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How are some bleeding-edge technologies going to impact the businesses whose work entails providing their customers with the latest and greatest of what’s out there?
That was the question posed to three panelists representing different market sectors and clientele during the keynote session of the Total Tech Summit – and one notably referencing both “threats” and “opportunities” of potential “game-changing” technologies.
The annual Total Tech Summit once again convened top dealers in the residential (CE Pro), commercial (Commercial Integrator) and security (Security Sales & Integration) integration trades, this year being staged in Fort Worth, Texas.
The opening day of the combined CE Summit, CI Summit and SSI Summit at the Fort Worth Convention Center, Texas featured CE Pro editor Jason Knott prodding panelists Sean Weiner, CTO, Bravas Group, representing the resi angle; David Berndt, regional VP, Diversified, in the commercial market; and Moiz Neemuchwala, innovation leader, Stanley Security, on the security side.
“In many cases they’re great opportunities but in some cases they’re potential threats, so we’re going to look at both sides of the coin,” Knott noted. He cited past dual-perspective examples in the respective market sectors such as Sonos’ entry into the multiroom audio category, AV-over-IP signal transmission and wireless PIR security sensors … all game-changing opportunities for installation deployments, but also requiring some rethinking of business models and product offerings.
Factoring in 5G
The transition to 5G networks stands to impact billions of IoT devices in the years to come, so how are integrators bracing for that?
“Probably the biggest change is going to be the way the devices connect to one another,” Weiner predicts. “We’re going to be integrating cloud to cloud, instead of local to local,” he says of the potential home systems topology shift that will include products and their cloud services.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for us to add sensors and add devices because of the capacity that 5G brings and they’ll be a little easier to deploy because it’s not necessarily dependent on the Wi-Fi network itself, but it definitely presents a challenge for us and for manufacturers room to make sure that communication stays intact during the process.”
Berndt pointed to three areas of focus for particular Diversified specialties.
“For our mission-control environment it’s how we help support remote areas that we didn’t have the ability to support. It’s how we’re delivering digital signage in our digital media group. And in our sports and entertainment it’s how we’re delivering video from remote to stadiums,” he says.
For the security industry especially, 5G has the potential to majorly impact transmissions from surveillance cameras to security systems and monitoring stations, Neemuchwala says.
“What I really see is the amount of data that 5G can right now communicate directly into our monitoring stations could be of immense value … right now there is limited access to [those cameras],” he says. “We can see there is significant potential for this solution overall.”
To get there, changes will need to be made on the infrastructure end to capture all the potential data; but as that happens security providers and central monitoring stations will be able to create more insights for customers and at a much faster rate “than we could ever have thought about,” Neemuchwala says.
Concerns for Closed Ecosystems?
A challenge for residential integrators could come from big players like GAFA (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple) using 5G to make a closed-loop for their ever-growing ecosystems, Weiner says, particularly around controlling and collecting data.
But that may also present custom integrators the ability to show their differentiation.
“Our job as integrators is to take a look at what the market is doing and improve upon that, and come up with good applications and use cases for the way that we do business,” he says. “Sell higher end products, higher end solutions and offer services that add on to the value we’re providing.”
On the commercial side, Berndt forecasts that similar threat around personal data creating cautiousness with corporate clients. “It’s definitely an issue with them,” he says, “feeling that they’re now being more exposed or vulnerable.”
Taking Advantage of Data
Along the lines of 5G’s looming growth is the expanding market for analytics and their impact on IoT, especially to aid business customers on the security and commercial markets. Knott pointed to Statista research predicting the amount of IoT devices skyrocketing from 6.6 billion this year to 30 billion by the end of next year.
That’s an awful lot of data coming in from all of those devices for customers. How can they make sense of the information flood, and how will integrators and their clients benefit?
“On the corporate level, we’re finding analytics very useful for managed services and service,” explains Berndt. “We can diagnose a problem before it happens, or the service center can respond to it quicker because they understand what’s going on.
“It’s helping on our design side, because we can analyze and look at data of what rooms technology is being used, how often and what technology is used, what technology is not used. It’s helping us build room technology standards for corporate clients,” he says.
Diversified installs technology in hundreds of rooms for Google, Berndt notes, and it can analyze the data to advise on the next phase of updating conference rooms, collaboration rooms and such that might only be two years old.
For security customers, video continues to be a hot category for deploying analytics and AI, Neemuchwala notes. Helping to combat the industry problem of false alarms is “low-hanging fruit,” for analytics, but he adds that Stanley has been able to widen use cases for various markets.
“In retail we can collect point-of-sale data and then integrate that with other camera-based analytics and we can identify if there’s employee theft going on in your store,” he comments.
“We’re also collecting access control data and basically understanding in your corporate environment, in your offices, in terms of where your employees are going and what they are doing. These solutions help reduce a lot of overhead for our customers.”
Addressing Analytics/AI in the Home
Is this kind of analysis too intrusive for the residential space, Knott asks?
“I think it’s one of those things where just because you can, doesn’t mean you should,” Weiner responds, “but it is ultimately up to the client.”
He notes that in the residential tech market integrators use analytics more for monitoring connected devices’ performance and health, as well as how often and when owners use certain components (if products are on or offline).
“And that can be useful, it’s not incredibly intrusive,” Weiner says, before making a distinction around AI.
“As soon as we get into artificial intelligence, we might cross a line with certain customers where we’re recording routines. We know when they’re home, we know when they’re away. When they’re in the bedroom, when they’re in the kitchen. We know where their cellphone is,” he says. “Even if we protect that data there’s a sense of doubt in the client’s mind that we’re using it for good and not for evil.”
Bottom line for resi installers, he says, is that analytics and AI can be used to make systems better and more functional – but also suggests a lot of onus is on the manufacturers to ensure that even though the data is there and being collected it’s less of a threat to the homeowner … and that the manufacturer, not the integrator, is responsible for the data.
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Aug 10 (Reuters) - The following were the top stories in the Wall Street Journal on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
* The initial public offering of English soccer club Manchester United Ltd priced lower than its underwriters expected. It sold shares at $14 each, a figure below the $16 to $20 range originally forecast by underwriters led by Jefferies & Co Inc.
* PepsiCo Inc said it reached a deal to distribute its products in Myanmar through a local partner, in the latest sign of rising investor interest in the once-reclusive Southeast Asian nation.
* Yahoo Inc said it could reverse its May decision to return more than $4 billion to shareholders from selling part of its stake in a Chinese internet company, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, a signal that new Chief Executive Marissa Mayer may want to use the cash for other purposes.
* Google Inc will pay $22.5 million to settle charges that it secretly bypassed the privacy settings of millions of people who use Apple Inc devices, the Federal Trade Commission said.
* Oil-field equipment maker National Oilwell Varco Inc agreed to acquire Robbins & Myers Inc for $2.55 billion, its largest deal yet in a yearlong shopping spree that has strengthened its position atop the sector.
* Barclays Plc named David Walker, a well-established London executive known for his efforts to revamp corporate governance, as the embattled bank’s next chairman.
* China’s CNOOC Ltd said it plans to defend its $15 billion proposed buyout of Canadian oil producer Nexen Inc before United States regulators by describing itself as a publicly traded company that has a record of compliance with U.S. law.
* Nokia Corp said it has agreed to sell its remaining share of software development kit Qt to information-technology firm Digia Oyj for an undisclosed sum and divest a number of patents to United States-based Vringo Inc as the ailing Finnish handset maker continues to divest assets in a bid to return to profitability.
* After a yearlong investigation, the Justice Department said that it won’t bring charges against Goldman Sachs Group Inc or any of its employees for financial fraud related to the mortgage crisis.
* Carlyle Group LP plans to acquire asset manager TCW Group Inc from French bank Société Générale SA, in the latest example of a United States financial firm seeing value in assets that European banks are shedding under regulatory pressure.
* The Adelson center-funded by Las Vegas Sands Corp is now under scrutiny by the Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the company’s audit committee for possible violations of antibribery laws according to company documents and people familiar with the inquiries.

domain: news


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They’ve been teasing “Annoying Dog Day” for a couple of days and now it all makes sense – iam8bit just announced that they are releasing Toby Fox’ acclaimed Undertale soundtrack on vinyl later this year.
The release will feature brand new artwork by Drew Wise (see below) and will be a 2LP in a gatefold jacket. One LP will be on ‘pacifist’ blue while the other is on ‘genocide’ red. As a bonus it also comes with a “Monster Kidz Word Search” insert as well as a download of the full digital soundtrack.
And as an extra bonus – those who preorder the release before September 5, 2016 will receive a limited 7″ on clear vinyl with an “annoying dog” print on the b-side. The 7″ naturally includes the “Annoying Dog Song” from the game.


