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Last Updated on June 12, 2017 2:15 pm
Vehicle theft and odometer fraud are big business for criminals in North Carolina, but there are ways for consumers and vehicle owners to help prevent these crimes.
“More than 13,000 vehicles were reported stolen in North Carolina in 2015, including nearly 2,200 in Charlotte metro area,” said Colonel Steve Watkins, director of the License and Theft Bureau in the state’s Division of Motor Vehicles. “Car thieves act quickly, so it’s vital for owners to understand the importance of securing your vehicle and valuables.”
License and Theft Bureau inspectors recommend that drivers lock their vehicle and remove or hide any valuables from plain sight. If possible, park the vehicle in a garage or carport instead of a driveway or on the street. In a public lot, park in a well-lit area.
Drivers should also avoid leaving their vehicle running while pumping gas or visiting an ATM. Open or cracked windows on a parked car could also invite thieves.
According to law enforcement officials attending this week’s National Odometer and Title Fraud Enforcement Association Conference in Charlotte, the most popular make of vehicles reported stolen in North Carolina in 2015 were 1997 Honda Accords and full-size 2004 Ford pickups. Similar data for 2016 will be announced later this summer.
Odometer fraud is one of the top property crimes in the United States. There are 452,000 cases of odometer fraud reported annually totaling $1.56 billion in losses, either to the consumers or to the insurance companies involved.
“Buyers should compare the mileage on the vehicle’s title and maintenance records with the odometer reading,” Watkins continued. “If the mileage on the title seems hard to read, that could be a red flag.”
Watkins further advised that buyers check the wear and tear on the gas, brake and clutch pedals for consistency with the number of miles on the vehicle. He also recommended obtaining a vehicle history report from the seller or using the car’s VIN to order one on your own.
The DMV License and Theft Bureau works diligently to protect the citizens of North Carolina from any kind of vehicle fraud or theft. For more information, please visit www.ncdot.gov/dmv/licensetheft.

domain: news


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The New York Times Co. said Wednesday it had signed up about 135,000 paying subscribers to its new online service that offers access to Op-Ed columns and other premium content.
The new service, TimesSelect, launched Sept. 19, and is free to home delivery subscribers. Non-subscribers can get access to the service for $49.95 a year or $7.95 every month.
The Times said it had signed up more than 270,000 subscribers to the service since it began, and that about half of them are online-only.
TimesSelect marks the latest attempt by newspaper companies to bring in new revenue from the Internet, where many people are increasingly going for news.
Newspapers are facing long-term declines in their paid circulation, and more and more advertising dollars are moving from traditional print outlets to the Internet. The Times and other newspaper publishers have also been reporting higher revenues from online advertising at their own sites.
So far The Wall Street Journal, which is published by Dow Jones & Co., has had the most success in convincing users to pay for access to online editions. The Journal now has 764,000 subscribers.


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With new Lumia phones, Microsoft doubles down on emerging markets
Microsoft's new Lumia 532 and Lumia 435 further bulk up its low-end and help it reach new customers around the globe.
Roger ChengFormer Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
ExpertiseMobile, 5G, Big Tech, Social MediaCredentials
SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.
Microsoft is focused on the long game when it comes to mobile.
The Redmond, Wash., company has aggressively gone after budget-conscious consumers in emerging markets with cheaper Windows Phone smartphones. The world's largest software maker is wagering consumers in places like India will depend on the included Microsoft services such as Office and, eventually, move up to flashier, more expensive Windows devices.
Microsoft on Wednesday introduced the Lumia 532 , which will retail for $93, or 79 euros, and the Lumia 435 , which will cost around $81, or 69 euros. UK and Australian prices were not announced, but the euro price converts to around £60 or AU$115 for the 532; and £55 or AU$100 for the 435. The two smartphones undercut its predecessor, the Lumia 520, which was already hailed as a budget smartphone.
While Apple and Samsung hammer each other for market supremacy with expensive phones, lower profile players and upstarts recognize the potential for growth by delivering affordable phones that are good enough. Microsoft, whose Windows Phone platform is a distant third place behind Google's Android and Apple's iOS, will take growth where it can find it. India looks especially promising as the "vast majority of the country's user base migrate to smartphones from feature phones," according to researcher IDC.
"Part of creating the awareness and visibility for Windows Phone and Lumia is simply getting in the hands of more people," Jo Harlow, vice president of the phone business unit at Microsoft, said in an interview last week. "The affordable segment gives us an opportunity to do that because it's so large."
Windows Phone could use the help. In the third quarter, it held just 3 percent of the market -- actually a tick lower than a year ago -- according to Gartner. In comparison, Android dominates the market with 83.1 percent of the market, with iOS holding a 12.7 percent slice.
Microsoft needs to "scale Windows Phone as a platform, but I'm worried that the side effect will be that they establish the platform at the low end at the expense of never developing a compelling high-end platform," said Jan Dawson, an analyst at Jackdaw Research.
Ultimately, the company hopes customers -- perhaps a year or two down the line -- will upgrade to a smartphone like the Lumia 435 or Lumia 532. While the Nokia name remains strong in regions such as Africa and India, Microsoft is working to create a single family that starts with the Nokia line and moves up to the Microsoft Lumia line, making it the logical next purchase for consumers.
Seeding the market
Microsoft set the tone for its mobile strategy last week with the first product announcement of the year. Rather than a Lumia smartphone, the company introduced the $29 Nokia 215 at the Consumer Electronics Show. Running on the basic Series 30 platform, the Nokia 215 offers just a handful of services from Microsoft, including Bing and MSN, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
Despite the price, the Nokia 215 is as important to Microsoft as any flagship product. The low cost could make it an ideal first phone, especially in markets such as India or Africa, where price sensitivity plays a big role.
Apple, Google and Microsoft don't have access to such customers, Harlow said. Now with the Nokia 215, the population can finally get their first taste of Microsoft services. The company plans to add more Microsoft-branded services to further reinforce the connection, she added.
Still, Microsoft faces a significant challenge from an army of regional and local players offering affordable Android phones. Motorola has won critical praise for its Moto G ($180 without a contract) and Moto E ($129). Chinese vendor Xiaomi has leapt into the big leagues with attractively priced smartphones, while ZTE and Huawei have shown they can go low. Google, which started its Android One program with a goal of creating sub-$100 smartphones, has enlisted regional vendors such as India's Micromax.
"The issue I see though is that the mid-range from Android is getting better," said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at research firm Kantar Worldpanel.
Microsoft believes its budget phone experience is superior because the Lumia devices come with Microsoft services, and can be upgraded with the latest operating system -- something that doesn't always happen with Android. Windows Phone also offers tighter integration with apps such as Office Word and Excel, as well as its virtual personal assistant Cortana.
The opportunity for smartphone sales isn't just relegated to emerging markets. US consumers are increasingly looking to prepaid services, and are learning how much their smartphones cost when they don't sign a two-year contract.
Harlow said both new Lumia phones would sell in the US, but declined to comment on timing and availability.
Where's the flagship?
Microsoft has been relatively quiet when it comes to a marquee device. Its last true flagship product was the Lumia 1020, which impressed reviewers with its 41-megapixel camera when it launched in the summer of 2013. But despite such praise, it didn't sell well.
"Going after the high end is just too hard," Milanesi said.
But having a flagship smartphone is critical for any player. The Lumia 1020 raised the profile of its brand and demonstrated that it wasn't just Apple or Samsung that could pack innovative features in their products.
So has Microsoft given up on the high-end of the market?
Harlow dismissed the notion. "We are a portfolio company," she said, while declining to go into specifics. "We were one at Nokia, and we continue to be one at Microsoft."
Still, Microsoft could be in a holding pattern until its next-generation operating system, Windows 10, officially launches.
"They're waiting on Windows 10 to bring out another flagship, which means it'll still be many months until we see it, but it needs to be better than what they've put out so far," Dawson said.
Microsoft will provide details at an event on January 21.


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WASHINGTON - With most Americans overweight or obese and at risk of high blood pressure, policymakers are working to reinvent the familiar food pyramid and develop advice that is simple and blunt enough to help turn the tide. The new guidelines, due out every five years, will be unveiled in December.
The guidelines have broad impact, dictating menus for school breakfast and lunch, education material for food stamps and nutrition information on food package labels.
Critics say the nutritional education system is so politically influenced that it is ineffective.
This year, the meat lobby has opposed strict warnings on sodium that could cast a negative light on lunch meats. The milk lobby has contested warnings to cut back on added sugars, lest chocolate- and strawberry-flavored milk fall from favor.
According to the International Food Information Council, an industry trade group, 46 percent of consumers say food and health information is often confusing and conflicting.
- The Washington Post


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OUR proposes one months notice before telecoms change pricing plans
The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is inviting the public's feedback on a series of proposals including one mandating telecoms companies to give at least one month’s notice before changing price plans.
Members of the public have until December 8 to submit their views on the proposed quality-of-service standards and consumer protection guidelines for the telecommunications sector.
The proposals cover quality standards for fixed and mobile telephony and Internet access, as well as procedures for handling consumer complaints.
The OUR is proposing, among other things, that customers be given at least one month’s notice about proposed changes to their pricing plans or the terms and conditions of contracts.
It says based on that notice, customers should be able to withdraw from their contracts without penalty.
Meanwhile, the OUR says there should be no more than five customer complaints per 100 active subscribers for the service, in a reporting period of three months.
And it has also proposed that there should be no more than one customer complaint about disconnections or accounts per 100 active subscribers over a three-month period.
Meanwhile, the OUR wants up to 95 per cent of customer complaints resolved within 30 working days.
And the regulator says customers must be able to access their internet service 99.95 percent of the time over a reporting period.
The utilities regulator says its proposals are shaped by investigations it undertook, and consultations held with various stakeholders from as far back as 2010.
The OUR says the proposed document has been posted on its website.
WATCH: The Gleaner Minute


