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The National Retail Federation found that Americans spend over $17 billion on Valentine’s Day celebrations. But showing love on Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you need to blow your budget. Let Alpine Bank help you. Check out some of the facts about buying a Valentine’s Day gift this year.
- Gender counts
In 2014, gift givers planned to spend an average of $134 on Valentine’s Day, with men saying they would spend an average of $108.38 while women said they would spend $49.41. Additionally, research from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management found that men tend to spend more on gifts when there is a lower female population near them.
- Roses may be cheaper
The price that florists pay for roses can double on Valentine’s Day, which carries over to consumers. But since Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year, prices may be lower. Why? When the holiday falls on a weekend, there is 20% less demand because men have more time to plan.
- You’ll pay more for chocolate
The cost of cocoa rose sharply in 2014 due to the rising global demand and fear of depleting supply. In July, Hershey’s started charging 8 percent more for their goods while the price of Mars products increased by 7 percent. The National Retail Federation found that almost half of all romantics buy chocolates for Valentine’s Day.
- Quality time is more precious than money
If you are reluctant to drop too much cash on a decadent box of chocolates or bouquet of roses, don’t feel bad! Activities that bring you closer together often make loved ones happier than buying expensive gifts.
- Talk money
Having a discussion about money may not sound very romantic, but a 2014 survey by the credit bureau Experian found that 73 percent of women and 60 percent of men found their significant other more attractive when they were willing to talk about personal finances.
Don’t get so caught up in the gift-giving part of Valentine’s Day that you forget about its real purpose. Turn it back into a celebration of love, not an empty bank account. Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your loved ones from Alpine Bank!


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Amazon Prime Air drone completes its first US public delivery
At the MARS 2017 conference, Amazon's drone delivery arm ships over some sunscreen.
Ben Fox RubinFormer senior reporter
Ben Fox Rubin was a senior reporter for CNET News in Manhattan, reporting on Amazon, e-commerce and mobile payments. He previously worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and got his start at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Amazon Prime Air said Thursday it shipped its first package out in public in the US this week, marking another small step toward its goal of filling the skies with delivery drones.
The e-commerce giant's drone delivery arm has been testing flights for years, though due to federal regulations hasn't undertaken any US flights outside of its private land until now.
On Monday, an autonomous drone delivered several bottles of sunscreen, about four pounds in all, to MARS 2017, an Amazon-hosted conference in Palm Springs, California. The entire flight took place in the controlled airspace of the Palm Springs International Airport.
Amazon, UPS, Google and others are developing drone delivery technology, in hopes of bringing shipments faster and cheaper to customers. However, these companies still need to answer tough questions about the drones' safety and effectiveness before they can reach the public.
Amazon's goal has been to ship items within 30 minutes, though for now is mostly testing its technology. Last year, it started a small pilot program for customers in the UK, but it's been limited in bringing autonomous drones to the US because of tight government restrictions.
Correction, 10:45 a.m. PT: Corrects the location of the MARS conference.

domain: news


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Pilatus has selected Gogo Business Aviation’s AVANCE L3 system as a factory option on new production PC-24 aircraft and has secured STCs for the PC-24 and the PC-12 NGX.
“Pilatus’ selection of Gogo AVANCE L3 is a great step forward with a valued partner who recognises the value of our software-centric AVANCE platform and the reliability and performance of the Gogo network,” said Mark Sander, vice president of OEM sales for Gogo. “The AVANCE L3 enables a customised experience to best fit customers’ needs based on the number of passengers and the online experience they desire.”
AVANCE L3 allows passengers and crew to email, send text messages and make voice calls with Gogo Text & Talk and access flight apps such as moving maps, weather and flight information. The L3 system comes installed with Gogo Vision featuring entertainment and news including the latest Hollywood films, television programs, business programming from Bloomberg TV, and 30 leading magazine titles in digital format.
“The AVANCE L3 system stands out in the market because our customers can choose the in-flight Wi-Fi experience they want, as well as the additional value-added features and benefits it enables,” said Tom Aniello, vice president of marketing for Pilatus. “In-flight Wi-Fi has become one of the most important features requested by our customers, and based on the performance our PC-12 operators have enjoyed, it was an easy decision for us to add it as an option from the factory for the PC-24.”
The AVANCE platform also integrates a full range of Smart Cabin features, allowing passengers to access and use all available data, voice, maps, entertainment, and cabin management system (CMS) services.


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Good news. Iconic designer Pamella Rowland has launched a bridal line. “We’ve been doing gowns for a while and we did have a lot of people say to us, ‘Why aren’t you doing wedding gowns?'” Roland said at the presentation for her inaugural bridal collection. “Then my daughter got engaged and we just started looking for gowns and I was like, ‘Let’s do this.'”
When asked who the Pamella Roland bride is, the designer told InStyle: “She’s sophisticated, she’s a busy woman. She doesn’t have time for anything too fussy,” she says. But above all, she’s confident. “She knows what she wants, because each one [of the dresses] is so individual that if you pick a certain dress here, you know what you want. Because they aren’t typical dresses.”
The 11 piece collection has everything from short dresses to long Princess gowns in Italian silk and French lace. It even has a mid-thigh length dress disguised as a floor-length one with the help of a detachable lace overlay skirt. And don't think these are all white dresses. “Women want a different color today,” Roland says. There is a stunner in an icy blue. Except for one, every gown includes crystal beading.


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READ IN: Español
Johnson & Johnson has just revealed that it will discontinue sales of its “skin lightening” products, which are frequently seen on the shelves of most Asian countries.
The popular products are being eliminated because of their racial connotations, stating that, “conversations over the past few weeks have highlighted that some product names or claims in our dark spot reduction products represent white as the best and only skin tone,” they add, “this was never our intention – any healthy skin is beautiful skin.
Following the effects of the Black Lives Matter movement, Johnson & Johnson joins bands like Band-Aid, Quaker Oats and others in making changes to products or images that have been built on racist or colored stereotypes.
Whitening products may remain on the shelves for a short period of time as they are removed from the stores, but have already been removed from the company’s website to ensure that they can no longer be purchased online.


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The actress takes over from the 'Hold It Against Me' hitmaker as the model of the juniors clothing brand, and was personally congratulated on her appointment by the US singer herself.
Britney, 29, tweeted: "So fun being a Candie's Girl! Look out for the @Candiesbrand pics of their new girl, Vanessa Hudgens! - Brit (sic)."
Vanessa, 22, then sent a tweet back to thank her and also revealed her own excitement at the appointment.
She wrote: "Thnx, @BritneySpears, you're a tough act to follow...but, I'm so excited to be the new Candie's girl for 2011!! - xo. (sic)"
Vanessa revealed she has been a fan of the brand ever since Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie appeared in an advertising campaign for them and admitted she was overwhelmed at the chance to follow in her idol's footsteps.
She said: "Ever since I saw Fergie do the ads for Candie's I fell in love. It's such an honour to be able to be a Candie's girl now!"


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Last month Payments Cards & Mobile covered news that the NFC Forum and its members launched its technical roadmap outlining its ambitions to extend NFC Standards to support additional NFC... read more
The NFC Forum, the leading standards body for Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, has unveiled its Technology Roadmap outlining key plans and research efforts through 2028. This comprehensive roadmap includes... read more
The post NFC: What’s next for the world’s favourite contactless technology appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.
As contactless transactions using cards and digital wallets soar, digital acceptance via mobile, or “Tap on Mobile”, is opening up electronic payments to new merchant categories. PCM investigates the next... read more
The post Tap on Mobile: the digital revolution moves from payment to acceptance appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.
The EU has launched an antitrust charge over Apple’s NFC chip technology, people familiar with the matter said, a move that puts it at risk of a possible hefty fine... read more
The post EU launch antitrust charge to Apple Pay over NFC chip access appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.
It has been reported by Bloomberg that The European Union is considering new rules that would require Apple Pay to give competitors access to payments technology inside its phones. The... more
The post Is the EU prepared to force Apple Pay to open NFC access? appeared first on Payments Cards & Mobile.