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Swiggy, one of India’s fastest growing online food ordering and delivery platform, is reportedly in talks with venture capital firms Naspers and Tencent to raise $ 200 million. The Bengaluru based foodtech startup initiated the discussions with Chinese investment conglomerate Tencent and existing investor Naspers for a potential investment.
A news daily reported, South African Internet group Naspers will be leading this round of funding according to three people briefed on the matter. This move to raise fresh capital comes after the company ended independent funding discussions with SoftBank and Flipkart for a $ 200 million investment. The sources also added this deal could value Swiggy at $ 600- $ 650 million before the investment. In the last Series E funding round where Swiggy raised $ 80 million from Naspers, SAIF Partners and others, the company was valued at $ 400 million.
According to sources, China based venture firm Tencent has been looking to co invest in Swiggy along with SoftBank before those discussions came to an end. However, Tencent will now be forging a strategic partnership with Naspers to join the Swiggy bandwagon as a new investor. Sources also suggest Tencent proposed to increase their investment in the startup to around $ 100 million.
The India foodtech industry is considered to be a very lucrative sector. In November last year, Swiggy was also reported to be in talks with rival restaurant discovery and food delivery rival Zomato for a stock based merger. However, Swiggy later denied all rumors stating the company would not like to comment on baseless speculations. Swiggy was launched in 2014 by Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy, and Rahul Jaimini and since then the company grew fastest in terms of revenue. For the financial year 2016 – 2017 Swiggy’s revenue grew by six times to $ 20.6 million as losses increased by 50%. In the past three years, the foodtech firm has also managed to raise close to $155 million in equity and $8 million in debt.
After the entry of global taxi hailing startup Uber launched their food delivery service UberEATS in India, Ola also recently acquired food delivery startup Foodpanda to enter the foodtech industry.
Swiggy Raises $ 1 Billion In Funding Round
Early Thursday, Swiggy raised $ 1 billion in a funding round led by Naspers and post the valuation, the food delivery service is all set to take on multinational players in the industry like Zomato and FoodPanda. While announcing this news, Swiggy made a statement saying it has executed definitive agreements to the tune of $ 1 billion and saw investors Tencent, Hillhouse Capital and Wellington Management Company, coming on board.
According to people familiar with the development, this new round of funding will see an increase in Swiggy’s valuation, with the food delivery service now being valued at $ 3.3 billion! The new round of funding is going to be used not only to increase the quality of food being delivered by Swiggy, but also for bridging existing gaps in the fields of supply.
Furthermore, these funds will also be used to hire new talents, especially in the fields of machine learning and engineering roles through the mid and senior levels.
Besides improving the current quality of Swiggy, the company is going to use the new round of funding to expand its presence into a new field of business. When Swiggy got its first round of funding from Naspers back in April 2017, little did the investors know they would see such a massive growth in the company’s success. Through the last year, the online food delivery service has now expanded so much, it plans on entering the grocery and online pharma industries!
“Swiggy has 10x the number of orders per month since our first investment, has expanded throughout India to tier 1, 2 and 3 cities, and most importantly, is the most loved food delivery brand in India, providing the best service to consumers nationwide,” said Larry Illg, CEO, Food and Ventures, Naspers. With three major rounds of funding since 2017, Swiggy has expanded to 42 cities in India and has more than doubled its merchandise value!
5 Major Tech Acquisitions In The World
There is nothing more satisfying for startups, than established companies recognising them for performance and growth. To facilitate this recognition, money has never been lacking, especially in the form of acquisitions. Going by this tune here is taking a look at five of the largest tech acquisitions in the world!
1. Microsoft buys Skype for $ 8.5 billion
It was the year 2011 and Skype was entering the world of a technological revolutions. People were moving away from the traditional calling system to sophisticated platforms, with Skype setting the trail blazing. While not a lot of people thought Skype would succeed, Microsoft’s interest in the company cemented the fact Skype was here to stay. Incidentally, Skype was one of eBay’s first acquisitions in the year 2005. However, eBay could not create a market for itself in the industry and had to sell Skype. Skype is still going strong, but it has many more competitors these days in the form of messaging apps with built in voice calling features.
2. Google buys Motorola for $ 12.5 billion
In 2012, Google was primarily known for being one of the fastest search engines, while Motorola was an emerging name in the world of smartphones. When news came of the search engine wanting to take over this new smartphone company, people were skeptical. However, one of the major reasons this deal made it to the headlines was because Google not only acquired an emerging smartphone company, it also got the patent rights of Motorola! This acquisition was Google’s largest to date. However, despite promises, the search engine could not keep up with the growing trends and was forced to unload $ 2.9 billion from its initial investment. Can Google really keep up with the growing trends, or is it too much to expect from a seemingly strange acquisition such as this?
3. Walmart buys Flipkart for $ 16 billion
The Flipkart acquisition by Walmart was one of the most intriguing acquisitions in recent history. Flipkart was already an emerging e commerce platform, with its arms wide spread and reach constantly growing. Walmart, on the other hand had been looking at entering the Indian e commerce platform for a while and with Flipkart’s acceptance, the deal was made all the more sweeter! Post this deal, the e commerce world certainly took a completely different route in terms of change and growth!
4. Facebook buys WhatsApp for $ 19 billion
WhatsApp and Facebook on their own were strong forces in the field of technology and innovation. Built with the intention to connect people all over the world with ease, this acquisition was not out of the blue because, Facebook has a history of acquiring platforms that enhance its future growth. The $ 19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp by Facebook marked a serious shift in industry trends. The 2014 deal, which could have cost the social media network up to $ 22 billion when all was said and done, netted it more than just a hugely popular internet based messaging app. Through the takeover, Facebook also got access to a data base of over 700 million users, marking this as one of the largest social media platform acquisitions in the world.
5. Microsoft buys LinkedIn for $ 26 billion
One of the most epic takeovers by Microsoft was that of LinkedIn. As a platform, LinkedIn was new, growing and entertaining. LinkedIn provided people in the know about where to look for jobs and how to look for them. However, being a relatively new entrant into the field, LinkedIn did not have the user base to connect with a large audience. With Microsoft, LinkedIn saw new light and new customers. At $ 26 billion, not only was this the third tech acquisition by Microsoft, it was THE largest investment made by Microsoft at that point.
Tech acquisitions are interesting. They make people want to explore, create and evolve, with an eye on the future. For more information on things happening in the tech world, do not forget to like, subscribe and comment!
Jeff Bezos: Amazon’s Boss Is the Richest Man In Modern History With A Net Worth $150 Billion!
Jeff Bezos is the richest man in modern history, are you listening people?
This fascinating news comes right after the e commerce giant Amazon’s stock price surged after its Prime Day sale. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Amazon.com Inc., founder’s net worth crossed $ 150 billion in New York, recently. Jeff Bezos who is 54 years old, surpassed Bill Gates in inflation adjusted terms. The $ 100 billion mark that Gates hit briefly in 1999 at the peak of the dot com boom in the US, would be now worth about $ 149 billion in today’s currency rate. Henceforth, making the Amazon chief executive officer richer than anyone else on earth since, how cool is that! The American CEO amassed more wealth than anyone, since 1982. That was the year in which Forbes started publishing its top 20 billionaires of 1982 list. Currently, the tech giant Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates stands second in the list followed by Warren Buffet, Bernard Arnault, Mark Zuckerberg and other executives. Bezos’ net worth has soared by $ 52 billion this year, which is more than the entire fortune of Mukesh Ambani, the newly crowned richest person in Asia. It also climbs Bezos’ personal fortune within spitting distance of the Walton family’s $ 151.5 billion. The Waltons are the world’s richest dynasty.
Amazon was founded by Bezos in the year 1994 as an online book store. Later it went ahead to expand its operations to sell a variety of products. Bezos first appeared on the Forbes 400 list of America’s richest people in 1998, with a net worth of $ 1.6 billion, a year after Amazon made its debut in the public market. After years of struggle and hard work, this e commerce giant announced its 304 million active member accounts toward the end of 2015. Moving on, Amazon’s stock soared by 60 % and its market values more than $ 890 billion.
Apart from Amazon, Jeff Bezos owns the American newspaper company Washington Post and the aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin.
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ICBC to be audited after reports some shops inflate repair costs
Province asks PwC Canada to identify waste and find ways to prevent fraud and overbilling
The B.C. government announced Wednesday it will lead an audit of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), after reports some auto shops have been inflating repair costs.
In a statement, Attorney General David Eby said the government has hired an accounting firm, PwC Canada, to identify waste and find ways to prevent fraud and overbilling at the Crown corporation.
- ICBC rate hike hits B.C. drivers starting today
- ICBC is 'on the path to insolvency' and there's no clear fix
"ICBC will not be back on the road to financial sustainability or in a position to provide affordable rates to British Columbians without major changes at every level," said Eby in a statement.
The audit comes after reports that some auto body shops were overbilling for repairs.
Claims of overbilling at ICBC
Early Wednesday morning, the union representing ICBC workers put out a statement claiming some auto body shops have been inflating the cost of repairs under the express repair program.
That program allows customers to go directly to an auto shop for an estimate, which is then passed on to ICBC for approval.
Annette Toth, vice-president of MoveUP, said several of its members have told her that due to the high volume of claims, ICBC employees often don't have a chance to take a second look at the costs.
"Our estimators are constantly trying to correct it," said Toth.
"There's not enough people to do the checks and make sure the body shops are being fully accountable."
Some auto shops said they think the rising cost of car parts is contributing to the increase in repair costs. They say claims of overbilling are overblown.
"They think we're exaggerating the estimates, but we're really not. We're doing what the manufacturers are requiring us to do," said Rick Hatswell, Chief Operating Officer for Craftsman Collision, which is an ICBC-approved repair shop.
Hatswell said Craftsman Collision and all other ICBC-approved repair shops use a computer-based system to determine repair estimates in accordance with manufacturing standards.
In a statement, ICBC said it has not seen any evidence of fraud happening at repair shops, but said getting staff to check each individual claim can be time consuming and inconvenient to customers.
The provincial auto insurance corporation is projecting an $800 million deficit by the end of this year, according to budget documents.
The government's final report will be made public in early 2018.


