messages as well as offering discounts for certain events.Though Rina could not definitively say how much time she spends chatting on her smartphone, the Nielsen study showed that 71 percent of smartphone users spend 26 percent of their 'smartphone-time', or 37 minutes a day, chatting through various chat applications.That supports another Nielsen finding that most Indonesians still prefer using Black Berry handsets, although the Canadian phone's market share in Indonesia has dropped continually, from 43 percent in 2011 to only 13.54 percent last year, according to information from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Indonesia.The Nielsen study showed that 48 percent of Indonesian phone users had Black Berry phones and 34 percent of the users stated that Black Berry was their favorite brand.
Rina Apriani, 23, is one person who is still using the BBM application despite the emergence of new chat applications such as Whats App, LINE and Kakao Talk.'I am actually quite bored with BBM, but my parents still use it and they don't want to use other chat applications.
So, I keep using it while also using other interesting chat applications,' she said.
Rina, a loyal BBM user since 2008, last year started to use several new chat applications such as LINE and Kakao Talk.
Phone users in Thailand mostly used Samsung (32 percent) but at the same time considered i Phone their favorite brand (37 percent).
Antony said that the large amount of time Indonesians spend on chatting indicated that demand for data services would remain high in the country.'Chatting applications are not data-heavy, but you [phone users] need data all the time,' Antony said, adding that telecommunications operators and handset makers should view that as an opportunity.


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Gold Prices Plummet
Description:Gold prices erase Tuesday's big gain, in a downward move that mirrored last week's big tumble. Kitco.com's Jim Wyckoff tells TheStreet's Joe Deaux that things will change on next week's Fed meeting.
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Groupon's revenue for 2010 was two times lower than declared
For quite some time, rumors have been circulating that the discount company Groupon will soon enter the IPO. Many experts who monitor the activities of the company believe that this is another “bubble” that grows only due to the desire of investors to invest in a company that is showing constant growth. The Groupon management tried to refute such suspicions, showing a significant profit. So, in 2010, according to one of the reports, Groupon's revenue amounted to 713.4 million dollars. But it turned out that the real revenue is half that shown.
In addition, experts are also suspicious of the departure of the second COO this year. Earlier, Groupon also announced its desire to enter an IPO with a capitalization of about $ 20 billion. Immediately before the planned listing, a financial report was shown that did not satisfy US regulators. Experts felt that this report does not correspond to the real state of affairs. For example, it is estimated that by June of this year, Groupon’s total losses were about $ 400 million.
In a preliminary report, Groupon also showed an overestimated rate of profit. So, if the company managed to sell the coupon to the buyer, then the entire amount received from the user was counted as Groupon revenue. But you should also take into account the fact that deductions are made from this amount to the partner. In a new report, where partnership contributions have already been taken into account, the company's total revenue for 2010 was slightly different - $ 312.9 million. This is two and a half times less than previously stated.
As a result, the company’s IPO release date is constantly being postponed, and it becomes unclear what will happen next. In principle, it may well happen that the entry to the exchange will be canceled altogether, although so far the probability of this event (cancellation) is not so great. But the company's capitalization certainly does not amount to 20 billion, this can already be said with confidence.


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Cermati, an Indonesian startup that allows users to research and purchase financial products, announced today it has raised ‘seven-digits’ from Orange Growth Capital.
The deal is an extension of its Series A round announced in September, in which the company raised US$1.9 million.
The money will be used for hiring, expanding product offerings and improving technology.
Cermati is basically an e-commerce marketplace specifically targetting financial products. People can browse, compare and buy credit cards, auto loans, mortgages and personal loans, among other products.
The company claims to have had 3.2 million visits in December 2016 and facilitated IDR100 billion (US$7.5 million) of consumer loans in 2016.
“We’re excited to use this new funding to improve our state of the art technology, data science and analytical tools. We’re hiring more tech talents to join our world class tech team this year,” said Oby Sumampouw, the CTO of Cermati in a statement.
Cermati was launched in 2015 with the goal of making the process of buying financial services more convenient and affordable for the average Indonesian. It partners with financial institutions and negotiates a lower price by offering a stream of customers through the platform.
As for Orange Growth Capital, the VC is a Fintech-focussed firm that operates out of London, Amsterdam and Singapore. Founded in 2013, the company invests in Europe and Southeast Asia. Its strategy is to make significant minority investments in the fintech sector.
The September Series A for Cermati was led by East Ventures.
Copyright: gropgrop / 123RF Stock Photo


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Tests find Rossi's E-Cat has an energy density at least 10 times higher than any conventional energy source
Folding batteries increases their areal energy density by up to 14 times
Can dark energy be explained by symmetrons?
Sodium-ion battery cathode has highest energy density to date
New graphene framework bridges gap between traditional capacitors, batteries
(Phys.org) —Researchers at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA have set the stage for a watershed in mobile energy storage by using a special graphene material to significantly boost the ...
Is dark energy static or dynamic?
Nanosilicon rapidly splits water without light, heat, or electricity
Sodium-air battery offers rechargeable advantages compared to Li-air batteries
Sponge-like graphene makes promising supercapacitor electrodes
Researchers discover promising hydrogen storage material
New energy storage device could recharge electric vehicles in minutes
Lithium-ion battery with new chemistry could power electric vehicles
Could hemp nanosheets topple graphene for making the ideal supercapacitor?
As hemp makes a comeback in the U.S. after a decades-long ban on its cultivation, scientists are reporting that fibers from the plant can pack as much energy and power as graphene, long-touted as the model ...


