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Monday, November 21, 2005
The pointless battle against music piracy continues to get more pointless and annoying. Media giant Sony BMG recently implemented software on some of their albums that attempted to limit the number of times that an individual CD could be copied. Sounds simple enough, except that the "security" software in question leaves huge security holes in users' computers and can be circumvented with a piece of scotch tape. Lawsuits and general internet pandemonium ensue.
The people that run the major record companies in the US are not exactly known for creative, forward-thinking solutions to the problems they face. All the truly innovative technological advances in how we obtain and listen to music have come from companies outside the music industry, such as Apple and Napster. Record companies continue to beat a dead horse, by sticking to the same technology (CDs) and delivery model (you go to store to pay $15 for a new CD, most of which completely sucks).
This model has been incredibly profitable for record companies, which is why they've been so slow to abandon it. Record companies and their trade association, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), continue to cling to the same 1984 delivery model, while people are swapping music, ripping CDs, and podcasting all around them. Despite the public relations nightmare that is Sony BMG's latest attempt to preserve elderly technology, the RIAA released a statement in support of Sony BMG's efforts, nevermind the fact that Sony BMG's technology compromised the security of thousands of people's personal computers.
RIAA has been quick to blame consumers and technology, but it's not the responsibility of the consumer to stand by and wait for the recording industry to accept that they've been left behind. I shouldn't make blanket statements about the recording industry, as many within that umbrella continue to develop cutting edge products and ways to market their music with new technology. However, this recent development sends a clear message to companies that think they will be able to control their product with a nearly 30 year-old delivery model: RIP motherfuckers.


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What Happened to the Victoria’s Secret Models?
No Comments • Uncategorized • By Melissa
The Victoria’s Secret Models have been AWOL of late, as has the famous Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. And if recent news stories are to be believed, they’re not coming back any time soon.
So what happened to this once hugely popular and sought-after brand, and where have the Angels gone?
VS As We Knew It
Victoria’s Secret is going through a huge transition. For years, we have come to expect a certain standard not only from their models but from their shows. They were once the US’s biggest lingerie retailer. But over the past few years, things have taken a dive for the once-popular brand. Their lingerie doesn’t seem to fit or suit anyone who isn’t tiny like their models. Their lack of diversity can no longer be overlooked. The likes of Rihanna’s brand, Savage X Fenty, have brought variety, equality and body positivity to the forefront of their campaigns, making Victoria’s Secret look outdated and irrelevant.
After facing near bankruptcy, the brand was left with no choice but to rebrand. They have decided to do a complete 180 and change nearly everything about their marketing approach. This means that the Victoria’s Secret Angels are no more. The “Fantasy Bra”, an expensive and often jewel-encrusted bra that would be redesigned each year and worn at the yearly fashion show by the model of the moment, is also gone.
But what are they replacing it with?
The Angels Are Out
The Victoria’s Secret models, known as “Angels”, are out, and in their place are activists and entrepreneurs known as the “VS Collective” that the brand is hoping will inspire the public. Amongst them are Megan Rapinoe, a football player and gender equality campaigner, size 14 model Paloma Elsesseras who appeared on the cover of Vogue, as well as Priyanka Chopra, an Indian actress and tech investor.
Their job is to redefine “sexy” to reflect today’s understanding of the term. We no longer want to see tall, slender models whose body types are impossible for the majority of us to ever achieve. Instead, the public wants to see obtainable, achievable beauty that is more to do with what’s inside us more than what we look like on the outside. As their chief executive said, “Victoria’s Secret wants to be a global advocate for female empowerment.”
But it’s not going to be an easy turnaround for the company. They have a lot of minds and opinions to change, not least because of their infamous connection with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as news about their misogynistic corporate culture (which includes stories of in-office transphobia and sexual harassment) – not to mention their previously sexist and male-centric viewpoint as a brand.
What’s Next for VS?
When times started to change, Victoria’s Secret dug their heels in and refused to change along with it. Now, they’re scrambling to catch up with forward-thinking and inclusive brands. But will it work, or have the public moved on?
In terms of changes, there are more women in charge of the brand. The fashion show is gone, as are their well-known supermodels. They plan to hire a more inclusive, diverse range of models and people to front the brand. The stores are expecting a huge rebrand, with larger/curvier mannequins (who were traditionally a 32B) and a phase-out of the old Angels imagery. They plan to expand their products to include more than just thongs and g-strings, with a particular focus on sportswear.
But is this enough to inspire and entice the public to start spending with them again?
Where Does That Leave Their Models?
It looks like the traditional “sexy” supermodels that used to front Victoria’s Secret will have to find work elsewhere. However, it’s great news for models who did not previously meet the strict standards expected by VS. We can already see a difference with the models they are now hiring, which include Valentina Sampaio, the brand’s first Brazilian trans model, and size 14 plus-size activist Paloma Elsesser.
And media outlets seem fairly positive about the new turnaround. It’s clear that a lot of riding on this rebrand.
So is Victoria’s Secret on its way to making a comeback? Or is it too little, too late? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

domain: news


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Earlier this month I announced that Apple World Today will offer five lucky Apple World Today readers a chance to get some serious goodies for their iPhone 14. And they’ve been chosen:
° Troy Castineira of Norwich Connecticutt
° Broderick Scruggs of Hendersonville Tennessee 37075
° Russell Sauve of Marietta, Georgia
° Macy Longfellow of Sherman, Texas
° Jason Chavez of Bakersfield, California
Congratulations to our winners. They’ll receive a Gear4, Invisibleshield, and mophie product bundle for the iPhone 14. The winners will be given the choice to choose which Invisibleshield, Gear4 and mophie product they’d like for the bundle.


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PetBlock Pa'ina promises fun for pets and their humans
Hawaiian Humane Society's largest annual community fundraiser is set for Sunday, October 13.
The PetBlock Pa'ina event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Victoria Ward Park.
There will be live entertainment, games and lots of delicious food from HHS partners like Side Street Inn, Shaka Bowls, Mr. Tea, Filipino Fusion and more.
This year's event will feature a beer garden hosted by Golden Road Brewing as well as a wine bar by Young's Market Company.
All humans 21 and over will be welcome to drink responsibly.
Along with being able to partake in food and drink, attendees will be able to shop from human and pet retail vendors, including Hawaii Doggie Bakery, Poi Dog Treats, the Hawaiian Humane Society's own retail booth and more.
Check out a full list of participating partners at PetBlock Paina event page.