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It was one of 2010's best and once again, the fans responded.
Ubisoft has revealed their quarterly numbers and the standout title was Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood , which shipped over 6.5 million units. The game's popularity helped the publisher top their earnings estimates; they had expected €520 million ($701 million) in revenue for the quarter ending December 31, 2010, but they ended up posting a record €600 million ($809 million). This marks a 21.2% increase in a year-over-year comparison, and the company's 9-month earnings hit €861 million ($1.16 billion), which is a 30.3 percent year-over-year increase. Their music-based dancing titles, Just Dance , Just Dance 2 , and Michael Jackson: The Experience proved to be plenty successful on the charts.
Furthermore – and this will come as no shock – Ubisoft did announce they're working on the newest Assassin's Creed installment, and it'll hit store shelves during the next fiscal year. We have no other details at this time, but we can expect more info when Ubisoft reveals their full-year earnings in May. It'll be the fourth entry in the critically acclaimed series, and there has been much speculation regarding the setting. Ezio may or may not return as the protagonist, and we might be in a completely different historical landscape. But so long as the gameplay and structure remains the same, we'll be happy!


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LG has taken an vital step towards shutting down its mobile business. The final LG telephones have rolled off the manufacturing line and the corporate will now not manufacture handsets after Monday, in keeping with Asia Enterprise Day by day. Engadget has contacted LG for affirmation.
The corporate introduced plans in early April to wind down its cellphone enterprise, nevertheless it stored making handsets for a pair extra months to satisfy contracts with telecom corporations. A manufacturing facility in Vietnam the place LG constructed lots of its smartphones will probably be transformed right into a family equipment manufacturing plant, Asia Enterprise Day by day experiences.
After years of losing money on the division, LG mentioned it would kill its failed cell enterprise by the tip of July, although it’d nonetheless promote some gadgets after that date. Of us who purchase an LG cellphone will nonetheless obtain up to three years of Android working system updates. The corporate may also present 4 years of after-sales service from the date of manufacture. In the meantime, the corporate has reportedly bought a restricted provide of the unreleased Velvet 2 Professional and LG Rollable, which the corporate showed off at CES in January, solely to its staff in South Korea.
All merchandise advisable by Engadget are chosen by our editorial workforce, unbiased of our dad or mum firm. A few of our tales embrace affiliate hyperlinks. For those who purchase one thing by way of considered one of these hyperlinks, we might earn an affiliate fee.


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Getting gray hair is an unavoidable part of life. While many embrace their silver or white locks, many people try to turn back time by using gray hair reversal serums and supplements.
Many of these trendy products promise to delay or even reverse gray hair. In the past year alone, online search interest in anti-gray hair serums has climbed 280% in the United States, according to an analysis by NBC News.
So, are there any anti-gray products that can actually prevent or reverse gray hair? TODAY.com spoke to dermatologists about the science behind gray hair to learn more.
What causes hair to go gray?
Unless you dye your hair, it will eventually start to lose color over time, usually beginning when people are in their 30s or 40s, per the Cleveland Clinic. Graying is a completely normal part of life, according to experts. Here's how it works:
"We're all born with a certain number of hair follicles and a predetermined number of hair follicle cycles, and there are little pigment-producing factories in our hair follicles (where hair grows out of the scalp) called melanocytes that give us our hair color," Dr. Mona Gohara, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut, told TODAY in a segment aired August 2.
Hair graying is predominantly due to these melanocytes not renewing, Dr. Jonathan Zippin, dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, tells TODAY.com. Melanocytes live at the midpoint of the hair, says Zippin, and when they need to replicate, they migrate to the base of the hair follicle and produce pigment, or melanin.
There are actually two different types of melanin which dictate hair color — the amount and mixture of these is what makes hair black, brown, red, or blonde.
Graying occurs when "those melanocytes are no longer moving and populating the bottom of the hair,” says Zippin. A lack of these melanin-producing cells at the base causes the hair to appear gray — when there's none at all, the hair is white.
The age at which people start to go gray and the extent to which the hair goes gray or white varies depending on the person.
Why exactly graying happens is not fully understood. “Sometimes the melanocytes get tired. They just don’t want to work anymore,” says Gohara, adding that genetics likely also play a role.
Is gray hair caused by stress?
Apart from aging and genetics, factors like stress or medications may also contribute to the graying process, the experts note. There have been studies in mice that suggest that stress can lead to melanocyte damage, says Zippin, causing the hair to turn gray.
A 2021 study found that stress can lead to gray hair in humans, and taking away that stress appears to reverse the process, allowing white strands to return to the natural color at the root — however, the effects were temporary and limited to a certain age group and only a few hair follicles, TODAY.com previously reported.
“We also know that there are some medicines that can affect the melanocytes or stress them, and in that instance, that could lead to gray hair,” says Zippin.
How can I reverse my gray hair naturally?
In recent years, an increasing number of anti-gray hair products have entered the market, amplified by social media. But, based on the available science, there are no products that "definitively" reverse gray hair, says Zippin.
Some popular anti-gray serums containing ingredients like caffeine, peptides and vitamins promise to reduce the appearance of grays, renew color to the hair and deliver visible results in just a few months when applied daily. Some even claim to have research supporting these assertions.
But can anti-gray serums or any of the active ingredients in them actually stimulate melanin production when applied to the scalp? “Whether the melanocytes are actually nudged is questionable. ... I don’t know that we have any definitive science to say that that’s happening,” says Gohara.
What about gray or white strands caused by stress? “Theoretically, if gray hair is caused by stress and those stressors are removed, that could reverse gray hair, but has that been done pharmacologically? No,” Zippin adds.
Does vitamin B12 reverse gray hair?
In addition to anti-gray serums, some companies also sell supplements that contain blends of vitamins. B12 is an especially popular one, as vitamin B (as well as vitamin A and biotin) have been show to play a role in hair growth and follicle health, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
But can specific vitamins definitively delay or halt the graying process? According to experts, no. There are no scientific studies showing that certain supplements — including vitamin B12 — will prevent or reverse gray hair in humans.
“I think it’s fair to say that we don’t truly understand what causes gray hair. Therefore, it’s hard to know whether any particular product will be successful because we don’t know what mechanism we’re really trying to reverse,” says Zippin.
Are there risks to trying anti-gray serums and supplements?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not review anti-gray hair products for safety before they hit the market, but Gohara said she considers them to be low risk and "pretty safe to try."
Potential side effects may include scalp irritation from serums or gastrointestinal issues from supplements, Gohara added.
“In general, I don’t think any of these are going to hurt anybody,” says Zippin. However, allergic or adverse skin reactions are possible when trying any new serum or topical product.
If you do develop a new irritation or a new rash associated with a product, you should stop using it immediately, Zippin adds.
Gohara suggested trying serums on a small area first and checking with your doctor before trying a new product if you have any questions.
While popular anti-gray products may not harm your health, they can harm your wallet, the experts note. At the end of the day, there's always hair dye — or embracing your natural hair, grays and all.


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Britton O’Dalley was visiting rural British Columbia for her wedding on Sunday as investment bank Goldman Sachs ended a free cold beer offer it previously offered at its New York City headquarters. A friend sent him the news and made a joke.
O’Dalley, a special projects manager at Cometia, a coffee startup headquartered in Gloucester, Massachusetts, thought it was both an interesting proposition and a great idea. So, about 16 hours later, the team set up a table with Autry oat milk, cups, straws and hundreds of cometia his coffee his capsules just outside the Goldman Sachs building. They custom-printed a sign advertising the sample, “Free Coffee for Goldman Analysts!”
At first the employees seemed wary. “Some people started coming, but a lot of them were looking at us strangely like a trap,” he says O’Daly. Understandably, some feared they’d step into a Nathan Fielder-style prank or engage in an activity that would piss off upper management, but gradually, Goldman’s employees became more and more interested in coffee. I accepted the startup service.
Between about 8:45 a.m. and about 10:30 a.m., they served about 100 people with freshly made cold brew, even after security guards moved workers across the street.O’Daly considers the Guerrilla pop-up a success, but says the only way the team was able to pull it off was because it ran quickly. “This was one of those situations where he was in a situation that didn’t take more than 24 hours or didn’t make much sense,” he says O’Daly. “You have to be the doer.”
This is definitely a sentiment that resonates with entrepreneurs. but, Is doing–well, whatever–for two and a half years it’s been more or less banned. But that is starting to change. A business owner found that Experiences his marketing helped him connect more with his customers and launch his product, especially in a saturated market. Many have even found that face-to-face marketing tactics can significantly increase sales.
For the Cometeer team, the pop-up was a welcome return to grassroots marketing and received plenty of media attention.
But then again, taking advantage of such moments is not for the faint of heart. During a red-eye flight from her home Seattle to New York, Christina Lazarus, head of brand and communications, ordered 15 cartons of Oatley Her Oats Her Milk. Odalley’s plane landed at about 6:00 a.m. However I stop by my house, pick up my Cometeer shirt, unload my suitcase, then go to my office to get a table, tablecloth, cups and as many Cometeer capsules as possible (luckily my friend is driving offered). They also needed to pick up a cooler that another startup had borrowed the week before for an event.When after that They had to stop at Duane Reed to pick up ice.
The New York City office was running out of capsules, so O’Daly asked the team if they could bring any extras they had on hand. For example, Lazarus brought all the capsules that were in his freezer. “It was a complete pageant of tasks we had to do,” says O’Daly. “All the men, women and children of Cometia were mobilized to donate what they had.”
The Cometeer brand promises quick and easy brewing of coffee in less than a minute, but the nature of the product made last-minute setup a challenge. Cometeer capsules contain frozen disk coffee. To brew them, simply pour hot water (for hot coffee) or melt them and pour into cold water or milk (for cold brew). Capsules must be kept in the freezer, so customers typically leave them in the fridge overnight to make their morning cold brew. It doesn’t really go into the equation.
So Lazarus packed a thermos of hot water that could be used to defrost the capsules, ready to pour, and before the light turned green, much to the shock of a Goldman analyst, had fresh coffee. We were ready,” says Lazarus.
O’Daly initially tried to promote the brand by specifically addressing Goldman Sachs employees. But the team eventually made it open to anyone who wanted a cold beer. This earned the confidence of the Goldman analysts we initially targeted. O’Daly even thinks the gimmick has won Cometia a new customer: Instead of business cards, the team handed visitors extra Cometia capsules that they could brew at home or share with colleagues. rice field.
“These customers value every second of their commute, and the idea was a perfect fit,” says O’Daly. “This won’t be the last time we see a sample of guerrilla comedy on the street.”