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Garland Products/Worth Gardening is urging retailers to secure stocks from suppliers, as demand for garden products soar – with Garland sales up 90% in the past month.
The garden care products manufacturer has reported a significant surge in sales; attributing the appetite to a positive Glee, as well as “developments elsewhere in the industry”. The company’s sales have risen by 90% in the past month and by 50% on the overall year.
Although delighted with the jump in demand, the company is keen to alert new customers to potential problems with availability unless they notify Garland or other suppliers of their future requirements.
It comes as B&M reported that, despite a 30% jump in sales during H1, its underlying revenue was held back in the UK as it ran out of garden products early in the summer. Like-for-like sales in the first quarter grew by 3.6% in the UK, but the retailer saw a slowdown during July and August after most of its gardening and outdoor lines had been sold earlier than normal in the trading period. The lack of products also limited B&M’s August end-of-season sale compared with the previous year.
Garland/Worth Gardening sales director Mark Dedman explained the current situation: “We have worked closely with garden and hardware retailers for many years and know only too well the difficulties that retailers have in estimating their future stocking requirements.
“However, it is in their interests to communicate their future ordering expectations to their suppliers unless they wish to risk being left high and dry in the spring of 2019. If retailers talk to their suppliers now it will give those suppliers the opportunity to invest in the necessary extra stock for the coming season. Retailers that sit tight and hope that stock will be available at short notice next year may be disappointed and this is something that we are trying to avoid. Garland has always invested heavily in order to provide its customers with products they require and at short notice. We are determined to continue with that policy but input from the retail sector is vitally important to help us in our aims.
“In spite of heavily increasing our stock and warehouse capacity for 2018, we were frustrated in having to turn away some new customers in March and, whilst we have invested further still in stock, the same situation could arise early next year if new customers leave it too late.”


