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2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R Rumors And Release Date
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R Rumors And Release Date – The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R is basically a downsized version of the high-flying, velocity-defying F-150 Raptor. As with its big brother, the off-road-ready Ranger will also feature flared fenders,
rugged tires, extra ground clearance, and an unmistakable grille. While it will ride on the same fully boxed ladder frame as the regular Ranger, the Raptor variant will receive a long-travel suspension for soaring over jumps and a more powerful engine for quicker desert runs.
The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R was just revealed less than one month ago, marking the long-awaited return of the V8 engine to that high-performance off-road-focused pickup following years of V6-only offerings. The Raptor R won’t enter production at the Dearborn Truck plant until this fall,
but it seems as if one of them is already out there somewhere. Ford Performance Motorsports Global Director Mark Rushbrook at least hinted at the possibility of a 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R, too. “There would be a lot that would transfer” between the Bronco DR and the Ranger platform, he indicated.
Skepticism aside, the Ranger Raptor V8 simply isn’t commercially viable. The Blue Oval’s truck sold 50,279 units last year in Australia, which is too small of a market for a cost-intensive project and product such as the V8-swapped truck.
Even in the United States, where the Ranger sold 94,755 units last year, the Coyote feels a little too much for a mid-size pickup.
Table of Contents
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R Design
Redesigned for the 2023 model year on the T6.2 platform of the Bronco, the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R is once again rumored with an eight-cylinder lump. Cars Guide reports that high-ranking officials Trevor Worthington and Mark Rushbook wish to create a Coyote V8-engined truck, yet I wouldn’t hold my breath.
And the Raptor R introduces customizable drive modes that can be triggered by the R button on the steering wheel. Extra badging on the interior will also remind you that you’re in the Raptor R, but the same 12-inch Sync 4 touchscreen jumps between models. While the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R offers an all-new engine and drivetrain improvements,
it shares suspension with the F-150 Raptor 37 (except for stiffer front springs because of the heavier engine). The new Raptor trim’s 37-inch tires should set it apart from entry-level F-150 Raptors. But the extra rubber is far from the only distinguishing feature of the new supertruck.
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R Feature
Ranger Raptor to have an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Ford’s latest Sync infotainment software. That would mean Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot are standard features. Along with various charging ports, the widebody Ranger will likely offer options such as built-in navigation and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R Engine
The standard Ranger Raptor (rendering above) debuts in 2023. Rumors suggest it uses a twin-turbo V6. This could be the 330-horsepower (246-kilowatt) 2.7-liter unit from the Bronco or the 400-hp (298-kW) 3.0-liter mill from the Explorer ST. All signs point to the performance pickup being available in America, unlike the previous iteration.
The trophy-truck-inspired Raptor’s suspension was the star of the show, but its growling 6.2-liter V8 wasn’t far behind. As Ford pivoted away from V8s and toward smaller turbocharged engines, the Raptor lost its V8. Even though the EcoBoost-powered Raptor made more power than its predecessor,
that V8 vacuum helped open the door for the Hellcat-powered Ram TRX. The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R offers a 5.2-litre supercharged V8 engine borrowed from the Mustang Shelby GT500 sports car, providing a significant performance increase over the base 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6.
Ford has modified the eight-cylinder ‘Predator’ for application in the F-150 Raptor R for improved low- and mid-range performance, with 522kW of power and 867Nm of torque – a 45kW drop and 20Nm increase.
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R Transmissions
It’s essentially the same setup found on the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R, which includes a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, complete with locking front and rear differentials. Compared to its pedestrian counterpart,
the Raptor will have a sturdier suspension and beefier off-road equipment. Along with a higher ride height and increased ground clearance, it has 33-inch all-terrain tires that bookend wider front and rear tracks.
This supercharged 5.2-liter DOHC V8 sends 700 hp and 640 lb-ft of torque through a ten-speed automatic transmission and into the Raptor’s four-wheel-drive system.
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R Price And Competitors
One way Ford is justifying the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor R’s dizzying $109,145 MSRP is with a signature visual language. The F-150 Raptor R boasts blacked out chrome. The interior is resplendent with the black Recaro seats and carbon fiber you’d expect at this luxury car pricepoint.
The Ranger Raptor will go on sale as a 2023 model, but Ford hasn’t said how much it will cost. We expect its starting price to exceed the top-of-the-line Ranger Lariat (currently priced at around $40,000). It’ll also likely align with competitors such as the Chevy Colorado ZR2 and the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.


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WLANs - News, Features, and Slideshows
Even though Meraki made a name for itself in cloud-based WLANs, Cisco's long-term goals for its new acquisition go beyond just Wi-Fi.
When the annual Sundance Film Festival lands in Park City, Utah, the movers and shakers of Hollywood demand a lot more wireless capacity than the mountain town of 8,000 residents normally needs.
With an eye to letting people link more devices and displays without using cables, the Wireless Gigabit Alliance plans to bring DisplayPort technology into its specification.
Juniper Networks is expected to soon announce that it is acquiring wireless LAN player Trapeze Networks from parent Belden in a move that will expand Juniper’s enterprise portfolio.
- Toyota funds AI research to build autonomous cars
- Uber links to sensitive ride data now expire after 48 hours
- Connected homes, smartwatches and gaming PCs dominate IFA in Berlin
- Dropbox's head of enterprise says collaboration will set it apart
- Microsoft kills off some of Nokia's apps for Windows Phone
- AOL acquires Millennial Media to bolster in-app and mobile smarts
- The 7 common mistakes marketing leaders are still making
- How Greenstone is uniting IT/marketing in the name of audience management
- Rakuten Marketing chalks up rapid Aussie digital advertising growth
- Paid endorsements get Xbox One marketer in trouble with FTC

domain: news


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According to press release sent out today, Nordic Games has officially acquired the de Blob IP from THQ. The email blast stated that Nordic Games has closed an asset purchase agreement with THQ to acquire the IP.
Reinhard Pollice, the Business and Product Development Director at Nordic Games, stated that “de Blob is just a great and truly unique franchise” and that they were “excited about what the future holds for this polychromatic extravaganza as the newest addition to [their] portfolio”.
de Blob is a unique 3D platformed game that centers its gameplay around color.
de Blob is currently available on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PC.


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For the Third Time, U.S. News Ranks HughesNet among Best Internet Service Providers Overall
Germantown, MD, June 8, 2022 – HughesNet®, the leading satellite internet service, has been recognized as the Best Rural Internet Provider of 2022 and Best Satellite Internet Provider of 2022 by U.S. News & World Report 360 Reviews. U.S. News cites that nationwide availability and customer-friendly service plans differentiate HughesNet from its competitors. The flagship high-speed satellite internet service from Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), was previously named the Best Satellite Internet Provider of 2021 and 2021-22.
“The selection of HughesNet as the Best Rural and Satellite Internet Provider by U.S. News recognizes our dedication to providing vital internet connections throughout rural America,” said Peter Gulla, senior vice president, Hughes. “We invented satellite internet 25 years ago and continue improving our service to meet our customers’ changing needs. We’re proud to be recognized for our accomplishments.”
HughesNet reaches areas that cable and wire-line providers have largely bypassed, connecting more than a million consumers and businesses across the Americas. HughesNet introduced new service plans with fifty percent more data earlier this year to serve customers better.
Additionally, Hughes is a proud participant in the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program that helps ensure eligible households have the high-speed internet they need. “We remain committed to helping connect new and existing HughesNet customers facing financial hardships through this essential, federally funded program,” Gulla added.
HughesNet was named a top internet service provider due to being one of the most widely available internet service providers in the U.S. and its powerful added features compared to other satellite ISPs. According to the U.S. News review, HughesNet features, including its video data saver, usage tracker, and Bonus Zone offering, are among the benefits that differentiate it from competitors. HughesNet was also recognized as a preferred service provider in rural areas due to its presence where other providers do not operate.
The company’s upcoming JUPITER™ 3 ultra-high density satellite will enable higher-speed service plans of up to 100 Mbps down.
U.S. News’ online guide features in-depth information on choosing an internet service provider and covers a range of topics, including price and connection types. U.S. News evaluated internet service providers based on cost, speed, and reliability. U.S. News’ 360 Reviews team applied an unbiased methodology that includes professional ratings and reviews, consumer ratings and reviews, and research comparing various features of internet service providers.
For more information about HughesNet, visit www.HughesNet.com.