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It has long been known that the 2013 Ford Fusion will have the stop-start engine technology. But the Michigan-based car manufacturer recently announced that it will be available to the mid-sized sedan as a $295 option. However, the cars should be equipped with the turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine.
What is the Start-stop Engine Technology?
The start-stop engine technology, also dubbed as start-stop system, is an automobile feature that automatically shuts down and restarts the car’s internal combustion engine. This reduces the amount of time that the engine spends idling. In turn, it decreases the car’s fuel consumption and emissions. Obviously, this feature could be ideal for car owners who usually commute on traffic jammed streets than those who drive on highway.
However, this technology is unlikely to improve the EPA fuel economy of the 2013 Ford Fusion. That’s because the US Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t favor stop-start cars over conventional ones. Nevertheless, the car maker said that the fuel consumption will drop by 3.5 to 10%, depending on the driver’s style and commute.
Price and Availability
For $295, potential owners of the redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion could equip their cars with the start-stop engine technology. However, it is only available for sedans that have a turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, which makes 179 horsepower and will return up to 37 mpg on the highway. That’s because the engine’s direct fuel-injection system will make it possible to add the start-stop system.
Ford hasn’t locked the system to its trim level or Equipment Groups, so car owners are advised to see the option box if they want their Ford Fusion to shut down in traffic. The automaker also promised that it’ll be worth the price. Considering the current price of gasoline in the US, it is estimated that the start-stop technology could save drivers as much as $1100 over a five-year period.
Other than the engine system, the sedan’s battery and starter motor got a boost to handle the demands of frequent starts. The car’s software was updated to keep track of the cabin’s temperature. If it gets too warm inside, the engine will not shut down so the driver won’t also lose his cool.
Taking into account that the Chevrolet Malibu Eco and Buick’s LaCross and Regal eAssist are partial hybrids, the 2013 Ford Fusion will be the first non-hybrid car to have the start-stop technology. Potential buyers can opt in to have the engine system on their car once it goes on sale this fall.
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In an address to the nation today, Mr. Morrison underlined that the ban would be crucial in order to halt the spread of COVID-19, saying that “The decisions they have made is that to put a ban on non-essential gatherings of persons 100 or greater in indoor areas. Outdoor areas it is 500 and indoor areas it is 100. That is effective now, as of today and those arrangements, in terms of the legal enforcement of those measures are being put in place by the states and territories.” International travel has also been banned indefinitely.
Given the dire importance of containing coronavirus, these measures should come as no surprise to most. After the 500 person outdoor gathering ban was implemented days ago, it was inevitable that indoor gatherings would also be implemented, and while all industries will be affected to some extent, it’s important to affirm the impact these measures will have upon the music industry.
As of Saturday March 14, the Australian live music sector has reported a loss of over $100m in income, and smaller venues are already feeling the impact of these measures, pleading for punters to keep attending gigs to keep business going. Some artists have taken to streaming performances online in order to maintain a trickle of income – read more about that here.
Head to I Lost My Gig to see how you can help Australian musicians today.


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The attack campaign, which has been dubbed “Kimsuky,” involves the use of malware to steal sensitive information from South Korean research institutions.
Android malware is following in the footsteps of Windows malware with attackers adopting some of the same distribution and monetization techniques despite the major differences between the platforms.
The antivirus and security company refreshes its core consumer products with an upgraded anti-malware engine and improved scanning performance.
The spike is likely being caused by a botnet, according to one of the original Tor developers.
In a study conducted by TNS Global for Halon, an email security service, 30 percent of those surveyed admitted they would open an email, even if they were aware that it contained a virus or was otherwise suspicious.
A malicious app is apparently being used to distribute mobile spyware on the popular via the free classifieds site.
Image-manipulation software is being used to create counterfeit scanned documents to aid cybercriminals in fraud efforts.
A wave of cyberattacks against Israeli and Middle Eastern targets this summer was the work of a highly active but shadowy hacktivist group that has started using Remote Access Trojans, security firm FireEye has warned.
With more smartphones shipping than PCs, mobile ad networks open up the perfect backdoor for downloading code
Windows, with its greater levels of adoption, has long been the preferred target of hackers; for the mobile world, that dubious title clearly now goes to Android, security researchers say.


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It has capitalised on the city’s Gigatown competition win in 2014 and become connected with Nokia’s IoT (Internet of Things) community which had "opened doors", director Jesse Teat said.
One of those was the ability to connect with T-Mobile, one of Nokia’s clients, with two engineers sent to Seattle to spend a week testing the new NB-IoT network.
That was a cellular network that would be launched worldwide and was an upgrade to current 4G cellular systems.
What it essentially meant for people was the 4G network had been split into different categories, Mr Teat said.
For consumers who watched videos, there was high band width, then there were smaller segmented chunks for things like irrigation systems "that just need a little bit of data every now and then".
A water level sensor developed by Tussock Innovation fell into that category, along with a few other devices it had been making in partnership with other companies.
Through its partnership with Nokia, it went over to T-Mobile to test the new network and discern whether that product could be of use in New Zealand and if the network would be suitable.
It turned out well. Tussock Innovation was the first company to have tested the product on the T-Mobile network and it virtually worked straight away.It was in true Kiwi style, using "a few number-eight wire techniques" and the T-Mobile team were "elated" with the way it worked.
What a small company achieved from Dunedin, under effectively a very constrained time frame, impressed, Mr Teat said.
The following week, Tussock Innovation was part of T-Mobile’s big product launch, with more than 1200 guests.
Mixed in with that was North America’s mobile network trade show Mobile World Congress Americas which saw more than 30,000 people through a day in San Francisco.
Nokia was invited to have a booth that Tussock Innovation set up and ran, demonstrating its Waterwatch LS1 water level and flood abatement sensor.
Waterwatch was a remote water level monitoring solution. Waterwatch sensors provided city councils valuable insight into the performance of water infrastructure and play a key role in flood abatement during heavy rain events.
As well as being ideal to monitor infrastructure for city councils and to improve surface flooding, it had many other applications.In the agricultural sector, it could be used for monitoring such things as effluent and water tanks, along with rivers and ponds.
The response was "pretty good", particularly given recent flooding in the US.
"Everyone could see the use and we were getting good feedback," Mr Teat said.
It was Tussock Innovation’s first public launch of the product and it was exciting, he said.
Nokia and T-Mobile were working on ways to use it as part of a council-based system, to sell to councils.
At the T-Mobile product launch party, Tussock Innovation’s CTO Mark Butler said they wanted a way to demonstrate their product working on the new network.
As Mr Teat said, stormwater monitoring was "not exactly sexy", so they thought they would "mix it up a little bit".
Given it was a cocktail party, they put the sensor in the top of beer tower and filled it with bourbon, pouring shot glasses for those attending, with their dashboard displaying how much was left in the tower and how much people were pouring.
Tussock Innovation was also excited to recently be named One to Watch in the recent Deloitte Fast 50 regional awards.
That allowed them to travel to the national awards and to learn from companies that had growth success, Mr Teat said.
Now back in New Zealand, things were happening quickly with a product launch, and then another to be held later in the year for a household consumer-level product in partnership with an Auckland company.


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Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) will be discontinuing its second-generation Swift variant in Pakistan, almost 12 years after its launch, while bookings for the Cultus have also been temporarily suspended, multiple dealers told Business Recorder.
The company had announced through a notification in August last year that Swift, the second-generation hatchback, will be discontinued after August 2021.
Although there has been no official word from the company so far, several authorised dealerships confirmed that they have been communicated the discontinuation of the current model.
On the other hand, PSMC has also temporarily stopped bookings for Cultus with reports suggesting that new orders have not been entertained for at least a few weeks. Several Suzuki dealerships across multiple cities have confirmed that they have been directed to stop new bookings until further notice.
"The chip shortage is a reason," said a dealer. "We haven't taken a new booking for the Cultus for around a month."
The halt in production is also being witnessed in India where the country's top car maker Maruti Suzuki said that the global chip shortage will hurt production at its plants in the states of Haryana and Gujarat in September.
Total production volume across both locations could be around 40% of normal output, it had said in a regulatory filing.
Pakistan has also been hit by semiconductor supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, which drove up demand for chips used in electronics like computers as people worked from home, and hit output at many automakers.
Bolan, Ravi news
Separately, reports were also rife last month that Pak Suzuki has decided to discontinue Bolan and Ravi as well. Officials told Business Recorder that the company plans to replace Bolan with a minivan.
Discontinuation of Swift
Meanwhile, one of the primary reasons behind discontinuation of the current Swift could be its declining popularity or possible cannibalisation by Cultus. The company has not made any significant changes or upgrades to its second generation hatchback in years, which has reflected in slumping sales.
According to Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), sales of Swift have come down from 5,509 units in 2018-19 to 2,316 in 2020-21. Sales of 2019-20 (1,828) were marred by the pandemic and hence, cannot be taken as a benchmark.
Market talk suggests Pakistan could see the introduction of the fourth generation Swift, which debuted globally in 2018.
As competition intensifies with the entry of new players, many believe the three old carmakers -- Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki -- have had to introduce new models/upgrades to keep up.
The pandemic has also hit car sales with production first disrupted by shutting down of the industry followed by the chip shortage. An earlier contraction in the economy and high interest rates also hurt car sales even before the pandemic began.
Pak Suzuki booked a profit in the first half of this year after turning losses for eight consecutive quarters.