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HTC Desire gets updated to Gingerbread, but not really
Technically, an official Gingerbread ROM for the HTC Desire will be available for download, yet it will not be pushed out to the general public due to a number of issues that the HTC developer team simply couldn't hurdle. HTC stated on its Facebook page that “certain functions may no longer be usable after re-flashing the ROM, including but not limited to MMS and SMS”, but the troubles with the update are not over just yet.
Now for the worst part, the official Gingerbread update is not meant to run on the US version of the HTC Desire. Japanese, South Korean and some German models of the smartphone are not invited either. Could this be a good time to give CyanogenMod a try?
source: HTC via Engadget
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tv Bloomberg Technology Bloomberg September 5, 2019 5:00pm-6:00pm EDT
pushing back on the initial share filing until 2022. forget facebook likes. facebook love?ook more on the plan for their dating service. significantly reducing its valuation ahead of the ipo. they are saying we could now target closer to just $20 billion. one company could be hit even harder. and its affiliates who own a 29% of wework. this is a software company using protista helped create -- , -- in new york
let's put this in context. you have been keeping abreast of the numbers. why the lower valuation? $47 billion is what the last funding round was at and now it is at 20 billion? common. are pretty investors saw how uber and life to performed earlier this year and they were projecting a little bit on we work and its growth. some growthking assumptions and are now paring down their expectations. carolyn: to get the perspective, kathleen, your perspective on this shares sale, was it that $47 billion was way out of leak or is it market sentiment and concerns? is it more to do with the perspective? >> i think most investors from
the buy side have experts were looking at these companies. we knew that 47 billion dollars was kind of a ridiculous number. we are seeing the company react to that with the new rumored range. the range at $20 billion at the may be -- if you look at piers, if it were valued close to that company it would be below $20 billion. we look at these companies as the poster child for the disconnect between private company valuations and what people are willing to pay for .hese companies this is going to spill over into
wework to make sure that public investors do not lose money in the wework ipo. people have been worrying about this ipo not only because of the valuation but the corporate governance. how intertwined the chief executive is, and the cofounder adam newman and why he has been selling $700 million worth of his own holding. >> it is a great question. from my point of view they are closely related topics. if you think about the disclosures that came out over the last few weeks since the data was filed, the news it created around everything from the lack of diversity on the board to the excessive control that adam newman is keeping, is it a surprise we are getting investor pushback? this changean liken in the ipo strategy to investors
speaking their minds ahead of the ipo. caroline: was there anything in the perspective that is out of whack with recent ipos? or recent levels of control by the founder? that is certainly not surprising nor is the diversity. >> the diversity took everybody by surprise. most people would consider them progressive and cutting edge and to have no women and very little diversity at all on the board -- now they have remedied it by having a woman post ipo but it feels like too little, too late. the other thing that jumps out is the ceo succession plan or the lack thereof. that adam newman and family will control the ceo process.
that is a critical responsibility of the board and when the board is stripped of that it sends up a lot of flags. there have been a lot of red flag surrounding this ipo but what do you think investors are valuation their evaluation on? square as we go toward an initial listing? >> the thing the companies try to convince the most is the revenue growth. because it is a tech company, they may watch revenue growth as opposed to -- that revenue growth going to 2024. that is pretty far out. adam newman met the analysts yesterday and said they are comfortable they will be able to achieve that. -- bycan maintain that
recommendation from the stock, it will be interesting to see if investors have a different outlook. caroline: your perspective having tracked recent share sales. golden -- goldman sachs was saying you should only care about revenue growth, or at least prioritize that over profitability. is this something investors are getting their heads round? are they willing to take the promise of jam tomorrow if they can see the revenue will drive profitability at some point? >> it is the rare company that can get away with that. we have studied companies in the size of their losses leading up wework is the and second most money-losing ipo in history after uber. the third one is life. -- lyft. these companies do not perform
well. this is not a good one for investors because it is very difficult to understand how to value the company because it takes us so long to figure out the business model. there are a few troubling trends. like theirng things contribution margin has declined from what it has been and the average revenue per unit is fairly flat. we would like to see certain metrics that show us that this business can really scale to the point where we can get confident in the profitability. and we are see that having a hard time with the unit economics, we will have a low valuation. next week we will see cloud flare. that is the a range same as the last evaluation round. the market will get sensitive about these high valuations in
the private market and whether they translate into the public market. caroline: amazing that with the s&p coming off its record highs, you would have thought this was a good time. thank you for joining me. great perspectives from all of you. thiel's data mining company is in talks to raise money from private investors. the discussions could delay its ipo until 2023. writere on this, this says may be considering all the concerns about the latest initial share sales is enough to keep them on the private market. what isseems to be happening at palantir. our sources tell us they are talking to a range of investors to raise a significant round
that would help ease ipo pressure and delay it for two to three years. caroline: you mentioned softbank. do we know what prompted this in any other way? it is a very secretive business. how does the whole business model square with the publicly listed business? >> that's a good question. it has two sides of its operations. it is credited with helping to capture osama bin laden and more recent more controversialy, it's technology has aided the immigration to separate families at the border. they have another side of their business which provides the same data minding a -- data mining and analytics for companies including merck and airbus. the challenge that palantir has had is they are always building
for the long term. this is an ancient company by silicon valley standards. 15 years old. that is two times the length that it normally takes to go public. this company has had a tightknit group of investors who have been patient and waiting for the big payoff. the challenge has been that they have not yet turned an annual profit. caroline: we will see how much longer they have patient investors. let's turn to another key story in the markets today. the trump administration has unveiled a sweeping plan to revamp the housing market. the treasury department would release fannie mae and freddie mac from government control. this week they were put into government conservatorship when the housing market unraveled. this company has decided to go microphone free with its
caroline: sonar unveiled three sonar unveiled three new products, including one that is microphone-free. this after google, apple, and amazon have come under fire for recordings.er >> today marks a new era for sonos. today, sonos goes beyond the home. we have been known as the leading home audio solution, and today we take everything great about sonos and take that to the
backyard and the beach with our new product, move. we are excited to usher in this era. an outdoor speaker is the first out of the home product? >> it was a request from our customers. the two things customers have been asking for is an outdoor speaker and a portable speaker. movies the solution to what customers have been looking for. it builds on our expertise around the home but allows us to expand to these new spaces and learn about bluetooth and battery life. it builds on everything we have learned over the last 17 years. emily: why not headphones? >> there are opportunities in all kinds of audio outside the home and this is what moves us to go beyond. we are announcing two new products for the home that help extend our leadership in the home. the 1 sl, which is like our
sonos one, and the next generation of kinect, called port. those are strengthening and building on the momentum in the home and we think there is a ton of activity outside the home in the right first step is with move as we move to a portable outdoor speaker. sl, withoutonos one a microphone. it goes against the trend. do you think consumers don't want to some but he listening to them in their living room or don't want that capability? want to do is to provide freedom of choice. we have a set of products and think it is important to give customers that choice. we have heard from some customers who are uncomfortable with microphones in their home. we want to make sure we have options for those who do want to use voice assistants. we want to make sure that we have an option for those who are not comfortable with
microphones. that is really what we are delivering with the one sl. emily: any progress on integrating siri? >> we are very open to all of the voice assistants out there today. we would welcome that. we have not seen apple putting siri and other products but we remain open to incorporating that when apple is ready. emily: when cooperating with big tech partners, do you have concerns about them stealing your business? >> we have competed and partnered with the big tech companies for about a decade th around the streaming services and the voice assistants. we have seen a lot of tech companies jump into the space with competitive products. we have grown through the new entrants entering our category. we have invented the space. it is something we have to navigate, but if you look at the period of 16 years of us as a
private company and over a year as a public company, we have been able to navigate some tricky waters at times. oft is the special sauce sonos, building a solution for something that sounds great, provides an easy experience but also freedom of choice. as -- for providing customers that freedom to choose whatever service they want and that has set us apart. emily: this is something that folks have talked about for years, but with apple struggling in the home speaker space. the homepod is not what apple would like it to be. they like to be the best but are not dominating the market. would you ever sell to a company like apple? >> i try to stay focused on that we are launching the best product possible for our customers. that is what we are doing with move and one fl.
we have had a year public now where we have done what we said we would from a topline and bottom-line perspective. we are feeling good from an independent and public company that offers a lot of freedom of choice. emily: apple, amazon, and google are under fire for having humans listening to the conversations that customers are having with their voice assistants. how badly do you think these companies overstepped? that at the end of the day, every tech company has a responsibility to treat its customer's information the right way. this has been an important lesson for some companies in making sure they are treating the information with the respect it deserves. whether you are acquiring it through voice or email or some other way, the duty as a tech company is to make sure that you are using that data the right way and are being transparent
with customers about how you are using the data and who might be accessing it. that is what we have tried to do in our privacy statements. i think the industry can do a better job of that and we are trying to lead the way. therene: the sonos ceo speaking with emily chang. apple could be playing catch-up with other smart phone makers in a big way. we'll discuss, next. @technology.itter, tiktok.s out on @ this is bloomberg. ♪
weapon iscret apparently still the videogame snake. apple is developing in-screen fingerprint technology for its iphone. bloomberg has learned it could be available in next year's phone. apple has had fingerprints cranny -- scanning since 2013 but the new one would be behind the screen. it would also allow a larger display. anothert good to have screen? >> it is good to have both types of biometric technologies. there are lots of pros to face id but also cons. there are pros to touch id and also cons. some of the features are better at different times of day.
if you just wake up and get out of bed it is hard to use face id. with touch id it is easier. if you have the best of both worlds you will have a better chance of getting the phone unlocked securely. caroline: are you trying to insinuate we are unrecognizable first thing in the morning? i can't believe you. >> i think that is what i'm trying to say. [laughter] caroline: they are behind the curve on this one? >> they are a little behind the curve given that some andrade -- android phones from huawei and samsung have been doing this for several months, but apple was the first to take fingerprint scanning at all to mainstream with the 2013 launch of the iphone 5s. i remember that five or six years ago now and it was extremely impressive. when apple was getting rid of touch id, that was a surprise because touch id was working so well. now we will see how this new generation ends up working this
year or the year after. caroline: talking a new generation and competition, an other thaner -- none samsung. tomorrow we get the foldable phone on sale, but only in south korea. >> yes. unsurprisingly i don't have one to test this time around. samsung is launching the new version in the fall. the redesigned model tomorrow and south korea. we are told it will launch around the 27th of this month in the u.s. it is right on the backdrop of the iphone launching. the benefit is they are hiding behind the iphone. if it is working how it is supposed to work, they will miss out on some of those marketing dollars given that all eyes will be on apple. caroline: i remember you bringing us an assessment of how it wasn't quite working as it should have been in the original version. a seller isw big
this going to be? or is it more of a showoff flagship product? >> i was shocked when you said in that previous segment that the nokia phone got 10 million sales. if they can get 10 million of that, and i know it is cheap, i think samsung can get quite a bit. i still don't think it is ready for prime time. caroline: we all love a bit of vintage, mark. it is great to get your expertise on all the latest gadgets. coming up, tough on big tech. from google to facebook and beyond, regulators are taking aim at silicon valley. we'll discuss, next. later, grabbing ai. how these asian powerhouse startup grabs are making it easier to get ai everywhere. this is bloomberg. ♪ devices are like doorways
that could allow hackers into your home. and like all doors, they're safer when locked. that's why you need xfinity xfi. with the xfi gateway, devices connected to your homes wifi are protected. which helps keep people outside from accessing your passwords, credit cards and cameras. and people inside from accidentally visiting sites that aren't secure. and if someone trys we'll let you know. xfi advanced security. if it's connected, it's protected. call, click, or visit a store today.
caroline: this is "bloomberg technology p a cup -- "bloomberg technology." tuesday, google agreed to pay to settle claims the company violated children's privacy laws. people will go to the u.s. federal trade commission, but that ruling has not gone over smoothly with some u.s. lawmakers area a congressman from rhode island blasted the agreement in a series of tweets saying, just a few weeks after ae ftc gave facebook sweetheart deal, they are giving google the same family and friends treatment. he added that knows ingle executive is being held
accountable and the settlement does nothing but add an incentive for google to break the law in the future. joining us, a partner who specializes in antitrust matters. great to have you with us, maureen. what do you make of the criticism first and foremost ? at the fine is not very much >> the fine is only one part of the remedy in any of these cases -- the facebook case, the google case, and there are extensive provisions that require google what theve and beyond children's privacy act requires. now they are having to screen content and to go ahead and parental notification and consent provisions on that kind of content. is onlythat the fine
one part of the equation. you really have to look at the conduct obligations that are being imposed going ahead. caroline: the u.s. led the charge in the suspect. do you think other geographies might look into the child part of the equation, if there are any other laws being broken or not abided by in quite the way they would like in other parts of the world? >> it is certainly possible. each country might have a different approach to children's privacy. the way congress struck the balance of the children's online privacy protection act is to have parents make the decision if information about their children could be collected through online sites and .ervices in that way, what they are trying to balance is the incentive to create child directed content against the
desire to make sure children are being protected, and that is the way we have struck the balance in the u.s., through congress big decisions. caroline: some lawmakers not always thrilled with policies we heardy the ftc, as from svitolina. he mentioned the sweetheart deal for facebook. that sweetheart deal was a $5 significant, so a chunk of change, even though it pales in comparison of facebook's overall revenue. what do you make of that ruling when it comes to privacy and how it changes the mode of conduct and the way that business practices will on full for the business is going forward? >> the facebook order, the settlement is quite extensive, and it required facebook to create new types of oversight ,nd monitoring and reporting having obligations going up to the board level. it is quite extensive, and of course, a $5 billion fine dwarfs
any other privacy find that has been imposed really anywhere, so i would not call it a sweetheart deal. dwarfs$5 billion fine any other privacy fine that has been imposed. i think it sends a strong message. caroline: do you think tech companies are getting the message that rather than having to respond to regulations, they can in some part get ahead of the curve and ensure that they are abiding by the letter of the of and the general meaning the law before they are hounded by you, for example? >> i think you are right about that. i think they are paying even more attention to some of these issues. a lot of the companies have paid close attention to some of these issues, but i think it has really become a board level issue in a lot of companies because there's not just the impact, you know, from an investigation and a fine, whatever the fine may be or what the obligations going forward are.
also a reputational impact on these companies, so i think they care about that. i also think it highlights the the privacy laws that we have in the u.s. -- the federal trade commission has done a good job with the law that has been given and congress did pass the children's online privacy protection act, but i think it is highlighting the desire to have maybe an additional federal privacy law that would give additional guidance to consumers and enforcers and industry itself. caroline: do you think we are coming upon a time when more laws will be written? can we get bipartisan approach to privacy, size of technology, how it affects competition? we are certainly seeing senate hearings going on, but do you think policy will be enacted? >> i think it's possible we could get a privacy law on a
bipartisan basis. it would have to be on a bipartisan basis to get one past , but i think there is a strong interest in congress in moving ahead on this. it is really coming from a lot of different areas of concern where i think industry wants more guidance. i think regulators want more tools. i think consumers are looking for better protections. of course, we have the impact of a looming california law going into effect at the turn of the year which may then effectively set a federal standard except or the fact that other states are looking at this, too, so we may be faced with the situation of conflicting laws that will actually make it harder to determine what is the right course moving ahead. ftcline: it feels like the
and regulators are spoiling to use their teeth, but do you think they have been behind the curve? i used to report in europe often about how the eu was leading the charge when it came to regulatory perspective over big tech. has the u.s. been behind the curve responding to public outcry? >> i would disagree with that. in europe, they certainly have put regulations in place, but the question is how much they enforce those regulations, whereas in the u.s., we have the federal trade commission act. it is a general act, but the ftc .as used it fairly effectively more thans brought security cases, so it has been active on the enforcement front.
the ftc is looking for additional tools now. certainly the internet has grown, some of these issues have grown along with it. privacy concerns along with it, to denigrateot what has been done so far, while at knowledge and that may be congress does need to step up, has not passed a general privacy law, and consider if they could come to an agreement and enact a bipartisan general privacy law. caroline: going forward with general privacy being the one thing focused on, what about more broad -- have you thought of more broadly about how we will see -- about if we will see the competition aspect building up? i know you are more about antitrust, but is there anything we could see particularly with a change of president, if we might big tech? ct on
>> there is activity now at the department of justice and at the federal trade commission to a hard look atke big tech. the agencies have looked before. when you look back, there are many cases that have been brought. antitrust has never looked at tech issues before. they certainly have. i think that the question, though, is we have our antitrust laws. they have been enforced by the court, and we have a consumer welfare standard in the u.s. the question is -- are these companies in gauging in behavior that is anti-competitive and that ultimately makes consumers were soft? not competitors worse off but consumers worse off. i think it is pretty clear that is the standard they are going to hold any government enforcement action too. i think it is important to
always see, can we improve our tools? are there any competitive behaviors we are missing after the ultimate goal of antitrust law is to ask if consumers are being well served. , unless congress changes the law, will continue to hold to that standard. caroline: great to get your expertise and your experience. let's switch gears to southeast asia because a tech startup is looking to invest $150 million in ai over the next year as it seeks to expand business beyond food delivery and ride-hailing. grabbed is working with microsoft to explore mobile, facial, and image recognition. speaking exclusively of bloomberg's sooner than you think conference, the cofounder explained where that money is coming from. >> i think it is a two-way thing we're thinking about.
when we're thinking about further investment in ai, we're thinking about moving from ai power to ai everywhere. ai is very important technology that we want not just technologists to think of globally and be empowered and skill to use, but we also want strategists to know enough about ai so they can understand how it can be more smartly used to solve different customer problems. into further investing further technologies that are extremely relevant to the kinds of problems we are trying to solve. forexample, mlp translations for the many , probably 50lects different languages and dialects
, and beyond that, as i mentioned, personalization, market-based optimization, and also mapping ngo. >> you have talked about getting inspiration from china for ai. what exactly do you mean? >> i think there are some things could get inspiration from all the global players in the world. what is most important for us is for solvinglogy specific problems. we do not build ai for the sake of ai. i think of what china, the u.s., europe, and different companies across the world have been able to do. they built great platforms that are very localized to the problem they are trying to solve. we have a partnership with microsoft right now that is focused on ai. they have actually helped us a lot on teen of different fronts. one is facial recognition for
safety, improving verification for drivers and passengers. secondly, also on mlp because the localized languages in southeast asia are underserved by existing global translation platforms. targeting local segments of microsoft specific to at this time. up, we willming break down what the tech sector is expecting tomorrow. that's next. this is bloomberg. ♪
jobs will be added with the unemployment rate staying stable, but we want to know just what this means for workers involved in software and beyond. to answer that, let's head to chicago where the president of the north american region for manpower boost joins us for our work shifting segment. great to have you here. 3.7%.0, all looks pretty healthy. deke into the technology sector. how much are they contributing to net gains? >> yes, we are seeing demand for i.t. jobs, tech skills continue to grow across the nation, outpacing supply. interestingly -- you know, traditionally, we talk about the west and east coast. we are seeing that hit the middle of america in cities like dallas, boise, chicago. i am really seeing demand outpaced supply across the country. we anticipate another month of strong gains in the technology sector. caroline: if demand is
outstripping supply, where is that supply coming from? is it about having to upscale -- within your own business? >> the defining problem in the illing our is upsk workers. skills are changing at the pace of tech, so partnering with companies to make sure we are creating the workforce we need is critical for the tech base. our real-time view on tech is we have more than 500,000 jobs today. 50% or so our software engineers, another quarter i.t. project managers. a 1%ve jobs open, but with unemployment rate in tech, it's going to be about upskilling and bringing new workers into the space. : challenger had run bindingeresting data
jobs lost because of trade or trade uncertainties. they say 10,000 job cuts have been made in technology companies largely because of trade difficulties, and that is 10,000 in just august alone. is this something you are hearing, and if so, where from in terms of the tech space? >> our real-time view on the market is not that. we continue to see demand coming in for jobs and we have companies willing to hire. jobs for people 90 are still abundant, and again, there is 1% unemployment, so we have a lot of room in the economy to bring people into this space, so we are not seeing the impact from trade. back in march, april, we saw a little pause. i would call it observation. we saw it pick up about six month later and it has not slowed down since. her line: how long do you think this remains the same? are there any brewing's of slowdown, or do you think this unemployment will remain the
same? >> we know recession will come. the question is when. we are not seeing a slowdown today. if anything, we are seeing employers start to move from talk to action around this upskilling without about. we are partnering with microsoft around gaming jobs, helping upsk upskillinill people to be e testers and really contribute when they did not have the skill to begin with. caroline: interesting. great to get your expertise. thank you for joining us. still ahead, more than just friends. they spoke is breeding -- bringing its dating service to the u.s. -- facebook is bringing its dating service to the u.s., but will it catch on with players like match already on the scene? this is bloomberg. ♪
the social giant officially launched its matchmaking service in the u.s. over a year after it was first announced. the feature has been tested in 19 companies so far and allows users to combine elements of their facebook and instagram accounts. the product also offers a "secret crush" feature. match shares fell sharply on the announcement amid concerns of competition. joining us to discuss is kurt wagner. havetender -- does tinder much to fear? kurt: i think so, if only millions ofbook has users around the world. the one thing facebook has that many of these others don't is the built-in network. the company will not necessarily friends,ple with their because that is weird on the dating front, but they know who friends of friends are. i think those are valuable
connections for the company to know when you're dealing with a are valuableng connections for the company to know when you're dealing with a romantic dating app. caroline: talk to me about how this works. my parents are not exactly on instagram, but i know some people's family are, and the weirdness factor of how separate is the dating profile from the rest of what you are up to? kurt: the dating profile is supposed to be completely separate. differente itself is than what you would have for your normal facebook profile. the idea is you could carve out this little world that is dating specific that does not touch on the rest of your facebook experience. what is interesting is that that profile can pull elements of your instagram profile as well. you can have pictures from instagram. eventually, you will be able to have your instagram story there as well. it is kind of a blending of your facebook life and instagram life in this new separate dating profile and that is what they
are trying to create. caroline: why has it taken so long to come to the u.s. when they have been playing added in 19 countries already? u.s. isimagine the probably the most critical market for them from a pr or business standpoint. not only is it the market where of will have those stories experience, but also there is an element of business. if facebook is to turn this into a moneymaking endeavor, the united states has been their biggest market for advertising and i assume that is ultimately how they will try to make money from this some time down the road. i think they wanted to have some kind of proof of concept that it works in other markets before they brought it to what i would consider the most important one. : every single facebook reporter is rolling their eyes asks to go and
check it out. kurt: i think this will be limited from a use case regardless of the privacy element, but when you look at the kind of stuff facebook has done over the last year, you homewith portal, there in chat device, they are rolling out dating, it does not seem like they are slowing down when it comes to privacy related things. they are pushing into areas that are very intimate, being relationships or in the home. i do think consumers in the u.s. care more about privacy and think about facebook differently on privacy than other parts of the world, so i think it will be part of the pr and the conversation, but clearly, facebook does not seem so concerned a are willing to pull back on launching new stuff altogether that might be considered fringe. caroline: elegantly put across the board. we thank you.
couldy this hour, you call it a match made in heaven. we are so pleased to announce that bloomberg technology anchor emily chang has a new addition to her family. born wednesday night. both mom and baby are doing really well and the entire "bloomberg technology" team sends our support and love to emily and her family as they begin this new chapter. taylor riggs will be hosting the show from san francisco starting next week and it will be a busy week at that. we will be covering apple's big iphone in a tuesday and throughout the week we will be bringing you our medical technology series called "wired "wired." -- be sure to follow our global news network at tictoc on twitter. from new york, from san francisco, this is bloomberg. ♪
at comcast, we didn't build the nation's largest gig-speed network just to make businesses run faster. we built it to help them go beyond. because beyond risk... welcome to the neighborhood, guys. there is reward. ♪ ♪ beyond work and life... who else could he be? there is the moment. beyond technology... there is human ingenuity. ♪ ♪ every day, comcast business is helping businesses go beyond the expected, to do the extraordinary. take your business beyond.
paul: welcome to "daybreak australia." i'm shery ahn of bloomberg world headquarters in new york. sophie: we are counting down to asia's major market opens. ♪ paul: here are the top stories we are covering in this hour -- preparations are under way for the resumption of trade talks. chinese state media say at this time, negotiations must be effective. street a lift


