text:
19:10 | 02/11/2018 Finance - Banking
The partnership will enable financial institutions to reach previously untapped customer segments in four of the largest unbanked markets in Southeast Asia.
Personal finance comparison website GoBear and smartphone-based alternative credit scoring provider CredoLab announced today the partnership to launch Easy Apply, a smartphone app that enables banks, financial institutions and lenders to extend credit to a larger pool of customers while keeping risks in check. The partnership signifies an important headway in making financial services accessible to 49.5M unbanked people in Vietnam.
Aside from Vietnam, the Easy Apply app will also be launched across Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Around 65 to 75 per cent of the population in Southeast Asia are without access to credit, despite many being creditworthy consumers.
The app will utilise CredoLab’s AI based proprietary algorithms that extract and analyse over tens of thousands of data points from applicants’ smartphones, turning these completely anonymised ‘digital footprints’ into predictive credit scorecards to be used in their credit card, loan or insurance applications. The use of non-traditional smartphone data for credit scoring provides applicants from all demographics - including the unbanked who have little to no traditional credit history – greater access to financial services such as credit cards, personal loans, and other forms of unsecured credit.
Adrian Chng, CEO, GoBear, said, “There is a massive market opportunity here in Southeast Asia to continue improving financial inclusion by constantly innovating solutions. Our partnership with CredoLab will bridge the divide between the unbanked and financial institutions by giving both parties access to the right technology at the right moment to create better outcomes.”
Bao Nguyen, Country Director, GoBear Vietnam, said, “We are very pleased that Vietnam will be one of the first markets to launch the Easy Apply app. With new technology, we will be able to help our partners to better serve the unbanked, and enable our users to access useful and affordable financial products at the same time. Improving financial inclusion and serving the unbanked consumers is very important in an emerging market like Vietnam, and we are excited to be part of this meaningful journey.”
|The Easy Apply app will be an integrated part of GoBear’s user journey. It begins with GoBear’s Easy Choices feature, which helps applicants understand which set of products better suit their profile, before downloading and installing the Easy Apply app onto their smartphones to generate their predictive digital scorecards. Easy Apply will kick-off with the credit cards segment and extend to personal loans, insurance products and other lines of credit in the near future.|


text:
The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction will host a family night on Thursday, Dec 7, from 5-7 PM. Have your picture taken with Santa, meet the Grinch, build a toy in Santa’s workshop, holiday cookie decorating, face painting, Christmas Sing- A Long with the Snow Family, and Holiday story readings!
The 2023 Greater Lakes Region Children's Auction is located at the Belknap Marketplace on Tuesday, Dec. 5 through Friday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. All are invited to come to the event and experience the magic in person.
Viewers can bid online at ChildrensAuction.org, starting on Black Friday, Nov 24. Bidders who create an account at ChildrensAuction.org, can bid early on high-value items. New this year, any bidder can also put a maximum bid on any items that will close during the week of the auction.
Donations for the Auction are being accepted at over 30 business locations until Dec. 1. Click here for a complete list of collection sites. We also have collection drop off at the Belknap Marketplace, home of the 2023 Auction, on Dec 2-4 from 10am-2pm as well.

domain: news


text:
A new roofing campaign has been launched by Champion Exteriors in New Jersey. They want to help families who have been impacted by the pandemic and provide a no-cost roof installation to those in need.
For more information please visit the website here: https://www.champion-exteriors.com/free-roof-program-families-in-need
Based in Cape May County, the New Jersey home improvement experts pride themselves on high-quality roof installation, window and door repair, and siding work. The newly launched campaign is part of their continued focus on helping local residents and those most affected by the ongoing health situation.
The team knows that times are difficult for many families throughout the state. For many homeowners who have suffered issues with their roof over the last year, it can be too expensive to arrange a replacement.
This type of additional damage that the pandemic has caused that makes life even more difficult for local families. In response to the situation, Champion Exteriors is providing a free roof giveaway.
Anyone can nominate a family member in need, and the roofing contractors will select a random entrant to win a complete roof installation. Houses need to be over 15 years old to qualify for the project.
Champion Exteriors has a reputation as a leading full-service repair and maintenance specialist. Their services include roofing work, siding installation and repair, and window replacement.
They also provide full deck construction, repair, and railing services alongside gutter replacement and more general repairs. Regardless of their home repair and renovation needs, local customers can contact Champion for reliable and professional service.
The contracting business has over 80 years of experience in the roofing and siding field. For over four generations, they have been a one-stop shop for local residents, and the above campaign is the latest in their ongoing effort to give back to the local community.
A spokesperson for the company states: “Champion Exteriors has always been focused on providing excellent customer service and on-time project delivery. That is what sets us apart from other New Jersey roofing companies.”
Those wishing to find out more can visit: https://www.champion-exteriors.com/free-roof-program-families-in-need
Release ID: 89010345


text:
Disney ranked first for the second time since 2019 in MBLM’s Brand Intimacy study, which examines the emotional connection consumers have to brands.
For the first time, the crypto and
gaming industries are included in the study, with Cardano (a public blockchain platform) in 26th place and Bitcoin in 30th. It’s notable that crypto brands outperformed
traditional financial services brands, per the study, now in its 12th year.
Three technology brands (Apple, Sony and Android) are featured in the top 10, up from two in 2021. Three media and entertainment brands (Disney, YouTube, and Netflix) are also in the top 10.
Netflix now ranks eighth, up from 14th place last year. Trader Joe’s (7th) represents the only retail brand, and Sega (9th) is the only game brand among the top 10.
Mercedes-Benz (6th) is the remaining brand in the top 10.
The enhanced study applies MBLM’s brand Intimacy model with AI to analyze more brands and data, assessing how consumers bond with the brands they use and love.
Leveraging big data and artificial intelligence “takes the emotional science behind brand performance to the next level,” says Mario Natarelli, managing partner, MBLM. “This new methodology gives us broader and more real-time insights. We are now able to assess more authentic and vivid sentiment from consumers.”
Media and entertainment brands continue to thrive, likely boosted by the need of providing escape, comfort and instant gratification, he says.
"Disney’s rise to the top displays the resilience of the media and entertainment industry in unprecedented times,” Natarelli says in a release. “The brand has demonstrated its ability to continue to resonate with consumers, and form deep intimate connections and relationships, even in a fragmented media landscape.”
The Brand Intimacy 2022 Study included more than 600 brands.
The company scores each brand on a "Brand Intimacy Quotient” using artificial intelligence, text analytics, natural language processing, sentiment and measures of intensity, archetypes and stages.
The quotient is a composite measure that combines the intensity, prevalence, and character of the relationship between consumers and brands. The higher the quotient score (from 0 to 100), the more intense the emotional relationship with a brand.


text:
Things to share - 24 June 2020
Keeping alumni up-to-date with news, events and opportunities.
1. Webinar on data innovation and Covid-19
1 July 2020: Join Data-Driven Innovation and guests to discuss the vital role of data and data innovation in the recovery from Covid-19. Experts from the public and private sector will join University researchers looking at specific aspects of how data can help us shape a brighter future.
2. Postgraduate Life - Frequently Asked Questions
The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine has been asking online and on-campus students to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about postgraduate life. You can read some of the responses and watch some of the previous live Q&A recordings.
3. Alumni entries sought for the Teaching Matters blog
The Teaching Matters blog is the University of Edinburgh’s space for debate about learning and teaching, for sharing ideas and approaches to teaching. July’s issue will focus on alumni experience with learning and teaching and the Teaching Matters team would love to feature blog posts written by former students on their experience studying at the University.
4. Epic books vie for UK’s oldest literary prizes
A dazzling array of books showcasing themes such as crossing borders, identity and personal transformation has been shortlisted for Britain’s longest-running literary prizes - the James Tait Black Prizes.
5. Refugee Week 2020
The University hosted an online Refugee Week showcasing Edinburgh’s support of refugee projects, centring around World Refugee Day on 20 June. Some highlights from the day are available on the Edinburgh Global website:
6. In Discussion with Alan Jope
Join us online on Thursday 25 June as we talk to University of Edinburgh Business School Alumnus, Alan Jope about his memories of studying and his career. Alan will cover a number of topics including his memories of studying Business at the University of Edinburgh, career progression, gender equality, and the impact of COVID-19. Includes the chance to submit a question to Alan.
7. Product designers: volunteer for PhD study
Pyschology PhD researcher Liz Cooper is currently seeking product designers working on sustainable design projects, working in English, to participate in her PhD study - and alumni can volunteer.
8. The future of fashion: an interview with Pauline Op de Beeck
Edinburgh Alumna Pauline Op de Beeck was recognised as one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 in Retail and Ecommerce for her work in driving the fashion industry to be more sustainable. We chatted to her about her top tips on how you can influence the industry, her favourite material innovation and what she thinks the future of fashion will look like.


