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Super Bowl commercials 2017: Political pitfalls abound
There’s a good reason why Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest day of the year for advertisers: It’s the only annual TV event where more than 100 million viewers are eager to watch the commercials.
The scrutiny that Super Bowl commercials get raises the stakes for advertisers, which in 2017 are each shelling out an average of $5 million to secure air time during the game. Marketers spend millions more on production, hiring top-notch directors and celebrities, and running promotions leading up to the game, which will air Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox.
Despite advertisers’ hard work to on their marketing messages -- which typically boil down to “buy our product” -- this year’s batch of ads may get viewed through an unintentional lens: politics.
Super Bowl ads that carry a political message aren’t unheard of, such as 2016’s Bud Light ad with Amy Schumer and Seth Rogen as mock-political candidates. Yet this year’s crop may not be able to sidestep the filter of partisan politics even when their companies are aiming for a lighter, humorous message. That’s because of the Trump administration’s policies on everything from trade to immigration, which affect the businesses of many top Super Bowl marketers.
Take Avocados From Mexico, a third-time Super Bowl advertiser, whose message about the health value of avocados appears to be politics-free. Yet given negative rhetoric from President Donald Trump about Mexican trade, including his threat of placing a hefty tariff on Mexican imports, the commercial’s very existence is likely to raise questions from American viewers.
“Will they get more attention given that everything that’s happened in the last week, and with some senators commenting on the price of guacamole?” said Carl Marci, chief neuroscientist at Nielsen Consumer Neuroscience. “Does that create an extra focus on an ad for avocados?”
As Marci suggests, the attention may turn into a positive for Avocados From Mexico, although the company noted that its reason for securing time in the game isn’t related to current political debate over Mexican imports.
“Those millions and millions of viewers will be watching the game with beer, chips and with guacamole. It’s a perfect day to show our message,” said Avocados From Mexico President Alvaro Luque. He added that the commercial has been in the works for about six months, or well before Mr. Trump’s victory in the November elections.
The goal, he said, is “to focus on positiveness and not get distracted by the politics.”
It’s unlikely that the commercials that will air on Sunday were designed with a political message in mind, of course. Typically, companies spend months tailoring their game-day messages, which sometimes represent the continuation of a long-running marketing campaign.
Hulu will air its first ad for an original series during the Super Bowl with a spot that some may see as politically suggestive, given the Trump administration’s vows to cut contraceptive benefits for women and overturn Roe v. Wade. The spot will advertise “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a series based on the 1985 Margaret Atwood novel about a dystopian future where women have no rights under an American fundamentalist theocracy.
Budweiser (BUD) is another advertiser whose ad may spark a political discussion, given its spot focuses on the challenges and benefits of immigration. Mr. Trump has clamped down on immigration from seven majority Muslim countries, and his administration has created a draft order that would review the country’s H-1B visa program for highly skilled non-U.S. workers.
The Budweiser spot functions as a mini-movie about the travails and opportunities of a German immigrant during the 19th century. After a harrowing trip across the ocean, he lands in a crowded U.S. city only to hear cries of “Go back home!”
Eventually he finds a kindred spirit in St. Louis, and over a beer, they strike up a friendship and a plan to brew a new type of beer. The immigrant is revealed to be Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch.
Ahead of the commercial’s airing on Sunday, some Trump supporters have already created a boycott in response to the ad with the hashtag #boycottbudweiser. “Budweiser needs to bring the Clydesdales back & keep their politics to themselves!” one user wrote on Twitter. One person’s American dream, it seems, is another person’s anti-American message.
“We try to stay pretty apolitical,” said Squarespace Chief Executive Anthony Casalena. “We’re a platform used by so many different people, with different ideas and from different countries. We are proponents of free speech and don’t want to get into value judgements.”
Squarespace’s Super Bowl commercial features actor John Malkovich as he tries to secure a domain name, only to find that somebody else has secured the address. Growing increasingly frustrated, he starts swearing at JohnMalkovich.com, a website that shows a fisherman holding his catch. “How the f-- can you be John Malkovich?” he yells.
“It’s a serious kind of funny, not slapstick,” Casalena said. “That thoughtful humor is where we want to be as a brand.”
Humor tends to be a defining characteristic of Super Bowl ads, partly because the game is typically a social event for friends and family, when serious messages can be viewed as inappropriate or too dark. Research is also indicating that humor helps prod viewers to tweet or talk about ads, which boosts a commercial’s reach far beyond the game-night airing.
“Advertising is trying to engage people so you lay down a memory that influences future behavior,” said Nielsen’s Marci, who is applying neuroscience to consumer receptiveness toward commercial messages. “People smiled more at the ads that were tweeted more, and that makes a lot of sense.”
Said Marci: “Facial expressions create a social signal, and if an ad generates a smile, that’s something you want to share.”
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In 2015, Rocket Internet-owned FoodPanda acquired JustEat’s India business. At the time, Sandipan Mitra was heading JustEat’s operations in the country; with changes afoot, he decided to launch a new startup of his own. This was familiar territory—Mitra had sold his food tech startup, HungryZone, to JustEat in 2011—and he wanted his second stint as an entrepreneur to be in the same domain. The challenge was to pin down a new concept in the sector.
While conducting research and talking to the stakeholders in the food sector, Mitra learned that while technology had disrupted the consumer-facing space, its B2B side was still untouched and had zero tech intervention. No one had tried to change how cafeterias or canteens in office buildings work, and the system still functioned very much like it did three or four decades ago.
In April, when Mitra spoke to corporate managers, cafeteria owners, food providers, and employees who regularly eat in their office canteens, he learned about the arrangement’s shortcomings, and decided that this was where he could develop new modes of services.
In September 2016, along with Uttam Kumar, Mitra co-founded HungerBox, a startup that develops cafeteria management systems.
“The biggest pain point of employees in office cafeterias is inconvenience due to standing in queues. Plus, no one knows what’s on the menu. The administrator running these premises don’t know if the cafes are working fine. In a town hall meeting, once in a while someone will raise the issue and then things would be changed,” Mitra told KrASIA.
By the end of 2016, HungerBox had partnered with six companies to streamline the operations of their in-house canteens. Employees could use the HungerBox app to check the day’s menu, place their order, and pay for their food online. Notifications are sent out when orders are ready, and employees can pick up their food without having to line up. “As all payments are online or through the POS machines, there is no pilferage [customers may take food from the canteen on credit, and then neglect to clear their tabs], which was one their pain points,” he said.
HungerBox also provides analytics to cafeteria managers via a dashboard, where they can see which food items were more popular, check their customers’ reviews and ratings, and adjust their menu offerings accordingly. The company claims to process more than 600,000 daily orders from 525 cafeterias that are spread over 20 cities. It earns commission on each order. And HungerBox can connect clients with caterers if needed.
“Depending on what’s happening in the cafe and how the company wants to participate in managing their cafeterias, we change our billing structure. There are places where we charge companies, while in other instances we only charge food partners, and then there are arrangements where we charge both the stakeholders,” Mitra said.
The company raised USD 12 million in December last year from digital payments firm Paytm and NPTK, an Asian venture capital fund. Its existing backers, Sabre Partners and Neoplux, also participated in the funding round. It has raised a total of USD 16.5 million so far.
Now, HungerBox is diversifying its services to manage shopping mall food courts and movie theater snack stands.
In March, when India went under a lockdown that lasted nearly two months, Mitra said HungerBox’s business took a huge dive. To remain relevant in changing times, it developed a security layer on top of its cafeteria management suite.
Despite speculation that companies will maintain work-from-home arrangements for months or years to come, Mitra is hopeful. Based on a survey conducted by HungerBox, the co-founder believes that 80% of company staff will return to the office after the pandemic passes.
HungerBox’s management system now includes features for our pandemic era. For instance, it includes UV sterilizers for food safety. And it limits the number of people in a canteen to prevent overcrowding. As one places their order on the app, they are assigned a waiting number based on the number of people who are already in the canteen. The gate to the cafeteria will only open when a user’s number is called and they scan their QR code at the door.
Once inside, users need to activate Bluetooth on their phones, which will beep if they are physically too close to another individual. At the end of each work day, the system also includes the number of social distancing violations in a report to the client company.
“Companies know that the day when offices open, they have to provide safe and convenient food to their employees as cafeterias are not an optional service,” Mitra said.
Last year, when HungerBox raised its Series C round, it had plans to expand to Southeast Asia. However, Mitra said, the plan has been put on hold. He is hopeful that by next year, things will be back to normal and the company can make its way into new markets. “The good thing is around two-thirds of our clients are multinational companies, so when we enter a new country, we don’t have to hunt for new clients,” he said.
Slowly, as offices open up in select cities in India that are not under lockdown, HungerBox’s business is crawling back slowly. “This quarter is a little better than the last one, and hopefully the last quarter of this year will be far better than the previous ones,” Mitra said.
This article is part of KrASIA’s “Startup Stories” series, where the writers of KrASIA speak with founders of tech companies in South and Southeast Asia.