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Apple reportedly planning all-5G iPhone lineup for 2022
The will include a revamped iPhone SE, its budget handset, that will use Qualcomm’s 5G technology
All of Apple’s iPhones that are released next year will be 5G-capable, including the tech giant’s budget handset.
Apple will not introduce any new 4G models next year, according to Nikkei Asia. Instead, the company will begin selling a version of the iPhone SE, its cheapest handset, that will be 5G compatible.
The budget 5G iPhone is reportedly set to be released in the first half of 2022 and will contain Apple’s A15 processor while Qualcomm’s X60 modem chip will power its 5G connectivity. It will reportedly look like a refreshed version of the iPhone 8 and have a 4.7in LCD display.
Sources also told the publication that Apple will not release an updated version of the iPhone Mini as the smartphone was not popular enough with consumers. Instead, a new version of the 6.7 inch iPhone Pro Max will be introduced.
Furthermore, Apple is said to have been preparing updated versions of other products for release in the second half of 2021, including MacBook Pros and a new version of AirPods. Mass production of the next iPhone is set to begin in August too, according to the report.
The last iPhone SE was released in 2020 which supported Wi-Fi 6 and cost under £500, making it the cheapest iPhone available. It packed Apple’s A13 processor, 3GB of RAM and a screen size of 4.7in.
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Apple’s first iPhone with 5G was the iPhone 12 which was released in 2020, lagging behind its competitors which released 5G devices in 2019, such as the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. It was rumoured the iPhone 12 could suffer from 5G coverage issues in the UK due to the lack of support for the 700Mhz band.
Despite this, Apple announced in March plans to create a major new chip lab in Munich as part of an £857 million investment in Germany over the next three years. The site was set to focus on 5G and future wireless technologies and develop modems for Apple products.
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- The price of Bitcoin fell below US$35,000 in early trade on Sunday, amid a broader sell-off in crypto coins.
- Ethereum declined 8.3% to US$2,306, and Dogecoin dropped nearly 5% to US$0.301 during the bearish session.
- Bearish news as well as the growing crackdown in China is fueling negativity in the crypto market.
The cryptocurrency market continued a bearish trend on Sunday following a roller-coaster week of trading, with major digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ether witnessing a drop in their value, triggered by a growing crackdown in China and rising environmental concerns.
Bitcoin (BTC), the largest digital currency by market capitalisation, fell below US$35,000 in early trade on Sunday, amid a broader sell-off in crypto coins. The most popular crypto coin traded in the range of US$33,464 and US$37,320 in the last 24 hours, delivering a negative return of 3.95%.
At the time of reporting, the BTC was trading around US$34,861, down 4.5% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinDesk 20 data.
Meanwhile, Ethereum, the world’s second-largest crypto, declined 8.3% to US$2,306, and Dogecoin dropped nearly 5% to US$0.301 during the bearish session.
Bitcoin, Ether down nearly 50% from year’s high
Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, has seen a massive slump over the past two weeks amid warnings from Chinese officials to tighten regulation on cryptocurrencies and Elon Musk-led Tesla's move to halt payments over concerns about energy use. The price of Bitcoin is down 46% from the record high of US$65,000 in April of this year. The crypto has lost a significant value due to a ripple effect of the digital market crash.
In a similar trend, Ether, which is the native token of the Ethereum blockchain platform, dropped 47% from its all-time high of $4,382 touched in May 2021. Despite the recent slump, Ether has risen more than 200% since the start of 2021.
The price of meme-based Dogecoin has tumbled nearly 60% from its record high of US$0.740. In spite of recent losses, it still delivered astonishing returns of 6,300% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis.
What is Causing Crypto Market to Fall?
The major reasons for the recent downtrend in cryptos are Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk’s confusing tweets and a crackdown on cryptocurrency regulations in China. China's central government vowed last week that it would hand out severe penalties for illegal financial activities, specifically targeting Bitcoin mining and trading.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) billionaire Elon Musk’s various flip-flopping regarding the cryptos have also impacted the price movement. Earlier this month, Musk announced that Tesla would stop accepting Bitcoin as payment for their vehicles, which left investors jittery. The SpaceX Founder cites his reasoning for Tesla’s decision to cease accepting Bitcoin as the damage to the environment caused by energy-consuming Bitcoin mining.
Adding to the woes, US President Joe Biden’s budget proposal to include several new crypto reporting requirements further dampened investor sentiment.
Also Read: Should organizations pay wages in bitcoin?


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An exclusive look at how Disney Consumer Products is leveraging new content to capture a greater share of the lucrative boys’ market worldwide.
Steve Madden has launched a new line of footwear and handbags from Kendall and Kylie Jenner, the younger sisters of the Kardashian clan.
Disney Consumer Products has unveiled its new product line for the new Cars brand, Neon.
Big Tent Entertainment is expanding its relationship with Tsuneo Goda, creator of the Domo character, to also represent the character Komaneko.
Entertainment One Licensing continues to expand the Peppa Pig brand in the U.S. with the launch of birthday-themed content and products.
SEGA Europe is strengthening its presence in Iberia with the appointment of two new licensing agents in the region for Sonic the Hedgehog.
Studio 100 International and its licensing agent, Merchantwise, have appointed Headstart International as master toy licensee for the Blinky Bill brand.
Oral-B has launched an interactive oral care app for kids in collaboration with Disney and Marvel that is powered by DreamPlay.
Zumba Fitness is teaming up with Viacom to promote its lifestyle brand in Poland via the TV series “Miłość na Bogata” (“Rich Love”).
Nickelodeon has launched an interactive, digital Kids' Choice Awards-themed e-book, the first-ever dedicated book produced for a live awards show.
Bulls Licensing, worldwide agent for the Moomins heritage brand, has appointed The Agency to represent the property in France and Benelux.
Sesame Workshop is taking the 20-year-old Sesame Street Look and Find products digital, with the launch of a new app for iOS devices.
Planeta Junior has appointed Diego Ibáñez to the newly created role of international commercial director.
The online kids’ TV platform Toon Goggles has teamed up with myKaZootv to bring music videos to its viewers for the first time.
Rovio Entertainment and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex have teamed up to launch the first interactive Angry Birds attraction in the U.S.
New York City retailer Yellow Rat Bastard has created a Domo-themed area in its SoHo store.
Actress Sofia Vergara has partnered with retailer Rooms To Go to create her first furniture collection.
Mask-arade has unveiled its new line of Hollywood Legends masks featuring stars like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.
Authentic Brands Group has partnered with the Will Rich Shoe Company for a new line of Marilyn Monroe-branded footwear.
AG Properties continues to expand the Strawberry Shortcake brand in Europe with a series of new deals in Italy.
Twelve years after Bart Simpson first touted Butterfinger, the two have been reunited in a new marketing campaign.
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Austrian publisher Nordic Games has bought up the THQ trademark and plans to publish games using THQs name.
Talking to Polygon
, Nordic Games general manager Klemens Kruezer said that the company’s unknown status causes many people to question the legitimacy of announcements they make concerning upcoming releases. By using the THQ name, Nordic hopes to buy in to a higher level of brand recognition.
The deal for the THQ name was made separately from the 2013 bankruptcy auctions which sold off the closed publisher’s portfolio of intellectual property. During the auction, Nordic picked up a large volume of THQ’s IPs including Titan Quest, Red Faction, Deadly Creatures and most notably, Darksiders.
Racing franchise MX vs. ATV was also acquired and a new entry to the series is on the horizon. This might be the first of the publisher’s games to adopt the THQ name.
Nordic Games does also have plans for Darksiders 3 but is yet to release any information about this with everyone involved keen to avoid a low quality sequel. Announcements are expected to be made at Gamescom in August.
THQ initially filed for bankruptcy in December 2012 with its assets being sold off in a series of auctions. Popular franchises were bought up by a range of different developers. South Park: The Stick of Truth went to Ubisoft, the Metro series, Saints Row series and developer Volition went to Koch Media and Crytek bought up Homefront.


