text:
Apple Launches Shot on iPhone 6 Campaign Just when Samsung and HTC announce new phones with 16MP and 20MP cameras respectively, Apple launches a new campaign showing off great photos shot with the iPhone 6.
10 hours ago, 3:05pm CST
$532.9 Million Not Enough for Smartflash, sues Apple yet Again Apple Incorporated is being sued yet again by Smartflash over patent usage. Already Smartflash won $532.9 Million in a lawsuit against Apple and now it is accusing it of reusing the concerned patent after winning the first court case.
2 days ago, 6:20am CST
$75,000 Apple Watch revealed When Apple's designs are not exclusive enough then there are 3rd parties who add gold and diamonds to the iGadget to make them precious. Brikk announced the Lux Watch, a diamond studded version of the Apple Watch.
2 days ago, 3:22am CST
Apple introduces Groups to TestFlight Service Apple has decided to introduce various groups to the TestFlight platform. For this purpose, Apple has announced a ew feature called TestFlight Groups for its TestFlight beta service.
Feb 13 2015, 3:28am CST
Apple Pay arrives on JetBlue The Apple Pay facility is to arrive in the sky soon via JetBlue. This is thanks to collaboration and cooperation between the two.
Feb 10 2015, 4:13am CST
iOS 9 is going to be Boring Apple is rumored to focus on stability and optimization in iOS 9. Apple is said to try to make sure that its latest iOS will have huge focus on maintaining stability and fixing bugs.
Feb 10 2015, 1:03am CST
Read More ITunes Stories
I4U News is feeding your Geek Mind. The Geek Mind is concerned with life, in all its different forms and facets.
The geek mind wants to know about societal and financial issues, both abroad and at home. If a Fortune 500 decides to raise their minimum wage, or any high priority news, the geek mind wants to know.
The geek mind wants to know the top teams in the National Football League, or who’s likely to win the NBA Finals this coming year.
The geek mind wants to know who the hottest new models are, or whether the newest blockbuster movie is worth seeing. The geek mind wants to know.


text:
Financial IT - News, Features, and Slideshows
Banks have been sending millions of Americans credit and debit cards equipped with computer chips to improve the security of in-store purchases.
More DDoS attacks on banks, cyberwarfare, and targeted attacks could well be in store in 2013, security experts warn.
Lessons from 9/11 have helped ensure the financial services sector in New York and New Jersey is prepared for disasters, and even shorted the time to recover when regional events happen.
- AOL acquires Millennial Media to bolster in-app and mobile smarts
- The 7 common mistakes marketing leaders are still making
- How Greenstone is uniting IT/marketing in the name of audience management
- Rakuten Marketing chalks up rapid Aussie digital advertising growth
- Paid endorsements get Xbox One marketer in trouble with FTC

domain: news


text:
|Bid||0.00 x 1800|
|Ask||0.00 x 1800|
|Day's Range||45.25 - 46.36|
|52 Week Range||37.79 - 54.00|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||17.70|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||1.48 (2.98%)|
|1y Target Est||N/A|
It was a big week for retail, and while retail sales were good, it was a mixed bag for earnings. Yahoo Finance's Jennifer Rogers and Myles Udland have a retail round up.
Yahoo Finance's Seana Smith on the stocks making headlines in intraday trading.
Nordstrom (JWN) generated revenue of $3.6 billion in the fiscal first quarter of 2018, which ended on May 5. Nordstrom’s revenue consists of its retail net sales and credit card revenue. In the fiscal first quarter, the company’s retail net sales grew 5.8% to $3.5 billion.
It has been a busy week for retailers, with industry giants from Macy’s Inc (NYSE:M) to Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) all reporting their first-quarter earnings results. With that said, there are clearly still gains to be had from retail stocks even as worries about Amazon (AMZN) and other online sellers mount. Investors just need to look in the right places and search for stocks that are expected to top quarterly earnings estimates.
Nordstrom’s (JWN) adjusted EPS (earnings per share) of $0.51 for the fiscal first quarter of 2018 handily surpassed the consensus analyst estimate of $0.43. Nordstrom’s adjusted EPS grew 18.6% on a year-over-year basis in the fiscal first quarter. Aside from higher revenue, Nordstrom’s adjusted EPS growth in the fiscal first quarter was also driven by lower taxes.
With the exception of small caps, major U.S. stock indices took a breather this past week. That actually bodes well for the bull case, in my opinion. With that in mind, let’s get a look at our top stock trades for this week.Top Stock Trades for Monday #1: PayPal (PYPL)
Nordstrom (JWN) stock fell 10.9% on May 18 in reaction to the company’s lower-than-expected comps or same-store sales growth for the fiscal first quarter of 2018. Nordstrom announced its first-quarter results after the close of financial markets on May 17. Nordstrom exceeded analysts’ revenue and earnings expectations for the fiscal first quarter, but a slowdown in same-store sales growth bothered investors.
Nordstrom Inc., known for its high-end department stores, reported first-quarter earnings that showed strength online but weak same-store sales across both full-line and off-price channels. “In off-price, sales were slightly below our plan reflecting outsized digital growth offset by Nordstrom Rack stores’ performance,” said Nordstrom’s (JWN) Chief Financial Officer Anne Bramman on the earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. Nordstrom is also opening a full-line department store in New York in 2019 after opening a men’s store in the city this past quarter.
As wages and transportation costs climb, retailers must be more efficient to keep costs down, say analysts.
Same-store sales jumped 3.9% on an owned basis vs. expectations of up 0.7% and the company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of 42 cents a share, beating analysts' consensus of 37 cents, and 26 cents from the same period last year. , Walmart reported stronger-than-expected earnings for the three months ending in April, which came in at $1.14 per share, 2 cents ahead of the consensus forecast.
Nordstrom's first quarter sales results disappointed Wall Street analysts, sending the stock down nearly 11 percent Friday.
Retailers issued a barrage of quarterly reports this week that for the most part reinforced the sell-side's prior ratings. Here are some of the analyst's reactions. JCPenney's 'Disappointing' Quarter ...
In the age of Amazon.com (AMZN), retailers need to give consumers reasons not to just shop at the e-commerce giant, and given that competing on price is often a losing game, many are opting to highlight their customer service and the shopping experience, instead.
It has been a busy week for retailers, with industry giants from Macy's (M) to Nordstrom (JWN) all reporting their first quarter earnings results. But Q1 hasn't treated all of these companies the same, so let's take a look at a few more big-name retailers that investors might want to consider buying ahead of earnings next week.
As the U.K. is dolling up for the royal wedding tomorrow, we may well regale in stocks of luxury goods that are being well-liked by investors. Understandably, after a robust 2017 and a splendid first quarter, U.S. luxury goods’ stocks seem poised for a great year thanks to optimism surrounding steady economic growth, lower tax rates, strong wage growth and a robust earnings season. Strong revenues registered by a number of luxury brands along with an increasing number of millennials spending more on luxury goods bode well too. This willingness to spend more can be traced back to high U.S. consumer confidence and consumer spending.
The market has been tough on companies that didn’t quite meet expectations this earnings season, and Friday provided further examples. Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) on Friday became the latest big name to run into that particular buzz saw, missing Wall Street analysts’ average projection for earnings per share with a tally of $3.14 and seeing its shares fall in pre-market futures trading before jumping higher once the market actually opened. This could point to the impact of rising energy prices on big industrial firms, and is something to keep in mind when the next earnings season rolls around in July.
The market has been tough on companies that didn’t quite meet expectations this earnings season, and Friday provided further examples. Deere on Friday became the latest big name to run into that particular buzz saw, missing Wall Street analysts’ average projection for earnings per share with a tally of $3.14 and seeing its shares fall in pre-market futures trading before jumping higher once the market actually opened. In a way, however, Deere was a victim of high expectations, because its earnings were up a lot year-over-year but down vs. the Street’s consensus.
Binging on luxury goods stocks looks like a smart option now, given a recovering economy, lower tax rates and business-friendly policies, high consumer confidence, and robust consumer spending.
U.S. stock markets ended lower on Thursday after President Donald Trump expressed doubts about the possibility of successful trade negotiations with China


text:
GMC Issues Wiper Recall, Lacks Parts to Fix Problem
July 15, 2022—GMC has recalled vehicles for windshield wiper failure, but the parts to fix the problem are not readily available.
According to ABC 8 News, GMC recalled 682,000 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs for wiper failure. Now, drivers are faced with the issue of their wipers not working compounding with an inability to get them fixed.
“We have announced the recall, but we are not executing it because we need to have our suppliers build the parts to begin repairs,” said GMC, according to ABC 8 News. “We apologize for any inconvenience. We understand concerns and frustration.”
As part of the recall, drivers should be able to get these wipers fixed at no cost. However, with this delay on parts, many drivers are left with having to watch weather reports before jumping in the car, or paying out of pocket to fix the wipers.
The fix can cost up to $1,000 because the issue stems from corrosion on the wiper modules of the vehicle that can cause ball joints to seperate.
Inoperative windshield wipers can result in an increased risk of crashes.
A GMC spokesperson named Daniel Flores gave ABC 8 News a recommendation for customers who are struggling.
“The customer should go to the dealer and ask if he qualifies for 6 year/150,000 mile special coverage,” Flores said.
Flores went on to say that if a customer does not fall under that special coverage then they will need to wait to be notified when parts become available to address the recall.