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(Updates with CFO’s comments starting in third paragraph.)
Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Schneider Electric SA, the world’s biggest maker of low- and medium-voltage equipment, reduced its 2011 profit goal for the second time in four months because of rising labor costs in emerging markets and said it may cut jobs.
Earnings before interest, taxes and amortization will probably amount to about 14 percent of revenue this year, down from a July forecast of about 15 percent, the Rueil-Malmaison, France-based company said today. Schneider fell the most in almost three years in Paris trading.
“Western Europe is stagnating in the third quarter, which points to a more uncertain and difficult environment,” Chief Financial Officer Emmanuel Babeau said in a phone interview. “We’re going to make more restructuring and adjustments.”
Chief Executive Officer Jean-Pascal Tricoire, who pledged in July to boost prices in the second half of this year to make up for rising raw-material costs that held back profitability in the first six months, now faces the prospect of a global economic slowdown triggered by Europe’s sovereign debt crisis. Restructuring that includes workforce reductions will affect countries such as the U.S., Spain and Egypt, Babeau said.
Schneider dropped as much as 9.9 percent to 40.20 euros, the biggest intraday decline since Oct. 24, 2008, and was down 7.4 percent at 12:43 p.m. in Paris. The stock has fallen 26 percent this year.
Additional charges this half will cut the Ebita margin by a range of 0.2 percentage point to 0.4 percentage point, and increase full-year restructuring costs to within 140 million euros ($193 million) to 180 million euros from an initial 100 million-euro estimate, the CFO said.
Third-quarter sales rose 4.6 percent, led by China and India. Revenue growth stalled in western Europe, Schneider said.
Wage inflation in emerging economies, stagnating revenue in Europe and a higher-than-expected increase in sales of lower- profit service contracts such as security-systems management and renewable-energy projects contributed to the reduction of the 2011 target, Babeau said. The target excludes acquisition and integration costs and the effects of consolidating purchases this year.
“For most of the big geographies, China, India, Russia, we are between 5, 6, and 8 or even north of 8 percent inflation,” the CFO said on a conference call. Pay increases in such markets need to exceed inflation to enable the company to attract talent, and Schneider will have to compensate for those costs with price increases “over time.”
The company is likely to achieve its full-year target of raising prices by 1 percent to partly offset about 400 million euros of increased raw-material costs, Babeau said. Schneider’s plan to trim inventories by about 300 million euros in the second half “isn’t a walk in the park,” as sales growth varies across divisions and “we have to manage various objectives at the same time” in terms of production.
Schneider lifted inventories in the first half to minimize a potential disruption in its supply chain caused by the earthquake in Japan on March 11.
Third-quarter sales rose to 5.70 billion euros, Schneider said today, beating analysts’ estimates of 5.56 billion euros. Excluding acquisitions and currency effects, sales climbed 7.7 percent. Exchange-rate fluctuations held back growth by 3.3 percentage points. Schneider reiterated a full-year target of a 6 percent to 9 percent increase in like-for-like sales.
“Beyond 2011, we are getting our organization prepared for our next company program covering the period 2012 to 2014,” Tricoire said in the statement. “We are also preparing for different 2012 economic scenarios in order to generate a solid margin and cash performance.”
--Editors: Tom Lavell, David Risser
To contact the reporter on this story: Francois De Beaupuy in Paris at firstname.lastname@example.org
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Benedikt Kammel at email@example.com


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Pivot Point International Appoints Kevin Cameron as Vice President of Global Marketing & Business Development
June 13, 2014
Pivot Point International , a leader in beauty education, announced the appointment of Kevin Cameron as vice president of global marketing and business development to strengthen the company’s marketing and product positioning efforts, as well as oversee the brand overall. “In Kevin we found a proven leader with an acute sense for market trends and vision for the beauty industry,” says Robert Passage, chairman and CEO of Pivot Point. “This is exactly what Pivot Point needs as the company enters its next phase of expanded innovation and growth while preserving the legacy of my father Leo Passage.” Cameron joins Pivot...


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As people become more focused on sustainability and their impact on the planet, new forms of plant-based meat options are emerging.
Plant-based Meat Alternatives – an Opportunity for Commercial Real Estate?
As people are becoming more focused on sustainability and the impact their lifestyle has on the planet, new forms of plant-based meat options are arriving on the market, and they’re gaining popularity as people look for ethical and cruelty-free products similar to those they’re accustomed to eating.
Growth of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives
Plant-based meat market is expected to generate a revenue of USD15.7 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 14.7% in terms of value between 2022 and 2027 according to a report by MarketandMarkets, 2022. The growth of these markets is driven by an increasing awareness about health benefits of a plant-based diet, as well as growing concerns over animal products and the amounts of energy and land required to produce them.
The plant-based market is also expected to be given a boost, as support grows from governments and organizations that are looking to make us more sustainable. Although incentives vary by country and region, some examples include funding for research and development, tax-breaks and subsidies for farmers growing crops to make plant-based meat and dairy-free products. Some organizations also promote plant-based alternatives through educational campaigns and by making them available in public institutions, which will only escalate the trend.
With the increased demand and predictions that the “meatless meat” market will continue to grow – as demonstrated by the success of companies such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat – there will be an increasing demand in the commercial real estate space to find and develop suitable spaces.
Opportunities for the commercial real estate sector
This is a big growth sector in commercial real estate as producers not only need offices to run their operations but also warehouses, processing plants and retail locations.
In this sector, commercial real estate professionals may see an increase in demand for logistics and cold storage solutions as the market continues to expand. At the very least producers need a commercial kitchen space with adequate refrigeration and freezing capabilities, as well as storage space for raw materials and products.
Another growth sector could be retail space specifically designed to sell planet-based products – including restaurants and supermarkets – as plant-based customers are looking for spaces that cater to their needs.
In conclusion, plant-based meat is a growing trend that is having a positive impact on the commercial real estate sector. Developers can invest in properties that are suitable for the production – such as commercial kitchens and labs – and distribution of these products. It is likely to continue as plant-based meat continues to grow due to our changing lifestyle, as well as incentives and educational campaigns.
Tenant Improvement Allowances (TIA) can be a game-changer for businesses looking to create the perfect workspace.


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Modified e-bike causes SRO building fire
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services responded to 166 E Hastings Street this morning at 3:26am for a fire in an single room occupancy building. On arrival, the fire alarm was activated, there was heavy smoke on the 3rd floor, and the sprinkler system activated. Firefighters found an e-bike that caught on fire inside a unit and extinguished the fire.
Fire investigators determined that the modified charging system caused the battery to explosively fail and catch on fire. There were no injuries as a result, but there was damage from the heat, flames, smoke, and water from the sprinkler activation.
This is a reminder to:
- Never modify any component of an e-mobility device, including the hardware or software components. Changing any component can affect the battery, causing overheating and potential battery explosions or fire.
- Only use batteries from the original manufacturer, never cheaper alternatives.
- Plug directly into a wall outlet, not a power bar.
- Never leave batteries charging unattended or overnight.
- Do not store e-mobility devices inside units if possible.
- Dispose of batteries at recycling centers, never in the garbage.


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Microsoft founder Bill Gates has not invested in Bitcoin, he said in a live chat on the social network Clubhouse. … The billionaire said he did not choose his investments on the basis of whether they would be worth more to others.
What does Bill Gates think of cryptocurrency?
He’s Not Wrong. The cryptocurrency “uses more electricity per transaction than any other method known to mankind,” he says. Bill Gates says bitcoin isn’t environmentally friendly.
Does Mark Zuckerberg invest in cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency may be the future, and while Elon Musk rallies support behind meme-cryptocurrency Dogecoin, Facebook creator, Mark Zuckerberg just shared that he too, owns Bitcoin – but there’s a catch. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s on Tuesday posted a photo of his bitcoin investment on Facebook – except the post …
Does Warren Buffett invest in cryptocurrency?
The billionaire investor doesn’t like Bitcoin because he considers it an unproductive asset. Buffett has a well-known preference for stocks of corporations whose value — and cash flow — come from producing things. But cryptocurrencies don’t have real value, Buffett said in a CNBC interview in 2020.
Does Elon Musk own Bitcoin?
Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday said he owns Bitcoin, Dogecoin and Ethereum. Musk added that Tesla and SpaceX also own Bitcoin. Musk was speaking at the Bitcoin event “The B Word”, along with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood.
Can I invest in Libra?
You can’t buy Libra today, but you can buy Facebook stock.
Can bitcoin reach 100k?
While Bitcoin has declined recently, Mike McGlone, a senior commodity strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence, projects that it’s more likely Bitcoin will rise to a value of $100,000 than that it will dip to $20,000, according to a new report released this week.
Who Satoshi Nakamoto?
Satoshi Nakamoto is a pseudonym used by the person or persons who developed bitcoin. In the process of developing bitcoin, Nakamoto also developed the first blockchain database in the world. Right up until 2010, Nakamoto was involved in the development of bitcoin but following that immediately disappeared.
Is now a bad time to buy crypto?
Cryptocurrency is still relatively new, so investing now is risky. However, if it does succeed, you could potentially make a lot of money by getting in on the ground floor, so to speak. If you’re a risk-averse investor, you may decide to wait a few years to see how crypto continues to perform.
Whats the hottest crypto right now?
Seven contenders for the best crypto to buy for 2021:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Binance Coin (BNB)
- Polkadot (DOT)
Can a Bitcoin crash?
Although this most recent crash can be intimidating, the good news is that this is nothing new for cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin has lost more than 80% of its value on multiple occasions, and it’s always bounced back. … Cryptocurrency will likely experience many more crashes over the years.
Does Bill Gates own any Bitcoin?
Microsoft founder Bill Gates has not invested in Bitcoin, he said in a live chat on the social network Clubhouse. Mr Gates told host Andrew Sorkin that he preferred to invest in companies “that make products”, citing malaria and measles vaccines as examples.
Is it good to invest in Bitcoin?
You can easily trade bitcoin for cash or assets like gold instantly with incredibly low fees. The high liquidity associated with bitcoin makes it a great investment vessel if you’re looking for short-term profit. Digital currencies may also be a long-term investment due to their high market demand.


