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E-books have hit the mainstream, and for the first time are consistently outselling their pulp-and-ink brethren, according to Amazon.com.
Amazon hit a symbolic milestone last holiday season, when for one day its sales of e-books exceeded the number of dead-tree books it had sold.
Now the company has hit a more significant milestone, selling 143 e-books for every 100 hardcover books sold over the course of the second quarter. The rate is accelerating: For the past month, Amazon sold 180 e-books for every 100 hardcovers, and it sold three times as many e-books in the first six months of this year as it did in the first half of 2009.
Amazon’s Kindle bookstore now offers more than 630,000 books, Amazon says, plus 1.8 million free, out-of-copyright titles.
The overall e-book market is still a 90-pound weakling next to the Asiatic elephant of print publishing. According to a report from Publisher’s Weekly last year, hardback sales were projected to be about $4.4 billion in 2009 (including both adult and children’s titles), while paperbacks were expected to generate $5.1 billion in revenue, audiobooks $218 million, and e-books just $81 million — less than 1 percent of the print equivalents. That’s not even counting textbooks, Bibles and professional books — with those included, Publisher’s Weekly estimated the overall book market at $35 billion in 2009.
Amazon also stated that sales of its Kindle e-book reader have tripled since it cut the price from $260 to $190, although Amazon did not provide any hard numbers about the number it had sold. The Kindle has topped Amazon’s list of bestselling products almost since it was first released two years ago.
Readers don’t need a Kindle to read Kindle books, however. Amazon also offers Kindle e-book readers for the iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android phones, and for Mac and Windows PCs. That kind of cross-platform reach is no doubt helping to increase the customer base for Amazon’s e-books, but it also serves as a reassuring security blanket: Even if you break your Kindle or lose it, you’ll still be able to read the books you’ve bought. While Amazon doesn’t provide a breakdown of sales by platform, we’re guessing that the vast majority come via the Kindle device, which, with its free 3G wireless connection and dead-simple e-bookstore, makes purchasing books about as effortless as can be.
Amazon’s e-book crusade is also helped by the fact that hardcover books cost $26 on average, while Kindle books are far less. More than 510,000 of the titles in Amazon’s e-book catalog cost $10 or less, according to the company.
With a discount like that, it’d take just about 11 e-books to justify the cost of a $180 Kindle, assuming you would have bought all of the hardcover alternatives at full price.
And since e-books cost Amazon virtually nothing to distribute, the company — and the publishers whose books it is selling — should be enjoying pretty fat margins on these titles too.
No wonder Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos always looks so happy.
Published on Wired.com 7/19/2010


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Equities analysts expect Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC) to announce sales of $1.17 billion for the current fiscal quarter, according to Zacks. Nine analysts have provided estimates for Brunswick’s earnings. The highest sales estimate is $1.24 billion and the lowest is $1.13 billion. Brunswick posted sales of $1.16 billion in the same quarter last year, which would indicate a positive year-over-year growth rate of 0.9%. The company is scheduled to issue its next earnings results on Thursday, April 26th.
On average, analysts expect that Brunswick will report full-year sales of $1.17 billion for the current financial year, with estimates ranging from $4.75 billion to $4.79 billion. For the next fiscal year, analysts expect that the business will post sales of $5.05 billion per share, with estimates ranging from $5.01 billion to $5.09 billion. Zacks Investment Research’s sales calculations are an average based on a survey of sell-side research firms that follow Brunswick.
Brunswick (NYSE:BC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by ($0.04). Brunswick had a net margin of 3.09% and a return on equity of 22.52%. The company had revenue of $1.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.13 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.66 earnings per share. Brunswick’s revenue was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis.
Shares of Brunswick (BC) opened at $58.30 on Thursday. Brunswick has a 1 year low of $48.04 and a 1 year high of $64.45. The firm has a market cap of $5,100.92, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.06, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.82. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.
In related news, insider John C. Pfeifer sold 3,780 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.96, for a total transaction of $207,748.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Brunswick by 4.3% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,928,462 shares of the company’s stock worth $162,382,000 after purchasing an additional 120,485 shares in the last quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Brunswick by 12.3% during the third quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 2,191,300 shares of the company’s stock worth $122,647,000 after purchasing an additional 240,600 shares in the last quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group raised its holdings in Brunswick by 13.2% during the third quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 1,673,989 shares of the company’s stock worth $92,823,000 after purchasing an additional 195,394 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Brunswick by 10.2% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,581,911 shares of the company’s stock worth $88,539,000 after purchasing an additional 146,661 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Brunswick by 8.0% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 901,104 shares of the company’s stock worth $50,433,000 after purchasing an additional 66,840 shares in the last quarter. 91.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY NOTICE: “Zacks: Analysts Anticipate Brunswick Co. (BC) Will Post Quarterly Sales of $1.17 Billion” was first posted by American Banking News and is the property of of American Banking News. If you are viewing this report on another publication, it was stolen and reposted in violation of international trademark & copyright law. The correct version of this report can be read at https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2018/02/08/zacks-analysts-anticipate-brunswick-co-bc-will-post-quarterly-sales-of-1-17-billion.html.
Brunswick Corporation is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of recreation products. The Company operates through three segments: Marine Engine, Boat and Fitness. The Company’s product includes marine engines, boats, fitness equipment and active recreation products. The Company’s engine-related products include outboard, sterndrive and inboard engines; trolling motors; propellers; engine control systems; and marine parts and accessories.
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
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The brick-and-mortar retail world has had a rough few years, with retailers closing nearly 6,000 stores in the United States in 2018.
This year has actually proven worse on this front, with that number being beaten a mere 15 weeks into the year; as of April 2019, a combined 5,994 stores were closed or scheduled for closing. If this trend continues for the rest of the year then 2019 might even beat the 8,000+ stores that closed two years ago in 2017.
The Apocalypse Is Here
Dubbed the “retail apocalypse” by some, the closures of the last few years have occurred for a variety of reasons.
Between 2018 and 2019, several retailers including Toys R Us, Payless ShoeSource, Gymboree and Charlotte Russe have announced plans to close all stores and liquidate their merchandise as a part of bankruptcy proceedings. Other companies are closing underperforming stores as part of a realignment strategy, sometimes in the hundreds. Family Dollar, for instance, will shutter 390 stores this year and see another 200 rebranded as Dollar Tree stores to adjust its market targeting.
Do these increasing number of closures signal major issues for the retail market, and perhaps for the economy in general? Not necessarily. While large numbers of store closures and company liquidations are never good, the underlying issue with the so-called “retail apocalypse” may not be what it first appears.
A Changing Economy
While a look at the numbers indicates a fairly widespread trend of closing stores, some retailers are experiencing growth in the same economy that’s seeing all of these closures.
The recently-released 2019 edition of the “State of Retailing Online” report by Forrester and the National Retail Federation may shed a little light on this trend. The report identified one significant difference between the companies that are struggling and those that are doing well: The better-performing stores almost always have a better integration between their in-store and online experiences than those that are floundering.
Some key highlights of the report included the following:
- 54% of retailers planned to open new locations
- The costs of maintaining eCommerce websites is increasing as online shopping becomes even more common
- Omnichannel distribution (a combination of both online and in-store shopping) continues to grow in popularity, though many retailers struggle to implement true Omnichannel solutions
- Digital marketing continues to shift toward social media
While there were a number of other points covered in the report, it’s clear from these four that there is an ongoing shift in the way that consumers prefer to do business.
Despite the store closings, there is still a significant amount of growth going on in the retail world. With increasing costs for doing business online and struggles in implementing Omnichannel solutions, many retailers are looking to cut costs in underperforming areas.
For these retailers, the cuts and closures being done now are intended to prevent longer-term failures in their business models. Adapting to economic shifts can take time, so by closing less-popular stores the retailers are attempting to streamline their operations. The hope is that the streamlining will reduce overall costs until they can make the required adjustments to their business and marketing strategies.
2019 Isn’t Finished
Until these retailers can figure out an effective strategy for the changing economy, store closures and even company bankruptcies will continue.
Some will be forced into the closures by business models that aren’t keeping up with online shopping. Others will undertake preemptive closures to protect the companies from having to make larger cuts down the road. Regardless, the “retail apocalypse” will continue throughout this year and well into 2020 at the very least.
Of course, this is of little consolation for those who are laid off or left unemployed by these cutbacks. Stability might return to the retail market in time, but the road will likely be bumpy for at least a few more years while the sector adjusts to the changing economy. With any luck, though, the store openings and other opportunities afforded by omnichannel expansion will start to outpace the closings before too much longer.


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Venable partner Stu Ingis was quoted in a September 30, 2009 New York Times story about new research into the public’s perception of websites' behavioral advertising practices.
According to a new survey from professors at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Berkeley, roughly two-thirds of Americans object to online tracking by advertisers — and that number rises once they learn the different ways marketers are following their online movements.
The professors believe their study, which will be released today, is the first independent, nationally representative telephone survey on behavioral advertising.
Behavioral advertising has quickly become a hot political issue. Privacy advocates are telling Congress and the Federal Trade Commission that online tracking has gone too far while marketers argue that sophisticated advertising generates revenue to support free online content.
Major advertising trade groups proposed self-regulatory measures, such as giving consumers clear notice that their behaviors were being tracked, back in July.
The study’s authors hired a survey company to conduct interviews with 1,000 adult Internet users. The results were later adjusted to reflect Census Bureau patterns in categories like sex, age, population density and telephone usage.
According to the survey, targeted advertisements did not appeal to 66 percent of respondents. When respondents were told that companies tailor ads by following what someone does on the company’s site or other sites, a significant number said the practices were “not o.k.”
However, more than half of the respondents believed that customized discounts and news stories based on their preferences were acceptable.
Stu Ingis, a Venable partner who represents the industry self-regulation coalition, said that the industry was taking steps to educate consumers about how behavioral targeting works.
“The more people understand the practices and how the data is actually being used, that’s when the concerns disappear,” Ingis said. Just because many Americans are not in favor of something does not mean it should be banned, he said, citing negative feelings about taxes.