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Research In Motion, the company behind the Blackberry line of devices has finally surpassed 10,000 available apps. The funny part? They barely made an announcement about the accomplishment.
The Blackberry App World launched a year and a half ago, 6 months after Apple launched the iPhone App Store. To put the numbers into perspective, Apple has over 250,000 apps currently available, while the Android Market reached that mark by fall 2009, approximately one year after launching.
It should be noted that various factors have led to slower app growth development among Blackberry developers. For one, the program is a business device which has just recently gained consumer appeal with touchscreen based Smartphones and other new features being added to the mix. Another reason for the slow app community growth also stems from the companies BlackBerry OS being notoriously hard to develop for which has scared away even some of the most seasoned, top developers. Blackberry policy protocols have also scared away developers.
RIM may however soon see a pick up in App developments as they have promised that their new Java SDK for Blackberry 6 will make it more simply to develop programs for the device, although the last of a 3D graphics card may still scare away most game developers.
Here are some other factors that have hindered App development for Blackberry devices according to Electronista:
RIM has also made unusual choices that have discouraged app sales. It didn’t begin preloading App World on any phone until the Torch and left many customers unaware that the store even existed; it was previously an optional download. Until 2.0, the portal also lacked accounts to port paid apps to a new phone or any way to pay for an app beyond PayPal. A decision to require prices of $3 or higher for paid apps also guaranteed that many cross-platform titles would cost the most on a BlackBerry or wouldn’t be ported at all.
Would you be willing to buy more apps for your Blackberry device if they were made available at low enough prices? Let us know your thoughts about the Blackberry App fiasco.


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Friday, August 29, 2008
Coke testing 100-flavor fountain
In America, we're always looking for extra choices and Coke is ready to test our tastebuds with a fountain of 100 flavors. From the AJC article
The new dispenser, which fits in about the same space as a current eight-valve machine, uses high-concentrate ingredients to store more beverages. Adding a new brand is about as easy as changing a print cartridge,” the company said in a press release.
Innovation is our lifeblood, said Chris Lowe, president of the Coca-Cola North America food service and on-premise division, and we wanted a dispenser that offers consumers greater beverage variety while helping our customers increase beverage profitability.
The article doesn't specify how the flavors will be categorized, I.E.-a vanilla button- with three variatons, or 100 seperate buttons, but the end result should offer a refreshing change from the 6-8 choices we've been accustomed to.
How can Coke's strategy apply to online marketing? It follows a simple but often forgotten virtue in marketing-choice is almost always a good thing. That's why Android's Market, which allows anyone to register an app, may prove more appealing than the App Store.
There is one inherent risk when you offer more choices- customers may just opt for the same familiar choices they grew up with. A timely example American presidential politics, where a viable-third party candidate rarely emerges because people take comfort in the old,familiar system.Until they're convinced the third choice is worth a shot, they'll stick to their old habits. We'll just have to wait and see how the drinkers vote.
Enjoy a fun and safe Labor Day Weekend!
By Matt O'Hern at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)


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Two numbers stand out so far from 2021 for McLaren Automotive: 10 and 100. Ten is the number of years since McLaren Automotive launched.
As for 100, that is the total number of McLaren retailers throughout the world now, with the latest opening in China: a country that is increasingly focussed on supercar ownership.
To celebrate these milestones, the company hosted the Pure McLaren Portimao Festival at the home of the Portuguese Grand Prix. Over three days, friends and fans of the marque were able to sample various models that make up the range on the exhilarating Algarve International Circuit, which perfectly showcases the capabilities of each McLaren’s chassis and engine.


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Media headlines about SpartanNash (NASDAQ:SPTN) have trended somewhat positive this week, Accern Sentiment reports. The research group scores the sentiment of press coverage by reviewing more than 20 million news and blog sources. Accern ranks coverage of public companies on a scale of -1 to 1, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. SpartanNash earned a news sentiment score of 0.08 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave media headlines about the company an impact score of 46.8482886462943 out of 100, meaning that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the company’s share price in the next several days.
These are some of the media headlines that may have effected Accern Sentiment Analysis’s scoring:
- SpartanNash (SPTN) Announces Stock Repurchase Plan (americanbankingnews.com)
- SpartanNash jumps after launching new buyback program (seekingalpha.com)
- SpartanNash Company Expected to Post FY2017 Earnings of $2.12 Per Share (SPTN) (americanbankingnews.com)
- SpartanNash Announces Share Repurchase Program (finance.yahoo.com)
- SpartanNash Company to Post FY2017 Earnings of $2.10 Per Share, Jefferies Group Forecasts (SPTN) (americanbankingnews.com)
A number of equities analysts have recently commented on SPTN shares. Zacks Investment Research downgraded SpartanNash from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, August 19th. Pivotal Research set a $20.00 price objective on SpartanNash and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. ValuEngine downgraded SpartanNash from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, September 1st. Jefferies Group LLC set a $25.00 price objective on SpartanNash and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 11th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded SpartanNash from a “b-” rating to a “c-” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the stock. The company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $23.20.
Shares of SpartanNash (NASDAQ SPTN) traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $22.82. The company had a trading volume of 246,448 shares, compared to its average volume of 227,949. The stock has a market cap of $843.69, a P/E ratio of 9.50, a P/E/G ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a current ratio of 1.81, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. SpartanNash has a 1-year low of $18.56 and a 1-year high of $40.38.
SpartanNash (NASDAQ:SPTN) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 8th. The company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.54. The business had revenue of $1.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.90 billion. SpartanNash had a negative return on equity of 67.84% and a negative net margin of 6.47%. The company’s revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.53 EPS. equities research analysts expect that SpartanNash will post 2.16 EPS for the current year.
SpartanNash announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Thursday, November 16th that allows the company to buyback $50.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.
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SpartanNash Company Profile
SpartanNash Company is a multi-regional grocery distributor and grocery retailer. The Company’s core businesses include distributing grocery products to independent grocery retailers (independent retailers), select national retailers, its corporate owned retail stores, and the United States military commissaries.
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In 2013, two of the most storied media institutions in the United States were sold at going-out-of-business-sale prices: Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million, while Boston Red Sox owner John Henry purchased The Boston Globe for $70 million. The New York Times Company paid $1.1 billion for the Globe in 1993. To give you some idea of how the media landscape has shifted in the past decade and a half: Spotify recently agreed to pay $100 million to be the exclusive platform for Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.
Between 2008 and 2018, newspaper advertising revenue collapsed from $37.8 billion to $14.3 billion, newsroom employment fell from 71,000 to 38,000, and circulation plummeted from around 50 million per day to less than 25 million. While it’s clear that traditional media is never going to be the same, the success of alternative media like The Joe Rogan Experience is a reminder that the demand for content isn’t disappearing – it’s just taking a different form. Since 2008, the proportion of Americans who say they’ve listened to a podcast in the past month surged from 9 percent to 41 percent, while 28 percent say they’ve listened to one in the past week. In 2008, just 12 percent of Americans said they’d listened to any form of online audio within the preceding week – a proportion that has jumped to 62 percent.
It’s no surprise that legacy media outlets are investing in their own podcast platforms – while around 2 million unique weekly visitors downloaded NPR podcasts in 2014, that number spiked to almost 14 million by 2020. There are plenty of lessons established media outlets can learn from the world of podcasting. As anyone who worked in a newsroom at some point over the past several years will tell you, one of the dogmas that has emerged in the media industry since the collapse in ad revenue is the idea that consumers no longer want longform content. But it’s clear that this isn’t the case – as I write, the most recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience is an interview with the standup comedian Eleanor Kerrigan, and it clocks in at almost four hours. Meanwhile, longform journalism podcasts like Serial – which dedicates an entire season to covering a single story – have proven to be extremely popular.
In 2015, The New York Times had 1.3 million digital subscribers – a number that reached 7 million by the first quarter of 2021. Between 2019 and 2020, The Atlantic added 300,000 subscriptions. Other legacy outlets – including those that focus on longform content, such as The New Yorker – have seen their subscriptions increase significantly over the past several years. Meanwhile, the newsletter service Substack now has more than 500,000 subscribers and its top ten writers collectively bring in more than $15 million per year. It’s clear that media consumers are more than willing to pay for high-quality content, and their attention spans aren’t as limited as many editors and publishers used to think.
Earlier this summer, I wrote a post about how startlingly easy it is for inaccurate information to spread online. In 2018, MIT researchers found that falsehoods were 70 percent more likely to be shared on Twitter than facts, while fake news reached people six times faster than legitimate stories. One of the reasons fake news is so stubborn is the fact that outlets are desperate for on-demand content and willing to settle for articles that depend on secondhand information from blog posts and other articles scattered around the Internet. Rather than taking the time to conduct original research, writers all too often repurpose content that was published elsewhere. As I noted in my post, this can lead to falsehoods getting recycled again and again.
With the ever-increasing need for content and the ever-shifting economics of the media industry, many writers and editors have convinced themselves that high-quality, in-depth work isn’t worth the investment. This has never been true in our experience – clients have repeatedly expressed their willingness to invest in well-researched, original longform content. While it’s difficult to know what the next few years will hold for the rapidly evolving media industry, there are good reasons to believe that this demand is only going to become stronger.
Credits: Matt Johnson, writer; Pixabay, image