text:
For foodies, SummerFest is the one Hamptons event that should not be missed.
In addition to serving as the premier fundraiser for the Southampton Arts Center, the event allows some of the East End’s most prominent chefs and restaurants to proudly showcase their latest culinary creations, or share some time-proven and favorite recipes.
Bob Abrams, the head chef at Little Red in Southampton, will be serving a new summer addition to his French-inspired American menu: avocado toast topped with grilled lobster.
“We grill a baguette … and then we kind of mash up the avocado so it’s almost like a guacamole,” said Adams, whose restaurant has donated a dish every year to the fundraiser, which will mark its fifth anniversary on Thursday, August 30. “We then add some marinated lobster on top.”
He explained that he prefers to offer attendees a lighter option, explaining that the fundraiser is usually held on a warm evening on the art center’s grounds in Southampton Village. Chef Adams also prefers to serve something that’s a tad unusual as there would be less of a chance of another chef or restaurant offering the same dish.
“You don’t want to have a bunch of similar dishes,” said Adams, adding that he always tries to offer a vegetarian option. For example, one year he prepared a grilled peach and tomato salad.
Keith Davis, owner of the Golden Pear Café, will be serving his famous lobster macaroni and cheese with truffle oil, Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton will be dishing both tomato salad and beef negimaki, and Clamman and Seasons of Southampton will be teaming up to serve tuna tartare, according to Molly Bishop, advancement coordinator for the Southampton Arts Center.
Jean MacKenzie Koster, who owns both Clamman and Seasons, will be bringing bite-size morsels of spicy tuna served in miniature ice cream cones to this year’s fundraiser. She said the cones look and taste like real ice cream cones but only measure between 1 and 1.5 inches in length.
“It looks like a miniature ice cream cone and you pop it right in your mouth,” said Koster, who has also donated her services every year to the Southampton Arts Center. “You get this little crunchy flavor mixed in with some spicy tuna.”
She added that her hors d’oeuvre is a popular item on her catering menu, and that she intends to make at least 500 of them for the fundraiser on August 30. “The place was packed last year, and people like to move around,” she said, explaining why she decided to donate a finger food.
Other restaurants will also be donating their services. EMP Summer House in East Hampton will serve warm lobster rolls, Boa Thai-Asian Fusion in Southampton will dish massaman curry with chicken and jasmine rice, and Saaz will share a traditional Indian plate of chicken tikka masala with naan bread, rice and chana saag.
“What’s nice is that they’re all very local,” said Southampton Arts Center Executive Director Tom Dunn, who will be attending SummerFest for the first time, regarding the long list of participating restaurants. “We have a collection of 20 renowned chefs and restaurants from Southampton and the East End.”
He described SummerFest as his organization’s signature fundraiser, noting that it typically raises more than $400,000 for the arts center, accounting for roughly one-third of its annual operating budget. That money helps offset the costs of exhibitions and programs offered by the center.
Dunn said the center is also “enormously proud” to present its 2018 Champion of the Arts Award to Peter Marino, a New York City architect who announced earlier this summer that he intends to buy the former Rogers Memorial Library building in Southampton Village and transform it into a museum.
“Peter has made a very exciting commitment to the Village of Southampton … and we are so pleased to have him as our neighbor,” Dunn said.
SummerFest runs from 6-10 p.m. at the Southampton Arts Center on Jobs Lane in Southampton Village. Tickets start at $500 and can be reserved by calling the center or visiting www.nycharities.organd clicking on “Southampton Arts Center SummerFest 2018.”
“The arts center is very important to the community, so we don’t mind helping out,” Adams said.


text:
September 19, 2017
Tartan Ink a One-Stop Shop for Printing, Copying, Shipping Needs
By Bruce Gerson
After more than 12 years at 6555 Penn Ave. near Bakery Square, Campus Printing and Mailing Services has joined University Copy Centers to form Tartan Ink, a new storefront on the lower level of the Cohon University Center.
Tartan Ink, which is in the space previously occupied by FedEx/Kinkos, offers students, faculty and staff many printing and copying services. Customers can order business cards, flyers, large format posters, university letterhead and envelopes, passport photos and postcards. Tartan Ink also offers copying and lamination services, and is a drop-off location for shipping packages via UPS.
Printing and large copying jobs are produced at the Penn Avenue location, but orders are taken at the storefront.
“It’s nice to be back on campus because I see people I haven’t seen for a while, and that generates business,” said Dan Tyson, manager of Campus Printing and Mailing.
Campus Printing and Mailing moved to Penn Avenue due to campus construction in 2005. The Gates Center for Computer Science now occupies the space where campus printing resided.
“Despite being off campus, we actually grew the business. We kept our customers, and customer loyalty brought us new business,” said Tyson, who is optimistic that business will continue to increase.
“Tartan Ink is going to take off. It’s already been successful and it has only been open for a couple months,” he said. “We missed the student traffic before, and now we’re getting that with the storefront. Being in the Cohon Center is a very convenient location for people.”
Andrea James, associate sports information director for the Department of Athletics, likes the personal touch Tartan Ink provides.
“If I have a question about a printing project I can walk to the store and get answers easier than trying to explain what I want in an email,” she said. “In the past we’ve had campus printing do standard jobs like business cards, postcards and small booklets, but now we’re planning to add large posters thanks to the location of Tartan Ink.”
Patricia Herbster manages the copy center side of Tartan Ink. She and Tyson bring 70 years of experience to the operation.
“Many people didn’t realize the copy centers — one at Penn Avenue and one in the Tepper School of Business — still existed,” she said. “We have more of a visual presence at Tartan Ink, and there’s more walk-up business. We’re working with a lot of student groups that we had not worked with before. Business is looking good.”
Jon Beck, director of marketing for CulinArt, likes the customer service he received at the store.
“James (Ward), Jerry (Segal) and the Tartan Ink staff accommodated all of my unique and demanding needs, and produced everything from menu boards, to brochures and stickers,” Beck said. “They also are very personable and remembered all of my preferences, suggested great options and even caught my mistakes.”
Like Tyson, Herbster said she is grateful for the opportunity to return to campus.
“Special thanks should be given to our Vice President of Operations Rodney McClendon. He believed we could open the center and maintain the quality of service to our students, faculty and staff,” she said.
Tartan Ink is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday – Friday.


text:
Grab the balloons and party hats, Carolina Farmin’ is gearing up to blow out its first birthday candle. This week the grocery store, located at 2101 Market St., is celebrating its one year anniversary with five days of classes, tastings, giveways and music.
“Instead of us getting gifts, we’re giving gifts to our customers,” said Susan Johnson, a marketing representative for the store.
Wednesday, select Carolina Farmin’s vendors and suppliers will be on hand dishing out samples. Johnson said she has encouraged the vendors to offer giveways so visitors can take home a sampling of their wares.
Tomorrow is also the first day customers can enter to win a $250 gift certificate. Names can be entered into the raffle through Sunday. The drawing will take place after the store closes Sunday.
And even if you don’t win the gift card, Carolina Farmin’ has plenty of free samples to ease the pain. From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, those of age can sample North Carolina brews. If beer leaves you bristling, a wine tasting will be held Friday during the same hours. And if caffeine is how you get your fix, stop in from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday for a coffee sampling hosted by Java Estates Coffee in Hampstead.
For foodies who are hungry for knowledge, Thursday and Friday are chock full of classes. Thursday’s classes will be taught by Cheryle Jones Syracuse, professor emeritus from Ohio State. Syracuse, who has retired to Brunswick County, specializes in food preservation. N.C. Cooperative Extension agent Chantel Welker will be assisting in the workshops.
Jammin’: From 4 to 5 p.m., workshop attendees will learn to make their own jam.
Chill-It!: From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., visitors can learn how to freeze fresh produce.
Can-It!: The basics of canning will be taught from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
What’s That?: Unusual produce is the theme of this workshop being held from 2 to 3 p.m.
Pick-It!: Learn how to select the best farm-fresh produce from 1 to 1:30 p.m. or 4 to 4:30 p.m.
These classes will run about one hour, with time for questions and answers. R.S.V.P. for the classes at Carolina Farmin’s website. All classes are free.
Thursday and Friday will also host the produce truck sale. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., fresh produce will be on sale when bought in bulk.
“We’re starting to wind down the local growing season for produce, so we want to give people who freeze or can a chance to buy in bulk and save a little money,” Johnson said.
When the weekend hits, Carolina Farmin’ cranks up the family fun. During the coffee sampling, kids are treated to a mini carnival. Kids on the Farm includes a scavenger hunt, face painting, balloons and cotton candy.
At lunchtime, the first 500 guests will be treated to a free hot dog and a soda.
If you aren’t exhausted from all of these events, swing by Wallace Park, located next to the grocery store, for a free, outdoor concert. Brent Stimmel Band is performing. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and picnic during the show.
“This is a treat for everyone,” Johnson said. “This our way of thanking our neighbors who have been so supportive of Caroliina Farmin.’ ”


text:
WeWork’s parent company is ready to postpone its initial public offering (IPO).
The news follows reports that SoftBank — the company’s biggest investor — asked WeWork to shelve its plans to go public due to questions over how much the company is worth. In addition, WeWork’s parent company, We Company, has come under scrutiny from both investors and analysts over its governance, as well as payments made to Co-Founder and Chief Executive Adam Neumann and its use of a complicated corporate structure.
Now sources have told The Wall Street Journal that We Co. plans to postpone its roadshow until at least next month.
While We Co. had been valued at $47 billion in a fundraising exercise this year with SoftBank, sources revealed that in recent days, its executives and underwriters have lowered that valuation to between $15 billion and $20 billion or even lower.
In addition, the New York-based company lost more than $900 million in the first half of 2019, up 25 percent from a year earlier, even though its revenue doubled to $1.54 billion, as it burned through cash to expand.
Investors could also be worried after the recent debut of SmileDirectClub, a teeth-straightening startup that fell 28 percent on its first day of trading — making it the year’s worst stock-market debut for an American company valued at more than $1 billion.
We Co. is expected to wait until at least mid-October to start its investor roadshow. If the listing is shelved, the company would lose out on a $6 billion loan from a group of banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, that was contingent on the IPO raising at least $3 billion.
The company revealed earlier this year that it is also looking to expand into owning buildings, and is launching a “global real estate acquisition and management platform” to purchase stakes in buildings that it plans to lease. The fund will be called ARK and will start with $2.9 billion of total equity capital.