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Chromebooks started showing up a few years ago, but they were never more than a very niche product. They really started taking off about a year and a half ago with the ARM-based Samsung Chromebook, which stayed as #1 bestseller in Amazon’s computer category for a whole year. Part of what made that Chromebook so successful was that it had a very appealing price of $250, for some pretty decent hardware.
That’s why it was disappointing to see that Samsung didn’t make another ARM Chromebook this year with an upgraded quad-core processor, a better IPS displays and a larger battery. Instead, Google left it to HP to come up with a new ARM Chromebook, that wasn’t really new in terms of internals, since the HP Chromebook 11 actually used exactly the same internals as the Samsung Chromebook, except for an IPS display and a better designed and multi-colored package.
HP decided to make it charge through USB, which isn’t a terrible idea by itself, especially since it has a battery that is only as large as a Nexus 7 battery, so nothing too radical in terms of charging requirements there, but I suppose HP wanted it to charge much faster, so it introduced a 2A charger (about twice as fast as normal USB chargers), which caused a lot of overheating issues, and HP had to recall many of these Chromebooks.
Despite all of these issues, and despite Samsung not wanting to come out with a new model this year (maybe next year?), Chromebooks seem to have done very well, especially in the educational and business markets, where Chromebooks captured 20 percent market share. Now, Microsoft’s anti-Chromebook commercials that seemed to appear out of the blue, suddenly make sense.
Microsoft is attacked not just by Android, which dominates the mobile side, which is a very dangerous trend for Microsoft by itself, if such mobile devices replace Windows machines for casual use, but also by ChromeOS in the business sector, where Microsoft thought they had their bases covered and aren’t in any immediate danger. But as Windows XP is quickly approaching its end of life, and businesses want to move off it, they’re suddenly thinking they shouldn’t be tied only to Windows in the future, when they can pick from Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, and so on.


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Premier Foods has released its new Mr Kipling TV ad this week as part of a campaign to reposition the brand. It is the first work by 101 for Mr Kipling since the start-up picked up the business last year.
The 30-second TV spot shows a grandmother at home with her grandchildren. The brand aims to broaden its appeal from traditional cakes to convenient snacks, and is targeting mothers.
Iwan Williams, the managing director of Premier Foods, said: "The repositioning of Mr Kipling represents a major commitment for Premier Foods. The TV ad is the start of a new marketing campaign for the brand in 2012."
The ad was directed by Laurent Bourdoiseau through P for Production.


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TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Read our ethics statement.
In brief: Amazon is keeping its workers plenty busy amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and one of their tasks has been to mass-produce hundreds of thousands of face shields for healthcare professionals (and, eventually, the general public). These shields are designed to help protect the eyes, nose, and mouth from virus-laden sneezes or coughs.
Amazon has already donated roughly 10,000 of these face shields to medical workers, and another 20,000 donations are planned. In addition to that, the retail giant will be producing and selling "hundreds of thousands" of additional shields "at-cost" on its own website.
Amazon says it will be able to offer the shields at a "significantly lower price" due to "design innovations" and the capabilities of its supply chain. When the shields go on sale, they will initially only be available to frontline medical workers, which is a sensible move. However, eventually, Amazon will offer them up to "all" of its customers, though that will likely take at least a couple of weeks.
So, how is Amazon producing these shields so quickly? In addition to 3D printing some core components (like headbands), the company is repurposing many of its own manufacturing machines and facilities to create the protective gear. For instance, one machine originally designed to cut "fiber materials" to create drones is now being used to carve out "screens" for the face shields.
Amazon has been consistently refining the design of its shields based on feedback from medical professionals, but the latest iteration seems to be one everyone is happy with (see it above). If you or a loved one is working on the frontlines of this pandemic, stay tuned to Amazon.com over the coming weeks to see if you can snag a shield or two to better protect yourself. We'll update this article with purchase and pricing information when Amazon makes it available.


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Three Sony cameras made it into the top 10 in the yearly Explora ranking.
The Sony ZVE-10 on 8th place:;
In 2020, Sony released the ZV-1 and made it clear that they saw potential for the vlogging-specific camera. One year later, they’ve upgraded this idea with the ZV-E10, a camera for content creators featuring the versatility of a mirrorless, interchangeable lens body. The ZV-1 was essentially a take on an RX-series camera, but purpose-designed for vlogging. The ZV-E10 does the same for mirrorless shooters, by essentially adding a vari-angle screen, 3-capsule directional mic, improved audio interface, live streaming support, and a product showcase mode to an a6000-series body. It’s a standout camera of the year because it’s at the forefront of a new and growing genre of cameras that’s likely to continue expanding over the next several years.
The Sony A7IV on 5th place:
One of the later releases of 2021, Sony released the Alpha a7 IV in the Fall and it’s almost instantly become one of the hottest cameras of 2021. Sony’s a7-line—not the R, not the S, just the plain a7—has been a true sweet spot camera for years and this fourth iteration continues this concept with the tagline of “beyond basic.” It features a new higher resolution 33MP sensor (finally graduating from the 24MP level), 4K 60p 10-bit internal recording, and Real-time Eye AF and Tracking. It uses much of the processing power of the flagship-tier a1 but manages to remain the approachable camera that’s appealing to all sorts of shooters.
The Sony A1 on 2nd place:
Sony’s Alpha 1 was one of the first mirrorless cameras to show exactly what’s truly possible in mirrorless camera development right now, when everything is turned up to 11 to create one of the most well-rounded, well-spec’d cameras to come around in some time. usually, cameras excel at speed but lack in resolution, prioritize video over stills, or make some other kind of concession to prioritize a certain kind of shooter—not with the a1. Sony tricked this camera out with a high res 50MP stacked sensor that’s capable of outputting 8K 30p video, 4K 120p video at 10-bit, or full-resolution stills with a 30-fps continuous shooting rate. Besides having chart-topping specs in both photo and video realms, its mundane specs are even hugely impressive… things like a 1/400-second flash sync speed, 1/200-second sync with an electronic shutter, 9.44m-dot OLED EVF, and blackout-free viewing due to the fast readout speeds from the stacked sensor design. The Alpha 1 is a lot of camera; it’s almost like having an a7S, a7R, and a9 all wrapped up together, but somehow it still manages to have the same svelte form factor and familiar appearance.
On first place you have the new Nikon Z9.


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Obsidian Entertainment is currently working on the survival game Grounded and the role-playing game Avowed. According to Game Director Josh Sawyer, another project is currently being planned.
With Microsoft as the new parent company Obsidian entertainment much more opportunities to develop new games. You can already see that in the RPG Avowed, which becomes a kind of Skyrim in the world of Pillars of Eternity and would not have been possible for the studio in the past.
From Avowed we have only seen the announcement teaser so far, we do not know what the RPG really looks like. With Grounded, Obsidian Entertainment has gone further. You can already play the survival game in an early access version on PC and Xbox One. The studio would actually have their hands full with that. But according to Game Director Josh Sawyer, the team is even working on an additional title.
There's more to come from obsidian
In a slightly longer post Tumblr Sawyer explained what he is currently doing at Obsidian Entertainment. Surprisingly, he never mentioned that he is running a game project like he did at PoE. Then a fan asked and Sawyer replied that he now had his own project and it wasn't Avowed. It is also not Grounded, because this game is developed under Game Director Adam Brennecke.
So it's a third game that is currently being created by Obsidian Entertainment. Josh Sawyer is a big role-playing fan, so it is likely that this game is also an RPG. Maybe it's Pillars of Eternity 3 that he talked about recently. He said that the team should feel like it, then the sequel could be developed. Maybe it's a new scenario. Science fiction would bring some variety.
However, since the project is obviously only just beginning, we will probably have to wait a while before we learn more about it.
All readers receive news, articles, guides, videos and podcasts about their favorite games from us free of charge. So far we have financed this page through advertising and kept it as free as possible from clickbaits or paid items, but since COVID-19 this has become increasingly difficult. Many companies will cut or cut their advertising budgets for 2020. Budgets, which we unfortunately rely on if we want to continue offering PC games in the usual way free of charge in the future.
For this reason, we are now turning to you. You can support us as a PC games supporter so that we can continue to offer our content in the usual way for free without introducing a paywall or clickbait news á la "And you will not believe what happened then …" . Every contribution, large or small, is valuable.
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Why do games make it so difficult for people? Stop it!
Obsidian: AAA role-play in progress
Obsidian will continue to develop role-playing games despite Grounded