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- Papas en el Menudeo
- Bangladesh Retailers still charge higher than govt-set price of potato
Potato was sold for Tk 42 to Tk 48 a kg in retail markets in the capital yesterday, a day after the government fixed the retail price at Tk 35.
Both retailers and wholesalers blamed poor supply for the higher prices.
Visiting Jatrabari kitchen market, this correspondent found that potato was being sold for Tk 42 to Tk 48 a kg.
Sharif Ahmed, Schoolteacher:
“I saw a TV report last night [Tuesday night]. It said the government has fixed the retail price of potato at Tk 35 a kg. But they [retailers] are asking for Tk 44 or more.”
Swapan Mia, a retailer at the kitchen market, said he bought potato from Shyambazar wholesale market for Tk 38 a kg yesterday. He said he must have to sell the vegetable for Tk 44 a kg to make a profit.
Rabiul, a wholesaler at Karwan Bazar, said he received two truckloads of potatoes from a cold storage yesterday against his demand of eight truckloads of the tuber.
Shah Alam, another wholesaler at the market, said he received only one truckload of potatoes from a cold storage yesterday.
Shah Alam, another wholesaler at the market:
“The supply is quite poor against the demand.”
Alam, however, claimed that the wholesale price has dropped to Tk 34 a kg.
“Tomorrow [today], the wholesale price might be go down to Tk 30 a kg.”
Giving in to businessmen's demand, the Department of Agriculture Marketing (DAM) on Tuesday increased the price of potato by Tk 5 to Tk 35 per kg for retailers.
For wholesalers, the price was fixed at Tk 30 a kg and Tk 27 at the gate of cold storages.
Earlier on October 7, the DAM had fixed the potato price at Tk 30 at retail level and Tk 25 for wholesalers. It also set the price at Tk 23 per for selling the vegetable at the gate of cold storages.
After holding a meeting with businessmen at his office in Khamarbari on Tuesday night, DAM Director-General Mohammad Yusuf said they increased the price following a demand from businessmen.
According to the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA), 85 lakh tonnes of potatoes were produced in the country this year. But only 40 lakh tonnes were preserved in cold storages due to transport and labor crisis amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
About 55 percent of 40 lakh tonnes of potatoes have already been sold in the market. Of the remaining amount, 10 lakh tonnes are seed potatoes which will be used for cultivation next month.
Sources said the newly harvested potatoes are supposed to hit the market by the end of December as the cultivation was delayed due to flooding.


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Manufacturing industries in Nigeria have been given access to foreign exchange valued at over $660million in the inter-bank market to source raw materials and spare parts for their industries courtesy of the interbank forex market.
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s acting Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, in a statement on Monday said that the measure by the CBN was in line with its promise to ease foreign exchange pressure on manufacturing and agricultural businesses through forward sales under the new flexible forex regime.
He said that the sum sourced by the manufacturers was to facilitate the procurement of raw materials for agricultural, pharmaceutical, automobile, aviation, plant and machinery, power, telecommunications, and printing, among others.
He said, “The CBN is committed to ensuring that manufacturers of goods for which Nigeria does not enjoy comparative advantage are able to get letters of credit (LCs) to import the required materials for their businesses.”
The measure is coming after Erisco Foods Limited announced the closing down of its N4billion tomato paste processing plant in Oregun, Lagos State.
The Company’s President, Eric Umeofia, said it was closing down its 450,000 tonnes tomato plant, sacking 1,500 workers and moving its operations to China.
Umeofia has said the decision was due to the refusal of CBN to allocate Forex to the company for importation of raw materials
Okorafor said that since the CBN introduced restrictions on the sourcing of Forex for 41 items from the inter-bank market, the move had greatly benefited local manufacturers in the country.
He urged manufacturers to take advantage of the policy which would enable Nigeria to reclaim its status as a major producer of goods through backward integration initiatives.
According to him, this will necessary push to Nigeria to conserve billions of forex being spent on import bills annually.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.


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Local services marketplace Airtasker has released its annual consumer trends report, analysing data from millions of tasks completed across the marketplace. The data shows how the events of 2023 have significantly impacted what Aussies have turned to the flex economy for support.
With everything from cleaning, moving or maintenance to odd jobs like waiting in line, Aussies have made money doing things that would definitely make for an interesting dinner table conversation.
The report reveals the most in-demand tasks on Airtasker year to date for 2023, as well as the average task price Aussies were earning.
Top 10 Task Categories of 2023
Throughout 2023, Aussies have mostly turned to Airtasker for regular household tasks, general maintenance for vehicles and gardening tasks, and pick-up and delivery requests for customers who lack the right tools (i.e., a van) or time to carry out the delivery themselves.
|Average task price
|Pick-up and delivery
Odd jobs and unexpected trends of 2023
Outside of regular household tasks, we’ve also seen Aussies make money on Airtasker doing odd jobs. Here’s a roundup of the tasks that have caught our attention throughout 2023!
Lining up at a limited edition dessert pop-up
From getting desserts to concert tickets and getting flagship devices, customers have asked Taskers to line up on their behalf.
Tasker Rose pocketed $180 waiting in line for the Pistachio Papi x Son of a Baker desserts. This was one of many queue line-up tasks on the platform throughout the year. People have posted for line-up tasks at the Cinnabon, Lune Croissant pop-ups and in digital queues for Taylor Swift tickets.
Pick-up and delivery of a wallet
If only you could call someone when you forgot to bring something important when you’re already out and far away from home. Well, one customer was put in a similar spot.
Martin left his wallet in Newcastle with his house keys but was already back in Sydney. He paid Tasker Jamie $120 to pick up and deliver them to him.
Conducting property inspections
The rental crisis is driving Aussies to do everything and anything to sift through as many properties as possible. There have been hundreds of tasks on Airtasker where people have booked Taskers to do a property walk-through on their behalf and send them a full report with images and video references after the inspection.
Animal lovers have also made money watching over furry friends while their owners are away, with this category booming throughout 2023.
New data from Airtasker revealed an increase in the number of people using the platform for pet sitting, with a 52 per cent increase in the past six months. The busiest month for pet minding tasks posted was January during the holidays.
Another year wrapped up, and it’s been a productive one for both Airtasker customers checking off tasks and Taskers showing off their skills and doing what they love. It’s safe to expect, and hope the marketplace continues to buzz with activity.