text:
From Home Furnishing Business
Select Comfort Q3 Profits Slip, but Sales Rise 9.4%
Mattress producer and retailer Select Comfort (NASDAQ: SCSS) said third-quarter sales jumped 9.4% to $402.6 million, but net income slipped about 1% due largely to the impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
The company, maker of the Sleep Number bed, didn’t specify how much the hurricanes hurt the bottom line, but reported net income of $25.6 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30, down from $25.7 million in the same quarter last year.
On a per-share basis, net income was 62 cents per share in the most recent quarter, surpassing last year’s third quarter total of 56 cents per share due to the company’s aggressive share repurchase program in the past year. The average number of shares outstanding stood at 41.5 million as of Sept. 30, down from 46.4 million shares at the end of last year’s third quarter.
The company said sales were driven by strong demand for its new Sleep Number 360 smart bed line, noting that comparable-store sales from company-owned retail stores rose 5%.
“We are excited with how the consumer continues to respond to our innovations focused on quality sleep and wellness,” said Shelly Ibach, president and CEO.
The company ended the quarter with 553 company-owned stores, a net gain of four locations from the beginning of the quarter. The average sales per square foot rose to $909 from $895 a year earlier.
For the nine months ended Sept. 30, sales were up 8.4% to $1.08 billion, and net income jumped 22.8% to $49.3 million or $1.16 per share.
Select Comfort also tweaked its full-year earnings estimate to $1.30 to $1.45 per share. That compares with a June estimate of $1.25 to $1.50 per share. Both estimates include expenses from the Sleep Number 360 product launch of about 18 cents per share.
In addition, the company announced it will officially change its corporate name to Sleep Number Corp. on Nov. 1. Its NASDAQ ticker symbol will change to SNBR.


text:
The Interactive Digital Software Assn., which owns the Electronic Entertainment Expo, has issued a report that forecasts strong growth for the PC and vidgame software business.
IDSA president Douglas Lowenstein said the org reached its conclusions despite an onslaught of negative publicity about the entertainment software industry. The report addresses the online gaming industry, but its main focus is on so-called “shrink-wrapped” products like CD-ROMs and vidgames sold at retail and through mail order.
Lowenstein pointed to several factors that bolster the org’s contention. Those include a projection of $5.3 billion in vidgame sales for 1997, growth in the U.S.-installed base for computers and increased demand for entertainment software overseas.
He added that Hollywood’s failure to set cash registers ringing with CD-ROM sales shouldn’t be interpreted as a death knell for the industry. “The fact that studios didn’t make a lot of money doesn’t mean it isn’t a strong business. But if the studios keep approaching this as a ‘throwaway,’ they’ll keep creating mediocre product,” he said.


text:
Messe Frankfurt, organisers of the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, has presented a cheque to Ben for £1,063, following a highly successful partnership at this year’s show.
The amount was raised through a combination of corporate donation and individual donations that Ben received from attendees at the show who took part in a video game racing challenge and supports people to navigate life’s challenges, helping them make positive, lasting changes to their lives.
Two sites in Pembrokeshire have been named in the top ten places in the UK to camp this summer, according to a new study by ATS Euromaster.
Hidden gems areEco Caerhys Camping in St Davids offers wild meadow camping at an organic farm on the Pembrokshire coastline. It’s a great place for active people, with surfing nearby and the Three Fields Campsite is a spacious site with a private toilet, shower and firepit at each pitch, situated just 10 minutes from Haverfordwest.
Adventure Travel will run two key Vale of Glamorgan bus routes following Easyway of Pencoed’s closure at the end of July.
Adventure Travel has secured agreement with the Vale of Glamorgan council to run the 88 and B3 routes from the end of August; Route 88 connects Penarth and Barry via Sully and Cadoxton, while the B3 service operates in Barry, with stops including the town centre and the dock.
Holidaymakers heading over the English Channel from this weekend are being advised to expect more delays.
The RAC advice is for motorists to check delays with their ferry company, Euro-tunnel link and Port of Dover for the latest at any time before leaving home.
The Electric Vehicle Technology Group has paid £46.2M for a majority share in Moke International, which has pioneered a emissions’ free version of the 1960s Mini derived beach car.
EVTG wants to acquire a number of companies which now run electric powered versions of classic cars.
Car rental companies will be struggling to meet agreements with vehicle makers and customers as the fossil fuels’ era draws to a close over the next decade.
The cost of making electrical cars and supply constraints mean they cannot discount prices to the hire companies when retail demand is strong and potential profits have to be maximised with each sale.
US safety regulators have ordered the recall of certain BMW i4 and iX models from 2022MY.
Their centre displays are missing expected information, while several MB top end models are also found to have inoperative rearview camera displays.
This week marks the start of the rollout of Volvo Cars’ latest over-the-air software update with Google built in, enabling a variety of feature and quality improvements.
One of the new functionalities will include the rollout of Apple CarPlay, enabling iPhone users to feel even more at home in their Volvo car and users can now connect their iPhone via USB to their Volvo car and access apps from their iPhone, wherever Apple CarPlay is available.
Four times as many used EVs will reach the trade inside three years, dealers were told this week.
This will make them an important part of the market and planning should be accelerated, the Vehicle Remarketing Association members were told at their AGM.
UK motorists have forked out an additional £1.13 billion pounds during the last 12 months because of the rising cost of petrol and diesel.
Used car platform CarGurus looked at the average monthly cost of diesel and petrol prices from June 2021 to June 2022 based on the average monthly mileage and average consumption.


text:
Apple Music to Launch on Amazon's Echo Devices the Week of December 17
Apple and Amazon today announced that Apple Music will launch on Echo devices beginning the week of December 17. In a blog post, Amazon explains that Apple Music subscribers will be able to ask Alexa to play their favorite songs, artist, playlists, Beats1 radio stations, and albums, all through an Echo speaker.
One example they give is the command, "Alexa, play Bebe Rexha on Apple Music."
The integration will launch as an Apple Music skill that will need to be enabled within the Alexa app, where users will also be able to link their account to start listening to Apple Music on an Echo speaker. Apple Music will join the ranks of a few other music streaming services already supported on Echo, including Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Pandora.
“Music is one of the most popular features on Alexa—since we launched Alexa four years ago, customers are listening to more music in their homes than ever before,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president, Amazon Devices.
“We are committed to offering great music providers to our customers and since launching the Music Skill API to developers just last month, we’ve expanded the music selection on Alexa to include even more top tier services. We’re thrilled to bring Apple Music – one of the most popular music services in the US – to Echo customers this holiday.”
Apple Music is said to have over 56 million total subscribers, including those on the free trial. The company is in a battle with Spotify as each tries to grow their numbers. In November, Spotify reported 87 million paid subscribers on its service, and 191 million monthly active users.
These numbers refer to global paid subscriber users, and in a report over the summer it was suggested that Apple Music is actually ahead of Spotify's paid subscriber count in the United States. Both Apple Music and Spotify were said to have more than 20 million paid subscribers in the U.S. as of July 2018, and at the time Apple was "a hair ahead" of its rival.


text:
Not out of the woods just yet
A dip in the consumption growth is bad news for the present and the future of our economy.
The combined effects of a tightfisted central bank and a spendthrift government are showing up spectacularly in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The economy grew a miserable 5.5% in April-June 2012, down from 8% in the same period a year ago. The loss of momentum endures from the immediately previous quarter when the gross domestic product grew by 5.3%, the slowest pace in nine years. Industry, apart from power, has stopped growing. Agriculture is slowing down, and the situation could get worse in the July-September monsoon quarter. The shocker in the latest data set is that the growth rate in the biggest chunk of services — trade, hotels, transport and communications — is less than a third of what it was a year ago. Contradictory policies have destroyed an awesome amount of demand in the economy over the space of 12 months. More destruction is in store unless the contradiction is resolved.
The Reserve Bank of India was correct in its assessment that persistent inflation called for tighter interest rates. The unsaid second leg of such policy intervention was spending curbs by the government, which never happened. Government consumption in April-June 2012 grew twice as fast as during the same quarter of 2011. Such prodigious expenditure is squeezing out private consumption — the stuff that you and I buy — which is now growing a fifth slower than a year ago. This is nothing in comparison to the havoc wreaked on investments. Real expenditure on setting up new production capacities in the economy has all but stopped growing. In effect, the government's profligacy is eating into household spending after having wiped out investment demand. The trade picture is not sunny either; the gap is closing because imports are growing slower than exports, not a healthy sign given our appetite for foreign energy. Here, too, capacity-enhancing machinery imports are taking the hit.
The situation — where current economic momentum as well as future growth prospects are being jeopardised by the ruling coalition's welfare commitments — can be salvaged by either fiscal rectitude or monetary easing. Expecting an election-bound government to see the light is a triumph of hope over reality. It would be far easier to mount pressure on the central bank to ease up on interest rates to revive growth. That would be a costly mistake. India is not out of the woods so far as inflation is concerned. There is a fair amount of suppressed and structural inflation that could rear its head. There seems to be a loose consensus among the country's principal political parties that short-term pain is acceptable if it translates into a better medium-term outlook for the economy. At this time, however, neither the present nor the future looks bright.


