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It’s probably an announcement that fans have either been expecting or dreading for a long time. In the last few hours, Nintendo has announced that it is working on a live-action film of the iconic The Legend of Zelda brand. Shigeru Miyamoto, the Representative Director, is co-producing this project as the creator of the series along with renowned producer Avi Arad Arad has been involved in a good portion of Marvel film adaptations outside of the MCU since the 1990s.
Wes Ball, who previously helmed the Maze Runner trilogy, will direct this film.
In addition, Nintendo has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Sony to finance this project. While Nintendo is covering more than half of the financing costs, Sony is responsible for the release in cinemas worldwide.
(As Nintendo explains), they want to take advantage of new opportunities with the realization of The Legend of Zelda adaptation so that people worldwide can experience the world of Nintendo Entertainment. So let’s hope that the live-action implementation will be a success.
The post The Legend of Zelda: Nintendo is working on a live-action film appeared first on Global Esport News.


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Tropical destinations, on board magic and a variety of fan-favorite itineraries to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico await Disney Cruise Line guests in early 2024.
Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, announced that it will accelerate the debut of its new ship Vista by introducing a new "Founder's Cruise" departing from Rome on May 13, 2023, and sailing to Venice.
Still undecided on where to spend the Christmas and New Year holiday season? Costa Cruises offers unforgettable vacations, perfect for celebrating with family, partners or friends. The choice is wide, with 16 cruises exploring the Arab Emirates and Oman, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean or South America.
The world's newest cruise ship lit up the pre-dawn sky this morning when MSC Cruises' new U.S. flagship—MSC Seascape—sailed past the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River to dock at Pier 88 at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.
Luxury cruise line Cunard is delighted to announce that its April 2024 to January 2025 cruise schedule is going on sale, tomorrow, 6 December.
In just under five weeks, Royal Caribbean International has set new bookings records yet again. This Black Friday was the cruise line’s single largest booking day in its 53-year history, which marked the third time the record was broken in 2022 and the peak of what is now the brand’s highest volume booking week
Earlier this week, Cunard welcomed guests to an extraordinary evening at Carlton House Terrace, London, showcasing all that Queen Anne – the latest Cunard ship – has to offer to top tier media, influencers and cruise industry networks, for a full 360 brand experience.
Following the recent decision by the Japanese government to allow the return of international cruise ships to the country, Princess Cruises has announced it will begin homeport sailing in Japan starting March 15, 2023,
Celebrity Cruises® posted the line's single largest booking day ever on Black Friday, followed by its strongest Cyber Monday in history, hot off the heels of recently delivering the magnificent relaxed luxury resort at sea, Celebrity BeyondSM .
Carnival Cruise Line got a jumpstart on what it hopes will be a busy 2023 cruise season as it posted a record Cyber Monday booking day yesterday that was 50 percent above volume for Cyber Monday 2019.
For the first time in two-and-a-half-years, cruising will return to Japan, and Holland America Line's Westerdam is preparing for a series of itineraries in early 2023 that will let guests explore lands where ancient temples and cultures steeped in tradition mix with soaring skyscrapers and bustling capitals
MSC Cruises is stepping up its high-end retail selection on board, thanks to a further enriched catalogue of luxury brands and a new partnership with TimeVallée.

domain: news


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The world’s largest manufacturer of Apple iphones Foxconn has decided to start mass production of newer Apple iphones in India. Foxconn is world’s largest provider of Electronics manufacturing services. Products manufactured by Foxconn include iphone, ipad, ipod, kindle, Nintendo 3DS, Xiaomi devices, Play station 3, Play station 4, Xbox 360, Xbox one and many other different products.
Foxconn chairman Terry Gou recently told Bloomberg that Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited him to start electronics manufacturing in India. Further Terry Gou told in statement that they are ready to produce newer Apple iphones in India. He also added that the manufacturing of newer Apple iphones will be done in Southern city of Chennai. Currently Apple is manufacturing older iphones in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
In this month Foxconn will start trials of producing Apple iphone X and Apple iphone 7 in India. At initial stage Foxconn is planning to invest $300 million in India for production of Apple iphones. Currently Foxconn is manufacturing Xiaomi and Nokia devices in India.
Due to manufacturing of newer Apple iphones in India the Apple iphones will become 20% cheaper as there will be no import duties of 20% levied on Apple iphones. The other benefits for India are Job creation and increase smart phone exports.


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China e-commerce giant Alibaba set for U.S. IPO
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Tuesday filed its much-anticipated plans to sell shares in what could be one of the biggest initial public offerings ever.
Alibaba said it plans to raise $1 billion, but before it's finally priced later this year, that amount is likely to be far higher. The IPO is widely expected to surpass that of Facebook, which raised $16.4 billion in 2012, and could be nearly as big as the 2008 offering by credit card giant Visa, which raised about $17.9 billion.
Alibaba's registration statement was lengthy at more than 2,300 pages. But specifics about the IPO were scant. The filing did not specify an offering price.It did not say what exchange the American Depositary Shares would list on. And it did not
reveal what Alibaba's stock symbol would be.
Still, the filing did shed light on the company's impressive business model and growth trajectory.
Started by former English teacher Jack Ma in 1999, Alibaba is a mash-up of businesses, making the bulk of its revenue as an Internet middleman, charging sellers for marketing and advertising. Alibaba's Alipay division — which is not part of the IPO — is the world's largest payment processor.
At the end of 2013, Alibaba said it had 231 million active monthly buyers, up 44% from a year earlier. For the nine months ended in December, Alibaba generated net income of $2.9 billion on revenue of $6.5 billion.
Alibaba's potential market capitalization has soared since 2012, when it was valued at less than $40 billion following a bond offering. Tuesday's registration statement further underscored Alibaba's growth potential. Online shopping represented just under 8% of Chinese consumption in 2012. But that's projected to grow at an annual rate of 27% through 2016.
As the largest e-commerce player, Alibaba is also poised to benefit from mushrooming Internet use. About 618 million Chinese — 46% of the country's population — used the Internet in 2013. That's expected to rise to 790 million by 2016, Alibaba says.
Still, Alibaba could face increasing competition from Chinese rivals, such as Tencent, notes Forrester Research analyst Kelland Willis. "One of the biggest challenges Alibaba can expect to face in the next five years is stiff competition from both digital and e-commerce players,'' Willis says.
ASK MATT: How you can get a piece of Alibaba IPO
Competition aside, Alibaba's IPO will create a windfall for Yahoo. The Internet search engine's Alibaba stake has helped bolster a sagging stock price under CEO Marissa Mayer's two-year watch.
Yahoo's decade-old investment in Alibaba has already paid off nicely. The company acquired a 40% Alibaba stake for just $1 billion in October 2005. In 2012, Yahoo sold nearly half its Alibaba holdings for about $7 billion. Yahoo, which holds a 22.6% share in Alibaba, has said it plans to sell 10% of its stake, creating a potential windfall for shareholders or allowing the company to pursue acquisitions.
Some analysts have valued Alibaba at upwards of $200 billion, meaning Yahoo's stake is worth nearly $50 billion.
Six investment banks are listed as IPO underwriters, including Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup.
Contributing: Elizabeth Weise.


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In what could be uncomfortable reading for Sony, a former developer has given an insight into potential reasons why the company are refusing to alter their current stance on PS4 cross-platform play with Nintendo Switch and Xbox One.
As most of you know, there is still an ongoing uproar among the gaming community after it was revealed that Epic Game accounts for Fortnite are being blocked on Nintendo Switch if they had previously been used on PS4.
Now, we have another twist in this drama to tell you about, with former Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley giving his opinion on why Sony are so against cross-platform play with other platforms that are not PC.
In a now deleted Tweet which has been widely shared on social media, he said the following:
“When I was at Sony, the stated reason internally for this was money.They didn’t like someone buying something on an Xbox and it being used on a PlayStation. Simple as that. Dumb reason, but there it is.”
At the moment, it seems like Microsoft are completely relaxed on the concept of cross-platform as items bought on Xbox are not locked away on Nintendo Switch – certainly in the case of Fortnite, the same goes for PC.
Is it time for Sony to really take a step back and realise that this can’t be healthy for gaming in the future?
Let us know what you think of John Smedley’s comments and if you agree that it is completely due to money.
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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Sony Online Entertainment presents a new vision for the collaborative future of MMO games.
It’s been 14 years since Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) unleashed the original EverQuest massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. At SOE Live in Las Vegas, SOE unveiled a new vision for the future of online games with the worldwide debut of EverQuest Next (EQN).
"With EverQuest Next, we're going back to our roots – a space we defined with the EverQuest legacy – and ushering in a new era of MMOs: The Emergent Era," said John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment. "Today, many MMOs fail because players consume content faster than developers can create it. With EverQuest Next, we're creating a living world that players are part of and empowering them to produce new content alongside the development team. What does the future hold for EverQuest Next and Sony Online Entertainment? It's in the players' hands, and we like it that way."
"EverQuest Next is not the continuation of a familiar story. It represents the fundamental reimagining of the characters, lore and environments of the EverQuest universe," said Dave Georgeson, Director of Development for the EverQuest Franchise, Sony Online Entertainment. "Make no mistake; while great care has been taken to respect the extraordinary influence that EverQuest has had in this industry and with our player community over the years, this is a boldly different game unlike anything that has come before."
EverQuest Next has been in development since 2009. Nearly two years ago, SOE made the decision to rethink core creative and technical aspects of the design and start from the ground up to build a new kind of game. As a result, EQN is different from all of the MMOs that have been made before in very important ways, including:
Multi-Classing – EQN will offer players the ability to explore and interact with the world according to their individual style of play. There are no levels in EQN, but there will be more than 40 distinct classes (or professions) at launch, with multi-tiered abilities and specialized weapon skills to collect and master. Players will even mix and match abilities from each class, creating truly custom characters that feel distinct and powerful.