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Australian publishing giant Fairfax Media showed much-improved financial performance for the year ending June 30, with annual net profits of AU$282 million after incurring a $380 million loss last year, caused due to declines in advertising revenues. Fairfax will also begin charging for content online and across emerging mobile platforms, to survive in the competitive newspaper industry, Agence France-Presse reported today.
Fairfax's online payment strategy will centre around a two-tier model, wherein users will be required to pay for accessing premium content, while generic content will continue to remain free, Sydney Morning Herald reported. The general news on websites of The Melbourne Age and Sydney Morning Herald will remain free, while "premium niche content" such as that on The Australian Financial Review's website will be charged.
The media group aims to pursue "greater sharing of editorial content and collaborating across print, online and mobile, more integrated selling and monetising our content online and on emerging platforms," Fairfax said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, according to AFP.


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One in Ten Amazon Workers In Ohio Uses Food Stamps To Survive
One in ten Amazon employees in Ohio needs government assistance to make ends meet, according to analysis conducted by Policy Matters Ohio, a Cleveland-based research group. This is despite the fact that, since 2014, the state has given Amazon over $125 million in subsidies to expand.
Amazon, a Seattle-based company that dominates the online retail industry selling everything from books to washing machines, is very profitable. It has posted profits as high as $857 million in a single quarter, and annual sales of $38 billion.
"Why is this giant, successful company offering such limited pay and hours of work that many of its workers need help buying food?” Zach Schiller, research director of Policy Matters, asked in a press release. “The state and local tax incentives Amazon receives doesn’t include the tens of thousands of dollars its Ohio workers need each month in food benefits. When you consider that, the subsidies are even larger."
For most of its 23 year history, Amazon has operated at a loss, despite fast-climbing sales that doubled every few months. In recent years, the company has started opening warehouses all over the world in order to ship goods to customers quickly and win business from local competitors who rely on physical stores to sell good to customers.
These warehouses are often subsidized by local governments, eager to attract new jobs in low income communities. For example, the state of Ohio cut five special agreements in the last three years to provide the company with over $125 million in subsidies. In return the company agreed to turn a former car plant in Twinsburg and former shopping mall in Euclid into delivery warehouses, alongside deals to build multiple data warehouses around the state.
One of the deals was for a warehouse in Etna, close to the city of Columbus, for which the company was given a 15 year property tax holiday. Despite the fact that Amazon is not paying taxes, the state is still expected to provide services to the warehouse locations. For example every single day, the local fire station in Etna, Ohio, has to send emergency teams to assist workers at the local Amazon warehouse with routine medical issues like chest pains, shortness of breath and minor injuries, according to a October 2017 Bloomberg article.
The new Policy Matters report calculates that 1,430 Amazon employees or family members in Ohio were receiving government assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (For example, a family of four that earns less that $31,260 a year is eligible for SNAP provided food stamps)
Some government officials have been very critical of the state subsidies for Amazon, if only because there is no data on how workers are benefiting. “$123 million is a lot of money, and you ought to get a lot for that," David Yost, Ohio’s state auditor, told Bloomberg. "It’s really hard to know how much the state of Ohio paid per job.”
Amazon circulated a media statement in response to the Policy Matters report.
“Amazon full-time hourly employees in Ohio earn between $14.50 and $15 an hour as a starting wage with regular pay increases plus Amazon stock and performance based bonuses,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying. “We also provide comprehensive benefits which include health, vision, and dental insurance coverage starting on day one, generous maternity and family leave, tuition for career education, and a network of support to succeed.”
The state of Ohio has come out in support of the company. “Amazon has created thousands of new jobs and generated millions of dollars in new payroll consistent with Ohio’s requirements for economic incentives,” the Ohio Development Services Agency said in a statement released last week. “These jobs provide economic opportunity to Ohioans that may not have had it before.”
Yet the Policy Matters data might give pause to other governments around the country, notably the 238 cities and states that are clamoring to host Amazon's second North American headquarters. The company claimed it would invest $5 billion and create 50,000 high paying jobs in the winning location.
"Amazon estimates its investments in Seattle from 2010 through 2016 resulted in an additional $38 billion to the city’s economy – every dollar invested by Amazon in Seattle generated an additional $1.40 for the city’s economy overall," the company claimed.
But the Policy Matters study shows that the living conditions of Amazon's new Ohio workers are more similar to the thousands of employees of Wal-mart, the brick-and-mortar retail giant, who routinely depend on U.S. government healthcare and food stamp programs to get by. The Policy Matters Ohio data shows that close to 12,000 Wal-mart employees rely on SNAP.


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Quicken Speeds Back to Mac -- Less than three weeks after Intuit publicly discontinued further development of Quicken for the Macintosh (see "Financial Competition?" in TidBITS-427), Apple and Intuit have announced a recommitment to future versions of the financial-management software. According to a joint press release, Intuit changed its mind after learning Apple's plans for the consumer market, which has been stagnant in recent months due to Apple's focus on high-end Power Mac G3 machines. In fact, Quicken 98 Deluxe will ship with Apple's forthcoming consumer-oriented iMac. Intuit will continue to promote Quicken 98 and plans to ship a new version of Quicken in 1999. In addition, Intuit will continue to create Web-based features for Mac users. [JLC]
Move Multiple Windows Simultaneously in Spaces
Command-drag a window in Spaces to move all windows associated with the dragged window's application to a new space. Control-drag will do the same thing, and will also preserve the same screen position in the space in which you drop the windows.
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Looking to get more popular on Facebook? Alex Melen will sell you 1,000 "likes" for about $75.
Melen runs an Internet marketing company. About six months ago, companies he worked with started coming to him more and more with a simple problem: They had created pages on Facebook, but nobody had clicked the "like" button.
"You would go there, and there would be two likes," Melen says. "And one of them would be the owner. And people right away lost interest in the brand."
Bloomberg took out its pencil, paper and calculator and came up with this number: $67 million.
That's how much the news service estimates Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin could save in federal income taxes after having renounced his United States citizenship in advance of social media company's public debut.