text:
For this last podcast of the month of January we have a few little news tidbits to make your afternoon:
- Apple and London Mayor Boris Johnson show up in the news again
- The UK's Guardian newspaper apparently had issues finding anything good to say about Apple, so they interviewed people who didn't work there
- Have a 12-inch MacBook? A new flash drive from Sony will catch your interest
- Google delivers a dedicated AdWords app for iOS
Text is below, or you can watch a video version here.
Hi, I’m Steve Sande from Apple World Today, and this is the AWT News Update for January 29, 2016. Our sponsor this week is [younity], a powerful cross-platform personal cloud solution for Mac, PC and iOS. Check it out on the AWT website today, or click the link found in today’s show notes.
Last week we had a short note about how London mayor Boris Johnson was supporting Apple’s position in the European Commission’s tax inquiry. Now Johnson and Apple are connected in another way, as it was disclosed in The Architect’s Journal that the mayor flew to San Francisco in February 2013 to pitch Apple on sponsoring the Garden Bridge, a proposed pedestrian walkway over the River Thames. The trip was reportedly financed by taxpayers, which is being considered a bit of a scandal considering that the bridge procurement process hadn’t been completed. Apple doesn’t usually sponsor buildings and landmarks, and the company says that it has no involvement in the project at this time. Perhaps Apple’s billions of dollars in cash reserves seemed like a good funding idea to Johnson.
A ridiculous report in the UK’s Guardian newspaper that said that Apple’s corporate culture is hindering recruitment and talent retention has been widely panned today, mainly due to the fact that the most of the sources interviewed by the paper have either never worked at the company or even applied for jobs there. A freelance developer whose company develops iOS apps described Apple’s work environment as “hostile” with long work hours and pressure from upper management, although he never applied at the company. Another negative cited in the article was Apple’s culture of secrecy, with one recruiter stating that since Apple employees can’t talk about what they’re working on, it hinders their social status. And finally, the company’s failure to provide free lunch and phones like other Silicon Valley was seen by the author as more proof that the company doesn’t seem to understand what it takes to hire smart new talent.
Users of the 12-inch MacBook who are searching for a flash drive that works with the device’s USB-C port can look forward to a new product from Sony that will come out sometime in February. The USM-CA1 features both USB-A and USB-C connectors making it simple for the flash drive to be used to move files from an older computer to the small MacBook. The series will come in 16, 32 and 64GB configurations, supporting read speeds up to 130MB/second. There’s no word on pricing of the Sony flash drive.
Do you work for a company that uses Google AdWords for advertising? If so, you’ll be glad to know that Google has just launched a dedicated AdWords app for iOS. The free app gives advertisers a summary of clicks and impressions over time, lets users start or stop ad campaigns, adjust daily budgets, and control bids for ad groups or keywords. This should be helpful for any advertiser who doesn’t want to be tied to a computer just to keep online advertising campaigns up and running.
I’ll be back on Monday with another edition of the AWT News Update.


text:
Throughout the summer, Atlas launched a website dedicated to Persona’s 25th anniversary, claiming that from the first in September, seven exciting secrets will be revealed. New merchandise and Persona 6 were quickly confirmed, but yesterday marked the release of the first anticipated reveal video. The feline mascot of Persona 5-and the newly appointed 25th anniversary event ambassador-Morgana took to the stage to congratulate Atlus on the well-received JRPG/high school sim franchise. Here is what fans will see under the “25th Role Playing” content banner in the next few months (if you don’t understand Japanese, please watch the video with closed captions enabled!):
The news revealed in yesterday’s live broadcast showed Japanese content. For example, all past Persona anime can be streamed in Japan via Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other services. This announcement includes the “Persona 4”, “Persona 4 Gold Edition” and “Persona 5” series. Persona 3 movies and Persona Trinity Soul (the first animation in the series, you may never have heard of it) are also accessible. In addition, a special orchestral concert celebrating the 25th anniversary will be held at the Tokyo Opera City Hall on November 21; your favorite franchise songs will be re-arranged classics. Tickets are on sale starting today, so if you already live in the area, you are lucky. Sadly, Japan is still enforcing strict travel regulations, but hopes that the performance will be broadcast online. Finally, limited-time items including the “Persona 3” theme watches are now on sale, so please check the catalog on the Atlus website.
Morgana stopped at the end of the live broadcast, using just one sentence to disrupt the next secret that was scheduled to be held in December. We have to wait a few more months to know what’s new in Persona.
Of course, yesterday’s video was aimed at Japanese fans, but what do you think the December live broadcast will show? Put your guesses below.


text:
July 25, 2018
Authored by: Marilyn Fish and Alison Loy
As of July 1, 2018, Georgia is now one of 16 states that have banned the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving. Under the new Hands-Free Georgia Act (House Bill 673), drivers in Georgia may not:
- Physically hold or support a wireless communication device or stand-alone electronic device with any part of the body;
- Write, send, or read any text based communications on such devices;
- Watch a video or movie on such devices; or
- Record or broadcast a video on such devices.
The Hands-Free Georgia Act does allow drivers to use a single button on a wireless device to make a voice phone call. Under the new law, drivers may also use a wireless device for voice-to-text communications and for navigation purposes. Drivers may use a wireless device in a lawfully parked vehicle, but not while the vehicle is at a stop light or in stopped


text:
In 2015, Aso addressed the use of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies for the purpose of funding terrorism and other crimes.
As the prominence of virtual currencies continues to grow, Nikkei... Read More
More names in the industry continue to believe in CoinPoint and in their potential to break through the market and emerge on top.
CoinPoint, which officially began operations in 2013, is an Austral... Read More
Though the blockchains comprising the Chameleon network will initially be limited to I/O Sidechains, they will incorporate a 2-way Peg to the Bitcoin Blockchain, that will allow Bitcoin users the abil... Read More
The Law of Bitcoin features contributors and legal experts from 4 different countries:
Paul Anning is a specialist financial services lawyer and partner at Osborne Clarke in London. He has a broad... Read More
Bitcoin Press Release: Backed by the Diamond Foundation and an array of price stability mechanisms and professional services, long term valuable digital currency DMD is a stand-out in an increasingly ... Read More
Brazil's Largest Independent Broker Is Launching a Crypto Exchange
The parent company of Brazil's largest independent broker is setting up a cryptocurrency exchange, Bloomberg reported Thursday.
Grupo XP, which owns brokerage firm XP Investimentos, plans to launch
XRP Shot Up 75% During Friday's Bullish Trading Session
The price of XRP spiked as high as 75 percent above its opening price at one point during Friday's trading session amidst a broader market bull parade.
At roughly 14:45 UTC, the price of XRP rose
US Congressman Drafts Bills to Aid Blockchain Development
U.S. Representative Tom Emmer wants to support the development and use of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.
To that end, the lawmaker announced a trio of blockchain-focused bills Friday,
Report Finds Cryptojacking Instances Jumped 400% In A Year
Instances of cryptojacking malware have jumped more than 400 percent since last year, a new report finds.
A collaborative group of cybersecurity researchers called the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) p


text:
The 100% risk free dining initiative which went into effect on Monday, April 28th at Friendly’s Ice Cream is a brand-wide implementation of the Great Memories Guarantee. It is a promise that will be fulfilled at the brand’s 340 restaurants.
“When I think about Friendly’s, I recall the memorable visits that I had as a child dining at my local restaurant with family and friends,” said Maguire. “Our goal is to provide current and future generations with the opportunity to enjoy our great food and ice cream treats while creating new memories of their own in an environment that’s both warm and welcoming.”
Read the full story and learn about the details of the 100% risk free dining at Friendly's HERE.


text:
Nokia has announced an extension to their exclusive partnership with Carl Zeiss, which will lead to more collaboration with future smartphones. The two companies have been working together closely and their efforts have seen the N8 and Nokia 808 PureView (set to launch this year) come to life, blowing away the market with advanced smartphone optics.
Jo Harlow, executive vice president of Nokia Smart Devices, had the following to comment on Carl Zeiss' contribution.
"Carl Zeiss was a crucial partner in the creation of the first PureView experience. The benefits of our ongoing collaboration will be more PureView innovation and further advancements in smartphone imaging in the coming months and years."
As well as PureView, the same technology has been used in the Nokia Lumia Windows Phone family. Since the Nokia 808 runs Symbian it's certainly an exciting time for those who await for Windows Phones with better quality shooters, especially as Nokia has since confirmed that PureView technology will be coming to Windows Phone since the demonstration was presented at MWC 2012.
Michael Kaschke, CEO at Carl Zeiss AG, followed up with some praise.
"When joining forces with Nokia in 2005, we wanted to push the boundaries of mobile photography. Looking back at seven years of successful partnership, we are proud of the innovations and outstanding products created in this shared journey. Today we are celebrating the extension of our collaboration with a new technology that sets another real benchmark in this sector."
What would you like to see from the two companies in the future?
'Zelter' for PC is the Stardew Valley apocalypse I didn't know I wanted
Zelter just hit early access, and it's a pretty cool concept. But boy oh boy, it's pretty rough right now. Here are some thoughts on this latest entry in the zombie apocalypse survival genre.
Xbox lead Phil Spencer talks Game Pass 'Platinum' and TV streaming devices
Could Project xCloud come direct to television without a console? Never say never, says Phil Spencer.
Our comprehensive list of all Xbox Series X Optimized games
A complete list of Xbox Series X Optimized games confirmed so far, including their plans to support 4K resolution, HDR, high FPS gameplay, ray tracing, and Smart Delivery.
Grab one of these great monitors for the Surface Laptop Go
Is the Surface Laptop Go's display not quite big enough for heavy multitasking? Check out these external monitor options for all uses and budgets.