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Water pours over the dam on Jones Mill Run in Laurel Hill State Park. If fewer people are exploring the outdoors these days, those that remain active are spending lots of money.
We hear all the time about how people, and young people especially, don’t look to the outdoors for recreation like they once did.
Sadly, it’s all true enough.
But, the people who do go outside to play are spending money. And they’re expected to spend more this year than last.
Recently, the American Recreation Coalition put out a report looking at what happened in 2015 and making some predictions for this year. It’s pretty positive, if you’re a retailer of outdoor goods.
According to the report, Americans spend more than $650 billion annually on equipment ranging from skis and tents to RVs and boats and on services ranging from fishing licenses to zip lines. All that supports millions of jobs in manufacturing, sales and service, it said.
Visitation to National Parks is behind some of that. It was up by 3.66 percent last year.
State parks draw people, too, though. The report estimated visitors at more than 740 million last year, an increase of 12 million over 2014. More than 50 million of those people camped.
The report made no mention of hunting or shooting sports – why those are often overlooked in these kinds of efforts is a mystery – but did look at some other specific categories.
The number of recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles sold last year was up, continuing a trend, the report added. Fishing was again a big draw, as well. Nearly 46 million Americans 6 and older – about 16 percent of the entire country — fished last year, a number the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation hopes to grow to 60 million by 2021.
Boat sales – while not yet back to their post-recession high – were up 6 percent and are expected to go up another 5 percent this year, the report said.
Sales of bicycles increased, as did revenues associated with whitewater rafting, kayaking and paddlesports.
The report said manufacturers and retailers are optimistic that all of that growth will continue this year.
That would be nice, wouldn’t it?
We all go to the woods and waters to relax and have fun, and sometimes solitude — or at least solitude with our own group — is a part of what we seek.
But the more people advocating for wild places and wild resources the better. So let’s hope for some company out there.


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Wednesday 31st October 2018
Z I is delighted to have been placed 26th in the 2018 Fast Growth 50 list.
We have beaten off competition from over 250,000 other companies in Wales to secure this place.
This year is the Fast Growth 50 20th anniversary and will be the biggest award to date, over 900 people attended the gala dinner this year at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.
The 2018 Fast Growth 50 award has been published by the Western Mail, in association with Enlli Associates and the 2018 list can be found here: https://www.fastgrowth50.com/
We offer competitive rates and money-saving deals. Click the button below to select and reserve your vehicle with no up front deposit.Book Now


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Early this morning, HTC’s Jason Mackenzie and Drew Bamford took the stage live from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to announce the newest addition to the One smartphone family: the One A9. Available in the first week of November “globally”, the One A9 seems as though it’s going to target the...
- New orders for the Tesla Model 3 now moved out to October, indicates strong Aussie sales August 17, 2019
- Model 3 invoices are going out to New Zealand customers August 16, 2019
- Next Level Racing went next level with the Traction Plus Platform for hardcore sim racing August 16, 2019
- Google Assistant will allow you to set reminders for other family members August 15, 2019
- BP transitioning Service Stations to fast-charging EV locations August 15, 2019


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Jamie's Italian restaurants in the United Kingdom have also suffered, dropping in numbers from a peak of 42 restaurants to 25, which Jon Knight, the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group chief executive, attributed to soaring rents and rates...
Global food and facilities management firm Aramark has partnered with Jamie Oliver in a deal that will see the restaurant group's food concepts put into offices and workplaces..
Pty Ltd collapsed on Monday, with the company being placed in the hands of voluntary administrators less than 12 months after the British celebrity chef visited Australia to relaunch the six local restaurants bearing his name.
Oliver past year spoke of "dreams come true" and a "happy ending" when he stepped in to become the owner of the Jamie's Italian chain in Australia. Oliver's businesses have been struggling to restructure their way out of debts of £71.5 million ($126 million).
In March, the chief executive of the United Kingdom business said the company had struggled because it had "rested on its laurels" as more quick service retail businesses entered the British market.
According to the statement, Jamie's Italian Canberra will close "with immediate effect" and their five other national locations will be taken over by the Brisbane-based Hallmark Group.
"The team brings a huge amount of experience and passion for our brand, from collaborating with the key suppliers to our food philosophy", the spokesperson said.


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This event is open for all professionals interested or currently working in Starups in Hanoi, or supply chai professionals in Hanoi, or who are interested in looking for business collaboration for U.S. market through meeting with a delegation of Baylor University (U.S.), Executive Master Program.
Ferguson Global is seeking a Sourcing / Business Development Manager to assist in our Southeast Asia sourcing expansion. This position will report directly to our Regional Manager based in Taiwan and work closely with our staff at Ferguson Enterprises, LLC headquarters in Newport News, VA, USA.
The Project Manager (PMO) is a highly visible role that is responsible for driving the transformation activities for Singapore Replenishment Center (SRC) and 3rd party service providers’ warehouses migration from current location to a new location. This leader will lead cross-functional internal and external resources and has overall accountability of the execution and performance of projects and transformation initiatives.
Manage DC daily operation activities at warehouse facility. To ensure strict execution of the SOP and meet KPIs.
Sugar imports from Laos make domestic manufacturers tremble
The Vietnam Sugar and Sugar Cane Association (VSSA) has protested against the plan by Hoang Anh Gia Lai group to sell 30,000 tons of sugar it made in Laos to the Bien Hoa Sugar JSC.
Nguyen Van Loc, Deputy Chair of Bien Hoa JSC, on November 20 confirmed that the company plans to import raw sugar from Laos to process for the export to China. However, Loc said that the two sides have not discussed detailed plans yet to implement the idea.
Analysts said that Bien Hoa JSC wants to import raw sugar for domestic refining because the raw sugar made by the company’s factory in Tay Ninh province and the raw imports still are not enough for the sugar refinery.
Imports will make situation worse
Meanwhile, VSSA’s Chair Nguyen Thanh Long said the association has sent a dispatch to the Prime Minister and relevant ministries and branches to protest the sugar import plan.
“We protest against the plan, because the import will badly affect the domestic sugar industry,” Long said.
According to Long, the inventories remain very high, while the new sugar cane harvesting season nears. Meanwhile, sugar from Thailand and some neighboring countries has been smuggled across the border gates.
In such conditions, the imports from Laos would make the oversupply more serious. Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s raw products are believed to have the production costs lower by VND7-8 million per ton than the domestic products.
“In Vietnam, the expenses for one ton of material sugar cane are p to VND1 million per ton, while the figure is just hundreds of thousands of dong in Laos,” Long explaining, adding that Vietnamese products cannot be competitive in price.
What Long is most worried about is that if Bien Hoa JSC is allowed to import raw sugar to refine for export to China, other Vietnamese companies would follow the move. If so, the sugar industry and millions of sugar cane growers would suffer.
According to VSSA’s Deputy Chair Ha Huu Phai, Bien Hoa JSC has been granted the quota to import 20,000 tons of sugar out of the total 73,500 tons.
Businesses need to optimize profits
According to Loc from Bien Hoa JSC, in previous years, Bien Hoa imported 50,000-70,000 tons of raw sugar for domestic processing and export. However, it still needs some 40,000 tons more to run the refinery at full capacity.
Therefore, Bien Hoa plans to import raw sugar made by Hoang Anh Gia Lai in Laos. This would benefit both Bien Hoa JSC and Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, while this would not badly affect the domestic production.
Replying to the criticism by VSSA, Doan Nguyen Duc, Chair of Hoang Anh Gia Lai said it is unreasonable to say that the imports from Laos would harm the domestic sugar industry.
According to Duc, domestically made products must not be exported. If Bien Hoa wants to buy raw sugar for processing, it needs to choose the products which can be exported.
When asked why Hoang Anh Gia Lai does not export sugar to China and Europe as initially planned, Duc said the group would target many different markets.
“We will sell our products to the partners who offer the best prices,” he said.