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Toyota has agreed to a settlement valued between $1.2 and $1.4 billion in a class action suit by Toyota vehicle owners who claim that their vehicles are prone to sudden, unexplained acceleration. The estimated settlement is the largest of this type in US history in terms of dollars paid out and number of vehicles involved. The settlement includes direct payments to consumers as well as the installation of a brake-override system in an estimated 3.25 million vehicles.
The case was filed in 2010 after drivers across the country began reporting that Toyota vehicles suddenly and unintentionally accelerated. Toyota has long maintained that the vehicles were free from electronic flaws causing the acceleration.
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nor the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was able to find any defects in Toyota’s source code that could cause these events.
After a flurry of lawsuits were filed against Toyota, Judge James Selna consolidated the cases (Case Nº 8:10-ml-02151-JVS-FMO) in US District Court in California and appointed attorney Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro as co-lead counsel on 14 May 2010, placing Berman in charge of directing the class litigation and leading settlement discussions with the Japanese auto manufacturer.
After two years of intense work, including deposing hundreds of engineers, pouring over thousands of documents and examining millions of lines of software code, we are pleased that Toyota has agreed to a settlement that was both extraordinarily hard-fought and is exceptionally far-reaching.—Steve Berman
Terms of the proposed settlement include:
Toyota will install a brake-override system in vehicles subject to floor mat entrapment recalls. Brake-override systems cut power to the throttle under certain circumstances when the car receives simultaneous signals to accelerate and to stop.
The settlement establishes a fund of $250 million to be paid to former Toyota owners who sold their cars during the period from 1 Sept. 2009 through 31 Dec. 2010, to compensate those owners for an alleged reduced value as a result of publicity concerning unintended acceleration.
A separate fund of $250 million will be established to compensate current owners whose vehicles are not eligible for a brake-override system (BOS). The amount consumers receive depends on the model and year of their Toyota, and the state in which the car was purchased.
The settlement also provides that all 16 million current owners will be eligible for a customer care plan that will warranty certain parts that plaintiffs allege are tied to unintended acceleration for between three and 10 years.
The agreement also provides $30 million in education grants to independent academic institutions to further the study of auto safety and to enhance driver education.
Judge Selna is expected to review the proposed settlement on 28 December 2012, and if he agrees with its fairness, will grant preliminary approval. More information on the details will be available if the court gives preliminary approval to the settlement.
Current and former Toyota owners will receive information about the settlement and instructions on filing a claim in the coming months.
In a statement, Christopher P. Reynolds, Group Vice President and General Counsel, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A, and Chief Legal Officer, Toyota Motor North America, said:
This agreement marks a significant step forward for our company, one that will enable us to put more of our energy, time and resources into Toyota’s central focus: making the best vehicles we can for our customers and doing everything we can to meet their needs.
This was a difficult decision—especially since reliable scientific evidence and multiple independent evaluations have confirmed the safety of Toyota’s electronic throttle control systems. However, we concluded that turning the page on this legacy legal issue through the positive steps we are taking is in the best interests of the company, our employees, our dealers and, most of all, our customers.
Toyota will take a one-time, $1.1 billion pre-tax charge against earnings to cover the estimated costs of the economic loss settlement and possible resolution costs of civil litigation brought in California by the District Attorney of Orange County and an investigation by a multi-state group of Attorneys General stemming from previous recalls.


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How difficult is it for Apple to come out with a TD-SCDMA compatible phone model though? I shouldn't think it would be that difficult if they really wanted to. But this is a really good deal for Nokia.... while it lasts.
After a long time I am seeing a strategic decision that is going in favor of Nokia. But not sure for how long as 200 million customers in China switch their handset every year! By the way, how is Samsung doing in China?
Hi, Sanjib. The number "200 million customers" I threw in the story is partly driven by the massive shift currently occuring among China Mobile users swtiching from 2G to TD-SCDMA.
As for Samsung in China? They are doing really well.


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Seven Tides using VR to sell Dubai apartments
Luxury developer providing VR tours of Se7en Residences
Dubai-based property developer Seven Tides International is showcasing its latest project in virtual reality.
The company is using the Visual Navigator VR platform to provide virtual 3D tours of its Se7en Residences on the Dubai Palm.
The Visual Navigator, is a web-based 3D platform for architecture and interiors, which utilises a dynamic, media-rich web interface to present an immersive Virtual 3D Walkthrough Tour of a chosen apartment.
The powerful visualisation tool allows prospective buyers, residents and investors to view 2D and 3D floor plans, take 3D tours and view relevant images, videos and diagrams. Additionally, web-based 3D editor functionality allows buyers to experiment with interior styles and configurations to fully visualise their dream home, before committing to a purchase.
The VR features are available through www.SevenTides.com. Seven Tides said that the VR platform will be a valuable tool in catching the interest of the more than 90% of real estate buyers who begin their house hunt online. Visual Navigator also has a proven track record in real estate sales in helping achieve higher sales prices, with 83% of featured properties meeting or exceeding the listed price to date.
"Using the latest technology, Visual Navigator is a state-of-the-art tool revolutionising how buyers interact with real estate developers and agents. This marks a turning point in how Dubai's real estate is showcased to prospective buyers and it's an exciting development for both Seven Tides and Dubai's wider real estate industry," said Abdulla Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides International.
"The tool's integration into our sales process compliments our brand new online presence, which combines the latest technology, tools and software, for a seamless experience on desktop, tablet and mobile. The Visual Navigator is already popular with our clients and we expect this immersive and interactive experience to support strong sales across the SE7EN Residences portfolio, bringing our investors and residents one step closer to moving into their dream Dubai home."


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With a number of locations in Harlem, now Taco Bell has launched a $1 breakfast menu. The menu features existing items such as a breakfast burrito, a two-pack of Cinnabon Delights, and hash browns, as well as several new items, all costing $1. Continue Reading →
The Golden Arches, Mickey D’s, McDonald’s has three restaurants in Harlem right in the backyard where an American mozzarella stick experiment that began at McDonald’s restaurants in New York will expand nationwide in 2016, the Golden Arches told investors today. Continue Reading →


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The HTA National Plant Show, held at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, celebrates its 10th birthday in 2019 – a real milestone in the UK horticultural calendar bringing together growers and retailers at a key point in the year.
With plant sales, showcasing new products and networking at its core the show has seen changes over the course of its 10-year history from the development of the seminar offering to the addition of a sister event to run alongside it – the Nursery Supply Show.
The show has grown in exhibitor numbers over time, not only because of the success of the event, but due to the exceptionally high quality of the plants that exhibitors bring. Part of its success is down to the level playing field approach of only allowing a maximum of two stands per company. This really allows the ‘plants to do the talking’, the strapline adopted by the show. Awards such as the ‘Planting the Seed’ award encourage exhibitors to maximise on their displays, inspiring retailers on what can be achieved with their products and highlighting the key features available.
The New Plant Awards are at the heart of the show and extremely popular with visitors and exhibitors alike – attracting around 100 entries year on year. The awards have also proved to be a forecast on what plants will do well at shows and awards throughout the year.
The development of the Nursery Supply Show has meant that the full spectrum of suppliers from labelling and product information, polytunnel and glasshouse supply and substrates and growing media are in one place and brings additional benefit to those exhibiting in the National Plant Show. This show is moving to Hall 1 in 2019 giving it more scope for development and growth in the future.
The Retail Concept Awards are the newest award at the HTA National Plant Show, and the most exciting one for visitors to look at and vote for. This award gives retailers the opportunity to showcase the retail concepts that they have produced and display these promotional displays directly to the potential retailer. With other industry initiatives such as the Retail Lab @ Glee having an increasing presence in the industry, never have retail trends had a stronger focus.
The HTA National Plant Show seminar area has also been a key player in the political landscape of horticulture over the past few years. Last year was the first panel session discussing the use of plastics in the industry, off the back of the Blue Planet II documentary. Following on from this a group of growers came together to look at developing an industry alternative – the recyclable taupe pot which is kerbside recyclable.
The HTA National Plant Show and Nursery Supply Show take place on 18-19 June 2019 at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. For further information visit www.nationalplantshow.co.uk


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Agriland | 22 May 2014
European Milk Board rejects TTIP agreement
By Ciaran Moran
European milk producers are calling for the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the USA and the EU to cease.
It says: “The negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – the TTIP – are causing the European Milk Board (EMB) great concern.
“The agreement is a severe threat to the EU – economically, ecologically and socially”, is how Romuald Schaber, President of the EMB, summarises the position of the European milk producers. He adds: “We therefore call for the negotiations to cease immediately”. Open season must not be declared on healthy, safe and sustainable food. And that is exactly what would be done if it were negotiated under the TTIP!
According to the EMB the fear for agriculture is that a substantial part of production will be relocated outside of the EU, and domestic production will then be concentrated on just a few locations. Another problematical impact of the TTIP would be unfair competition created by the feared lowering of product and safety standards. The proportion of foodstuffs harmful to health finding their way onto our supermarket shelves would also rocket. Consumer confidence in dairy and meat products would be lost.
The EMB stress the strong protests from all sectors of society demonstrate that concerns about the TTIP are justified. Alone the fact that the negotiations are being conducted in camera is unacceptable. There has to be total transparency and democratic involvement when positions are adopted with such agreements.


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Zynga confirmed Tuesday that the launch of its latest game, CityVille, is its largest to date.
In the first 24 hours after its November 18 launch, CityVille attracted 290,000 players. In comparison, FrontierVille - previously Zynga's largest game launch to date - attracted about 116,000 players in one day and now boasts about 6.5 million players every day, Zynga said.
CityVille allows players to build and manage their dream metropolis. Within the game, the creator acts as the city's manager. Players can build infrastructure, map out roads, plan schools, and start businesses. They will also oversee commerce in their city. Users can import and export goods, bring in items from other cities across the globe, and trade with other players.
Since its launch, 2.7 million residences and 50,000 bakers have been built, 5 million sections of road have been laid down, and 25 percent of players have set up franchises in friend's game boards, Zynga said.