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From its humble beginnings in 2006, the PlayStation Store has grown from one of the most basic digital storefronts into one of the best. Frequent sales, great selection and day one digital releases are all great reasons to shop on the PSN. Now it’s getting even better thanks to Amazon’s marketing muscle.
Amazon unveiled its new PlayStation Network digital storefront today where gamers can buy anything that’s currently on the PSN through Amazon. In other words, PlayStation fans now have more choices when buying digital content for their Vita, PS3 or PS4.
Kotaku reports that Amazon’s PSN store will be offering some special deals as part of its grand opening. For starters, those who buy select digital content through Amazon will get $5 back in PSN credit. This deal is good for those who buy the digital versions of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Batman: Arkham Origins, Battlefield 4, The Last Of Us, FIFA 14 or Madden NFL 25 through Amazon. The above games’ season passes will also net you the $5 credit. It should be noted that this credit can only be used on the Amazon PSN.
If digital games aren’t your thing, you will have a chance to net $5 in PSN credit today during Amazon’s buy two, get one free sale on all PS4 games. The sale will start at noon today and last for only a few hours. If you’re getting a PS4 on Friday, you may just want to take advantage of that to pick up three games instead of two.
With Amazon now having its own PSN store, cost conscious gamers will now have two places to buy digital content for their PlayStation systems. That being said, those same gamers may want to stick to Sony’s PSN for now as Amazon only carries a limited number of games, and its DLC selection is slim pickings. Of course, if you’ve only played the year’s big releases, Amazon’s store should suffice.[Image: Amazon]


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The smartphone technology is developing at a very high rate. With the increasing competition various companies are introducing new features in their smartphones to be in the market. Samsung is one of the leading brands in the market when it comes to gadgets. Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus are supposed to be launched in the first quarter of 2019 on the 10th anniversary of the original Samsung Galaxy S smartphones. They are the most awaited and biggest launches in the history of Samsung Galaxy S smartphones. It is being reported that that the new Samsung smartphones will have 3D Facial Technology rather than the Iris Scanner. The Iris Scanner is currently found on the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. It is not as fast and has a lot of limitations too, people find it more convenient to unlock the phone through the fingerprint scanner. It is suggested by a report that Samsung has collaborated with Mantis Vision, a firm based in Israel with the motive to implement the 3D facial technology in the upcoming Samsung smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus will have a super AMOLED screen of 5.8 and 6.3-inch screen respectively. It is also rumoured that the Samsung Galaxy S10 will also integrate a heart rate sensor and a blood pressure sensor in the fingerprint scanner. This will take some time as it is still in development.
By: Divya Thakur


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Although it shouldn’t come as a surprise to readers of this blog, a recent study by Responsive Management has put numbers to the motivations behind hunting–and meat came out on top. The study, which was released last Wednesday, asked Americans ages 18 and older about their most important reason for hunting in the prior year. Of those polled, 35 percent selected “for the meat” as the most important reason for their recent hunting participation, a 13 percent uptick from a similar survey conducted in 2006 when just 22 percent of hunters said “for the meat” was their biggest reason for going afield.
There is lots of speculation on why the pursuit of protein is the primary motivation for hunters going afield. The folks at Responsive Management list the ongoing recession as the number one reason, and I do believe there is some validity to that. As the press release states:
“As households throughout the country started to feel the effects of significant financial pressures several years ago (including frozen or reduced salaries and/or prolonged unemployment), more Americans likely turned to hunting as a way of obtaining relatively inexpensive venison and other meat to put food on the family table.”
However, there is some argument as to whether venison or other game meat is really that inexpensive. Personally, I believe it is, but it is hard to argue against the positions that game meat is actually very expensive when you roll in all the associative costs.
As for motivation for hunting, I agree with Bob St. Pierre over at Pheasants Forever that the upward trend in hunting for meat is more closely aligned with popular culture and the movement to natural, locally sourced foods. The “locavore” movement and an interest in artisanal food, in which hunted game plays a part, is also aligned with the recent increase in hunting license sales as more and more people take responsibility for what they eat.
As I said, this trend shouldn’t come as a surprise to Wild Chef readers, but I am interested in your opinions. What is your primary reason for hunting and do you agree that the public-opinion pendulum has swung back toward hunting as an honest and humane way to gather one’s own food?
You can read more about the Responsive Management study here.


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Liverpool was the first European football club to enter Chinese social media in July 2011 with the launch of an official presence on Sina Weibo, coinciding with a club tour of the country. Liverpool was also first to launch on WeChat, in 2013.
Understanding the local social media environment is no longer a luxury for companies operating in China – it is an imperative. By some measures, usage of Chinese social media is the most intense in the world. There are vital differences in the use of social media in China relative to the West which are vital to understand for any organisation or brand looking to penetrate the market.
Chinese technology conglomerate Tencent Holdings, the owners of social networking application WeChat, reported a 35-per-cent jump in its quarterly profits yesterday, with growth in their gaming business…
As more and more streaming services come to market, industry research suggests sharp resistance to consumers carrying more than three each, heightening the race for customer acquisition. US Editor Eric Fisher reports.
The telecommunication company’s 2019 rebrand saw it move toward a focus on community and social engagement, something it is intending to carry through into its lead partnerships of all four UK football associations.
NFL Game Pass is the fastest-growing single-sport OTT service in the world, targeting both casual and avid fans. Frank Dunne speaks with representatives from some of the service's major stakeholders on how Game Pass fits into the league’s global media-rights strategy.


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Yes, Sega has decided to shove the fastest video game character in the slowest sport.
What’s more surprising is that this isn’t new apparently the game was released in time to celebrate Sonic’s 15th Anniversary remember the fantastic year where we got Sonic The Hedgehog Genesis (GBA), Sonic Riders, Sonic Rivals and ofcourse best of all Sonic the Hedgehog 06.
Yes, Sonic Golf was released in 2006 for Cell Phones and now 5 years later it is getting a 3D entry in the series for NEC Casio’s CA-o1 series.
Further Reading: Sonic Wikia
Special thanks Deefy via ForumsAd:


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2023 BravoCon announced: Location, dates & tickets
Here is everything to know about the upcoming 2023 BravoCon and who you can expect to be there.
Fans of all things reality TV were surprised by an unexpected Instagram announcement yesterday. Not only is 2023 BravoCon officially happening, but the dates and location have just been revealed.
Andy Cohen took to Bravo’s Instagram to unveil the news and made sure to say, “What happens at BravoCon stays at BravoCon.”
The third annual BravoCon is set to take place in Las Vegas. This will be the first time the convention will take place in Vegas, as the first two were in New York City.
The official dates for the event are November 3rd through November 5th.
Who is coming to the 2023 BravoCon?
While the official lineup of stars coming to the convention has not been announced by Bravo yet, several reality stars have reacted in the comments to the Instagram announcement.
Vanderpump Rules star James Kennedy wrote, “Oh we are doing it BIG this YEAR.”
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Ashley Darby from the Real Housewives of Potomac also chimed in and wrote, “Let the good times roll!!”
Bravo owns some of the biggest reality tv shows on television. These include Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Vanderpump Rules, and Summer House.
With exciting seasons and reunions lined up in 2023, this is sure to be one of the most entertaining BravoCons yet.
Fans react to BravoCon 2023
Fans have already shared their reactions to the location and dates being unveiled, and have even started making their trip plans.
Just booked my hotel room for Nov 2- Nov 5 BRAVOCON 2023!!!!! See you in Las Vegas HUNTIES!!!!!!!!!! #Bravocon2023— Goddamn Bravo (@Yuni_Kitten) April 11, 2023
Others are a little hesitant about going to the event given the price of tickets for last year’s convention.
Just remembered that tickets from bravocon were like 1k so never mind— THATSMYOPINION (@cassidyroseej) April 11, 2023
To get alerts on when the lineup is announced and when tickets will be available, Bravo is allowing fans to set up text alerts. You can also stay updated on all things reality tv by checking our page here.


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Rockstar has finally confirmed that GTA6 is actively being developed. Well, they didn’t call it GTA6 (Grand Theft Auto 6) but they did say the “next entry” in the GTA series is being worked on at the moment. Why not just say GTA6? Possibly because it won’t be named that. A handful of GTA games simply have a subtitle instead of a number attached (Vice City, San Andreas, Chinatown Wars, etc.) and the name could be a spoiler of the setting, so they’re playing their cards close to the chest with the official name. This announcement has been a long time coming.
The last game, Grand Theft Auto 5, debuted on PS3 and XBox 360 back in 2013, almost an entire decade ago! Fans have been clamoring for a new entry for quite a while now and have even blamed the success of GTA Online as a possible reason why Rockstar has been dragging their feet with a new GTA release. There is a running joke in the GTA community about how there used to be three GTA games per generation (GTA3, Vice City, and San Andreas all released on PS2), but now a GTA game gets three generations of rereleases (GTA5 is on PS3, PS4, and soon PS5). It seems like Rockstar is finally going to give gamers what they want.
Many of you have been asking about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.
With every new project, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we've previously delivered. We're pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the series is underway.
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) February 4, 2022
One Last Rerelease
Speaking of GTA5, it is finally being remastered and released for current gen hardware (Xbox Series X/S and PS5) on March 15th with “new graphics modes, technical advancements, and much more” according to Rockstar’s Twitter. They go on to say “PS4 and Xbox One players can transfer GTAV story mode progress and GTA Online characters and progression at launch”. Along with GTA5 getting an update so is the lucrative online mode for the game. “GTA Online for PS5 and Xbox Series also includes a range of improvements like the new Hao’s Special Works auto shop. And an all-new Career Builder intro for new players + instant access to 1 of 4 illicit businesses and a GTA$ windfall to get started” from Rockstar’s Twitter thread.
Back in 2020, during the PlayStation 5’s official reveal, Rockstar had announced the modernization update for GTA 5, and almost two years later they are finally delivering it. As of November 2021 Grand Theft Auto 5 has sold a staggering 150 million+ copies and is easily the best selling game of the entire last decade! It some ways it had become a victim of it’s own success, raking in so much money from Shark Cards and digital online currency that it would have been foolish to create another GTA game so soon after. Just recently the latest expansion to GTA Online, “The Contract”, featured a continuation of the mainline story featuring real life rapper and entertainment mogul, Dr. Dre.
But a decade later sales have begun to slow down and it is now time to move on to the next title.
The game is still so far away from release that we have no details on what the setting is yet. Rumors have been swirling online for the last year that it could be set in Vice City, a setting we haven’t seen GTA: Vice City back in 2003. I would love to see a modernized present-day setting for Vice City. Bring back some of the iconic 80s music from the original game but also tweak it with contemporary music. With all the craziness of Florida it would definitely be worth revisiting and have it set with Hispanic gangs again and move away from heists and the glitz of Los Santos. Where would you want the next GTA game to be set? Comment your GTA wishes down below! For more news, opinion pieces, reviews, and general geeky content be sure to subscribe to GeekNewsNow and check out our articles and content!