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Like A Bolt Of Lightning: Samsung NX300
Like a bolt of lightning Samsung’s snazzy cam unveiled yesterday, takes 8.6 frames per second.
And bolt by nature, Bolt by name, as Samsung announced the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt has backed the “hero” Smart NX300 premium compact system camera (CSC), unveiled at Sydney’s Opera House yesterday.
NX300 has WiFi, NFC, is light and pretty snazzy looking (comes in retro-look brown or white), shoots 3D pics and Full HD video, with the help of Samsung’s new 2D/3Dlens, and is suitable for the budding photographer who wants to capture professional pics.
The performance of NX 300, in the compact camera category is challenging DSLRs, said Craig Gillespie, Samsung, Head of Digital Imaging, at yesterday’s launch.
Gillespie also noted the “synergy” between the fastest man in the world and NX300, which he says is “incredibly fast”, and available from this week.
Costing $899, NX300 has a decent sized 3.31″AMOLED touchscreen and tilt display – so good for angle shots, Smart Mode with 14 settings, including Beauty Face, Creative Shot, Sunset, Night, Fireworks.
Samsung let journos play around with the camera yesterday around the Opera House with some hilarious results, but all were impressed with the new Smart camera lineup.
You can shoot 3D shots and full HD 3D movies on the one lens, as Samsung unveiled its first ever NX 45mm F1.8 2D/3D interchangeable lens, although that will cost you another $499.
The NX 300 includes a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS III lens and free Adobe Lightroom 4 editing software, however.
Apart from the hero NX300 there’s also the NX2000 (out In June, no pricing available) along with NX20 in Samsung Smart Camera 2.0 line up for 2013.
Both NX300 and NX2000 also have an updated version of Smart Camera 2.0 connectivity hub, that allow users to share, edit photos between smartphone, tablet, PC (iOS, Android only) via WiFi, so you can back up images via a single click of the Direct Link hot key.
You upload pics to social networks Facebook, Instagram and the cloud in a jiffy, and a HDMI connection to view them on a big screen TV.
Both smart cams have 20.3 Megapixel APS-CMOS sensor capable of capturing high quality images in most lighting conditions, DRIMe IV engine, Auto Focus (AF) for accurate phase detection, 1/6000 sec shutter speed and up to 8.6 frames per second in continuous shooting mode.
It does 10fps on burst mode but means slightly lower res.
The Near Field Communication (NFC) technology pairs the smart camera with another NFC ready device like a smartphone by tapping them together.
“Following last year’s launch of the GALAXY Camera and the Smart Camera 2.0 family earlier this year, we are excited to bring the new NX300and NX2000 cameras into Australia,” said Craig Gillespie, Head of Digital Imaging, Samsung Australia.
“Both cameras are designed to combine high imaging performance whilst allowing the camera user to easily edit, share and back up images.”
The NX300 has won a bunch of gongs at 2013 TIPA Awards including ‘Best CSC Advanced’, ‘Best Mobile Imaging Device’, ‘Best Imaging Innovation’ and ‘Best Photo TV’.
There are 12 different interchangeable lenses in the NX family including the new 45mm 2D/3D lens, all available here.


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This post originally appeared on Northeastern Global News. It was published by Alena Kuzub.
Heightened public attention to racial justice after the murder of George Floyd led to a noticeable change in how racial diversity in TV advertisements affects potential consumer spending, a study finds.
Northeastern researchers Koen Pauwels, distinguished professor of marketing, and Yakov Bart, associate professor of marketing, measured the effect of racially diverse TV ads on consumer purchase intentions (average willingness to purchase a product or a service) in collaboration with co-authors, Gijs Overgoor from the Rochester Institute of Technology and Gokhan Yildirim from Imperial College London.
“Television remains a significant and influential medium for consumer persuasion,” Bart says. “And there has been a lot of conversation in the media industry about the importance of responding to the desire of consumers to see more racial diversity in media content.”


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Posted May 15th, 2013 by The Herald
Hartmann’s Rock Hill operations is investing $18 million in manufacturing equipment and hiring as many as 75 new workers.
Hartmann, which produces a range of products to treat wounds and manage incontinence, has operated a distribution center at TechPark off Dave Lyle Boulevard for about 20 years.
Posted October 22nd, 2012 by Area Development Magazine
South Carolina is on a roll — the Palmetto State brought in a total investment of $3.37 billion from new and expanding businesses in 2011. Manufacturing is also on the mend, with total exports up by 21 percent last year. These are just some of the reasons South Carolina was ranked second by the consultants among the Top States for Doing Business, up from fourth place in 2011. Read More
Posted August 20th, 2012 by CNN Money
Median home price: $119,000
Median family income: $56,090
When Rock Hill's textile jobs were shipped overseas, it was forced to diversify into other businesses. Good thing it did. The town has seen an uptick in hiring lately, especially in professional and business services, like call centers.
Posted June 13th, 2012 by Area Development Magazine
These states' innovative economic development policies attracted new employers in 2011, as well as catalyzing investments in facility and operating expansions by existing local businesses, driving significant in-state job growth.
Area Development Magazine Special Presentation (Summer 2012)
Posted June 4th, 2012 by Other
Upstate region rated state's friendliest towards small business
San Francisco, CA: Today Thumbtack.com, in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation, has released new data showing that small businesses gave South Carolina mostly high marks. The state earned an 'A' for the business-friendliness of its regulatory system, though it did receive a 'C+' for the availability of its networking and training programs. Within South Carolina, the Upstate region's small businesses were the financially healthiest - and the region was rated as the most friendly towards small businesses.
Posted October 20th, 2011 by The Herald
Rock Hill has been chosen as a "showcase city" by the National League of Cities, which cited the planned Riverwalk development and its world-class cycling center.
Rock Hill was one of six cities highlighted in the group's economic development category and will be featured as a model at the organization's event in November.
Other winners included a flexible incentive program in Boulder, Colo.; the Potosi Brewery Restoration in Potosi, Wisc., and Virginia Beach as a green destination.