text:
LendingTree Ranks States According to Average Down Payment Percentages Down Payment Amounts Decrease, Rates Rise as Housing Market Recovers PR Newswire CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 3, 2013 CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --According to a recent report released today by LendingTree, down payment percentages for 30-year fixed rate purchase mortgages are declining, just as home prices and mortgage rates begin to increase. The study reveals that average down payments have dropped 9.4% since May 2011. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130603/CL23976-INFO) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110518/MM04455LOGO) "As the housing market begins to improve, lenders are beginning to loosen their guidelines to more normalized standards and approve loans with lower down payments," said Doug Lebda, LendingTree founder and CEO. "Although a good credit score is still important to have, borrowers may have an easier time qualifying for loans after years of tight guidelines, especially as home prices rise and we see fewer homeowners underwater." An infographic released by LendingTree ranks each state according to the average down payment percentages offered to LendingTree customers. The top ten states with the lowest average down payment percentage for a 30-year fixed rate conventional loan are: 1. Mississippi 11.9% 2. West Virginia 12.0% 3. Alabama 12.4% 4. Kansas 12.7% 5. Missouri 13.2% 6. South Dakota 13.4% 7. Indiana 13.6% 8. Tennessee 13.6% 9. Idaho 13.6% 10. Wisconsin 13.7% New Jersey, California, New York, Massachusetts, and Hawaii have the highest average down payment percentages. Infographic link: http://marketing.lendingtree.com/pr/average_down_payment.pdf Data Chart: http://marketing.lendingtree.com/pr/Average%20Down%20Payment%20May%20Data%202013.pdf About LendingTree, LLC LendingTree, LLC is the nation's leading online source for competitive home loan offers, empowering consumers during the mortgage, refinance or auto loan process. LendingTree provides an online marketplace which connects consumers with multiple lenders that compete for their business, as well as an array of online tools and information to help consumers find the best loan. Since inception, LendingTree has facilitated more than 30 million loan requests and $214 billion in closed loan transactions. LendingTree provides access to lenders offering mortgages and refinance loans, home equity loans/lines of credit, and more. LendingTree, LLC is a subsidiary of Tree.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: TREE). For more information go to www.lendingtree.com, dial 800-555-TREE, join our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter @LendingTree. MEDIA CONTACT: Megan Greuling (704) 943-8208 Megan.Greuling@tree.com SOURCE LendingTree Website: http://www.lendingtree.com
LendingTree Ranks States According to Average Down Payment Percentages
Press spacebar to pause and continue. Press esc to stop.


text:
Shoppers unexpectedly reined in their spending last month as high street sales grew at the slowest rate for more than three years as petrol price rises took their toll.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said retail sales grew at 1.5% in January compared to a year ago, the lowest growth since November 2013.
Average store price rises lifted by 1.9% over the year, as inflation continues to rise.
Over the last year average petrol pump prices jumped by 16.1%, squeezing household budgets.
On an annual basis, retail sales grew just 2.6%, down from expectations of a 3.9% jump, the worst figure in more than a year.
The Office for National Statistics said that as a result of the low figure in January, the three-month trend had moved downwards for the first time since the end of 2013.
ONS statistician Kate Davies said: "In the three months to January 2017, retail sales saw the first signs of a fall in the underlying trend since December 2013.
"The evidence suggests that increased prices in fuel and food are significant factors in this slowdown."
Earlier this week the Bank of England said the UK's inflation rate hit its highest level in two and a half years in January at 1.8%, as the impact of a weaker pound and rising energy prices were increasingly passed on to consumers.
The Bank forecasts inflation will touch 2.7% later this year, adding that wage increases will not keep pace with that rise. Other economists say inflation will push as high as 4% in 2017.
Capital Economics UK economist Ruth Gregory said: "January's surprise fall in the official measure of retail sales volumes has brought the recent run of resilient economic news to an abrupt end. And the rest of the year is shaping up to be tough on the high street, given the expected squeeze on consumers' real pay growth."
IHS Global Insight Chief UK and European economist Howard Archer added: "The major problem facing the economy - and retailers in particular - is that it looks inevitable that consumer purchasing power will be squeezed ever harder as 2017 progresses.
"We also suspect that the labour market will soften over the coming months as the economy slows and business concerns and uncertainties over the outlook deepen."


text:
Online Photo Publisher 'Shutterfly' Sells For $1.74 BillionPrivate equity firm Apollo Global Management is buying online photo publishing company Shutterfly for $1.74 billion.
In New Book, Comey Blasts Trump as 'Untethered to Truth'In a new book, former FBI director James Comey blasts Pres. Trump as a mafia boss-like figure who sought to blur the line between law enforcement and politics.
L.A. Times CEO Under Investigation Over Allegations of Sexual HarassmentThe parent company of the Los Angeles Times is investigating allegations of inappropriate behavior by Ross Levinsohn, the newspaper's CEO and publisher.
Trump Wrangles With Time Magazine Over Person of the Year ChoiceTrump frequently brags about appearing on the cover of the iconic magazine. He has falsely claimed to hold the record for cover appearances.
Tom Brady’s Formula For Peak PerformanceIt’s not an accident that NFL star Tom Brady has remained among the best in the game from the playing fields of Serra High School in San Mateo to Super Bowl glory with the New England Patriots.
UC Berkeley Discovery Yields New Mark Twain Children's BookDoubleday Books for Young Readers announced Friday that it has acquired a Samuel Clemens-penned fairy tale recently discovered by Cal researchers.
The Rafu Shimpo, Oldest Japanese-American Newspaper, Faces Possible ClosureThe paper started in 1903 and survived World War II, when writers and editors were shipped off to internment camps.
Facebook's New 'Instant Article' Expected To Radically Change News ConsumptionAlready a vital distributor of news content, the social media website Facebook just got more powerful with the launch of Instant Article Wednesday.
Alternative Media Company Closing Down The San Francisco Bay Guardian NewspaperThe San Francisco Media Company announced its decision Tuesday to cease publishing the San Francisco Bay Guardian, citing economic hardships.
San Francisco Newspaper Brings Back Bicycle DeliveryBelieve it or not, some people still prefer getting their news on paper, so much so that one SF publisher is bringing back the 'paper boy,' delivering their print publication by bicycle.
Silicon Valley Execs Blast SOPA In Open LetterMany of Silicon Valley's most successful entrepreneurs and executives are warning of the dangers of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act...
Google Introduces Online Payment System For PublishersGoogle Inc. is undercutting rival Apple Inc. with an online payment system that lets publishers keep more of the fees charged for reading their digital editions.
Yahoo News Blog to Rely on Queries


text:
BOSTON – SAP AG doesn’t want to be building platforms, instead it wants to be “in the business of having technologies to help build businesses,” according to a company exec.
Marge Breya, executive vice-president and general manager of SAP’s intelligence platform group, told a group of media at the SAP Influencer Summit 2009 this week, that given the company’s experience, it has acquired a plethora of knowledge about organizations, their business processes and end user roles.
Breya said the Germany-based company can leverage that knowledge to “start serving up to a user about what he or she should know about an organization” instead of making the user seek out the information. The goal is about five years out, said Breya.
The theme of this year’s SAP Influencer Summit was clarity to reflect the new business environment and reality in which SAP, its customers and partners toil in today. Breya was part of a panel discussion about top trends of 2010 affecting SAP.
Breya said, in the meantime, customers can expect more offerings next year from SAP that help create that “informed executive” through on-demand business intelligence for real-time decision making and collaborative technologies.
The signs pointing to on-demand technologies are becoming increasingly clear but that doesn’t mean the software suite is going extinct, said Peter Lorenz, SAP’s head of small-to-medium enterprise (SME) solutions. Although SAP said it wants move away from its ERP-only image and expand into the SME market, those smaller customers still want “a solid ERP backbone” because they too have complex requirements, said Lorenz.
SAP has made investments to support an on-demand approach by ensuring it can scale to support users in the cloud, said Lorenz. The company has focused on how to “scale in” by focusing on service quality that users expect. It has also focused on how to “scale out” by creating partner programs that push on-demand offerings, building a good user interface and technology.
SAP said it would focus on making some of its line of business applications on-demand. Supply chain is one such vertical because approaches like collaboration are required in that arena but it would be difficult to do that in an on-premise model, said John Wookey, SAP executive vice-president of large enterprise on-demand.
In recognition of customers wanting the flexibility to either deploy on-premise or on-demand, SAP is offering hybrid applications. Wookey said the company is still figuring out where customers draw the line between the two choices. “The control aspect is still something customers think about,” he said.
SAP identified three technology trends driving its offerings: on-demand, in-memory analytics and mobile devices.
Follow Kathleen Lau on Twitter: @KathleenLau


text:
The most active corporate investors in blockchain companies are Google and Goldman Sachs, says a new report.
Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are based on the blockchain technology. But promising cheaper and faster processes, from industries from finance to insurance, it is also being developed for use.
according to a report by data firm CBI Insights published recently, just behind the 95 venture capital firms in the space, the number of corporate investors in blockchain companies hit a record high of 91 this year.
Totaling $327 million, there have been 42 equity investment deals by corporates so far this year. The $390 million for the whole of 2016 is just ahead of this figure.
having stakes in eight blockchain firms, the most active corporate investor is Japanese financial services firm SBI Holdings. Kraken, which is an exchange for people to trade cryptocurrency and R3, a consortium of banks working on new applications for blockchain technology are among the invested companies.
With investments in Ripple, a company that is working on money transfers using blockchain technology and in bitcoin wallet company Blockchain, Alphabet-owned Google is the second-most active corporate.
While U.S. banks Citi and Goldman Sachs are in fourth and fifth place respectively, Overstock.com is third.
“Big banks and financial services firms were the first corporate players to make direct blockchain investments en masse — unsurprising, given how Bitcoin’s underlying technology lends itself, both technically and in popular thought, to financial services,” CB Insights notes in its report.
From trade finance, to moving money are the ways that blockchain technology could be used which are being experimented by large financial institutions.
The report said that nine rounds totaling $267 million in disclosed funding to six blockchain companies have been raised by the 10 largest U.S. banks by assets since June 2014.
Consortia aimed at exploring and developing blockchain technology, on the other hand include many banks. Examples of consortia working with banks include R3, Ripple, Hyperledger and the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance.
bigger investment from other sources such as venture capitalists and so-called initial coin offerings (ICOs) have also been bought by the rising number of blockchain companies and interest in the technology.
CB Insights said that up from 138 and $545 million in 2016, 2017 is on pace for 188 equity deals worth more than $830 million, at the current run rate. The figure has been boosted by mega deals such as the $100 million raised by Coinbase and the $107 million raised by R3.
There has been rapid growth in ICOs, where start-ups issue new tokens, similar to shares, in exchange for funds. CB Insights said that for the first time in the second quarter of 2017, total funds raised by ICOs surpassed the total funds raised via traditional equity financing. According to Coinschedule, a website that tracks the offerings, more than $3 billion has been raised via ICOs.
“Blockchain’s consolidation may be tight, with blockchain companies failing at a higher rate than tech startups in other areas,” the report said.
(Adapted from CNBC)