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Redmi Smart Band Pro was launched in India on Wednesday. It is the Xiaomi sub-brand’s latest wearable to debut in the country. The smart wearable was launched alongside the Redmi Note 11 and Redmi Note 11S today. Redmi Smart Band Pro comes with support for over 110 workout modes and claims to offer over 14 days of battery life. The company also launched the Redmi Smart TV X43 today, the smallest display in the company’s X-series smart TV lineup, with a 43-inch 4K OLED display, Dolby Vision, and 30W speakers.
Redmi Smart Band Pro price in India, availability
Redmi Smart Band Pro price in India is set at Rs. 3,999, and the company is offering the wearable for a limited-period launch sale price of Rs. 3,499. The fitness tracker will go on sale at 12pm on February 14 and will be available for purchase from the company’s website, Mi Home, Amazon, and offline retail stores.
Redmi Smart TV X43 price in India, availability
Redmi Smart TV X43 price in India is set at Rs. 28,999. Redmi Smart TV X43 will be available for purchase starting February 16 at 12pm and will be available for purchase from the company’s website, Mi.com, Amazon and other retail websites, according to the company.
Redmi Smart Band Pro specifications
Redmi Smart Band Pro is equipped with a 1.47-inch (194×368 pixels) always-on AMOLED touch display, with a pixel density of 282ppi, 8-bit colour depth, and 100 percent NTSC colour gamut coverage. The fitness tracker is powered by an Apollo 3.5 processor and runs on a 200mAh battery that is said to offer 14 days of battery backup, with around 20 days usage in power saving mode. Redmi Smart Band Pro features a LifeQ health tracking algorithm and sports a PPG heart-rate sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a six-axis sensor. The fitness tracker comes with support for Bluetooth v5.0 and is waterproof up to 5ATM (50 metres), according to the company.
Users can connect smartphones running iOS 10 or Android 6 (Marshmallow) and later to Redmi Smart Band Pro. The fitness tracker features more than 110 workout modes, and comes with support for SpO2 monitoring, heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking. Users will be able to track several workouts including running, walking, Zumba, Pilates, yoga, cycling, HIIT, jumping rope, as well as elliptical machine and rowing machine workouts, according to the company. Redmi Smart Band Pro will be able to detect outdoor walking, outdoor running, and treadmill workouts automatically. Users will also be able to track menstrual cycles, perform breathing exercises, and monitor stress levels too with the Redmi wearable.
Redmi Smart TV X43 specifications
Redmi Smart TV X43 features a 43-inch 4K display. Unlike the Redmi Smart TV 43 that offers a full-HD+ display, the Redmi Smart TV X43 offers 4K resolution with HDR support. The new TV also features slim bezels. Redmi Smart TV X43 runs on Android TV 10 and features the company’s PatchWall UI with integrated support for IMDB for TV and movie ratings. The new Redmi Smart TV X43 is equipped with 30W speakers with Dolby Audio support and DTS Virtual:X technology.