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A key player in the success of Tassal hopes to give another Tasmanian business a leg up to global success, and he says the salmon farmer’s story could help other businesses realise their full potential.
Pure Foods Tasmania owns several Tassie food brands including Woodbridge Smokehouse Daly Potato Co, The Cashew Creamery and Laud’s Plant Based Foods.
Pure Foods Tasmania managing director Michael Cooper said the company had been growing well organically.
“One of our factories is about to move to 24-hour production,” he said.
“It is easy to sell Tasmanian produce as it has that DNA of the purest and finest you can find.”
He said the company was looking at other acquisitions.
“We are always looking to grow both organic and through acquisition; we are currently working on a couple of opportunities and is why we engaged Kidder Williams to help execute a good acquisition,” Mr Cooper said.
Kidder Williams managing director David Williams has been involved in the salmon industry for more than 20 years and more recently, he facilitated the deal between Tassal and Canadian company, Cooke Aquaculture.
“When it went into receivership 12 years ago, I decided to buy it … I knew a lot about the industry and I bought it for $42.5m,” Mr Williams said of Tassal.
“I laugh that I just bought it again for a second time in December (last year), for Cooke in Canada for $1.7bn.”
Mr Williams is now working with Pure Foods to help grow the company.
“I’ve got a philosophy that people have never made enough out of Tasmania,” Mr Williams said.
“You don’t need to look any further than what happened with Tassal.
“There’s plenty of other companies that should be based here and should diversify geographically and species-wise, I say that for the oyster industry and the mussel industry.”
Mr Williams said there were some problems holding Tasmania back.
“Historically, there’s two big problems with Tasmania … the state itself hasn’t done enough business development,” he said.
“The second thing is people need to use this as a base to grow … for example if you’re doing oysters and you’ve only got one site, you’re really high risk.
“That’s why Tassal went broke by the way, we had warm water coming down the East Coast and the fish weren’t feeding.”
He said creating farms in other regions helped Tassal become successful.
“If the water was warm, or if you had an algal bloom or if something else went wrong, you could take the fish from somewhere else and still be able to supply Coles and Woolies,” Mr Williams said.
“You need to be able to supply 365 days … you need protection over weather events, algae events, all sorts of diseases.”
Mr Williams said there were few companies in Tasmania that had reached a high level of success.
“I think down here, apart from Tassal and Huon, there isn’t anybody that’s really grown a massive business, but there’s the possibility to do it,” he said.
“If the story’s right for Pure Foods, I think we can make a nice little company out of this.”


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Which car brands dominated the eighties, nineties and noughties and what motors will we be driving in the future?
Many of us motorists have a favourite car – whether it’s the first one we owned, or the first new car we ever bought.
But which car manufacturers and brands dominated the eighties, nineties and noughties UK car market, and what motors will we be driving in the future?
I spoke with Michael Cole, the managing director of Kia Motors, to find out his recollection of the motoring industry.
In the eighties, Ford dominated the car market. "I joined Ford in 1982," Cole says. "They had 30 per cent of the new car market in the early 80s.
The Ford Fiesta, Escort and Sierra were the top three brands.
Cole says that between them, Austin Rover, Vauxhall and Ford had 55 per cent of all the car sales in the UK in the early 80s.
"The market was a lot simpler then,” he adds.
"So with Ford, for example, the Escort was its small family car, the Mondeo was the large family car and the Granada was the executive car."
Now, Cole explains, the car market is much more segmented. So there is more than one type of small car for example, such as city cars, super minis and small family cars to name a few.
Cole adds: "People also aspired to big cars then, whereas now we prefer smaller, multi-purpose vehicles and compact sports utility vehicles with flexible seat arrangements."
In the nineties brands such as Ford, Vauxhall and Austin Rover remained popular but new entrants were making their way in, says Cole.
"One change in the nineties was that Japanese brands such as Toyota and Honda came through in the UK car market.
"The Germans made progress as well with cars such as the Volkswagen Golf and Polo becoming more dominant in the UK car market.”
"In the nineties, the Escort became the Focus and cars became a little bit bigger," Cole says.
The cost of producing a car is high, explains Cole.
That’s why in this decade you saw car manufacturers partner up, says Cole, and shaing designs.
One example of this is the Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and the Citroen C1 which are the same car but with different badges on.
However, Ford continued to lead with the Focus remaining popular with car buyers.
Ford currently has around 15 per cent of the car market in the UK, compared with double this in the eighties, Cole says, but it still remains the number one selling brand in the UK.
The UK car market: Then and now
"The difference in the car market then and now is that competition is more fierce. Also, customer buying habits have changed.
"If you were buying 30 years ago Ford was an automatic choice, it was the people’s car.
"People were more loyal to brands then. Now there’s competition from German brands, Japanese brands, Korean brands such as Kia, and the French as well.
"In the next 30 years there will be more competition from Chinese and Indian brands as well."
Versatile and economical
Consumers want more and more versatile, practical multi-purpose vehicles, says Cole.
"I have a Kia Sorrento sports utility vehicle," he says. "It’s a seven seater, although there are only four in my family and a dog.
"But the other day six of us went out in it. That’s the sort of versatility consumers increasingly want from their car.
"The general trend is towards downsizing and I can see that continuing.
"Because of consumer demand, I think we will see manufacturers trying to offer smaller vehicles that offer maximum flexibility.
Cole says manufacturers will be looking at producing cars that are less weighty so are more fuel-efficient. Smaller cars are also cheaper when it comes to buying car insurance.
"With the Kia Rio for example, it can achieve more than 80 mpg. We also offer a seven year warranty on new cars.
"It’s this sort of thing buyers are looking for if you’re asking them to part with their hard earned cash."
The history of the number plate
We look back at the history of number plates in this video infographic.