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Beijing has responded angrily to a US executive order to look into the country’s dependence on rare earths from China.
The order announced Wednesday could lead to tariffs, quotas or other possible import restrictions.
In China, the news was met with irritation. Tencent news, for instance, said the US had “entered a state of national emergency”.
China does lead exports and has the top position in production of the group of 17 mineral elements that are is a vital material for the manufacture of technology products from mobile phones to military hardware.
In the tit-for-tat trade war, China is holding back exports or rare earths and the US, EU, Australia and others are re-opening old mines and exploring for new deposits.
Rare earths are actually plentiful, but difficult to get to – China’s are cheaper because they are more accessible, mining companies say.
The Peoples’ Daily reported that the US is afraid of being “stuck” and relying on China for its supplies. Washington is fully fired up to support its domestic rare earth industry, the paper reported.
“Key minerals have always been the focus of attention in the US,” it reported. The Rare Earth Executive Order published by the White House shows that 80% of the total imports of rare earth compounds and metals in the United States last year came from China.
Reuters said that although the US was once a major producer of rare earths, China’s influence in the industry has been a bargaining chip in the Sino-US trade dispute.
• Chris Gill with Reuters.
This page was upgraded on February 2, 2022 to meet style standards.
China’s exports of vital rare earths drop 62%


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The popular TikTok app was deemed a security risk by
Wells Fargo, and its employees have been told to delete the app from their
phones. It’s not the first company to suggest this course of action, following
mixed messages from Amazon.
TikTok took the world by storm and, until recently, was mostly
used by young people and kids. From there, it grew in popularity among the
general population. Since many companies and even governments issue devices their
employees, the application inevitably landed on such endpoints.
A Chinese company called ByteDance builds the
application, which is where the problems arise. The developers have been
accused of collecting data and sharing it with the Chinese government, although
no tangible proof has been found. Given existing legislation in China, which
grants the government extensive power of access to private-sector data
generated by companies in their country, the security concerns seem legitimate.
According to a CCN report,
a Wells Fargo spokesperson confirmed the information.
“A small number of employees with corporate-owned
devices who had installed the TikTok application,” The spokesperson said. “Due
to concerns about TikTok’s privacy and security controls and practices, and
because corporate-owned devices should be used for company business only, we
have directed those employees to remove the app from their devices.”
A few days ago, Amazon sent an internal memo saying
pretty much the same thing, only to backtrack a few hours later, saying that it
has been sent by mistake. On the other hand, TikTok is not staying silent.
“Tens of millions of Americans, including Wells
Fargo employees, come to TikTok for entertainment, inspiration and connection,
especially during the pandemic. Our hope is that whatever concerns Wells Fargo
can be answered through transparent dialogue so that their employees can
continue to participate in and benefit from our community,” reads the
announcement from TikTok.
Whatever is happening with the app is still open for
debate, but more companies and government will likely continue to push for its


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Decentralized Crypto Exchange imToken DEX is Suspected of Data Deceits
Crypto wallet Bitpie released an article revealed that 99% volume of the daily active users and trading in imToken DEX were fake. Bitpie listed data about a series of small ETH transactions of 1, 0.2 or 0.3.
According to Bitpie’s article, before August 18, few users in imToken DEX, but after August 18, data of user traffic surged rapidly. At the same time, imToken carried out a lot of publicity reports on its surge in trading volume and active user traffic. imToken DEX claims a 424% surge in its user traffic and ranked first in the ETH DEX transaction.
Wen Hao, CEO and founder of Bitpie explicit about his judgment of data deceits.
“0.35 ETH from an address, 0.1 ETH was transacted in imToken after an hour, or 0.2 ETH was transacted in imToken the next day and 0.02 in a few days. Before it played the trick, dozens daily user traffic are, but the next day there are more than a thousand, and all from the same address with small amount like 0.x, 0.3, 0.4 ETH.”
However, Ben He, founder of imToken, made a statement in Wechat moments.
“Tokenlon officially launched less than a month, but topping first of ETH DEX. However, our trading volume is less than one-thousandth of that of traditional exchanges. Running DEX is the most difficult path, but the path we choose determines who we are. How could a brambling know a swan’s lofty ambition?”
One month ago, the built-in 0x-powered Tokenlon of imToken was officially upgraded to an independent de-centralized exchange (DEX).
ImToken said that there are nearly 10 million users of imToken’s equipment at present, and Tokenlon, as a new DEX, has more than 30 million dollars in transaction volume during Beta trial operation (at present, only 40 million dollars in transaction volume per week in ETH’s DEX) with a weekly retention rate of more than 70%.
In fact, in recent years, with the rise of smart contracts and the development of blockchain technology, de-centralized exchange (DEX) has gradually emerged. However, there are varied opinions about DEX’s future. For DEX, user volume and activity are not significant. CEX and DEX, each with its market. Compared with CEX, DEX is more private and secure for large transactions. DEX should aim for low-frequency large-scale transactions as a supplement for CEX.
Editor of 8btc, blockchain lover. Vincent shares the news of blockchain and cryptocurrency in China with you.
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Tuesday Tune-Up #462
Facebook acquires Kustomer for reported $1 billion
Announced today, Facebook has acquired customer service platform, Kustomer, for a reported $1 billion. The start-up was founded with the aim of giving customer service teams better data and a more comprehensive view of the audiences they’re serving and interacting with by bringing together the cross platform history that exists between a brand and its customer. With this acquisition, it becomes clear that Facebook is looking to improve its offering to businesses whose primary digital presence is on the social network as it continues its big push into ‘social commerce’.
More detail revealed about Twitter’s Audio Spaces
Last month, Twitter revealed it was testing Audio Spaces, a dedicated space on the platform that would allow users to converse live with other users on a group or one-on-one basis. A little reverse engineering has revealed more about the product offering in action, namely that the same privacy and conversational controls that exist for in-feed tweets will apply, that transcripts of conversations will be available for moderation purposes and that any Audio Space’s creator will be able to adjust who can speak at any time.
Twitter is internally testing Audio Spaces Beta, here’s another look:— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) November 28, 2020
– Uses Periscope as backend
– Reactions: 💯✋✊✌👋
– “Who can speak” can be adjusted in the middle
– Transcriptions available
– Spaces can be reported
– “Share feedback” sends DM to @TwitterSpaces pic.twitter.com/hbyiJuEWw5
Twitter verification will return early next year
Craving the return of your celebrity status on social? Looks like 2021 will be the year for you as Twitter has announced that it will relaunch its verification process early next year along with brand new guidelines for users seeking out that small, blue badge. Currently, this means eligible accounts would include government accounts, companies, brands, nonprofits, news media outlets, entertainment, sports, activists, organisers, and ‘other influential individuals.’
Twitter launches initiatives to help combat violence against women
Twitter has teamed up with UN Women and the UN Human Rights Office to raise awareness of violence against women, something that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The platform has created custom hashtag-triggered emojis, with the app also providing Ads for Good grants to several nonprofit partners. Twitter has worked with health authorities and nonprofit organisations to expand its #ThereisHelp notification service, which sends notifications with contact information for local hotlines and other resources to users who search for terms associated with gender-based violence.
TikTok to warn users about photosensitive content
With its range of content, TikTok isn’t always the safest place when it comes to photosensitive epilepsy. The platform has now taken steps to ensure that any videos containing potential triggers are flagged, allowing users to be aware of the content they are about to view. Users will receive a notification giving them the option to skip all similar videos in the future, offering peace of mind to epileptic TikTokers.
Facebook educates to stop scammers
Facebook is taking steps to educate people about online scans. Teaming up with Better Business Bureau, the platform will run ads and post organic content on a range of social apps, sharing actionable tips on how to spot, avoid, and report scams online, with a different set of tips each week. Advice includes research before you buy, make sure the website is secure, look for the BBB seal among other handy tips that can help you avoid a less than merry Christmas.
TikTok and Elton John team up for World AIDS Day
Elton John is blessing TikTok users with a special live event on December 1st, featuring several celebrity and musical guests. This isn’t just about good music and good time – it’s to mark World AIDS Day and spread awareness about what we can do collectively to end the disease. John, who created the Elton John AIDS Foundation said, “There’s a great lineup for our TikTok Live to break down the myths around HIV, talk about safe sex and ensure that young people know how to protect themselves and others.” A number of creators, including Rina Sawayama (#JusticeforSawayama), have been sharing dedicated World AIDS Day quiz content in the lead-up to the event. You can watch the event on Elton John’s TikTok channel at 6am Wednesday AEDT.
Ones to watch
Facebook-backed cryptocurrency Libra could launch in January, Pinterest is testing a new feature that allows users to sign up for Zoom classes through the app and Instagram business and creators may be getting a Messenger-like ‘FAQ’ feature.
The Tuesday Tune-Up features additional reporting by Hannah Currey.