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Nissan Doubles Up and Sponsors
2016 SHOT Show New Product Center
NEWTOWN, Conn.— The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, is pleased to announce that global auto maker Nissan has agreed to sign on as the official sponsor of the 2016 SHOT Show New Product Center. A leading maker of cars, trucks, SUVs and vans for the consumer and commercial markets, Nissan has its North American headquarters located Franklin, Tennessee. This is the second sponsorship Nissan will provide to the 2016 SHOT Show. The company recently signed as the Official Sponsor of the show’s Press Room, a position it’s held for the previous two years.
“What an exciting thing it is to have Nissan sponsor two such important elements of the 2016 SHOT Show,” said Chris Tatulli, NSSF Director, Exhibit and Sponsorship Sales. “The addition of its sponsorship to the greatly expanded New Product Center underscores the importance of the Center and its ability to draw exhibitors, media members and buyers together to efficiently promote the best and most exciting new products our industry will see this year.”
“Sponsoring the New Product Center and proudly displaying our new product puts us in good company among some of the most inventive and ground breaking companies in the industry,” said Fred Diaz, division vice president and general manager, North America Trucks and Light Commercial Vehicles, Nissan North America, Inc. “What better opportunity for us to support the industry that supports us than by encouraging the innovative products they introduce in this very special venue.”
As part of its sponsorship to the New Product Center, Nissan will also be holding an invitation-only breakfast for selected media members in the New Product Center on Wednesday, January 20, from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m., prior to the show opening that day.
The 2016 SHOT Show New Products Center is a pivotal location for displaying the latest merchandise being debuted at the show. Positioned prominently on the main SHOT Show floor, more than 80 percent of show attendees visit the Center, which serves as a gathering place for buyers and media who have little time to walk the show’s 12 miles of aisles but need to learn about essential merchandise being introduced. Products in the Center are displayed with barcoded information containing their company name and booth number for follow-up by attendees, who are provided a complimentary scanner upon entering the area. Last year, more than 400 products were on display in the Center, receiving more than 32,000 barcode scans.
The 2016 Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade Show—SHOT Show—is owned and operated by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. A trade-only event for firearms industry professionals, the 2016 SHOT will take place Jan. 19-22, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration for exhibitors, buyers, law enforcement members and media members is now open. For more information or to register to attend, visit www.shotshow.org.
About NSSF The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.
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Seven years after he retired, Michael Jordan's shoes are still a big seller.
Just ask the crowd of about 500 shoppers that gathered at Town East Mall in Mesquite for a chance to buy the Air Jordan Retro 11 gray sneakers.
Mesquite police showed up at the mall to control the crowd.
A YouTube video (warning:graphic language) of the incident shows people in the crowd coughing and covering their noses after police used pepper spray on the crowd.
"Mesquite police were forced to deploy pepper spray twice into the unruly crowd of several hundred people; the first time was to rescue a child that was being crushed against the outside door by the crowd," Lt. Bill Hedgpeth said in a statement. "Moments later, a second officer deployed pepper spray to move the crowd back and prevent injuries and further damage to the property when the crowd surged forward, breaking the glass in an exterior door."
Hedgpeth said that police tried to verbally instruct the crowd to back up, but their verbal commands didn't work.
"Situations like this can be easily avoided if everyone remains calm and respectful of other shoppers," he said. "There is no item that is so important to own that people need to endanger others just to be the first one in the door."
The shoes sold out quickly at Town East Mall. The sneakers sold for roughly $175, but are going for much more on eBay.
Collectors say the shoes were last sold in 2001.


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In consumer credit, the Consumer Credit Index reveals that revolving credit fell in the first quarter from 858.3 billion to 855.8 billion. Most of the drop occurred during February, with consumer spending accelerating during the month of March, increasing by 1.6%. In a recent study from the Fed, more than 50% of the respondents said that new federal regulation on credit card interest rates and fees, along with increasing consumer preferences for using debit cards, held back credit card lending during 2013, so they expect positive yet moderate movement throughout the year.
The quarterly update also examines the smartphone market and how businesses and consumers continue to integrate these technologies into their shopping experiences. While only 16% of mobile device owners have made in-store purchases with their phones as of early 2014, 78% of respondents are interested in using their smartphones while shopping.
For business owners interested in the importance of local search and the real world impact of a strong online presence, the update notes that 80% of local searches on mobile devices turned into purchases. Of these mobile searches: 73% took place in a physical store, 16% via phone, 11% online.
The update also reviews recent regulatory and technology updates, including the recent news around the IRS issued guidance that BitCoin will be taxed as property, as well as the expected impact of EMV's rollout on ecommerce businesses. For more information read the full update at http://merchantwarehouse.com/state-of-the-payments-industry.
About Merchant Warehouse
Merchant Warehouse is a leading provider of payment technologies and merchant services. The company's solutions enable merchants to more effectively connect and engage with their customers regardless of how, where or when they choose to shop. Merchant Warehouse's flagship technology solution, the Genius™ Customer Engagement Platform™, supports both traditional and new payment types, including mobile commerce, from a single countertop acceptance device.
Merchant Warehouse offers innovative payment solutions that help online and brick-and-mortar retailers, as well as point-of-sale (POS) developers, value-added resellers (VARs) and agents, strategically grow their business. Merchant Warehouse is one of the fastest growing payment technology companies in North America.
SOURCE Merchant Warehouse