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The Rimac Nevera is a $2.5 million (R37 million) electric hypercar with 1,914 horsepower and a predicted 0-60mph sprint time, 1.8 seconds, that would earn it the title of fastest production car in history.
Set for delivery this year, just 150 Neveras will be made.
Naturally, you don’t trust just anybody to move the thing.
You get Robin Grove to do it. The chief executive officer of Classic Automotive Relocation Services (CARS), Grove moves most of the blue-chip cars that descend on the world’s most prestigious car show and auction event, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this weekend in Carmel, California.
Bugatti, Koenigsegg, McLaren, Pagani, and Rivian trust her to move their multimillion-dollar wares; so do RM Sotheby’s, European banking billionaires, and the Kuwaiti royal family.
If there’s an old racing Ferrari being ogled by stilettoed ladies on some misty verdant fairway, there’s a good chance Grove was the one who got it there.
“We are like travel agents and lawyers for cargo,” Grove says.
Last year the company moved 1,000 of the world’s most valuable vehicles worldwide.
Vivacious, with Joan Jett hair and an Instagram-perfect smile, it’s not surprising that Grove, 62, wanted to be a rock star growing up. (The electric violin was her specialty.)
It’s more of a thrill to hear her deal with the daily challenges of moving millions of dollars’ worth of vehicular legend.
She set aside her typical warm demeanor the day I visited and firmly ensured that the driver who had arrived to load a Porsche 993 GT2 – not the usual guy – did the job right.
“Unbelievable,” she said, walking into her 20,000-square-foot garage in Gardena, California. “It’s a $2 million car, and he has no idea what he’s doing.”
Her headquarters is temperature-controlled with extensive security cameras and closed-circuit TV running 24/7.
It holds dozens of cars triple-covered (cotton sheet, plastic sheet, top cover) and connected to battery chargers.
Under wraps, for those eagle-eyed enough to recognize their shape: a $31 million Ferrari, a $10 million Jaguar D-Type, a few $13 million Zagatos, a $35 million Alfa Romeo, and a $2 million Koenigsegg Regera, among others.
“We deal mostly with billionaires,” explains Tony Rackley, the British-born head of the specialties division at CARS. “We very rarely see these guys; we see their people.”
August is a busy time for their 11-person Los Angeles operation, thanks to the upcoming annual car week in Monterey. (She also has offices in Amsterdam, Dubai, London, and, soon, Miami. CARS employs 200 people worldwide.) But shipping never stops, Grove says.
Rates range from around $10,000 to get a short-wheelbase Porsche 911 to LA from, say, Amsterdam—the smaller size means the car can fit on the cheaper lower deck of the cargo plane.
To move a Bizzarrini from London to Carmel can run $40,000, because it’ll need to be inside its own wooden crate.
It can cost as much as $67,000 to air freight, say, a Ferrari F40 into LA from Hong Kong—to be sure, the far-flung distance and special cargo-box air freight command a high sum, but it’s just a fraction of its $1.6 million overall value.
Importing cars from Europe and Asia means clearing them through the myriad National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency safety and air requirements for cars entering the country; navigating international trade treaties; sorting through customs policies; and paying associated duties, surcharges, taxes, and fees.
“Sometimes clients call us a year ahead of time, but ideally they call us at least four months in advance, because whether the car is going by air or ocean, you never really know what is going to go on,” Grove says.
“Then we immediately start talking with their restorers, who might say they need this or that amount of time, or they want to ship it really early because they want to do a stop in New York on the way to get work done there.”
Size matters. Twenty-foot containers are standard for most collectible cars, though one private customer requested a more expensive 40-foot container to house his tiny Porsche Speedster alone. It also matters whether the car can be driven or must be rolled onboard.
Grove asks clients things like whether the steering column works, since vintage cars tend to wear out, and whether a cargo plane or ocean liner will do.
She also needs to know the car’s age and how long it will be in the country, since different import rules apply depending on the car’s age and reason for entry.
Cars over the age of 25 have more lenient standards for entering the U.S. than do modern ones.
Understanding nuances such as how to handle vintage aluminum bodies while being able to navigate the complex computer systems of modern hypercars requires experience, skill, and on-the-ground savvy.
“As portable assets, the coachwork [on the cars] is now considered and valued as artwork, like that done by Picasso or Renoir,” Grove says.
A licensed customs broker, Grove has a $15 million insurance policy on all of her trucks – it’s been the key to winning those auction house clients who can’t find another provider to promise total coverage in the event of an accident.
Additional industrial-strength coverage comes in handy when, as was the case with the cracked front splitter on a Koenigsegg recently, airline workers aren’t as careful as they should have been. “That’s why you buy insurance!” Grove says.
Then there’s the matter of physically loading and unloading the car, the most fraught portion of all.
Some cars are pushed on using a series of dollies and ramps; others are put into wooden crates and rolled inside on a system of ramps; others can be driven—slowly, slowly—onboard the semi-trucks that take them up the road.
Rackley personally meets cars coming in at the airport and inspects them himself – often climbing like a cat burglar through the windows of the still-boxed vehicle inside the storage container.
He does it in stocking feet so as to not leave even the faintest mark. “His other name is ballerina,” Grove says.
Then Rackley whisks the vehicle in a covered truck either for holding at the CARS warehouse or straight up to Pebble Beach, where he keeps them under extreme watch inside the trucks until their final unveiling at dawn on the golf course.
In true dramatic fashion, the final reveal starts under cover of dark.
“I unbuild the crates myself; I don’t even let anyone else take the straps off,” Rackley says. “The guys on the ground don’t like me, but I’m forceful – to them it’s just another piece of cargo.”


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Ban Vaping Flavors
Vaporizing flavors is really a trend that has been popular among many new smokers. It started in america and is catching on across the world. The reason behind this new craze is that it offers you the nicotine rush that you need without the tar or nicotine. Now that america has implemented an emergency ban on smoking, vapes are going to be a huge section of this new trend.
Many people try out new flavors as they try to kick start their smoking habits. A lot of people also prefer to try new things if they try something new. One group that’s really taking advantage of the emergency ban and checking out vaporizing flavors is students. These high school students have been banned from smoking in all schools but one plus they are trying to get for this by getting their cigarettes and juices in various flavors.
Some places are cracking down with this bud though along with other schools are looking into how to implement a fresh monitoring flavor ban. One school in California is banning all e-cigarette products from schools. Vaping flavors is really a popular option because it allows the smoker to get her or his nicotine fix without going through the withdrawal symptoms that other folks suffer from if they quit. E-Cigarettes are also much less expensive then normal cigarettes and some people even have several of these.
The state health department is also looking at the rising trend of flavored e-cigarettes. They released a report to the state board of Equalization in February that outlined the risks of using these kind of products. The majority of the dangers from these electronic cigarettes are from carbon monoxide smoke. This means that when someone else smokes when you are smoking an e cigarette, you can aquire a number of the same toxins from that cigarette. Over time, the toxins can build-up in your body and cause serious health issues. Among the dangers that hawaii health department really wants to see regulated by law is that teenagers are employing these types of devices to obtain high and pass out.
As a way to help fight the growing issue of teenage smoking, the state health officials in NY have taken a new method of regulating the sale of flavored e cigarettes. They’re looking at the marketing of the forms of tobacco products as a kind of advertising. Once we have all seen with other tobacco products, normally it takes lots of time for parents to realize the unwanted effects that their children are putting themselves through. Teens often don’t realize how lousy their habits are until they reach middle age. Now that they have the opportunity to create changes, it will be easier for them to remain healthy.
The issue with many adult smokers is that they think it is hard to break the habit. They could try to quit 1 day but then return to their current smoking habit. They will have the opportunity to change their minds when they want to but the mental associations which are formed if you are smoking often becomes strong. The same applies to people who take to new flavored e liquids such as strawberries or chocolate.
Most of the time you can purchase these new flavors online in flavors of your choice. You can buy strawberry, chocolate, and also fruit flavors having an affordable price. Many people are deciding to make the switch from smoking to e Cigarettes because of the increased selection of vapor products that are offered on the market today.
Even though flavored products are becoming more popular, the state is still considering banning them completely. Right now the only way Eightvape Coupon to obtain these products in NY is through a doctor’s prescription. A final decision on set up state will ban the sale of flavored e-Cigarettes is not expected for a few more months. We will have to wait if the ban on smoking has caused more people to take up smoking again.


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Waco, Texas-based Pilgrim's Pride Corp. has recalled more than 100,000 pounds of ready-to-eat breaded chicken patties that may be contaminated with rubber.
The chicken patties were produced and packed on Sept. 6, 2017, and were distributed nationwide to institutions, including schools. The product was packed in 30-lb. boxes with six 5-lb. clear bags containing “GOLD KIST FARMS, Fully Cooked Whole Grain Home-Style Breaded Chicken Patties,” with a case code of 72491050xx and a product code of 665400. The product contains establishment number "P-20728" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The problem was discovered after a customer complaint on Feb. 13. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions. The cause of the possible contamination was determined to be an equipment failure at the production facility.
Customers should not consume the product. It should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Customers with questions can contact James Brown, consumer relations manager at Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., at 1-800-321-1470.


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The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) has appointed a consortium to develop and deploy an interoperable NFC infrastructure and mobile payments system throughout Singapore.
Expected to launch mid-2012, the service will enable Singapore residents to use their NFC-enabled phones to make contactless purchases at retail locations as well as in taxis. Eventually, the service will be expanded to incorporate transit ticketing, mobile couponing, loyalty, NFC-enabled advertising and other value-added services.
Consortium members include Citibank, DBS Bank; mobile operators M1, SingTel and StarHub; payment service provider EZ-Link and Gemalto will provide its Trusted Services Manager.
In this collaboration, Gemalto will develop and operate the TTP infrastructure. DBS, EZ-Link and Citibank will offer a range of their credit and debit cards to be issued over-the-air through Gemalto and stored on the secure chips in their customers’ NFC-enabled mobile phones for contactless payments. The services will be launched progressively across all three mobile operators – M1, SingTel and StarHub – starting next year.
According to IDA, NFC payments will be available at more than 20,000 retail points already accepting MasterCard and Visa contactless cards, as well as Singapore’s CEPAS payments standard. Businesses can also use NFC-enabled digital signs located at more than 600 locations in major shopping malls and office buildings throughout Singapore.
IDA and the seven companies are investing a total of $31.5 million (US) through the Call-for-Collaboration (CFC) to deploy the TTP infrastructure and more than ten NFC mobile payment and value-added services by 2014. The services will be rolled out progressively, with at least three NFC mobile payment services available from mid-2012, says IDA.
In addition to the consortium, IDA is encouraging other payment and value-added service providers to use the infrastructure to deploy their own NFC mobile services, thereby creating a true NFC ecosystem.
The deployment will initially be focused on retail payment, with transit set to follow in early 2013.