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Even as a child of the 1980s, I can struggle with what made the decade so special. Was it the sky-high bangs and perms? Or the legwarmers and fluorescent track suits? The decade was also the era of “Ghostbusters,” “Gremlins” and “Back to the Future.”
The '80s were also a time where you could spend summer days riding around on a sparkly banana seat bicycle with your pet bunny in the basket. Wait, maybe that was just me.
But it's hard to deny the nostalgia of the decade. And that's what Rusty Ammerman is hoping for.
Remodeling is underway for Rusty's Ice Cream, which will be in White Swan Plaza off Lima Road between Till and Wallen roads. The shop will have a 1980s theme, from the geometric murals on the walls to the ice cream menu.
“We're really trying to create an experience,” Ammerman says. “We want you to walk into Rusty's Ice Cream, ... and feel like it's the summer of 1989 – one full decade of influence around you.”
The ice cream cooler will have 10 signature flavors with names like Milli Vanilla and Chocolate Chunk Truffle Shuffle. There will also be a menu of rotating flavors, with seasonal varieties like eggnog and peppermint.
A swirly machine will allow the staff to make everything from shakes to blizzards, as well as give hand-scooped ice cream the texture of soft-serve. Syrups and a non-dairy shake base will be combined to create a smoothie-like drink. Plus, there will be sundaes like the Bananarama Split.
The ice cream is made exclusively for Rusty's at a creamery in Anderson. It's a super premium ice cream, Ammerman says.
“My girlfriend and I have always really enjoyed ice cream,” he says. “When we travel and go on the road, we frequent ice cream shops. We became ice cream snobs – if there is such a thing.”
The shop will also have a jukebox with a thousand or so 1980s songs. He also hopes to add a video game machine or two.
An opening date has not been set.
Country at Club Room
The Club Room at the Clyde is launching its weekly Country Music Night. These free events will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursdays.
The launch of Country Music Night coincides with The Club Room's participation in Savor Fort Wayne, which begins today and runs through Jan. 24.
Hosted by Visit Fort Wayne, the seventh annual event allows diners to take advantage of three-course, value-priced menus at some of Fort Wayne's restaurants, including The Club Room, 1806 Bluffton Road in Quimby Village.
The Club Room's Savor menu includes seasonal features and the regular full menu for both lunch and dinner. Dine-in and carryout options are available. Carryout orders may be placed from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. by calling 407-8530, ext. 2.
Seasonal features include crab cakes, grilled Atlantic salmon, savory squash lasagna, braised short ribs and sea scallops, brought back by popular demand. Bottles of wine have been specially selected to pair with the Savor menu this year to round out the dining experience.
During the 12 days of Savor, The Club Room will provide a livestream of music Monday through Saturday.
“This is something special we're adding during Savor. If fans cannot get to The Club Room in person, they can still enjoy our entertainment from wherever they are,” Clyde executive director Gregg Coyle says.
The livestream can be found on The Club Room's Facebook page.
Portillo's has announced a new charity partnership with No Kid Hungry. Coinciding with Valentine's Day, Portillo's will offer its Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cake, a limited-time holiday spin on the brand's iconic Famous Chocolate Cake.
The Fort Wayne Portillo's is at 295 Coliseum Blvd. W.
As part of the partnership, Portillo's will be donating $5 from each cake purchase – up to $25,000 – to No Kid Hungry, whose mission is to end child hunger in America by ensuring that all children get healthy food.
The single-layer cakes will be available in restaurants from Feb. 5 to 14. Guests can pre-order their cake for pickup at Portillos.com or call 866-YUM-BEEF.
The heart-shaped cake can also be ordered on Portillos.com for $43.99, which includes two-day shipping.
• Ted's Beerhall, 12628 Coldwater Road, is partnering with Double Dragon Arcade to create an arcade in the wine bar. The “beercade” will allow visitors to play games while ordering from the Beerhall menu. Double Dragon Arcade, 4606 Parnell Ave., recently went “into hibernation” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership allows Double Dragon to operate and Ted's to use its wine bar space.
Hours for the beercade are 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Visitors must be 21 and older, and there is a $5 cover charge.
• A new Famous Dave's ghost kitchen will open Jan. 28 in the local Granite City Food & Brewery, 2809 Coldwater Road. Ghost kitchens function solely as a kitchen for delivery and pickup, giving customers access to the Famous Dave's barbecue menu. Adam Lehr, vice president of operations for Granite City, and the Famous Dave's team have plans to continue expanding these ghost kitchens in Granite City locations across the country in the coming months.
The Dish features restaurant news and food events and appears Wednesdays. Fax news items to 461-8893, email email@example.com or call 461-8304 at least two weeks before event or desired publication.


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Consumers are rounding out a strong third quarter which should result in another acceleration for real GDP growth to an annualized pace above 4.0 percent. But the momentum for spending is waning in the face of even higher interest rates and lingering inflation, while job gains continue to weaken. Moreover, the resumption of student loan payments, a likely government shutdown, and ongoing auto strikes set the stage for a sharp growth slowdown in the fourth quarter. Still, the long-awaited recession should be delayed into early 2024 and we expect the downturn to be modest in length and severity with activity rebounding over the second half of next year. Monetary policy should remain restrictive well into 2024, a downside risk for a deeper recession should the lack of credit and worsening affordability cut into consumer and business activity more than expected.
- Job gains picked up in August, but the trend weakened further after sharp downward revisions to prior months. Wage growth has moderated, but continues to rise rapidly, indicative of ongoing tight labor conditions.
- Sluggish core retail sales for August is evidence that consumers are reaching their spending limits, and analysis from the San Francisco Fed suggests excess pandemic-related savings have been fully spent.
- Core CPI inflation was disappointingly strong in August, pulled up again by rising costs for housing and transportation services. Even when excluding housing, super core services inflation saw its largest increase since January — a worrying trend for the Fed.
Analysis of current conditions:
The three-month average for job growth in August was the lowest since summer 2020 as the labor market slowly eases. Still, wage gains are strong in many industries, supporting consumer spending power and adding to services inflation. Even with these income gains, the consumer sector may be running out of steam with rising costs and higher interest rates forcing more households to tap into savings or take on additional debt. Against this backdrop, the FOMC decided to keep interest rates steady in September but is prepared to raise rates again later this year, if needed.
Outlook for the months ahead:
While economic growth in the third quarter was robust, headwinds for consumer and business activity are building for the fourth quarter. Interest rates continue to climb — further hurting the housing sector and business investment — while exhausted pandemic savings and renewed student loan payments should weigh on spending. These trends suggest a recession ahead for the economy rather than a soft landing. Still, the resiliency of hiring with many service industries should stave off recessionary conditions until early 2024 and an expected downturn is likely to be mild in nature.


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The number of e-cars is growing and the number of charging stations is not keeping up
The number of public charging stations is increasing, but that of e-cars is growing faster! The result: more and more cars have to share a freely accessible charging station, shows a VDA study.
Vattenfall wallbox in the AUTO BILD edition
The VDA ranking puts the number of e-cars in 400 cities and districts in relation to the existing charging infrastructure. In Saxony it looks best: 9.9 e-cars share a charging station. In Hesse, however, 19.9 e-cars “jam” per charging station.
VDA President Hildegard Müller calls for a faster expansion of the charging infrastructure.
Hildegard Müller, President of the Association of the Automotive Industry, criticized BILD am SONNTAG: “The expansion of the charging infrastructure on public roads is picking up speed. But while almost 60,000 new electric cars are registered in Germany every month, the number of publicly accessible charging points is only growing by almost 1000 per month. That is not enough. We need around 2000 new charging points per month. ” Germany is thus far from the forecast demand at public charging points. It will open 440,000 to 843,000 quantified in the study “Charging infrastructure after 2025/2030 – scenarios for the market ramp-up” (for reading) by the National Charging Infrastructure Control Center. Client: the Federal Ministry of Transport.
Central charging station register required
|Electric car accessories|
Heidelberg Wallbox Home Eco 11 kW
Price *: 449.54 euros
Morec Type 2 three-phase EV charging station 11 kW
Price *: 569.99 euros
EV OneStop Simple Universal Charger 7.2kW
Price *: 376.99 euros
Morec portable EV charging cable 3.6 kW
Price *: 245.99 euros
* Prices as of January 12th, 2021
City ranking: Salzgitter is ahead
The VDA report also provides the first city figures. After that, Salzgitter is a pioneer: 349 e-cars share 110 charging stations (3.2 per station). Weimar brings up the rear with only 25 charging stations for 1,842 e-cars (73.68 per station).
E-car demand is skyrocketing due to purchase bonuses
There are rules in parking lots with a charging facility, for example on how long you stay at the charging station.
Stronger than the increase in public charging points (this helps against charging column blockers) and the great demand for wallboxes funded with 900 euros rose the number of registered electric cars in the past months increased strongly. The main reason for this is that increased e-purchase premium. According to figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the first quarter of 2021 exactly 64,694 electric cars newly registered, an increase of almost 150 percent compared to the first quarter of 2020. The market share of all-electric cars rose from 3.7 to 9.8 percent. Means: That too Bedarf of charging current for electric vehicles has grown significantly – a trend that is likely to continue.