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The German carmaker Volkswagen has announced it is expecting a difficult business environment this year, which will result in stagnating operating profit. But the company said sales and revenues would most likely rise.
Germany's Volkswagen group, comprising 12 brands, confirmed Thursday that its bottom-line profit last year amounted to some 22 billion euros ($28.5 billion), the highest annual net sum ever earned by a company listed in the country's blue-chip DAX index.
VW announced that 2012 earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) rose by 2 percent to 11.5 billion euros, with operations in China making an essential contribution to the result.
In the first two months of the current year, the Wolfsburg-based company sold 1.4 million units, up 8.3 percent year-on-year.
More plants, more profit?
Volkswagen warned against a number of market uncertainties in 2013. "2013 will be a very challenging year for us," CEO Martin Winterkorn said in a statement. He added the carmaker would aim to increase sales, but doubted whether net profits could be raised.
Volkswagen announced that it would continue its overseas offensive, adding that at least 10 new plants would be built there over the next couple of years. VW announced that of those new production facilities, seven would be built in China.
The group said in light of its strong 2012 results it would pay investors 3.50 euros per ordinary share and 2.55 euros per preference share. Employees on agreed wages in the six western German plants were to receive a bonus of 7,200 euros for last year.
hg/mz (Reuters, dpa)


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Visa Inc. options traders are more bearish than ever, betting the company will suffer more than MasterCard Inc. from U.S. rules meant to foster competition among firms that process debit-card transactions.
Three-month puts to sell San Francisco-based Visa should the stock fall 10 percent cost 1.29 times more than calls, near the all-time high of 1.30 on Sept. 14, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The price relationship known as skew is 1.21 for Purchase, New York-based MasterCard, down from an 11-month high of 1.31 on June 20, the data show.
Visa has rallied about half as much as MasterCard in 2011 after the Federal Reserve set rules that let retailers choose from at least two networks for debit transactions that involve the use of personal identification numbers. The Fed also capped swipe fees that merchants pay for most debit transactions, including those that require customers’ signatures. Visa processed $1.05 trillion of the payments last year, more than triple the amount at MasterCard.
“It clouds the growth trajectory for a company like Visa,” Walter “Bucky” Hellwig, who helps oversee $17 billion at BB&T Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama, said in a Sept. 16 telephone interview. “It experienced a high rate of growth for debit-card usage, and now maybe it’s not as high.”
Visa forecast that revenue will increase about 10 percent in 2012, according to a filing on July 6, a week after the Fed’s decision. The projection from Visa, which handled $5.6 trillion in transactions during the year ended June 30, compared with its estimate for 2011 sales to rise 11 percent to 15 percent. MasterCard predicts its sales will grow 12 percent to 14 percent a year through 2013, according to a slide show posted on the company’s website Sept. 15.
Will Valentine, a spokesman for Visa, and Jim Issokson, a spokesman for MasterCard, declined to comment.
The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index fell 20 percent last week to 30.98 for its biggest slump since the period ended July 1. The gauge of Standard & Poor’s 500 Index options prices has dropped 32 percent from a two-year high of 48 on Aug. 8, the first session after S&P lowered its rating on U.S. government debt. The gauge hasn’t closed below its 20.91 average for the past year since July 26. It rose 5.7 percent to 32.73 today.
Europe’s VStoxx Index, which measures the cost of options to protect against declines by the Euro Stoxx 50 Index, dropped 14 percent last week, the biggest retreat since July 22, to 42.96. It jumped 6.2 percent to 45.61 today.
Visa said U.S. credit-card purchases rose 9.8 percent to $224 billion in the quarter ended June, compared with a 5.9 percent growth in the same period last year. U.S. credit-card spending at MasterCard rose 6.1 percent, versus 1.1 percent in the second quarter of 2010, the company said last month.
The price-earnings ratio for Visa is 19, or 12 percent less than MasterCard and close to the record 14 percent discount on Aug. 5, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. MasterCard’s valuation first surpassed Visa’s in January. Financial companies in the S&P 500 trade at 11.1 times profit.
“Economic conditions in the U.S. have slowed dramatically, and that’s likely to be true elsewhere where Visa does business,” Keith Wirtz, who oversees $16.7 billion as chief investment officer at Fifth Third Asset Management in Cincinnati, said in a Sept. 16 telephone interview. In a recession, “you’re going to see revenues diminish.”
U.S. gross domestic product may expand by 1.6 percent this year, according to the median of 79 economist estimates in a Bloomberg survey. That’s down from a median forecast of 1.7 percent in August and below last year’s 3 percent rate.
Analysts are more optimistic about Visa than MasterCard, assigning average ratings of 4.69 and 4.53, respectively, on a 5-point scale, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. David Koning, an analyst at R.W. Baird & Co. in Milwaukee, downgraded MasterCard to “neutral” from “outperform” in a Sept. 16 note, citing the stock’s year-to-date rally. He rates Visa “outperform.”
Visa has climbed 28 percent this year to $90.03, falling 0.9 percent today after it said it agreed to a licensing deal with Google Inc. that allows its cardholders to make purchases and complete other transactions using their mobile phones. MasterCard has risen 55 percent in 2011 to $347.98.
Options traders are piling into bearish bets on Visa. The company’s December $87.50 puts had the biggest rise in open interest among all options in the past 30 days, increasing by 3,038 contracts to 3,812, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. January $72.50 puts jumped by the second-largest amount, rising by 2,976, reaching 3,782 contracts.
“This is one time when I am probably grateful for not having had the highest market share in debit in the United States,” MasterCard Chief Executive Officer Ajay Banga said last year in a conference call with analysts, referring to provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act that spurred the Fed’s debit-card rules.