text:
Matsuda is the president of Square Enix, a Japanese developer behind hit franchises such as Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts. Suffice it to say the company is one of the most prominent ones in the gaming sphere.
In a New Year’s letter, Matsuda shared his thoughts on all of this. He stated that “I see 2021 not only as ‘Metaverse: Year One,’ but also as ‘NFTs: Year One,’ given that it was a year in which NFTs were met with a great deal of enthusiasm by a rapidly expanding user base.”
He brought a lot of attention to the fact that the metaverse momentum was attributed to “sophisticated blockchain technology,” just before he reiterated the company’s strategy to tackle this new environment head-on.
“To address these changes in our business environment, the medium-term business strategy that we unveiled in May 2020 identified AI, the cloud, and blockchain games as new domains on which we should focus our investments,” he said, adding to the fact that Square Enix has been rather “aggressive” in R&D regarding these areas.
This is most definitely not the first time the company has been focused on creating that link between blockchain technology and gaming. Last November, they showed the first signals of their intention to explore the NFT space. They did this by offering collectibles and blockchain games to their consumer base. In March of 2020, they went ahead with their investment in an Ethereum-based Sandbox.
Matsuda believes in the fundamental contrast between traditional and blockchain gaming. On the matter, he stated that “Games have traditionally involved an unidirectional flow whereby creators such as ourselves provide a game to the consumers that play them,” and that “By contrast, blockchain games, which have emerged from their infancy and are at this very moment entering a growth phase, are built upon the premise of a token economy and therefore hold the potential to enable self-sustaining game growth.”
Matsuda also called attention to the tension between gamers or people who “play to have fun,” according to him, and the people who “play to contribute.”
The latter demographic, he said, was alluding to people who would “help make the game more exciting.”
Furthermore, he said, “Traditional gaming has offered no explicit incentive to this latter group of people, who were motivated strictly by such inconsistent personal feelings as goodwill and volunteer spirit.”
If Matsuda has anything to say about any of this, that stands to change as this year goes on. “By designing viable token economies into our games, we will enable self-sustaining game growth,” he said.
One thing’s for sure. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding gaming and blockchain technology, NFT advocates, and the gaming industry as a whole.
Ubisoft’s attempt at NFTs was met with considerable backlash, which they promptly took in their stride before carrying on with their plan. GSC, on the other hand, immediately abandoned their ideas and plans the moment they were hit with fan backlash on the matter.