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David Hieatt only found out that Meghan Markle had worn a pair of jeans made by his company when a newspaper rang up to check they were his.
Hieatt and his wife Clare are the co-founders of the Hiut Denim Company in Cardigan in Wales. For almost 40 years, Cardigan was home to a factory that made 35,000 pairs of jeans each week for Marks & Spencer. Then in 2002, production was moved offshore to Morocco to save costs, resulting in the loss of 400 jobs.
When Hieatt started scouting about for a location to start a denim company, he realised that Cardigan, which had hundreds of people with decades of experience, was the perfect place.
Hiut - a combination of the first two letters of Hieatt’s surname and the first two letters of utility - has seen such a spike in demand since Markle was spotted in the jeans that many models, retailing at £145 a pair, are sold out until May.
Hieatt has spent the morning with an architect who is adapting the old denim factory for Hiut to move back in in June, so they can grow the company fast enough to keep up with demand. He’s brought on two more jeans-makers - called grandmasters for their many years of experience - but Hiut can’t hire any more or install their new equipment until it has more space.
“It’s just a beautiful moment,” Hieatt says. “There are things you hope for and wish for, but when they happen you think, ‘Wow.’ It’s good for the team, it’s good for the town and you go, ‘Wow, we’ll take that.’”
Hieatt, a former advertising executive, knows the power of a good story. Alongside his wife Clare, he previously owned a clothing company called Howies, which they sold to US firm Timberland in 2006. Hieatt stuck around for a bit after the sale, before he realised he didn’t really like someone else running his company.
“I had a cup of tea, looked around, didn’t feel it and sometimes you have to walk away really,” he remembers.
“I’d written a plan about making jeans because that’s something we did well at Howies, but I was wondering if I wanted to run around the same track twice,” Hieatt says. “Then I had a call from Gideon Day who was a designer at Howies, and he said, ‘It’s not about you, it’s about the town.’”
The population of Cardigan has fallen since the closure of the original denim factory, while the factory building has stayed almost completely empty, like a monument to the departure of industry.
Hieatt, who comes from the nearby South Wales Valleys, was unsure how people would feel about going back to work in the building. “Pretty much all the grandmasters were raised in that factory, so they literally went back to the bit of the floor and said, ‘I used to work here.’”
But the move is necessary if Hieatt is going to reach his ultimate goal: “The big aim is to get 400 people their jobs back.”
Along the way, he wants to turn Cardigan into - or back into - a maker town. “We’re fighting for the right to make and to pass those skills on,” he says. “We shouldn’t give up the right to make. At the moment if we’re honest it’s a town that’s busy for six weeks when the tourists come but it lost its mojo when the factory closed.”
The maker movement is growing in the UK. The increasing affordability of technology has put 3D printers, robotics and other connected devices within the reach of entrepreneurs, who are turning hobbies into professions as the job market fragments.
Mark Brearley is a professor at the Cass School in London and works for Kaymet, a small aluminium tray manufacturer in Peckham, South London. Kaymet started in the basement of a radio shop in the thirties but was at risk of going bust in the last decade property prices around it rose and councils repurposed land for housing.
With Brearley’s support Kaymet has returned to growth at a time when many of London’s small business are fighting for the right to fair rent to stay afloat. Brearley, meanwhile, has been keeping a list of makers in London that now stands at almost 3,000.
“My feeling is that we need to celebrate makers, make them visible and win the public around, at the same time as pushing the policy and decision makers, campaigning and arguing, explaining why a good city has industry, and how such a city can be sustained,” Brearley told a meeting of makers in 2017. “We need to state our belief that manufacturing is a vital part of our city, indeed of any good city, that should be visible, understood, celebrated and nurtured.”
In London, the East End Trades Guild has provided a forum for small businesses to stand together against rising rent and other challenges that can quickly make small businesses untenable.
In rural areas like Cardigan, survival and expansion depends more on effective marketing. That’s where Hieatt excels. “We can get 300 to 400 jobs here if we make a great product and tell the story,” he says “In effect there is two factories, one is making jeans and one is telling the story - it’s a content factory, and we have to be as good at telling our story as we do about making jeans.”
Thanks to the internet, the Hiut story can travel the world. While the old factory wanted to make jeans as cheaply as possible, Hiut wants to sell jeans that are the best quality. The company imports salvaged denim from Japan and organic materials from Turkey. It is also looking at a lower impact product using less water and electricity, from a nature reserve in Italy.
A quarter of jeans Hiut sells go overseas. “The internet has changed the economics for makers. If they have a great service, it can be shared to a global audience. That’s a radical transformation,” he says. “This is why I think we’re living in a golden age.”
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Qualcomm are being sued by both Apple and the FTC as of course the FTC are backing up Apple’s claims which basically come down to the companies at Qualcomm reportedly using a no license, no chip strategy in which any company that uses their rival products are forced to pay a “Tax”.
Qualcomm has counter-sued to Apple’s accusations but it seems the pain doesn’t stop there for this particular company as to more juggernauts in the technology space have joined in and have filed briefs supporting the FTC lawsuit and these are non other than Intel and Samsung.
Basically they are saying that Qualcomm is trying to manapulize it by using it’s dominant position in the mobile processor market. And Samsung have said specifically that “Qualcomm is the main reason behind the Exynos Chips not being made available to other companies.
It’s not looking good for Qualcomm as we now have Apple, the FTC, Intel and Samsung all joining together to smack this company down and teach them a very interesting lesson. If indeed their accusations prove true it could be quite big for the mobile gaming industry as of course they are fined heavily and undoubtedly they will no longer be in the position to force other companies into this position and we might see someone else take the top spots when it comes to mobile processors.


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The retail sector posted its third consecutive monthly sales gain as department stores posted sales revenues that beat analyst expectations. However, the road ahead still remains bumpy.Department store giant Macy's ( M) as well as discount store Target ( TGT) both reaped the benefits of an increase in traffic and a jump in the average amount spent by consumers. This increased sales by 4% and 2.4%, respectively. Additionally, Wal-Mart ( WMT) stated that it is expecting to pay back its investors by increasing its annual dividend by 11%. Increases in consumer spending, and hence retail sales, have been linked to an expected increase in average hourly earnings and average hours worked, giving a boost to disposable income. Additionally, some sector experts suggest that an increase was inevitable due to such poor sales figures in the month before. As for overall bottom line, many retailers have been posting better-than-expected numbers, much due to a combination of these sales increases, declining inventories and an overall increase in operational efficiency. The sector is so important because it helps get a grip on consumer spending trends, which is so critical to the overall health of the U.S. economy because it comprises nearly one-third of the nation's GDP. Despite this recent optimism in the retail sector, a sustained rebound in consumer spending and the overall sector is likely to be an extremely slow and gradual process. The main driver behind a sustained rebound in consumer spending is the labor force. The employment markets have to improve and unemployment numbers must show a steady trend of declines before consumer spending and the retail sector can stabilize and post consistent growth. In addition to retail stocks, other equities that are likely to be affected by changes in the retail sector include:
Retail HOLDRs ( RTH), which boasts Wal-Mart as its top holding. RTH closed at $96.67 on Wednesday.
SPDR S&P Retail ( XRT), which includes Target and Netflix ( NFLX) in its top holdings. XRT closed at $38.05 on Wednesday.
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ( XLY), which includes McDonalds ( MCD) and Walt Disney ( DIS) in its top holdings. XLY closed at $30.93 on Wednesday.


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The worst concealed in video gaming over the previous couple of days is now main. On Thursday early morning, 888 Holdings verified it has actually consented to buy William Hill’s non-US possessions from United States gambling establishment giant Caesars Home entertainment Inc, beating the personal equity company Apollo Global Management to the punch.
The rate, formerly reported as „a minimum of“ ₤ 2 billion, is ₤ 2.2 billion ($ 3 billion). 888 stated it anticipates the deal to be finished throughout the very first half of next year.
The offer will enable Caesars to recover more than 2 thirds of the US$ 3.7 billion it spent for William Hill in April. Caesars stated at the time it was just thinking about the group’s United States possessions as it made a play for the fast-growing United States sports wagering market.
‚ International Leader‘
888 will acquire control of William Hill’s top quality digital sports wagering and video gaming operations in the UK and throughout Europe, consisting of the online gambling establishment brand name Mr Green.
Our company believe the acquisition will produce substantial worth for investors, producing a combined company with leading innovation, items and brand names throughout sports wagering, video gaming and poker, supported by premium management skill from both organizations,“ 888 chair Lord Jon Mendelsohn, stated in a declaration.
He included the offer will develop „an international leader in the online sports wagering and video gaming market.“
The Gibraltar-based business will likewise get– a minimum of briefly– William Hill’s 1,400- plus land-based wagering stores in the UK.
It’s uncertain whether digital-only 888 prepares to hold on to the retail outlets or to unload them to another business with an existing existence in the land-based wagering sector. UK bookie BetFred is starving for growth and has actually revealed an interest in taking them on.
The UK retail wagering sector has actually ended up being less profitable over the last few years since of a reducing customer interest in horse racing, the development of online sports wagering, and tighter federal government controls on items like fixed-odds wagering terminals.
However in a March revenues call, 888 CEO Itai Pazner stated the retail company „might be an intriguing property,“ including there were „advantages“ to owning wagering stores.
Established in 1934 as a postal and telephone-based wagering service, William Hill opened its very first stores in the mid-1960 s when they initially ended up being legal in the UK.
It was for several years the UK’s leading land-based wagering business up until it was taken over by the merger of Ladbrokes and Coral, which is now part of the Entain group.
“ The William Hill and 888 techniques are extremely complementary with an outright concentrate on the item and consumer experience. Scale is progressively crucial in our sector and the mix of business will offer an effective positioning of brand names and innovation,“ CEO of William Hill International Ulrik Bengtsson stated in a declaration.
The offer is still based on investor approval, and it will likewise require a thumbs-up from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.
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Fast Company, a leading business magazine and media brand, recently recognized Ford Motor Company in its list of "The World's Most Innovative Companies" in February. The recognition is credited to the all-new 2015 F-150.
“Ford is disrupting three industries—steel, aluminum and automotive—for the makeover of its F-150 pickup truck,” said the Fast Company staff in the roundup article.
The new F-150 uses high-strength, military-grade aluminum for body panels, which saves up to 700 lbs. off of the overall weight of the truck.
Fast Company publishes the "Most Innovative" list every year to recognize “leading enterprises and rising newcomers that exemplify the best in business and innovation.”
Fast Company's recognition helps prove the significance of Ford President and CEO Mark Fields’ mission to “Drive innovation in every part of our business."
Back in 2013, Fast Company recognized Sheryl Connelly of the global consumer trends and futuring division of Ford Motor Company on its list of the Top 100 Most Creative People in Business.
Eide Ford currently has more than 50 2015 F-150 trucks for sale in Bismarck.