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FORTUNE — Welcome a frequent customer with a personal message. Offer an in-store deal on excess boot inventory before summer sandals hit the shelves. Remind tailgating season ticketholders to head to their seats before kick-off.
Ever since smartphones became virtually ubiquitous, marketers have fantasized about mobile engagement scenarios like these, specific to a certain location. The biggest obstacle has been technical: GPS positioning satellites and Wi-Fi wireless networks aren’t reliable when it comes to pinpointing an individual’s whereabouts, especially indoors in multi-floor shopping malls or sports arenas.
But the emergence of Apple’s iBeacon late last year — and the very visible use of the technology in U.S. retail stores to guide shoppers and even help them complete purchases — has rekindled interest in systems that can broadcast messages to the right person, in the right place, and at the right time. High-profile retailers such as Macy’s and American Eagle Outfitters, along with Major League Baseball and the National Football League, are actively testing them.
“As much as we try to understand our fans and members, we need more insight, provided they are willing to share it,” says Tery Howard, senior vice president and chief technology officer for the Miami Dolphins football team, explaining her organization’s interest. “This technology could be transformational for us in allowing us to understand behavior at the pace that the fans allow us to.”
In simple terms, iBeacon is a way of sending messages using a Bluetooth Low Energy connection. Early installations use specialized, battery-operated transmitters that detect when someone using an enabled smartphone is nearby and trigger a “welcome” greeting. (This only works if the phone’s Bluetooth connection is on and location services are active.) If the recipient is interested and opts in, he or she downloads a mobile application that lets them receive messages specific to their location in the store, entertainment venue, convention center — wherever they happen to be. Every iOS device since the iPhone 4S and the third-generation iPad — approximately 200 million gadgets in all — is theoretically capable of sending or receiving these messages.
“We like to talk about this as a digital sixth sense,” says Kevin Hunter, director of product management for Qualcomm’s Gimbal technology, the system behind the Dolphins trial and in Apple stores. “We provide context around location and proximity; we make it more filtered and more relevant.”
Along with Qualcomm, the Dolphins tested 22 different iBeacon use cases during the last two home games of its 2013 season, with 50 transmitters installed in Sun Life Stadium. Among them: Its marketing team distributed collectible video cards (including one that triggered the first time fans walked by a statue of Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino), advised them about which concession lines were shortest in their section, and offered up coupons for snacks and beverages.
These messages were geofenced: Only a few hundred season ticketholders chosen for the test received them and, even then, only if they were actually in the stadium. Based on positive initial feedback, the Dolphins marketing organization is planning to meet with some of the early users to define its future strategy, Howard says. “We know that this is something we want to integrate into our experience,” she says.
Alongside iBeacon are more than 10 different technologies competing for mindshare, estimates ABI Research. “We see huge growth for infrastructure-based technologies like Wi-Fi and iBeacons, with [Bluetooth Low Energy] deployments forecast to break 20,000 by 2015, largely focused on retail,” writes ABI analyst Patrick Connolly in a new report. “With over 800 million smartphones actively using indoor location for applications by 2018, it will be as standard as GPS is today.”
For retailers, this new breed of location-sensing applications can be both a source of additional revenue and a means of collecting far more specific data about individual shoppers, their habits and their product preferences.
One high-profile startup in the sector and the company behind the Macy’s deployment, Shopkick, estimates its technology drove $500 million in sales to partners during 2013. That’s twice the amount it influenced during 2012. Within its 6.5 million-user-plus demographic, 70% of shopkick members are women; the typical user is a thirtysomething mother. “If you get them through the door, you stand a very good chance of making a sale,” says Cyriac Roeding, co-founder and chief executive of the Redwood City, Calif.-based company.
Given all the information that bombards the average person daily, why would someone opt in for location-based marketing messages — especially amid this age of heightened privacy concerns? Apparently, the same motivation that drives people to join customer loyalty programs: incentives.
Shopkick rewards shoppers with a type of digital currency, called “kicks,” that can be redeemed toward gift cards, products, or other items. As a Shopkick member browses, he or she receives alerts about products from more than 150 brand partners: the likes of Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Mondelez, L’Oreal, Revlon, Pepsi, General Mills, and Hewlett-Packard.
Someone is only bothered when he or she is near a specific item or if it looks like they might be enticed to visit a certain department. The last thing marketers want is for these apps to become a nuisance. “There is a big difference in knowing that someone is close and knowing someone is here,” Roeding says.
Aside from Macy’s, the Shopkick system is being installed at more than 100 American Eagle Outfitter locations in major cities including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco. Other stores that have deployed systems or plan to do so this year include Best Buy, Crate and Barrel, J.C. Penney, Office Depot, Old Navy, Target, and the Sports Authority. A similar system offered Pikato is being tested by Kmart to deliver coupons and other incentives to mobile devices. And more than 200 Safeway and Giant Eagle grocery stores are investing in the technology, in collaboration with inMarket.
Beacons are relatively simple to install. For example, it took the Dolphins less than a day to scatter and stick 50 of them onto walls at Sun Life Stadium. They are also relatively cost-effective: Qualcomm’s models range from $5 to $10, depending on transmission intervals and battery life (anywhere from one to three years); others are priced around $40.
Still, most organizations are proceeding with caution not just because of the mobile design work and back-end technology integration required but because of sensitivity over consumer privacy. The Dolphins, for example, are consulting with a mobile developer to develop appropriate marketing goals and to decide where to draw the line on collecting information. “The hard part is understanding how to execute,” Howard says. “The technology has to be relevant.”


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The Nitro Games catalog will be removed as of October 15th. Discord realizes that the sudden axing of this Nitro perk might turn some customers away, and the company says it’s willing to offer refunds to those who want it. But Nitro, which was launched in 2016 as a premium step up from the standard, free-to-use Discord app, will continue on as a premium tier for power users who want extra features. “While the nuts and bolts of Nitro have changed since three years ago, the spirit remains the same: keep Discord’s core features free. Nitro features should feel like enhancements to the core Discord experience,” the company says.
Discord is choosing to not compete with Xbox Game Pass, Uplay+, Origin Access, and other subscription services.


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Trader Joe's shoppers in the market for love
Grocery list at Trader Joe's: hormone-free milk (check), organic creamy tomato soup (check), blue corn tortilla chips (check), and the cute guy reaching for the frozen chicken masala?
Being single in Seattle means being creative in devising ways to meet people, including uniting under a common grocery store experience -- in this case, Trader Joe's. Earlier this year, some single Trader Joe's shoppers joined other online social groups and created Trader Joe's Love!
About 20 of them met face-to-face for the first time Wednesday at the Wonder Bar in Wallingford. They hope to continue meeting once a month.
In her initial missive proposing some kind of event, Virginia Culler wrote of Trader Joe's, "It's mostly like a different bracket of society there. And I often find myself pondering the domestic microbrews section and realizing I'm inadvertently checking out the guy next to me, only to realize later that he's there with his girlfriend or something after she rounds the corner with a bag of frozen shrimp pot stickers and a potted orchid or whatever."
Culler, 24, who gets all her produce through Pioneer Organics, does the rest of her food shopping exclusively at Trader Joe's, usually at the Queen Anne store.
The national chain has 200 stores in 19 states.
Trader Joe's faithful point to all sorts of reasons it's fertile ground for soul mates.
"It might just be my own perception, but shopping at Trader Joe's is sort of a backhanded rebuke towards mainstream, commercial stores," said 32-year-old Dan Scherck of Shoreline, who quickly became a big presence in the group's online postings and was one of the first to arrive at the Wonder Bar mixer. "You go to TJ's to look for cool stuff that isn't mass-manufactured. Even though we all know they're a national chain, there's this kind of feeling when you go there that you're partaking in a sort of secret club. Like you and the folks that run the store are kind of winking at each other, showing off little treasures found off the beaten path."
The Trader Joe's Love! group discussed a proposal to have a singles-only day at the stores and ways to recognize each other the next time they go shopping: old issues of The Stranger tucked underneath their arms, Hawaiian shirts, upturned bananas and tiny buttons.
But soon it was apparent people wanted more than just virtual bonding.
They wanted to meet each other. The idea of a casual mixer caught fire.
"I hate bars, because those are filled with cigarette smoke, and honestly, they're meat markets," Scherck said. "I'm looking for people who have at least a somewhat similar overall personality, and the folks that shop at TJ's seem to share a certain sort of character. Flavor, even."
Both Scherck and Culler thought the mixer was a success.
"I didn't come with any expectations. You can't be let down," Culler said.
"I'm pleasantly surprised."
A "total novice" at planning, Culler took care of the venue and brought food from Trader Joe's, naturally.
With its luscious black leather couches, muted lighting and $2 drafts during happy hour, the bar exuded the low-key environment the group was looking for.
"Everybody really came together to make this happen," Culler said. "It wasn't just me. It was that sense of community."
Alicia Lin came to the mixer not with the intention of meeting a guy, but to make new friends.
A Seattle native who's been out of state for the past 12 years, she just got back into town and is eager to establish a new social network.
"Especially getting settled into a new city, these social groups are perfect for newbies like me to get connected to a city right away," said Lin, principal recruiter at the Laurel Group, a recruiting firm in Seattle. "It allows me to make new friends and build community around my special interests.
"The conversations I can have with these people tend to be deeper and more open than with people I may happen to meet randomly out at a bar. ... The Internet is finally doing what it was meant to do. It's finally connecting like-minded individuals."
At least one Trader Joe's shopper hopes there's a happy ending in sight.
"So, it's been a real interesting journey, to try and 'discover' other people. Honestly, if I find even a single new, genuine friend out of this, it's been totally worth it," Scherck said. "Even better if I find a new girlfriend, and even better if I manage to find someone to have a relationship with."