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Amazon Black Friday 2020 deals will start next month – extra early this year – says a new leak that says the Amazon discounts will start at the end of October.
Monday, October 26 will see the launch date of early Amazon Black Friday deals, according to a report by Tamebay, a publication for Amazon Marketplace sellers. And early Black Friday deals will last three weeks, until Thursday, November 19. That’s one week ahead of Black Friday 2020 on Friday, November 27.
Amazon Black Friday 2020 will be different in one more way: it’ll be open to buyers who aren’t paying Prime subscribers, according to the leak. That’s not only important to consumers, but also struggling retailers who need as wide of a consumer base as possible.
Amazon’s longest Black Friday yet
If Amazon Prime Day deals begin on October 26, that’s a whole month of discounts leading up to Black Friday 2020. Although the early deals period is said to be only three weeks long, Amazon is likely to have discounts between the end of the early deals on November 19, and Black Friday a week later on November 29.
On top of that, sometime in early October, we expect the Amazon Prime Day 2020 date to happen, as the CFO of the company promised it’ll happen in the fourth quarter of 2020. Any date later than that will clash with Black Friday deals.
So either Monday, October 5, or Monday, October 12, will see Amazon shift to mega deals that will likely last until Cyber Monday 2020. That’s a long season of discounts, but something consumers, manufacturers and sellers need coming out of Covid-19 – and Amazon may need in Walmart Plus turns out to be a big hit in the US.
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The rebranding of toilet paper Charmin could be part of an elaborate revenge plot against Cushelle Stevens, the ex-girlfriend of marketing executive Phil Freeman.
The couple went through an acrimonious split in October last year, after Stevens confessed to an affair with a work colleague. Now it has emerged that Freeman may have engineered the reported £10 million relaunch of the brand as Cushelle to pay her back.
“Phil was really hurt by her betrayal,” a close friend told a national newspaper. “£10 million is a lot of money, but he feels it’ll be worth it if her name is forever associated with wiping arses.”
Freeman is a senior executive at SCA, the parent company of Cushelle. Asked to comment on the allegations, a spokesperson said, “There is no link between the brand migration of our leading toilet tissue and the personal life of any of our board members. We are very happy with the effectiveness of the campaign, which is engaging consumers and strengthening our market share.”
There were unconfirmed reports last night that Stevens intends to sue her former lover for compensation, with one friend confiding, “She says she’ll clean him out.”


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– Plastic Mobile, Canada’s most awarded mobile agency, was recognized by Minister Michael Coteau as a leading employer in Ontario at yesterday’s press conference held to announce a new provincial legislation.
Over the past five years, Plastic Mobile has gone beyond borders to find the best talent, establishing its expertise in mobile technology and user experience and becoming a leader in mobile innovation.
President and COO of Plastic Mobile, Melody Adhami said, “Ontario is an incredible place to start and build a business that could become a global enterprise, the opportunities are immense. Plastic Mobile has been growing at such a rapid pace and we will continue to as we push the boundaries of possible with mobile and touch technology.”
Minister Coteau showcased Plastic Mobile as a prime example for a new legislation that he recently announced at Queen’s Park saying, “I think this is a great success story and these are the types of businesses that we need in Ontario to continue to add to our robust economy.”
Following the press conference, Minister Coteau had the opportunity to tour the Plastic Mobile Innovation Lab where he got to play around with some cutting-edge beta technology, from wearables to commerce-enabled BLE devices.
As a leading employer, Plastic Mobile will continue to help build the economy in the province of Ontario while paving the way for mobile innovation.
About Plastic Mobile
Plastic Mobile is an award-winning mobile marketing agency building strategic solutions in m-commerce – encompassing payments, wallets, transactions and coupons – as well as mobile loyalty, location-based marketing, mobile gaming, and in-store initiatives. Based out of Toronto and New York the range of services include mobile strategy, design, development and marketing – all inspired by user-centric experiences to push forward a world in motion. Plastic Mobile facilitates top-tier brands such as AIR MILES, ING Direct, Beyond the Rack, Brookfield, Rogers and Pizza Pizza, into the fast-paced mobile evolution. For more information and case studies, visit us at www.plasticmobile.com.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Office: (416) 538-8880 x228
Mobile 1: (647) 970-2789
Mobile 2: (604) 726-2438


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"Imported from Detroit" are three words that have become synonymous with Chrysler Group LLC since the airing of a Super Bowl commercial featuring Detroit rapper Eminem.
The newest installment of the ad campaign, which involves Slim Shady's mentor Dr. Dre and Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, features native Detroit fashion designer John Varvatos.
"The individuals in these commercials represent more than success stories," said Olivier Francois, President and CEO, Chrysler brand and lead executive, marketing. "They represent a brand of determination that Detroit has come to stand for. These are true stories of people who worked hard and are now able to enjoy the luxury they deserve; and luxury feels better earned."
Each commercial bears similarities, but Eminem is the only one driving the Chrysler 200, thus far. The other commercials feature the Chrysler 300, including an upcoming commercial with Dr. Dre and the 300S, which includes a 363-hp HEMI V8, an eight-speed automatic transmission, 20-inch rims and a 522-watt sound system that has 10 speakers from Dr. Dre's "Beats by Dre" line.
The Auburn Hills automaker has not released how long it plans to continue the ad campaign, but earlier this month, Chrysler Chief Financial Officer Richard Palmer gave Eminem credit for helping the automaker post a $116 million profit for the first three months of the year, compared to a $197 million net loss the same time period in 2010.
What do you think?


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While Disneyland seems to be closed indefinitely, Walt Disney World continues to ramp up the reopening of its hotels and resorts.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort will be reopening on February 9, 2021 and reservations are now open according to Disney’s website.
I don’t recall the All-Star resort rooms being that expensive before shutdown, but at least they’re available again.
Currently Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is still scheduled to reopen on November 1, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in the Summer of 2021. However, as with anything Disney during “these unprecedented times,” everything is subject to change at the drop of a pair of mouse ears.
Pirates & Princesses (PNP) is an independent, opinionated fan-powered news blog that covers Disney and Universal Theme Parks, Themed Entertainment and related Pop Culture from a consumer's point of view. Opinions expressed by our contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of PNP, its editors, affiliates, sponsors or advertisers. PNP is an unofficial news source and has no connection to The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal or any other company that we may cover.


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Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh (at right) upheld her previous ban on sales of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet sales in the U.S. On June 26, Judge Koh (of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose division) enjoined Samsung and its American subsidiaries from importing or selling the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or any other product that "embodies any design contained in U.S. Design Patent No. D504,889."
That patent covers the design of the iPad and was granted to Apple in 2005. After Judge Koh's enjoinment on June 26, Apple post a required US$2.6 million bond and the injunction took effect. Almost immediately, Samsung filed a motion to stay and suspend the injunction pending an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. After consideration, Judge Koh refused the motion, saying that Samsung had not established a likelihood of success on appeal.
The Judge also commented that Samsung would not suffer irreparable damages under the ban, as they have other tablet products that do not infringe on the iPad design.