text:
Story of the Day:
Kate Nicholls outlines Brexit deal
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has outlined the major points of the Brexit deal agreed by the cabinet yesterday. She told members: “I have just come off a call with No 10 on the detail and the team and I have met with ministers from BEIS and DEFRA. The following is a summary. We will go through this with a fine tooth comb to provide a more detailed briefing in due course. Chancellor described today’s cabinet agreement as a ‘decisive step forward’ in agreeing in principle the terms of our orderly withdrawal from EU and the broad terms of our future trading arrangement. We understand that there was not full cabinet unanimity but there is collective agreement. Full legal text (585 pages) has been agreed with the European Commission and guarantees EU citizens rights for those working in the UK – as per previous briefing any EU citizen entering before the end of the transition period would have a right to remain to gain settled status. There are new right for tourists and visitors between the EU and UK to move without visa or additional checks. Time limited implementation period agreed and confirmed – initially set to end 31 December 2020. This means all existing rights to work and trade will continue after we exit in March 2019. The implementation period will be use to work out the detail of the future trading relationship. The UK has a sole and sovereign right to extend the transitional period if we are not ready to move to the next stage of the new trading relationship – this is new text and is an alternative to entering the backstop. Crucially the UK alone can trigger this. There is a legal commitment in the text that both sides will negotiate in good faith and use their best endeavours to deliver the principles of the future trading agreement which have been agreed today – namely a free trade agreement for goods with zero tariffs or quantitative restrictions; a level of alignment and degree of facilitation to secure as frictionless as possible trade between the EU and UK and ensure in particular the smooth transfer of goods at Dover; a close relationship on services and investment which are specifically named as areas to be covered in the future trading relationship; sectoral cooperation in key areas such as fisheries, energy and security; consensus on a number of other issues to be included in the detailed negotiations. The legal agreement on the future trading relationship can only be established once we have left, but the political declaration gives precise instructions to negotiators on what is to be included and covered and the UK will continue to negotiate further detail on the political declaration text over the next two weeks. Next steps – this is currently a deal between the UK and the European Commission negotiating team. It will now be presented to other EU leaders at a special European Council on 25th November when all 27 heads of state must endorse it and when the final political declaration on the future trading relationship and free trade agreement will be concluded. Negotiations and detail on this will continue right up until 25 November and if the EU Council approves the deal, Article 50 negotiations will be brought to an end and the deal presented to Parliament. Anticipation is that the Parliamentary debate will be held immediately after 25th November and a meaningful vote will take place in early December for MPs to back or reject the proposals. The PM has presented this choice as being this deal or no deal or no Brexit and ministers said they were confident of getting support, but the Parliamentary arithmetic still looks questionable and the deal could still be voted down in December. Should this happen we would be heading to no deal contingency planning. In light of the importance of a deal for securing a transitional period and underpinning business planning and investment as well as securing the supply chain, we will therefore be working with other business groups and stakeholders to support the government’s approach. The summary text of the withdrawal agreement and political declaration seem to address the majority of our immediate concerns and the trajectory towards a smooth and orderly Brexit is very welcome. This is inevitably a compromise but this is a positive and pragmatic set of proposals which protects jobs and the supply chain and as such is better than the alternative of a no deal or disorderly Brexit.”
Young’s reports record Ebitda in First Half
London pub retailer Young’s has reported total revenue up 8.8% to £156.8 million in the 2 weeks ended 1 October, along with a 4.7% increase in adjusted Ebitda to a half-year record of £40.4 million. Profit before tax was 19.5% to £26.4m. The combination of a ‘well-invested, premium estate and the hottest English summer on record’ delivered 5.2% like-for-like sales increase in managed houses. It also reported strong trading in the first six weeks of the second half, with managed house revenue up 7.2% and up 3.9% on a like-for-like basis. The company stated: “Ram Pub Company (tenanted division) delivered an equally strong performance with like-for-like sales up 4.8% despite the hot summer having less impact due to a smaller proportion of outdoor space.” There was investment of £13.5 million during the period, a slight decrease on 2017 due to fewer acquisitions. Net debt was reduced by £15.1 million to £125.4 million. It reported a strong balance sheet with gearing of only 22.1% provides the financial capacity for further investment. Patrick Dardis (pictured), chief executive of Young’s, said: “I am very pleased to report another strong period of trading, driven by our well-invested managed house estate which has once again outperformed the wider market. Propelled by the hottest English summer on record, our beautiful riverside locations, stunning gardens and growing number of roof terraces helped to deliver 5.2% like-for-like sales growth in our managed houses, continuing our trend of exceptional summer performances with average like-for-like sales growth of 5.6% over the past seven years. Drink sales enjoyed a particularly strong summer with double digit growth of just over 10% in total and 7.4% on a like-for-like basis while recent investment in our hotel business saw accommodation sales rise by just over 18% during the period. Despite severe cost headwinds and ongoing political uncertainty, our expectations for the full year remain unchanged and, thanks to one of the lowest levels of gearing in the sector, we have significant financial capacity for future investment with a strong pipeline of acquisition opportunities.” Dardis added: “In the second half of the year, we will see further benefit from ‘SMITHS’ of Smithfield (Smithfield Market) and the Candlemaker (Cannon Street) as they continue to ramp up following their refurbishments although this will be partly offset by the closure of the Park (Teddington) and the Bridge (Chertsey) due to their planned redevelopments. We will soon be on site at Kidbrooke Village, where we will be opening a brand-new pub next spring, and we recently exchanged contracts on another freehold, the People’s Park Tavern (Victoria Park). Acquisitions remain an integral part of our strategy and our pipeline remains strong. Economic and political uncertainty remains unhelpful and recent statements from the Government have been contradictory in declaring support for businesses but at the same time promising to impose restrictions on immigration. Being based in London and Southern England, it is more than our cocktails that are cosmopolitan; 38% of our workforce are EU nationals and we will remain an inclusive business. Exceptional customer service is not something people are born with; it takes hundreds of hours of training and dedication, so I would never consider any of our employees to be “low-skilled”. The decision to freeze duty on beer, cider and spirits in the Chancellor’s recent budget announcement has been a timely relief to support our industry and our customers. Although we acknowledge the first positive steps taken by the Chancellor in modernising the business rates mechanism, our hope was for a complete overhaul. These are challenging times for the hospitality sector and the 3.2 million people employed within it. Our sector and the wider retail industry merit a rebalancing of the uneven playing field which sees property-based companies paying business rates which represent an additional tax burden not faced by the global online tech giants. The minor reduction in business rates for smaller operators and the proposed introduction of a digital services tax do not go far enough to redress the imbalance in the burden of taxation. In summary, we believe in long-term growth and the ability to deliver sustainable superior investor returns. We have a winning strategy of running a high-quality managed house estate with a small and profitable tenanted division, and we will continue to ensure that our offer taps in to current and future consumer trends.”
WorldSkills UK, the education and skills charity, has announced the appointment of Rooney Anand as the new chairman of the WorldSkills UK board. Anand, who is chief executive of the national pub retailer and brewer Greene King, will take up his post in January 2019. “We are delighted to welcome Rooney to the business at such an exciting time in WorldSkills UK’s development,” says Carole Stott, out-going chairman. “2017 saw the launch of our new five-year strategy, focused on a review of our governance as well as assessing our impact as an organisation and the market conditions we face going forward to diversify our offer. Rooney is an experienced leader, who has worked at the highest levels of business across the UK. He is passionate about the future for young people and supporting local communities and has developed a highly successful apprenticeship programme within Greene King that focuses on opportunity for all. I am sure his corporate experience will bring a new energy and business focus that will help the executive team to drive the organisation on to further success, helping more young people to build successful careers and making a positive contribution to the UK’s productivity challenges.” Anand has led Greene King for 13 years and is largely credited with turning a regional brewery and pub business into a brand-led restaurant and hotel operator, and a FTSE-250 company. He was named Business Leader of the Year at the 2016 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards and has consistently driven the business forward. “Carole has done an amazing job as chair of WorldSkills UK over the past six years, and I would like to thank her for her dedication and support as the organisation has evolved. Rooney has a fantastic background and breadth of business experience and has built a reputation for excellence and quality. I am looking forward to working together,” said WorldSkills UK chief executive, Dr Neil Bentley. Anand said: “I am very much looking forward to building on the great foundations already established by Carole, Neil and the team at WorldSkills UK to help inspire more young people right across the UK to get off to the best possible start in work and life and demonstrating to business the value of investing in the next generation of high flyers. Boosting the involvement of businesses and governments in the organisation’s work is key to helping raise the bar on skills and improve the UK’s long-term competitiveness. I am certain that, with the highly capable and enthusiastic team already in place, WorldSkills UK will go from strength to strength.”
City-based Vietnamese street food concept Hop is to open its fifth site next month – its first to have an evening offer. Founder Paul Hooper is opening the venue on Tuesday, 4 December at the base of the Leadenhall building as it diversifies from its grab and go status. The restaurant will offer an evening sit-down dining experience and cocktails alongside its daytime menu. The evening menu, made up of small plates, will include a variety of chicken wings and vegetable gyoza alongside steamed bao buns with a choice of fillings. The cocktail list will see Asian twists on classics such as the Hot Damn, Vietnam – a spicy margarita with a sriracha salt rim. The new 80-cover Leadenhall site will be Hop’s flagship venue. The bar is a Hop first while seating will be across two levels, with banquets and larger tables alongside small tables. Hopper founded Hop in 2015. Its other sites are in Broadgate, Coleman Street, Cullum Street and London Wall.
Papa John’s has launched its latest mobile app in the UK, with the company reporting higher conversion rates and increased sales volumes as a result. The investment in the technology will also support the brand’s network of more than 400 franchised stores nationwide. Neil Swanston, senior manager for digital product at Papa John’s, said: “Online orders have increased dramatically in the past few years. It is now important to ‘be where our customers are’ and better mobile access means we are now more open for business than ever. From the point of view of our franchisees, we are already seeing higher conversion rates and increased sales volumes following the launch of the app. The technology enables us to push marketing notifications and special offers plus information about new products to encourage buying behaviour, which will feed into our sales strategy in the short and long term. The app is another example of Papa John’s commitment and investment to support the businesses of our franchised network throughout the UK.”
Supper club WeFiFo has launched a £400,000 fund-raise on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube to recruit UK hosts and expand internationally. The company is offering 12.50% equity in return for investment, giving a pre-money valuation of £2.8m. WeFiFo raised £350,000 in angel investment in 2016 to launch and roll out its platform nationwide, while John Lewis Partnership (JLP) invested £100,000 in the company last year following its success in JLAB – JLP’s annual accelerator programme. WeFiFo enables home cooks, supper club hosts and professional chefs to “share their food with paying guests”. Launched by Seni Glaister, former founder and chief executive of The Book People, the service has 4,500 active users in seven countries. The pitch states: “WeFiFo is a two-sided marketplace, serving both chef and guest. Described as ‘Airbnb for the kitchen table’, WeFiFo enables those with a love of cooking to earn a flexible income from their food and offers diners more choice. WeFiFo charges a variable commission on ticket sales. In return, it offers marketing and admin support and insures hosts, their guests and their equipment. Hosts who need it are offered food and hygiene training and WeFiFo’s unique platform allows hosts to accept or decline bookings based on a guest’s profile. Events have taken place in hosts’ homes, cafes, pop-ups, supermarkets, shopping centres, parks, boats and high streets in seven countries. WeFiFo’s first target is to recruit 33,000 UK hosts and expand into three new international territories. We will use food to connect the world, one table at a time, with the aim no guest will be further than ten miles from their nearest WeFiFo event.”
The British Beer & Pub Association has expressed its “bitter disappointment” there will be no changes to the descriptors for low and no alcohol products. Chief executive Brigid Simmonds (pictured) said: “It is bitterly disappointing the Department of Health has missed this opportunity to give consumers greater clarity when it comes to the labelling of low alcohol beers. Changing the current definition of ‘alcohol free’ beer from 0.05% ABV to 0.5% ABV – as we suggested during the consultation process – would have brought the UK in line with the rest of Europe and other global markets. This creates the perverse situation whereby beers at 0.5% ABV produced in Europe can be sold in the UK as “alcohol free”, but British brewers brewing at the same strength must label their beer differently. This is discrimination and will create confusion for consumers. While we have already seen significant growth in the low alcohol beer sector, the government has failed to implement changes that would enable Britain’s brewers to further innovate and promote lower-strength drinks to stimulate this growth further. A decision by the Australian government to introduce tax reductions for ‘lighter’ beer has already led to growth of such beers to occupy 25% of the market there. Sadly, this decision by the UK government represents a missed opportunity to provide a similar incentive here.”
Leisure sector specialist Holmes Investment Properties and subsidiary Everyone Entertained has entered into a funding agreement with Hamilton Bradshaw Capital Partners (HBCP) for a capital raise of up to £20m. The business will open its first activity centre under the Everyone Entertained brand in Newcastle next year. Everyone Entertained plans to develop a minimum of 12 centres nationwide over the next five years, with each site offering a variety of leisure activities that appeal to different age groups. HBCP, which was founded and is now chaired by former Dragons’ Den investor James Caan, invests as a principal and with funding partners in companies seeking expansion capital. Alongside the capital raise, HBCP has also introduced several new members of the Everyone Entertained management team. The first centre is set to open in Newcastle in the second quarter of 2019. Everyone Entertained managing director Grant Wright told Insider Media: “With the leisure industry continuing to grow at pace, we are delighted to bring on board a partner that will not only provide us with capital to maximise the opportunities that arise but additional strategic experience to help expedite our business plan. We have an incredibly exciting leisure offering to bring to the market and look forward to being able to welcome customers to our centres in the near future.”
Ikea is to make its iconic meatballs available for the first time outside its stores by launching a home delivery service with UberEats. The offering will feature three set menus featuring Swedish comfort food alongside Ikea products such as scented candles, lighting and wine glasses. Ellie Pniok, commercial food manager of Ikea UK and Ireland, said: “Together with UberEats, we hope it helps us find the ultimate cosiness and makes staying in a reason to celebrate.” The service will be available from Friday (16 November) to Tuesday, 20 November to people living within 30 minutes of the kitchen in Hoxton, east London. Meanwhile, Ikea is partnering with Eataly, the largest Italian food hall chain in the world, to open a store in the Ostiense district of Rome. The 700 square metre, two-storey store will be accessible from Eataly, which has been based at the former air terminal site for the past six years, and the neighbouring Ostiense train station. Last month, Ikea reopened its restaurant in Nottingham following a £1.2m refurbishment to increase capacity to 500 covers, while Asda this week expanded its trial of a pizza delivery service in partnership with Just Eat.
16 Hospitality Group, which operates pubs and restaurants in the north west and North Wales, has added a fifth site to its portfolio. The company has acquired the freehold of The Old Hall in Frodsham, Cheshire, with the purchase of the 26-bedroom hotel and restaurant doubling the number of rooms in its estate. Edward Barlow, founder of 16 Hospitality, said: “The acquisition marks a doubling of bedrooms for the business and an opportunity to extend our classic food, drink and hospitality offer we’ve developed since 16 Hospitality’s inception three years ago. We are also excited to extend our family by 30 colleagues overnight and look forward to supporting them through our award-winning training platform, The Hub.” 16 Hospitality’s other venues are Cheshire pubs The Swan in Tarporley and The Partridge in Stretton, and The White Eagle and The Oyster Catcher, both in Anglesey.
Hard Rock Cafe is to launch a flagship site in Piccadilly Circus, London, featuring the brand’s new design. The 19,000 square foot, multi-level cafe will open in the Criterion building in Piccadilly showcasing an open kitchen concept with Hard Rock’s new design drawing inspiration from the capital including Victorian glazed tiling and the fabrics and colours of London Underground. The main dining room will feature a live music stage, while the cafe will feature memorabilia from UK artists such as Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, George Michael, Ed Sheeran and Amy Winehouse. Hard Rock International president of cafe operations Stephen K Judge said: “All brands, even classic ones, know that to stay relevant they must evolve. Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus will embody a modern evolution of our restaurants and a wonderful representation of the brand’s future.” David Pellow, area vice-president of cafe operations in Europe, added: “The addition of Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus further demonstrates Hard Rock’s commitment to the market and we are thrilled to share our modern vision for the brand.” Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton opened the first Hard Rock Cafe in Old Park Lane, London, in 1971. Hard Rock International operates 185 cafes, 27 hotels and 12 casinos in 74 countries. Last week it opened its second Hard Rock Cafe in Dubai at the city’s international airport.
Former Champs operator Danny Grayson has lined up two more sites for his micro sports bar concept in Sheffield. Grayson, who operated the Champs format with Punch, teamed up with local businessman James Dobson to launch Sport Shack in September in Ecclesall Road. Now they have applied to the city council to open two further venues – in Woodseats and Hillsborough. The Hillsborough location has been chosen due to its proximity to Sheffield Wednesday’s football stadium. Grayson and Dobson said both locations would give more to their respective areas, with one of the units being an abandoned charity shop. Grayson said: “All too often other areas of Sheffield are neglected when it comes to new bars. It’s not all about Ecclesall Road and Kelham Island. The reception to Sport Shack has been amazing. We look forward to bringing the same atmosphere and fantastic deals to the new locations.” Subject to planning permission, both sites are expected to open early next year.
Healthy eating chain Abokado, which is backed by Kings Park Capital, has launched its autumn menu as sales of hot dishes continue to rise. Inspired by Pacific flavours, the menu includes a new soup range and two new curries, including a vegan option. Abokado co-founder and chief executive Mark Lilley (pictured) said: “Growth in the popularity of Abokado’s hot menu means it now generates even more revenue than its highly regarded sushi offering. This has contributed to consistently strong trading through all seasons.” Lilley and wife Lindsay founded Abokado in 2004. It currently has 23 stores across London and employs more than 200 staff. Last month, it reported record profits for the year ending 31 March 2018. Profits increased 24% to £726,000, while site Ebitda increased to £1.7m.
The Alchemist, which is backed by Palatine Private Equity, will open its second London site on Friday (16 November). The company will open the venue in St Martins Lane, Covent Garden. The Alchemist has invested £1.6m in the bar and restaurant, which will extend over 6,966 square feet and accommodate 180 covers. The site’s interior design follows The Alchemist’s trademark “copper-cased wonderland” look, with interiors featuring a palette of amber, copper and red accompanied by unique and gothic artwork. Managing director Simon Potts said: “We are excited to bring the brand to Covent Garden. We’re looking forward to engaging with the local theatre, bar and restaurant community. The capital in many ways represents the country on a world stage as an international destination visited by millions every year so this opening is a significant one for The Alchemist as we continue our journey as a brand. This venture marks our commitment to London as we expand across the capital.” The Alchemist’s other London site is its Bevis Marks venue in Liverpool Street, while a third outlet in the capital will open in Old Street, Shoreditch, in March.
Harcourt Inns, the venture from former Racine chef patron Henry Harris and James McCulloch, owner of The Harcourt in Marylebone, has launched boutique rooms at its The Coach pub in Clerkenwell. The four rooms retain traditional elements of the 18th century inn in Ray Street, with the addition of 1950s furniture, sliding doors and white wall tiles. Harcourt Inns’ other sites are Three Cranes in the City and The Hero of Maida in Maida Vale. The company was due to open a fourth London site – The Harlot – in Chiswick this month but it will now launch in January as The Crown. The company said further acquisitions were expected.
Los Angeles-inspired health concept FoodWell is to launch in Manchester offering healthy food, coffee, superfood cocktails, workshops and group fitness sessions. FoodWell will open in a 9,000 square foot site near Spinningfields next year and has partnered with wellness platform Hero, which was founded by former WeWork managing director Joe Gaunt. Hero will operate the site’s purpose-built studio offering yoga, pilates and other fitness classes. FoodWell chief executive Christian Coates said: “We aren’t conforming to the traditional health club and restaurant sector but creating something new – something that promotes and enhances a real work-life balance. We want to encourage dwell time. We want people to come in for lunch, stay to do some work, attend a yoga class and have some superfood cocktails afterwards. Aside from the studio and restaurant space we will also host regular workshops and community events. We are partnering with Hero because of our shared vision and commitment to revolutionising and shaking the dust off the traditional approach to health and fitness. We are confident this is a partnership that will achieve great things in Manchester and beyond.” Hero’s first training club is set to launch on the ground floor of Moda’s 35-storey, 466-home build-to-rent scheme in Manchester.
Hollywood Bowl Group, the UK’s largest tenpin bowling operator, has completed its conversion of the Bowlplex estate with the rebrand and redevelopment of its site in Aspects Leisure Park, Bristol. The £450,000 revamp is the company’s eighth investment project of 2018. The 24-lane centre has been redesigned and now features new furnishings, contemporary American decor and upgraded music and lighting technology. The new Hollywood Diner serves gourmet burgers, hotdogs, freshly made shakes and desserts, while speciality house cocktails are served from a new American-style bar. In addition, the centre’s amusement area has been upgraded. Hollywood Bowl Group chief executive Steve Burns said: “We look forward to showcasing the upgraded look and feel of our ‘new-generation’ Hollywood Bowl.”
South Wales-based licensees Kathryne and David Thomas have acquired their second site. They have taken on The Poundffald in the village of Three Crosses, near Swansea, on the Gower peninsula. The Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars site is the couple’s first leased pub. They also run wet-led freehold pub The Joiners Arms in the village. The Poundffald will continue to trade during a £100,000 joint refurbishment that will include a new beer garden with heated booth huts, a new back bar and booth-style leather seating in the roundel, which was originally used to feed and water horses 150 years ago. Kathryne Thomas said: “The pub lost its way recently and the people running it kept changing. As a result, villagers stopped using it. When Star Pubs & Bars acquired The Poundffald and the opportunity to lease it came up, we jumped at the chance to take it on. We live in the village and wanted to give Three Crosses residents what they wanted – a great place to eat and drink.” Star Pubs & Bars regional operations director Caren Geering added: “We are delighted Kathryne and David have taken on the pub as they are good operators and, as part of the community, know what people want. We look forward to working with them in the years to come.”
Real estate investment firm Aprirose has strengthened its hotels team by appointing Kym Kapadia as chief commercial officer and Bastien Anouil as asset manager. The appointments follow a period of growth for the division since its acquisition of the QHotels portfolio for £525m last year. Kapadia joins from hotel asset management company Michels & Taylor, where she was a founding partner and board member for 11 years. Her 30-year career spans senior positions at major companies such as IHG, Marriott, Hilton, Le Méridien and Premier Inn. Anouil joins from Columbus Hotel Monte Carlo, where he was general manager. Aprirose chief executive Manish Gudka said: “Our hotel business continues to go from strength to strength making it the perfect time to develop our offer further.” Aprirose chief executive of hotels Tim Shearman added: “Kym and Bastien have a wide range of experience and strong relationships across the hotel market in the UK and internationally. I look forward to welcoming them to Aprirose as we continue to evolve the business and develop a market-leading team in this thriving sector.” Aprirose currently has 32 hotels in its portfolio.
Individual Restaurants has revealed plans to expand its flagship Caffé Grande Piccolino restaurant in Manchester. The restaurant, which had a £1.3m refurbishment in spring 2016, is to develop a private dining and events space on the lower ground floor. It will include two private dining rooms and a private cocktail bar and kitchen for larger and bespoke events. Work on the private dining room and events space will start in January following a £400,000 investment ahead of a launch in spring. The news comes as the Clarence Street restaurant prepares to reopen on Thursday, 22 November following a fire last month.
Yotel, the budget accommodation chain launched by YO! Sushi founder Simon Woodroffe, has secured its first site in Portugal. The company will open the 147-bedroom venue next year in Porto, close to the city’s business district. The hotel will house a sky bar and terrace on the ninth floor. Yotel chief executive Hubert Viriot said: “Having grown in double digits for three successive years, Porto’s hotel market has demonstrated its strength and aptitude to attract an increasingly wide variety of demand.” The project follows investment from owner and luxury real estate developer United Investments Portugal. General director Carlos Leal said: “As a long-term strategic partner of Yotel, we are delighted to bring such a pioneering hotel group to Porto.” Yotel said it was looking at further expansion on the Iberian Peninsula, focusing on major cities such as Lisbon, Madrid and Barcelona.
Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit is returning for its second year, after a bumper inaugural year. The event is a partnership between Propel and Think Hospitality, aiming to build a community, promote the sharing of ideas, recognise talent and define the future of eating out. Bookings are now open for the two-day conference, as the centrepiece of the January event series, taking place on 16 and 17 January at One Moorgate Place in London. The event will focus on marcomms strategies, proposition and concept development, the latest market insights, technology and digital developments, building strong links between marketing and operations, embedding a brand throughout a hospitality business and future trends. It is designed for marketing, development and innovation teams, as well as senior executives and investors wanting to better understand the latest marketing, innovation and development opportunities to build market share and grow. The event will feature more than 40 speakers, with a unique blend of senior marketers, business leaders and entrepreneurs, from companies including TGI Friday’s, YO! Sushi, Hakkasan Group, Casual Dining Group, Claus Meyer Restaurant Group, New World Trading Company, Wagamama, Hilton, Inception Group, Coca-Cola, Just Eat, Arc Inspirations, Novus, SSP, Be At One, Marriott International and Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group. As well as sharing successes from across the UK, the event brings international speakers to add to the conversation. The 2019 edition will feature speakers from five countries. These include Anders Houman, partner at the multi-award winning Victor Restaurant Group in Copenhagen; John Rigos, chief executive of New York-based Aurify Brands; and Australian entrepreneur Sarah Holloway, co-founder of Matcha Mylkbar, which became an overnight hit after posting one incredible shot to social media. Special guest speakers include Chris Miller, founder of the White Rabbit Fund and investor from the BBC’s Million Pound Menu; Martin Morales, Ceviche Family founder and winner of Innovator of the Year 2018; and Zahra Kahn, founder of Feya, a concept designed with Instagram in mind. Early bird tickets are available until Monday, 12 November at the special rate of £525 for operators and £795 for suppliers for the two days. Full price tickets, after this date, will be £575 for operators and £845 for suppliers. Group ticket packages are available when purchasing three tickets or more. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Anne Steele at Propel on firstname.lastname@example.org or calling her on 01444 817691.
The People and Training Conference, organised by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) in association with Propel, is open for bookings. The event, which will showcase outstanding people culture among companies in the sector takes place at Bafta Piccadilly on Tuesday, 20 November. Speakers will feature BII chairman Anthony Pender; Susan Martindale, human resources director of Mitchells & Butlers; Charley O’Toole, head of HR at Bill’s; Edward Barlow, managing director of 16 Hospitality; Kenny Blair, managing director of Buzzworks Holdings; Jamie Campbell, chief commercial officer of online training and staff engagement business CPL Online, which is now part of CGA; Rob Liddiard, founder of hospitality chat app Yapster; Joe Cripps, managing director and founder of Trail; Colonel Mike Tanner, commandant of the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre; and Linda Moir, who created the customer services strategy at the London Olympics and was director of customer services at Virgin Atlantic. Propel managing director Paul Charity will also talk to JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin about his “people philosophy”, touching on rewards, longevity, inclusiveness, training and applying his time to the front end of retail. Tickets are £65 plus VAT for operators who are BII members and BIIAB members and £200 plus VAT for operators who are non-BII members. Supplier tickets are £95 plus VAT for BII members and BIIAB members and £245 plus VAT for all other organisations. To book, email email@example.com
Propel Multi Club
1st November 2018
To view the pictures CLICK HERE
Upgrade Propel Premium and receive:
• The Morning Briefing 12 hours earlier
• Discount on tickets to Masterclass events
• Database of 1,100 multi-site companies
• Digital version of our Propel Quarterly early
• Video recordings of leading sector executives
To find out more CLICK HERE
The must read sector business analysis and intelligence magazine
To read our latest magazine CLICK HERE