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ROSEVILLE (CBS13) — Detectives are asking for help in identifying the trio of suspects who stole nearly 50 items from a Roseville cosmetics store earlier in August.
Roseville police say the group went into the 1200 block of Galleria Boulevard store back on Aug. 1 and started filling up their bags with products. The three then left without paying.READ MORE: 4 Killed In Helicopter Crash Near Colusa
About 50 items worth over $4,500 was stolen, police say.READ MORE: 45 Structures Now Destroyed As Dixie Fire Grows To 244,888 Acres
Despite the fact the trio were all wearing face coverings, surveillance cameras managed to get good pictures of each of the suspects.MORE NEWS: Hefty Fees Part Of New Parking Experiment At Lake Tahoe Beach
Anyone who recognizes the group is urged to email investigators or reach to Roseville Crime Stoppers at (916) 783-STOP. Information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.


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GSM arena have announced The Samsung UK Black friday deals it seems.. Original article here
Good prices with trade ins, for example, trading in an OnePlus 7 pro 256gb for £250, gets you the SE 5g for £349, and the 4g for £249
In addition to the products mentioned above, Samsung has also slashed the price of the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G until November 30, which is down from GBP1,179 to GBP929. The Galaxy A71, too, will get a price cut from November 27 to November 30 and will be available for GBP335.
And on Black Friday, which is on November 27, customers buying the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Galaxy Z Flip, and the Galaxy Fold 5G will be able to save 15% on their purchase.
Aside from discounts, Samsung has announced that those living within a 30-mile radius of SamsungKX can use the exclusive Click & Collect service on selected devices, and orders placed through Samsung UK's online store will be available to collect the next day at no extra cost, provided the order is placed before 6PM.


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Endorsement: Vote yes on Amendment AA
We want to encourage all of our readers who are eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election to support a statewide proposition, Amendment AA, which seeks to tax recreational retail marijuana sales to provide revenue for school construction, pot-industry regulation and drug education.
As critics have pointed out, the tax rates are high: a 15 percent excise tax and a 10 percent sales tax, above and beyond the state and local sales taxes that already are levied on standard retail transactions. Opponents of the new tax plan say Amendment AA’s effect would be to drive marijuana buyers back to underground dealers who are unregulated, creating a difficult start for those involved in recreational pot sales and cultivation.
That could be the case, but The Aspen Times always has been in favor of efforts to legalize recreational marijuana sales and to tax the industry as a way of funding critical programs that benefit Coloradans. There are those who still would look to the underground market in order to save a few dollars, but we doubt that the tax would have an overall crippling impact on commercial activity. We believe the vast majority of shoppers in Aspen are generally well-to-do and will see the recreational shops as a convenience that will offset any concern about higher taxes.
Every new industry faces difficulties. Over time, markets are tested and the retailers who run efficient operations are left to profit while others fall by the wayside. That will be the case for the state’s recreational pot retail operators, whose first licensees will be allowed to open their doors beginning Jan. 1.
Amendment 64, which overwhelmingly passed voters’ muster a year ago and forces the state to regulate marijuana like alcohol, was supported largely on the grounds that marijuana would be taxed to benefit voters. We find Amendment AA in keeping with the spirit of Amendment 64 and strongly urge your vote in favor of it.
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Pokemon Go is still one of the most popular mobile games currently available. And with the recent changes to make it a lot easy to play at home, more players have begun their journey to collect pokemon. The game receives updates regularly that bring in new events and special items to keep users coming back.
However, it seems that the development process for Android is being affected a bit. This is because the game has to be optimized for a vast number of Android devices. Making the game work on older-gen hardware requires a bunch of extra work that may prevent the game from running at its best.
Thus, Niantic has announced that Pokemon Go will be discontinued on 32-bit Android devices from August. In the announcement, they claim that the move will help them streamline the development process. Moreover, it will help them in adding support for more operating systems.
Therefore, Pokemon Go will stop working on these Android phones along with many others from August 2020:
- Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, Note 3, J3
- Sony Xperia Z2, Z3
- Motorola Moto G (1st generation)
- LG Fortune, Tribute
- OnePlus One
- HTC One (M8)
- ZTE Overture 3
This isn’t a list of all the Android devices that will lose support for the game. Any Android smartphone that has a 32-bit SoC will not be able to run Pokemon Go. Hence, most devices launched before 2015 will be affected by the change. Although, there can be some exceptions. In case you purchased a phone within the past couple of years, this change should not affect you.
The new update will also affect iOS users who are using an iPhone with a 32-bit CPU. Thus, if you have an iPhone 5C or older, Pokemon Go will not run on the device after the August update.


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Cannabidiol (CBD) is the non-psychoactive compound that is found in the cannabis plant that is gaining traction amongst alternative wellness consumers, which is seeing new products like the Botanic Lab CBD Botanical Tea come about.
The drink is reported to be the first of its kind in the UK and is free of artificial colors, flavors, refined sugars and sweeteners to make it a healthier alternative to traditional drinks. The addition of 2mg of hemp extract will help to calm the consumer and create a sense of wellbeing without having to rely on traditional medicines or treatments.
Explaining the new Botanic Lab CBD Botanical Tea, founder Rebekah Hall, said, "Consumers are increasingly bypassing alcohol in favor of soft drink options, but even in this day and age the non-alcohol choices are limited, boring and frankly a little flaccid. The introduction of this Botanical Tea Drink range is what we have been waiting for. Incorporating one of the most talked about and culturally significant plant ingredients of the last 100 years, CBD Botanical Tea is a groundbreaking drink."


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Toyota made the world premiere of its new full-sized Tacoma pick-up at this year’s Detroit Motor Show, which opened its doors on January 12.
In addition to its 2.7-liter in-line 4 cylinder gasoline engine, it’s also the first in its segment to offer a 3.5-liter V6 version. This V6 is a newly developed unit that uses an Atkinson cycle with Toyota’s direct injection D-4S technology.
The new Tacoma’s transmission is 6-speed automatic and 6-speed manual is available for the V6 version. According to Toyota, this gives it more power than the existing version and also increases fuel efficiency.
(Translated by Greg Scott)


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Square Enix’s Team Asano have stated on Twitter that they are looking to announce and release multiple games this year, including the promising Triangle Strategy for Nintendo Switch, which is due out 4th March. Team Asano has proved to be a formidable force with popular JRPG’s such as Octopath Traveler and games in the Bravely Default series. Hopefully we won’t have long to wait until we hear what Team Asano is planning next.
Looking forward to “Dodecagon Tactics” and “Pentagonal Voyager.”
Usually not a fan of using video game acronyms besides RPG, but I think we got to start saying PTS, the full name is too much.
Not a huge rpg player but if this one gets good reviews I think I’m in. Was excited for Octopath but never played after reading reviews. Didn’t get terrible reviews, just wasn’t what I thought it would be.


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Mitsubishi unveiled a plug-in hybrid version of its updated Outlander model at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, complete with all-wheel drive. The new vehicle could help Mitsubishi in the U.S. market, where hybrid SUV competition is limited.
Finally bowing to the interests of owners, Toyota comes out with a Prius hybrid that can be plugged in, and operated as an electric vehicle for about 13 miles.
Ford gets specific with the details surrounding the 2012 launch of its fully electric Focus.
Welcome to the first installment of a new feature that where we will be explaining the whats, whys, and hows of car technology.
Ford Motor Co. and Progress Energy are expanding their plug-in vehicle research partnership to include the utility company's Florida operations
Decisions made in 2010 will play a crucial role in shaping how consumers and the auto industry adopt all-electric and hybrid vehicles.
Pike Research survey shows 48 percent of consumers would be interested in buying plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to save money.
At a dinner speech recently, Henrik Fisker laid out his plans for Fisker Automotive and its first car, the plug-in hybrid Karma.
Utilities plan to use smart-grid technology to tap into the stored electricity of plug-in electric vehicles in exchange for an electricity rate discount for car owners.
To avoid electronic waste problems and recuperate valuable material, European solar manufacturers are starting to look at solar panel recycling.


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Changes in the wireless phone world are creating a strong market for used phones.
Mike Russell is thinking about switching to Verizon when they start offering Apple iPhones, but what will he do with his old iPhone from AT&T?
"I'm think about selling it," said Russell.
A number of retail stores from Radio Shack to Best Buy are offering buy back program for used phones.
Tom Tullie is CEO of ecoATM, a touch screen kiosk that pays for cell phones in a number of San Diego malls.
"Just like a used car market," says Tullie, "there's a market for used cell phones."
Tullie says as new generations of smart phones hit the market, owners want to upgrade, creating a large supply of used phones.
The company pays for the phones on the spot then sells them to wholesalers who put them on eBay or to foreign like China and India.
"Our society wants to keep trading up and trading up and this really give you a beautiful opportunity to put your phone in, sell it and go on to something else you want," say Tullie.
A used Apple iPhone 4 often sells for between $300 and $400.
Motorola Droid and BlackBerry phones are also popular on the secondary market.