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Watch: now you can control a PC with your eyes
Fujitsu researchers have developed a way to control a personal computer with your eyes. This researcher shows how it does -- basically, it uses a camera to track your pupils and figure out what you're looking at on the screen. It's only available in Japan for now, but like Leap Motion, it points toward a more immersive future in personal computing.
This week, a National Transportation Safety Board judge dismissed a $10,000 fine that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had lodged against a photographer who had used a drone to take aerial photos for the University of Virginia. The judge found that the FAA hadn't actually issued any enforceable rules regarding the use of commercial drones.
If you've got a Windows XP machine -- either at home or in the office -- consider yourself lucky. In the past, you'd upgrade to a more recent Windows operating system without a thought. Today, you have many options.
It's designed for the 3.5 billion people who have feature phones today. It solves technical problems Google is not interested in and is a better fit for the pre-paid phones popular in developing countries. The only trick is getting developers on board.
The cloud has overcome a lot of its technical challenges, especially when it comes to security. But the biggest problems in cloud computing now are cultural.


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It’s a seemingly simple leather ball that is kicked, tossed and caught on youth, college and professional football fields across the country, but there’s a rich story to be told for this product that’s as American as apple pie. For Wilson Sporting Goods, which has supplied the Official Leather Game Football for the NFL since 1941, and manufactures 700,000 leather game footballs from its factory in Ada, OH, each year, it’s a story best told through an experiential platform. Enter: The Wilson Experience.
This mobile museum, which is activating out of a 16-foot refurbished Airstream Bambi trailer, takes the activation strategy behind Wilson’s NFL Experience at the Super Bowl each year on the road. The Wilson Experience kicked off at the College Football Playoff National Championship in the Playoff Fan Central zone Jan. 8 in Atlanta, and will make stops at sporting events and venues across the country this season.
“One of the things we’ve been focused on is consumers can go find a Wilson football in a big box store like a Dick’s Sporting Goods or Walmart, but what we can’t often do is create this intimate experience with our consumer,” says Amanda Lamb, global marketing director at Wilson Sporting Goods. “It’s about how can we show one of the coolest assets we have, which is how a football is made from beginning to end—it’s a handcrafted process with a rich history—how can we give that to fans. So, we’re really creating an immersion into the brand and our history and heritage.”
Within the activation, fans have the opportunity to experience several of the steps in making a Wilson leather game football, including turning and sewing. They can customize their own Wilson football by laser-etching the logo of their favorite college team, their name or a phrase on the ball of their choice. Brand ambassadors walk consumers through the intimate details of each particular part of the process.
“Mobility was a big factor in how do we create an experience that gets to more places, more frequently, but at the same time, maintains that level of intimacy,” Lamb says. “What we’ve landed on is a mini museum on wheels and people get to feel and touch and smell what this process is up close.” Agency: OutCold, Chicago.


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Anti-knife crime charity The Ben Kinsella Trust has launched a campaign for Mother’s Day with Clear Channel UK using AI machine learning.
Changes to this year’s Consumer Price Index should remind us to temper own excitable interest in the outlier with respect for the average.
Steve Taylor reviews Richard Shotton’s latest book on the overlap between behavioural psychology and marketing and economics.
Strategist Simon Carr looks at the changing pace of cultural exchange, and how this might impact the creation of new and unique ideas
Research suggests that the majority of planners think so. But a publication set to be released by the Advertising Association’s Credos think tank suggests otherwise…
A booming and evolving global sports industry requires uncomfortable changes and a provocative approach to embrace the new way and thrive.
If we really want to get tasked with solving problems rather than delivering prescribed outputs, then we need to get much, much better at diagnosing problems. But how, asks Havas Media’s strategy head.
At best campaign KPIs can be effective, but at worst they are useless and misleading. How should you choose what is right for your campaign?
Strategy Leaders: If advertisers do not redefine what ‘peak’ is in the changing media landscape, they risk missing opportunities to reach engaged audiences.
In difficult times we must use empathy in advertising at the right time and in the right place to inspire the right reaction not only from consumers, but also clients, media owners and agencies.
As society seems to prize the young, brands should not ignore their struggles and need to adjust their messaging and media accordingly in the long-term.


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Growers Lane gets go ahead
Subiaco, the City will work with the owners to ensure a smooth and successful opening.”
Home Base general manager Gino Premici said Growers Lane was a great addition for Home Base, Subiaco and the wider community.
He said the SAT approval was a “win for common sense”.
“SAT agreed with the original proposal and council recommendation and to spend in excess of $100,000 on legal fees and come to the same decision is frustrating,” he said.
“There needs to be some transparency from the City of Subiaco on how much money they spent on legal costs, which I would imagine would have been about the same amount that was spent on our side.
“The impact on small business with this whole ordeal has been substantial, with the Tran family who have been unable to operate and for Home Base for lost rent, and lastly the impact on the Subiaco community.”
Ms Henderson said the total cost spent on legal fees by the City was still being calculated and was currently unavailable.
Ms Tran said she was looking forward to opening the gourmet market in April, with a fruit and veg market, a bakery, butcher and fishmonger planned for the site.


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Microsoft has released a new version of Skype for iPhone and iPad, bumping the version number up to 6.25. The company says that this latest update "takes the best new features of iOS 10 and integrates them into the Skype experience."
Apple released iOS 10 earlier this month, and delivered the bug-fixing 10.0.2 update to its mobile devices last week.
The most significant new addition in the new Skype release is the ability to start a call using voice commands through Siri, as Microsoft explained:
Let’s say you’re trying to call Lucy Archer on Skype. If you have her Skype contact information saved in your iOS device, simply say “Call Lucy Archer.” Siri may ask for you to confirm it has the right contact—one click later and your Skype call is initiated!
This functionality will also be available in the Skype for Business app on iOS next month.
Deeper Skype integration into the OS using Apple's CallKit tools means you can now start a Skype video call, audio call or instant messaging chat directly from your iOS contacts, without needing to open the app first. Incoming Skype calls will now appear "just like regular calls".
Skype for Business users on iOS can expect to get this functionality at some point in October too.
Source: Skype Blogs