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Google has officially announced a new “Verified Calls” feature for its phone app, which is designed to give more information when a business is calling you. Compatible calls will show a company’s name, branding, a small badge to show that it’s verified, and a reason for its call.
The feature is coming to the Google Phone app, which typically comes preloaded on Pixel and Android One phones. However, Google says it will now be available to download on a “limited” set of additional phones running Android Pie and higher, including flagship handsets from Samsung and LG. Compatible phones will be able to grab the app from the Google Play Store and then set it as their default phone calling app.
Depending on how businesses use it, the verified calls feature could be enormously helpful, not just to let you know who’s calling (helping avoid spam calls), but also to make it clear when it might be necessary to drop everything to pick up their call. For example, you might want to pull over to take a call from your bank about a possible fraudulent transaction, but decline a marketing call from the same business.
According to Google, the feature also benefits business because people are much more likely to pick up a call that’s verified. Although the company wouldn’t share specific numbers, it said that it’s seen a significant increase in the likelihood of customers answering calls during trials of the feature. (It confirmed a pilot in Brazil back in June.) Google also says it found an increase in consumer trust after releasing its Verified SMS feature last year. It’s important that there are incentives for businesses to use these features since verified calls rely on them proactively supplying information to Google for the feature to work.
According to a Google support page, verified calls work by having a business ping Google’s server with its phone number, your phone number, and the reason for its call before it rings you. The app on your phone then compares the incoming call with the information it receives from Google, and if the two match, then it shows the call as verified. Google’s server then deletes this information “within minutes.” Google tells us that business can use the feature regardless of whether they’re making calls in bulk or individually, and that it has safeguards in place to stop companies from abusing it.
The feature could offer a big improvement over existing Caller ID systems since it verifies that businesses are what they say they are, as well as showing the reason for their call. It should also work regardless of your carrier, according to Google.
Over the past month, there have been hints that Google’s Phone app is coming to more Android devices after Android Police spotted that the beta version of the app could now be installed on more phones, including Samsung and OnePlus devices.
However, Google notes that not every Google Phone feature will be available on every compatible device. Visual voicemail, call recording, and Call Screen, for example, will continue to be exclusive to phones that come with the app preloaded. Google blamed “hardware dependencies” for the exclusivity.
Google says that verified calls are rolling out in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and India starting today, and it plans to add more countries over time. The Google Phone app will be available to download starting later this week, Google says.


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For the last year or two I have been using a free location–sharing app on my iPhone called Glympse. It's purpose is simple: when you are driving somewhere to meet someone, the app generates a URL so they can see where you are on a map and track your progress as you are driving.
Today, Glympse introduced a new version of the application, and it has interesting improvements.
Glympse Groups allows users to share and interact via common activities, such as sporting or industry events, meetings or social gatherings. Glympse reveals group members’ real-time locations on a map for a set amount of time, encouraging local interaction and social discovery.
Glympse allows users to automatically schedule location updates to everyone associated with a specific calendar event, virtually replacing the need for “Running Late” or “On my way” emails, texts or phone calls.
When Glympse first debuted, it made it fast and easy for users to “Share Your Where” with others, for a specified period of time without creating yet another network. Now, the new Glympse turns the tables and makes it just as easy to ask your friends, family, and colleagues, “Where are you?” With the new “Request a Glympse” feature, users simply send a request via text or email and recipients can instantly accept and start broadcasting their location for the given time period.
Get Glympse in the App Store and Google Play
Bless their cold, spyin’ hearts. The FBI suddenly cares about the rights of technology developers. On Wednesday, the official word came from the federal agency that it will not be disclosing what vulnerability it exploited to force its way in to the San Bernardino attacker’s iPhone, because — can you hear the gentle clutching of […]
ToxicEternity plays a metal medley of iPhone ringtones.
The Justice Department says that security features on a San Bernardino attacker’s iPhone were bypassed by an ‘outside party’, making that one important government case against Apple moot. But many other similar cases, including other cases involving Apple, are going forward. The war on your phone’s security is just beginning.
You may not love Microsoft Word, but you’ve definitely used it. Other than being one of the most ubiquitous programs on the planet, it’s been the go-to word processing system for more than a quarter-century because it’s as basic as it gets. But occasionally, you’ve got assignments that beg for a lot more options than simple […]
Almost everyone has their smartphone in a case of one kind or another. Beyond simple protection, finding a case that can charge your phone on its own, but doesn’t feel like it’s also adding a couple pounds to the phone’s weight is the tricky part. Billed as the world’s thinnest battery case, the ThinCharge iPhone […]
You never know when new projects, ideas or opportunities can drop into your lap at a moment’s notice. That may require you to learn a new programming language like Python. Or maybe you need a primer on 3D game development. Or you might realize you could use a serious brush-up on iOS mobile creation.Point is, […]


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The New York Yankees, Amazon and Sinclair Broadcast Group (along with Redbird Capital, Blackstone Group and others) have agreed to buy Disney’s 80% stake in YES Network for $3.47 billion. YES is considered the crown jewel of the 22 Fox RSNs that Disney (DIS) acquired for +/- $20 billion as part of a $71.3 billion purchase of Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment assets. The Yankees, which already owned 20% of the regional sports network, will become YES’ new majority shareholder as the club’s interest grows “close to 30%.”
Howie Long-Short: When DIS agreed to buy the Fox RSNs, it presumed that on an open market YES would command bids between $5-6 billion and that the remaining 21 networks were worth upwards $15 billion (they’re likely to fetch closer to $10 billion now), so DIS certainly wasn’t planning on taking a loss in its efforts to comply with antitrust regulations. But as the TV bundle continues to fray and the number of cord cutters/cord-nevers opting for streaming services grows, they’re simply not as valuable as they once were. The shift in perception has taken place over the last 5 years. When Fox increased their stake in YES back in ’14, it was valued at $3.9 billion – up from $3.4 billion, when the Yankees initially sold them a minority stake in ’12.
YES Network would have commanded significantly more money if it held nationwide streaming rights to Yankees games – or local streaming rights past ’19, but with MLB in control of them and no indication that they’ll be re-assigned to the individual franchises, one can understand why the purchase price was underwhelming. Harvey Schiller, former CEO of YankeeNets, told me that concerns about “the viewing habits of the younger generation – whether you’re talking about cord cutting or the likeliness that they’ll follow baseball like the generations prior” may have also impacted bid prices.
Youth baseball participation is on the rise (we’ll have a story on it later this week), so I’m not particularly concerned about Gen-Z taking an interest in the game, but a perception exists – at least amongst Wall Street investors – that there’s limited demand for sports programming within that demographic. Some say that Amazon’s participation in the deal is a positive sign for the future of sports media, but that seems optimistic; Harvey says it’s more likely the company sees the deal as a “way ofsumming what they already have.”
The Bronx Bombers were wise to align with both Amazon and Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI) from a strategic standpoint. Sinclair gives the franchise the opportunity to continue to grow linear distribution, while Amazon provides them with the streaming capabilities (Prime Video) to increase OTT viewership. Harvey believes that “there’s also a sponsorship component to be made.”
On the other side of the deal, YES (has rights to Yankees, Nets and NYCFC games) provides SBGI with leverage in negotiations with New York area distributors (for channels like Stadium and Tennis Channel), while Amazon picks up the chance to “cross market their products to 4-8 million new households (it’s the most watched RSN), in a very attractive area; it’s a model I [Harvey] believe the other digitals – Hulu, Netflix – will look to follow as they seek to grow viewership.”
Now that DIS has found a buyer for YES, look for the company to unload the remaining 21 RSNs in short order. We first suggested Sinclair as a potential landing spot on Nov. 19th and their decision to take equity positions in both YES and Marquee Sports Network have done little to quail our suspicions; neither have reports that the company is “sitting on a lot of cash” and maintains the lowest debt level in company history, for that matter.
Fan Marino: MLB is among the bidders for the lot of 21 RSNs, not because they foresee a revenue growth opportunity, but out of fear that a PE buyer looking solely at the bottom line wouldn’t invest in the promotion and marketing of its small market teams. Their 2nd round bid was reported to be worth +/- $10B.
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Amer Sports, the Finland-based parent of bicycle component manufacturer Mavic, has decided against selling the business, saying that it wouldn’t be in the interest of shareholders.
In September, Amer Sports announced that it was exploring options for the business, including a possible “divesture.” But in a statement yesterday, it said that it had chosen not to go ahead with that option, and instead it would “concentrate its efforts on further developing its cycling business.”
Founded in 1889, Mavic was the first company to develop the aluminium rim, launched in 1926, and in 1973 it began providing neutral service for races such as the Tour de France, with its bright yellow vehicles now a familiar sight to cycling fans. Riders such as Greg Lemond have used Mavic-equipped to ride to victory.
In recent years, the brand, based in Annecy, France, has expanded beyond components into products such as cycling clothing and footwear, but it has experienced a difficult 2009.
At the start of the year, it announced a voluntary recall of its flagship R-SYS wheels due to concerns that the carbon tubular spokes of the front wheel “may break during use in certain circumstances”.
At the end of October, Amer Sports, whose other brands include winter sports brand Salomon and tennis and golf equipment manufacturer Wilson said that Mavic’s sales had fallen by 14% in local currency terms during the first six months of 2009. Mavic achieved full-year sales of €114.2 million in 2008.
Mavic’s problems have been widely attributes to the intense competition that has sprung up in the high-end wheelset business in recent years, with both global brands and independent companies increasingly providing stiff competition in the sector.
Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.