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- Earlier, Tahira Kashyap and Karan Johar too bought a luxury Audi car
- On work front, Kiara will next be seen in Jug Jugg Jeeyo
Actress Kiara Advani enjoys a massive fanbase and has been successfully delivering some superhit films in Bollywood. Recently, Kiara gifted herself a black Audi A8 L luxury sedan worth Rs 1.58 Crore. Reportedly, the actress already owns a luxury car collection that includes the likes of Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW X5, and BMW 530d.
Audi India took to Twitter and shared an update about Kiara's latest buy. In the pictures, Kiara can be seen posing with her brand new purchase. "Progress and creativity go hand in hand. We’re happy to welcome @advani_kiara to the Audi experience," read the post.
The German automaker Audi introduced Audi A8L in the Indian market in 2020 at a starting price of ₹1.56 crore (ex-showroom). The Audi A8 also is the first car from the German automaker to debut their latest family design. A few of the highlights of the A8 includes HD Matrix LED headlamps with laser lights and the iconic Audi grille. It is powered by a three-litre V6 petrol engine that is mated to an electric motor with 10Ah lithium ion battery.
Kiara is not the first Bollywood star to take home Audi. Earlier in August this year, Tahira Kashyap and Bollywood director Karan Johar too bought a luxury Audi home.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Kiara was last seen in Shershaah opposite Siddharth Malhotra. The film tells the story of Param Vir Chakra awardee Captain Vikram Batra, who attained martyrdom in the 1999 Kargil War. She will next be seen in 'Jug Jugg Jeeyo', which also stars Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Varun Dhawan. And 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' with Kartik Aaryan.


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The biggest mobile conference, Mobile World Congress (MWC), is only a few days away and it won’t be long before the city of Barcelona is flooded with people from all the world for this yearly pilgrimage (last year it surpassed 100,000 attendance mark!). The annual conference sees some big announcement from the tech giants, most particularly in the smartphone category. This year, the possibility of the return of Nokia’s legendary phone 3310 has already teased imaginations and expectations from the show. From ad tech enthusiasts, to mobile professionals, tech analysts and industry watchers, the 4-day trade show has everyone watching out for what will be the next thing!
We spoke to experts from the ad tech industry to find out what they are looking forward to the most at this year’s edition of MWC:
Josh Swerdlow, Head of Europe, HasOffers by TUNE:
“MWC has become the best mobile conference in the world. Seeing companies like Samsung choose MWC to make announcements and showcase their newest products, is a testament to MWC. For me this event is the best Europe has to offer for mobile marketing, networking and re-connecting with all my European clients and friends in the industry. For me this is one European conference not be missed!”
Emily Carrion, Head of Marketing, Apptentive:
I’m expecting to see a lot of innovation using voice technology at MWC this year. With huge brands like Starbucks integrating voice into their apps to take their CX to the next level, I suspect we’ll see many more use cases on the show floor. I’m also really looking forward to connecting with the greater mobile community. The best part about MWC is the relationships you form at the show and grow throughout the year; whether they’re partners, customers, or friends, we all have a lot to learn from each other and MWC provides a common cause.”
Daniele Bagnagatti, Senior Director Advertiser Sales, Fyber:
“Mobile video will be the talk of the town in Barcelona. After walking away from this year’s Mobile World Congress, many marketers will start to realize the significant amount of time users spend on their mobile devices. And in order to reach these engaged users, marketers will look to mobile video for its non-intrusive, engaging experience it provides.”
Last but not the least of course, Rishi Agarwal, MD AppLift India
“From the latest releases in mobile hardware to innovations in futuristic technologies such as VR, MWC has always been an important event every year for the app advertisers. The innovations that we see at MWC shape and define the service and technology providers, such as those in the business of ad tech. While the mobile world shall converge to celebrate the mobility, hall 8.1 would be buzzing with performance and brand marketeers and publishers looking to get the most out of their ROAS and trying to maximize their revenues through new and innovative ways!”
What trends are you most excited to see at MWC 2017? Let us know in the Comments section!


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HOT ROD’s David Freiburger and Mike Finnegan join Fred Williams and Rick Péwé of Peterson’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine to compete in the infamous Cheap Truck Challenge. Riding into battle with a modded 1979 Bronco, they face-off against a rock-ready 1980 Toyota Pickup and a beastly 1987 Chevy Suburban in a cash-strapped quest for ultimate off-road glory.
Formula Drift kicked off its 9th championship season, laying a thick cloud of smoke at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Street Course.
It packs a 400 hp diesel out of a Ford F-350, a Dana 80 rear-end, and a look and feel that would make Max Rockatansky feel right at home. This is Mitch Allread’s custom fabricated creation and it is, without a doubt, one of the coolest things on the road today.
The International Auto Show is in town which means tons of cool new cars are about to be unveiled to the masses, but before they get their chance, we got a sneak peak at what’s in store this year. While some of it was expected, automakers had a few surprises ready to blow our minds.
The 2012 NY International Auto Show opened to the press this morning and we got past the guards to give you a sneak peek of the 25 cars you won’t want to miss. Some new, some old, but all remarkable.
257.7 mph is ridiculously, incomprehensibly fast for the average person. Sean Kennedy is not your average person. That’s the speed he posted as the new world record after one mile from a dead stop. A big credit goes to his Hennessey-modified twin turbo Ford GT cranking out 2,000 horsepower, most of which can probably be attributed to that sweet camo wrap.
Ken Block hoons it up at the Igora Park ski resort outside of St. Petersburg, Russia in the Ford Focus RS WRC for the Pirelli Winter Attraction. Filmed over 6 days with 150+ journalist ride-alongs on a short rally course running through the resort.
Ford asked me to spend the day whipping a few of their new Police Interceptors around a closed course with a professional race instructor. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.


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Step #1 - Darren Bondar dreams of becoming Canada’s largest watch retailer. With seasonal cash flow and stiff competition, can it be done?
COMPANY Watch It
OWNER Darren Bondar
Darren Bondar started with a handful of display cases bought from Eaton’s, which was going out of business back in 1999. He also had $50,000 on credit and a retailing idea he’d spotted in New York. From there, in 14 years, he’s built a nationwide wristwatch retail brand with 28 stores called Watch It! But how does he manage cash flow feasts and famines, due to seasonal spikes in the retail business, while meeting his ambitions for the company? Those are, among others, massive growth, a new, in-house brand and ultimately to become Canada’s largest watch retailer. Are Bondar’s dreams going to lead him to the promised land? Or will he watch as Watch It! grows too fast?
Bondar comes from a business background. His late grandfather, Sam Bondar, started Bondar’s Fine Furniture in Calgary, which remains in the family. But that didn’t mean he had it easy. He was near penniless. “We started with literally nothing and, you know, now we’re a chain of [almost] 30 stores across Canada,” Bondar says. The first was on Edmonton’s Whyte Avenue, and the store was on a month-to-month lease because Bondar was testing the concept. He’d just finished his MBA and opened Watch It! on credit before Christmas of 1999. Business boomed; then, January came, and business disappeared. Bondar added retailing on the web, with some success. In 2002, Watch It! launched at the West Edmonton and City Centre malls. “Our stores evolved and the product mix evolved,” Bondar says. The next step was franchising. “It was a great way to build a chain of stores with limited capital.” Three franchises, including one in B.C., were sold. From there Watch It! has grown to its current complement of 28 stores across Canada, with three B.C. stores added this year through the acquisition of Timeco, a Vancouver-based competitor. The original Watch It! on Whyte Ave remains. Corporate headquarters is now in Calgary, with a branch office in Edmonton.
Watch It! has grown steadily in its decade and a half, with leaps at certain points and steps at others. The business has been profitable in four of the past five years, while its 2012 revenue was $6.58 million – not bad for a company with more than 100 employees. Just two per cent of the company’s revenue comes from international exports. Of the 28 locations, 12 are corporate (two franchises were bought back this year) while 16 remain as franchises. Two new franchises are set to open this fall.
Competitive. Anyone can sell watches, and many do. Competitors for Watch It! range from independents to chains and franchises, from boutique jewelry stores to gigantic department stores like the Bay and Sears. There’s also the growing online presence of retailers like Amazon, which sell watches and nearly everything else. But in the middle, where Watch It! resides, the retailer has few direct, watch-focused competitors. And while many retailers offer the same products, from sports stores to sunglass huts, service is a key differentiator. “I think that our competitive advantage is that we are a true watch store,” Bondar says, over the phone from New York City, where he’s at an anniversary for Casio, one of the brands that his stores carry. “You can come back to us for a battery change, repair or other after sales service and our staff are extensively trained in product knowledge.”
Ultimately, to expand the Watch It! brand out of the Western Canadian region it currently dominates and become a national chain with 40 stores across the country. Over the next year, the target Bondar has set is to double its revenue to $13 million and grow the store roster to 30. Oh, and increase profitability by 2.5 times. And there’s that new in-house brand launch as well. It’s all ambitious, to say the least.
Cash flow is the constant worry – Watch It! is in retail after all. Bondar is proud the company has upheld all financial commitments to suppliers and investors over the last 14 years. Still, concerns about cash flow remain. “We’re a seasonal business, so the bulk of our revenue comes during the holidays,” Bondar says. He’s still looking for ways to improve optimize cash flow over the rest of the year. He also wants to grow his brand’s recognition, and is looking for an outside, objective look at Watch It! stores to determine if they offer the right merchandise mix and environment. But the real challenge is the next step: more growth or stay the course? Bondar has achieved what he calls the “double-double” in the past 18 months – doubled revenue and profits. “I’ve always been a little bit aggressive.” All the growth must now be absorbed. And the question is, is this the best pace to achieve his longer-term goals?