text:
Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that it will be transferring its online services to Sony Network Entertainment America on April 1,
Latest News for Resistance 2
Get breaking news, announcements, releases and commentary for Resistance 2.
The social gaming wagon has yet another rider. Last week, Harrison Ford joined, and now it's Insomniac Games' turn with a new studio: Insomniac Click


text:
With the rise of smartphones, the Internet of Things (IoT), electric vehicles and renewable energy, there are more and more batteries out in the world.
Yet we still struggle to get the best out of them, knowing how long they will last, when to change them, and what to do with them after they’re replaced.
“We are basically not using batteries properly, and we don't use them to their full potential,” says Michal Sastinsky, chief executive and original founders of BatteryCheck, a Czech startup focused on battery lifecycle analytics.
Czech your battery
In the European Union alone, 191,000 tonnes of portable batteries were sold in 2018. This doesn’t include all the other types of batteries, such as those used for industrial and automotive purposes.
And while people rightly tout the technological leaps in areas like lithium-ion battery production, which have led to massive decreases in cost and have made electric vehicles and energy storage commercially viable for the first time, our knowledge of how to get the best out of batteries is still lagging.
BatteryCheck, which was founded in 2018, is among those aiming to use artificial intelligence analytics and data science to accurately calculate best usage, prolong battery life and reduce e-waste.
We are basically not using batteries properly, and we don't use them to their full potential.
The initial idea behind the Prague-based startup was to create cheap energy storage systems from used batteries. “Batteries are very expensive and so is energy storage,” says Sastinsky, who spent eight years working at Microsoft, his last role running IoT operations across 22 countries (he left to focus on lithium energy and energy storage batteries, before moving on to data analytics. “Combining everything, it's basically BatteryCheck,” he says today).
However, Sastinsky quickly came across a major issue; it was almost impossible to predict and calculate how long a used battery would last. Potential customers would therefore be unlikely to buy into such solutions.
Instead, he thought, it would make sense to develop a software analytic solution which manufacturers can easily integrate into their battery-powered devices to provide alerts and recommendations for their internal operations and also for their B2B, B2C customers. Within three months of founding, the company had pivoted in this new direction.
Black box storage
Understanding the lifespan of a battery isn’t as easy as counting the hours, or number of recharges. Sastinsky points out that batteries come in all different sizes, chemistries, to work in different devices. “And it's just basically a black box, so it's very unpredictable, because each chemistry is different,” he says.
To counter this, software-as-a-service solutions allow real time monitoring of batteries in their usage environment. This is particularly key for manufacturing and industry, where huge numbers of batteries may be in use and where the consequences of battery outage can be far reaching if a specific device stops working, even for just a minute.
“If a sensor is underground, or in a remote location, you still need to know what's happening, because if there is no battery there is no sensor. In case of IoT devices there is a golden rule, the life of an IoT sensor equals battery life,” says Sastinsky.
Battery powered world
Operating via Microsoft Cloud, BatteryCheck aims to make the process as simple as possible for manufacturers, so as not to create any additional hassle on the manufacturing side.
“We just need the data, we don't have to visit, we don't have to go anywhere,” says Sastinsky. “We just integrate with the existing platform, and we take the data. No hardware, no software, just data.”
He adds that all personal data stays on the manufacturer side. “They keep all the information, we are just enabling additional services, like predictive maintenance, predictive replacement, second life recommendation, recycling recommendations, alerts if there is a problem.”
In addition, Sastinsky believes BatteryCheck’s software solution can be a real enabler of the second life marketplace, where batteries with less than 80% capacity are often seen as end of life and replaced.
Fee per battery
BatteryCheck is still pre-revenue, but that will change beginning this year. Three customers will convert to commercial customers early in 2021, and they’re talking to 15 others, says Sastinsky, adding that these discussions are taking place under non-disclosure agreements. “Some of these customers have millions of batteries out there,” he says.
While electric vehicles are an obvious market, he adds, there are established companies like Bosch already focused on them. “We focus on the different devices, we focus on power tools, on industrial robots, off-road vehicles, specialised devices, sensors. There is a huge market,” he says.
The business model is a fee per battery per month, but the company also offers a prepayment option for certain scenarios. The startup has bootstrapped to date, but is in talks with investors about a funding round.
We focus on the different devices, we focus on power tools, on industrial robots, off-road vehicles, specialised devices, sensors. There is a huge market.
One of the main challenges is raising awareness. “People don't know what they don't know,” says Sastinsky, adding that they’re preparing an awareness campaign for 2021 targeting manufacturers of various battery powered devices.
Even so, Sastinsky sees big opportunities.
“There are gazillions of the batteries being shipped and used by people for various reasons,” he says. “We have IoT almost everywhere now, 5G is going to make a huge difference as well. Electric vehicles, electric scooters, electric bikes,” he says, each one a potential opportunity.
At Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe, our vision is to help the region advance as digital hotspot, by enabling local entrepreneurs and businesses to innovate and scale globally. The Microsoft for Startups programme is part of that vision, partnering with B2B startups in the region to provide technology and business support and help them realise their ambitions for growth.


text:
A leading luxury holiday lettings company in Cornwall has been nominated for an internationally-recognised travel industry award.
Cornish Gems, which manages a portfolio of 180 of Cornwall’s finest holiday homes, is a nominee for the Best UK Holiday Cottage Company in the 2019 British Travel Awards (BTAs). The winner will be determined by the public who have until September 30 to vote.
Gems won Silver at the BTAs three years ago and hopes to be successful again in 2019. The winners will be announced at the BTA Gala Awards Dinner in London on November 27.
Cornish Gems is a local business founded in 2007 by co-managing directors Julianne Shelton and Nadia Macer-Wright. With offices in St Ives and Truro, the company employs more than 100 people.
To support the BTAs campaign to encourage public voting, Cornish Gems has donated a £1,500 voucher towards a stay at one of its homes Tresladon, in Mawgan Porth. The prize joins over 20 other luxury holiday prizes including a Jaguar F-Type, in a prize draw which everyone voting in the BTAs will be entered into for a chance to win.
Commenting on the nomination, Shelton said: “We are immensely proud to have been nominated for the British Travel Awards again this year. Our team work incredibly hard to ensure the highest standards of accommodation for guests to enjoy whilst on holiday in our beautiful county.”
To vote for Cornish Gems in the British Travel Awards, click here.


text:
“I don’t follow trends – I start them!”
At a lavish press event held at the Austrian Embassy on March 7, Josef Zotter – founder of Zotter Chocolate – explained his company’s roots, its bean-to-bar credentials, his innovation philosophy, and more. Simon Rowley attended to hear his story
Zotter Chocolate, an Austrian chocolatier founded in 1987, has developed a strong reputation over the last 30 years – partly due to its innovative range of chocolate products and bean-to-bar credentials, but primarily thanks to Josef Zotter, the man behind the scenes that is responsible for the company’s growth and success.
A trained chef from an early age, Josef founded the Zotter family business alongside his wife, Ulrike, and today he oversees everything that goes on at the company; with a particularly strong hand in new product development. Thanks to his efforts, Zotter was recently named among the top 25 chocolate companies in the world (by chocolate tester Georg Bernardini in his illustrious 2015 publication, Chocolate – The Reference Standards), and additionally, Josef himself received an entrepreneurial award last year too.
But how does the company actually function, and what does Josef actually oversee on a day-to-day basis? In the extravagant surroundings of the Austrian Embassy in London last month, the Zotter head honcho made a rare visit to the UK to tell all.
To view this you must be logged in with an active subscription.


text:
Local parents will join others around the world later this month in an attempt to break the Guinness world record for the most diapers changed at one time.
On Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m., parents and babies are invited to gather at the Cranbrook Family Connections building, next to the skate park, for the Great Cloth Diaper Change.
At 11 a.m., each baby will be changed into a fresh, commercially available cloth diaper, at the same time that similar events are going on at 240 locations in 15 countries around the world.
In 2013, the event saw 8,301 babies changed at the same time, setting a new world record. This year, the goal is to break that record.
But there's another goal, said organizer Daleen Bybee.
"It's really about awareness," said Bybee. "Some families may have never considered cloth diapering and they may think it's so much work. But we're just here to show them that it can be fun and teach them whatever they want to know."
There will be "cloth diapering gurus" on hand to answer questions and explain what cloth diapering means.
"There are so many neat options for cloth diapering, and it is a good option for families if you can swing it," said Bybee.
Participants will be given a bag of donated goodies to take home, including a pair of baby legs for the first 20 moms.
Door prizes will also be available, offering donated items from both local businesses such as Petra Naturally and A Touch of Whimsy, and other companies such as Apple Cheeks and Superior Soap Nuts.
As well as the diaper change, there will also be a baby-wearing fashion show during the event.
"Lots of families in the area have questions about baby wearing – which carriers to use and how to do it safely. So this is just a great venue to do a fashion show, and we'll teach moms about safe baby wearing and what carriers are available locally and which ones are the best options for families," said Bybee.
Bybee, who owns Over The Rainbow Family Services, is organizing the event alongside Megan Lescanec, owner of the Bumble Tree.
Families from both Cranbrook and Kimberley are encouraged to attend the event.
To meet the world record criteria, it must be one adult for each child. Participants must bring a fresh, commercially available cloth diaper, and the child must be shorter than 39 inches – less than four years old on average. Parents may want to bring a blanket or change pad to put under the baby during the change as it will be mostly done on the floor.
To find out more or to RSVP, you can visit the Bumble Tree on Baker Street in Cranbrook, or find the event on Facebook by searching for "Great Cloth Diaper Change – Cranbrook and Kimberley".


text:
An aerial view of Xiamen Port. [Photo/WeChat account: xiamen_swj]
Fujian province's trade with countries involved in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has seen significant growth since the pact took effect in January 2022.
As of June this year, trade between the province and these countries had exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($138.6 billion). This figure encompasses exports worth 572.58 billion yuan and imports valued at 431.47 billion yuan.
Mechanical and electrical goods, and labor-intensive products constitute the primary commodities Fujian exports to other RCEP nations. During this period, these categories saw exports reaching 197.9 billion yuan and 161.31 billion yuan respectively, comprising 62.7 percent of Fujian's total export value to RCEP countries.
Trade of labor-intensive goods such as clothing and footwear rose considerably as well, with their certified value increasing by 58.26 percent year-on-year.
Between January 2022 and June 2023, trade between private enterprises in Fujian province and RCEP members totaled 578.99 billion yuan, accounting for 57.7 percent of the province's total.
During the same period, Xiamen Customs issued 28,000 RCEP certificates of origin with a certified value of 12.1 billion yuan. Thanks to these certificates, businesses were able to take advantage of tariff concessions worth over 1.2 billion yuan in their respective import countries.