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Michelin North America Inc. is planning to expand its Premier tire line this year.
The company will be introducing 41 new sizes in 2015 with fitments targeted for CUVs and SUVs. Although not identifying the car companies, Michelin also said the Premier tire will be OE on both passenger and light trucks during the 2016 model year.
Scott Clark, chief operating officer of Michelin North Americas Small Tires made the announcement at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit on Jan. 13.
Clark also said the Premier tire line, introduced during the 2014 NAIAS had surpassed the company’s sales goals. The company promotes the tire as “a significant breakthrough in automotive safety” due to its ability to maintain grip and traction even as the tire wears down and is worn.
The Michelin Premier initially was available in 32 sizes ranging from 185/65R15 to 245/45R18 fitting a range of passenger cars including the Cadillac CTS, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry among others. Michelin offers a limited 60,000-mile warranty with the tire.
The Michelin Premier line is being manufactured in North America at Michelin plants in Lexington and Greenville, S.C., Ardmore, Okla., and Pictou County and Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
Scott Clark, chief operating officer of Michelin North America, said the company will expand its Premier tire line in 2015 with 41 new sizes.
Read more about Michelin at this year’s NAIAS:
See Michelin tires on the Ford GT
Michelin and FIA to give $100,000 for teen safety
Source Modern Tire Dealer
Your Next Tire has all your tire needs weather you need tires for your minivan, backhoe, dump truck, lawn mower, atv, semi truck or Ford F150.
We have several warehouses full of tires and ship all over the USA daily. Give us a call at 1-888-513-8473 and check out our website http://www.yournexttire.com


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» Hp Android 2 Kamera Dibawah 1 Jt Dgn Harga Dan Spesifikasinya
Hp Android 2 Kamera Dibawah 1 Jt Dgn Harga Dan Spesifikasinya
Hp Android 2 Kamera Dibawah 1 Jt Dgn Harga Dan Spesifikasinya on Technology News and Updates AdmaTechnology.com at Friday, April 25, 2014
Polaroid has agreed to put his name behind a Socialmatic concept, which will embody the spirit of Instagram into real form with an instant camera.
With the help of ADR Studios, Polaroid instant camera will perform retro and is expected to be present [...]
Faster, easier to use, and can be accessed anywhere
Confused viewing your Yahoo email today? Yes, Yahoo is just presenting a fresh new look.
In a posting on its official blog on Tuesday (12/11), Yahoo boss Marissa Mayer, said Yahoo! Mail is now not only [...]
As a gift to the loyal fans of the game ‘Angry Birds’.
In the third birthday, Rovio as a manufacturer of world’s most famous game, Angry Birds, released the latest level for the loyal fans.
Games featuring the ‘Angry Birds’ [...]
Galaxy Grand has a screen size of 5 inches with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.
Last week, some observers have expressed the tablet Samsung is preparing release tablet product named Galaxy Grand in December.
This is revealed in the report file Samsung [...]
Here are a few smartphones that fit when used by women. Here’s the short list.
1. Sony Xperia U (Pink / Yellow)
Xperia U is not reserved for women. But the bottom cap colors yellow and pink can make a choice. About the specs, the smartphone is [...]
Raise money for children with cleft lip.
Today many people are using Google Maps to find directions to a mall, offices, and other locations in the city, a man wearing this app to walk 5.000 miles or 8046.7 kilometers.
Armed with the Google Maps application [...]
Already know about Oz the Great and Powerful movie from Disney? If you like it, maybe you should glance at this one game.
Temple Run Oz is an endless running game Temple Run combination that has been popular with Oz movie.
Quoted from Cnet, Friday (3/8), [...]
Google Drive Users get 5GB for free rations from Google.
Google announced on Tuesday (11/27), will integrate Google Drive into Gmail. The move will create a Google e-mail service users can send files of up to 10 GB.
Requirement Gmail users also must [...]
The news about BlackBerry 10 smartphone presence in the cheaper version of the more widely heard.
This time, the phone will be called the BlackBerry R10 predicted that re-emerged in cyberspace, but with different colors.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Monday [...]
Map of Japan and Korea also did not show up.
Among users of Bing Maps in a number of countries, was shocked by the disappearance of the map of the three influential countries in the world, Japan, Korea and Israel from the map application.
BlackBerry, the big names who are drowning and trying to get up. Research In Motion (RIM) is ready with a new platform that can be trusted to restore the glory of the BlackBerry.
BlackBerry 10 to be slid January 30, 2013 could be the answer. Just how [...]


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2009 October 15
Reed Krakoff to Show at Fashion Week
(NEW YORK) As first reported by The Daily in June, Coach's Reed Krakoff is launching an eponymous line--in a very big way. Turns out that Krakoff is planning to hold a runway show during New York's Fashion Week in February. The two most likely slots for Krakoff's debut are Monday, February 15 or Tuesday, February 16. This could potentially wedge Krakoff's debut among fellow heavyweights like Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, and Rodarte. No word yet if he will be showing at Bryant Park as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week or at an offsite location, but stay tuned for further details.
Each year it's a Glee-worthy spectacle as FIT students flock to the wall outside the Great Hall in the school's Pomerantz building to see if their names are on the almighty list of...
Z Zegna has been handpicked to be this year’s guest label at Pitti Uomo, the menswear trade show based in Florence, Italy. Befittingly, the label and its parent company, The Zegna...
The U.K.'s beloved mass fashion retailer Primark is finally coming stateside next year. Primark is slated to open stores on the East Coast of the U.S. next year starting with Boston...


text: VGChartz writes: After 15 long years Duke Nukem Forever hits the streets with lackluster sales. The Wii price cut effect is wearing off sales as sales drop by 51,000 (-22%). Hardware sales are down across the board, with the Wii suffering the biggest drop. This is the last week the Xbox 360 will be up year on year as next week will be one year since the Xbox 360 S launched. The Wii passes the 87 million mark and the 3DS crosses the 3 million mark. Other than the PlayStation 3, software sales are down week on week and year on year. Software milestones this week: Wii Sports passes 77 million; and Mortal Kombat (PS3) crosses the one million mark. Seven games sold over 100,000 and the top 14 sold over 50,000.


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Before there was Batman, there was Gotham. Super Villains will rise in the latest season of your favourite comic drama.
Gotham is taking a break in the U.S. returning Friday 19 April at 8pm
Titles, characters and all other elements are the trade marks and copyright of TVNZ or its licensors. All rights reserved. Further details available here.


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The device – which is known as the Motorola Milestone in the UK – has been a big seller in the United States. It has a touch-screen and a slide-out Qwerty keyboard, and it runs Android, the operating system created by Google and a consortium of partners.
Time said that the Droid was Android's "first credible challenge" to Apple's iPhone.
"The Droid is a hefty beast, a metal behemoth, without the gloss and finish of the iPhone, but you don't miss it," reads the entry in Time. "The Droid's touch-screen is phenomenally sharp and vivid. It has an actual physical (not great, but good enough) keyboard, and best of all, the Droid is on Verizon's best-of-breed 3G network."
The Droid is the latest Android-based device to scoop an award this year. The HTC Hero was named gadget of the year by both T3 and Stuff, and by technology blog Pocket Lint. The Droid is also the first device to run Android 2.0, new software that adds features such as true turn-by-turn satellite navigation akin to a TomTom or Garmin.
Last year, Apple's iPhone scooped the award, but its latest handset, the 3GS, was only ranked fourth this year by Time.
The other gadgets that made up the top 10 included Barnes & Noble's ebook reader, the Nook; the Dyson Air Multiplier fan; the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, the Dell Adamo XPS; Fuji's FinePix Real 3D W1 camera; Casio's G-Shock GW7900B-1 watch; Beats Solo headphones; and the Panasonic G10 range of plasma screen televisions.


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Nike has collaborated with Corteiz to create the Corteiz Air Max 95 shoe and their campaign has ad experts raving.
The London-based streetwear company released a three-minute commercial featuring vignettes that depict a world where the shoe is no longer released. These include clips of breaking news reports from around the globe, a crash in the stock market, a short football showcase using the shoe, and several other scenes that emphasize the demand for the new Air Max model.
Despite the length and chaotic nature of the video, experts have praised its creativity and strategy, dubbing it an effective, non-traditional ad campaign full of energy and emotion.
For Matter Consulting CEO Steven Morris, the two brands have done a brilliant job at “playing to the core emotions that drive product want: scarcity.”
“The simple strategy of “you can see, but can’t get this shoe” taps into the primal human desire to want something you cannot have,” Morris added.
For marketer and entrepreneur Michelle Chuang, the video ad has challenged all rules of the marketing playbook with its length, structure and composition. “The result of the video presents an effect that “we may not understand the video, but we certainly want to buy one, so we can be as energized or hip" as the people in the commercial,” she explained.
For others, the ad has showcased the footwear giant’s creativity and willingness to take risks for its marketing campaigns. CEO at The HOTH, Marc Hardgrove called the ad “one of a kind,” explaining how it incorporated chaotic elements in its storytelling.
“The different scenarios are juxtaposed and form a continuity gripping for the viewer... By declaring that Corteiz rules the world, the ad is trying to make the audience subconsciously approve of the same, which I find as a marketing specialist absolutely genius,” he added.
Meanwhile, watching the ad has left SporesMD Chief Executive Officer Chris Looney in a state of “utter shock and amusement,” calling it a game-changer for advertisers. “No longer can we rely on the same old tired marketing strategies and tactics. We must be bold and daring, willing to take risks and push the boundaries of what is possible.”
In 2021, Nike filed a lawsuit against the streetwear brand, claiming that its name resembles one of Nike’s most famous shoe models, the Cortez.
Eventually, the lawsuit was dropped, leading the two brands to create an uncanny collaboration that shocked many sneakerheads.
The Corteiz Air Max 95 will be released on Friday, March 10, in the Corteiz website.