text: 76.0% and 73.9% of the 18-24 year and 25-34 year segments, respectively, say online content is aimed at their age groups, according to Burst Media. Most (55.7%) of those age 35-44 also say so. 35.4% of those age 45-54 year say internet content is focused on people their age. The proportions of those 55 or older saying so are significantly less. 75.9% of those age 18-34 years say websites are designed for them. 55.2% of those age 35-45 say so. 36.9% of those age 45-54 say so. Only 19.9% of those 55 or older say websites are designed for people their age.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Time: 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Place: Living World at Saint Louis Zoo
Google gives hat tip to Perficient, Missourian behind first-ever computer: TechFlash 7 things
Send this story to a friend
Amazon appears set to launch its own video game console later this year.
If you’ve used one of St. Louis’ new parking meter technology, where you can use an app to pay for your parking, you can help St. Louis officials make the feature better by participating in this survey.
Jean Jennings Bartik, a northwest Missouri native, was a member of the six-woman team that programmed the Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer (ENIAC) in the 1940s. Funded by the U.S. Army, the effort was the first successful, programmable electronic computer.
James Varga, CEO and founder of miiCard, one of four fintech companies to recently graduate from the SixThirty accelerator program, was featured in a YHP magazine article discussing the beginnings of miiCard.
Perficient has been Google-Enterprise-Search-Deployment-Partner-of-the-Year" target="_blank">named by Google Enterprise the North America Search Deployment Partner of the Year. The title recognizes Perficient for its technical understanding of enterprise search and proven track record of deploying the Google Search Appliance (GSA) for customers.
Credit Karma, the online credit score provider and credit marketplace, has raised $85 million in a new round of financing led by Google Capital.
King, the maker of popular mobile game Candy Crush, is looking for a $7.6 billion valuation as it heads toward IPO.
Tech, Venture Capital, Startups, Real Estate
- Most popular
- Announcing St. Louis’ Healthiest Employers of 2014
- Spicer’s closing — this time for good
- Bradshaw, Donald lead 2014 class of Outstanding Directors
- National media preps for likelihood Wilson won't be charged
- Sold! Garth’s buy Selkirk auction company
- Tina Klocke stepping down at Build-A-Bear
- Anheuser-Busch InBev seeks financing for SABMiller deal
- Jury selection begins in dispute between Major Brands and Diageo
- St. Louis hospital ranks among best for heart program
- GM adding third shift, 750 jobs in Wentzville
A look at the day's business stories from media outlets around St. Louis
Marketing Communication Specialist Marshfield Clinic | Marshfield, WI
Director of Corporate Partnerships Saint Louis Football Club | Saint Louis, MO
Business Account Executive Charter Communications | Chesterfield, MO
Customer Service Representative OEC Group | Saint Louis, MO
Engineer III - Data Planning Verizon Wireless | Weldon Spring, MO