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Finally, Congress seems to be changing its ways on international trade. Not long ago, whenever a bill emerged concerning imports, you could be sure that behind all the noble words about opening foreign markets and stamping out unfair trade practices, there was almost certainly a disguised purpose:
screwing the foreigners.
The textile bill approved last week by the Senate, and due for a House vote this week, is therefore a refreshing change. Disguised protectionism?
This is straightforward, blatant, naked protectionism, and proud of it.
Fortunately, President Reagan plans to veto the bill, and there aren`t enough votes to override him. George Bush has opposed it, and Michael Dukakis has taken no position, which is at least better than endorsing it. But the congressional action puts strong pressure on the next president to do something, anything, about these imports.
The textile and apparel industry may be the most pampered sector in the U.S. economy, having benefited from 31 years of federal indulgence. It operates behind a thick shield of more than 1,500 different restrictions on foreign products. That`s in addition to a towering wall of tariffs averaging triple the norm for other American manufacturers.
The textile and apparel industry denies it gets any special help, noting that foreigners now capture 54 percent of all U.S. sales. ''If this is being
`overly protected,` the industry can stand very little more of it,'' says a fact sheet put out by its lobby group. This is like a football team that gets to field 12 men instead of 11 and then, when it loses anyway, complains that it`s suffering an unfair handicap.
But in other respects the bill`s beneficiaries are unusually candid. Most industries demanding Washington`s protection make at least a half-hearted attempt to prove that their unscrupulous competitors are bending the rules. Not these.
One press release from the Fiber, Fabric and Apparel Coalition for Trade carries the slogan, ''Give America a Fighting Chance-Stop Unfair Imports.''
But the text contains not one word alleging unfair foreign trade practices. Nor does the rest of FFACT`s propaganda packet.
Most industries begging for help also promise (usually insincerely) that it will be only temporary-just a breathing space to give them a chance to regroup. But Larry Martin of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association says, ''We can`t foresee a time in the future when we are not facing a threat.''
The bill is written accordingly. It slaps a strict quota on all imports of textiles, apparel and non-rubber footwear. They would be allowed to rise by no more than 1 percent a year. The protection is permanent-none of this four- year phaseout stuff.
That`s fine for producers and their employees, lousy for consumers and workers in other industries. Start with the burden of higher prices. FFACT insists that prices won`t be affected, but less biased experts disagree. Scholars at the Institute for International Economics (IIE) in Washington say that existing trade barriers in textiles and apparel cost consumers some $27 billion a year-more than $100 per person. This measure will raise the cost considerably.
The blow, incidentally, won`t hit hardest at affluent fashion hounds fond of Armani suits and Gucci loafers. The real pain will be felt by those well down the income ladder, who rely on cheap goods from Hong Kong and Taiwan to save scarce dollars on necessities.
If the point is to save jobs, this is as clumsy and expensive a way as you could find. To save a textile job paying $14,000 a year, estimates the IIE`s William Cline, consumers have to pay more than $50,000 in higher prices. The industries pushing the bill engage in endless arguments with the Reagan administration, which opposes it, over their financial health. Their profits were up last year, says the administration. They`re down this year, comes the retort.
What difference does it make? There is nothing about clothing or shoes that warrants special favors. If the worst should happen and the domestic industries disappear-which isn`t likely-Americans will be no worse off. Plenty of foreign producers will be happy to keep us supplied with everything we need. The workers and executives who lose their jobs will go on to other companies that produce things Americans actually want.
The bill has one virtue, namely that it doesn`t pretend to be anything but an effort to help domestic firms by punishing foreigners. Unfortunately, the honesty doesn`t extend to admitting that most Americans will also pay a high price.


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A banned driver who got behind the wheel of his car because he was late for a Jobcentre appointment after caring for his dying mother has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Sheep and goats could cut the grass at an historic castle's remains as a council attempts to slash costs.
A popular annual community day, which featured a motorcycle stunt team, has been hailed a success.
"Listen very carefully, I will only say this only once".
Tributes have been pouring in for a man who died after he was hit by a VW camper van.
A family holiday resort is celebrating its 30th birthday.
A £,1500 vase and a £70 slipper donated by Ed Sheeran are some of the quirky items helping a charity make thousands of pounds online.
A magician who reached the final of Britain's Got Talent has pledged to perform in his home town.
Vandals have destroyed a sprinkler being used to water freshly-sown young people's football pitches.
Discount book, crafts and toy store The Works has confirmed it is "looking into" a location in Thetford.
A safety review is under way into a notorious railway bridge.
They may have left our skies but the RAF's iconic Tornado still has work to do.
A discount food store is the latest to join a new £6.9m retail park.
Police are investigating a stabbing in Thetford.
Crowds lined the streets as RAF Honington received the Freedom of Thetford.
Diners did a double take when a dead ringer for a soap actor turned out to be him.
A taxi owner claims attacks on his vehicle are driving him out of business.
As spring is in the air and the weather is getting warmer, staff from wilko Thetford and 17 surrounding stores across Norfolk have been taking part in the Great British Spring Clean.
Why pound the pavements of London when you can be running through leafy forest to the sound of birdsong..?
Thetford is a town is steeped in history.
Allotment holders in Thetford have formed a group in response to proposals to build car parking spaces for the town's station on an allotment site.
From the museums and bustling shopping areas, masses of local businesses, plus hotels, restaurants, schools, the leisure centre and beautiful flint cottages, there are many draws to Thertford.
In the second of our series focusing on key issues in some of our largest towns Conor Matchett puts the spotlight on Thetford
Like many towns, Thetford's high street is struggling under the weight of stagnating wages and competition from the internet.
For the people who live in Thetford, the challenges the town faces and where it sits at the moment change dependent on where you live and how long you have lived there.
The final two cast members have been announced for the remakes of three episodes of wartime comedy sitcom Dad's Army.
Four Norfolk attractions have been recognised by a national tourism board for providing excellent visitor experiences.
This month's mayor's musings comes from the mayor of Thetford, Roy Brame.
Norfolk MPs have branded "unacceptable" the decision to close a bridge over the Norwich to Thetford rail line for five years after it was damaged in an accident.
As a major new exhibition arrives at Norwich Castle we find out about the legacy the Vikings left in our language, landscape and legends


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This week, Public Knowledge and 16 other organizations sent a letter to the FCC Commissioners urging them to consider and resolve privacy concerns when they vote on “E911” wireless location accuracy later this month.
Public Knowledge has long supported the implementation of the FCC’s proposed rules that would allow 911 dispatchers to known a more precise location of people calling on cell phone while indoors. This is in response to multiple reports of 911 calls made from wireless devices not being accurately located. In many situations, 911 callers may not be able to tell the dispatcher their location.
The FCC is currently considering a proposal put forward by the wireless carriers and two public safety organizations to improve wireless 911 location accuracy. However, there are reasonable privacy concerns that have been raised. The letter we submitted to the FCC Commissioners still encourages them to implement strong wireless location accuracy rules, but also asks them to consider and address the privacy implications of these rules before new technology is implemented.
The proposed rules will require development of new location technologies. As explained in the letter, addressing privacy concerns at this early stage will ensure that entities required to comply with the E911 regulations are able to plan privacy protections into the development of those new technologies. Conversely, if the Commission does not resolve privacy concerns at this critical stage, it may lose the opportunity to address those concerns before highly precise, privacy threatening location technologies become entrenched without sufficient technical and regulatory protections.
We urge the FCC to require multiple privacy protections, including:
- A mechanism whereby owners of wireless consumer home products are able to opt out of having their devices included in the National Emergency Address Database;
- a system design in which E911 location functionality can only be triggered through the handset, and not remotely;
- assurance that technologies designed to comply with E911 requirements will not be made available to third parties without consumers’ express opt-in consent;
- assurance that consumers will be able to turn location services on or off via a global setting on their mobile device, as well as grant or deny access to location services to each application;
- and assurance that information gathered from E911 technologies are not used by or disseminated to third parties, including government entities.
You can read the letter and download our official comments on Wireless E911 Location Accuracy Requirements here.
Image credit: Flickr user nadbasher


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We have now published the results of our third QCA/BDO Small and Mid-Cap Sentiment Index that show that small and mid-cap quoted companies have become increasingly confident despite the double-dip recession.
The survey revealed that optimism in the UK economy had risen from 40.9 in January to 47.3 in April this year, although the scores remain negative (less than 50). Confidence in companies' individual prospects for the next 12 months has also increased from 62.4 in January to 66.1 in March.
While we tracked key components of business sentiment this quarter, we also asked the sector for its views on corporate governance.
Some highlights from the results include:
- 26% of small and mid-cap quoted companies are optimistic about prospects for the economy in the next 12 months.
- 77% of companies expect sales to grow in the next 12 months, with the average expected growth in turnover put at +13.2%.
- 55% of companies believe they will need to take on more employees in the coming 12 months, with the average expected change in employment growth put at 6.5%.
- 40% of companies anticipate further fundraising in the coming year, with 38% likely to use public equity.
- 92% of companies support the idea of establishing a mandatory corporate governance code for standard listed, AIM & PLUS quoted companies, which is fit for purpose and take into account their size and relative lack of complexity.
- 64% of small and mid-cap quoted companies believe that their institutional investors are engaged or very engaged with their companies.
To find out more, please visit our QCA/BDO Small and Mid-Cap Sentiment Index microsite to download the full report.
Thank you to all that participated in this survey. Our next index will focus on tracking the key aspects of business sentiment – and seeing whether the sector’s optimism continues. So please help us make the voice of the small and mid-cap quoted company sector heard and participate next time too.