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Retail News Breaks Archives
The National MTM Advisory Board has released its definition of a key pharmacist professional service, the Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR).
The Alliance for Patient Care (APC), a coalition of health care providers, including pharmacists, has gone to the nation's capital to urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congress to reject proposed reductions to Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association have made their opposition to the proposed merger of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions official.
Revenue rose by double digits in the second quarter at CVS Caremark Corp., despite only slight gains in overall sales and same-store sales by the retail pharmacy segment.
Pharmacy retailers played a central role in a public-private campaign in Palm Beach County, Fla., to help people get ready for the upcoming flu season, according to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.
Walgreen Co. in July reported its smallest same-store sales increase in months despite continuing a streak of gains stretching back to last year.
Rite Aid Corp. is providing free oral health guides in stores and online and offering wellness+ loyalty program rewards for purchases of oral care products.
Bartell Drugs next week is launching its "School Tools for Kids in Need" school supplies donation drive at its 58 drug stores.
CVS/pharmacy is enabling customers to digitally send the savings from e-mail coupons to their ExtraCare Rewards Program cards.
CVS Caremark Corp. reported that its MinuteClinic retail health clinic subsidiary has surpassed 10 million patient visits.


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Home Tags M&A
Google just went from being a nobody in wearables to a top player with Fitbit, and that’s sure to put an even bigger target on its back
Google has acquired smartwatch maker Fitbit in a $2.1 billion deal, making the search giant a sizable player in the wearable tech industry.
Sarah Lacy, the founder of Pando, is selling the blog, quitting journalism, and ditching Silicon Valley after 20 years because she is tired of being s...
The founder of Pando is selling the company and says her decision stems from sexual harassment and threats in her two decades covering Silicon Valley.
Cannabis has gone from a criminalized drug to a multibillion-dollar global boom in just a few years. Here’s everything you need to know about t...
Here's all the latest news about the fascinating world of the legal cannabis industry. Subscribe to Business Insider Prime to read more.
Here’s everything you need to know about CBD, the cannabis compound that’s in everything from coffee to ice cream and could soon be a $16 ...
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is popping up everywhere, fueled in part by a recent change in US law that made some CBD legal.
According to data from Mergermarket, M&A volume has declined since last year while the average deal size has increased.
According to Mergermarket data, the first three quarters of 2019 saw 1,164 fewer deals than last year.
The owners of FanDuel and PokerStars have struck a $12 billion deal to create the world’s biggest online betting group
Flutter Entertainment and The Stars Group earned a combined $4.7 billion in revenue last year, and boast 4 million active users around the world.
The continued economic uncertainty surrounding the trade war between the US and China likely caused companies to step back from dealmaking.
The Hong Kong Exchange’s bid for the LSE would thwart the London firm’s $27 billion Refinitiv deal. Here’s why that’s a ‘...
The Honk Kong Stock Exchange proposed a $37 billion takeover of the London Stock Exchange. It will face quite a few hurdles, analysts say.
The deal bolsters the toymaker's brand portfolio and gives it access to a $2 billion content library.


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Even so, they agree that the process and costs were much simpler and more affordable than launching a brick-and-mortar startup.
The reduced overhead allows the duo to hold down prices.
âWeâre giving the customer the same quality as a store-front bakery and saving them 20 to 30 percent of the costs,â Gillispie said.
The bill resulted from the protests of a Los Angeles bread baker-turned-activist who sold his goods to local groceries until health regulators cracked down on him. Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles, a lawyer known for fighting red tape, championed the bakerâs cause.
Gattoâs victory upended decades of public health consensus that food businesses need commercial licenses to ensure their food is safe and free of harmful contaminants.
Twanisha âTeeâ Robinson-Wilson, 43, investigated the new law before opening Sweet Teeâs Heavenly Cupcakes last March at 28089 Bradley Road in Menifee.
âI think itâs good that people can bake from home, but I do have a problem that environmental health officials canât go out and monitor every home,â she said. âI have no idea what peopleâs living conditions are and thatâs very concerning to me.â
Even so, there are plenty of restrictions. The law sets limits on the annual gross sales of these small entrepreneurs: $35,000 in 2013, rising to $45,000 in 2014 and $50,000 in 2015 and beyond. Robinson-Wilson said these income ceilings deterred her from pursuing a home-based businesses.
Cottage food operators canât sell foods that could spoil easily and thus sicken consumers, such as sausages and dairy products. The list of approved items includes jams, baked goods, dried pasta, granola, candy, chocolate, nut butters, mustard, popcorn, waffle cones, honey, vinegar and roasted coffee.
PROS AND CONS
Angela Brooks-Van Niel, 44, of Redlands, of home-based owner of Simply Fancy Cuisine, said she feels constrained by no-nos.
âThere are so many limits to what you can make,â she said. âMy forte and flair is French pastries with a lot of custards and creams, which I canât sell.â
But she applauds the ease with which she could open her business, which sells such confections as red velvet madeleines, bittersweet pecan bars and pumpkin pie cupcakes.
âI didnât want the 9-to-5 rat race,â Brooks-Van Niel said. âI wanted to do something Iâd enjoy.â


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It seems that the long awaited exclusive XBox 360 DLC might just be delayed right out of 2008 according to GameSpot.
In an article GameSpot tells us of a recent interview with Variety Dan Houser was asked when the DLC would be out. "I'm not sure. It's going well. But we don't know a date. We hope to be announcing that in the next few weeks. We're still figuring out a few things." He added that a major DLC release was "virgin territory, but at the same time, we feel very exposed because there's no case history."
On at least a promising note Microsoft itself stated that the additional content would be ready before December 31, so keep your fingers crossed!
You can read the full article from GameStop here.


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Demand for notebooks and desktop PCs fell by 29 percent year-on-year. Manufacturers hope for the Windows 10 end.
Market research firm IDC estimates that only 56.9 million PCs were sold worldwide in the first quarter of 2023. That was 23.3 million or 29 percent fewer than in the first quarter of 2022. According to IDC, the number of units was also significantly lower than in the period before the corona pandemic: In Q1/2019 it was 59.2 million, in Q1/2018 even more 60.6 million.
IDC does not expect an increase in demand in the short term. Sales figures could only pick up again from 2024 because Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in autumn 2025 and older computers cannot be switched to Windows 11.
According to IDC, the five companies Lenovo, HP, Dell, Apple, and Asus sell almost three-quarters of all desktop PCs and notebooks worldwide. All were able to sell significantly fewer devices than in the previous year, with HP coming off best with a drop of 24 percent. The biggest drop in demand hit Apple, with 40 percent fewer MacBooks, Mac Minis, and iMacs sold. Apple’s market share shrank from 8.6 to 7.2 percent.
Lenovo remains the market leader with a 22.4 percent market share (12.7 million computers), closely followed by HP (21.2 percent/12 million). Then follow Dell (16.7%/9.5 million), Apple, and Asus.
Gartner had already reported the biggest slump in the PC market ever recorded for the fourth quarter of 2022. Business is therefore also bad for the suppliers. Except for the CPU manufacturers AMD and Intel, especially for companies like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, which produce DRAM and flash memory chips, as well as for the SSD and hard disk suppliers Seagate, and WD. Smartphones are also selling badly. For servers, too, it looks like zero growth at best.
One thought on “PC market continues to slide, Apple sells 40 percent less”


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Regulatory Framework needed for promoting digital banks
July 22, 2022
The Aayog, in its report titled ‘Digital Banks: A Proposal for Licensing & Regulatory Regime for India’, makes a case and offers a template and roadmap for a digital bank licensing and regulatory regime for the country.
India’s public digital infrastructure, especially Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has successfully demonstrated how to challenge established incumbents, it said, adding that UPI transactions measured have surpassed Rs 4 trillion in value.
“Aadhaar authentications have passed 55 trillion. Finally, India is at the cusp of operationalizing its own open banking framework. These indices demonstrate India has the technology stack to fully facilitate DBs,” the report said.
“Creating a blueprint for digital banking regulatory framework and policy offers India the opportunity to cement her position as the global leader in Fintech at the same time as solving the several public policy challenges she faces,” it added.
The report suggested the introduction of a restricted Digital Business bank licence and a restricted Digital Consumer Bank licence.