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Well isn’t this just a sad bit of news to hit the virtual airwaves this afternoon. A developer called cyberniko from Vuxia decided to release his new game, Iron Soldiers, onto the XDA-forums for an open beta test. Usually this is a good idea because you can get valuable feedback about bugs and suggestions. It didn’t work out that way though.
Day: 10 January 2011
Something else that was pretty interesting over at the LG booth this year at CES 2011 was the unveiling of a glasses-free mobile screen LG had been developing. The display was showing off how it will look on devices slated to be coming out soon with these screens meaning we could see future Tegra 2 3D Android devices from LG.
Handmark, a 3rd party mobile app and game market who also publish games and apps for developers on the Android Market, announced a moment ago that the popular game called Shift by Armor Games is on its way to Android. They also have opened up a sign-up form online for qualified Beta Testers to sign-up.
Graal Online are currently planning to bring their old school styled MMORPG to Android, possibly in two different flavors, maybe even more. Called ‘Graal Classic’ and ‘Graal Era’, both of these games are MMORPGs and contain great old school 2D graphics which you probably have seen in a lot of retro console games from back in the day.
One of the more awesome Android phones at CES 2011 was the Optimus 2X from LG who came out strong this year at the show. This is LG’s first dual-core Android phone sporting a Tegra 2 chip inside and playing around with it, you can certainly see/feel the difference a Tager 2 makes in your phone.
Here is the best way to get the week started, more Xperia Play gameplay video! In this video we see a user loading up the Playstation ROMs for Resident Evil 2 and Ridge Racer via ROM Buddy. While this most likely won’t be how actual Playstation games will be loaded into the phone for playing, it is a neat temporary solution.
After the recent in-depth look at the Sony Playstation Android phone by a Chinese website, which ended up being posted about everywhere but here (sorry CES had me running!), it seems that this little device, dubbed the Xperia Play/Zeus/Z1, is becoming less camera shy each week. Another site now has new photos for your viewing pleasure.


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While quality assessments in the coming en primeur tasting week will have an important say in the vintage’s early lifetime and should not be pre-judged, Liv-ex analysts said that a range of colliding factors mean that pricing for Bordeaux 2018 futures will have to be handled in a particularly delicate fashion.
Tasters are unlikely to escape the growing surrealism of Brexit in the en primeur tasting rooms, and a potential impact in the subsequent campaign should naturally be considered, said Liv-ex.
Currency would likely be something to watch in this context, it said.
‘A strong sterling could benefit the UK market – one of the biggest en primeur buyers – and contribute to a successful, well-sold campaign,’ it said.
‘While sterling devaluation could mean diminishing UK appetite, it could stimulate Bordeaux trade driven by euro and dollar-based buyers in the secondary market and impact sterling-denominated indices.’
Such uncertainty also comes at a time when many Bordeaux lovers and merchants will already have well-stocked cellars, at least figuratively speaking, following the strong 2015 and 2016 vintages, said Liv-ex.
Looking at the wider context, its analysts also highlighted that Bordeaux must now share the fine wine stage with a greater number of wines from other regions.
Bordeaux’s share of trades on the Liv-ex platform fell to 59% in 2018, compared to 96% back in 2010.
‘Bordeaux’s decline is a consequence of the fine wine market becoming broader and deeper,’ said Liv-ex, re-emphasising a trend that market watchers have been tracking for several years now.
The platform’s analysts also noted that a central rationale for buying Bordeaux en primeur wines – principally that they will be cheaper in barrel than in bottle – has also diminished.
‘In just over half of the campaigns since 2005, wines have been cheaper at physical release (delivery) than at en primeur.’ It said 2012, 2014 and 2015 were notable exceptions among recent campaigns.
However, several merchants will also be of the opinion that a 2018 vintage of sufficient quality will sell – at least at the top-end – if priced effectively.
Jane Anson’s full Bordeaux 2018 report, including scores and tasting notes, will be available to Decanter Premium subscribers later this month.


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Smart helmets are the next big thing in motorcycle gear. While there a few different companies, such as Shoei, working on the technology, there are also smaller players like the Australian company Forcite.That company just received some new funding that will ensure it hits its set 2019 delivery date.
According to Motorbike Writer, Uniseed, which is one of Australia’s longest-running research commercialization fund, invested money in the helmet company. This brings the company’s total funding to $2.8 million.
The company’s CEO joked that he and his team could “stop eating pop tarts and two-minute noodles.” He also said that the funding would allow his company to get the product ready for test days. The helmet should launch in April or May of this year.
The helmet gets a carbon composite shell, a sleek aerodynamic-looking design, and some attractive and well-placed Forcite logos. The technology in the helmet is what makes it revolutionary. According to Motorbike Writer, the helmet uses cameras, noise-canceling technology, a navigation system, and an electronically tinted visor that can adjust tint in milliseconds.
Forcite plans to distribute in Australia and the U.S. It is currently looking for distribution partners. Motorbike writer reports that a limited-edition version of the helmet will cost $949. It’s unclear what will happen to the price of the helmet after that. If Forcite can keep the helmet around that price point and the technology works well, it’ll have what could be a true bargain. We’d love to get our hands on one of these helmets to see just how good it really is.