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IMAGE-conscious women spend more than twice as much money every year on looking good than they do on feeling good, reveals a new study.
Research showed that British women splurge more than £10 BILLION annually on the latest cosmetics and hair products.
Even though the public are willing to pay-up for makeup items, staying fit and attending regular medical check-ups aren’t at the top of everyone’s agenda.
The study, which was commissioned by Oasis Dental Care, found that British women were more likely to splurge on their looks than their health.
Clinical Director Eddie Coyle said: “While 60% of people told us that they believe it’s more important to feel healthy than look good, they also told us they’d be more likely to spend their last £30 on new clothes than a dental check-up, which suggests we love our looks more than we love our health.
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Brits only spend £124.36 each per year on dental treatments, including regular check-ups.
To put this into perspective, the women polled spent an average of £95.94 annually on make-up, and a further £162.52 on looking after their hair – including cuts, serums and shampoos.
Men spend half that amount on haircare, paying out £85.99 each a year.
One in five respondents confessed that their primary motivation for using a gym is looking good, over maintaining their health.
And more than 80 per cent have ignored a physical ailment in the hope that that it would just get better on its own.
More than a third of Brits say they don’t bother visiting the dentist annually, and twice that many dodge visiting the optician.
Eddie added: “Taking the time and spending a bit more money on dental and medical check-ups could prevent much more painful and expensive outlays further down the line.
“Also your smile will be one of the first things people notice about you.
“We’ve created ‘Oasis Basics’ so that customers can get the best of both worlds for their dental treatment.
“It’s an alternative option between NHS and full private dental care.”
He added: “It’s difficult to look your best if you’re not feeling your best – so hopefully our research will get people thinking about what’s really important in life.”


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Lexus is still aiming to take the throne of the U.S. luxury automobile market, a position that it forfeited in 2011. But it’s aiming to do so without a weapon in its arsenal that for its competition has proven to be very valuable: a car at or under $30,000.
Historically, when one thinks of nameplates like Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz, it often conjures imagery of large luxo-barges that boast a city block-sized footprint, a hot tub, and a helicopter pad. Though that may be exaggerating just slightly, the point is this: Luxury has long been synonymous with size, and that matters because those same brands have now pinned their volume growth aspirations on some pretty small and compact vehicles.
For Audi, it’s the A3. Previously only available stateside in a hatchback form, Audi re-introduced the model for 2015 as a compact sedan, and the results have been nothing short of spectacular. Through the first nine months of 2014, sales for Audi rose 14.7%, and the A3 accounted for 17,049 of the 146,133 units sold in that time, despite only being released in the Spring.
That’s enough to put a bite in sales of Mercedes’ new CLA, a brand new car that for the first time brings a new Benz under $30,000 (or the historical equivalent) off the showroom floor, though just barely, at $29,900. Taxes and options will push it over $30,000. Like the A3, the CLA has done exactly what it was meant to do: blow open the wallets of younger buyers who now see it as a choice between a Benz and its tri-star badge or, say, a nicely loaded Toyota Camry. For most, that’s a pretty straight forward decision.
But Lexus doesn’t have a comparable vehicle, a volume model that appeals to both younger styles and younger wallets. The closest they have is the CT hybrid, picture above, which begins at a reasonable sounding $32,050 before destination. But rather than a perky 2.0 liter turbo or a torquey diesel engine, the CT is a hybrid, and it’s a bit of a task to get the younger generations to shell out over $30,000 for what many consider to be a Prius in a nice suit.
But Lexus is seemingly convinced that it doesn’t need a sub-$30,000 model in order to not only effectively compete, but actually surpass others in the luxury space and again take the reins on the American premium market. Currently, sales for Lexus — which are up 14% on the year — sit at 244,038 units, while BMW has moved 267,193 vehicles and Mercedes-Benz has delivered 261,804.
“From a product research standpoint, what you’ll see is us not heading downstream, but heading upstream,” Jeff Bracken, the U.S. general manager for Lexus, told Bloomberg on Monday following a speech at the Automotive Press Association. “That makes it more difficult, right? Because there’s certainly good volume below $30,000,” he added. “But there’s nothing easy about this business. For Lexus to be truly a luxury division, we need think of ourselves above $30,000, not below it.”
Bracken raises a pretty valid point. As luxury companies move south into more fiscally accessible vehicles, they risk watering down their brand image as the gap between them and more conventional vehicles narrows. The smaller cars, though better volume sellers, also carry smaller margins. But it doesn’t seem like they’ve had a huge effect on the brand’s image — Mercedes is selling more S Class sedans than ever before, despite the presence of the CLA.
Another venue for entry-level luxury is the compact crossover, a segment which is seeing explosive growth even in the luxury field. Mercedes has the GLA, Audi has the Q3, BMW is supposedly working on an “X2,” and even Lexus is joining the fray with the NX — the first Lexus-badged vehicle to come equipped with a turbo.
This indicates that while Lexus is concerned with heading too low, it’s not leaving the low end out in the cold and relying on its margin- and profit-heavy SUVs and large sedans. Clearly, the affordable end is still worth Lexus’ time and investment, especially for bringing new buyers into the fold.


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ITV merger set to go ahead
SHAREHOLDERS in ITV companies Granada and Carlton Communications today approved a £4.5bn merger that will create a single new ITV company.
At a meeting at London's Queen Elizabeth II conference centre this afternoon, Granada shareholders voted by 98.48% in favour of the deal, with 0.03% voting against.
Earlier today, Carlton shareholders voted by 99.9% to approve the merger, which will take effect on 2 February if the High Court approves arrangements for the deal at the end of this month.
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Small business owners are constantly besieged by tasks that pull them away from the major day-to-day duties inherent in running a successful business. Those tasks can include:
Task 1: Upgrading contact information to directory services
Task 2: Paying miscellaneous invoices
Task 3: Reimbursing customers for overpayments
Task 4: Updating software and passwords
Task 5: Responding to award notifications
Task 6: Checking email
Those seemingly mundane tasks can disrupt the flow of business, and are most often not given the focus they deserve.
And that’s just what scam artists are banking on.
To help small business owners—especially direct sellers—recognize the most common scams and safeguard themselves against fraud, the DSEF has joined forces with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) to create timely and valuable resources that DSA member companies can share with their salesforces, employees and family members.
“For the small business leader to succeed in our current economic climate, they need up-to-date and relevant resources and tools that will enable them to manage their time, finances and business wisely,” said Bettie L. Smith, Senior Program Director for DSEF. “Through our partnership with CUNA, we are developing an abundance of free financial education resources that individuals can access 24/7 in their home via the Web.”
Those resources include an informative video that identifies the six most common scams experienced by small businesses:
Directory Scheme: The free directory update is not so free after all. You’re billed for listings, services or ads you did not agree to. (Task 1)
Supply Scheme: The miscellaneous invoice you received is for office supplies you never ordered. (Task 2)
Overpayment Scheme: The customer requesting reimbursement used a fraudulent credit card or check. (Task 3)
Data Breach Scheme: The antivirus software you never installed and passwords you never updated allowed your sensitive business data to be breached. (Task 4)
Award Scheme: The industry award you just paid hundreds of dollars for does not exist. (Task 5)
Phishing Scheme: The email link you clicked on just allowed hackers into your computer system. (Task 6)
Professor Brenda Cude, Director of the University of Georgia Center on Economic Education, says the key to safeguarding your business these days is to stay focused on all aspects of your business operations.
“First and foremost we just all need to be aware and stop and think about what we’re doing,” says Cude, who is a DSEF board member and serves as the Consumer Committee Co-chair. “If we are not sure, take an extra moment to think again or ask someone else. There’s so much that appears to be legitimate today that really isn’t, and sometimes it takes another person’s opinion to help you see where the possible flaw might be.”
According to Jan Garkey, Member Education Manager for the Center for Personal Finance at CUNA, the partnership between DSEF and her organization will capitalize on each other’s strengths to reach new audiences through the exploding social media platform, including sharing personal finance articles from credit unions across the country through Facebook and Twitter. “CUNA is proud to partner with DSEF on our shared mission to improve the financial literacy of our respective members, future members and the general public. It’s exciting to see this partnership evolve.”
“DSEF and CUNA share a common goal of empowering consumers,” says Nu Skin Senior Director of Public Relations Kara Schneck, who is a DSEF board member and Consumer Committee Co-chair. “We look forward to bringing our respective strengths together to help consumers, particularly those involved in direct selling, have the information and tools they need to make wise fiscal decisions and achieve their financial goals.”
To learn more about the specific types of small-business scams and how to protect your business from fraud, view the video created by DSEF and CUNA here.