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Traditional cigarette smoking may have been a popular trend in the past, but as soon as innovative products come into play, it is without a doubt that consumers will follow the new trend.
Today, e-cigarettes are some of the hottest items on the market, with a purpose of helping people who have quit smoking. However, that may not be the only reason to purchase one anymore, at least for many in the Godwin community.
E-cigarettes were originally meant for harm reduction, a strategy used to help reduce the amount of consequences after using drug-related products, such as tobacco.
The JUUL, one type of e-cigarette, has not only become a popular option at Godwin, but nationwide. Its simple design resembles one of a flash drive, easily deceiving someone who has never seen one.
Vaping, or smoking e-cigarettes, is somewhat similar to the use of a normal cigarette. When the user inhales through the device, they trigger the sensor inside to heat the flavored liquid pod, in this case a “JUULpod,” turning into vapor once it reaches the mouthpiece.
Vapor is then exhaled, which simulates smoke after inhaling it through a cigarette. Nothing in the process is burned though, unlike a normal cigarette.
Some question the benefits of the device, citing that it has as many carcinogens as a normal pack of cigarettes.
According to the JUUL website, one “JUULpod” is the equivalent to a pack of cigarettes, with five percent nicotine. Research suggests that such consumption of nicotine under the legal age may affect neurodevelopment among adolescents.
Others, such as the JUUL website, argue that it has little to no effect on any of the clientele. The JUUL website states that the ingredients are different than that of cigarettes, using a certain ingredient from the tobacco plant that provides the user with the “ultimate vaping experience.”
One cited benefit to e-cigarettes is the low, if existent, long-term health effects caused by them.
According to the Society for the Study of Addiction, in comparison to the health effects of cigarettes, the study considers vaping to be a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes.
It is estimated that 11 out of every 100 high school students use e-cigarettes, while eight out of every 100 students smoke traditional cigarettes, a seven percent decrease from a 2011 study done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Although one must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a JUUL, many young people have found ways around this law.
In a world of fabrication, it is simple to falsify one’s birthday and easily purchase the item through the Internet or in person at a gas station or convenience store.
Some reports even mention people JUUL devices to underage consumers, whether in private or at public places like school.
Here at Godwin, the use of e-cigarettes is on the rise, following other high schools nationwide. However, administration and teachers have recently been cracking down on students who violate the Henrico County code of conduct.
Godwin principal Leigh Dunavant said, “Teachers should report students who are in violation of the Code of Conduct to the administration.”
Henrico County strictly prohibits the use of any tobacco-related products on any campus, as state law mandates, and teachers and staff have been trained to recognize the JUUL.
The disciplinary action that will be taken is the “same as all other tobacco products – in-school suspension,” said Dunavant.
Senior Aleena Paczkoski has a moderate stance on the issue, stating that the JUUL can be “good and bad.”
“They can be bad because at times, it is addicting,” she said. “I haven’t seen it to be a distraction at all, though.”
Other students, however, seem to have a different stance on the ongoing issue.
Senior Hannah Lesniak said that although she hasn’t seen a student use it on campus, she has heard of students being caught using the JUUL while in class.
“I think they should keep it [the JUUL] at home because there is no need to bring it to school,” she said. “If you can’t wait to do it after school, that’s sad.”
English teacher Mary Mordica explained why she feels there is no benefit from using an e-cigarette.
“Cigarette producers target and capitalize on the natural curiosity and naïveté of youth, ultimately jeopardizing their health, in order to make a profit,” she said.
“I hope students who feel empowered by vaping soon realize they are being manipulated by big businesses. Because there is no long history of vaping, this generation is the guinea pig for long-term side effects.”
Mordica also mentioned hearing about students using the JUUL device on campus.
“I have never been aware of JUUL devices in my room, so I have not found them distracting, though I have heard stories about them being used on campus,” she said.
Whether this trend is here to stay or not, nationally, the use of e-cigarettes is on the rise and will continue to be significantly.


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Edmond, Okla. – Petra Industries, a national
wholesale distributor of CE, custom-installation, appliance and related
products, has added the Leatherman multi-tool line.
Leatherman lineup features 20 products, including the seven-in-one Skeletool,
12-in-one Kick and 16-in-one Blast.
Leatherman is the originator of the multi-purpose tool, Petra said. Leatherman
tools have gained the respect of outdoor enthusiasts, military, police, fire,
tradesmen, and DIYers over the world, the distributor said.
“We’ve noticed a significant amount of interest from our customer
base regarding Leatherman,” said Tate Morgan, executive VP for Petra
Industries. “Their prominent position in
the multi-tool category and strong brand awareness have made them an ideal
addition to our inventory.”
Petra’s inventory of Leatherman
products will be available in Petra’s
Fall 2009 catalog, which will be distributed in October. The Leatherman line of
products, along with more than 20,000 others, can also be found right now at www.petra.com.


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AFT Pharmaceuticals shares rose 5.4% after the pharmaceutical maker signed a deal to sell over-the-counter medicine online in China.
The shares were up 19 cents at $3.74 at 1pm on the NZX after the company said its joint venture with ASX-listed ecommerce firm RooLife on the Chinese online platform Tmall Global will start selling over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, including its flagship Maxigesic pain relief product.
The Kiwi Health Global Flagship Store, was launched in 2020 with a trial range of AFT’s health supplements.
AFT said it's achieved “strong support” and further medicine launches will come in the next few months.
The store now carries AFT’s portfolio of health and wellbeing products which include its vitamin range and allergy relief and will extend its over-the-counter medical product portfolio.
AFT managing director Hartley Atkinson said it was exciting to be the first NZ company to be approved for the pilot and the opportunity offered a “significant growth opportunity”.
“The Chinese market for over-the-counter medicines is the world’s second-largest behind the US and is growing rapidly,” he said.
“In 2020, it was worth US$16.3 billion (NZ$26.4b), and it is now expected to reach US$22.7b by 2023, as the Chinese population ages and becomes more focused on healthcare.”
Atkinson also said more than 58% of those sales occurred online.
AFT more than doubled its net profit in the March 2022 year and signalled it will start paying dividends in the current financial year, its first since listing in December 2015.
This has been edited to remove a repeated word in the 2nd paragraph.


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Wendy's Japan aims to re-energize the American fast-food brand in this country under the leadership of a veteran of corporate planning at McDonald's.
Osamu Shiseki, 55, now an adviser to Wendy's, will replace 63-year-old Ernest M. Higa as CEO of Wendy's Japan and subsidiary First Kitchen on Thursday.
Higa will retain representative rights as chairman. Wendy's is looking to integrate its operations with those of First Kitchen to revitalize its flagging business.
The incoming president spent eight years from 1997 at McDonald's Holdings Japan, planning new locations and renovations. In April 2013, he became president of Freshness, the operator of Japanese chain Freshness Burger. He left the company in July 2016 as the company recorded 18 straight months of same-store sales growth.
Wendy's Japan acquired First Kitchen at the end of June this year. The plan going forward is to gradually convert First Kitchen locations, particularly those in central Tokyo areas, into Wendy's-First Kitchen hybrid restaurants.


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By Yahaira Cespedes
Like many Americans, you may be planning to have a festive Fourth of July. Along with barbeques and day at the beach, no July holiday celebration would be complete without enjoying the fireworks that celebrate the birth of our nation.
Perhaps you are considering staying at home and planning a get-together with friends and family. Or, you may want to go check out your local professional fireworks display. While putting the finishing touches on your planned celebration, take a moment to consider your pets.
Unlike people, pets don’t associate the noise, flashes, and burning smell of pyrotechnics with celebrations. Pets are terrified of fireworks, and often panic at the loud whizzes and bangs they produce.
Because of this, the American Humane Association reports that July 5 is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters. Why? In a 2005 press release the Indiana Proactive Animal Welfare, Inc. (PAW) stated that animal shelters the day after Fourth of July are “inundated with pets that panicked at the noise of firecrackers and fled into the night, winding up lost, injured or killed.”
Both the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and PAW have listed ways you can prevent your holiday celebration from turning into a tragedy. Here are 10 tips on how to keep your pet from panicking this Fourth of July weekend.
10. Keep your Pet Indoors at All Times!
It may seem obvious, but even if your pet is used to being outside, the resulting panic caused by fireworks or other loud noises may make them break their restraint or jump a fence in a terrified attempt to find safety.
9. Don’t Put Insect Repellant on Your Pet that isn’t Specifically for Pet Use
The same tip applies to applying “people” sunscreen on your pet. What isn’t toxic to humans can be toxic to animals. The ASPCA lists the poisonous effects of sunscreen on your pet as, “…drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.” DEET, a common insecticide, may cause neurological issues.
8. Alcoholic Drinks Poison Pets
If your pet drinks alcohol, they can become dangerously intoxicated, go into a coma, or in severe cases, die from respiratory failure. Yes, even beer is toxic; fermented hops and ethanol are poisonous to dogs and cats.
7. Going to a Fireworks Display? Leave Your Pet at Home
The safest place for your pet is at home, not in a crowded, unfamiliar and noisy place. The combination of too many people and loud fireworks will make your beloved pet freak out and desperately seek shelter. Locking them in the car is also not an option; your pet may suffer brain damage and heat stroke.
6. Have Your Pet Properly Identified
If your pet manages to break loose and become lost, without proper identification it will be that much harder to get them back. Consider fitting your pet with microchip identification, ID tags with their name and your phone number, or both. It is also a good idea to have a recent picture of your pets in case you have to put up signs.