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Barco and Kanex Pro have settled their patent infringement dispute, which began in February of this year.
A Dutch court authorised Barco to seize KanexPro’s MyTurn Wireless Presentation System during ISE 2017 in Amsterdam. Barco subsequently filed a lawsuit against KanexPro in the patent court of The Hague, alleging that the product infringed on its intellectual property with respect to its ClickShare wireless presentation product range (ClickShare button pictured).
Under the newly announced agreement, KanexPro has agreed to cease the distribution and sale of MyTurn in Europe and the USA.
Kanex Pro had not responded to a request for comment when this story was published.
Last week, ahead of this announcement, Installation spoke to Lieven Bertier, ClickShare global marketing manager. He told us that Barco believed that the Kanex Pro product infringed functional aspects of one of Barco’s patents relating to ClickShare: this was identified in the Barco statement as European Patent EP 2756668, Electronic tool and methods for meetings. The statement also alleged infringement of Barco’s registered European Community Design registration number 001312101-0001, also relating to ClickShare.
Bertier emphasised that there was a lot of innovation within ClickShare: it was developed by an internal ‘incubator’ group within the company for a period of two to three years before the product was announced in April 2012. The company holds over 400 patents, and keeping an eye on the competition is an ongoing process, he said.
He went on to say that wePresent, which Barco acquired in 2013 with its purchase of AWIND, is now a Barco-branded product. He sees ClickShare and wePresent as two “distinct yet complementary” offerings. “We don’t want to get into a spec conversation about ClickShare – it’s an experience,” he said, referring to the product’s out-of-the-box plug-and-play functionality. wePresent, by contrast, offers more features but needs to be configured before use. “Most users want a subset of the available functions,” he added.
Earlier this year, Barco commissioned research into the ‘digital skills gap’ between generations in the workplace, as well as users’ difficulties with presentation technology.


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South Shields Wilko staff say farewell as store closes after 27 years trading
South Shields branch closes after 27 years business.
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Staff from South Shields Wilko's marked their final day of trading on Tuesday, 26 September as the store closed its doors for good.
Wilko fell into administration last month and, at the time of its collapse, it had more than 400 shops and employed around 12,500 people.
Administrators at PwC were unable to find a buyer for the entirety of the Wilko estate, which meant stores started to close earlier this month.
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The South Shields store first opened 27 years ago and has been a crucial shop for many in the town.
Team member served the very first customer at the store on opening day and the very last customer of closing day.
A number of staff have secured roles at the former Jarrow Wilko's which closed earlier this month and is being transformed into Poundland with the hope a Poundland will reopen at the South Shields branch giving other team members opportunities.
Manager, Lee Stephenson, who worked at the store for 21 years said: "The final day of trading was very hectic, and bittersweet as it was reminiscent of the old days of Wilko when we would be ran off our feet for the full day.
"However we all knew it was going to be for the last time, so there was a few tears throughout the day.
"I would like to thank the entire team for all of their hard work and dedication, they truly are like a family and really care for each other."


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Imagine that your every move, every expression, every purchase could be tracked without your knowledge, with this information shared or sold for marketing to make you spend more money. This is already happening to us when we shop online, use a streaming service – and also, as it turns out, when we shop in-store.
Consumer group CHOICE has referred these companies to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for investigation into potential breaches of the Privacy Act.
So how is our data being collected?
While Amazon and Google are tracking us through clicks, searches and online purchases, these stores are using in-store video surveillance to capture images and videos of customers.
This includes using images from camera and video surveillance both in-store and from store entrances and car parks. This biometric data can also be shared to overseas third-party service providers for use and storage.
A survey from CHOICE has found that 76% of Australians aren’t aware that their biometric and financial data are being captured and potentially mined in this way. From the Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey, commissioned by the OAIC, 70% of Australian are concerned about their data privacy, and 87% want more control and choice of the collection and use of their data.
What could it be used for?
While Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys have all told CHOICE that their FRT is being used for “loss prevention”, this data could also easily be used for targeted advertising, which from their perspective is being used to “enhance” our shopping experiences, while simultaneously being a major invasion and manipulation of our privacy.
For example, when searching for something on Google, or buying something from Amazon, those companies can use your browsing and purchase history to build a customer profile in order to market purchases more effectively to you. It’s possible that the Australian retailers could be using our biometric data gathered in-store to gain insight into customers – for example, looking at our facial expressions to gauge reactions to advertising, sales and new products in-store.
While major retailers like Kmart factor in “shrinkage” into their profit margins, which is the percentage of goods lost to mishandling and theft, how they intend to use FRT to mitigate this loss is unknown. Why wouldn’t they just turn this footage over to the police if there was any illegal activity happening in-store?
Facial recognition technology is already being used by Australian federal governing bodies for monitoring and preventing criminal activity; including the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and the Department of Home Affairs. But facial recognition technology is wrought with biases, especially because the FRT is often trained using data sets lacking diversity, leading to wrongful arrests.
How is our privacy currently protected?
Currently in Australia there is no dedicated law on the use of FRT, but we do have some protection through privacy laws.
Under the Privacy Act 1998, our biometric information can only be collected first with our consent (with few exceptions), it must have a high level of privacy protection, and must be destroyed or de-identified when no longer needed. But how this translates into reality seems to be loosely interpreted.
Anonymising the data is another way to protect it, but this is unfavourable for companies as they would lose the ability to personalise advertisements and content to individual consumers. Faces can be digitally augmented to protect the anonymity of the person – but there is a trade-off between privacy and data performance.
In tests comparing FRT algorithms trained using computer-generated faces, anonymity was protected, but performance in individual facial recognition ability was degraded, compared to data sets using real people. It’s also almost impossible to avoid using real data, as even with computer–generated faces, the generations are still based on real biometric data that can potentially be linked back to an individual. This includes the generation of deep-fakes, some that look so real, even we cannot tell them apart.
Where to from here?
There are calls for the federal government to adopt the Human Rights Commission’s 2021 moratorium (temporary pause) on FRT until laws have been more clearly defined and safeguards put in place. Hopefully, the OAIC responds to CHOICE’s submission to investigate breaches of our data privacy by these major Australian retailers.
Until then, you could follow the example of American-born artist Jennifer Lyn Morone, who registered herself as a corporation, in an attempt (and protest) to realise the market value of her private data. While Facebook which made $167 billion in profit last year from our data – all we got in return was the use of Facebook for “free”.