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The Swedish environmental magazine MiljöRapporten, together with an external jury, ranked the report first among 54 others from companies included on the OMX Stockholm Large Cap list.
In the May issue of MiljöRapporten, Daniel Boman wrote that the report won because it focuses on how sustainability issues can be incorporated as part of a business strategy to win market share and gain a competitive advantage, rather than presenting these issues as problematic. He also noted that Ericsson defined its report’s target group clearly, and accounted for its progress in a variety of ways to increase accessibility.
Elaine Weidman-Grunewald, Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson, said: "Our sustainability and CR strategy about making the link between our core business – our products, services and our people, and ensuring that we make a positive impact on people and society – is what we mean by Technology for Good, and that is in essence the overall theme of our 2011 report."
Transparency regarding business strategies is a recent trend in sustainability reporting. "To be credible, a strategy has to be presented openly," Weidman-Grunewald says. "In a company as big as ours, that can be a challenge, but that’s the way sustainability reporting has evolved, and as society becomes increasingly transparent, we need to be transparent as well."
The reports were evaluated on five criteria: overall impression; accessibility; long-term approach; the business advantage of sustainability; and credibility.
MiljöRapporten and the jury noted that Ericsson took a comprehensive approach to its report, linking its operations to solutions to the global sustainability challenges that are most relevant to the company’s business. For example, the report linked Ericsson’s new solutions for transport systems to the problem of climate change, thus demonstrating that the company’s sustainability efforts have a clear purpose.
On a more general level, more facts and less advertising – and the beginnings of a focus on business advantage – were among the positive trends seen in this year’s reviewed reports.
MiljöRapporten and the jury reviewed the 54 sustainability and CR reports from large-cap companies, and then chose 20 of them on which to focus further. Ericsson’s report was the unanimous winner among the five finalists.


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|Business to Business Statistics – Marketing Outlook for 2012|
|Corporate Blogging Statistics – Use Declines|
|Women Rising to Top in Europe|
Business to Business Statistics – Marketing Outlook for 2012
According to BtoB’s “2012 Outlook: Marketing Priorities and Plans” survey, marketers are moving more of their spending into lower-cost online and social media programs.
Overall, the study shows that nearly one-half (48.4%) will keep their budgets flat this year; 40.8% will grow them; and 10.8% will make cuts.
Some 74.0% plan to increase their online spending, while 41.4% will raise event spending, 36.5% will boost direct mail, and 20.1% will enhance their print advertising. Decreases will include 22.4% of marketers cutting their print advertising, 13.4% slashing direct mail, and 12.1% lowering their event marketing spending.
As for online spending, the top areas of growth will be websites (cited by 67.6% of marketers), email (67.5%), social media (64.3%), search (54.8%), video (50.5%) and webcasts/virtual events (45.6%).
The survey also shows that 70.3% of marketers now use social media as part of their marketing strategy. The top uses for social media are brand-building (82.6%), lead generation (51.4%), thought leadership (47.4%) and customer feedback (39.5%).
Corporate Blogging Statistics – Use Declines
A study by the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth shows that the use of blogging has declined for the first time among Inc. 500 companies. (Inc. 500 companies are defined as the fastest-growing private U.S. companies compiled annually by Inc. magazine.)
Among the 170 Inc. 500 companies polled during late 2011, 37% have a corporate blog, down from 50% in 2010. (Some 45% had them in 2009 and 39% in 2008). The study also revealed decreases in the use of message boards, video blogging, podcasting and the MySpace social network, with increases in the use of Facebook (employed by 74% of responding companies), LinkedIn (73%), Twitter (64%) and YouTube (45%). Texting, downloadable mobile applications, and Foursquare are being utilized by 13%-15% of these companies.
Some 90% of respondents said that social media tools are important for brand awareness and company reputation, with 80% relying on these tools for delivering web traffic and 81% for lead generation. Seventy-three percent believe social media tools are key to their customer support programs.
Source: University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth
Women Rising to Top in Europe
In the U.S., women make up over one-half of professionals and managers in the lower and middle ranks of large companies but only 14% of senior managers, 3% of chief executives and 16% of board positions. Nothing significant is happening to change those domestic statistics, but the European Union is pushing for companies to promote many more women to top jobs, and threatening mandatory quotas if change doesn’t happen.
Some EU member countries have begun self-regulating to make the change. For example, France now has laws requiring all companies to raise the proportion of female directors to 40% by the end of the decade. In Spain, public and large private companies must increase the number of women on their boards to 40% by 2015. Some large German companies have already set their own voluntary targets. Norway, which is not an EU member country, began requiring a 40% share for women on boards almost a decade ago and reached this level in 2009.
Why is this change being pushed now after years of neglect? In the past few decades women in Europe and elsewhere have been attending universities in large numbers, and in most countries they now make up a majority of new graduates. Many governments recognize these highly qualified women as an underused resource especially since study after study has shown that companies with lots of women in senior positions are more successful than those with few or none.
Source: The Economist
- Only 3% of Americans believe that and Ivy League education makes someone a better worker.
- Sixty percent of women ages 40-59 say they are less concerned that they used to be about what others think of them, compared to 43% of women ages 20-39. Some 48% of women ages 40-59 have a positive outlook on life, compared to 36% of women 20-39.
- U.S. companies spent $56.13 per person on logo-ed promotional products in 2010.


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Toyota Boshoku UMW (TBU) has opened its third plant in Shah Alam. The plant will support the processes at the first two plants by producing seat padding and form-in-place headrests for the new Toyota Vios.
Additionally, the new plant will be pioneering the introduction of vibration absorption foam to improve the new Vios’ ride comfort, said UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ismet Suki.
Over RM22 million has been allocated to develop the plant on a 3,200-square metre built-up area. The project started earlier this year as part of UMW Toyota Motor’s RM1 billion investment plan from 2011 to 2013.
“Since 2004, the sales turnover has grown from RM121 million to RM230 million in 2012,” Ismet said, adding that the demand for assembling seats, door trims and interior parts has also increased.
TBU was established as a JV between Toyota Boshoku Corporation of Japan and UMW Toyota Motor in 2006. It produces and assembles seats, door trims and interior parts for the Toyota Vios, Hilux, Fortuner, Innova and Hiace built by Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB), as well as Hino commercial vehicles.
The first plant (ex-Seat Industries (M) Sdn Bhd) started its ASSB operations assembling seats for the Corolla. It expanded later on to seat frames, door trims and headlinings for other Toyota models.
The new Toyota Vios’ Malaysian launch is just around the corner. The order books are open, with estimated pricing revealed. You have a rough idea of its specifications and equipment, and we’ve shown you the car at IIMS, Bangkok, Spot & Snap, on a trailer and on oto.my – everywhere but in the kitchen sink.
Not long now, boys and girls!