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Ever because the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy, US athletes on the Olympic podium have worn Nike. Nike attire. Nike footwear. Not simply on the rostrum, both; Team USA athletes competing in about half of the occasions, from monitor and subject to soccer to hurry skating, put on a Nike equipment. Thanks to a deal inked in 2019, that near-ubiquity will persist at the very least by the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. The swoosh, as they are saying, is robust.
But that near-ubiquity additionally comes with a problem: staying forward of the curve on mentioned swoosh. With efficiency know-how progressing as quick because it does, how early do you must begin fascinated by the gear athletes will want for the subsequent large quadrennial international competitors?
About 4 years, because it seems. “As soon as the closing ceremony is over and the flame is passed,” Nike chief design officer John Hoke says, “our work for the next Summer Olympics begins.” That’s not simply advertising and marketing communicate. The 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro ended on August 21 of that yr; in September, a piece of Nike’s design workforce was in Japan, assembly with the Tokyo Olympic Committee to see the place its members’ collective heads have been.
A few issues turned clear in a short time. The first was that Tokyo could be a far cry from Rio. Augusts within the Brazilian metropolis would really feel acquainted to anybody who’s been to Miami within the winter: common highs round 78 levels Fahrenheit, and a respite from the standard humidity. Tokyo in August? Not a lot. Hot, muggy, ugh.
The second factor the Tokyo committee made clear was their seriousness about sustainability. This wasn’t new to Olympic organizers—relationship again to the Sydney video games in 2000, officers had applied measures meant to offset the simple influence of being a bunch metropolis—however Tokyo had a few new measures in thoughts. They’d employed architect Kengo Kuma, identified for work that sought to stay in stability with its environment, to design the National Stadium central to the Games. They’d additionally dedicated to creating the medals not simply from recycled supplies however recycled cell telephones.
This was all music to the Nike workforce’s ears. They’d tried designing Olympic gear with the same ecological bent earlier than, just like the operating singlet for the 2000 Sydney Games that was constituted of recycled bottles, however intention and execution didn’t all the time match up. “It didn’t look great, it didn’t feel great,” Hoke says, wanting again on that singlet. But now? With a handful of Olympics and two extra many years of science and design innovation beneath their belt? Tokyo would give them an opportunity to stability efficiency and precept.
The ensuing footwear and attire—which Nike unveiled final yr, mere months earlier than the Covid-19 pandemic pushed the 2020 Games to summer time 2021—seeks to just do that. It’s technically thought of to what Hoke calls “the atom level,” using computational design to ship both second-skin match or breathable billows, relying on the game’s particular wants. It additionally represents the corporate’s greatest demonstration but that sustainability doesn’t should imply sacrifice—aesthetic, athletic, or in any other case.
By now, in fact, we all know that these 2016 conferences about Tokyo’s climate risks have already been borne out. Test occasions in August 2019 met temperatures so excessive that rowers suffered warmth exhaustion and triathletes fared worse. The Olympic Committee responded by transferring this yr’s marathon 500 miles north to Sapporo in hopes of a much less brutal local weather.
Heat is a specific satan for monitor and subject; situations on the monitor (and, uh, subject) might be greater than 20 levels Fahrenheit above the ambient temperature. Nike’s attire for the class seeks to exorcise that demon by a brand new materials it calls Aeroswift, a micro-ribbed model of its widespread Dri-Fit know-how. It’s like an unbelievably skinny, narrow-wale corduroy. Except the ridges in these cords serve two features: making a baffling impact that strikes air alongside the pores and skin beneath the material, and giving the material a two-tone, virtually lenticular look that may seem like it’s flickering when the athlete is in movement.


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Tennis superstar Venus Williams has been making massive strides off the court with her business ventures. One such venture is her lifestyle brand, EleVen by Venus Williams.
On the occasion of International Tennis Day, the former World No. 1 took to her Instagram to speak about how people should encourage and invest in children. The International Tennis Day event was sponsored by her clothing line, which was launched in 2007 and debuted at the 2012 New York Fashion Week. A unique aspect that gives her brand authority is the fact that the clothing line is modeled by athletes instead of professional models. She has naturally also worn her own brand on numerous occasions on the court.
"It's International Tennis Day. Give the gift of tennis @first.serve.miami."
Venus Williams exploits on the court
Venus Williams has struggled with her performances on the court over the last couple of years. The five-time Wimbledon champion has seen her rankings fall due to her performance decline and inactivity.
Williams is known to have the Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects countless people across the globe. She's been battling the syndrome for much of her career and first came out about it in 2011. She spoke more extensively about it in 2019 as well.
The symptoms of this disease are fatigue and joint aches that lead to exhaustion. It is not a stretch of the imagination to think that Williams' game has been severely affected by this.
While Venus Williams has been thriving off the court with her business ventures, her on-court exploits have dipped. The former World No. 1 is no longer considered a contender for the majors anymore and has been out of action for a while now.
Williams was hoping to return to action at Wimbledon later this month, but has confirmed that she won’t be participating at SW19 this year.
"No, I'm not playing, but I'll be watching. I'll be watching Serena. Thank you so much, I've been getting a lot of encouraging messages like this and I hope though that Serena playing at Wimbledon will help you with your Williams fix."
The American is currently ranked 571st in the world and it is unclear when she will return to the tour. However, this has not discouraged her from voicing her support for her sister Serena Williams, who is also returning to competitive action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.


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Grand Forks Herald
Rally on racial issues at UND planned, Kennedy calls for diversity council
STATE SUPERINTENDENT: North Dakotans, please review new K-12 standards
Deadly disease causing high white-tailed deer casualties
Air of unease permeates rural area around pipeline protest
Law school unveils Minnesota's first legal services van
crime and courts
INTERACTIVE MAP: Take a tour through the NCHC
NCHC ROAD TRIP: Road trips are part of college hockey’s charm
NCHC ROAD TRIP: The National Hockey Center comes alive for big games
NCHC ROAD TRIP: Location is prime for Duluth’s AmsOil Arena
NCHC ROAD TRIP: Miami’s home is in a classic college town
BOOKNOTES: 'The Burning of the White House:...
THE LIST: Guillermo Guardia, Festi-Fall Craft and Vendor Event, Popejoy and Strand Jazz Duo
East Grand Forks hosts Arts and Craft Fair this weekend
Norwegian men's choir and acclaimed trumpeter to perform Monday in Calvary Lutheran
Final Farmers Market
Life & Style
D. Gene Williams
Marit Kjellfrid Romsaas
Theresa M. Hoffart
OUTDOORS REPORT: Fall fishing starting up
Sierra Heyd's first deer
Trophy Room: Bob Olsen's first drake mallard
Trophy Room: Patrick Novak's moose
Trophy Room: Ashley Guzal's buck
LETTER: Reform elevates North Dakota at California's expense
LETTER: Anti-Measure 4 campaign rings false in N.D.
LETTERS: Reform financial system to boost economy
OUR OPINION: Identify costs, benefits of immigration
LETTER: Route North 42nd Street over, not under, railroad tracks
65th Wedding Anniversary
60th Wedding Anniversary
Joseph Kyle Nice
September 9, 2016
Increasingly risky to delay U.S. rate hike, Fed's Rosengren says
QUINCY, Mass. — The Federal Reserve, long hesitant to raise U.S. interest rates, increasingly faces risks if it waits too much longer...
September 9, 2016 - 7:44am
August 29, 2016
Natural Grocers opens Grand Forks store Tuesday
Employees at Natural Grocers' new store in south Grand Forks had to keep an eye on their front door in recent weeks. Eager shoppers often stopped...
August 29, 2016 - 7:34pm
August 27, 2016
Grand Forks nonprofits brace for new overtime rule
Already operating with tight budgets, Grand Forks area nonprofit organizations are bracing for a new federal rule that will expand the number...
August 27, 2016 - 6:30am
August 26, 2016
Grand Forks airport expects drop in revenue for 2017
The Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority finalized a slimmer 2017 budget Thursday. The budget projects a roughly 9.4 percent drop in operating...
August 26, 2016 - 2:32pm
August 20, 2016
Developers eye Grand Forks for biorefinery
A "next generation" biorefinery may be in Grand Forks' future. Red River BioRefinery LLC submitted a grant application in June to the state of North Dakota for the project, which "will utilize waste from local agricultural processing for the production of (redacted) ethanol," according...
August 20, 2016 - 10:00am
Around Town: Firehouse Subs to open next week in Grand Forks
A new sub shop is poised to open in south Grand Forks next week. Firehouse Subs will open Monday in the former Quizno's at 2650 32nd Ave. S.,...
August 20, 2016 - 9:00am
August 19, 2016
Small town banks seek to stay vital to their communities
GILBY, N.D.—Robert McLean predicts he'll be doing more of his banking online once the only bank in his town closes in October. Bremer Bank...
August 19, 2016 - 11:22am
August 16, 2016
Washington city rescinds proposed oil train restrictions
SPOKANE, Wash.—A city in eastern Washington has backed down from a proposal to fine railroad companies for hauling crude oil and coal through...
August 16, 2016 - 7:04pm
August 15, 2016
Amazon lease termination approved by Grand Forks city committee
A Grand Forks city committee agreed Monday to terminate a lease with internet retail giant Amazon for its customer service operations. The Growth...
August 15, 2016 - 6:45pm
August 14, 2016
Amazon proposes paying more than $845,000 to terminate Grand Forks lease early
Internet retail giant Amazon has proposed paying more than $845,000 to terminate its lease at a city-owned building in west Grand Forks. The...
August 14, 2016 - 4:41pm
Devils Lake soon to close chapter on Ultra Green dispute
DEVILS LAKE—The mayor of Devils Lake says the city is close to closing the books on a dispute over a business that promised to bring hundreds...
August 14, 2016 - 6:30am
August 13, 2016
As small towns lose grocers, Palubicki's seeks to build new store in Fosston
FOSSTON, MINN.—As Leah Palubicki strode through the grocery store that bears her family's name, she noted one of the aging building's deficiencies:...
August 13, 2016 - 8:00am
August 11, 2016
Business encouraged to explore drone opportunities as start date for new rules nears
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August 11, 2016 - 5:10pm
August 10, 2016
SolarCity quarterly revenue surges 81 percent
(Reuters) - SolarCity Corp
, which recently accepted Tesla Motors Inc's
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August 10, 2016 - 3:00am
August 6, 2016
Around Town: Kittsona expanding outside the Midwest
Less than a year after moving into the Twin Cities market, Kittsona is adding a women's clothing store in Austin, Texas at the end of September. It will be the Grand Forks-based retailer's first store outside North Dakota and Minnesota. Nicole Johnson, who owns Kittsona with Tessa...
August 6, 2016 - 1:00am