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No new petrol and diesel sales from 2030 and no hybrids from 2035
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has now confirmed that the UK is going ahead with the 2030 ban on combustion-engine cars and vans. Which we talked about only a couple of months ago. The initial Government's target was 2040 but has been changed to 2035. This comes after experts said it would be too late for the UK to achieve its target of emitting virtually zero carbon by 2050. This new official date bringing the ban 10 years forward results from Boris Johnson's push for more determined action on climate change and a plan to create jobs in industries such as nuclear energy.
When we initially talked about the Government's plan to bring in the ban, new hybrid car and van sales were to end alongside petrol and diesel vehicles. Still, according to the new plan, the Government won't ban the sale of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Which can travel a significant distance on battery power before switching to a conventional engine for an extra 5 years.
It's all a plan
The ban on non-electric vehicles is a part of Boris Johnson's 10-point climate plan, which includes:
1. Offshore wind: quadrupling offshore wind power to 40 gigawatts by 2030 - enough to power every home in the UK, and supporting up to 60,000 jobs.
2. Hydrogen: having 5 gigawatts of "low carbon" hydrogen production capacity by 2030 - for industry, transport, power and homes - with the promise of a town heated entirely by hydrogen by the end of the decade.
3. Nuclear: investing £525 million towards new nuclear power as a clean energy source, based on "the next generation of small and advanced reactors", which could support 10,000 jobs.
4. Electric vehicles: a ban that we talk more about in this article.
5. Public transport, cycling and walking: promoting as well as investing in zero-emission public transport, making cycling and walking more attractive ways to travel.
6. Jet zero and greener maritime: supporting greener energies in planes and ships with £20 million committed to the marine sector.
7. Homes and public buildings: £1 billion investment next year to insulate homes and public buildings, using the existing green homes grant and public sector decarbonisation scheme - making homes, schools and hospitals greener, warmer and more energy-efficient, including a target to install 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028.
8. Carbon capture: an extra £200m invested in carbon capture initiatives - developing world-leading technology to capture and store harmful emissions away from the atmosphere, with a target to remove 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030.
9. Nature: protecting and restoring the natural environment, planting 30,000 hectares of trees every year.
10. Innovation and finance: developing cutting-edge technologies and making London "the global centre of green finance".
More electric vehicle funding and grants confirmed
While the Government announced the new date for the ban, it confirmed that there will be £1.3 billion for electrical vehicles charging infrastructure, £582 million in grants for buying new zero ultra-low emission vehicles, and nearly £500 million for the development and production of EV batteries.
It's time to start acting now
Head of Consultancy at Lex Autolease said: "This is a seismic step towards delivering on Government's Road to Zero policy and one we are fully in support of". However, it simply won't happen overnight. Petrol and diesel-powered cars accounted for 73% of new car sales this year so far. 2030 will come around remarkably quickly for businesses with large fleets of traditionally-fuelled cars and vans. With the new target, they'll have just over two replacement cycles to make the shift. Although more businesses are exploring switching to EVs already, today's announcement makes this transition much more pressing, and firms will need to start to act now."
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders chief executive Mike Hawes said: "We share the Government's ambition for leadership in decarbonising road transport and are committed to the journey". Manufacturers have invested billions to deliver vehicles that are already helping thousands of drivers switch to zero. Still, this new deadline, fast-tracked by a decade, sets an immense challenge. We are pleased, therefore, to see the Government accept the importance of hybrid transition technologies. Which drivers are already embracing as they deliver carbon savings now - and commit to additional spending on purchase incentives." He also cautioned the announcement of funding for EV manufacturing: "Success will depend on reassuring consumers that they can afford these new technologies, that they will deliver their mobility needs and, critically, that they can recharge as easily as they refuel. For that, we look to others to step up and match our commitment. We will now work with the Government on the detail of this plan, which must be delivered at a pace to achieve a rapid transition that benefits all of society, and safeguards UK automotive manufacturing and jobs."
Leasing and rental industry body, BVRLA, released a statement on the decision: "All [BVRLA members] are committed to decarbonising, but some face a much harder challenge than others. Many fleet operators are unable to source appropriate EVs for their needs. While others have a business model that struggles to absorb the additional cost and charging constraints of running EVs. 2030 is an extremely aggressive phase-out target, but one that will be embraced by many drivers and fleet operators. The 2035 extension for plug-in and full hybrids provides an essential lifeline for those facing a greater zero-emission challenge. Vehicle rental companies and van fleet operators will be very relieved to have this additional breathing space. Still, they will need clarity on exactly what types of hybrid are in scope."
The BVRLA added: "Now the Government needs to create the supportive environment that will enable fleets and motorists to step up to the challenge of decarbonising road transport. It won't be easy, and it won't be cheap."
How is Commerical Vehicle Contracts helping customers switch to electric vehicles?
Commercial Vehicle Contracts is helping its customers switch to electric cars and vans by doing what we do best. Offering the best electric car and electric van lease deals in the UK, with free Government EV grants and a hassle-free vehicle leasing process. Have you checked out the popular Renault Kangoo ZE electric business van? Or perhaps our Mercedes eVito finance deal? We know that our customers are most concerned about the prices of the electric vehicle deals. Still, suppose you lease instead of buying. In that case, you'll only pay fixed and affordable monthly rentals over 2 to 5 years, depending on your chosen term. You can then upgrade to the next electric car or van at the end of your contract. There are no hidden costs when you lease from CVC. We match our customers with the most suitable EV and leasing products. We let you decide on the agreement terms and help them drive away in their new electric vehicle in no time.
Contact us today, and we'll help you find your perfect e-car or e-van and an affordable EV leasing deal.