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Start the conversation
By MICHAEL A. ROBINSON September 27, 2018
Urgent Briefing: The only undefeated individual that I know of is sharing his secrets. All 32 of his closed positions are winners. Not some, not most, ALL OF THEM. And as of August 8, 85 of his 87 open positions are up (the vast majority by double and triple digits). The craziest part is he’s accomplished this incredible feat without ever using a single option.
Earlier this month, we celebrated the best Labor Day weekend in decades.
No, I'm not talking about all of those holiday sales – or my backyard barbecue (though it was pretty awesome).
Instead, I'm talking about the numbers the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) unveiled on Friday, Sept. 1, a few days before Labor Day.
According to the BLS, the nation created more than 200,000 jobs in August, beating forecasts. The unemployment rate remained at a decades-low 3.9%.
On top of that, wages are finally on the rise after stagnating since the recovery began almost a decade ago. With a 2.9% year-on-year growth, wages climbed at their fastest rate since June 2009.
But here's the thing. There's something about this jobs boom that Wall Street isn't telling you about.
Independent contractors also find themselves in the midst of a huge rally.
A new report says that the barely talked-about freelance workforce is growing three times faster than overall labor growth. Right now, it contributes $1.4 trillion to our economy.
This trend is bound to shake up employment as we know it.
And I've uncovered a great tech stock poised to crush the market thanks to this unstoppable trend.
Check it out…
Spirit of Independents
Now then, if all you did was glance at the headlines, you'd think the fast-growing U.S. economy heavily favors employees over freelancers. It's easy to see why.
Let's start with the hiring streak. August was the 95th consecutive month in which American employers hired more people than they fired. This is the longest such streak on record and, in part, explains why we have 6.9 million unfilled jobs out there.
You see, those employment trends are creating new income for millions of families. The U.S. Census Bureau says last year was the first time the average American middle-class household earned more than it did the year before since 1999. That average household income came in at a record $61,372.
In other words, with the economy running in high gear, it's never been a better time to become self-employed – or to start a new small business, for that matter.
We see that reflected in the rise in power and income of independent workers. We're talking about folks like lawyers, accountants, and marketing and management consultants, as well as truck drivers, landscapers, real-estate agents, and sales reps.
Consider a study from Edelman Intelligence that says independents are trading in their W2s for 1099s in record numbers.
Titled Freelancing in America 2017, the comprehensive report found that 57.3 million people as of last year were technically self-employed, though many may work as independent contractors for the same firm for many years.
Urgent Briefing: From juvenile delinquent to #1 strategist in America (119 trades, zero realized losses). Once you see how this man makes money, you’ll never want to invest the old way again. But I’ll let you make that decision.
Growing three times faster than the official labor pool since 2014, independents will outnumber formal employees by 2027 according to the report, which was conducted for Freelance Union and Upwork, both pools for independent workers.
Self-Preservation Is Key
The report suggests that a surprising number of independents are motivated to give up a formal arrangement by simple self-preservation.
Edelman says 54% of U.S. workers believe their jobs may not exist in 20 years, falling victim to the impact of artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation.
By becoming freelancers, these people believe they can stay ahead of such threats and carve out careers in which they can respond quicker to big tech shifts. Some 65% of independents say they are updating skills to remain marketable, compared with 45% of employees who say the same thing.
And remember, many independents who file 1099 forms with the Internal Revenue Service as self-employed individuals own small businesses.
This group also is enjoying its halcyon days. The National Federation of Independent Business found last month that small-business optimism is at its highest ever in the 45 years it's been surveying members.
Add it all up and you can see that this is a great market for a tech leader that caters to this massive block of self-employed people.
That's exactly what makes Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) a powerhouse in this field.
Yes, the software firm sells heavily to consumers with its famous TurboTax package. The best-known product in its class, TurboTax has more than 50 million users.
He grew up in abject poverty with three sisters and a single mother. He was a juvenile delinquent who did drugs and got arrested constantly. He worked as a struggling dishwasher for years and was barely able to afford clothing and food. In so many words – Tim came from NOTHING. But today, he’s the most talented person in our entire industry. And it is my great honor to be able to share his work with you for the first time ever.
But Intuit also counts more than 5.5 million small businesses and self-employed people as clients with products like the accounting package QuickBooks. With QuickBooks, independents can track their banking, sales, expenses, taxes, reports, and more in a single dashboard.
The storied Silicon Valley leader really picked up the pace with self-employed clients beginning in 2014. That's when it launched QuickBooks Online Self-Employed.
It was a big hit with independents and is now one of the firm's fastest-growing products, counting 700,000 users. This helps explain why Intuit's self-employed and small-business unit grew 18% in its most recent quarter, compared with the year-ago period.
Intuit's own surveys show that the ratio of independents will rise to 43% of the workforce by 2020.
The company is clearly taking a cue from its customers. And it's all because of its highly popular financial app Mint. In 2013, the company noticed that users wanted to keep personal and professional expenses separate – and pounced on the market.
Now, Mint is gaining popularity with this user group. The cloud-based app allows users to track their bills, get alerts about upcoming bills, get credit checks, set and maintain budgets, and get tips on how to save money.
With these powerful packages, no wonder Intuit is doing so well and offers investors the chance to score outsized gains.
Consider that in its fiscal fourth quarter ended July 31, sales grew 17% from the year-ago quarter to $938 million. Even better, earnings per share doubled to $0.18.
And we can see the impact of that earnings growth on the stock's appreciation. Over the past two years, this tech stock is up more than 107%, beating the S&P 500 by nearly 200%.
In other words, this is more than just a great way to play the red-hot trend of self-employed individuals.
This is one of those dependable tech leaders that you can count on for the long haul to keep you squarely on the Road to Wealth.
Beyond the firing-on-all-cylinders economy, other job creators are brand-new, fast-growing economic sectors – like the legal cannabis industry.
The industry analysts at Arcview Market Research expect the sector to employ 467,000 full-time workers by 2022.
Now, After 11 Years of Searching…
11 years, 3 months, and 22 days.
That’s how long I’ve been the publisher at Money Morning.
And every day during that period, I’ve searched high and low for the very best talent our industry has to offer – hedge fund managers, quant traders, financial software engineers, options experts, you name it.
But today, I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our team.
His name is Tim and he is the only undefeated individual in this entire industry (that I know of).


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Developer Crest Nicholson has received the green light to deliver 239 new homes and nearly 10,000m² of retail and leisure space set in a new Town square in Farnham, Surrey.
The Brightwells scheme will deliver 239 homes, including 167 for private sale and 72 homes under the Shared Ownership scheme to be purchased by Thames Valley Housing.
The scheme includes the Grade Two Listed Brightwells House which is to be retained, refurbished and extended. There will be a retail and leisure space and a 183-vehicle car park.
Crest Nicholson, who were first appointed to the project in 2003, will deliver the scheme over the next three years.
Councillor Julia Potts, Leader of Waverley Borough Council and ward member for Farnham Upper Hale, said:
“It’s been a priority for the council over many years to regenerate this part of Farnham so it becomes a sustainable, attractive and joined up part of the town. Somewhere people want to live, work and socialise.
“Like myself, many of my fellow councillors joined the council because we wanted to make a difference to our towns and borough. I am delighted that we are in agreement that this regeneration can now finally proceed and deliver huge community and financial benefits to the people of Farnham, the borough and the whole of Waverley.”
The regeneration secures more than £2 million of external investment into the Farnham community and includes an additional £2 million for highway improvements in central Farnham.
Crest Nicholson estimates that once finalised the Brightwells site will provide Waverley Borough Council with a potential income of £700,000 to £900,000 per annum from a combination of rental income, business rates and car parking.
Up to 400 jobs in the construction sector will be created during the development of the Brightwells scheme, with a further 400 permanent jobs in the leisure, retail and hospitality sectors once fully complete.


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Jan 25, 2017 (LBO) – The withdrawal of the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal implies that the agreement will not be implemented, which would slow impetus for further structural change in member countries that would boost competitiveness and investment, the Moody’s Investors Service said.
“The failure to implement the deal represents a lost opportunity for exporters aiming to gain greater access to major markets,” Marie Diron, associate managing director of Moody’s said.
“We had anticipated TPP to reduce the cost of trade and open up new investment opportunities for its 12 members, and in particular, its Asian members.”
Among the 12 member countries, the economies of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Mexico are reliant on exports and show the greatest exposure to trade with TPP countries.
With this lost opportunity, prospects for significant large gains in incomes, for instance in Vietnam or Malaysia over the medium term — on the back of higher trade — will be reassessed.
Some countries have begun exploring other trade options, bilaterally or with China through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
However, she says the potential trade deals currently envisaged are unlikely to provide as big an economic benefit as the TPP, where member countries accounted for 40 percent of global GDP.
In recent years, TPP trade negotiations served as a catalyst for reform, such as the reduction of protectionist policies in Japan’s agricultural sector.
The abolishment of the deal could slow impetus for further structural change in member countries that would boost competitiveness and investment and improve institutional quality, Diron added.
“We do not expect the reform measures that have been implemented in anticipation of TPP to be reversed.”
Singapore will be one of the least affected by the abandonment of the TPP, because it already has trade agreements in place with nine TPP countries.
Similarly, Japan and Australia are only modestly exposed to trade with TPP countries, and their export products maintain strong access to other global markets.


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Bloomin’ Brands has increased the size of its planned initial public offering and named Raymond James & Associates Inc. as an underwriter.
The Tampa company, whose portfolio includes Outback Steakhouse and other dining chains, now plans to raise as much as $345 million in an IPO, a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said.
That’s up from the $300 million proceedings expected when the company initially unveiled its plan to go public last month.
The company also added Jefferies & Co. as co-lead manager, and four co-managers, including Raymond James & Associates, the full-service broker-dealer subsidiary of Raymond James Financial Inc. (NYSE: RJF) in St. Petersburg.
Bloomin’ Brands, with $3.8 billion in revenue in 2011, owns and operates 1,247 restaurants and has 195 restaurants operating under franchise or joint venture arrangements. In addition to Outback Steakhouse, other concepts are Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, and Roy’s.


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Software AG and SAP have partnered to better surface supply chain management data with the aim of improving product quality.
The news, which landed as Software AG held its Capital Markets Day, highlights how multiple players are forming partnerships to focus on the industry 4.0 market.
Software AG's alliance with SAP will combine SAP's S/4HANA Cloud with Software AG's TrendMiner, which is self-service industrial analytics software for smart factories.
According to the companies, the partnership will bring sensor-generated time-series data into the analytics and operational performance fold.
Software AG in January reported bookings growth of 31% in the fourth quarter and 24% for 2020. Digital transformation drove demand for Software AG.
For 2020, Software AG reported revenue of €834.8 million, down 3.8% from a year ago. Net income (non-IFRS) was €125.4 million.
Software AG said that it will "double down on its existing strategy by focusing on five priority areas, namely: continuing to develop its subscription growth engine, fostering product innovation, driving internal simplification to improve productivity, progressing the ongoing cultural transformation driving its success, and taking a more proactive stance towards Mergers & Acquisitions."
In 2023, Software AG is projecting €1 billion in revenue.


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On Feb. 8, 2021, Buy Rent Sell Now LLC sold their home at 624 N.W. 15th Terrace 1-4, Fort Lauderdale to Marilyn Cindy Sylvestre for $410,000.
The last time this home sold was Aug. 4, 2006. It last sold for $300,000.
This property is one of 148 sales in Fort Lauderdale in February 2021.


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Chrysler is recalling nearly 700,000 minivans and SUVs because of an ignition switch problem.
This recall affects 2007 to 2009 Dodge Journey SUVs and Chrysler Town and Country,and Dodge Caravan minivans.
The company says rough road conditions — like driving over potholes — may cause the vehicle’s key to slip out of the run position.
Also, there are more problems for General Motors.
The company is adding another 8.2 million vehicles to its long list of vehicles that have been recalled because of an ignition switch problem.
In addition, the wiring and fasteners may be faulty.
Five separate recalls have now been issued because of the ignition switch issues — bringing the number to 17.1 million vehicles.
Worldwide, the company has recalled nearly 30 vehicles.