text:
A CAMPAIGN by Game to attract more female customers paid off over Christmas, helping the specialist retailer of computer games to a better than expected increase in underlying sales.
Game said the number of female customers surged by 28 per cent, which it attributed to advertising in women’s magazines such as Chat and TV Quick for the first time, and on Heart FM, the female-friendly radio station. The company claimed that women were also attracted by the advice offered by Game’s staff and the launch of products such as dance mats and Sony’s Eye Toy, which have wide appeal.
Game said it targeted women after data showed that they account for a sizeable 26 per cent of loyalty card holders.
Underlying sales in the UK…


text:
As the month of October draws to a close, Android makers are gearing up for another update with the launch of the snapdragon 8 series at qualcomm’s year-end summit.
After investigation, model 2201122G Xiaomi MI 12 appeared in bluetooth certification organization interface, the outside world believes that this is the international version of Miui 12. Accordingly, the national line version is 2201122C and 2203121C respectively.
Meanwhile, the newly released Redmi Note 11 Pro/Pro+ Indian version 21091116UI and 21091116I have also appeared, and it looks like the Indian launch is just around the clock.
Unfortunately, the Bluetooth certification doesn’t list much about the Mi 12’s configuration.
According to the early leaks, Mi 12 will be released at the end of the year at the earliest, with the first snapdragon 898 SoC and the main camera using the new Samsung 50 megapixels or 200 megapixels.
In September this year, Samsung released its first 200 megapixel CMOS ISOCELL HP1, with a single pixel size of 0.64µm, supporting ChameleonCell pixel synthesis technology (4×4, 2×2, etc.), and 8K 30FPS video recording.


text:
Michael Needler Jr., president and CEO of Findlay, Ohio-based Fresh Encounter Inc., which operates 100 grocery stores in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Florida, and a member of the Washington, D.C.-based National Grocers Association (NGA), which represents the independent sector of the grocery industry, testified Jan. 19 in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law on the devastating effect of food supply chain consolidation on independent grocers. This issue has been a major focus for NGA.
In his written testimony, Needler told the subcommittee “America’s food supply chain problems are a result of increasing concentration and unchecked buyer power by dominant retail chains who force suppliers to discriminate against independent grocery. The result is a system that benefits a select few at the expense of everyone else, including consumers, workers, and independent retailers and producers. Consumers have a narrowing range of choice to shop for the goods and services they need, entrepreneurs and independent businesses struggle to start and sustain businesses, and producers such as farmers and ranchers are forced to accept unfavorable economic terms, conditions and prices imposed by the largest members of a consolidated supply chain.”
Needler went on to observe that “grocery power buyers have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to further entrench their economic power at the expense of smaller competitors and producers. Independent grocers like me struggled throughout the pandemic to stock must-have products — such as essentials like paper towels and toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and critical packaged foods like canned soup. Meanwhile, large national chains have exercised their buyer power to demand on-time, complete orders, and in some cases to secure excess supply.”
According to the grocer, a key reason for this state of affairs is the lack of Federal Trade Commission enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act, a more than 80-year-old law that prohibits anticompetitive economic discrimination against independent businesses that Needler asserts hasn’t been enforced in 20-plus years.
“The rules prescribed in Robinson-Patman essentially aim to enable buyers the ability to buy goods at the same prices their competition does, so long as they are buying in similar quantities,” he explained. “What we are seeing in our markets is that our big-box competition has grown so large that they have the ability to exert considerable buyer power over the consumer packaged goods companies. They can dictate pricing, payment terms, product packaging, product delivery quantities and frequencies that are nearly untouchable to operators like myself.”
In his testimony, Needler maintained that the “tremendous economic power concentrated in the hands of a few grocery giants harms independent retailers and producers, the American consumer, and the U.S. economy in at least two ways … . It results in economic discrimination on independent competitors and it increases food supply chain concentration.” The economic discrimination against indies affects prices, terms and product availability, and has only been exacerbated by the pandemic, during which panic buying “decimated” grocers’ shelves. When suppliers couldn’t produce the quantities of products needed to supply all retailers with their requested volumes, the suppliers placed allocations and restrictions on product flow to retailers and wholesalers, but “they did not apply these allocations equally [and i]ndependent grocery stores did not receive their fair share.”
On the subject of supply chain concentration, Needler observed: “When the big grocery chains drive out independent competitors, it increases concentration in grocery retail markets. This increases the buyer power of the dominant grocery companies. But it drives greater consolidation upstream in the grocery supply chain as well.” He pointed out that this concentration was “particularly acute” with respect to private label manufacturers, noting, for instance, that there was now only one major private label canned soup manufacturer.
Needler added that as well as “reduced product choice and increased prices for independent grocers and their consumers, greater concentration can result in anticompetitively low prices paid to independent producers, such as ranchers and farmers,” as well as leading to a less diverse food system, and creating a food supply chain that’s “less resilient and more vulnerable to disruption and shortages.”
He continued: “We can win in retail grocery by offering service, quality, technology solutions, great shopping experiences and many more delightful attributes. However, when the rules of the game are not enforced, and those with the largest budgets dictate the rules of supply, then the smaller players will not be provided a fair opportunity to compete on the highest consumer decision point – price. Unfortunately, this ultimately ends poorly for the consumer as the smaller firms exit. Without true price competition, consumers ultimately pay more at the grocery checkout.”
Attributing the dwindling number of U.S. independent grocers to “the relentless economic discrimination and concentration imposed by dominant grocery chains with buyer power,” Needler asserted, “When independent grocers leave, small towns begin to fall apart, and our government spends billions trying to reverse the food deserts that form.”
He warned: “It’s too late after the independent grocers leave. Prevention is the only way to stop this erosion.”
Needler went on to take questions from subcommittee members.