text:
TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Everyone knew the pandemic would be devastating to personal trainers. But until now, no one just how bad it would get.
In short, it’s bad.
The average pre-pandemic income for personal trainers was $46,000 a year; 75 percent of them expected to make more money in 2020.
But when COVID-19 hit and gyms closed, 58 percent of trainers lost some or all of their income, and 23 percent were furloughed or laid off. Six percent hadn’t yet found new jobs during the survey period from August 6 to 13, 2020.
The news wasn’t all bad, however. One in five trainers made more money during the pandemic, and about the same number said their income didn’t change.
How COVID-19 will change the fitness industry
Before the pandemic, 60 percent of trainers worked with their clients in person, 7 percent coached online, and 32 percent combined in-person and online training.
Post-pandemic, just 14 percent plan to coach primarily in person—a 75 percent decline. Twenty-one percent plan to work primarily online—a 300 percent increase—while 62 percent will combine in-person and online training.
Just 1 percent of trainers said they’re going to leave the fitness industry.
Who participated in the salary survey
Seventy-one percent of the trainers who participated in the survey are 25 to 44 years old.
Fifty-nine percent are male, and 69 percent live in the U.S. or Canada.
Fifty percent have a bachelor’s degree and 19 percent have a master’s degree or beyond.
About the Personal Trainer Development Center
The Personal Trainer Development Center is the premier source of information and education for ambitious, passionate fitness professionals.
Founded by Jonathan Goodman in 2011, the PTDC has published more than 1,000 articles, offers two certification programs for online coaches (Online Trainer Academy Level 1 and OTA Level 2), and provides an exclusive coaching service for fitness and nutrition professionals.
About Jonathan Goodman
Jonathan Goodman began training clients as a college student in 2005. He was still working as a personal trainer in a Toronto gym when he launched the PTDC in 2011. The success of his first book, Ignite the Fire: The Secrets to Building a Successful Personal Training Career, took him out of the gym and into a full-time career as a writer and publisher serving fitness professionals.
Goodman, who was among the first to see the potential of online personal training, opened the Online Trainer Academy in 2016, with a focus on successfully running an online business.
For more information
SOURCE Personal Trainer Development Center


text:
Mysore/Mysuru: World Consumer Rights Day was organised at Vidyavardhaka Law College which was inaugurated by District Consumer Redressal Commission Mysuru President B. Narayanappa. IIT Alumni and Mysore Grahakara Parishat Founder Bhamy V. Shenoy was the chief guest.
In his inaugural address, Narayanappa said that consumers can simply submit their complaint to the District Consumer Redressal Commission on a white sheet of paper.
Intervening in the session, Bhamy Shenoy told Narayanappa that when Consumer Protection Act was first implemented, he had submitted a letter with his complaint and it was accepted. However over the years, the process has become so complex with a definite format suggested by the Consumer Redressal Commission. Now the Consumer Courts have actually become as tedious as Civil Courts.
“If you really accept a simple letter as a complaint, it is the beginning of a new era in the implementation of COPRA (Consumer Protection Act) as envisaged by India’s Parliament when it was adapted in 1986,” Bhamy Shenoy told the gathering.
After Narayanappa concluded his address, Bhamy Shenoy asked him in how many cases the Commission has been able to give judgements in just one sitting, without any adjournments. Replying to his query, Narayanappa explained the steps involved like getting evidence, assessing the credibility of evidence, framing charges etc. All these processes were similar to that of a civil case.
Bhamy Shenoy insisted that the spirit of COPRA was to have a simple process to give judgements without going through the elaborate process of a Civil Court. He requested two other members of the Commission and the President that they should exercise their powers to force the Commission to give up the elaborate process of Civil Court and make the process in the Consumer Court as simple as possible.
He also suggested that to begin with, the Commission should get rid of the elevated platform from where they preside and have tables at the same level as public. Such symbolism is needed to make the consumer complainants comfortable.
At the event, CREAT Executive Head Y.G. Muralidharan delivered the keynote address, Vidyavardhaka Sangha President Gundappa Gowda presided, Treasurer Shrishail Ramannavar and others were present.


text:
PTC cops undertake toy drive
Peachtree City Police are undertaking a toy drive this year aimed at providing toys for local needy children.
Police will be stationed at area shopping centers several times in the weeks before Christmas accepting new but unwrapped toys for their “Light Up the Night” campaign. The toys will be distributed to local families identified with the help of local schools and the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.
The goal at each location is to have the back of a large police truck filled with donated toys, said police Capt. Stan Pye.
At each event, police officers volunteering their time will be on hand with the blue lights flashing on their vehicles to draw attention for the cause. Members of the department’s Community Emergency Response Team will also be on hand to help out.
There will also be a secure lock box at each event for those who would rather donate cash, which will be used to purchase gift cards that will be programmed so they can’t buy alcohol or tobacco products, organizers said.
Toy donations will also be accepted at police headquarters.
Police will be on hand at the Kedron Village shopping center Saturday, Dec. 12 from 2-5 p.m. to collect toys at the shopping center’s Christmas Celebration community event.
Police will announce future toy collection events and locations at a later date. The department’s electronic message board trailer will be used to publicize that information, which will also be made available at www.TheCitizen.com.
All families who will benefit from the program are referred by either local schools or the Department of Family and Children Services. If the family wants, police officers in marked vehicles will make the special delivery ... or they can choose to have the gifts wrapped and presented in a low-key manner, organizers said.


text:
by Abbey Unsworth, Summer Student – Natural Edge and Love Your Lake
Canada has recently announced a ban on single-use plastics as part of a strategy to combat plastic pollution. The ban is set to take effect by 2021 and will most likely include items such as plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and take-out containers, but the specifics have not yet been determined. The strategy also focuses on companies that manufacture or sell plastic products, putting a responsibility on them for the management and recycling of their plastic waste. Fishing industries will also be included in the strategy with efforts focused on preventing and retrieving discarded fishing gear, known as ghost gear, which contributes to ocean plastic pollution and endangers wildlife (Pope, 2019).
Plastic pollution is a mounting global issue. In Canada, 3.2 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced each year, and only 9 percent of this is recycled. The rest is thrown away, overwhelming landfills and littering our streets, parks, and watersheds. The most commonly found items that are littering North America’s coastline are food wrappers, bottle caps, beverage bottles, plastic bags, straws, and stir sticks (“Environmental Impact,” 2019). Plastic is not biodegradable and it is widely used for its durability and cheap production costs which causes its persistence in the environment.
While this government ban is a step in the right direction in the fight against plastic pollution, as consumers we need to help by working to reduce our own plastic footprint. There are many simple ways which we can all participate, such as:
- Bringing a refillable water bottle or travel mug for coffee
- Request no straw when ordering drinks, and bring your own reusable straw made from metal or bamboo
- Avoid plastic stir sticks and using a metal spoon instead
- Bring your own reusable cutlery when grabbing lunch on-the-go
- Buy in bulk using reusable containers where possible
- Shop with reusable bags instead of single-use plastic ones
- Look for products that use less plastic in their packaging
- Switch to reusable beeswax or cheesecloth instead of plastic wrap
- Use reusable containers rather than plastic baggies
- Donate or trade unwanted clothing
- Learn proper recycling techniques
When learning about how to reduce your impact, don’t get overwhelmed. The world doesn’t need a few people doing this perfectly, it needs everyone trying to help imperfectly. Every change counts.
Environmental Impact, 10000 Changes. (2019). Retrieved from https://10000changes.ca/the-problem/environmental-impact/
Pope, A., Nerberg, S. (June 10, 2019). Canada to ban single-use plastics by 2021. Retrieved from https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/canada-ban-single-use-plastics-2021


text:
Another novelty on the front of unionization of Apple Stores. Just yesterday, in fact, the employees of the Penn Square store a Oklahoma City have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to hold union elections, becoming de facto the third store in the US to have started this practice. According to a press release, over 70% of the salesmen, administrators, technicians and operational specialists have signed papers in which they are interested in being represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA).
Oklahoma City: Apple Store calls for union elections
The Oklahoma City Apple Store petition comes about two months after employees at a Maryland store applied to join the International Association of Machinists, adding to the many union initiatives of some major US companies. In fact, unions have recently found support within Amazon, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s and Chipotle Mexican Grill. “This is a really good time to bring the labor movement back to life.” So he stated Michael Forsytheone of the leaders of the Oklahoma City store’s activist campaign.
As anticipated, more than 70% of employees have formally requested to be inside the Store represented by the CWA. And they could be among the first to vote to be part of it. The union, which this year won the election among Verizon Communications retail employees, Activision Blizzard quality assurance testers, and subcontracted Google Fiber staff, said it heard from numerous Apple employees across the country. . In April he presented a petition to represent the employees of theApple Store ad Atlanta, but withdrew that request the week before a scheduled vote. By citing, as you can imagine, rather unusual causes.
In response, in a video message to the workers Deirdre O’BrienApple’s chief of retail said she was concerned about “what it would mean to put another organization in the middle of our relationship.” In May, the company announced that it would increased the minimum wage for its retail staff for $ 22 an hour. But all this was not enough to stop the initiative of the employees of the Apple Store in Oklahoma City, who were inspired by dear colleagues in Atlanta. The reason? Employees want more transparency and input on issues like safety, scheduling and pay.
“I really love the company,” he said Michael Forsythe. “There are changes that I know need to happen, but I don’t think it’s necessarily with our direct managers. I see this as a thing between workers and the Big Apple “.