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Mercedes-Benz has taken twitter to another level with this one. A recent video shows a Mercedes-Benz engineer test driving a new Mercedes-Benz SLS prototype via a twitter feed. Yes twitter!
Mercedes, the vaunted automaker that they always have been, and still are in most areas, have been losing their way stylistically the last few years. An upgraded and toned down last gen version would be a much better choice in my eyes. Just my opinion. http://www.carsfind.net
TechSpy is a community of awesome people posting and discussing the latest tech news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published a report on introducing a regulatory sandbox to deeply study and respond to dynamics of the evolving nature of Financial Technology (FinTech).
To be fairly candid, this report was long awaited by a lot of people, especially the cryptocurrency community. This report talks about establishing a regulatory sandbox pertaining to a particular field. The report defines, “A regulatory sandbox (RS) usually refers to live testing of new products or services in a controlled/test regulatory environment for which regulators may (or may not) permit certain regulatory relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing. The RS allows the regulator, the innovators, the financial service providers (as potential deployers of the technology) and the customers (as final users) to conduct field tests to collect evidence on the benefits and risks of new financial innovations, while carefully monitoring and containing their risks.”
However, there is some bad news for the cryptocurrency community. The regulatory sandbox applies to areas such as retail payments, money transfer services, marketplace lending, digital KYC, financial advisory services, wealth management services to name a few. However, it will exclude, areas such as credit registry, credit information, cryptocurrency/crypto assets services, trading/investing/settling in crypto assets, Initial Coin Offerings, etc. Interestingly, the RBI is okay about studying blockchain under this sandbox.
Nischal Shetty, the CEO of cryptocurrency exchange WazirX told Crypto-News India, “A crypto sandbox would have helped Indian entrepreneurs participate more freely in building blockchain based applications. What’s confusing is that the draft speaks about blockchain being allowed but crypto not being allowed. Now that’s a clear proof of the misunderstanding of blockchain. Without crypto, public blockchain projects cannot be built.”
While this news will come as a blow, to some of the people in the cryptocurrency community, especially people who have been trying to campaign day and night asking the government to bring about regulation, the first question that comes to mind is: Does this take us to Square One?
This news is disappointing, because, last month, we had reported that the Central Bank had announced that it would be coming with a regulatory sandbox for fintech startups of the country within 2 months. We had speculated that if crypto was involved in that regulatory sandbox, we were highly likely to get a positive cryptocurrency regulation in place (though nothing could be guaranteed at this point).
Considering that the verdict is yet to be passed in the Supreme Court, and the RBI refusing to co-operate, does this mean the community will be left in the lurch, again?
We reached out to some major players in the industry. We’ll update the story when they respond.
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Kenya’s retail sector is looking to recover from a slow 2017 following solid gains in occupancy rates and rental returns; however, oversupply in some regions, along with an acceleration in consumer and wholesale prices, could dampen expansion.
Overall occupancy rates rose to 85.7% by the end of August, up from the 80.2% recorded at the same time last year, according to a report released by property consultancy Cytonn Real Estate in September. The result marked a rebound in occupancy after 2017 rates fell from 82.9% in 2016.
Rental yields also increased on last year, recording an average of 8.6%, compared to 8.3% at the end of August 2017.
While the sector as a whole made a strong showing over the period, an oversupply of gross leasable area (GLA) led to some mixed results for Nairobi.
Rental charges per sq foot eased by 3.4% in the capital, and while occupancy rates rose by 3.4% year-on-year to 83.7%, this was still below the national average. Rental yields dropped from 9.6% to 9.4%, with Cytonn citing the 2m sq feet in excess GLA as a factor behind the softer performance.
By contrast, the report found some regions, including Kiambu, Mombasa, Kajiado, Mount Kenya and Machakos, remained underserved by the formal retail sector, presenting opportunities for expansion and investment.
Local and international interest comes amid new supply
The improved occupancy rates and rental returns are coinciding with an expected increase in floor space to come onto the market in the medium term.
There are currently more than 150,000 sq metres of GLA under development, according to a report issued by property and business consultancy Knight Frank in mid-July.
Though the supply of retail floor space is set to rise, especially in Nairobi, where more than half – 79,200 sq metres – of new developments are concentrated, the Knight Frank report predicted an increasingly positive outlook for the sector due to the forecast improvement in the economy, which is expected to boost consumer spending.
GDP is set to expand by 6.2% this year, up on the 4.9% posted in 2017, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said in a statement issued at the end of July. The positive momentum is expected to be mirrored in the retail and wholesale sector, which grew by 5.7% last year, up on the 3.4% rise achieved in 2016.
In terms of retailers, while some players have exited the market in the past year, with local supermarket chains Nakumatt and Uchumi closing their doors, much of their market share and floor space has been taken over by a mix of local and overseas operators.
This year saw local supermarket chain Naivas and French multinational Carrefour expand their footprint in the country, while South Africa’s Shoprite and the Botswana-based Choppies also moved into space vacated by the shuttered chains.
The interest in retail space bodes well for the sector in the short to medium term, with Knight Frank also noting an uptick in new brands entering the Kenyan market or expanding their existing presence. These included French sports retailer Decathlon, clothing line LC Waikiki and Miniso, the Chinese lifestyle brand.
Fuel hike and inflation could slow short-term activity
While the outlook is largely positive, one factor that could affect retail activity is the increase in inflation following a recent hike in fuel costs.
On September 11 the Treasury issued its latest forecast for inflation, with the consumer price index projected to rise by an annualised 6.04%, higher than the 4.04% recorded at the end of August.
The increase in the inflationary outlook came as a result of recent rises in fuel taxes, with the government implementing 16% value-added tax on petroleum on September 1.
The increased levy will not only add to production input costs, but could also reduce discretionary household spending as a result of higher transport costs, which could flow into the retail sector in the short to medium term.


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Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is offering all businesses who are not currently Chamber members free access to its GM Business Community. Powered by the GM Chamber this initiative will allow non-members free access to the network and support of the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK.
The GM Business Community was set up in April 2020 to give non-members free access to the network and support of the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK, with over 800 businesses now signed up.
Lucy Mulligan, Head of Membership at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “We launched the Community as the coronavirus hit the local economy because we wanted to reach out to those businesses who were not members of the Chamber.
“The response to this initiative has been fantastic and shows how much businesses want to work together during these difficult times.”
Membership of the GM Business Community includes:
An update on the evolving situation, three times a week – including up-to-date information on business support options from the Government, the Chamber and its members.
Access to MyGMCR – a mobile app where businesses can connect with and direct message fellow business users.
Access to any digital events hosted by the Chamber during this time.
Access to online training and workforce planning.
Complimentary token to access one of the Chamber’s local networking events, free of charge, once the coronavirus lockdown is over.
Access to an exclusive online group where you can network with, connect with and support other GM Business Community participants.
To be eligible to join the GM Business Community, you must be a registered business, based in Greater Manchester and not have an existing membership or Partnership with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.


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Missouri Spot Named The Most Underrated Tourist Attraction In The State
By Sarah Tate
April 24, 2023
When planning a trip to a new city, you may research all the best spots to visit, including the most popular tourist attractions. However, sometimes it's worth veering off the beaten path to see other hidden gems that are worth taking the time to visit.
Travel Pulse looked at all the must-see attractions around the country that may not get the same amount of love as other popular spots, compiling a list of the most underrated tourist attraction in each state. According to the site:
"Overlooked, underappreciated yet still awesome, underrated attractions are located all over the USA, and oftentimes, they can provide just as big of a thrill as those A-list attractions on your bucket list."
According to Travel Pulse, Missouri's most underrated tourist attraction is Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a perfect spot to spend time on the water canoeing, swimming, fishing and more. Here's what the site had to say:
"Outside of the Lake of the Ozarks, the Show-Me State doesn't have many water-based recreation spots that have made national headlines, but those in the know are well aware that the state is home to a floater's paradise called the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Homes to calm, clear waters and gorgeous scenery, a day spend out on one of the rivers in the system during summer will be the highlight of your season."


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There’s only gonna be one topic on the lips of the technoscenti in the next 24 hours: Apple’s new MacBook and MacBook Pro. It’s been leaked online, but mystery still surrounds its hidden connector, track-pad and docking skills… read on for all the gossip!
The new MacBook and MacBook Pros have leaked! The latest spy shots show the laptops sporting slick new aluminum cases, as well as side-mounted optical drives and expansion ports down their left side.
It’s these details that have led some to predict that the new laptops will be dockable inside brand new Apple monitors.
What’s more, the MacBook Pro features a mystery connector towards the front of its case.
What could it be? HDMI? eSATA for fast external hard drives? A docking connector for those rumoured monitors?
We’ve also heard rumours that the new portables will come with glass-covered multi-touch trackpads, and even Blu-Ray drives stashed inside.
Also, the much awaited 2.2 Update is expected to be released tomorrow as well.
Whatever surprises are in store, we’ll find out tomorrow when Apple formally unveils the new laptops. Until then, sit tight and let Infinitech do the news hunting for you!


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A hot potato: Since their slow introduction over five years ago, LG’s OLED televisions have gotten brighter and more colorful, becoming the sweetheart of film enthusiasts. Yet they’ve still retained one key flaw: burn-in, the ghost of a previously displayed image that sticks around, permanently. As it’s a guaranteed issue, it’s been explicitly excluded from LG’s warranties, but an Australian court ruling says LG needs to do better by its customers.
The issue of burn-in was first brought to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission in 2013 when two customers who had purchased OLED TVs began experiencing burn-in after less than a year of use. The two customers contacted LG and were told that LG was unable to help as the issue wasn’t covered by warranties, and they would have to pay for any repairs themselves. LG subsequently updated their policies to replace burn-in under warranty in certain circumstances in 2016.
The case made it to the Federal Court in 2015, with the two customers claiming that Australian consumer law should require LG to repair the TVs, regardless of their warranties. Australian law specifies that products be “safe, lasting and with no faults,” and notably, “match any demonstration model or sample you asked for.” The TVs in question had been displayed in-store with no burn-in, and after one year of normal use, should be expected to function the same. An unfavorable ruling for LG and an AU$160,000 ($110,000) fine has been imposed.
“Consumer guarantee rights are separate to warranties offered by manufacturers and will always be available to consumers who find they have been sold a faulty product,” ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said. “The Court’s decision is a reminder that making misleading statements about consumer guarantee rights, even to only one or two consumers, can result in penalties being imposed.”
LG’s OLED televisions now handle burn-in much better, though not perfectly. For reasons related or otherwise, OLED sales have kept growing but at a slower pace than anticipated. Half a million units were sold in the first half of 2017, 1.1 million units sold in the first half of 2018, and 1.3 million units are expected to be sold in the first half of this year.