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As president, Donald Trump has taken a hammer to a myriad of topics, primary among them, China and tariffs. There are many opinions about what the president is doing on the topic of tariffs, and many people don't fully understand why Trump is so focused on China. This article will help shed some light on the matter.
Analysts I spoke with for this article overwhelmingly support what Trump is doing, but each analyst warned that there is no easy fix to the economic imbalance that exists between China and the U.S. No one is predicting an end to the trade war anytime soon.
What is certain is this: China and the U.S. need each other. What we are witnessing between China and Trump isn't a divorce; it's an argument with the threat of a separation.
Whereas the Trump administration views China as more foe than friend, a company within China, Alibaba, under the right circumstances, can greatly benefit America's economy and the American consumer.
However, without President Trump's blessing and support, none of what I outline in this article will become a reality.
Albertsons Is In A World Of Hurt
It is safe to write that Albertsons' executive team is in mourning. The recent announcement that its proposed $24 billion merger with drug store chain Rite Aid was called off was a body blow to Albertsons. I have been against the merger from the moment it was announced, and have stated so publicly and in writing.
This article by Bloomberg's Sarah Halzack provides an excellent summary as to why the proposed merger between Albertsons and Rite Aid would have struggled to accomplish the stated goals.
The question that must be answered is this: What should Albertsons do now?
Albertsons is owned by private equity company Cerberus Capital Management. Cerberus and a consortium of investors formed Albertsons in 2006 and merged it with Safeway in 2015, saddling Albertsons with $12 billion in debt. Doesn't the phrase, "What were they thinking?" just roll off the tongue after reading the prior sentence?
Cerberus has tried unsuccessfully to unload Albertsons multiple times. It canceled an IPO in 2015 and failed to merge with Whole Foods and Sprouts Farmers Market. Yes, you read that correctly: Albertsons somehow convinced itself that Whole Foods and Sprouts Farmers Market weren't strategic to its future yet—surprise—Rite Aid was.
I was told by Albertsons executives in late 2017 and early 2018 that they believe another IPO is on the horizon. My response was straight and to the point: Don't waste your time.
Albertsons CEO Bob Miller is a seasoned executive but he can't work miracles. Many of Albertsons executives are highly regarded within the grocery industry, but although they're talented and dedicated, circumstances within the company and external market conditions within the grocery industry are negatively impacting Albertsons.
When compared to its largest and most dangerous competitors—Walmart, Kroger and Whole Foods—grocery industry analysts say that Albertsons will continue to struggle against all three. I agree.
To make matters worse for Albertsons, the German discounter Aldi recently announced it was investing $5 billion to open 800 new stores. By 2022, Aldi will operate 2,500 stores making it the third-largest grocery retailer in the U.S. behind Walmart and Kroger, respectively.
With Walmart targeting higher-income shoppers, Amazon going after lower-income shoppers, Kroger investing heavily in e-commerce and technology, Target making massive investments in its grocery business, Ahold-Delhaize making investments in technology and signing strategic partnerships, and Aldi on the march, Albertsons is on the outside of the industry looking in.
Simply put: Albertsons is in a world of hurt with few good options to pursue.
I don't want to give the impression that Albertsons isn't trying. It did acquire meal-kit company Plated, and it expanded its partnership with Instacart. Albertsons has also created an investment fund to work with emerging grocery technology.
What I see in Albertsons is a pattern of thinking small when it should be thinking big. Instead of expanding its relationship with Instacart, it would have been more strategic for Albertsons to acquire Instacart—similar to Target's decision to acquire Shipt. Attempting to merge with Rite Aid was a small idea postulated as a big move on behalf of Albertsons.
The reality of the situation for Albertsons is this: Because of its debt, anemic growth, aging stores and lack of operational execution, few, if any U.S. companies have a desire to acquire or partner with Albertsons. Rite Aid shareholders expressed enough concerns that it resulted in the merger being called off. I envision shareholders at other companies would do the same.
Albertsons must make a big move that will power the trajectory of the company into a direction that enables growth and creates a competitive advantage. Based on my research and experience, I believe the best option for Albertsons to pursue is to meet with executives from Alibaba, and discuss Alibaba acquiring Albertsons.
Alibaba has expressed interest multiple times in acquiring American companies but the federal government has prevented it from doing so. Most recently, Alibaba tried to acquire MoneyGram but was denied permission to do s0. The move was deemed a "security risk" to the U.S.
I recommend that Alibaba change its strategy from attempting to acquire technology companies to instead acquiring Albertsons. Alibaba acquiring Albertsons would not be viewed as being a security risk according to officials I spoke with for this article.
Officials I spoke with agreed that from a strategic perspective, Alibaba acquiring Albertsons would be a "game changer" for Alibaba and "greatly improve" Alibaba's prospects to eventually acquire and/or invest in tech and other companies based in the U.S.
Alibaba wants U.S. businesses to sell products through its high-end marketplace, Tmall, but business leaders aren't convinced doing so is a good idea or worth the time and effort. A CEO of a major retailer I spoke with said it best: "Invest in America, Alibaba. Make an acquisition of a big, well-known company and show us what you can do here. Then everyone will beat a path to Alibaba."
When I explained I was writing an article recommending that Alibaba should acquire Albertsons, executives I spoke with were shocked—but each agreed Albertsons would benefit from such an acquisition.
Full disclosure: I am a former consultant to Kroger. I have written and spoken publicly about the fact I recommended to Kroger that it should sign a strategic partnership with Alibaba to sell its private label products in China. According to this article, Kroger and Alibaba have agreed to work together. I also recommended that Kroger pursue being acquired by Alibaba.
Alibaba's New Retail Model And Why Its Vital To The Future Of Albertsons
According to Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, "Commerce as we know it is changing in front of our eyes. 'E-commerce' is rapidly evolving into 'New Retail.' The boundary between offline and online commerce disappears as we focus on fulfilling the personalized needs of each customer."
The video below does an excellent job of explaining Ma's concept of New Retail, as does my fellow Forbes contributor, Chris Walton in this in-depth article on Alibaba.
For those of you who have shopped at an Albertsons or one of the banners it owns (i.e., Safeway, Vons or Tom Thumb), compare your experience with the vision of New Retail as explained in the video. The difference is striking.
Although there are many reasons why I believe Albertsons should be acquired by Alibaba, one of the most compelling reasons is Alibaba's advanced technology and operating model related to grocery retail—specifically, Alibaba's Hema Supermarkets.
Hema is the next generation of retail stores that will seamlessly blend the offline and online shopping experience. It has been more than a year since I have been inside a Hema supermarket and I remember every detail of the experience. Hema is unlike any other grocery retail store on earth, including Amazon Go. Hema is the type of store that Elon Musk, had he not founded Tesla, would create.
The following video does a great job of presenting the concept of Hema supermarkets. As you watch the video, just remember that Hema stores in the U.S. would be customized to meet the needs of U.S. consumers if they were introduced here.
An Albertsons integrated with Hema's technology would be a game changer for the company. And its customers would be the biggest winners of all as the combined stores would not only meet grocery/food needs, but of virtually all things retail.
I'm sure many of you may be thinking, "Can't Albertsons change on its own and create the same technology used by Alibaba?" In my experience with Amazon and grocery retailers like Kroger, it would be nearly impossible for Albertsons, or the majority of retailers operating in the U.S., to duplicate what Alibaba has accomplished anytime soon.
I also want to address the issue of culture. Alibaba is a Chinese-owned company run by Chinese executives. Albertsons is an American company run by American executives. So what? The United States is full of foreign-owned companies such as Toyota, Honda, Mahindra, Suzuki, BMW and Mercedes to name a few. Many Western brands have found success in China and other countries globally.
Make no mistake, Alibaba and Albertsons can make an acquisition work.
Why Should President Trump Care?
First and foremost, Donald Trump is a businessman. Buying and selling properties isn't something Trump talks about, it's part of who he is. That's why I believe President Trump can be convinced to support an acquisition of Albertsons by Alibaba. The move would increase competition in the U.S., something Trump, economists and certainly consumers believe is a good thing. I agree 100%.
What Albertsons Must Do Now
I recommend that Albertsons seek to be acquired by Alibaba, not out of a lack of confidence in the executive team at Albertsons, but out of an understanding of the reality facing the company. Albertsons needs a better strategy, more technology and most of all, more capital. Alibaba can provide all three.
Merging with Rite Aid was a bad idea and it would have added little to no value to either company. Two mediocre companies don't merge and become a good one, let alone a great one.
A better option for Albertsons to pursue would have been to sell its pharmacy business to Walgreens and create a program whereby Albertsons customers could order groceries online and pick up the groceries from a Walgreens of their choosing. I recommended this same strategy to Kroger.
Maintaining the status quo is not an option for Albertsons. And waiting for a major U.S. retailer or some other company to step up and offer to merge or acquire Albertsons is unlikely to happen.
The Boise, Idaho-based company should make every effort to gain support from President Trump and his cabinet members to support Alibaba acquiring Albertsons. It should even try to meet with the president himself.
Once Albertsons has successfully gained that support, it should engage with Alibaba and make the acquisition a reality.
History is littered with the names of companies that have failed. What I am proposing is a way for Albertsons to do much more than survive. What I propose will completely transform Albertsons as a company. But it is also about more than that: It's about transforming an entire industry to the benefit of millions of consumers and thousands of businesses that support and depend upon a vibrant retail industry. Alibaba's technology and its New Retail operating model would have a ripple effect across the U.S.
Will it be easy? No. Is there a guarantee the federal government and President Trump will support such an idea? No. Is it guaranteed that Alibaba will want and/or be allowed to acquire Albertsons? No. Should Albertsons try? Absolutely.
Albertsons is facing the fight of its life. Small ideas won't save Albertsons. The time has come for Albertsons to think big and to make a big move. I believe Alibaba is the answer.
Alibaba and Albertsons can create something special. Together, they can re-imagine the retail experience.