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By Bolaji Ojo
What’s at stake:
Semiconductor sales returned to a positive position in the second quarter, ending early what had been feared could be a prolonged downturn, says a veteran analyst who was heavily bearish about the direction of the market. But is this the beginning of a new upturn or is the industry heading to a false recovery with dips and upswings?
Semiconductor sales swung back into positive territory in the second quarter, defying expectations for a prolonged downturn and shaving off 12 percentage points from a dire outlook from one of the industry’s most respected forecasters.
Malcolm Penn, CEO and founder of IC consulting and research firm, Future Horizons, on Tuesday pronounced the end of the latest semiconductor sales downturn, saying the industry pushed its recovery forward by one quarter.
This is great stuff. Let’s get started.
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State Fair Success: 111th Wyoming State Fair has another successful year
Youth exhibitors, ranching families, ag enthusiasts and guests from all walks of life gathered in Douglas Aug. 15-19 for Wyoming’s premier summer event – the 111th Wyoming State Fair (WSF).
Among many familiar favorites – twinkling carnival lights, Jackalope Catering’s delectable BBQ, shopping opportunities on the Midway and barns full of high-quality livestock – WSF also debuted a few new attractions this year.
For the first time, fairgoers had the opportunity to witness the thrill of a Figure-8 Race, celebrate champion youth exhibitors during the new and improved Champion of Champion’s Showcase, cheer on future rodeo athletes during the World Champion Mutton Bustin’ and deep dive into Wyoming’s agriculture industry through WSF’s Everyday Ag promotion.
Additionally, with the help of a local working group, WSF brought back the popular Ranch Rodeo; the crowd-pleasing Demolition Derby celebrated its 40th anniversary; Shakey Shadwick closed the curtain on his renowned Sheep Wagon Show and youth exhibitors finally got to show off months of hard work.
Positive compliments on the fair’s success are still resounding throughout the state.
See page eight for highlights from the 2023 WSF and pages 10-12 to view this year’s state fair champions.
For full fair results, visit wystatefair.com.


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Chery, a vehicle manufacturer from China, announced that it has established Chery South Africa – its first wholly-owned subsidiary on the African continent.
“The announcement makes South Africa the newest member of a global network, with a family of over 9.5 million owners across more than 80 countries and regions,” said Chery.
The local subsidiary will now get to work on appointing the first dealerships and preparing for the introduction of vehicles – which are expected to land in the country towards the end of 2021.
The next step
According to Chery, the South African subsidiary is only the first step in growing its continental footprint.
“South Africa is a very important market for us. Customers have high expectations and we want to meet and exceed them,” said Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager, Chery South Africa.
“Once we have established a firm foothold in this market, we will use the expertise in the country and its import position as a springboard into the rest of the continent.”
The company will bolster its South African entry by establishing 30 dealerships in the region during the fourth quarter of this year.
“Chery will back these dealers with a large parts warehouse, strong mechanical warranty and service plans, and a comprehensive 24-hour roadside assistance service,” said the company.
In addition, Chery said it is also considering launching its existing app in the local market – which will allow an owner to monitor their vehicle’s status directly from their smartphone, as well as book service appointments from their registered Chery dealer.
Chery cars in South Africa
Chery said that while its cars have been available in South Africa since 2007, the company has since reinvented itself and a wide range of new vehicles will be introduced.
These will “surprise even the most avid car fan”.
According to Chery, its EQ1 and EQ5 electric vehicles boast a combined 10 awards from the China EV Rally in 2021, while its 1.6-litre, internal combustion engine was “voted one of the 10 Best Engines in the China Heart awards”.
It stated that its new hybrid engines are capable of maintaining a 1.0l/100km fuel consumption, too, while being able to sprint to 100km/h in five seconds.
Furthermore, Chery has invested heavily into its suite of technologies that are fitted in their vehicles’ cabins.
“When we introduce our first [new] models in South Africa, customers will be excited to see that our focus is not only on the technology under the skin, but also in the cabin,” said Liu.
“Our range of intelligent driving assistance systems is world-class, and we are a leader in the field of high-resolution screens, and touch and voice-control technologies.”


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Update, 5/28/2021: During a presentation for investors this week, Ford mentioned it's developing two new electric vehicle architectures, including one made for "off-road SUVs" — accompanied by a picture of what clearly seems to be the outline of an electric Ford Bronco. Given this, we're betting the EV Bronco is all but guaranteed, albeit still a few years off.
Last year, Ford (finally) launched the all-new Bronco. It has been a boffo hit with potential buyers, with more than 125,000 pre-orders already racked up before the SUV has even entered production. That said, it didn't receive universal acclaim; some critics felt launching an all-new SUV without even a hybrid option in 2020 didn't meet the moment. One, a bit theatrically, called the Bronco's release "an obscene monument to climate denialism." (And, notably, Jeep's counter-offensive to the Bronco has involved both putting the hybrid 4xe Wrangler into production and a Wrangler EV concept.)
But Ford appears to have plans to address the powertrain efficiency issue moving forward. Confronted by a "Tesla-powered" Ford shareholder on Twitter about the lack of EV plans for the Bronco, Ford CEO Jim Farley responded leadingly — all but confirming Ford has something in store for us on the electrification front.
That said, we'd bet a hybrid Bronco will arrive first. Hybrid Bronco rumblings have been persistent; a Bronco gauge cluster leak showed an "EV Coaching" mode, which would only make sense in a hybrid. A hybrid would also be a markedly lower technical lift than an EV, and besides, having one may become a competitive necessity. The Jeep Wrangler has a plug-in hybrid powertrain, and the Toyota 4Runner should get one soon as well. And early returns suggest the hybrids will be the better-performing versions of those vehicles.
Expect a pure electric Bronco to take at least a few years, however — potentially not arriving until the next model cycle. The technological challenge is massive: the Bronco currently runs on the aging Ranger platform, and Ford doesn't yet have a new dedicated EV platform to swap it with. There's also not much competitive incentive for one just yet; after all, Jeep's Magneto concept — literally a stock Wrangler with a crude powerplant swap — only showed how far the competition is away from building one.


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5 Recession-Resistant Franchise Sectors You Should Consider During an Economic Downturn
Invest in an industry that can withstand an economic downturn.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
We are certainly enjoying prosperous times!
The United States Economy is experiencing a boom that may end up the longest in history. Unemployment levels are near record lows while the stock market continues setting record highs. People are working and spending. Businesses are profiting and expanding. It's a terrific time to be a player in the U.S. economy.
Unfortunately, all good things do come to an end. That includes this period of prosperity, which began in June of 2009 and could become the longest run of prosperity in the country's history if it holds on until July 2019. Experts disagree on how soon the eventual downturn will occur, but there is no denying that it will. It always does.
With that in mind, entrepreneurial hopefuls who are considering starting a franchise business would be wise to look at some of the recession-resistant models that franchising has to offer. These industries prosper regardless of which economic cycle we're in, because they offer goods and services that people need no matter what the economy is doing.
Here are five worth considering.
1. Restoration services
Mother Nature doesn't give a hoot about the economy! Hurricanes will continue to ravage our coastal communities causing wind damage and flooding. Lightning will strike homes and start fires. Toilets will flood, pipes will burst and foundations will continue to crack whether we're in a state of prosperity or not.
That's why companies in the restoration business will always have customers. Their work isn't optional because people want their lives returned to normal as soon as possible. Plus, much of the work is paid for through various types of insurance so the bulk of the bill may not fall to the homeowner.
Restoration services are a major industry. Franchises in this sector are reasonably priced, feature high margins and have low overhead because brick and mortar locations aren't required.
2. Senior home care
America is getting older. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2035, there will be more Americans over the age of 65 (78 million) then there are children under the age of 18 (76.4 million). Moreover, 87 percent of seniors 65 and over want to stay in their current homes and communities as they age, according to the AARP.
Senior home care allows for that by providing non-medical caregivers to come to seniors' homes and help them with everyday chores they aren't able to do themselves for a fraction of what senior living communities would charge. This includes meal preparation, escorting them on errands, housekeeping, caring for pets and more.
The senior home care industry has new brands popping up regularly, so working with an industry expert is advised to ensure that franchise candidates can find a system that is a good fit. Franchise owners can scale their hiring as they grow, allowing them to start small but add caregivers as the senior community grows.
3. Hair care
People may cut back on some personal grooming services, but hair care is rarely one of them. Unless you plan to convince your wife or daughter to let you start shaving their heads, you'll be paying for their salon visits through good economic times and bad.
That's great news for people in the hair care industry, which is not only recession-resistant, but also unlikely to be outsourced or replaced by technology. Plus, hair care franchises often follow a semi-absentee model, meaning owners only need to spend 10 to 15 hours per week working on their business while managers and hairstylists work in the business. The semi-absentee model is preferred by people who plan to keep their day jobs while owning a franchise, those who like a favorable work-life balance and franchising tycoons who want to open multiple units without adding a ton of hours each time they open a new franchise.
4. Automotive franchises
As of 2017, the average age of cars in operation topped 11.7 years, a growth of more than two years in just the last decade. As Americans continue to hold onto their cars for longer, auto repair will continue to thrive. Recent reports indicate that a high percentage of automotive repair is done by independent shops (vs. dealership service), many of which are franchises.
The automotive franchise sector offers one-stop shops for franchise candidates interested in systems that perform lots of automotive services to the specialty automotive franchises that focus in one area, such as oil changes. Because many car services fall under the category of routine maintenance, franchise systems have technology in place to offer regular reminders to their customers about when it's time to bring their cars in for service.
Whether it's clothing, technology, athletic gear or household items, resale stores do particularly well in a recession. Not only do they offer significant discounts from the retail prices of their gently used items, but they pay people in cash or trade for their items, which benefits customers during hard times. Now a $20 billion industry, resale also appeals to the younger generations because of their environmentally friendly business model.
Multiple resale franchise brands are often franchised by one company, so franchisees that thrive with one brand are easily able to add additional brands to their franchising empire without having to engage with a new corporate body. They also feature terrific inventory control technology that ensures owners only buy what they can sell.