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Daktronics of Brookings, South Dakota, has released the DB-6400, the latest addition to their DB-6000 digital billboard series. This new series pairs the most reliable billboard to date with a host of features that enhance lifetime image quality including Snap auto-blending calibration and a 10-year brightness guarantee.
"We understand that outdoor companies have a number of business drivers, but when it comes to digital billboard technology there are two that highly impact revenue - product reliability and lifetime image quality," said Collin Huber, Daktronics OOH sales manager. "Our new DB-6400 makes it easy for display owners to maximize revenue on day one and for the life of their display."
"Since the release of our previous digital billboard series in 2015, we have seen a greater than 99.9% reliability rate," said Lori Sieler, Daktronics product manager. "Continuously building on those developments, customer feedback and stated industry needs, we are confident the DB-6400 digital billboard will be a game changer."
While product reliability and uptime are key to the success of an outdoor company's business, image is what is sold.
"Image is everything, at least to advertisers," said Joni Schmeichel, Daktronics OOH marketing strategist. "This is why we don't take shortcuts when it comes to image quality. We work diligently to continually increase display contrast and ship at a higher brightness level, it is also why we source the highest-quality, targeted LEDs. It's the combination of these features that set Daktronics digital billboards apart."
Alongside an already extensive list of features that enhance image quality – a high-quality, targeted LED, a high-contrast proprietary louver design and matte module coating, and a ship brightness of 8,500 nits – Daktronics is introducing the revolutionary Snap auto-blending calibration method to help maintain lifetime image quality.
Daktronics Snap calibration, a first in the Out of Home industry, is a feature that allows display modules to auto-blend to their surrounding modules with the press of a button, thereby reducing service times and eliminating the 'patchwork' variation currently seen on aging displays in the industry.
With state-of-the-art testing facilities, more than 10 years of advanced diagnostic data and an ever-evolving digital billboard product line, Daktronics has set new standards in the Out of Home industry.


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Eurasia partnership pledge
Updated: 2012-11-07 07:52
As one of the largest gatherings of the world's political leaders this year, the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting, which concluded in Vientiane, Laos, on Tuesday, has proven valuable in building mutual understanding and cementing partnerships between the two continents.
The message from the meeting was the two continents will seek to promote new initiatives for greater cooperation.
The pledge to expand cooperation will not only bring real benefits to the people of Asia and Europe, it will also help boost confidence in the global economic recovery. The ASEM countries account for about 60 percent of the world's population and more than 60 percent of global trade.
As a multilateral platform, the biennial summits have become an important stage for Asia and Europe to discuss the world economy and regional and global issues of mutual concern.
Over the 16 years since ASEM was founded, trade links between ASEM partners have grown increasingly stronger, and Asia has made significant advances.
Today, Asian economies are no longer just exporters and recipients of European investment. They buy increasingly more goods from their European counterparts and actively participate in global finance and governance.
The growing clout of Asia means it is a win-win strategy for countries in Asia and Europe to build stronger ties and reach broader consensus, so that they can respond to challenges and opportunities together in a more active way.
China, for its part, has increased its interaction with the countries of both continents. With Europe mired in its debt crisis, it has made earnest efforts to help. Its imports from European countries have continually grown, and in June it announced it will contribute $43 billion to the recapitalization of the International Monetary Fund, one of the key players managing to keep several debt-ridden European countries afloat.
Premier Wen Jiabao put forward a new proposal to promote the steady growth of the world economy during the ASEM meeting, and Wen made clear when addressing the summit meeting that China will support every effort the two continents make to boost cooperation in energy security and disaster prevention and mitigation.
ASEM partners should strive to fulfill their pledge to engage in a stronger and more dynamic partnership and create a more sustainable and balanced global growth.
(China Daily 11/07/2012 page8)


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You are here
CHICAGO - Hispanics clearly prefer Mexican food above all other cuisines when they step out to eat - but they care more that their Latino-styled dishes generally taste good than that they are authentic, according to new research from foodservice market watcher Technomic Information Services here.
Technomic said Census Bureau data now places Hispanics at roughly 44 million-nearly 15 percent of the U.S. population-comprising the U.S. the third largest concentration of Hispanics in the world, after Mexico and Colombia.
"We see that successful foodservice operators and suppliers will need to keep abreast of what these new consumers will expect on restaurant menus, how frequently they'll dine out, and how to best serve them," said Darren Tristano, e.v.p. of Technomic Information Services, which released the Hispanic Foodservice Report.
In a July 2007 survey of more than 1,000 U.S. Hispanic consumers, Technomic found Mexican is clearly the most-preferred cuisine among Hispanic consumers, as indicated by 58 percent of survey respondents. Italian is a distant second (19 percent), followed by American (11 percent).
When ordering Latino-style entrees at full-service restaurants, more than half (58 percent) of the respondents said they are more concerned with the general taste of these menu items than their authenticity. Furthermore, 50 percent of Hispanic consumers believe that if a restaurant offers such foods, it should also offer Latino-style beverages.
Spending is substantial among Hispanic consumers at full-service restaurants; reported individual check averages were $14.80 at lunch and $20 at dinner.
Hispanic consumers are more likely to visit independent restaurants than chains. Among those surveyed, 48 percent had visited full-service independent Mexican restaurants and 34 percent had dined at full-service independent restaurants serving other types of foods.
Technomic said more information about the study is available at www.foodpubs.com.
Technomic Information Services has been tracking the foodservice industry for over 40 years, providing industry intelligence, forecasts, data and training support to manufacturers, operators, distributors and others allied to the field.