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TOKYO — Nintendo plans to launch a new version of its DSi hand-held video game player with a larger screen in Japan as early as this year to kick-start sluggish demand, the Nikkei business daily said Tuesday.
Nintendo, which cut the price of its popular Wii video game console last month, has been looking to bolster demand for the DSi, whose monthly sales have slowed to a third of their peak levels following its launch about a year ago.
Nintendo’s hand-held, which now has a 3.25-inch screen, is struggling against competition from Apple Inc’s iPhone, whose screen is about the same size.
The new version will have a screen larger than 4 inches, which would put it roughly on a par with the screen on Sony Corp’s PlayStation portable game player, the Nikkei said.
“A bigger screen alone does not count for much,” said KBC Securities analyst Hiroshi Kamide, adding that Nintendo needs better graphics quality and a more powerful chip to run multimedia-type games and become more competitive.
“Nintendo is under pressure from iPhone and iTouch.”
The DSi now uses a chip by ARM Holdings.
The large-screen DSi will sell for ¥18,900, about the same as the current version, the Nikkei said.
Nintendo spokeswoman Yuka Tanegashima declined to comment.
Nintendo also plans to launch a version of the DSi with more robust anti-piracy features for the Chinese and South Korean markets by the end of the current business year in March 2010, the Nikkei said.
Its shares ended the morning down 0.5%, outperforming Tokyo’s electrical machinery index’s 1.7% decline.
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IBM on Tuesday will announce that it has committed $1 billion to convince its customers to use Linux, a freely available open source operating system that competes with Windows, reports The Wall Street Journal's Don Clark.
This is the second time that IBM coughed up $1 billion to promote Linux. The first was way back in 2000, when Linux was a fledgling operating system just finding its way into enterprise data centers and beginning to threaten Microsoft.
Microsoft spent years trying to scare customers away from Linux, at one point even saying that Linux violates 235 patents and hinting that enterprises using it could be sued.
But the scare tactics didn't work and Linux adoption grew, in large part due to IBM's vote of confidence. There's hardly an enterprise data center on the planet today that isn't using Linux and it has become the operating system of choice for the world's biggest, fastest computers, as well as for huge Internet companies like Google and Facebook.
But Linux has not killed Windows Server. Not even close.
Servers running Linux now command 23% of new server purchases by enterprises, where servers running Microsoft Windows command 49%, according to IDC's latest quarterly server report.
We'll see what happens now that IBM will pour another $1 billion in. IBM will use the money to create a “development cloud,” built with its own Power servers that run on Linux. Customers will be able to use it for free to test Linux applications remotely, reports Clark.
The money will also be spent on IBM's executive briefing centers where enterprises can do workshops and get demonstrations on Linux Power servers.


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America Loves Pokémon
Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen, both released Sept. 7 for Game Boy Advance SP, combined to sell more than 1 million units in North America within the first 21 days of its availability. Since its Sept. 2 price drop to an MSRP of $79.99, Game Boy Advance SP sales are up 70 percent.
“The key to success in our industry is no secret,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “When you offer great interactive entertainment at a great price, players respond in droves.”
Part of the impressive sales success of these two new games can be attributed to the inclusion of the new Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter, which lets players trade and battle their Pokémon.


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The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), today announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $87 billion during the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 5.7 percent over the previous quarter and a jump of 8 percent compared to the third quarter of 2013. Third quarter sales outperformed the latest World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) industry forecast. Global sales for the month of September 2014 reached $29 billion, 8 percent higher than the September 2013 total of $26.9 billion and 1.9 percent more than last month’s total of $28.5 billion. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by WSTS and represent a three-month moving average.
“Through the third quarter of 2014, global semiconductor sales remain strong and well ahead of last year’s pace,” said Brian Toohey, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “The industry has now posted seven consecutive months of sequential monthly growth, and year-to-year growth has been strong across nearly all semiconductor product categories, with DRAM and Analog leading the way.”
Regionally, sales were up compared to last month in the Americas (2.8 percent) and Asia Pacific (2.5 percent), but down slightly in Europe (-0.1 percent) and Japan (-1.3 percent). Compared to September 2013, sales increased in Asia Pacific (12 percent), Europe (7.9 percent) and the Americas (3.7 percent), but decreased in Japan (-3.7 percent). All four regional markets have posted better year-to-date sales through September than they did through the same point last year.
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#NRMPresents 'MotorGun.' Car Combat From A "Dream Team" Of Developers
What would you get if the creative minds behind the likes of Gears of War, Unreal Tournament, Twisted Metal, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Interstate '76 made a game? Newly formed Pixelbionic has the answer: presenting MotorGun, the studio's inaugural car combat title.
This PC team-based multiplayer game pays homage to the likes of Twisted Metal, while adding RPG-influenced progression for longevity. It's a chance for gamers to see what can be accomplished when a talented team of industry veterans are unleashed on a genre.
"Projects like MotorGun wouldn't be possible without support from players and fans who share our imaginative passion for guns and gears," said Lee Perry. "As a fan of both the genre and many of the titles the Pixelbionic Dream Team has worked on, it's exciting to be able to contribute to the vision and direction for MotorGun."
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where gasoline, guns & your skill behind the wheel rule the day, MotorGun promises a wide variety of vehicles, multiplayer modes, customisation options, and an in-depth tech tree.
"We've been working hard to ready our Kickstarter launch of MotorGun,which we are beyond ecstatic about," said Pixelbionic Co-founder and President Mike Arkin. "Maxx and I have assembled an all-star team who share our creative vision for an awesome car combat game. However, the fate of MotorGun relies on the commitment and support of fans looking for something special, so we're looking forward to the reception now that we're live."
Already well on the way towards their $650,000 goal ($64,391 at the time of writing), the team have already added stretch goals, including a version for Playstation 4.
"We have an amazing opportunity to really push the limits of what can be achieved with such an ambitious indie project," said Co-founder Maxx Kaufman. "I know the supporters of MotorGun will be blown away once they see some of the great ideas we're working on, such as completely tailoring the experience to each individual – customizing the vehicles – from weapons and defensive measures to the look and style of the cars."
If you feel car combat games have been somewhat absent recently, you owe it to yourself to take a look at this.
Source: Motorgun (Kickstarter)


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GCC Gulf Cooperation Council countries are witnessing accelerated economic growth buoyed by higher oil prices (compared to 2017) and eased fiscal consolidation which will spur domestic demand.
In 2017, the Saudi Government initiated major reforms to lessen the dependence on oil of the economy and increase the role of the private sector in line with Vision 2030. Fiscal consolidation measures including VAT were introduced.
The GDP is estimated to have grown by 2.2% in 2018 and is projected to grow by 1.8% in 2019 (2017: negative 0.9%), driven by higher oil prices, easing of production constraints and increased consumer spending. Non-oil GDP is also showing a healthy growth, and year on year growth in non-oil exports registered 26% in April 2018. VAT and other taxes have led to an increase in non-oil revenues. The fiscal position has also been improved by reduced fuel subsidies, and increased electricity tariffs. The budget deficit was 4.6% of GDP in 2018 and is forecast to further narrow to 4.2% in 2019.
Consumer price inflation of around 3% is forecast for 2018, consequent to the introduction of VAT and price increases but is expected to stabilise at around 2% in 2019. The current account surplus is expected to be around 10% of GDP in 2018, for which increased oil export revenue was a contributory factor. The adoption of Vision 2030 has brought several reforms in its wake such as improving the business environment, developing the SME sector, deepening capital markets, increasing participation of women in the economy and developing industries with high growth potential. The opening of the stock market to foreign investors and creation of a parallel market for the SME sector have been major milestones.


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Download the latest edition of the Bio Market Quarterly (formerly Bio-Based World Quarterly)
Your dedicated guide to the latest news and essential business developments for bio-based chemicals and products.
- Recycled, reused or composted – Danone announce trio of actions to be fully circular by 2025.
- Project focus: Creating high purity lignin and affordable platform chemicals from wood-based sugars.
- The green revolution will be blue: Harvesting algae for the bio-economy.
- Nobel nod for the green pioneer behind ‘directed evolution enzymes’.
- Brands: A pragmatic approach to bio-based chemicals.
- It’s official! Braskem’s carbon negative claims for its bio-based plastic are approved.
- Bio-based a possible solution to Mastercard’s search for more sustainable bank cards.
- The Last Word with… Sandy Marshall, Executive Director, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada.
- News in brief, and much more…


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Frontier Telecom is all set to acquire all of Verizon’s landline related assets in California, Florida and Texas in the coming month. Clearly this acquisition doesn’t include Verizon’s wireless cell phone services but includes Internet, video and phone services. The transfer is scheduled for April 1.
Verizon officials have already announced that it will solely focus its business efforts on the wireless service although it continues to hold the landline operations in the northeast industry, said Les Kumagai, Verizon spokesperson. With this move, the home phone services will be exceptionally be affected.
Landlines are expected to be obsolete in the coming years, and other telecommunication networks are aiming at wireless assets, said Jay Prag, professor of economics and finance at the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.
Frontier Communications officials state that they plan to maintain the existing products and services including internet, voice, video, and online security. The company also announced that it will honour Verizon’s previous promotional pricing via their advertised deadlines. “We’re excited to be in this business and to be the new service provider for these customers, welcoming them into the family, and we are 100 percent focused on creating a great experience for the new customers,” said Cameron Christian, Frontier Communications vice president of marketing for the West region.
Stamford officials said they were unable to break down the number of employees or customers it will acquire regionally but as per state they are welcoming approx. 5000 Verizon employees to Frontier. Plus, the company is absorbing 3.7 million new customers throughout the states. Other cheap home phone services will have to pull up their socks so as to be competitive enough to defeat the clever move made by Frontier and Verizon telecommunications. New Frontier customers can expect that their bills will be sent out in April with the instruction on some payment options available to them.