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Japan to Fund $2.2 billion to Firms to Shift Production Out of China.
Japan Government is ready to spend over $2 Billion to help its country’s firms move production out of China.
Dear Indians reject anything Chinese.
China needs to be taught a Lesson.
Some messages spreading online claim Japan Government is ready to spend over $2 Billion to help its country’s Firms move production Out of China. The messages also urge Indians to reject anything from Chinese as teaching them a lesson. They have come up in the wake of the deadly Coronavirus emerging from China and killing hundreds and thousands of people worldwide. Yes, the claims are true and explained here in detail.
Japan to Spend Billions to Move Firms Out of China
Facebook page Namo for 2024 shared one version of the message on 9th April 2020 urging Indians to reject anything Chinese and teach them a lesson. China is in fact Japan’s biggest trading partner and their go-to manufacturing hub for decades. However, the global pandemic has disrupted supply chains and economics of many nations amid the global health crisis and lockdown to avoid the transmission of the disease. In fact, imports from China fell to almost half in February itself starving Japanese manufacturers of necessary components.
On 8th April 2020, BloombergQuint website bloombergquint.com came up with an article with title ‘Japan to Fund Firms to Shift Production Out of China‘. It said Japan’s government would spend over $2 billion to help its multinationals leave China. It referred to extra budget Japan’s Ministry of Finance proposed to counteract the effects of the pandemic to include:
・ Domestic investment promotion project cost subsidy [220 billion yen] for supply chain measures
・ Support for overseas supply chain diversification (¥ 23.5 billion)
The financial help is for firms shifting production back to Japan and to companies seeking to move manufacturing base to other countries. The Spectator Index also tweeted about the Japan Government’s plans.
India and Other Countries
On 24th April 2020, Union Minister of India Nitin Gadkari suggested Indian firms are planning to enter into tie-up with countries like the United States and the United Kingdom operating in China and planning to shift over Coronavirus. Likewise, he asked companies to enter into joint venture and bring them directly to India. Nitin Gadkari is in fact the Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. He further said whatever permission required for shifting will be given on war footing. Furthermore, some American Companies are planning to leave China. With the sentiments against China, many foreign companies are also keen to come out and set up their units elsewhere.
An April 22nd report on Business Today website businesstoday.in writes 1,000 foreign firms are thinking of shifting production to India. Around 300 companies are actively pursuing the production plans in Mobiles, Electronics, Medical Devices and Textiles.
Hoax or Fact:


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With over 10 million individual sales since last year, the Huawei P9 from Huawei has given a significant rise to the company’s share percentage in the smartphones business. The Chinese smartphone company has established itself as the world’s number 3 with a market share of 10% in the global smartphone business just behind Apple and Samsung. This is largely due to the fact that ever since last year, Huawei has increased their product sales by 30% since the previous year. That large increase in sales has put Chinese phones in a league of their own with a 20% market share in the world wide smartphone business.
The Huawei P9, that was released in April of 2016, has made a major contribution to this and as the telecommunication giant releases newer products, the more the companies quality of products do too with market sales numbers reaching extremely new heights for the company.
The company’s sales rose from 75 million smartphones in 2014 to 140 million smartphones in 2016 accumulating a rise of approximately 65 million product sales in just a span on 2 years. The company was initially founded by a Chinese businessman and CEO Ren Zhengfei back in 1887. It is clear to see that the company has a bright, prosperous future ahead in the smartphone industry and although their products may not be as big as Apple or Samsung, they are making their own waves in the ocean that is the smartphone industry sailing towards success.


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The Web Summit 2019 is currently taking place in Lisbon, and this one of the most important events in the world of technology. During the event, many of the big tech companies make revelations of their plans for the road ahead, and during one of the conferences held so far, a Facebook executive named Kevin Weil spoke about the future of cryptocurrency, namely Libra, he also stated that the crypto effort could take several decades to complete.
Facebook statements at the Web Summit
For those who don’t know him yet, Kevin Weil is the Vicepresident of product for the Facebook Calibra digital wallet unit. The CNBC made a report about the statements offered by this executive during the Web Summit 2019.
“This is not going to be a thing that spreads like a social network,” Stated Kevin Weil.
Because of this, the launch of Libra has been questioned, as it had originally been said that it would arrive in June 2020. This project caught the attention of many global regulators, who were restless about cryptocurrency projects, and some of them have severely objected to Libra.
Facebook exec says libra cryptocurrency won't spread 'like a social network' https://t.co/HTOLZzfZLU
— CNBC International (@CNBCi) November 5, 2019
At a recent hearing in Congress attended by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, several members of the US legislative body attacked the proposal. In fact, it is thought that some of the backers of the Libra association withdrew, some large companies such as Mastercard, Visa, and other big names have decided not to participate in the project because it has not progressed as expected for some time.
Despite the hardships, Weil said he is still optimistic about the future of the project. He raised the fact that there are still 21 organizations that make up the Libra Association. During his conference at the Web Summit 2019, he said that Libra’s main use will be remittance payments.
Finally, Weil also acknowledged that some people might not like the idea of using a currency built by Facebook. After stating that it was “ok” for people to feel that way, regarding the latter, the executive said:
You don’t have to use a Facebook product ever to get the greater value of the accessibility and lower cost brought by the libra ecosystem.”