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Donald Trump’s erratic posture on trade is forcing Japanese policymakers to rethink their reliance on the economic and political alliance with the United States, according to a former high-level diplomat from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Wendy Cutler, former acting deputy U.S. Trade ...
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50 articles published
Toyota Motor Corp. has started developing its next 86 sports car model with Subaru Corp., aiming to launch the compact rear-wheel-drive sports vehicle around 2021 with improved performance, according to sources. The 86 (Hachi-roku) sports car will be produced at Subaru's plant in Gunma Prefecture. ...
Satomi Suzuki and Rikako Ikee set national records Tuesday in the women's 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter butterfly, respectively, on the opening day of the Japan Swimming Championships. Suzuki clocked 30.64 seconds in a qualifying race over the non-Olympic distance at Tatsumi International Swimming Center, slashing ...


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There is no guarantee the coronavirus pandemic will reach a timely conclusion. In fact, the scientific community is adamant the pandemic will worsen this fall and winter as a second wave of the virus rears its ugly head across the globe.
The only silver lining to a worsening of the coronavirus pandemic is it may present investment opportunities for creative money managers. Perform your due diligence now, and you will have a strategic game plan ready to implement, should the pandemic worsen.
Use your mind’s eye to envision how people will react should the number of positive coronavirus tests and virus-related deaths increase. People will return to quarantine, choosing to shop from the comfort of home rather than risk exposure to the virus while out and about. AMZN would be the primary beneficiary in such a situation.
The only way AMZN might decline should the pandemic worsen is if the virus washes through its warehouses, rendering staffers unable to work. However, AMZN has taken precautionary steps to minimize social interactions between employees while working at AMZN fulfillment centers.
The POWR Ratings reveal AMZN is nearly flawless, highlighted by “A” grades in each POWR component, except “B” for Buy & Hold Grade. AMZN is ranked first of nearly 60 stocks in the Internet industry.
Though AMZN is currently priced around $3,100, the analysts have set a price target of $3,725.59. If AMZN reaches this level, it will have increased in value by more than 20%. AMZN recently dipped from $3,531.
Merchants of every type and size are turning to the web to establish an online presence. This phenomenon will prove even stronger if the pandemic worsens. SHOP facilitates the establishment of web-based storefronts, payments, fulfillment, shipping, and more. If you believe the pandemic will not be resolved by the end of the year or sooner, SHOP belongs in your portfolio.
SHOP’s POWR Ratings are highlighted by a grade of “B” for Trade Grade. SHOP is ranked 13th out of more than 30 stocks in the Internet – Services industry. Analysts are bullish on SHOP, setting a price target of $1,111.19, which is 20% higher than its price. SHOP also dipped from its yearly high in recent weeks, falling from $1,134.32 to $931.83.
All in all, SHOP’s revenue is up nearly 100% on a year-over-year basis. It is also particularly interesting to learn that more than 30,000 SHOP merchants have referred other merchants to the platform in the past year alone. SHOP is also in the lending business, doling out more than a billion dollars of loans to merchants needing funding to launch their operations on the web.
SHOP’s recent expansion to the food delivery market will undoubtedly help the stock reach new heights should the pandemic worsen in the upcoming weeks and months, forcing that many more people to lean on food delivery instead of in-person dining service.
Kroger Company (KR)
Though the grocery industry is often criticized in the context of investing as low-reward and somewhat high-risk due to its narrow margins, the pandemic has changed things. The closure of traditional restaurants has led many more customers to KR, where they are stocking up on all sorts of different foods, beverages, and sundries.
KR will sell more products if the pandemic worsens. The company recently expanded its boundaries with the acquisition of Home Chef, a meal kit provider. It also partnered with Ocado, a UK-based internet grocery delivery company, to facilitate online ordering.
The POWR Ratings show KR has “A” grades in the Trade Grade and Industry Rank components and a “B” in Buy & Hold Grade. KR is ranked in the top third of nearly 20 stocks in the Grocery/Big Box Retailers industry. KR has steadily climbed higher during the pandemic, with analysts setting a price target of $36.69 for the stock.
Want More Great Investing Ideas?
AMZN shares rose $19.87 (+0.63%) in premarket trading Wednesday. Year-to-date, AMZN has gained 72.20%, versus a 7.41% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
About the Author: Patrick Ryan
Patrick Ryan has more than a dozen years of investing experience with a focus on information technology, consumer and entertainment sectors. In addition to working for StockNews, Patrick has also written for Wealth Authority and Fallon Wealth Management. More...
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China has become the largest marble importer of Pakistan, with annual imports reaching over 100,000 tons, said Fang Zihua, the General Manager of Xiamen Stone Trading Company.
“It is the very first time for our company to trade with Pakistani marble traders,” Fang Zihua, said and added that Chinese clients were more than satisfied with the stone texture and that they were willing to import more products from Pakistan, China Economic Net reported on Tuesday.
According to Fang Zihua, the batch of about 150 ton of Pakistani marble was shipped through six standard containers.
“They had reached Nanan, Fujian Province late last year, but they didn’t get displayed until this June because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Fang noted.”
“The color of this marble board is very beautiful, and its texture is unique. It looks like reddish waves being motivated”. Fang was so delighted to see the pattern that he named the marble `Red Valley’.
He further mentioned that the texture and colour of marble are full of changes, and a reddish one is rare. With the rapid development of the construction industry, China’s demand for marble and other construction stones is increasing year by year. China had been contributing significantly to Pakistan’s exports ever since the China–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement was signed. At present, China has become the largest marble importer of Pakistan, with annual imports reaching over 100,000 tons.
“There is no tariff on marble imported from Pakistan. It’s quite convenient,” Fang said, adding that he would visit Pakistan for in-depth cooperation with traders after the COVID-19 pandemic.


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AT&T U-verse Arrives in Rockwood
Rockwood Customers Get Access to Award-Winning TV and Broadband Services
Rockwood, Tennessee, July 25, 2013
Rockwood residents now have a new choice for their television and broadband services with the arrival of AT&T* U-verse®. AT&T today announced the launch of U-verse services including AT&T U-verse TV, AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet and AT&T U-verse Voice. The introduction of these new services in Rockwood is part of Project Velocity (VIP)—AT&T’s plan to significantly expand and enhance its wireless and wireline IP broadband networks to support growing customers demand for high speed Internet access and new mobile, app and cloud services.
“I’ve believed for some time now that our collective success is tied to having access to leading edge technologies that can keep us connected,” said State Senator Ken Yager. “This is a real plus to have this kind of investment coming to our community to make next-generation broadband and video services a reality.”
“This investment is great news for Roane County and Rockwood and I’m excited to see these services coming here,” said Roane County Mayor Ron Woody. “I am pleased that we have an environment in Tennessee where businesses want to invest in our area, and the expansion of AT&T U-verse is just what we like to see - more consumer choices in Rockwood.”
“We are excited that AT&T has brought their cutting edge video service, U-verse TV, to Rockwood,” said State Representative Kent Calfee. “As Tennessee policymakers, our goal is to increase investment throughout the state and give consumers more choices and innovative new services. The expansion of AT&T U-verse supports economic growth and increases consumer choice in Tennessee.”
"Additional choices and competition is great news for the citizens of Monroe County,” said City of Rockwood Mayor James Watts. “The introduction of these new services gives us new innovations for enjoying TV and Internet access when so many cities and towns are competing for new technology investments."
AT&T U-verse is being expanded in Tennessee thanks to The Competitive Cable and Video Services Act of 2008, HB 1421. The law provides an environment that encourages new video providers, such as AT&T Tennessee, to invest in Tennessee to compete against incumbent cable providers.
“Roane County is continuing to grow and compete for investment and jobs thanks to the leadership shown by Senator Ken Yager and Representative Kent Calfee along with Roane County Mayor Ron Woody,” said Leslie Henderson, President/CEO of The Roane Alliance. “Their work through public policy is creating an environment that attracts investment and encourages innovation to make Roane County stronger and more prosperous.”
AT&T U-verse TV, which is delivered over AT&T’s advanced Internet Protocol (IP) network, will offer Vonore customers the freedom to watch hit TV shows virtually anywhere, extensive HD channels, competitive Internet speeds, flexible bundles and continued service innovation. AT&T U-verse recently named the 2013 Video Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan due to its excellence in customer value, innovation and growth. Since 2009, AT&T U-verse added more TV subscribers in total than any of the major TV providers reported**.
AT&T’s Project VIP includes a plan to expand and enhance AT&T’s wireline IP network to approximately 57 million customer locations in its wireline service area by year-end 2015. The Project VIP plan includes an upgrade for U-verse High Speed Internet to speeds of up to 100Mbps over the next several years.
More Choice, More Features
AT&T is the only national service provider offering a 100-percent IP-based TV service. IP provides numerous advantages over older, cable-based technologies, including the ability to integrate services and adapt to consumer demands. AT&T U-verse is also the only national provider in the United States to offer a fully-integrated Wireless Receiver, allowing customers to watch TV in virtually any room in the home, even where there’s not a TV outlet.
Where AT&T U-verse services are available, U-verse TV customers can enjoy numerous features and applications, including the ability to watch hit TV shows on qualifying mobile devices and online; manage DVR recordings remotely; the ability to choose and watch four of your favorite channels at once with My Multiview; an extensive High Definition (HD) channel and On Demand lineup; and the ability to access popular social networks on your TV screen.
AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet offers more speed options and includes wireless home networking capability for all Internet customers. When customers sign up for U-verse High Speed Internet, they’re also given access to the entire national AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spot network at no additional charge.
AT&T U-verse Voice is an advanced digital home phone service delivered over AT&T’s U-verse IP network. Customers enjoy great sound quality and clarity, as well as unmatched calling features that integrate with U-verse TV. When bundling their services, U-verse customers have the flexibility to choose the services in their bundle and can choose to bundle U-verse Voice service with TV, Internet and even AT&T wireless services for significant savings.
For additional information on AT&T U-verse — or to find out if it’s available in your area — visit www.att.com/u-verse.