text:
America wants to shop till it hurts.
There’s something to be said for sitting in the cold wind to get front row tickets to your favorite concert show, but even we were quietly shocked when we perused the long queues on West 23rd and 6th ave last night as the mob dug in for those long awaited price discounts. Like you, we enjoy our bouts of shopping but what gives when you come across an excess of 500 people waiting in a bizarre long line to get their hands on trinkets. Let us explain it for you in one word- poverty.
This year we are poorer than ever (except for the investment banker community- yes you know who you are…) and in our collective desire to appear rich, or respectable to the rest of the nation we’ve all joined hands and gone shopping.
Let’s check out some of the yummy bargains-
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, drew crowds with $298 Hewlett-Packard laptop computers and other doorbuster specials that went on sale at 5 a.m. Best Buy Inc., the biggest electronics chain, had bigger early-morning crowds than last year, Chief Executive Officer Brian Dunn said. The lines in front of the stores were longer, and the company’s Web site attracted more visitors, Dunn said.
Did they pack some muffins for that long wait? We think so. Continues the Bloomberg report-
Elzubier, 41, figured the 20-hour wait will save him as much as $1,000. He planned to buy a 42-inch Samsung flat-panel TV for $547.99, a Sony laptop computer for $399.99, a Compaq laptop for $179.99, software and accessories.
America – because elusive bargains are here to stay.


text:
African Tech Ecosystem: What’s next for software developers in Africa?
The pandemic has brought a drastic change to the work culture of the many businesses going digital. As a result, the demand for software developers in Africa continues to surge. These changes have shaped the African tech ecosystem toward a better future.
The recent ‘Africa Developer Ecosystem 2021 report by Google and Accenture,’ presents many insights into the African tech ecosystems of the future. The suspension of offline businesses gave rise to a digital revolution in Africa. Many developers took up remote IT jobs and opened a unique pipeline of African tech talent.
Contribution of African tech to the Global Developer Community
Statistics show a 3.8% increase in African software developers in 2021. These professionals also account for 0.4% of the continent’s non-agricultural workforce. Software developers in Africa totaled 716,000 professionals in 2021, with South Africa claiming the highest number: 121,000. But Mozambique saw the highest increase of 10% in developers from 2020 to 2021.
Out of the 16 countries analyzed in this survey, different countries have achieved unique milestones. They score differently in developing a favorable ecosystem and promoting tech. Ethiopia, Cameron, Uganda, Mozambique, and Tanzania account for a small developer population with a small-scale African startup landscape. These nations lie in the nascent phase and tackle upcoming challenges to promote a stable economic environment.
Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya boast a strong and foundational African startup ecosystem. Their developers account for 32% of the total African developer population. The growth of the African tech ecosystem is a good omen for the entire continent. It is good to see that more software developers in Africa are joining hands in the global tech revolution.
Gender diversity amongst software developers in Africa
Gender diversity is essential for every institution and corporation. The share of female developers is crucial when counting the number of software developers in Africa.
For every team of 20 African developers, three are women. Women make up 15% of the continent’s developer workforce. Gender biases, family care, and lack of significant experience are some of the contributing factors to the limited representation. Unfortunately, in 2021, the gender gap between female and male developers increased by 2.5%.
The socio-cultural environment of the region impacts the work-life culture and prohibits women from working in offices far from home. These limitations impact upskilling, limiting them to junior positions, with few routes for professional advancement.
Though the overall numbers are low, it depicts the ability of female professionals to walk into African tech without any second thoughts. More women can join the tech industry if proper mentorship and support are available at every stage.
The African startup ecosystem
African startups have a lot to say about the African tech ecosystems of the future. They serve a significant role in encouraging native developers to recognize and maximize their potential. Domestic companies like Nigerian startups give professionals the confidence to upgrade themselves and aim globally. Numbers reveal that African startups employ half of the African developer population.
The African tech ecosystem accelerated the startup culture by providing an eminent workforce and ample funding. In 2020, the continent gave birth to 40% more startups than in 2019. Venture capitalists also recognized the potential and contributed to this budding ecosystem. African startups received more than $4 billion as investment, which is more than double the previous year’s investment.
Fintech startups have received approximately half of this year’s funding. The growth of such ventures gives rise to a flywheel effect. As fintech becomes an essential part of Africans’ daily life, younger generations will become more comfortable and ambitious toward tech.


text:
The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers on Wednesday left interest rates near zero and vowed to do what it takes to shore up the economy, saying the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will “weigh heavily” on the near-term outlook and poses “considerable risks” for the medium term.
Following the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held via videoconference because of the coronavirus pandemic, the central bank said it would maintain its current interest rate target between 0% and 0.25%.
With so much uncertainty around the economic outlook, the Fed said it expects to maintain the target range for its benchmark overnight lending rate “until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals.”
“The Federal Reserve is committed to using its full range of tools to support the U.S. economy in this challenging time, thereby promoting its maximum employment and price stability goals,” the bank said in a statement.
It said the coronavirus pandemic has already caused “tremendous” health and economic hardship, and warned the damage to the U.S. economy will continue. The crisis “will weigh heavily on economic activity, employment and inflation in the near term, and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term,” the statement read.
‘U.S. economy may see unprecedented drop in second quarter’
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said in a virtual press conference following the central bank’s policy decision that the U.S. economy may see an “unprecedented” drop in the second quarter. The central bank is working to ensure recovery is as “robust” as possible, he added.
“It may well be the case that the economy will need more support from all of us if the recovery is to be a robust one,” Powell said. “Will there be a need to do more though? I think the answer to that would be yes.”
“We have a number of dimensions on which we can still provide support to the economy as you know our credit policies are not subject to the specific dollar limit,” he said. “They can be expanded as needed and we can do new ones, so we can continue to be part of the answer.”
“We can do what we can do, and we will do it to the absolute limit of those powers,” Powell added.
Fed officials have already taken a range of extraordinary actions that have propelled them into new corners of the economy and elevated their bond-buying to new heights.
The central bank in March slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero and escalated its purchases of Treasury and mortgage-backed securities to pump cash into financial markets to smooth the flow of credit. It has also said it will buy corporate bonds and lend to states and cities – two actions it has never previously taken.
Crisis unlike any other
Yet this crisis is unlike any other, and it comes against a backdrop of horrific economic data.
The economy contracted in the first quarter at its sharpest pace since the Great Recession, ending the longest economic expansion in the nation’s history, the Commerce Department reported on Wednesday.
Plunging consumer spending on the back of widespread stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of the virus helped drive a 4.8% decline on an annualized basis in first-quarter gross domestic product. The economy had grown at a 2.1% pace in the final three months of 2019.
More than 26 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits since the viral outbreak shuttered much of the U.S. economy in mid-March. Retail sales fell by a record amount in March. Home sales have plunged.
Economists have forecast that the economy may be shrinking at an annual rate of between 30% and 40% in the current quarter and that the unemployment rate could range as high as 20% for April. That would be the highest jobless rate since it was 25% during the Great Depression.
As economic activity has collapsed, inflation has also begun to fall. Economists expect it to drop below 1% by next year, far under the Fed’s 2% target level. That poses another problem for the Fed: Declining prices can eventually lead consumers to delay spending, thereby slowing the economy further.
Most U.S. states still have stay-at-home measures, though a handful are beginning to reopen even as cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness that has killed more than 57,000 people in the United States, continue to grow.
Many health experts have also begun to predict a seasonal resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall, whatever containment measures are put in place, raising the possibility that stay-at-home restrictions may need to be reintroduced, and with them, a new downturn in economic growth.


text:
The new programme is expected to reduce Harrods' waste footprint by 2.8 per cent, and has improved recycling rates by 1 per cent since implementing the programme in October 2021.
Mick Twelves, Key Account Manager at Banner, says, “I investigated a number of suppliers and it became apparent that traditional waste management companies do not accept paper hand towels with the mixed recycling. Then I found RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional and I knew we were onto a winner. The result is a massive reduction in Harrods’ waste footprint, with no impact on purchase price."
“As a long-term customer, Harrods knows that it can make significant steps towards its own CSR goals through us. We’ve become an extension of their team, and through our ability to consolidate delivery and find solutions through our reach and relationships, we’ve been able to save the business time and money while also improving its sustainability.”
Rebecca Morgan, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Harrods, says, “We’re on a path to a sustainable future and, as part of that, we have some key focus areas for this year. We’re plotting our path to Net Zero, we’re looking to substantially reduce our waste and increase our recycling rates, and we’re looking to reduce plastic from around the business. Working with Banner and Kimberly-Clark, our facilities team identified the opportunity to recycle our paper towels into new paper products, which was an ongoing headache for Harrods.”
“We know 84% of customers now have sustainability goals in place, and two of the most common are a reduction in waste footprint, and increasing recycling rates. Taking up the hand towel recycling service, the RightCycle™ program can help a customer reduce their waste footprint by up to 25%, and also increase their recycling rate by 5%. The service reduces your waste footprint, supports your sustainability goals and helps develop the circular economy today and for the future.” says James Hallam – Global Circularity Manager, Kimberly-Clark Professional™.
James Hallam, Circularity Program Manager at Kimberly-Clark Professional, says, “The customers get a closed-loop service with RightCycle; they know the hand towels are going back into making new products that they can buy themselves. It’s as easy as throwing your hand towels away, but it’s a more responsible option for everyone, including the planet."
A more sustainable washroom
Since its ground-breaking launch over 10 years ago, the innovative RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional™ has diverted over 1500 tonnes of previously hard-to-recycle non-hazardous PPE from landfill and incineration. This latest extension of The RightCycle™ Programme gives businesses the opportunity to transform the way they dispose of old dispensers and used hand towels for a more sustainable washroom.
Almost three-quarters (73%) of UK businesses say reducing the environmental impact of their hygiene products already guides their decision-making – a factor set to take on even more significance in the future.
To be eligible for the RightCycle™ Programme for hand towels any UK organisation must be using – or happy to switch to - Kimberly-Clark Professional™ hand towels. The Programme for dispensers is open to UK organisations with more than 100 customer-owned dispensers of any category.
To find out how Banner can help your business achieve its sustainable procurement plan, please speak to your Banner account manager, or complete the new customer enquiry form here.
View our wide range of sustainable products in our B Green catalogue - click here to view