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More than 6,000 businesses in Albania will pay energy prices increased by 15% up to 35% when fees for the distribution service come into effect.
According to Albanian media, Energy Regulatory Entity (ERE) has approved new distribution network tariffs. In addition to the regular price, businesses that are connected to 20 kV and 35 kV network will have to pay a fee for the distribution service to the Electricity Power Distribution System Operator (OSHEE).
This is a step in the electricity market liberalization process in Albania, which started last year. Businesses will be able to buy electricity from the suppliers licensed by ERE. However, they will have to pay fees for the distribution service to OSHEE.
The distribution service fee will come in effect during this year and the first consumers which will be affected are the businesses connected to 35 kV network. These companies will pay energy price of ALL 9.50 (EUR 0.70) and ALL 1.50 (EUR 0.11) per kWh as a fee for the use of the network. According to the sources from OSHEE, everything is ready for the implementation of the new measurement system, so these companies could buy electricity at the open market from February.
While there are 82 businesses connected to 35 kV network, more than 6,000 companies are connected to 20 kV. Their energy bills will be even higher as these businesses will pay energy price of ALL 11 (EUR 0.81) and a fee of ALL 3.90 (EUR 0.29) per kWh. The new measurement system will increase their energy price by 35%. They are expected to access the open electricity market in the second half of the year.
The representatives of OSHEE hope that the consumers will manage to find licensed suppliers which offer lower energy prices. That would make the overall price they have to pay more acceptable. On the other hand, the customers from this group claim that they failed to find energy suppliers who offer electricity at reasonable prices, as Albanian media reported.
According to earlier reports, there are over 80 licensed energy suppliers in Albania. The official data show that the businesses that will be a part of the free market make a total of 15% of consumers’ purchase.


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Samsung’s self-driving vehicles are based on Hyundai autos outfitted with cameras and sensors. In March 2017, the corporate additionally completed its $8B buy of Harman, a leading provider of in-automobile know-how and related vehicle systems. Samsung is already planning to leverage its new acquisition to shape the in-automobile expertise. At CES 2016, GPU and semiconductor company Nvidia unveiled the Nvidia Drive PX 2, the second generation of its platform expressly designed for autonomous vehicles.
This primary animation exhibits how the gears are chosen, and what these gears actually do when you move the shifter. Everything from the engine to the tires is its personal special universe of design and engineering. Therefore, we now have dozens of different articles at HowStuffWorks that specify all the intricacies of our automobiles. On a year-over-yr basis, all main market segments noticed seasonally adjusted worth declines within the first 15 days of May. Luxury cars outperformed the overall market, while most other major segments underperformed the overall market.
But the 1970s model, which practically destroyed or murdered many a nice center-class U.K. family, belongs close to the highest of any listing of awful motoring experiences.
David Mogensen, Google’s head of YouTube adverts marketing and former automotive marketer, shares tips on how to faucet into this new auto shopping for course of. In the past few years, carmakers have been taking a look at methods to make automobiles cheaper and extra affordable to personal. The finest method to do this is to cut back the dimensions of the engine, while on the identical time, keeping performance, and luxury to the level demanded by consumers. Waymo created the world’s first public education initiative round autonomous vehicles known as Let’s Talk Self-Driving.
My friend Nigel, who actually likes automobiles and taught me how to drive a stick, reviews, “Vauxhall Viva was my first automotive. I needed to substitute the head gasket twice in 18,000 miles.” The protection rests. Around the world there are about a billion cars on the street; they burn over a trillion liters of gasoline and diesel fuel yearly, consuming about 50 EJ (almost 300 terawatt-hours) of energy.
The automobile ended rural isolation and brought urban facilities—most important, higher medical care and faculties—to rural America (whereas paradoxically the farm tractor made the normal family farm obsolete). The trendy city with its surrounding industrial and residential suburbs is a product of the automobile and trucking. The car stimulated participation in out of doors recreation and spurred the expansion of tourism and tourism-related industries, similar to service stations, roadside eating places and motels.
While the Gladiator has acquired a lot of hype for being the new kid on the block, it is obvious that it is going to be hard to compete against America’s bestselling truck. Like all different 2010 Camaro SS models, this automotive contains a stock 6.2L LS3 V8 engine. Unfortunately, this automotive has the six-pace automated transmission and not the extra desirable six-pace guide. This automobile is not to be confused with the 2010 Camaro SS Indy 500 recreation models. While GM made a variety of manufacturing automobiles that have been replicas of the Indy 500 pace cars, this is the real deal and was current on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on race day.
Research and Technology
Similar to current transportation services like Uber or Lyft, a person would summon a Zoox car for a ride via an app on their smartphone. nuTonomoy’s know-how, nuCore allows for flexible and human-like car dealing with (with out the error). The software program permits automobiles to navigate even the most complicated traffic situations. With each automobile producer and their mom racing to develop synthetic intelligence and self-driving applied sciences, there are also a slew of tech companies and startups with the identical purpose.
“We’re also implementing digital tools like Volvo Valet, which we’ve been rolling out for patrons to schedule service with house pickup and supply of vehicles,” says Anders Gustafsson, senior vice chairman for the Americas at Volvo Car USA. The guidance is meant to be versatile and to evolve as technology does, but with security at all times as the top precedence. These are amongst many important questions past the technical issues that policymakers are working to handle before automated vehicles are made out there. We are still a few years from absolutely automated autos turning into available to the general public.
Honda also testing autonomous automobiles, providing semi-autonomous features in Civic
What’s extra, as car makers work to satisfy sustainability targets and use recovered supplies, a growing number of automotive elements are made utilizing recycled plastics. Kelley Blue Book and taking part dealers will offer “video walkarounds” on automobiles and bring a car to a possible buyer’s door for a test drive. Dealers promoting automobiles through Cars.com also have digital appointments and residential deliveries obtainable on sure autos.