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On Feb. 21, the Chamber released a joint statement about the city’s passage of a restriction on “small-box stores” — defined as stores offering goods that are largely marketed at less than $5 — from opening within one mile of another dollar store owned by the same company.
Our statement: “Today, the city of Chicago wrote another chapter in its ongoing narrative of hostility to retailers, passing a misguided proposal that will address a problem in one ward while depriving residents of many other wards convenient access to affordable necessities. This sets a dangerous precedent for future job growth in Chicago. This was all avoidable and will severely limit opportunities for new economic development in communities where those investments are needed most.”
– Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
– Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
– Illinois Retail Merchants Association


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ガラスの花と壊す世界 Premium Edition
Released at: 2016.03.02
Label: Pony Canyon
Sample Rate: 48kHZ
Bits per Sample: 24bit
FiiO, a brand well known for building and selling quality audio products, has just announced the launch of the second generation EX1 in-ear monitors.
The company claims that these new earbuds are better tuned for vocals and a “better-sounding presentation of human voices,” when compared to the…
#Earphone, #FiiO, #FiiOEX1, #Headphones, #Hires


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Quorn launches vegan buttermilk style chicken burger
Quorn believe interest in plant-based menus show no signs of slowing with health and sustainability playing a key role in people’s decision making.
Claire Roper, head of marketing & innovation foodservice at Quorn, said: “Meat free isn’t just a trend now, it’s a consumer behaviour and plant based or meat free dishes are no longer on the menu to cater for the minority.
“Customers are actively demanding delicious meat free options that need to be exciting and full of flavour to capture imaginations. Lack of choice and innovative ideas frustrate consumers of plant-based foods when eating out of home.
“We hope the launch of our vegan buttermilk style chicken burger will help to inspire chefs, by highlighting just how easy it is to add creative meat-free dishes to menus, whilst providing a sustainable, healthy and most importantly delicious fast vegan option that will appeal to everyone - vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians and meat eaters alike.”
According to a YouGov survey 86% of vegan consumers believe it is important that there is a specifically created vegan dish on the menu, rather than a non-vegan dish that has been adapted.


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Digital global domestic money transaction values are exploding around the world, with a new market report forecasting the value of transactions will exceed US$3.5 trillion by 2024 - up from US$1.8 trillion in 2019.
The Democrat majority on the US House Financial Services Committee is proposing a bill that that would prevent big technology firms from operating as financial units or issuing digital currencies, a move that seems to be aimed at Facebook after the social media behemoth announced last month that it would be launching its own cryptocurrency in 2020.
Facebook’s announcement of its intention to launch a new virtual currency has prompted a warning from a Charles Sturt University expert that cryptocurrencies have a number of features that make them attractive to criminals.
Well, fwiw, I found myself agreeing with the initial postings of both Philip A and DevMac. What the issue seems[…]
I am far from an expert, but I try to read and understand the experts' viewpoints. In relation to breaking[…]
This sounds a bit like a case of "Big Brother" is watching you.If it goes ahead we need to ensure[…]
More of this is needed. Aussie Broadband would have more high speed customers if NBN could actually provide the service.[…]


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Why Adobe Is One of the Best Software Stocks Around
Digital transformation is sweeping across the globe, and the pressure on companies to update their customer experiences for the 21st century is on the rise. Despite ample competition, there is plenty of new business to go around. However, after yet another quarterly performance that exceeded expectations, digital content creation software provider Adobe (NASDAQ:ADBE) has proven it is a best-in-breed pick.
Building another year of huge growth
Adobe’s second-quarter revenue rose 25%, building on the same rate put up during the fiscal 2019 first quarter and topping management’s guidance. Full-year expectations for $11.15 billion in revenue was left unchanged — a 23% annualized increase — and third-quarter revenue results were forecast to be up 22%. Adobe does tend to under-promise and over-deliver, so investors were more than happy to focus on the first half of the year’s results.
Though gross profit margins declined as Adobe added new services aimed at digital commerce — primarily through its big takeover of Magento and Marketo last year — the metric was still near a lucrative 85% rate. That’s substantially higher than some of Adobe’s software peers like salesforce.com (at 75.5% gross profit margin in its last quarter) and Shopify (at 56.3% gross profit).


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Disney has announced the schedule for three new Star Wars movies starting in December 2022, with new films arriving December 2024, and 2026.
No details of the films have been announced – however they are not expected to follow the same storyline that Disney bills as "concluding" with December 20's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson and Game Of Thrones executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have both signed on to create their own sereies of original Star Wars films, either of which could fit the bill for this new trilogy.
Disney plans to release each film on the pre-Christmas weekend of each respective year – alternating that release weekend with films from James Cameron's Avatar series (now owned by Disney thanks to their purchase of 20th Century Fox) scheduled to release in 2021. 2023, and 2025.
- First 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' Trailer
- First 'Star Wars: Episode IX' Poster Leaked ... With New Characters Revealed?
- Star Wars: History and Legacy on Space Exploration
Originally published on Newsarama.


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Russia to ban all imports of beef from Brazil starting 1 December due to ractopamine findings
From December 1, 2017 Russia Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (VPSS) bans Brazilian pork and beef imports into Russia. The reason of the Brazilian pork, beef, pork and beef variety meat imports ban was racto residues found in pork and beef imports from Brazil.
Russia legislation forbids usage of ractopomine and other stimulators of muscle growth in products for human consumption. Imports into Russia of ready-to-eat products with additives residue are either prohibited.
Over three years Brazil has been a top meat exporter to Russia. However this year fall Russia VPSS discovered prohibited growth promotants in meat imports from Brazil. For settlement of situation and for receipt of reliable information the Russia VPSS sent on November 16 a proposal to the Brazilian Ministry of agricultural, meat products and supply to conduct negotiation in shortest possible time, but still has no reply from Brazil..


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The field of green-hued vehicles is beginning to get a little crowded, giving Greenopia’s new 2011 model guide heightened relevancy. But one thing hasn’t changed: The Tesla Roadster, for the second straight year, is the guide’s greenest car.
That’s the word from a Greenopia press release, which noted that “the car companies who performed the best overall in the study were Tesla, smart, Mini, Honda, Volkswagen, Kia, and Toyota. Honda was especially notable with 3 of its vehicles receiving the coveted 4-leaf rating from Greenopia, being the only automaker with more than 1 vehicle receiving a 4-leaf score.”
Greenopia said one change in its ratings system this year was the addition of performance as a criterion, called “eco-performance” by the service. “Certain performance automakers do not get enough credit for how efficient their vehicles are,” Doug Mazeffa, Greenopia’s research director, said in a statement. “While sportier cars typically have dismal fuel economies, some are shockingly efficient.”
Other criteria for the ratings: fuel efficiency, emissions, SmartWay certification from the Environmental Protection Agency, curb weight, engine type and fuel type.
Looking for green gadget gift ideas for this holiday season? We have you covered with our annual Green Gadgets Holiday Gift Guide – check it out now!