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A group of 17 major North American retailers, including Wal-Mart, Gap, Target and Macy’s, announced a plan on Wednesday to improve factory safety in Bangladesh, drawing immediate criticism from labor groups who complained that it was less stringent than an accord reached among European companies.
The American plan commits $42 million for worker safety, including inspections and an anonymous hot line for workers to report concerns about their factories, and more than $100 million in loans and other financing to help Bangladeshi factory owners correct safety problems. But unlike the accord joined mainly by European retailers that was unveiled on Monday, the plan lacks legally binding commitments to pay for those improvements.
Some labor rights groups estimated that it would cost as much as $3 billion to bring Bangladesh’s garment factories up to an acceptable safety standard.
Under the effort announced on Wednesday, called the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, the participating companies will contribute money — from a modest amount up to $1 million a year, depending on the level of business each does in Bangladesh. This would create a fund of $42 million during the five years of the plan.
The proposal calls for the retailers to inspect the estimated 500 Bangladeshi factories that the North American retailers use within 12 months, and then develop plans to fix any substantial safety problems that are found.
The North American retailers plan to develop a common safety standard for the factories by October and to create a clearinghouse to share information among themselves about which factories have been approved for production and which need safety improvements.
Their plan calls for “shared accountability” in responding to those safety problems: the companies would work closely with the factory owners, the government of Bangladesh and various government and aid agencies to figure out ways to finance safety improvements. If serious safety problems were discovered at a particular factory, the plan’s director would inform the Bangladeshi government, the factory owner and what the group calls the factory’s “worker participation committee,” a group to be elected by a factory’s workers.
That differs from the way retailers in the European-dominated plan take responsibility for safety violations. The Europeans pledge to ensure that there is money to fix serious fire and building safety problems in any of the factories they use in Bangladesh.
Under the American plan, the onus is on factory owners to improve their workplaces. Unlike the European group, the North American retailers are not promising to finance needed improvements, outside of the loans. Essentially, if a factory is not up to par and does not fix the problems itself, the American retailers say they will no longer do business there.
“In terms of legal liability, if a worker reports a factory is not measuring up, we have the measures to respond, to investigate,” said Jay Jorgensen, global chief compliance officer for Wal-Mart. “If a factory is not meeting the standards,” he said, “under our agreement they’re going to be terminated. That’s the ultimate pressure point on a factory to treat its workers well — the continuation of business.”
Five labor rights groups, including the Worker Rights Consortium, the Clean Clothes Campaign and United Students Against Sweatshops, criticized the American plan. “Wal-Mart, Gap and the corporations that have chosen to join them, are unwilling to commit to a program under which they actually have to keep the promises they make to workers and accept financial responsibility for ensuring that their factories are made safe,” the groups said in a statement.
The five organizations faulted the plan for being “company-developed and company-controlled,” adding that “under the Gap/Wal-Mart scheme, brands and retailers are not obligated to pay one cent toward the renovation and repair of their factories in Bangladesh.”
The retailers said repeatedly that their plan contained many of the same elements as the European-dominated effort: inspections of all factories, development of remediation plans, sharing of information on the inspections and safety training for Bangladeshi workers.
“We may have two plans — the alliance and the accord — but we have one shared purpose and that purpose is to improve worker safety in garment factories in Bangladesh,” said Bobbi Silten, senior vice president for global responsibility at Gap and president of the Gap Foundation.
Bill Chandler, a spokesman for Gap, said that the North American agreement “puts specific dollar amounts” into place; the European agreement does not.
One retail executive said that the American retailers were worried about liability issues wrapped up in the heavily European accord.
“The main difference, the reason we couldn’t sign the accord, is Europe has a different legal environment than we do in the United States and Canada. The accord had some provisions that in the U.S. and Canada would subject us to potentially unlimited legal liability and litigation,” Mr. Jorgensen said. Regarding the funds that the North American retailers are offering, he said, “we don’t want one dollar of that to go to lawyers — we want every cent of that to go to the factories.”
Mr. Jorgensen said the $100 million in loans and other financing was an important component. “The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers Association has asked that financing be made available,” he said. “It’s hard to get loans there, and if you get a loan, it’s expensive. We’re trying to make capital available on a low-cost basis so that repairing a situation where safety issues doesn’t go unremediated because of financing problems.”
Labor rights advocates, however, called the plan inadequate.
“It’s clever,” said Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium, a monitoring group based in Washington. “It’s designed to sound like the accord. They talk about inspections. They talk about renovations. They can use all the rhetoric they choose, but if you look at the substance, there’s very little there.”
He added, “They can walk away whenever they want and there is no real obligation to pay a penny to repair and renovate factories.”
Under the terms of the agreement, participating retailers can leave the alliance whenever they like, though if they do so before two years are up, they must pay what remains of their five-year financial commitment to the alliance.
The 70 companies in the European-dominated effort announced details of their plan on Monday, saying they would have all of the factories they use in Bangladesh inspected within nine months and would have remediation plans developed for those with safety problems. They pledged “to ensure that sufficient funds are available to pay for renovations and other safety improvements.”
Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest apparel exporting nation, after China; Europe buys about 60 percent of its exports and the United States around 25 percent.
The beginning of the American effort was announced in May, as Wal-Mart, Gap and other American retailers felt pressure to act because the European-dominated accord was gathering momentum and because of the outcry after 1,129 workers died in a factory building collapse in Bangladesh in April.
The plan announced Wednesday includes J. C. Penney, Kohl’s, Carter’s and the Children’s Place, and was reached with the help of the Bipartisan Policy Center and two former United States senators from Maine, George J. Mitchell and Olympia J. Snowe.
Some American companies have joined the European-dominated plan, including Abercrombie & Fitch and PVH, the parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.
Criticizing the American plan, Jyrki Raina, general secretary of IndustriALL, a federation with 50 million union members from 140 countries that played a major role in creating the accord, said, “Quite simply, it’s a pale imitation of the legally binding accord we have. This really shows the difference between a legally binding process and these voluntary initiatives, which haven’t functioned well in the past.”
The problems in Bangladesh’s garment industry have not affected the retail industry’s demand for cheap goods made there. The country’s Export Promotion Bureau said on Tuesday that exports in June rose 16.3 percent to $2.7 billion, based on strong clothing sales.


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Founder of Aadya Restaurants Ajay Koneru hopes to standardize the quality and taste of food across their restaurants and food trucks through this acquisition and also step into the world of retail.
"We want to become the McDonald’s of south Indian food," said Koneru. "We found synergy in ChennaiChef and want to spread our wings into retail business, too."
Aadya Restaurants will use ChennaiChef’s products to prepare the the food served at their quick service restaurants and food trucks through a centralised kitchen and also house those products for sale.
Currently only in Hyderabad, the startup plans to dot the Indian map with 36 quick service restaurants in 18 months – starting with Bengaluru. For the next 18 months of expansion, Koneru is looking to raise a fund of Rs 12-13 crore and is in talks with several parties.
"We are talking to two or three people to raise funds and looking at someone who is passionate about this field. But, it’s too early in the stage right now," said Koneru.
The protests, one of Modi’s toughest political challenges yet, follow an eventful 2020 when the combined fortunes of Ambani and Adani swelled by almost $41 billion, even as millions of Indians lost their jobs to the pandemic that pummeled the $2.9 trillion economy.
With increased awareness about immunity, health and nutrition, the wellness segment registered the highest year-on-year growth of 20.45% during the period. Sales of cosmetics were also close to 20%, while homecare and household products grew 15.17%, the IDSA report said.


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THE National Library for the Blind (NLB) is today teaming-up with a host of top authors in an exciting online auction which will offer book lovers the chance to have tea with their favourite writer.
Terry Pratchett, Jacqueline Wilson, Charlie Higson and Jon Snow have all agreed to take part in the project and raise vital funds for the NLB.
Successful bidders will get to meet one of the literary stars at the prestigious Hay-on-Wye Book Festival held this year from May 27 to June 5 in the tiny town on the Welsh border.
Comedian, actor and author Charlie Higson, said: "I'm really pleased to be able to help raise money for such a good cause. The National Library for the Blind does some really wonderful work, and I'm hoping that lots of people get on to eBay and start bidding right now."
All funds raised by the auction will help the NLB realise its aim of ensuring the two million visually impaired people in the UK have regular access to Braille and large print books.
With less than 5% of books published annually in the UK ever produced in Braille, audio or large print, there is a significant shortage of reading material for the visually impaired.
NLB spokesman Claire Briscoe said: "We are delighted that so many authors have decided to support our fundraising auction and we are hoping that fans will dig deep for the chance to meet their favourite writer.
"As we do not receive any regular government funding, NLB is completely dependent on fundraising in order to continue to provide our service to visually impaired people. We are hoping the charity auction will help us to be able to put even more titles into Braille for visually impaired people to read."
The Stockport-based NLB is a registered charity which provides a free postal library service to blind and partially sighted people worldwide. The Library houses Europe's largest collection of tactile books and music and offers a range of innovative electronic library and information services.
Visit the NLB website listed below for a full list of participating authors. The auction will run live on internet site eBay until May 23 and can be reached via the NLB website


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Maruti Suzuki sales up 33%, while Hyundai sales dip 7.6%
The month of June 2014 proved to be one of great success for Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) as the country’s largest automaker reported a 33% increase in total sales. MSIL total sales in June stood at 1,12,773 units as against 84,455 units in June 2013. Small cars were in greater demand.
Sales in the compact segment, which included Swift, Estilo and Ritz, increased 6.2% from 20,996 units sold in June 2013 to 22,293 units sold last month. The company’s Swift also noted increased sales from 12,548 units in June 2013 to 15,990 units in June 2014 while sales of SX4 increased marginally by 2.5% from 314 units last June to 322 units in June 2014.
While there were no sales of the Kizashi, the company’s UVs such as Gypsy, Grand Vitara and Ertiga saw a marginal increase and the Omni and Eeco increased 42%. MSIL besides noting increased domestic sales also saw exports increase by 58.4% from 7,453 units exported last June to 11,809 units exported in June 2014.
The same success story was not mirrored by Hyundai Motors India Limited, country’s second largest car maker. They have registered a 7.6% dip in sales. The company sold 54,665 units in June 2013, compared to 50,518 units in June 2014.
33,514 units were sold in domestic markets in June 2014 as against 30,610 in June 2013 resulting in a 9.5% increase but conversely exports declined from 24,055 units in June 2013 to just 17,004 units in June 2014. Increased domestic sales are due to increased demand for Xcent, Grand and Santa Fe.
Email - [email protected]


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Aldi's website was besieged on Sunday morning as thousands of shoppers queued to snap up Kevin the Carrot toys.
The discount supermarket chain launched sales of its range of merchandise depicting the fun figure made famous by its TV advertisements and there was soon a long line of customers waiting to purchase the toy.
But many were left disappointed with the toys soon selling out.
Website users were greeted with the message that they had been automatically placed in a queue due to the fact 'there are currently lots of people trying to access the Aldi website'.
The queue was around five minutes when our colleagues at StokeonTrentLive visited the site they were assigned queue number 224582 - with 2,321 other users ahead of them.
Unfortunately for people keen to get their hands on them, these had sold out by 11am.
A message on the queueing page stated: "Oops! It looks like we're all sold out of Kevin and friend's plush toys. Give your local Aldi store a try from Thursday 28th November to see what's on offer."
Aldi has branches across Birmingham and the Black Country and customers queued for hours to secure a bargain when a new store opened last week in Carters Green, West Bromwich.