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Twitter is exploring the option of a paid subscription package for its users in an effort to boost revenue. Paid monthly memberships would give users a more powerful version of Tweetdeck with additional account management features.
FCB New York's latest push for Nestle's Poland Spring spotlights the achievements of residents in New England. One ad in the "Greatness Springs from Here" campaign features 88-year-old ambulance driver Edna Mitchell rushing a patient to the hospital to the tune of "There She Goes" by The La's.
Grey New York's new spot for Pantene's "Strong is Beautiful" push touts the brand's Gold Series products for African-American hair and features poetry and styling by Chuck Amos and music from Ethiopian-American singer/songwriter Kelela. The push will run across TV, digital, print and on social with the hashtag #StrongIsBeautiful.
Facebook has unveiled a new ad product called Collection, which enables advertisers to entice consumers with a video and display four related items beneath it for purchase. The platform has also launched split testing to enable advertisers to more easily trial different aspects of campaigns across various browsers and devices.
The decision by big brands such as Johnson & Johnson, AT&T and Verizon to pull their ads from YouTube is forcing media agencies to review their relationships with Google and urge the company to do more to ensure ads are not placed beside extremist or offensive content. "We do not see wholesale clients flocking away from the platform. But if we don't see Google do more, I can't say that won't be the case," Magna Global's David Cohen said.
Anheuser-Busch InBev has put its global media buying account into a review with the aim of cutting down the number of agencies on its roster. The brand's US media is currently handled by WPP's MediaCom and spent $1.68 billion on advertising in 2015, per Ad Age Datacenter.
The Tombras Group has been chosen as media agency of record for five of Darden Restaurants' brands after a review, replacing incumbent Neo@Ogilvy. The company invested $3.5 million in media for the five brands in 2015 and $4.2 million in the first 11 months of last year, per Kantar Media.
Agencies are getting creative in order to find the best interns for their programs. Space150 is using a chatbot to find this year's summer interns, asking those interested a series of questions before matching them to the right application opportunities, while Havas sought candidates for its winter internship program with an Instagram Stories campaign that asked users to create a Story on the platform that could sell a Chicago winter.
More than 1 million brands now advertise on Instagram, a 400% spike in the past 12 months, the company announced. The platform says it's developing a tool that will enable consumers to book appointments with businesses via brand profiles and also noted that more than 120 million consumers have contacted a brand via the platform in the past month.
Sears could be on the cusp of going under as it struggles with liquidity problems after years of declines and losses. If the company shutters its Sears and Kmart stores, it will be a significant loss for its agency of record, Havas, as the holding company is the sixth largest retail advertiser in the US and spent
$257.3 million on measured media in the US in 2016.
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Graphics card company Nvidia has closed a $40 billion deal and acquires ARM, a chip designer company based in the UK.
The $40B deal is as follows- Nvidia will be handing out $12B in cash and $2B when it signs the deal. ARM employees will share about $1.5B of Nvidia stock and $21.5B in stock to SoftBank.
CEO and founder of Nvidia Jensen Huang iterates that AI is currently the most powerful force of technology and has created a new computing wave. The acquisition of ARM allows the company to be in position for AI domination. Softbank CEO and chairman Masayoshi Son echoes the sentiment, saying that Nvidia is the ‘perfect partner’ for ARM.
The agreement is all but written; however, there are some regulatory hurdles the three companies must go through to make it final. Huang mentioned that ARM headquarters will still be based in the UK but will be expanded to attract researchers across the globe.