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Posts for November, 2009
MSN is rolling out a new, cleaner look today that should become widely available to all visitors nationwide early next year. The less-cluttered MSN blends Microsoft's Bing search, news and entertainment headlines, and quick access to popular social networks in an easier-to-navigate package with 50% fewer links than the old home page.
Several Web sites, including Gizmodo, say the rumors about the deals this weekend on consumer electronics at Walmart are true, including a $199 Xbox 360 Arcade system that comes with a free $100 gift card, essentially dropping the price to $100. Other deals starting at 8 a.m. Saturday include:
- HP Notebook Computer – 3GB memory, 160GB hard drive, Windows 7 Premium: $298
- Sharp 1080p HDTVs – 42" for $498; 46" for $698 (120 Hz), 52" for $898 (120 Hz)
- Panasonic 46" 1080p plasma HDTV for $788
- Xbox 360 Arcade Console $199 with $100 Walmart Gift Card (for use on future purchases)
- Sony Blu-ray player (model #BDP-S360) for $148
- Magnavox Upconvert DVD player (model #DP170MGXF, 1080p) $29
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 officially goes on sale tomorrow -- although some retailers broke the street date and started selling the game this weekend -- and there's plenty of last-minute buzz about the highly anticipated first person shooter, which is expected to set sales records.
So to help you soak in the hype, let me direct you to a few choices pieces about the latest title in the popular Call of Duty franchise, which will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PCs. If you are unfamiliar with the game, take a second and watch this Modern Warfare 2 launch video but be aware the content is violent.
First off, there is the obligatory "controversy piece," which is a video from CNN.
Next, Activision, the publisher of Modern Warfare 2, announced plans for the Call of Duty Endowment, a $1 million non-profit corporation to help veterans transition to civilian careers, according to several sources, including the Kotaku gaming blog and the Washington Post. A laudable gift timed nicely with the release of the game.
The game is a big deal, so expect all of the antics associated with such retail events. Some stores like GameStop are opening at midnight.
GameStop today announced a trade-in deal for the Nintendo Wii that begins today and runs through Nov. 29 in which buyers can get a new Wii for $149.99 if they trade in two "select items," which include games for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, as well as two versions of the PlayStation 2 gaming system. You can't trade in just any lame game and expect the discount, however. The full list of eligible items is online, and I noticed some of the games on that list very recently came out, including Dragon Age: Origins, which I plan on writing about in my Sunday column.
Leaked documents from Verizon Wireless suggest the carrier is tracking a list of bugs in its brand-new Droid smartphone that will be fixed in an over-the-air update that will be beamed out to customers on Dec. 11, according to the gadget blog Gizmodo. The list of technical difficulties doesn't address the problems I encountered with the first Droid I tried out, but it's good to see the company on the case.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is officially on sale, and locally copies are flying off store shelves as quickly as employees can stock them. I visited several places that sell games today, including area GameStop, Best Buy and Target stores, and sales of the game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PCs are brisk. At GameStop locations especially, there seems to be an air of pandemonium as occasional gamers are swarming to trade in titles gathering dust at home to take the bite out of buying the latest version of the popular military first-person shooter, which costs $60.
Stores seem to be aggressively checking the ages of people trying to buy the game (it's rated "mature" for players 17 and older) -- and I witnessed one teen politely informed he could not buy game. Employees at several stores said supplies are ample, and they aren't worried they will sell out. I was surprised to see a fair number of limited-edition Xbox 360 console systems bundled with the game being sold. That system costs $400, and the only thing really distinguishing it from cheaper Xbox systems is its larger hard drive and the design on chassis.
Midnight openings at local retailers were well attended but not swamped -- managers estimate groups ranging from 100 to 150 among locations, and was no drama or shenanigans like past game-related retail events.
A quick check of my friends list on Xbox Live shows several associates playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 right now when they should be at work or school. Slackers.
Withings, a French startup in Issy-les-Moulineaux, today announced it's programmed Twitter into its Wi-Fi Body Scale ($159), which the company says is the world’s first wireless weight scale that automatically records body weight, lean and fat mass, and calculated body mass index and posts it online. The device transmits the data to a private Web page or the company's iPhone application, which can be used to track results. The new Twitter feature lets weight watchers set up alerts to automatically post their progress to that social network, where followers will be informed. The tweeting announces the user's current weight and how many pounds they have left to reach their goal.
Sales estimates for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 are coming in: the popular military first-person shooter, which went on sale Tuesday, sold 4.7 million copies and made $310 million in its first 24 hours on sale in North America and the United Kingdom, according to several sites, including GI.
Some major technology groups and companies today announced plans to inspire children to pursue careers and education in science, technology, engineering and math [STEM] -- and they're using two video game design competitions to do it.
The first event is the Game Changers contest in which participants will design challenges teaching STEM principles using the existing video game LittleBigPlanet. This contest is being supported by the Entertainment Software Association, the Information Technology Industry Council and the MacArthur Foundation's 2010 Digital Media and Learning Competition, along with Sony, which will donate 1,000 PlayStation 3 systems and copies of LittleBigPlanet to libraries and neighborhood groups in low-income communities. Game Changer proposals will be posted for public comment, the winning levels will be published for free, and multiple awards will be bestowed, including a People's Choice Award that will be decided by the public. Winners will be announced next year.
The second design contest is the STEM National Video Game Competition in which designers, including children, are challenged to submit ideas that can be built into Web browser-based, STEM games in three age categories: 4 to 8, 8 to 12 and 12 to 16. The winners will share $300,000 in prize money, and their games will be used in school and community settings. Lots of groups are pitching in on this effort, including the ESA, ITI, Microsoft, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, Games for Change and E-Line Ventures.
For the generous at heart, Milwaukee-based Smac Design/Too Much Rock recently published a 99-cent app for the iPhone called Loan Out, which can help you keep track of any items you lend to friends, including books, video games or that second season of "Lost" on Blu Ray that someone has *yet* to return to me. Loan Out automatically reminds the recipients of your generosity with text or e-mail messages that they still have your stuff, and entries can be managed on your phone or through a Web site.
You stay cool for loaning out your stuff, and your iPhone is to blame for wanting it back.
Snow day season is on the way, and a recently released iPhone alarm-clock app designed by a duo in Milwaukee can make sure you have plenty of time to get ready in the morning if the weather gets bad while you're resting. The Smart Alarm -- made by Michael Massie of Whitefish Bay and Massie Design Studio and colleague Nik Karpinsky -- watches the weather using the phone's GPS and wireless Internet connection. Then, depending on your settings, the software will wake you up early if bad weather might jam up your morning routine. The app costs $1.99 and could save the day if a surprise storm hits.


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A new trailer is out for Disney's new animated film, Planes.
The Lone Ranger - New Trailer
Disney have unveiled a new trailer for The Lone Ranger.
Wreck-It Ralph - International Trailer
Disney have released an international trailer for Wreck-It Ralph.
John Carter - Super Bowl Trailer
Disney have unveiled a new commercial for the sci-fi John Carter film.


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Real Global Broadcasting (RGB), the 50:50 broadcasting joint venture between Alva Brothers and Turner International, has partnered with OMD India and BBDO India for its media and creative duties respectively. Industry sources say that for RGB to compete in the current competitive Hindi GEC scenario, it has to spend in the vicinity of Rs 15 crore to Rs 20 crore on its ad spends.
The top line readership data presented by the Media Research Users Council (MRUC) at an industry meet held in Mumbai on November 4, doesn’t present a happy picture. According to a presentation made by Hansa Research’s Ashok Das, all media show a declining regularity of consumption in terms of daily consumption over weekly reach.
The next few weeks will see intense debates and discussions over the IRS 2008 R2 data, released at an industry meet organised by Media Research Users Council (MRUC) on November 4. According to a presentation made by Hansa Research’s Ashok Das at the meet, print reach shows a higher growth, and within print, dailies are driving reach growth.
Turner Broadcasting System is set to launch its Hollywood movies and series channel in association with Warner Bros. According to industry sources, Turner is expected to award the creative business of this new channel to M&C Saatchi - Digital & Direct. The ad spend is pegged at Rs 10 crore plus. MPG will be handling the media duties.
The discussion on the readers-per-copy (RPC) subject comes up just about every time members of the newspapers and magazines industry question the recurrent decline in readership numbers, despite the increase in circulation. The Media Research Users Council (MRUC), in its address to the industry on November 4, attempted to explain some of the factors that lead to this decrease in readership.
The FM scenario in Mumbai is seeing an interesting battle on the top. Three key players that are making their mark here are Red FM, Big FM and Radio City, followed by Radio Mirchi. Red FM has been a long standing leader in Mumbai, but the last three weeks has shown a neck and neck battle in the space. exchange4media takes a closer look.
MRUC has released the Indian Readership Survey 2008 R2 data today. The top-line findings for dailies show that The Times of India leads the English dailies with a total readership of 133.4 lakh, followed by Hindustan Times with a total readership of 63.5 lakh. Among Hindi dailies, Dainik Jagran and Dainik Bhaskar dominate.
Victorinox India, the Indian arm of Swiss company Victorinox, has assigned its integrated marketing duties to PerceptH following a pitch process. Sources close to the development have pegged the account size at around Rs 3 crore. The company represents high quality products inspired by the ingenuity of the original Swiss Army Knife.