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Few weeks before launching their new Play to Earn game, Binamon’s metaverse has joined blockchain and games with the awareness of taking care of the planet.
Through their new planet Z1, millions of players will enjoy a play to earn game to mint Z1 mineral.
By minting the mineral players will help to restore the planet’s ecological balance, this is initially arid and barren. As they mint Z1 mineral the planet will restore to finally become a green valley.
This has been very welcomed by crypto community, planet Z1 has gather over a million dollar in less than 24hs.
From Binamon’s community they share:
“We love blockchain technology, decentralized finances and videogames; but we also love to make people aware about taking care of the environment and recycling”.
Through this gaming way, millions of people will be able to get involved in a decentralized world, increasing their social and working possibilities; as well as earn money via the play to earn video game and become aware of the earth.
Official Telegram: https://t.me/binamon
The post Binamon’s Z1 planet: joining blockchain technology with ecology awareness. appeared first on NullTX.
Source: null tx


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Now it's Milkybars! After Nestle changed KitKat recipe, they are slashing sugar in the white chocolate favourite
- The percentage of milk in the bars has gone up from 26 per cent to 37.5 per cent
- It means milk will now be the number one ingredient in the white chocolate bars
- It comes after the firm slashed sugar from Kit Kats by 10 per cent
The Milkybar recipe is being changed to make milk the main ingredient rather than added sugar.
The move by Nestle is in line with a pledge to cut sugar levels to tackle rising childhood obesity.
Nestle is also working on reducing sugar in other brands such as Aero, Yorkie, Rolo, Quality Street and Smarties.
Milkybars are being reformulated to make milk the main ingredient, and slash the percentage of sugar
The white chocolate Milkybar has been on shelves since 1936 and the ‘strong and tough’ Milkybar Kid, dressed as a cowboy, first appeared in adverts in 1961.
In the past the confectionery giant promoted Milkybars as a ‘delicious source of milky goodness’.
But the old recipe was 57.3 per cent sugar and just 26 per cent milk powder. The new version will be 37.5 per cent milk powder.
The sugar content of the new recipe is still high at 52.6 per cent – but this is partly due to the natural sugar found in milk.
Nestle said the reformulation would remove almost 350 tons of sugar and 130million calories from UK public consumption, part of its pledge to remove 10 per cent of sugar from its produce by 2018.
The sugar will go down from 37.5 per cent to 26 per cent, as the firm cuts the sweet stuff across its range
The changes to the Milkybar follow the introduction of a new lower sugar KitKat by Rowntree’s. Last month, the company unveiled 30 per cent reduced sugar versions of two of its best-selling products, Fruit Pastilles and Randoms.
Changes to Nestle’s chocolate bars have raised concerns that the taste will change but the firm is carrying out tests to ensure customers are happy.
The newly designed packs of Milkybars with the line ‘Milk is now our No 1 ingredient’ will appear across the full range of bars, buttons and sharing bags this month.
Nestle’s chairman, Fiona Kendrick, said: ‘We have used our strength in research and innovation to develop a great recipe that replaces some sugar with more of the existing, natural ingredient that people know and love.’
It follows the change of recipe in Kit Kats, which also had the amount of sugar cut, but which was met with some fury
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BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins and a senior Nokia executive expressed varying degrees of support for tablets. The comments are notable considering some research firms predict that tablet connections will generate billions of dollars in revenue for wireless carriers--but currently most tablet users in the United States continue to rely on Wi-Fi connections, according to the NPD Group.
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins unveiled the company's newest smartphone, the Q5 aimed at emerging markets, and said BlackBerry is in a much stronger position than it was this time last year.
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins ratcheted up expectations and brimmed with confidence over expected sales of the Q10, the company's first BlackBerry 10-based smartphone with a Qwerty keyboard, noting the company expects to sell "tens of millions" of units of the phone.
BlackBerry's shares tumbled nearly 8 percent Thursday, the most in two weeks, as financial analysts questioned the strength of early sales of the Z10, the company's flagship smartphone running its new BlackBerry 10 platform.
BlackBerry reported that in its fiscal fourth quarter, which ran until March 2, it sold 1 million units of its new flagship Z10 smartphone, the first to run its BlackBerry 10 platform. However, in a troubling sign for the company, it also said that its subscriber base fell to 76 million, down from 79 million at the end of the previous quarter and 80 million the quarter before that.
BlackBerry announced with much fanfare earlier this month that an unnamed, "established" partner placed an order for 1 million BlackBerry 10 smartphones, the company's largest single order ever. Though the company has declined to name the purchaser, it is wireless device distributor Brightstar, according to an AllThingsD report.
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins contends rival smartphone manufacturer Samsung Electronics will never be able to offer users top-grade mobile device security because of the open-source foundations of the Android mobile operating system.
BlackBerry's Z10 smartphone, running on its new BlackBerry 10 platform, makes its debut today in the U.S. market in what could either be a renaissance for the company or a last gasp attempt to plot a comeback amid declining market share.
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins said the pace of mobile innovation has left Apple in the dust, calling its iPhone user interface outdated.
AT&T Mobility said starting tomorrow it will begin taking pre-orders for the BlackBerry Z10, BlackBerry's flagship smartphone. Separately, T-Mobile USA said it will start letting enterprise customer pre-order the device as well. The actions give more traction to BlackBerry's hopes for a U.S. comeback.