text:
By Ed Sutherland on Jun 3, 2013
Android smartphone makers have been doing it for years: controlling a market using inexpensive handsets to outnumber the more expensive iPhone. But when the idea that Apple should also produce a more affordable and contract-free device first appeared, a hue-and-cry erupted as if the next MacBook was to be powered by Windows 8.
Now comes calmer heads – ironically from Wall Street – showing Apple’s gross profit margin would increase by six percent because more people will buy the Apple smartphone if the company lowers the cost of owning an iPhone.
That’s right, all the hand-wringing going on about a less-pricey iPhone being suicide for Apple’s bottom-line could be all wrong… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on May 29, 2013
We first heard from The New York Times that the world’s top contract manufacturer Foxconn is looking past the iPhone amid Apple’s slowing growth. Reuters previously ran an anti-Apple piece which asserted that Tim Cook & Co. are looking to shift from Foxconn to rival Pegatron, which currently builds the older iPhone 4/4S models.
On Monday, The Wall Street Journal ran a story claiming Foxconn is looking to manufacture, market and sell its own mobile accessories compatible with iOS devices. Moreover, the story goes, Foxconn is said to be expanding its high-margin retail operations and investing in content and services.
Today, the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper sheds more light on the subject, claiming Cook has re-shuffled Apple’s supply chain and re-iterating that Pegatron will be the “primary assembler” of Apple’s rumored low-cost iPhone, which the Journal expects to be offered “later this year”… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on May 14, 2013
The renderings use Hajek’s past budget iPhone concepts as the basis for the hardware. As for the software, he incorporated a round of nice concepts by 3D artist Dámaso Benítez, picturing a flattened iOS 7 user interface that Apple’s design head Jony Ive and his team are widely believed to be working on.
His mockups, Hajek explains on his personal blog, serve to illustrate “how Apple might introduce the new, cheap iPhone.” More awesomeness can be found right past the fold… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on May 9, 2013
Just a day after contract manufacturer Pegatron warned investors its second-quarter earnings could drop up to 30 percent due to softening demand for iPad mini, other tablets, e-books and games consoles comes word that the company has ramped up hiring as it needs an additional 40,000 workers on top of its existing 100,000 employees.
The 40,000 additional workers are needed to presumably assemble a rumored less-price iPhone model for Apple, Reuters speculated Thursday, reiterating it heard from suppliers that Apple is indeed “developing a cheaper model of the phone” in order to broaden its sales base to lower-income buyers in growth markets such as China and India… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on May 6, 2013
We usually don’t put our faith in Apple rumors originating from Asian part suppliers who often just make stuff up in the hope of banking on free press to promote their business. But ETrade Supply is different. The parts and repair shop last year leaked accurate photos of the iPad mini display panel, as well as the iPhone 5 front and back panel, to name just a few.
This points to ETrade Supply having some solid sources in the Apple supply chain and probably inside Foxconn, Apple’s favorite contract manufacturer. In a blog post published Monday, the supplier claimed its was able to confirm with its sources that Apple indeed will be releasing lower-end iPhone models this year… Read More
By Ed Sutherland on May 3, 2013
Android is gaining ground largely by offering a cheaper alternative to Apple’s higher-priced iPhone and iPad. Case in point: Acer’s just announced $169 Iconia A1 Jelly Bean tablet. Now, for some time there’s been a drumbeat for Apple to respond with a cheap smartphone of its own, one sold unsubsidized and off-contract to cash-strapped buyers in emerging markets.
However, now comes a voice suggesting Apple doesn’t have to slash prices to improve its market standing. Instead, it could offer a mid-priced iPhone and in the process could cut rival Samsung’s U.S. operations off at the knees.
There’s no need for hokey plastic fake prototypes or leaks from “insiders.” Apple needs only to repeat what its done numerous times in the past, opine two Wall Street Apple observers at J.P. Morgan… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on May 3, 2013
Look, DigiTimes is far from being accurate, but this Asian trade publication is nevertheless well-connected and occasionally accurate. According to its Friday report, Apple could initially launch a rumored less-pricey iPhone in small volumes, pegged at no more than three million units during its first quarter of availability. The publication speculates Apple could release the budget iPhone in small volumes in order to “test market response”… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 18, 2013
Apple’s rumored less-pricey iPhone is thought to minimize manufacturing costs by abandoning the pricey two-tone aluminum body, replacing it with a less expensive polycarbonate shell akin to the white G3 iMac – or similar to the plastic body of the iPhone 3G/3GS, if you will. Now, rumor-mills, but also big media such as WSJ and Bloomberg, have repeated this particular data point numerous times, but we have never seen any physical evidence supporting the plastic body theory.
That changed Wednesday as case manufacturer Tactus, which recently leaked purported iPad 5 shell, posted an image that allegedly represents the back shell of the budget iPhone. We couldn’t confirm its authenticity at press time so take this one with a pinch of salt, even more so knowing accessory makers often pull such stunts to get free press… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 15, 2013
Hon Hai Precision Industry aka Foxconn, which assembles iPhones and iPads for Apple, but also consumer electronics on behalf of other vendors, has started hiring assembly-line workers in the tens of thousands in preparation for Apple’s next iPhone, both Bloomberg and the credulous Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
People familiar with the matter tell the publications that the world’s largest contract manufacturer has been recruiting workers for the past month at its plant in Zhengzhou, eastern China.
The reports come following February indications pointing to Foxconn imposing a recruitment freeze across almost all of its factories in China after more workers returned from the Chinese New Year break than did last year, a move some attributed to the supposedly weakening iPhone demand… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 11, 2013
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who actually has a pretty good track record in predicting Apple’s product plans, has some bad news for Apple fans. In a note issued to clients Thursday, he basically wrote that Apple’s next batch of iDevice upgrades may hit the market later than originally expected due to a number of “technical challenges” related to the inclusion of fingerprint sensor beneath the Home button.
The rumored budget iPhone may be delayed because its slimmer-than-usual polycarbonate casing is proving harder nut to crack, while the second-generation iPad mini continues to face challenges with its high-resolution Retina panels. Jump past the fold for the full disclosure… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 11, 2013
In what could be the first physical evidence of a part that may or may not be related to Apple’s rumored less-pricey iPhone, a reliable Japanese blog has posts an interesting image of a ribbon cable with a dual-head vibration motor, obtained by repair shop iLab Factory. While the flex cable looks like it connects to the iPhone’s standard volume rocker and mute switch, it’s the rotation motor which raises hope that this particular part could belong to the budget iPhone… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 4, 2013
Apple’s rumored less-pricey iPhone has been envisioned over and over again in some damn good renderings. The rumor mills have been churning out their fair share of whispers on a regular basis and both the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg have thrown their credibility behind the meme. But despite all this crazy talk and tremendous speculation, Apple is seemingly unimpressed as the company’s marketing honcho kinda shot down the rumor, recently telling the press his company isn’t one to blindly pursue market share.
Be that as it may, analysts warn there’s only that much room to grow in the saturated high-end smartphone market. Therefore, conventional wisdom has it, Apple’s going to need a more affordable device sooner than later. This has now become a sentiment shared by one wireless carrier CEO who cautions of changing consumer behavior as a lot of folks are now unwilling to pay north of $600 for an unlocked smartphone… Read More
By Christian Zibreg on Apr 3, 2013
Apple’s rumored less-pricey iPhone has been widely reported by analysts, supply chain sources, pundits and big media as arriving later this year in a range of colors and encased in a super-thin plastic casing mixed with glass fiber. Taking it all in, concept artists Nickolay Lamm and Matteo Gianni have created created an interesting renderings depicting the four-inch device with a curved backside and a translucent plastic shell resembling Apple’s G3 iMac… Read More
By Ed Sutherland on Mar 29, 2013
We are getting more hints at how Apple could create a cheaper iPhone, a device also dubbed by the press the iPhone mini and apparently meant to improve Apple’s standing in emerging markets such as India. In a new patent filing, the iPhone maker describes a production method similar to laminated fiberglass, but using ceramics. Zirconia and alumina could be combined to create a new kind of Unibody shell.
The use of zirconia would mesh both with a report earlier this month that a low-cost iPhone could include a fiberglass housing, while also potentially drawing on a 2006 Apple patent regarding zirconia as being radio transparent… Read More


text:
JACKSON HEIGHTS — A sprawling new organic food store opened last week on 37th Avenue, an offshoot of a collection of family-run health stores that were inspired by the owner's Hindu guru and designed to cater to residents who move to the area from Manhattan.
Downtown Natural Market opened Friday afternoon in an 8,000-square-foot space between 84th and 85th streets.
The owners Mike Patel, 62, and his son Amit, 36, own the Jackson Heights Health Food store at 83-06 37th Ave., as well as two other Downtown Natural Markets in Downtown Brooklyn and Flatbush.
The family's path to operating a chain of health food stores started with a bit of divine inspiration.
Mike Patel ran a small candy store in Jamaica for 15 years before his Hindu guru Pramukh Swami, who lives in Gujarat, India, told him to open a health food store, he said.
He opened the first Jackson Heights Health Food store in 2000 in a 700-square-foot space near his current store.
And now he and his son own and operate three Downtown Natural Market stores as well as the small health food store.
The neighborhood's increased demand for organic food, vitamins and natural supplements pushed them to open the larger store when the space became available, according to Mike Patel.
"There has been a good demand on this store, and this store is getting smaller," he said, adding that he's stocked the shelves with more items as customers have requested them.
The new store features a dairy section, including organic and imported cheeses, as well as natural cleaning supplies, organic dog and cat food, a larger selection of produce and an expanded frozen food aisle.
As the neighborhood's changed, Mike said, they've tried to change with it.
"A lot of young people move here from Manhattan and they like organic food," he said. "People wanted a variety, so we opened another store."