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MarineMax Inc (HZO) Given Average Rating of “Buy” by Analysts
MarineMax Inc (NYSE:HZO) has been assigned an average rating of “Buy” from the eleven brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have assigned a hold recommendation, five have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $27.23.
A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TheStreet cut MarineMax from a “b-” rating to a “c+” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 8th. Northcoast Research restated a “buy” rating on shares of MarineMax in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Zacks Investment Research cut MarineMax from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 30th. ValuEngine cut MarineMax from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, Craig Hallum upgraded MarineMax from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $18.39 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 1st.
In other MarineMax news, CEO W Brett Mcgill sold 5,061 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.03, for a total value of $101,371.83. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 3.50% of the company’s stock.
Shares of HZO stock opened at $16.82 on Thursday. MarineMax has a 12 month low of $15.51 and a 12 month high of $26.11. The company has a market cap of $450.83 million, a PE ratio of 9.89 and a beta of 0.84.
MarineMax (NYSE:HZO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The specialty retailer reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.31 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $303.59 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $290.24 million. MarineMax had a net margin of 3.22% and a return on equity of 10.93%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.27 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that MarineMax will post 1.82 EPS for the current year.
MarineMax Company Profile
MarineMax, Inc operates as a recreational boat and yacht retailer in the United States. The company sells new and used recreational boats, including pleasure boats, such as sport boats, sport cruisers, sport yachts, and other yachts; fishing boats; motor and convertible yachts; pontoon boats; fishing boats; ski boats; and jet boats.
Recommended Story: How Investors Use a Balance Sheet
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The difficulties of Facebook seem to be multiplying on every coming day.
Strong ripples across the industry were observed on Friday when PayPal, the first firm to back digital currency project of Facebook, has officially announced its detachment from the project.
However, the announcement did not specify any particular reason behind the decision.
An email sent by PayPal spokesperson Amanda Coffee, revealed,
PayPal has made the decision to forgo further participation in the Libra Association at the time and continue to focus on advancing our existing mission and business priorities.
Interestingly, PayPal was the first firm to enter the Libra association among the 28 others. However, it also has marked itself as the first one to exit from the project.
Responding the PayPal’s departure, the Libra Association stated that it is aware of the challenges to build a generational financial system would be tough to achieve.
It further stated,
Commitment to that mission is more important to us than anything else. We are better off knowing this lack of commitment now.
Why is the Libra Project witnessing global disdain?
Since the white paper release of Libra in June 2019 in Geneva, Facebook received an initial massive response from various big corporates, including Visa, MasterCard, PayPal Uber, Merci Corps, and many more. However, over time, the project seems to be dwindling for several reasons.
The very first concern raised by several governments across the globe is about the possible dominance of Libra on their local currencies. E.g., China, European nations, the UK and many more
European nations are mulling Libra as a threat to their financial stability, financial security, and state sovereignty and also for their citizens’ data security. They also are strictly scrutinizing the possibilities of financial fraud.
Whereas, China is in the process of developing its cryptocurrency to eliminate any dominance of Libra on its economy.
Secondly, Facebook’s currency might have the centralized authority of the currency as it has access to data of millions of its users on microblogging sites Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.
Facebook has faced disapproval from its own country, where the US central bank and even President Trump have expressed concern over the national security issue. Other advanced economies have asked Facebook to address regulatory concerns.
Libra Association’s Standpoint
The Libra association has scheduled its first governing council meeting on October 14, 2019. Libra expressed its future plans on Twitter, which will have the inclusion of 1500 more associations.


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A U.S. judge on Friday dismissed nationwide antitrust litigation accusing banks and commodity companies of conspiring to drive up aluminum prices by reducing supply, causing damages for manufacturers and purchasers.
The plaintiffs had accused Goldman Sachs Group Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co, the large mining company Glencore Plc, and various commodity trading, metals mining and metals warehousing companies of having conspired since May 2009 to drive up aluminum prices by hoarding supply. They said this caused delays of up to 16 months to fill orders.
In an 85-page decision, U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan said that while it was clear that the actions of various defendants affected the aluminum market, there was no showing they intended to manipulate prices.
"As cast in the complaints, this was an unintended consequence of rational profit maximizing behavior rather than the product of conspiratorial design,'' she wrote.
Forrest said so-called commercial end user and consumer end user plaintiffs could not try to amend their lawsuits because they lacked antitrust standing. She said the other plaintiffs deserved a chance to replead their cases.


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Over 7,000 imported used cars are lined up at the Karachi port waiting to be picked up, while an equal number will reach in a few days, creating problems for port authorities to handle the cargo and the situation.
Importers, unwilling to pick up their cargo, say the gridlock at the port is a result of government measures taken in October to reduce car imports.
They claimed that Customs authorities do not have the finalized payment mechanism under which importers could get their cargo cleared. However, sources say that importers are willingly not picking up their cargo as they expect the government to retreat from its measures taken in October.
“We have already requested the government to resolve policy issues to settle these problems,” All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association Chairman HM Shahzad commented.
Related: Are Used Imports A Blessing?
Perturbed about the ballooning trade deficit, the government in the third week of October imposed regulatory duties on 356 essential and luxury goods. Similarly, it also changed some rules for used car imports in a bid to reduce the consumption of such goods and resultantly, reduce pressure on dollar reserves.
According to the new rules, the owners or local recipients of all new and used vehicles will pay duties and taxes supported by a bank encashment certificate, showing conversion of foreign remittances into local currency. “The government should have devised some mechanism before implementing new rules for used car imports,” said Shahzad. “Now car importers have to pay heavy demurrages at the port.”
Car importers wanted the government to delay the implementation of SRO-1067(1) 2017, a circular issued on October 20, until December 2017. However, the Ministry of Commerce is stuck with its position and has not given any space to importers.
Pakistan imports over 60,000 used cars a year worth between $300 million to $500 million. However, according to the calculations of local car industry officials, Pakistan is spending close to $750 million a year on used car imports.
Full Story: Tribune
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com


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East Coast Digital Provides Post Production For Samsung Gear Indie VR Filmmaker Contest Winner “Cardboard City”
ByRight Word Media
East Coast Digital, New York City’s complete post-production facility, took the lead in Virtual Reality (VR) content with its work on the 360-degree VR project “Cardboard City.” The :60 short film was a co-winner of the Samsung Gear Indie VR Filmmaker Contest, collecting a $10,000 prize in the first of a series of competitions from the global electronics giant. 'Cardboard City' premiered at the Samsung Studio during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
East Coast Digital President Scott Kleinberger and Post Producer Stina Hamlin oversaw the post.
Project: "Cardboard City"
Production Company: Double Eye Productions, New York
Director: Kiira Benzing
Post Production: East Coast Digital, New York
President: Scott Kleinberger
Post Producer: Stina Hamlin


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RealNetworks Inc. today released RealVideo 9 and RealAudio Surround, which the company called “a major breakthrough” in audio and video for consumers.
The company said the new streaming video technology provides broadband-like quality to dial-up users. The company also said that half-screen video could be viewed by dial-up users, while broadband consumers can expect VHS quality at 160Kbps rates.
Already, 22 content providers are featuring RealVideo 9 content, with another 16 content partners announcing plans to do so in the near future. Companies supporting the new standard include Atlantic Records, Capitol Records, EMI, Fox Home Video, New Line Cinema and others. ABCNews.com, Court TV, Warner Bros. and many others will be providing content in the near future, according to RealNetworks.
RealNetworks noted that RealVideo 9 content is compatible with RealOne Play and RealPlayer 8 for Windows and Mac OS (Real’s players for Mac OS only support pre OS-X versions). Support for Unix and PocketPC platforms is expected within the next month. The RealSystem Producer preview — the content creation end of the new technology — is available for Windows and Linux only.


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February 27, 2020
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Microsoft finalized its acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone and software businesses today. The deal, valued at $7.2 billion, was first announced last September and significantly alters the mobile landscape. Rather than simply develop the Windows Phone operating system, Microsoft will now also make smartphones with the OS on board. It changes the Apple-Google-Microsoft dynamic in a new and interesting way that will bring new opportunities for developers.
Innovent launches FindTuner with an API for commerce experience. Researchers build app to detect malware on mobile devices by looking for suspicious API calls.
Last month, ProgrammableWeb reported that KidoZen, a leading enterprise mobile middleware provider, had released the KidoZen Enterprise Systems APIs platform which allows developers to seamlessly integrate corporate and enterprise systems into mobile applications. KidoZen has just announced the availability of Salesforce.com APIs as part of the KidoZen mBaaS platform which will now allow developers to integrate Salesforce.com platform features into enterprise mobile applications.


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Furniture sales have resembled a well-used couch over the past five years. Trading conditions across the furniture market have been affected by volatile demand across the housing industry along with fluctuations in disposable income, consumer sentiment and consumer tastes and preferences.
These factors created mixed results for furniture retailers, which culminated in sales falling by 1.7% per annum in the five years through 2011-12. Sales were also affected by increasing levels of competition from department stores and online shopping websites. Despite this, the overall furniture market remained resilient, offering consumers the latest trends in furniture fashion displayed in clever store layouts, eye-catching catalogues and through offering flexible terms of payment.
Industry revenue is set to rise by 1.5% to $7.3 billion in 2011-12. Consumer demand for furniture goods will be driven by growth in disposable income levels of 4.4% and a more stable trading environment evidenced by a rise across the domestic economy. However, sales will be affected by a decline in house construction and almost static change in interest rates. Sporadic shifts in consumer spending patterns along with continued demand for heavily discounted and promotional products will also characterise industry sales for the year.
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The industry will remain subject to intense competition from department stores and, in particular, online shopping sites, which have become a real threat to the future viability of the industry. In terms of total market size, merchandise retailed by furniture stores may also be purchased from department stores, fabric retailers, and online shopping and auction websites. IBISWorld estimates that the industry accounts for about 60% of total furniture retailing sales, with the remaining 40% of revenue derived from sales by other retailers. Hence, the total retail market for furniture items is estimated to average about $12.2 billion.
Industry at a Glance
Furniture retailers will experience a steady trading environment over the next five years, with sales rising 2.1% per annum to reach $8.1 billion in 2016-17. Demand will primarily be driven by solid growth in disposable income levels, which will influence the quantity and quality of merchandise purchased by consumers. As a result, retailers may experience a shift in consumer preferences toward middle-market furniture. Sales will also be boosted by a recovery in consumer sentiment, which is expected to fuel growth in consumer spending power. Despite the positive trading conditions expected during the next five years, furniture retailers will continue to experience intense competition from external players, such as department stores and online shopping sites eager to attract a larger share of the market.