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Thumbtack’s Latest Haul Shows $1.7B Valuation
July 22, 2019 | Contributed by: Neal Polachek
Backed by one of the Valley’s premier VCs – Sequoia Capital – Thumbtack has now raised upwards of $500 million since launching in 2008. Yes, I took a second look, it was 2008. Way back when the gig economy was just emerging and the legacy Yellow Pages business was already deep into its decline.
I think of Thumbtack as sitting between TaskRabbit (acquired in 2017 by IKEA, since most of its tasks probably involved assembling IKEA furniture) at the low end and HomeAdvisor (part of IAC Corp.) at the high end.
According to the news release on the latest raise, the company will use the proceeds to accelerate its growth. We assume this will means a greater emphasis on driving consumers to leverage Thumbtack for finding local service providers via their mobile devices and acquiring more service providers to fulfill consumer demand. Translation. More spending on content strategies to reach “in-market” consumers and providers.
What is more interesting than the raise itself is the clear push to expand the product line. As Marco Zappacosta, co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack stated: “Today’s investment will allow us to accelerate our efforts to create the tools and infrastructure needed to empower small businesses to run and grow their businesses.” The release went on to identify areas of investment to include “offering deeper scheduling and payment integrations.” These are areas we’ve clearly identified as key SMB SaaS initiatives.
Just last week, HomeAdvisor in its State of Home Spending Report released data showing that average spending increased 17% over the prior year. According to the report, “2018 was a robust year for overall consumer spending on home services, with average home improvement spending at $7,560, average home maintenance spending at $1,105, and average home emergency spending at $416 — for an overall total average spending of $9,081 across all categories.”
The challenge, of course, is that given the hot economy and high spending, homeowners are struggling to find quality service providers who are not booked out weeks or even months. This poses some challenges for the marketplaces that offer “leads” as core to their value proposition. Hence Thumbtack’s push into helping service providers operate more efficiently. Finally, we wouldn’t be surprised to see some of this $150 million raise used to acquire SMB SaaS companies with existing customer relationships and related technologies.
One more thing.
I also found it interesting that the lead partner at Sequoia, Bryan Schreier, is also a lead partner for Thanx. Thanx is a company that helps SMBs acknowledge customer loyalty. This weekend I got an offer from Susiecakes — a great regional cake baking company — to celebrate its 13th year in business. I noted that the offer was via the Thanx platform.


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Today Epic Games introduced Fortnite Mega Drop, a new direct payment method that offers fans of the beloved free-to-play game a 20 percent discount on V-Bucks, their in-game currency used to buy dances and skins.
The idea behind Fortnite Mega Drop is actually rather simple. PC and console players will see a 20 percent drop in price, with mobile players having the option to either save 20 percent paying Epic directly or you can opt to pay more through Apple or Google. This move isn’t terribly surprising, given Epic has been fairly vocal about Apple and Google charging a 30 percent fee, so much so it’s laid out in the actual announcement.
Currently, when using Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google collect a 30% fee, and the up to 20% price drop does not apply. If Apple or Google lower their fees on payments in the future, Epic will pass along the savings to you.Epic Games
Unsurprisingly, Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store for violating their terms. And, following Apple’s response, Google also removed the app from their Play Store. But, this is also where things get rather interesting.
In what can only be described as a calculated move, likely stemming from Apple’s antitrust battle, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple and released a rather pointed video based off their iconic 1984 commercial.
Currently, it’s hard to comment on what the future holds for Apple, Epic Games and to a lesser extent Google, though we have seen some people applaud Epic for their stance. It will be interesting to see how this story develops and what changes it will have, something that will likely have a huge impact on apps going forward.


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Farmers’ market in Malvern
The final farmers market of 2015 will be brought to Malvern this weekend, with the best of local produce on sale.
The regular market, supported by Malvern Hills District Council will be open from 9am until 2pm along Abbey Road, Malvern on Saturday 19 December.
Stalls at the market will be selling everything from fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, puddings, cakes, jams and honey, wine, cider and juices, and not forgetting the all-important Christmas gifts.
Phil Grove, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council said: “These markets are a fantastic opportunity to support the growth and development of many talented local businesses. And to top it off we still have free parking in our car parks that day, so come along and enjoy the festive cheer.”
Please visit www.wfmg.co.uk for more information.


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TRENTON, Maine — Three months after laying off nearly 50 employees from its local production facility, The Hinckley Co. announced Monday that it is laying off 25 more.
The slumping economy remains the reason the luxury yacht manufacturer is cutting back at its Trenton plant. According to company officials, the latest layoffs will reduce the number of employees Hinckley has in Maine to 215.
Ed Roberts, vice president for marketing and product development, said Monday that Hinckley had hoped that orders for its luxury sailing yachts and its powerboats would increase at the end of 2008, but such demand did not materialize.
“So far, like everyone else, we continue to be pessimistic [about the economy],” Roberts said. “Sales drives our production volume. It’s as simple as that.”
Last October, Hinckley laid off 49 people at the same production plant, which represented about 9 percent of the company’s work force. More than half of the company’s approximately 550 employees work at Hinckley facilities outside of Maine. Hinckley has sites in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
In 2002, the company employed more than 700 people, approximately 500 of whom worked in Maine.
According to a press release issued Monday, the newest layoffs at the Trenton plant were effective immediately. The facility, located in a business park on Route 3, opened in 1998.
“While the launch of the new Picnic Boat [last August] has been the most successful new product launch in the company’s 80-year history, we have seen overall revenues continue to soften due to the general economic trend in the country,” Hinckley Co. CEO Jim McManus said in the press release. “Hinckley recognizes that to keep the company, and its Maine-based operation, financially strong in the long term, it is necessary to take steps to manage this extraordinary downturn in the short term.”
Roberts said the company is not considering the layoffs to be permanent. When the economy picks up and orders start to increase, he said, the company hopes to be able to ramp up its production schedule again.
“We’re quite hopeful we’ll be able to bring back as many people that are available in a relatively short period of time,” Roberts said.
Despite the layoffs, Hinckley has done relatively well compared with other luxury yacht manufacturers, the press release indicated. It said Hinckley would continue to work with state, federal and local agencies to try to help those affected by the layoffs find work elsewhere.
Hinckley Yachts was founded in 1928 in Southwest Harbor, where it continues to maintain a brokerage office, a service yard and other nonmanufacturing operations.