text:
AZEK® Deck Featured on the TODAY show on NBC!
today show, nbc, lou manfredini, deck, azek
AZEK® Building Products is thrilled to have been featured on the TODAY show with Kathie Lee and Hoda. Celebrity "House Smarts" host Lou Manfredini answered viewer questions about the use of alternative decking products. Lou highlighted AZEK® Deck as a leader in the industry, providing homeowners with a low-maintenance and long-lasting solution for maximizing outdoor spaces. Watch the full video by clicking the image below!


text:
Advanced, Customizable Features Provide a Unique User Experience
Huami Corporation (“Huami” or the “Company”) (NYSE :HMI ), a biometric and activity data-driven company with significant expertise in smart wearable technology, today announced the launch of the Amazfit Verge – the Amazfit smart watch, that brings new, customizable features to the smart wearables industry. The Verge is the first watch of the new Amazfit smart watch product line in addition to the existing smart sports watch product line.
The Verge offers many new and improved features to enrich the user experience including a 1.2G dual core processor, running Huami Watch OS (WOS) based on the Android infrastructure with remarkable extensibility that allows downloads and operation of third-party Apps. The Verge also comes with a 1.3-inch full color AMOLED round screen as well as optimized power consumption that provides an industry-leading five days of battery life on a single charge. More importantly, the Verge is capable of making and receiving phone calls directly via blue-tooth connected mobile phones and displaying real time messages, including WeChat and incoming phone call alerts, all of which allow users to more conveniently stay connected with their friends, family and business associates.
Xiaomi’s intelligent voice assistant (Xiao’ai) is built in to the Verge watch and allows users to interact with Xiaomi’s ecosystem IoT home devices, such as controlling Xiaomi TV, Mi Robot Vacuum, Xiaomi Air Purifier and others by voice control or simple screen touch, as well as getting more information from the IoT devices (fire alert, security alert and others). Furthermore, digital wallet functionality in conjunction with Union Pay and Alipay, combined with integrated one-touch public transportation payment in over 160 cities in China, help users capture the convenience of full digital transactions (through NFC and QR codes). The Verge can be also used as entrance access device utilizing NFC technology.
Moreover, enriched sports functionality, including advanced route tracking driven by GPS +GLONASS system supports 11 sport modes. Full-day heart rate recording makes the Verge a valuable training and performance-tracking tool. Additionally, the new self-developed heart rate sensor and powerful algorithms deliver enhanced heart rate monitoring accuracy as well as reduced power consumption. When an irregular heart rate is detected, the Verge will automatically send an alert to the user.
“The Verge represents a brand new product line for Amazfit and ideally supplements our successful and industry leading smart sport watch product line. The attractive price of 799RMB allows a large number of users to quickly enjoy the full-featured smart sport watch. More importantly, the watch can serve as a revolutionary game-changer in driving customers’ IoT smart home usage. This is the first time IoT device controller and major cities’ public transportation payment functionalities can be widely adopted in a wearable device,” said Wang Huang, Chairman and CEO of Huami Corporation. “This latest generation in the Amazfit product line provides users all the expected benefits and features of an advanced smart watch while also integrating intelligent assistant and payment technology that will simplify users’ everyday lives. We are excited to further build the Amazfit brand with continued technological innovation that will drive sales and deliver long-term shareholder value.”


text:
हिंदी में पढ़ें
Income Tax Calculator
Personal Loan Calculator
Car Loan Calculator
Home Loan Calculator
MF Returns Calculator
Don't get bored! 5 cool smartphone things to do when there is no internet
Sun, Apr 14, 2019
Without the internet, a smartphone is just a box with very less use, isn't it? Well if you are asked to spend time at a place with no internet, then what will you do? Social media addiction probably won't let you stay there for long.
Audio OTT: This is the most-favoured music streaming app in India
Tue, Apr 02, 2019
Gaana is the most favoured on-demand music streaming app among Indians who generally love to listen to music without paying a fee for it, said a new report on Tuesday.
Spotify comes to India: 5 things you should know about world's largest music streaming platform
Fri, Mar 01, 2019
Spotify is a music streaming platform launched by Spotify AB on 7 October 2008. The app provides DRM-protected music and podcasts from record labels and media companies. Spotify is now available in the country, on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Paytm introduces recurring payment services to entrepreneurs
Tue, Mar 14, 2017
Paytm's newly introduced recurring payment services feature will allow developers and entrepreneurs to utilise Paytm as a channel for recurring payments.
Micromax sets up $75 million fund to invest in consumer internet cos
Sun, Feb 05, 2017
Handset maker Micromax is setting up a $75-million independent fund that will focus on investing in domestic and international consumer internet companies. In the last two years, Micromax has already invested in about 10 startups, including ixigo, Gaana, HealthifyMe and Scandid.


text:
Dotcoms 'must net more over-45s'
Dotcom businesses will fail unless they target older surfers, a new report has forecast. Most internet users over the age of 45 feel ignored or patronised, says the report.
They resent terms like 'silver surfers'and 'grey market', while four in five adverts for internet companies were found to put off over-45s.
Over-45s are the fastest-growing group among users of online services and provide one in three of the 11,000 people a day going online for the first time.
This increase is expected help Britain's e-commerce market rise to £20bn by 2005.
The survey was commissioned by activelives.co.uk, an internet service provider and web portal for over-45s.
Clare Gillman, its editor, said: 'The UK is following the example of the US where over-45s spend billions of dollars each year'.
Most watched Money videos
- Lord Blunkett 'never envisaged' disabled Child Trust Fund issues
- Clip of first Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars
- Bentley blower is back! British marque completes reborn 1920s racer
- Renault 5 EV prototype will look like the 1980s rally car
- The all new Toyota Mirai 2021 hydrogen fuel cell car
- 'UK shares can do well when the world reopens': Tom Becket
- Electric cars could reap benefits from new green number plates
- Can Scottish Mortgage keep climbing? Tom Slater interview
- We've had the vaccine rally, so what next for shares?
- All-New Dacia Sandero supermini will hit UK market later this year
- Chinese Nio ET7 electric family car costing £60,000
- UK's first garage for charging electric vehicles opens in Braintree


text:
Following a controversial spread where she posed completely naked in a too-sexy-for-a-19-year-old photo shoot for VOGUE Italia last December, Victoria's Secret model Karlie Kloss does a porn-inspired turn in a sex-themed video called "F*ck Me"!
Produced by SHOWstudio, the video is part of a series called "Fashion Fetish."
Conceived and produced entirely by women, including socialites Lady Amanda Harlech, Daphne Guinness and Dasha Zhukova, the concept presents a female perspective on sex with a fashion and fetish theme.
Socialites suggesting their hidden fetishes through story ideas would make for great reality TV!
Click the video for various imagery, including Karlie holding a whip while wearing a leather corset and rolling around in a bed, in a "red room."


text:
Bangladesh has strengthened its position as the global leader in green apparel factories, with the number of such factories with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States of Green Building Council (USGBC) now at 187.
KDS IDR, a subsidiary of Chattogram-based KDS Group, is the latest to adopt the new generation of factories.
On February 1, they got the platinum certification with a score of 84 out of 100, BGMEA Director Md Mohiuddin Rubel said Monday.
"Among the top 100 green factory units, 50 are from Bangladesh. And among the top 10, eight are from here as well," he added.
Four factory units already achieved the LEED certification in 2023.
Amanat Shah Fabrics of Narsingdi's Panchdona received this year's first LEED certification from the USGBC.
Of the 187 green-certified factories in Bangladesh, 63 are platinum-rated, 110 gold-rated, 10 silver-rated, and four are green-certified, according to the USGBC.
The USGBC honours factories based on several criteria – transformation performance, energy, water, and waste management being some of the most prominent. The best performers are rated with platinum, followed by gold and silver.
Read more: Another Bangladeshi factory, Amanat Shah, gets global green recognition


text:
Could it be true? Could Microsoft’s Windows Phone mobile operating system become so popular that it would overtake Google’s Android platform in terms of sales in the not-too-distant future? Market research firm Pyramid Research thinks so.
According to them, Microsoft’s recently revived platform would be capable of gaining so much traction on the market in the next four years that it would outpace all major rivals that currently occupy the first three positions on the market, namely Android, BlackBerry and iOS.
The company’s latest Smartphone Forecast shows that, while the number of smartphones sold on the market this year would top 1.46 billion units, the figure might double in 2015.
Senior Analyst and Practice Leader for Mobile Devices, Stela Bokun, notes that smartphones would account for 27 percent of sold mobile phones in 2011, and that they would rise to up to 53 percent in 2015, courtesy of growing demand and lower price tags for Android devices.
“Much of the projected total market growth in 2011 will come from the Africa and Middle East (AME) region, which will see a strong demand for low-end smartphone models, ultra low-cost handsets and dual-SIM and full touch-screen feature phones,” Bokun said, a recent article on BGR reads.
”The main drivers of the demand in the developed markets will be the launches of a number of flagship high-end devices and new features and technologies.
“However, inexpensive smartphone models, particularly those from Huawei and ZTE, also will be in high demand in some of the richest Western European, Asian and North American markets.”
Stela Bokun also stated that, although Android would drive the growth in the smartphone area, Windows Phone is expected to become the top-selling smartphone platform in 2015.
Microsoft’s OS would overtake both Google’s mobile platform, as well as other OSes, Bokun believes.
One thing that is certain is that this Pyramid Research is not the only research firm which believes that Windows Phone is yet to show its true potential.
Other companies also forecast that the platform would become one of the top OSes on the market in four or five years, helped by the newly signed agreement with Nokia, but this is the first time we learn that it might actually become the top-selling operating system.
Follow the editor on Twitter @IonutArghire