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Recently, Li Ning Group announced that it entered the children's wear field with a brand new management team and a brand new brand logo, and announced the development plan for Li Ning's children's wear for the next 5 to 10 years. â€œLittle Li Ningâ€ will become the focus of the Group's development.
Li Ning children's wear spring and summer 2013 new products
It is reported that the Li Ning Group has had several "mutations" in recent years, all of which are unpopular. The original desires of consumers after the 70th and 80th purchases have declined, but they haven't bought enough after the 90th. They are aiming at the children's wear market again. The drastic transformation triggered criticism from people in the industry. Some people in the industry pointed out that the blind pursuit of innovation and change may not be able to achieve the desired effect.
"Li Xiaoning" is not favored
It is understood that the new concept of 2013 Li Ning children's clothing spring and summer product orders will be held in June, the new store image, channel model will also debut in the second half. Li Ning relevant responsible person said that the next ten years, Li Ning's current consumer groups have become parents, their own preference for the Li Ning brand will also extend to the children to choose clothing, which will bring Li Ning children's clothing a huge business opportunities .
In Li Ning's view, Li Ning has at least two major advantages in entering the children's wear field: First, after years of hard work in adult sportswear, Li Ning has a strong brand awareness and influence; Second, Li Ning in adult clothing The original business system will also fully support and drive the development of â€œLittle Li Ningâ€.
However, Li Ning's move was criticized by many people in the industry and consumers. â€œChildren today are very picky. They like international brands such as Nike and Adidas. The price is the next best thing.â€ When asked if they would buy Li Ning children's clothes for children, Ms. Mok, who purchased sportswear at Zibo Sports City in West Lake Road, Guangzhou, is like this. Told reporters. Another sports lover, Mr. Zhang, said that Li Ning should work hard on product R&D and design and manage the existing adult sports field to have a way out.
Zou Yiming, a senior marketing person of sports brand, pointed out that Li Ning Company will be internationalized for a while. It will move closer to the â€œpost-90sâ€ and open up the children's wear market for a while. Its strategy really makes people in the industry unable to understand, let alone ordinary consumers.
Corporate performance declines earnings decline
Li Ning's 2011 annual report showed that sales revenue was 8.93 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 5.8%. This is undoubtedly the nightmare of Li Ningâ€™s 2011 performance, making its â€œbossâ€ status precarious. â€œThe second yearâ€ Antaâ€™s 2011 annual report showed that sales revenue was 8.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 20.2%, approaching Li Ning. In terms of operating profit, Anta achieved 2.011 billion yuan, far more than Li Ning, and various operating indicators can still be maintained at the average level of the industry. In terms of profitability, Li Ning appears to be facing a more serious setback, from 2009 to 2010. In the year, Li Ning realized operating profits of 1.342 billion yuan and 1.547 billion yuan respectively, and in 2011 it dropped to 631 million yuan, far lower than the 960 million yuan in 2008.
In addition to the chase of domestic sports brands, on the other hand, the ambitions of international brands in the Chinese market are clear. Adidas, once surpassed by Li Ning, surged 28% last year in sales in China, ranking first in the world. Its market share has surpassed that of Li Ning and it has taken second place. Nike has already explored the tentacles in China's fourth- to sixth-tier markets. Obviously, Li Ning has been caught between "tigers." The relevant person in charge of the Li-Ning Group stated that Li Ningâ€™s overall sales of the Chinese sportswear industry maintained a low-digit growth in 2011, retail terminals still faced inventory pressure, and industry competition was even more fierce. â€œThe next two to three years will be the transition period of the industry.â€
The company has not yet eased its misery from the miserable data of a sharp drop in net profit by nearly 60%. Li Ning Company also encountered a "supply chain pollution incident." Not long ago, five environmental protection organizations such as the Public Environmental Research Center released pollution survey reports in the textile industry in China. Li Ning, Adidas, Nike and many other well-known companies have different levels of pollution control violations in their supply chains, and many companies have large amounts of pollutants. Problems such as low water use efficiency. In the pollution incident, the â€œinjuryâ€ was Li Ningâ€™s company. The outside world turned the 2011 annual report recently released by Li Ning Company out of control and pointed to its â€œrich marketing cannot control pollutionâ€.
It is undeniable that in recent years, Li Ning has always been very hard on the road to exploration and transformation. In June 2010, Li Ning launched the largest brand reshaping campaign in the history of the company, and upgraded the brand LOGO that has been used for 20 years to the new brand LOGO of â€œLi Ningâ€™s cross-actionâ€, interpreting it as â€œhumanâ€. The new sports values; To seize the young consumer groups, boldly played the "Post 90s Li Ning Company" slogan. All these publicity focuses have been placed in first-tier cities, with 70 sixth-generation flagship stores opened in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and other places, and there are positive competitions with international brands such as Adidas and Nike. However, judging from the market reaction, this reckless decision has led to the "two-headed" problem.
Expert opinion: Li Ningâ€™s performance decline comes from tactical instability
â€œIt can be said that Li Ningâ€™s repeated brand rebranding initiatives failed and the timing was not right.â€ Wang Xianqing, director of the Circulation Economic Research Institute of the Guangdong Business School, believes that Li Ningâ€™s rapid rise in the early stage of corporate development has entered a period of maturity Lost in the direction, bewildered, and unclear in strategic thinking, left to the consumer, conveyed to the market is also a poorly positioned bad image.
According to Wang Xianqing's analysis, Li Ning Company has experienced various changes and changes in creativity, positioning, and product design styles in just a few years. It even includes attempts to operate different markets in multi-brand formats, all of which have ended with little success. The decline in Li Ning's performance is due to tactical instability. The well-known â€œPost-90 Projectâ€ hastily launched because it did not really think about how to go deep into the bone marrow to rebrand the brand. The proposed communication ideas and ideas could not be tapped to the spiritual essence of sports, lacking in peopleâ€™s hearts and eventually losing their remodeling. The significance.
Wang Xianqing also pointed out that in fact, the story of Li Ning's growth reflects the plight of the entire Chinese manufacturing industry. After the failure of rebranding, the prominent problems are also the dilemma faced by the entire domestic industry: the core value of the brand itself has not been effectively improved. The lack of irreplaceability. It is undeniable that at present, the sporting goods industry is in the most painful period of the industry. All companies are facing the same transformation pain and the adjustment time will be very long. Li Ning still hopes to take the lead out of the adjustment period and usher in sporting goods. The industry's new round of growth opportunities.
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For the love of gourd.
The pumpkin spice latte (aka PSL) returns to Starbucks on Tuesday, and the 15th anniversary of the limited-edition drink laced with pumpkin puree and spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves has inspired a bumper crop of copycat coffees, cereals, beauty products, treats, yogurt and even rum spiked with the now-ubiquitous autumn flavor.
The pumpkin pandemonium is returning to the Seattle coffee chain earlier than its usual September launch. This year is the first time that Starbucks has served its PSL in August since 2014, when it began brewing on Aug. 26, Business Insider reports.
“Our launch date for the Pumpkin Spice Latte has varied in the past 15 years, but we know PSL is a beverage that Starbucks customers wait for with anticipation. We’re excited to give our fans the opportunity to get their fall fix a little earlier this year!” a Starbucks spokesperson told Moneyish. “Our customers tell us their first sip of PSL signals that fall has arrived – we love that it has become an iconic symbol of the season.”
Actually, rival Dunkin’ Donuts debuted its fall menu even earlier this year, serving its pumpkin-flavored coffees, doughnuts and muffins, as well as its own pumpkin-flavored K-Cups, on Monday. But analysts agree that the nation’s insatiable appetite for the Starbucks latte swirled with pumpkin pie flavors -- it didn’t add actual pumpkin puree until 2015 -- is what’s responsible for spawning the $500 million dollar pumpkin spice craze. In fact, Google Trends data show that searches for pumpkin spice have shown a sharp spike over the past week, with “Starbucks pumpkin spice latte release date 2018” as the most popular search term.
The java giant has sold more than 350 million PSLs since it was first introduced in 2003. And it also just dished new pumpkin spice cookie straws ($6.99 for 20) and pumpkin spice-flavored coffee K-Cup pods ($9.99 for 10) earlier this month.
Nielsen data show that dollar sales of pumpkin-flavored items reached a new high of $414 million in 2017, up from $286 million in 2013. And more than one in three U.S. consumers purchased something pumpkin-flavored in 2014, Nielsen noted. Even actual pumpkins are enjoying a bump in popularity; with shoppers hungering for more natural and whole foods, fresh pumpkin sales reached $121 million in the year ending July 1, 2017, up from $116 million in the previous period, according to Nielsen.
What makes this so profitable is that one taste isn’t enough. Food industry analysts at the NPD Group told Moneyish that pumpkin spice buyers are important because 29% of them have made more than one pumpkin spice purchase, and they visit retailers hawking the fall flavor twice as many times as non-pumpkin spice lovers -- spending $3 more apiece on average, and racking up checks that are 10% higher on average than non-buyers.
And timing is everything. “Pumpkin Spice Lattes and pumpkin spice flavors are now a tradition, a fall ritual, with many consumers; a harbinger of fall like football, falling leaves, and sweaters,” Annie Roberts, vice president of foodservice at the NPD Group, told Moneyish. “It is clearly a winning strategy for coffee chains to continue to offer pumpkin spice lattes as a limited-time offer. Consumers anticipate their availability and know the drinks are only around for a short period of time, and this anticipation creates demand.”
There are signs that the seasonal squash is over-saturating the market, however, as the growth in pumpkin spice sales has slowed. While 2016 saw a 10% increase in pumpkin spice sales over the year before, that slowed to a 6% increase in 2017 over 2016, Nielsen reported. In fact, maple-flavored fall products are now giving pumpkin spice a run for its money, with some tastemakers dubbing the syrupy taste “the next wave of pumpkin spice” as some shoppers have soured on the PSL.
But the demand for all-pumpkin everything is still strong -- and it’s creeping into all kinds of other industries. Here are several other seasonal products looking to pumpkin-spice up your life.
- Besides Starbucks’ and Dunkin’ Donuts’ pumpkin-laced coffees, you can expect McDonald’s to start serving its McCafe Pumpkin Spice Latte soon, and 7-Eleven will feature pumpkin spice hot coffee, creamer, muffins and ice cream. Tazo Chai even has pumpkin spice-flavored tea ($3.29 at Target).
- And you can spike any of these PSLs with pumpkin spice rum. Captain Morgan’s Jack-O’-Blast ($9.99 to $39.99) spiced rum is back, and even comes in an orange pumpkin-shaped bottle. It was originally released in 2016, and has returned for the past three autumns to shake up your autumn and Halloween cocktails.
- Bulletproof, the brand that spurred the fat-for-fuel movement by putting high-quality, unsalted butter in coffee, has added pumpkin spice collagen protein bars ($34.95 for 12) to its lineup this fall. “Adding seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice was a result of consumer demand,” Bulletproof founder Dave Asprey told Moneyish. “Far too many pumpkin-flavored fall favorites contain large amounts of sugar or frankenfood chemicals that keep you foggy and tired. We wanted to offer a seasonal-inspired snack that consumers can enjoy, without getting a sugary food coma.”
- On the breakfast front, Kellogg’s has pumpkin spice-flavored Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini Wheats and Special K cereals (generally $2.99 a box); General Mills has pumpkin spice Cheerios ($2.99); Quaker Oats has pumpkin spice oatmeal ($2.59 at Target); Bear Naked has pumpkin spice granola ($3.99 at Target); and there’s pumpkin pie Pop-Tarts ($3.07 at Target). And Thomas’ Pumpkin Spice English Muffins ($4.49) and Pumpkin Spice Bagels ($4.79) will hit stores on Sept. 10.
- The only thing better than the taste of pumpkin spice is the smell, so Native Natural Deodorant is bringing its limited-edition pumpkin spice latte scent back on Sept. 6, which it describes as “sweet and spicy with a hint of citrus” for $12.
- Auntie Anne’s has been rolling out pumpkin spice pretzel nuggets the last few fall seasons. The bite-sized pretzel pieces (which usually run around $3.79) rolled in pumpkin spices will be available Sept. 3 through Oct. 10.
- Treat House is dishing sticky goodies such as the Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treat ($32 for 12), Pumpkin Spice (Cake) Pop ($21 for six) and the Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treat Donut ($54 for 12).
- If you really want to get “nuts” about the trend, Blue Diamond has pumpkin spice almonds ($5.99 at Walmart), and Peanut Butter & Co.’s pumpkin spice peanut butter ($4.99) is already on shelves.
- Noosa’s whips up pumpkin spice yogurt ($2.59 at Fresh Direct) that includes actual pumpkin puree and pumpkin seeds.
- Godiva’s pumpkin spice chocolate truffles are filled with a pumpkin spice ganache. They’re $15 for five on Amazon, and already sold out on Godiva’s website.
- And yes, Simply Beyond has $11 pumpkin spice-flavored cooking spray.
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As we all know, Kanye West’s first shoe with the Three Stripes hit the world throughout the month of February, selling out instantly. However, at various launch dates Kanye actually surprised some fans by hand-delivering their coveted shoes to them as they picked them up at stores. Here’s a brief recap of what went down during the inaugural debut in February.
The irony of all of this, is when – even after he delivered and, in some cases, signed them – some folks still took to the resale circuit to flip the kicks. Gotta love capitalism.