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Pound’s Brexit Woes
The Pound is resting just above 1.2700, as GBP-USD continues to lift from the week’s low of 1.2660. Brexit concerns loom over all other issues for the UK, and constant failure to resolve a hard Brexit scenario could see confidence in the GBP evaporate once again.
Retail Sales came in better than expected yesterday at 3.5% for the year into June, however, inflation saw the UK’s CPI barely claw its way to the market’s forecast of 2.5%. The positive showing from Retail Sales has seen limited positivity around Sterling.
Sterling will continue to be focused on Brexit, which sees hard-line Brexiteers in Parliament threatening to outright reject any trade deal brought by the Chequers. Essentially, this promises to sabotage Brexit preparations and force the UK into a hard Brexit, if Prime Minister Theresa May can’t secure a workable deal from European leaders when Brexit negotiations begin again this month.
The USD strengthened last night, after comments from both US President Trump and his economic council director, Larry Kudlow, that the current ‘strong Dollar’ is a sign of a confidence in the US and its economy and, notably, that a ‘steady’ Dollar is preferable.
Adding to the tone, the probability that US and China could re-start trade talks later in the month has been bolstering the better mood around the buck.
Consumer Sentiment gauged by the U-Mich index is only due across the pond.
A slight recovery in the Turkish Lira yesterday saw the Euro strengthen slightly in yesterday’s early session. However, news that the States may put more sanctions on Turkey, meant that the Euro-Dollar rate cooled from an intraday high of 1.1409 to the high 1.1300s.
Eurozone figures showed a trade surplus of EUR 22.5 billion, which was down on the same data last year. This put a slight stop on the small gains that the Euro was making in the morning. July CPI inflation is expected to be 2.1% for the headline rate and 1.1% for ‘core’ inflation.
As mentioned above, the main data today is the Eurozone CPI data at 10.00 A.M. – we can expect some volatility but the general consensus is that the figures will come in as expected. Aside from Canadian CPI figures later, the Eurozone data will be the most closely watched.
Data to watch
09:00 EUR Consumer Price Index (YoY) (Jul)
09:00 EUR Consumer Price Index – Core (YoY) (Jul)
09:00 EUR Consumer Price Index – Core (MoM) (Jul)
09:00 EUR Consumer Price Index (MoM) (Jul)
12:30 CAD Bank of Canada Consumer Price Index Core (MoM) (Jul)
12:30 CAD Bank of Canada Consumer Price Index Core (YoY) (Jul)
12:30 CAD Consumer Price Index (YoY) (Jul)
12:30 CAD Consumer Price Index – Core (MoM) (Jul)
12:30 CAD Consumer Price Index (MoM) (Jul)
14:00 USD Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (Aug)
17:00 USD Baker Hughes US Oil Rig Count


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Video: New Mahindra KUV100 first drive review
Mahindra's brand new offering in the sub-4 metre SUV space, the KUV100, is here. Priced attractively at Rs 4.42 lakh (ex-Pune), the 'young' SUV comes loaded with features and options. We got an opportunity to spend a couple of hours with the Mahindra KUV100 on the company's test track at Chakan recently. Here's a video of our first impressions on the Mahindra KUV100. Watch out for a detailed road test that will follow shortly.
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Temporary-tattoo vendors are sharing space with ice-cream innovators and international roller-coaster manufacturers this week at the Orange County Convention Center.
They're all showcasing their wares during the annual gathering of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions and hoping to find a spot in theme parks and other entertainment venues.
Some items are inflatable, some are edible and some are twists on old favorites.
The convention, which runs through Friday, is not open to the public, but here's a glimpse of a few of the expo's most eye-catching offerings.
'Chilly Ribbons' ice treats
Scott Colwell wants 8-by-12-foot ski chalets to dot the country. Colwell, CEO of Orlando-based Chilly Ribbons, is seeking franchisees — and theme parks — to sell thin shavings of spun, fruity ice from inside the snowcapped structures.
"It tastes like a high-end ice cream, but a large serving is less than 100 calories," Colwell said Tuesday.
The design of the chalet-style kiosks is a selling point, too. A ski lodge exudes a warm feeling, he said.
"If you're in the cold part of the country, and you're coming in out of the snow, you're not going to be attracted to an igloo," Colwell said.
The mobile chalet sells for $80,000, Colwell said. It's the company's first appearance at IAAPA.
"Every decision-maker for the amusement parks and attractions comes here to see what's new and what's great," Colwell said. "We view the parks and attractions as the place to get all of North America to know our product."
Mobile obstacle course
At the center of the expo stands the Mobile Xtreme Course, a 40-foot trailer that's also a double-decker obstacle course with ropes, mesh walls and planks to navigate. Hydraulics lift it to a height of 20 feet.
It holds about a dozen active teenagers at a time and can be hauled by a pickup, said Juan Pablo Pérez González, co-owner of Mexico-based Ideas Extremas. It takes about an hour to set it up, he said. Customers can swing along the ropes of the upper level while tethered to a safety rail.
Mobile Xtreme Course sells for $125,000 but is on sale for $95,000 during IAAPA, Perez said.
Inflatable corn maze
Peter Gismondi's company found a way to bring the country to the city. It manufactures an inflatable corn maze.
Two 6-foot-tall ears of corn flank the entrance to the mazes, made by Eye Candy Inflatables of Toronto. Inside, it's decorated to resemble cornstalks, complete with a scarecrow that tells folks they've gone the wrong way. The largest version is 40 feet square and sells for $9,996, although it's on sale for $7,995 during the expo.
"We're trying to create visually stimulating pieces that give you a full experience. It's not just kids bouncing on a simple piece of vinyl," Gismondi said. "When they see it, they're already experiencing it."
Electronic game board
Imagine an oversized dart board that's really a touch screen. That's the premise of Iron Caddie, manufactured by Tuwalami Corp. of Sunnydale, Calif.
"You can throw any object [at it]," said founder and CEO Erez Avidan Antonir. "It can be a golf ball, hacky sack, Nerf gun or anything. And it shows you the location of the impact."
A setup with a single target sells for $7,950, or it can be rented for $750 per day.
After players hit the 42-inch-wide screen, the information is transmitted wirelessly to a data cloud. That allows competitors to be in the same room or on different continents.
"Users can be anywhere in the world," Avidan Antonir said. "They all visualize the same game, the same results, and they can communicate with each other."
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NY Tech for Local Business discussed Internet and mobile marketing tactics at its first meetup at AlleyNYC Tuesday.
Panelist Dr. Justin Bazan practices at Vision Source Park Slope Eye in Brooklyn. Since 2007, he’s promoted business with WordPress, Yelp, Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare. He says that yielded a 20% increase in new patients. A few years ago, he got tired of updating his website. “So I said, ‘The hell with it!’ and just got rid of it. We haven’t had a web page for the last two years, it’s been awesome.”
He used to pay Yelp, but stopped, “We continued to grow without it,” he said. He uses Facebook for campaigns and promotions. Exams typically cost $179. “We dropped it to $99 if you weren’t using any insurance, and we had 75 claims within three days. The first patient that showed up a day later already recouped for us the $75 dollars I spent almost three times over.”
At The Daily Voice, Thomas Cain heads an initiative promoting local business ad sales. Outside reps go out and meet with local businesses. “Once that local business becomes a client, we have a client relations team that sits down and works out a marketing plan. Local businesses don’t have web pages, Yelp pages or Facebook pages. So the conversation is about what towns they pull from – we say ‘Great, we serve those towns,’ and we can put their advertising right next to local content that supports the town and the community. People understand that.”
Dazhi Chen of Relevant manages restaurants’ customer loyalty and acquisition. After struggling to build a consumer brand with an earlier product, DailyGobble, Dazhi and his team shifted their focus to servicing larger chain restaurants with Relevant. “In our first year of business we were targeting restaurants and small businesses owners and smaller chains. We were like a Groupon Now — we were an instant deal type of aggregation site and mobile app. During that time we realized a couple of things: One, that consumer marketing is really expensive. You’re competing with guys with a lot more money. And two, we realized that pitching to small businesses is expensive if you do it face-to-face, and billing them is expensive as well. So is collecting money from them. So that sort of hit us.”
Ellen Kim of ‘wichcraft, a cafe and food retailer, said companies ask her to set up daily deals. But Kim doesn’t believe in them. “We draw a hard line — we think our product is worth a certain value, and we’re not willing to say ‘Come and get it for 50% off.’ I also get pitched a lot on loyalty programs because we use punch cards. They come in and pitch me that this is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but that means we would have to install an iPad, which clutters up my counter; which means I have to make sure that none of the cashiers break it; which means that they have to be trained several hours on it.” She also gets pitched by companies that want to handle ‘wichcraft’s social media. While they offer some things that might be nice to have, she doesn’t think it’s a must-have.
For small and local business, spending money on digital marketing seems to be the biggest hurdle, especially if it’s a big decision– like spending advertising on Yelp. “What I like is that if someone approaching me saying that there’s no risk and you can try it for three months for free and it’s very low barrier,” added Bazan. “At that point I have nothing to lose.”