text:
Nearly a quarter of us will stay in a colleague’s bed this Christmas!
A considerable number of people will end up not sleeping at home after the work Christmas party according to new research.
Accommodation website LateRooms has done a survey and found that although many people will go home to their own comfortable bed and bespoke mattress, others fill choose to stay out rather than face a drunken journey home on public transport or in a taxi.
Bed swapping at Christmas
23% of people will end up sleeping in a workmate’s bed, 16% said that they will kip in a toilet and 12% said they’ll sleep on a bus or train. Another 4% said that they’ll probably end up sleeping in the garden to avoid waking up their spouse or partner!
Lynda Matthews from LateRooms said: “”It seems as though the British workforce gets themselves into quite a conundrum when it comes to their Christmas party shenanigans.
“We hope that this year people learn from their mistakes and make sure they look at all possibilities before trying to struggle home.”
If you’re one of the lucky ones that does end up in your own bed after the Christmas do, ensure that you get enough shut-eye to help you sleep off the night by investing in a new luxury mattress from the Odd Mattress Company.
They specialise in creating custom sizes and extra fillings can also be included so you can get the perfect mattress to ensure you get a great night’s sleep all year round!
Featured Image Credit: iStockphoto.com / monkeybusinessimages (Via Custard Online Marketing)


text:
The 20-year-old actress and musician will co-host the annual fashion event, a national shopping holiday designed to inspire consumers to get out and shop for the best of back-to-school on this one day, with editor-in-chief Amy Astley.
Back To School Saturday is also expanding to be a month-long thing, beginning on Saturday, August 9th and continuing through Labor Day weekend. Back-to-School Saturdays will come to life in more than 125 malls across the country with 79 Simon Malls nationwide featuring large-scale events, Teen Vogue fashion presentations, editor appearances, major musical performances, celebrity meet-and-greets, custom brand activations, and more.
Kicking off on Friday, August 8th at The Grove in Los Angeles, the event will also feature a fashion show with a musical performance by The Janoskians.
The next day, Teen Vogue is taking over The Park at The Grove for a day-long celebration featuring a live DJ, makeovers, DIY’s, in-store events, and more. Nice!


text:
NEW YORK (AP) – Arts and crafts retailer Michaels Stores Inc. is crafting a return to public stock markets with its filing Friday for a $500 million initial public offering.
The filing comes six years after private equity firms Bain Capital LLC and The Blackstone Group LP bought the company in a $6 billion leveraged buyout. The company plans to use part of the proceeds to pay down some of the $3.49 billion in debt it had as of Jan. 28.
The Irving, Texas-based retailer said the number of shares to be sold and the price range for the proposed offering have yet to be determined. It plans to list the shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MIK.”
In its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it plans to use the proceeds from the offering to pay down debt, for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Bain and Blackstone will still control a majority of the stock voting power after the offering is completed, according to the filing.
Michaels operates 1,196 stores, including 1,066 Michaels stores and 130 Aaron Brothers stores that sell a wide variety of products for arts, crafts, scrapbooking, framing, home décor, holidays and children’s activities. Its store brands represented about 44 percent of its sales last year.
In its SEC filing, the retailer touts itself as the biggest player in the “highly fragmented” but growing North American specialty arts and crafts retail industry, with as many stores as its two largest competitors combined.
For the year ended June 30, the industry generated sales about $30.3 billion, according to Craft & Hobby Association figures cited in the filing. Specialty chains like Michaels represent about 39 percent of the market, with everything from mass-market stores like Walmart to independent retailers making up the rest.
For the fiscal year ended Jan. 28, Michaels posted a 71 percent jump in profit to $176 million.
Revenue rose 4.4 percent to $4.21 billion and included a 3.2 percent increase in revenue at stores open at least a year. The metric is considered a key gauge of retailer health because it excludes sales at stores that opened or closed during the year.
J.P. Morgan and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are the offering’s lead underwriters.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Also Check Out:


text:
Saturday marked the first day of Okanagan Pride's 10th-anniversary celebration.
In honour of the 10 year diamond anniversary, this year's theme is "Shine Bright" and Okanagan Lifestyle's latest release will help locals shine as bright as possible.
"We are truly excited to invite people to stand with us in an equal and inclusive Okanagan," said Okanagan Lifestyle's Co-Founder Markku Luopa.
The limited edition release saw only 200 of the "Equality" snapback hats made, with a 100% of proceeds going towards 'The Etcetera Youth Group' and 'The Gender Identity Group', which are two organizations in the Okanagan that promote equality and empowerment.
"It's very important for people to understand that they are heard and we're not just a company that is pumping out product," said Luopa.
"We care and we stand behind the message that we are a community-based company and we do care about everybody in our community."
The creative process behind the hat involved collaboration between local companies Nine Rising, Dinner to Design and Okanagan Pride along with Okanagan Lifestyle Apparel co-founders Jaclyn and Markku.
"We're very excited to launch a product that stands for something bigger than us. We believe in equal rights for ALL people."
Okanagan Lifestyle will be set up in Kelowna's Waterfront Park on Saturday, August 19th, during Okanagan Pride's Pride March and Festival in the Park events.


text:
JJB sued over rip-off football shirts
A consumer group has launched legal action against Wigan-based JJB Sports on behalf of fans who were overcharged for football shirts.
Which? wants compensation for shoppers who bought the Manchester United and England shirts during 2000 and 2001.
It is the first organisation to sue a firm on behalf of a group of consumers under the Enterprise Act 2002.
JJB Sports was one of a group of companies fined by the Office of Fair Trading in 2003 over football shirt price fixing. The sportswear chain was ordered to pay a £6.7m fine.
Which? has issued proceedings against JJB Sports in the Competition Appeal Tribunal in a bid to get compensation for customers. It is calling for shoppers who bought the relevant shirts during 2000 and 2001 to register a claim on its website.
The consumer group's online editor Malcolm Coles said: 'This case is as much about justice and fairness as anything else. We want to teach companies that rip off their customers a lesson - Which? has new legal powers and we will come after you.'
A case management conference will be held by the Competition Appeals Tribunal to decide how the case will proceed.
A spokeswoman for JJB Sports said it was not appropriate to comment at this stage.
Most watched Money videos
- Jaguar Land Rover opens UK's biggest state-of-the-art design centre
- Top interior designer reveals tips to give your home a designer look
- Porsche unveils its first all-electric sports car
- Audi releases a trailer showing off the brand new A4
- Aston Martin reveals the engine roar of its first SUV
- Man carries disabled daughter down stairs in Tui holiday 'disaster'
- Bugatti Chiron hypercar breaks new record at 304.77mph in Top Gear
- H&H Classics auctions the classic 1983 Ferrari 308 GTB QV
- Lego and Land Rover teamed up for new Defender made of 2,573 bricks
- How to invest in the new era of falling interest rates
- Are beaten up UK bank shares an opportunity to profit?
- Introducing the new 'unstoppable' £40,000 Land Rover Defender


text:
It's been six months since Microsoft Windows 8 was released and the controversial OS continues to garner both criticism and praise from both solution providers and customers.
On Tuesday, Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer for Windows at Microsoft, said that more than 100 million Windows 8 licenses have been sold thus far, up from 60 million in January. In January, Microsoft said about 60 million licenses were sold, so the additional 40 million have been sold over the last four to five months.
"Windows 8 is a big, ambitious change. While we realize that change takes time, we feel good about the progress since launch, including what we’ve been able to accomplish with the ecosystem, and customer reaction to the new PCs and tablets that are available now or will soon come to market," Reller said in a Q&A on Microsoft's website.
Related: Five Tech CEOs Under Pressure
One challenge Windows 8 has faced since its release has been the dramatic departure it was from previous versions of Windows, including the elimination of the familiar Start button. Solution providers have said that the significant training it takes to get a workforce up to speed on Windows 8 has hindered its adoption in many small businesses.
"For my corporate clients 95 percent will only buy Windows 7, even if the price is higher. They do not want to waste time on training on Windows 8," said Mark Ashe, computer manager at Mega Computers, a Portage la Prairie, Manitoba-based VAR.
With that in mind, Microsoft plans an update to Windows 8 later this year, code-named Windows Blue. That version will build on Windows 8 and include enhancements around display, battery life and performance, and also will include improvements sought by customers struggling to convert from previous versions of Windows, Reller said in the Q&A, though she did not detail specific changes.
"It will provide more options for businesses, and give consumers more options for work and play. The Windows Blue update is also an opportunity for us to respond to the customer feedback that we've been closely listening to since the launch of Windows 8 and Windows RT," Reller said.
The Windows Blue release should help quell the fears of some customers and partners, said Todd Swank, director of product marketing at Equus, a system builder based in Minnetonka, Minn.
"Microsoft is not unaware of the challenges customers are having. The company is full of very smart people. They do pay attention to what customers are asking, what the channel is asking," Swank said.
To spur growth in Windows 8, Microsoft is providing "unprecedented" investments and resources for solution providers to find, sell and reward Windows 8 sales, Cindy Bates, vice president, U.S. Small, Medium Sized Businesses, Distribution, at Microsoft, told CRN on Tuesday.
The new incentives, combined with the stat that more than 30 percent of desktops still run Windows XP, should provide ample opportunity for VARs, Bates said.
NEXT: Partner Incentives To Push Windows, OfficeCrossroads