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12th > February > 2008 Archive
Blue-laser alternative to Blu-ray, HD DVD launched
Mobile World CongressIt's based on blue-laser technology, but that's where the similarity between the V Media disc and both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc ends. V Media holds just 1GB of data on a disc with a diameter of about an inch and a half and a casing reminiscent of Iomega's ill-fated Clik.
Hitachi shrinks VTL bundles for mid-size folk
Hitachi Data Systems is introducing three pre-configured midrange Virtual Tape Library (VTL) packages to help coax the mainstream towards its de-duplication wares.
Hands on with the blingest flagship phones
Mobile World CongressI'm only here because of a terrible misunderstanding. When the News Editor asked if I wanted to go to "Mobile World Congress", I naturally jumped at the chance. Pictures of caravans, camping equipment and motorized Zimmer Frames swam before my eyes.
Citrix gets around to XenServer update
A few months ago Citrix told us it would use XenSource as a weapon, pushing prices of virtualization software down far below what VMware currently offers. Now we're wondering what happened to Citrix's guts.
Thievin' teen bot herder admits to infecting military computers
A young hacker accused of helping to corral more than 400,000 computers into a money-making botnet has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the scheme, which he admits damaged US military computers.
imitates sincerely flatters Palm Centro
Mobile World CongressWe can understand Asian companies nicking paying homage to Western smartphone designs, but why risk demo'ing them just a few minutes' walk from the original manufacturer's booth?
Toshiba premieres Portégé G810
Mobile World CongressToshiba has unveiled a Windows Mobile-based smartphone that, as technically advanced as it may be, has unfortunately been released with the same product number as a rival Samsung handset.
El Reg collectible pops up on eBay
Those of you who can remember when it was all fields round here and kids respected their elders and you could leave your front door open without getting burgled by crack-fuelled hoodies may have a vague recollection of a paper version of El Reg - the first and last issue of Vulture Central's foray into the print media market.
Dodgy affiliates use malware to flog Symantec and Check Point
Unscrupulous affiliates are using malware to advertise security software from legitimate firms. The practice is the brainchild of people who make a commission for every sale they generate - and not security vendors themselves. The practice raises serious concerns about the integrity and policing of affiliate programs from big names in security including Symantec and Check Point.
Boozing boffins contribute less to science
A Czech researcher has stayed out of the pub long enough to demonstrate that those scientists who don't follow his shining example produce fewer papers, attract fewer citations per paper, and fewer citations overall.
HTC premieres mass-market GPS smartphone
Mobile World CongressThe newest addition to HTC's Windows Mobile 6 Professional line-up,the P3470, will offer sat-nav software and a touch interface via its 2.8in LCD screen, the company said this week.
Robot carrier planes start work early with Navy SEALs
A capable robot aeroplane has been successfully catapult launched and recovered using an arrester hook by a US Navy warship - and the ship was only 25 metres long.
Star Wars animation heads for the silver screen
US aficionados of Star Wars can on 15 August enjoy a cinematic launch of forthcoming animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Variety reports.
BlackBerry takes Monday afternoon off
BlackBerry users got some time yesterday to smell the flowers and talk to their families and friends - the company's email servers went down just after 3pm Eastern Standard Time.
Gates pumps up Office, slaps down Yahoo!
Office System Developer ConferenceA "brilliant, powerful - and let's face it, sexy and good looking - leader of men and women who just doesn't believe in paying more than seven dollars for a haircut".
Europe hails foothold in space
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Sarko calls for global Mars exploration gig
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LG quietly launches KT610 Symbian smartphone
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BSA sinks teeth into US dentists and door makers
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Consumers warned on data loss compensation packs
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World's first expandable USB Flash drive launched, sort of
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Plantronics talks-up military grade headset
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Hannspree glams up the desktop monitor
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iPhone-friendly mobile digital telly tuner demo'd
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DARPA continues military AI air-traffic project
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US hospitals launch Wiihabilitation
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GCap reaches for DAB off switch
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T-Mobile and Orange hook up video trial
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Intel and Dixons raided by Competition Commission
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Feds, NASA bracelet space shuttle spies
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Trolltech delivers Qt WebKit
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Mobile subscribers showered with spam
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P2P uploader hoaxes leading BitTorrent blog
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i-mate expands Ultimate range by two
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Yahoo! debuts! mobile! creepware!
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Wind River claims Android 'first'
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London Congestion Charge becomes CO2 tax
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Sun nabs innotek's 20MB of open source, virtualized goodness
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SaaSy Dell 2.0 buys MessageOne for $155m
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NetApp SnapManager blows VMware a virtual kiss
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Portly HP fires up double-wide Itanium blade
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text:
Three new wellness retreats are being launched at Rockliffe Hall.
The five-star hotel, which is a popular place for spa days, has appointed Peter Bell as its new wellbeing manager.
And with the aim of developing a new wellbeing strategy across the resort, he has come up with three new wellness-focused day retreats - the Learn to Nordic Walk Day Retreat, the Spa Garden Yoga and Meditation Day Retreat, and The Mind Recovery Day Retreat.
Peter, who has worked as a fitness coordinator and fitness manager during his 11 years at the hotel, said: "Wellbeing has always been a huge passion of mine and during the process of lockdown, I started sending out weekly newsletters to staff and doing zoom workshops sharing wellbeing tips.
"The topics ranged from explaining the ill effects of sugar, to the benefits of a candle.
"Wellbeing is much more than just going to the gym to get a six pack, and I hope to educate people about that.
"It is about being mentally resilient and feeling energised to be able to deal with life's stresses."
The Learn to Nordic Walk Day Retreat connects guests with nature in the beautiful surroundings of the resort and teaches this walking discipline, known to enhance the natural walking experience.
Meanwhile, guests can relax and connect with their body using Hatha Yoga techniques and meditation with the Spa Garden Yoga & Meditation Day Retreat.
Finally, The Mind Recovery Day Retreat focuses on the mind connecting to the body with the aim of putting you in a complete state of relaxation with a session on the Mind Therapy Spa Wave bed.
Each of the retreats also include four hours of switch-off time in the spa, a two-course lunch in the hotel's brand-new restaurant Nu Sana, and the use of robe and slippers.
Each retreat is priced at £90 per person and will launch in September.
To sign up for Darlington Live news updates, go here


text:
Chipotle adds spice to text-to-win sweepstakes for Tough Mudder challenge
In a reflection of how cross-marketing can add new life to SMS promotions, fast food restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill is offering fitness enthusiasts the chance to win round-trip airfare and first-class accommodations for the Tough Mudder challenge in Australia, as well as a year’s worth of free burritos, via a text-to-win campaign.
The sweepstakes will send one grand prize winner and their guest to any Tough Mudder event in Australia, with two runners up set to receive a year’s worth of free burritos from the restaurant chain. Although SMS-based promotions are less frequent nowadays, Chipotle will likely see success with this campaign due to the differing prizes it is offering.
“For some, free food from Chipotle for a year would be the grand prize,” said Jeff Hasen, founder of Gotta Mobilize, Seattle, WA. “For others, a unique trip is more enticing than burritos with extra guacamole.
“The contest is big enough and different enough to get noticed.”
It is a smart move for Chipotle to leverage its newfound national sponsorship of Tough Mudder events, which are a series of mud-run obstacle races, as a cross-marketing opportunity. As part of its partnership duties, the fast food chain will maintain a presence at Tough Mudder races in the United States by selling tacos to challengers and their spectators in the “Mudder Village” area.
Chipotle will also be sponsoring the “Human Hamster Wheel,” a challenge testing how long a participant can stand on a circular set of monkey bars. Special prizes will be available.
The SMS-based promotion will run from April 6 through April 26, with the winner announced at a later date. Interested consumers can visit their local Chipotle location for more information, or text “MUDDER1” to 888222.
After consumers text the phrase, they will receive an automatic message from Chipotle informing them of their entry into the sweepstakes. They are then asked to text “BOWL” for more offers and updates via mobile.
A designated Web site, www.chipotle.com/toughmudder, has also been set up.
Chipotle decided to partner with Tough Mudder since both brands have an appreciation for active lifestyles, and for consumers fueling up with great ingredients and food.
The sweepstakes winner will receive first class accommodations and airfare for two, free entry into any Australian Tough Mudder challenge and a cash prize of $2,500. Two runners-up will enjoy a year of free burritos.
Chipotle is employing a mobile-first mindset as it continues to roll out contests and sweepstakes.
This past October, Chipotle leveraged social media to engage costumed Halloween customers in a contest while raising up to $1 million for its Chipotle Cultivate Foundation (see story).
Chipotle also streamlined its job application process by enabling candidates to apply via a Web-based mobile application program for smartphones and tablets (see story).
These strategies demonstrate the brand’s continued commitment to using mobile as a primary means of communication with consumers, and the wide reach its latest SMS campaign will have.
“Chipotle will surely build its opt-in database and generate more trips to their restaurants,” Mr. Hasen said. “Given the lines that we see in many Chipotle locations, the chain will see much of its text-to-win participation from those who spend a good part of their lunch hour waiting and using their phones.”
Alex Samuely is an editorial assistant on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York