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10 ways to be safe while shopping online for the holiday season
Online shopping will hit record levels this year, meaning more hackers will attempt to compromise computers and even financial information, according to U.S. News.
Following is a list of 10 methods online shoppers can implement to stop their computer from getting a virus, or even having their financial data compromised.
1. Avoid websites with red flags, such as poor design, pop-up windows and weird Web addresses.
2. Don’t trust hyperlinks in an email. Type the Web addresses out of the companies you intend to visit. This eliminates the risk of accidentally visiting a scam site.
3. Shop secure sites. The addresses for these start out with https, not just http.
4. Never give out your Social Security number online.
5. Use a credit card. These have identity-theft protection that will reimburse your losses as long as you report the theft soon enough. Debit cards don’t have this protection. Check your account often for fraudulent charges.
6. Strengthen your passwords. If they are hard to remember, record them in a secure document. Good passwords have a mixture of numbers and letters.
7. Review your online shopping rights. If the product doesn’t ship on time, customers can cancel the order and get refunded.
8. Avoid using mobile devices to shop with a public wifi network. This broadcasts your information to hackers.
9. Ignore strangers trying to reach you online. Just like spam emails, fake social media accounts can compromise your computer. Ignore them.
10. Fake holiday eCards can also threaten your security. Only trust senders you know and make sure their email address is actually theirs.
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19th March 2024
IFP has announced new readings of Ian Fleming novels
By MI6 Staff
Ian Fleming Publications have announced new audiobooks of Ian Fleming's James Bond adventures will launch this year.
They have partnered with HarperCollins US to embark upon a major new set of recordings of all of Fleming’s legendary 007 stories, plus his two works of era-defining non-fiction. The audiobooks will be released across all major platforms over the coming months by HarperCollins in the United States, and will be released in the UK by Ian Fleming Publications in early 2025.
In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the first new recording to be released in the US will be 'You Only Live Twice', available on March 19th. Voiced by Eleanor Matsuura (best known for her roles in The Walking Dead & Spooks), travel to Japan, meet Kissy Suzuki and discover the terrifying Garden of Death.
This will be followed on March 26th by both 'Casino Royale' and 'Live And Let Die', so listeners can journey back to where the Bond saga began. Casino Royale will be voiced by Richard Armitage (The Hobbit, The Stranger, Spooks), with Live And Let Die read by Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton, The Witcher).


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Indian corporate sector expects the economy of the country to recover from the ongoing slowdown in the coming two to three quarters. In conversation with India Today's Rahul Kanwal, Mahindra and Mahindra Managing Director Pawan Goenka and SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh evinced hope that growth in India will return by the second quarter of the next financial year.
Mahindra MD Goenka said that the positive outlook associated with India has not changed because of the ongoing slowdown.
"The months of November and December have been better than what we thought. Still not out of de-growth, but it is less than what we had some time ago. And the overall vision on what might happen in Q4 (of the current fiscal) is the same. De-growth will come down to low single digits, hoping that, with Q1 coming in, it will become flat and Q2 (of the next fiscal) is when we start seeing growth," Goenka said.
In response to a question about IMF's recent world economic outlook blaming the slowdown in India for an 80 per cent downturn in global GDP outlook, SpiceJet's Ajay Singh that the Indian economy is bound to grow.
"Despite all the gloom and doom, India is one economy that is bound to grow. There are some things that we need to fix. There needs to be a focus on expenditure. This credit freeze needs to go away. All those issues are internal to India. We need to fix them. But if you look at it from a global perspective, India is one of the few bright spots. The world will look to India to fuel global growth," Singh said.
Over remarks that India might be in the midst of a recession, Singh said: "You will see this economy climbing out of the current situation and the same people who are saying that we are in the throes of a recession will change their tune in another two or three quarters. The government understands fully well that steps need to be taken to increase investment to aid growth."
The SpiceJet boss said representatives from India should put their best foot forward and explain all that is right with the country at a forum like the World Economic Forum
Goenka appreciated the government's pro-active interaction with the Indian corporates during pre-Budget consultations, adding that this has enhanced their expectations from Union Budget 2020.
Copyright©2022 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today


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The show must go on.
After the passing of legend Joan Rivers, many wondered if her show Fashion Police would be able to carry on in her absence.
Well, we finally have our answer.
Read the emotional statement (below):
[Image via E!.]
A woman shopping at a Walmart in Eugene, Oregon was kicked out of the store for wearing a string bikini top and shorts.
Sandy McMillin says an employee told her to cover up or leave and was ultimately escorted her out.
The woman told a local news station she was "embarrassed" by how she was treated and vowed to never shop at Walmart again.
Check out the sexiness and the complete story in the clip (above)!


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It’s not just the crown that’s changed over following Queen Elizabeth’s recent passing. Everything, from Britain’s mailboxes to its money, is getting a “royal makeover”, and it’s costing the UK a pretty
Here’s a closer look at the business of giving money a (literal) facelift.
New bill, who dis?
Britain’s not the only country updating its bills now that King Charles is in charge. According to Guinness, the late Queen appears on a record 33 currencies! And, while this is uncharted territory for the UK – Elizabeth became the first, and only, monarch to appear on British bank notes in 1960 – luckily, other countries can offer a few tips.
In 2018, Canada released a new $10 featuring civil rights pioneer Viola Desmond—winning Bank Note of the Year (a real award, we swear). The US is also planning to put Harriet Tubman on the $20. Fiiiiinally.
But expect to see Queen E. on bills for the next few years, because of the cost of putting King C3 on an #irl C note.
The real cost of a dollar? 7.5 cents
The New York Times estimates that producing new coins to celebrate Charles’ reign could cost $600+ million. Canada’s limited-edition 150th anniversary $10 bill cost $5.7 million to design, test, and develop. And in the US, printing costs range from 7.5 cents per $1 bill to 17 cents for a hundred. (The penny, now retired, used to cost twice its face value to mint…)
Of course, they say, you’ve gotta spend money to make money and, well, turns out this is literally true…
Paper or plastic?
When Canada switched to polymer bills, manufacturing costs jumped from $0.11 per bill to $0.20. Ultimately, the move paid for itself: the harder-to-counterfeit “plastic” money also lasts 2.5x longer.
The Queen will live on… as a meme coin
The market for rare currency featuring the Queen skyrocketed after her death. Crypto got in on the action too, with 40+ new meme coins minted within 24 hours after the announcement of her death. Like most meme coins, the swings were wild: the Queen Elizabeth Inu jumped nearly 30,000% before the inevitable dump. Another coin saw $2.7 million worth in trade volume in under 12 hours. It’s the web3 equivalent of unlicensed Royals merch.


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Coca-Cola has removed a website that allowed users to enter names and messages on to virtual cans after controversy surrounding the fact that the word ‘gay’ was banned from the site.
The Coke social media campaign enabled people to share the ‘cans’ with friends and followers on social networks.
But if users tried to enter the word ‘gay’, Coke responded with a message saying: ‘Oops. Let’s pretend you didn’t just type that.’
If users wanted to write the word ‘straight’ on the cans, they were able to do so. Coca-Cola is a sponsor of the Sochi Winter Olympics, amid growing concern about Russia’s gay rights record.
Now, Coke has taken down the website, telling Buzzfeed: ‘We are aware that the Share a Coke promotion we are running in South Africa has generated an unintended outcome. We apologise for any offence caused.
‘The Share a Coke programme was created to allow consumers to take the iconic “Coca-Cola” script and replace it with their name on the can.
‘In South Africa, the digital version of the Share a Coke promotion did not properly limit the customisation to individuals’ names.
‘We’ve taken down the site and are in the process of revising the digital tool immediately.’
The company added: ‘As one of the world’s most inclusive brands, we value and celebrate diversity. We have long been a strong supporter of the LGBT community and have advocated for inclusion, equality and diversity through both our policies and practices. Again we apologise for any offense this has caused.’


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The Prince Charles Cinema in London, where Frightfest is held each August Photo: James Nash
Arrow Video has become the new sponsor of Frightfest, which has previously been sponsored by Film4 and Horror Channel. The film distributor and festival (which runs mini events throughout the year) yesterday signed up to a one year arrangement.
"As a long-time fan of FrightFest, Arrow Video are incredibly excited to be partnered with FrightFest for a year-long sponsorship," said Arrow's Brand Marketing Manager, Mike Hewitt.
"FrightFest is thrilled to welcome Arrow Video into the fold as our new headline sponsor. They have been a passionate supporter for many years," said Frightfest co-director Ian Rattray. "We are delighted to welcome Mike and the rest of the Arrow team onboard to celebrate the horror fantasy genre on an even wider canvas than before, something followers of both of our brands will appreciate."
The next Frightfest festival will be held in London from 23 to 27 August.


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The story of Android has been one of a dramatic rise. While Apple have largely held their market share in Smartphones, Blackberry, Nokia and Windows Mobile have lost out to Android. However, new data from Needham suggest that this trend is changing in the US for now at least.
The reason? The iPhone coming to Verizon.
Take a look at the chart on the right to see the dip by Android and the rise by Apple. In the first quarter of 2011, Apple gained 12.3% to reach 29.5% of the US Smartphone market. Android’s share fell from 52.4% to 49.5%, but again it is the other players that really lost out.
And of course the iPhone 5 is still to come to balance out the flood of Android devices that are due later this year, so expect to see further turbulence in this chart, especially with Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft still yet to start shipping devices.


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Overnight it looks like the Google Play store has been updated to match the look and feel of their latest Android phone and tablet app. We’ve all used the new-look app on Android got a while now.
We saw a sneak peek at this new design back at Google I/O but it has now launched to the world and can be used right now. Here’s some shots. …
It’s not just the main page that has changed but all the content pages too. They now have a much cleaner and simpler design compared to the old version.
Why not check it out for yourself now over on http://play.google.com ?