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Customers are doing more and more business online. A spokesperson said the branch’s business was simply no longer profitable: “On average, we have two visitors per hour in the four existing branches, and the number of cash transactions was around ten per day.
Customers now have to decide for themselves whether to accept this procedure. From a conversation between “biallo.de” and the CEO of Raiffeisenbank in the Hochtaunus, Achim Brunner, it emerges that most customers understand the decision and in some cases probably expected it. But he also admits: “But this truth also means that some customers are better suited to other banks.”
#Erste #Bank #removes #cash #offer #customers


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Jewellery brand Clogau has been identified as one of London Stock Exchange’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain.
The report is a “celebration of the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium sized businesses.”
To be included in the list, “companies needed to show consistent revenue growth over a minimum of three years, significantly outperforming their industry peers.”
Clogau is a second-generation family business based in Wales, continuing a long tradition of creating jewellery that is hand-crafted and contains rare Welsh gold.
Clogau managing director, Ben Roberts, commented: “Clogau, alongside the other businesses in the list, is identified as exceeding sector averages for compound annual growth, in addition to spearheading innovation and creating new jobs within our field. We’re delighted to be recognised as a ‘Business to Inspire Britain’ and particularly proud to be one of the 25 chosen from Wales.”
Xavier Rolet, chief executive, London Stock Exchange Group said: “High growth SMEs are the driving force behind the UK economy, developing the skills, jobs and growth we need. But ambition alone is not enough; their success must be highlighted and their growth properly supported with appropriate finance. That’s why today’s event is so important: demonstrating the strong alliance between UK Government, financial market participants, investors, entrepreneurs and companies to support these inspiring businesses.
“Today’s celebration is fundamental to London Stock Exchange’s core, the need to support UK high growth companies in their journeys from start-up to stardom and create an entrepreneurship revolution.”


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Reddit users may now purchase Ethereum (ETH) directly on the discussion board thanks to a new partnership with FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange owned by Sam Bankman-Fried.
This is possible through the successful integration of FTX Pay, a solution that makes for seamless purchase of digital currencies and which was first introduced back in 2020 as a pilot test.
Consumers may purchase blockchain-based community points which are stored in a digital “Vault”.
They are used to help community members raise their stature in particular communities and establish their reputation.
Presently, the points are designed to give consumers some control over what happens in discussion boards through voting rights.
Only two communities are using this blockchain-based community point system, to name /r/Cryptocurrency and /r/FortniteBR. However, Reddit is optimistic that adoption will increase as the intuitive solution becomes more appealing to tech-savvy consumers.
Consumers better not rush into these points either, as they will have to understand how the purchases work. For one, buying these points would have to be completed in Ethereum (ETH).
The network on which the currency is based will also charge gas fees for transactions, and some consumers may not be prepared or know about these additional charges.
This is why Reddit and FTX will take things slowly as they introduce and educate consumers about all they need to expect and account for.
Regardless, Redditors are very likely to uptake NFTs, cryptocurrencies and other blockchain solutions naturally as the consumers on the platforms are more open to embracing new technology.
If you wish to use your crypto recreationally, we recommend checking out 1xBit, FortuneJack or Bitcasino.io.


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Liquor stores in neighborhoods seek commercial rezoning
Some north Baltimore wine and liquor stores may have found a way around a proposed Baltimore City zoning change that could eventually ban them from the residential neighborhoods in which they are located.
By Larry Perl, firstname.lastname@example.org
June 11, 2013


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Christkindlmarket Naperville is nearly here, and it’s bringing back old favorites while introducing something new.
Naper Settlement and German American Events are putting on the German-inspired market for the third year in a row.
“We had over 245,000 visitors in 2017 and we’re really excited to provide a place for people to shop, eat, explore, and celebrate the holidays,” said Abby Bobzin, the public relations and social media coordinator for Naper Settlement.
Forty-five vendors will set up their shops to sell traditional German food and drink along with hand-crafted ornaments and decorations.
“There are vendors from Illinois, New Jersey, California, Germany, Canada, Ukraine, and Israel even. So people can explore a little bit of everything,” said Bobzin.
As visitors explore the market and even Naper Lights, they’ll come across this year’s new addition next to the Halfway House behind the Playscape.
“So the Winter Wonderland Experience is going to be a lot of really beautifully decorated Christmas trees, fun blow up elements, like blow up Santa Clause and snowmen, and light up elements,” added Bobzin.
Christkindlmarket Naperville is open select days from Black Friday through Christmas Eve, and you can check out its hours on the Naper Settlement website.
Naperville News 17’s Christine Lena reports.
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Czech Republic: GDP falls at sharpest pace in over a decade in Q1 on partial Covid-19 blow
The economy contracted 2.0% on an annual basis in the first quarter (Q4 2019: +2.0% year-on-year) as the Covid-19 containment measures started to take their toll. Q1’s reading came in slightly above the 2.2% contraction of the preliminary release and marked the sharpest downturn since Q4 2009.
Fixed investment plunged 5.5% in Q1, contrasting the 4.6% increase logged in the previous quarter. Private consumption stagnated in Q1 due to the lockdown measures which came into effect only in mid-March, marking the worst result since Q1 2013 (Q4 2019: +3.2% yoy). Meanwhile, government spending picked up noticeably, surging 7.1% (Q4 2019: +1.7% yoy)—the sharpest increase since Q4 2003.
Exports of goods and services contracted 2.4% in Q1, marking the worst reading since Q1 2013 (Q4 2019: -1.5% yoy) as foreign demand was dashed by Covid-19. Similarly, imports of goods and services fell 2.1% in Q4 (Q4 2019: +1.4% yoy). Taken together, the external sector subtracted a 0.4 percentage points from the headline reading, following the heavy 2.4 percentage-point deduction in the prior quarter.
On a seasonally-adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, economic activity dropped 3.3% in Q1 (Q4 2019: +0.5% s.a. qoq)—marking the worst reading since Q1 2009.
Commenting on the first-quarter reading and what to expect for the second quarter, Jakub Seidler, chief economist at ING Czech Republic, noted:
“The economic downturn in March alone was over 10%, and in the last weeks of March it was around 25%. Given that April was almost entirely affected by restrictions and May also returned to normal relatively slowly, it is clear that the decline in the domestic economy in 2Q will be in the double digits”.


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The man himself, Stan Lee, has teamed up with Studio DEEN for a brand new TV anime titled “The Reflection”. Mushishi’s Hiroshi Nagahama directs the anime, and before it premieres later this month, the staff has unveiled a brand new PV:
The new video teases the anime’s setting, which is a world recovering from an incident which killed many people. This incident was caused by an atmospheric phenomenon known as “The Reflection”, and somehow, after the incident, people started getting superpowers. But while some used their powers for good as heroes, others used their powers to become villains.
The Marvel legend created the anime together with Mushishi director, Hiroshi Nagahama. Studio DEEN is animating the 12-episode series, which premieres July 22, 2017. You can check out the characters and key visual through this link.
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Home Tags Cellphone
The number of cellphones in South Africa has soared by over 800% in the past decade or so, according a new report. And while internet connectivity speeds are ponderously slow and very expensive, this has not stopped South Africans from using their phones to connect to the web.
Want to be in your photograph but don't want to ask a stranger to take your picture? TapShoot is the answer. The intriguing smartphone app for Windows phones grabbed its developer a top place in the Nokia Future/Capture contest.
In a bid to exploit South Africa's abundant sunshine and reduce reliance on mains electricity, Vodacom has launched a low-cost solar-powered mobile phone with the unique ability to charge on the go - even when it's not in direct sunlight.
First National Bank has partnered with NetFlorist to allow its customers to buy flowers online and pay for them quickly and safely by using their cellphones.
The International Finance Corporation has taken up a 10% stake in Johannesburg-based Wizzit Bank, which enables its customers to operate bank accounts using cellular phones, extending banking services to low-income earners and customers in rural areas.
The penetration of cellphone banking in South Africa has more than doubled in the past year, and is expected to climb further in 2008, while the gender gap in users of such services is also dropping, new research finds.
A team of South African students have won an international award for developing an online, cellphone version of the traditional African board game Morabaraba.
Everyone knows a free cellphone is not really free, but it has always seemed impossible to figure out what you are really paying. Until now, that is. A new guide to cellular phones and contracts promises to guide South African consumers through the traps and tricks of the industry.
Just over one in 10 South Africans with bank accounts have used their cellphones for banking, according to a new study, with high perceived cost being the strongest inhibitor.


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This deal entails that Playson's iconic portfolio will be assimilated in Playtech's platform.
This new partnership deal between Playson and Playtech will give people a wide range of Playson's award-winning titles to play with on the Playtech Open Platform (POP). Playson has a collection of wonderful video slots such as the recently released Timeless Fruit slots, Solar Queen, Funky Fruits series, and Rome: Caesar's Glory.
Playson is one of the leading software providers in the iGaming industry. Established in 2012 and headquartered in Malta, they have a modest game portfolio (around 45 games at this time) but the quality of each game is up to the highest standards.
At this time Playson is a partner of NYX, Microgaming Quickfire, MediaTech, SoftGamings, and other platforms. The list of the partnering operators includes 1xBet, Betsson Group, Hero Gaming etc.
Partnering with Playtech marks a significant milestone for the slot provider, demonstrating the quality of its games portfolio and widening the reach of its content to players worldwide.
Also included in the new partnership are Playson's promotional tools, such as its integration-free jackpots, seamless play, free spins, and regular tournaments with daily prize drops, all of which are proven to enhance player retention.
Playson CEO Aleksander Ivshin said, "Playtech is one of the sector's largest software development companies and we're thrilled to have partnered with them. With Playtech operating in every key market, this strategic deal is sure to open up some exciting opportunities in the months and years to come."
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