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Gov. Jim Doyle announced the availability of $450,000 for 16 agricultural development projects ranging from renewable energy to specialty potatoes. The funding is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's 2007 Agricultural Development and Diversification grant program.
"In Wisconsin, agriculture is our heritage, identity, and future," Governor Doyle says. "I am pleased to help Wisconsin's farmers modernize and diversify their businesses - and keep Wisconsin America's leader in agriculture."
The ADD grant program was created in 1989 to stimulate Wisconsin's farm economy. Based on post-grant surveys, the program has generated more than $100 million in economic returns, including annual sales increases, annual cost reduction, and additional economic returns. Economic activity that has resulted from the success of grant projects includes:
-More than 600 new jobs
-More than $30 million in new capital investment
-More than 400 new products developed.
"Innovation and diversity are our strengths," says Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen. "These projects were selected for their demonstrated ability to add value to agricultural products, help farmers and create jobs. Congratulations to the recipients."
Recipients of the 2007 ADD grants are:
Governor Doyle's energy independence goal is to have 25 percent of the state's fuel and energy from renewable sources by 2025 and to make Wisconsin the best place for no waste, bio-based industry to grow.
* $39,000 to Marquette University, Milwaukee, to enhance the production of methane gas in anaerobic digesters. Anaerobic digesters convert waste into gas that is used to generate electricity. Wisconsin's 22 anaerobic digesters generate more electricity than any other state, enough to power 7,300 homes.
* $25,000 to Great Lakes Renewable Energy, Inc., Rice Lake, to develop wood pellet fuel from timber harvest waste, a by-product of paper production and other timber-based industries. Wisconsin ranks number one in the nation in paper production.
* $38,000 to Planet LLC, Madison, to design and provide a bio-secure, controlled environment for start up companies that grow plants for pharmaceuticals and to establish protocols that meet FDA approval.
* $46,000 to Agrecol Corporation, Madison, to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to develop a bioheat business based on converting native grasses into biomass fuel pellets.
$48,000 to ENCAP, LLC, Green Bay, to research technology that separates solids and nutrients from liquid manure and also determine if there is a market for manure solids for cow bedding, composting, retail fertilizer and other uses.
$37,500 to Clean Water Solutions, LLC, to develop technology to clean up polluted waste water using modified soybean hulls, a low-cost by-product, to absorb heavy metals.
Dairy generates $20.1 billion for the state annually, or $39,000 a second.
* $43,000 to Alta Genetics, Watertown, to improve dairy cattle genetics and bull fertility. Dairy genetics underpin the state's dairy industry and accounted for $31 million in agricultural exports in 2006, an amount expected to increase by 17% again this year.
* $14,900 to Lovetree Farmstead Cheese, Grantsburg, to develop protocols for businesses who offer custom cheese aging for cheesemakers looking to add value to their products. Specialty cheese has grown to 16 percent of the cheese market in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin ranks first in the nation for the production of organic dairy and meat products and consumer demand for organic products continues to grow.
* $22,500 to the Horticulture Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, to research the economical feasibly of large-scale organic vegetable crop production.
* $14,500 to Home Grown Wisconsin to implement food safety protocols for organically grown products including fresh fruits and vegetables.
* $20,000 to Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, East Troy, to test the methinonine content of corn hybrids for organic poultry producers. Methinonine, an essential nutrient in poultry feed, is currently available only as a synthetic additive and must be phased out by 2009 to meet federal organic standards.
* $29,670 to GreenLeaf Market to enable consumers to buy Wisconsin products directly from growers using the Farmers' Market Pre-Buy Web site to order products online in real time.
* $15,000 to the Horticulture Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, to promote and develop specialty potatoes for the fresh market. Wisconsin ranks third in the nation in potato production.
* $22,500 to the West Madison Agricultural Research Station, Verona, to grow and test production methods for seedless table grapes for the fresh market.
* $10,600 to Tosca Ltd, Green Bay, to investigate the feasibility of developing a local industry for curly-leaf spinach, a hearty, high-nutrient, high value crop that thrives in cool weather.
* $23,500 to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility, Bayfield, to develop technologies to propagate lake herring, a new, high-value species, for northern Wisconsin.
Governor Doyle and Secretary Nilsestuen will be highlighting these grants individually at project sites across the state.


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Supermarket customers in California: Consumption is one of the pillars supporting economic growth in the United States.
President Joe Biden's economic policies have been heavily criticized. The particularly strong growth of the US economy right now surprises many economists. They predicted a deep recession.
AOn October 1, 2023, business media Bloomberg published one of its in-depth analyses, suggesting that a recession in the United States is almost lurking around the corner. It was too optimistic, because the mood of experts had already changed in the autumn and a soft landing for the economy suddenly seemed conceivable. After a good three weeks, the growth rate for the third quarter was announced: the US economy grew by nearly 5 percent for the year, surprising some observers.
Bloomberg economists remained pessimistic. Almost a year ago, based on an in-house forecast model, they had already asserted that the church was Amen, 100 percent sure of recession. They know they are in good company. Harvard economist Larry Summers is not only one of the staunchest critics of the Biden administration's spending policy, but he blames it for high inflation in the United States. He also predicted that inflation would not be brought under control without a significant increase in unemployment. “We need five years of unemployment above 5 percent to keep inflation under control, or in other words, we need two years of 7.5 percent unemployment or one year of 10 percent unemployment.”


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After a detailed and comprehensive report in the Wall Street Journal, the pressures on Activision Blizzard are increasing every day. In an unexpected and major move, PlayStation Chief Jim Ryan on Wednesday fired Activision Blizzard for failing to respond fully to allegations made against the company and its director, Bobby Kotik, to raise awareness of sexual harassment and harassment. The company strongly criticized the company for failing to deal with it, as well as for abusing women in the company, and formally reprimanded them. He said he and other Sony executives were frankly and frankly surprised to read that Activision had not done enough to address the culture of discrimination and harassment that has taken root within the company. "We contacted Activision immediately after the article was published to express our deep concern and ask how they intend to address the allegations in this article," he wrote.
Sony One of the largest manufacturers of game consoles, it has long been closely associated with Activision. After all, Activision is the publisher of great games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. Over the years, in addition to releasing many Activision games for PlayStation consoles, they have signed contracts with Sony to market and promote recent Call of Duty games. We've usually seen shows of Call of Duty at Sony events over the years. Even Call of Duty: Vanguard offers special content for PlayStation owners for a specific period of time. Therefore, Sony's outspoken response to this issue will definitely put more pressure on Activision and its board to respond better to these issues.
However, the pressure has not been solely from the media, players and Sony. Activision is currently under intense pressure from its employees. Last Tuesday, more than 100 employees of the studio participated in a protest rally and demanded the resignation of Bobby Kotik, and now more than 500 employees of the company have signed a text requesting such a request. However, on the day of the publication of the Wall Street Journal article, Blizzard Activision board of directors supported Kotik. However, Activision shares fell 2.5 percent in New York last Wednesday evening following the incident. . However, in the past, when fans were unhappy with the state of Cyberpunk 2077, even though it was one of the most anticipated games of last year, it decided to remove it from its store for a while and pay for the game. Return all players. They agreed to bring Cyberpunk 2077 back to the PlayStation Store six months later. Ryan stressed to his staff that Sony Interactive Entertainment is committed to ensuring that the developer and gamer community feels safe and respected. And provide a safe work environment for each employee. He called on staff to report harassment or discrimination and promised to investigate any action.
Although the board initially supported Bobby Kotik, the protests grew. Support for him has declined. A small group of Activision Blizzard shareholders, who make up less than 1 percent of the remaining stock, announced in a letter to the company's board on Wednesday that they had requested Koutik's resignation.
Jim Ryan's outspoken criticism and reaction to this was something we did not expect. Usually, the top executives of other companies try not to react in the same way to their other partners, at least in general, but in this particular case, the situation has been so dire and worrying that Jim Ryan has tried to put aside these interests and criticize the pressure. Slow down on Activision. Some time after Jim Ryan, the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, also criticized this activation behavior.
- Blizzard's first female director resigned after only three
It is important to note that Sony and Microsoft are not just two regular partners or business partners for Activision, but as two of the largest console manufacturers, play a key role in replacing Blizzard Activision. . This is a sign of the deterioration of the situation for Activision. If PlayStation decides to somehow deal with Activision's behavior, it could pose a very serious concern for Activision's board of directors and shareholders. Given this situation, it is strange that the news of Bobby Kotik's resignation and the start of Activision Blizzard's efforts to improve the situation has not been published yet.