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2414 Publishing (Pty) Limited has announced Miriro Matema as the new managing editor of its magazine, Nomad Africa. Matema replaces Monique Ashley Le-Coure, who left Nomad Africa after nearly six years.
The announcement was made by the executive publisher of the magazine, John Akinribido, and the associate publisher, Dieter Gottert. Under Matema’s leadership, Nomad Africa aims to reemerge as the must-read for a new generation of travel industry leaders, decision makers and travel savvy gurus.
With coverage of travel, tourism, hospitality and culture, Nomad Africa aims to publish award-winning content that will become a market leader while igniting the conversation and collaboration of Africa’s collective tourism industry.
Before joining Nomad Africa, Matema worked as a freelance editor for publications such as Executive Assistant magazine, Africa Investor and Life25. She also led the content marketing efforts at Azureceleste.
"Miriro has the intellectual curiosity and appreciation for Africa’s growth, and a great knowledge of the continent’s tourism industry that defines the Nomad Africa brand," Akinribido says.
"She has done a tremendous job in the past, taking on business leadership, development investment and global marketing – all with the effervescence of the best party in town. With her literary aptitude, first developed at Fleet Street Publications, she’ll bring the same vibrancy to Nomad Africa, while continuing to steer the editorial direction of the publication," Akinribido adds.
Akinribido says, "Monique’s time at Nomad Africa has been an epic journey of uphill milestones. Her influence has been substantial, and we are grateful for her many contributions to the brand."
"I am very pleased to be joining Nomad Africa and look forward to driving the development and execution of our corporate strategy going forward," Matema says.
"In addition to the company’s core editorial creation, we intend to devote significant time and effort to pursuing opportunities in African travel and tourism data, insights and research, which we believe offers tremendous value for the development of the continent, as well as our partners," concludes Matema.
For more information, visit www.nomadafricamag.com. You can also follow Nomad Africa on Facebook or on Twitter.


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Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce has appointed former business bank manager Tim Major to drive membership recruitment in Swindon.
Tim is well known to members of the business community in the town, having been Natwest's business banking relationship manager from 2002 to 2006.
A too-good-to-turn-down opportunity to work in Jersey with parent company RBS followed, which saw Tim leave the town for twelve years.
"I've worked in Swindon, on and off, for most of my career – and it's great to be back!" said Tim, who has been tasked with looking after Swindon Chamber of Commerce members, and ensuring more businesses join the organisation.
"And I'm coming back at such an exciting time – from my desk I can watch development work at the Kimmerfields development site.
"Within a few years visitors will get disembark from their electric train to be greeted by 600,000 sq ft of commercial offices and 100,000 sq ft of retail space – it's terrific for the town!
"I've been a member of local Chambers of Commerce for 30 years in Swindon, Chippenham, Oxford, Reading and Jersey" said Tim.
"They're so important to the economic vitality of a town or city, by supporting growing business, enabling networking, and giving firms a voice at local, regional, and national level.
"Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce also provides business support services, and has a team dedicated to exporting.
"Trade delegations are invited to the UK to see what we have to offer, while UK delegations are sent all over the world. Last year the Thames Valley Chamber facilitated £1.2bn of worldwide trade."
The Chamber is kicking off 2019 with a number of events, aimed at the largest businesses to the smallest.
Already sold out is the Chamber's Spotlight on Swindon – a £40-a-head corporate dinner at Chiseldon House on January 24.
The event will be addressed by Mark Beard, executive chairman of Swindon-based Beard Construction and Ian White, program manager of corporate real estate and workplace services at Zurich.
The topic of conversation will be the continuing half-a-billion-pound redevelopment and regeneration of Swindon town centre.
Last year Zurich announced its intention to build a state-of-the-art headquarters at Kimmerfields, adjacent to the Tri Centre complex where it currently houses staff.
Aimed at SMEs, the next Swindon banner networking event will held at Swindon's Marriott Hotel on February 1 from 7.30am until 9.30am.
The event gives businesses the chance to network and to showcase their companies by bringing a pop-up banner and brochures.
Attendance costs £24 for members and £36 for non-members.
Tim also intends to support free and informal networking events and seminars across Swindon, which are popular with small businesses and sole traders.
For more information about Swindon Chamber of Commerce membership and events, visit www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/local-chambers/swindon or telephone Tim direct on 07768660697.


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By Jim Hilgen 2:23pm, April 22, 2013Entrepreneurs and small business owners can get access to valuable resources at new monthly event launching this week.
"Open for Business in New Castle County" kicks off Thursday morning.
Modeled on similar successful events in Kent and Sussex counties, the meetings will bring entrepreneurs together with people and organizations that can help with business development.
"There are many programs and services that are available to individuals that are considering small business ownership on the local, state and federal level," says Ellyn Herbert of the Small Business Administration.
Herbert says there are many overlapping sources available to those starting, or growing a business.
"Specifically, on the training and counseling side, and on the funding side - access to capital," Herbert says.
Herbert says the event brings entrepreneurs in contact with people and organizations that can help.
Middletown business owner Paul Mansone benefited from attending the Kent County events.
"They would look at what you were working on already and point you in the next direction as far as, 'OK, this is what you have to do now to take it to the next step,'" Mansone says.
"Any help that you can find, regardless of where it's coming from, is just outstanding," Mansone says.
The session is free and takes place the fourth Thursday of the month from 9 to 11 a.m. at 12 Penns Way in New Castle.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Devices from the second half of 2016 could boast improved audio recording, thanks to new MEMS mics9
Although smartphone users are happily recording their special moments in pristine 4K-resolution video, even expensive devices tend to fall apart when it comes to audio recording quality. Noise filtering and weak microphones usually bring out the worst of any recorded sound, and we can't recall being impressed with a smartphone's call quality over 3G/4G networks in a long time. Still, this is being worked on behind closed doors. According to an article by EETimes, high quality voice and audio are the next frontier for smartphones.
At MWC 2016, the media spoke to Andreas Urschitz, an executive at Germany's Infineon Technologies, and Matt Crowley – CEO of Vesper. The company provides its MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) silicon to Hong Kong-based AAC Technologies, and partnering startup Vesper. While the latter is making headway as a maker of piezoelectric MEMS microphones, AAC is already established as a staple mic supplier for almost all generations of iPhones, and has a 50% share in the global smartphone market.
MEMS microphones with differential output allow for an almost undistorted signal, even at high SPL.Infineon has developed new MEMS microphones that deliver “a maximum sound pressure level (SPL) around 10dB higher than the best microphones available on the market.” They use a dual back plate solution that can not only deliver a signal-to-noise ratio of 66 dB, but also provides an acoustic overload point of 135dB, which is the SPL where noticeable distortion occurs. Infineon’s engineering team has managed to refine the technology so that the company can deliver MEMS microphones with differential output, allowing for an almost undistorted signal even at high SPLs.
On Vesper’s side, its solutions are piezoelectric, which can make MEMS microphones intrinsically waterproof, dustproof, and particle resistant. Dust can easily infiltrate the tiny mic holes in a smartphone, posing a danger of signal loss and microphone failure. As smartphones come with an array of microphones to form a beam for noise cancellation. A single mic failure caused by particle contamination or other accidents could result in a 90% failure rate. Mic failure makes for the second biggest complaint among smartphone users, right after cracked screens.


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China is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of batteries. It has the most complete battery industry chain in terms of materials, equipment, systems, applications, packs and accessories, and has obvious advantages in export cooperation. At the beginning of the year, the sudden outbreak of a major epidemic has had a huge impact on Global trade, leading to the plight of "unable to go out".
Throughout the world, the situation of epidemic prevention and control in RCEP member countries is relatively optimistic. Singapore, Japan and other countries have gradually relaxed the restrictions on the entry and exit of Chinese citizens, reflecting the urgency of their governments to boost their economy. In the future, going out to sea is no longer a patent only belonging to large enterprises and groups. Small and medium-sized enterprises are striving for innovation and change in the era of stock game in the domestic market. At the same time, they are actively embracing the new market, which is bound to have unexpected results. The signing of RCEP will better create a breakthrough opportunity for the export of China's battery industry.
Global battery Expo fits RCEP strategy perfectly
"Canton Fair of battery industry" becomes a window to go to sea
It is worth mentioning that since its inception in 2016, WBE world battery industry expo has been positioned to promote global battery market transactions, and always adheres to the core strategy of "bringing in foreign high-quality purchasers and helping Chinese excellent enterprises to go out". Over the past few years, through cooperation with foreign media, associations, embassies, exhibitions and conferences, more than 40 multinational foreign language elites of the "International Department · foreign invitation center", the core organization of the organizer, have accumulated hundreds of thousands of overseas buyer resources and accurate databases, realizing point-to-point straight-line invitation. According to the summary statistics, the first five sessions of WBE received more than 100000 professional visitors and more than 17040 foreign buyers from all over the world! Its influence has spread over more than 50 countries and regions in the world, and it has become a global event with the largest number of international purchasers in the industry. It has been unanimously rated as "Canton Fair of battery industry" by the industry!
Over the years, among the top 30 international purchasers in countries and regions, Asian countries are in the forefront. With the signing of RCEP, WBE organizers will pay more attention to the invitation of purchasers from RCEP member countries, and provide a more comprehensive and efficient platform for global buyers to understand China's battery, technology and market, so as to promote the interaction, trade and cooperation between RCEP member countries and China's battery technology market. If China's battery enterprises want to quickly open up the overseas market, it is undoubtedly the best choice to participate in WBE world battery industry expo. Therefore, the organizer will specially set up the battery / energy storage theme exhibition area of RCEP free trade zone. At the same time, the Asia Pacific battery industry summit will help enterprises interview hundreds of professional purchasers and overseas high-quality merchants at ultra-low cost through double linkage of exhibition and conference It will become a window for China's battery industry chain to go out to sea!
Southeast Asian countries have always been one of the main sources of international purchasers of the world battery Expo. The Expo has attracted the attention of foreign buyers for many years. It has cooperated with more than 30 international associations and institutions around the world. It has also organized investors and enterprise purchasing representatives to visit the Expo site for many times and appreciated the professionalism and high-quality service of the Expo.
It is reported that the 2021 world battery industry expo and the 6th Asia Pacific battery exhibition will be held in the exhibition hall of Guangzhou Canton Fair from August 16 to 18, 2021.
It has become a trend for domestic battery enterprises to go out to sea, and more and more Chinese enterprises are going out to the international stage. It is believed that with the establishment of the world's largest free trade zone and the favorable policies of RCEP, Chinese battery enterprises will also grow rapidly and bring made in China to the world through the stage of the world battery industry expo.