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Binatone, a leading global provider of wireless and IOT connected consumer electronics products has announced the launch of WR3010N Wi-Fi router today. This advanced router from Binatone is designed specifically for large home and office networking requirements and will be available exclusively through e-commerce site, Paytm.
Binatone WR3010N router supports 300 Mbps, has 1 FE uplink WAN port and 4FE full duplex LAN ports, which can simultaneously connect multiple devices. It has multiple SSID and supports 8 sub VAN interface for multiple services. It also supports Parental Control, Remote Access Control, Multiple SSID, DDNS, Port Forwarding and Bandwidth Control.
The highlight of this product is that it can deliver high performance with consistent throughout covering around 4000 sq.ft area. With 2T2R MIMO Technology, Binatone WR3010N router creates an exceptional and advanced wireless performance, making it ideal for streaming HD videos, making VoIP calls and for online gaming. The router is compliant with IPV6, TR069 and multiple VLAN features.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. S P Singh, Managing Director, Binatone India, said “We are happy to introduce WR3010N Wi-Fi router in the market, as it offers defined connectivity solutions for large home & office needs. Previously, we have received a great response for our wireless products on the online channel, so we decided to offer WR3010N Wi-Fi router exclusively through our online partner Paytm. We will be announcing more such associations in near future”
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Experts raise alarm on Heart Failure; call it leading cause of mortality of all CVDs
Senthil Kumar and Mathana claim double wins for Honda in round 4 of INMRC
8th Indian Wedding Expo Waterford Banquet in Elmhurst turn to biggest Wedding Expo in Chicagoland
GRAND SEIKO LUXURY WATCH BRAND NOW AT PUNE’S ICONIC CT PUNDOLE & SONS
2014 The Global Indian New Network (TGINN)


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Sports car maker McLaren Automotive has celebrated building its 10,000th model.
The supercar manufacturer’s McLaren 570S rolled out of its Woking factory nearly five years after the first car, a McLaren 12C, was completed in 2011.
Chief executive Mike Flewitt said: “The production of the 10,000th McLaren is a significant milestone in the short history of the company.
"The fact that it took us 42 months to build our 5,000th car and just 22 months to build the next 5,000 speaks volumes about the pace of development of the company.
"Much of that development is thanks to the introduction of the Sports Series family of cars and it’s therefore fitting that the 10,000th car is a McLaren 570S.”
In January, the Surrey-based company announced it was creating 250 new jobs following a "record year" after it delivered 1,653 of its cars to 30 different countries in 2015.
A second shift was created to cope with demand for its vehicles, some of which retail for £900,000, taking production rates from 10 to 20 cars per day.
The company currently employs around 1,750 people, with 750 people working in production.
McLaren Automotive said the increase in sales was partly driven by the introduction of the firm’s cheapest model, the Sports Series, which costs from £150,000.
The 10,000th car will be retained by the company in its Heritage Collection.


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Despite talk of a slowdown in broadband adoption in 2005, high-speed Internet access reaches 60 percent of U.S. households. According to “Broadband Access and Services in the Home 2006,” a report released by Leichtman Research Group, the market can expect continued growth.
Forty percent of current narrowband, or dial-up, subscribers say they want to upgrade to a broadband account. Barriers to adoption, such as cost and availability in rural areas, no longer keep narrowband users from upgrading to high-speed.
“The number of broadband subscribers in America will nearly double [in the next five years], so there’s a huge opportunity,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for the Leichtman Research Group. “With lower entry prices, particularly with DSL, the migration from dial-up is much quicker than many expected.”
Cable holds a lead in the number of subscribers. An earlier report released by Leichtman said cable operators supplied 25.8 million broadband subscribers, and DSL serviced 20.2 million out of 46 million high-speed Internet subscriber accounts. The 46 million subscribers account for 94 percent of the market.
Cable subscribers tend to be in households with higher incomes, according to the report. Thirty-seven percent of households with annual incomes over $75,000 subscribe to cable versus 27 percent of DSL subscribers. Of households earning $30,000 to $75,000, 21 percent subscribe to DSL, and 18 percent to cable.
“Income is the greatest predictor of broadband penetration, and cable does very well among the high-income groups,” said Leichtman. “Where DSL has performed very well in the past year is in the middle class where they have taken a market share lead over cable.”
Data are based on a telephone survey of 1,600 randomly selected households from throughout the U.S. Additional data are derived from provider-side research.
Despite the fact that it faces growing competition from Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, Google-owned YouTube is still one of the most popular ... read more
A new study underlines the massive influence that Amazon exerts over the ecommerce market, with the site being the first port of call ... read more
Election 2016 is already like no presidential race before it, and one of the most striking aspects of this year’s race is the disparity ... read more
Can Snapchat make tech-enabled glasses cool? It’s going to try. Last week, it was revealed that the company behind the ascendant social app ... read more


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Drawn to Death will be taken offline in March 2019
Closure of the game follows the closure of its developer, David Jaffe's The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency
Drawn to Death will be taken offline on March 25, 2019, effectively making the game unplayable.
Those still playing Drawn to Death are being greeted with a message announcing the termination of online support. As indicated in this post on Resetera, the game's multiplayer modes and online features will stop working in March next year.
However, due to an internet connection being mandatory to play the game at all, Drawn to Death will no longer function from that date.
Far from being a surprise, the end of Drawn to Death has been very likely since the start of this year, when its developer, The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency, laid off the majority of its staff. One month later, the studio shut altogether.
David Jaffe, the studio's co-founder, attributed its closure to the cancellation of its next project.


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Earlier this month U.S. aviation regulators quietly filed a new proposed rule that would require recreational drone pilots to place their government assigned drone identification number on the outside of their aircraft. Currently, the roughly one million recreational drone pilots that are registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are already required to identify their drones but the marking can be placed inside the battery compartments for instance where it is not easily visible.
AeroScope Stories May 25
AeroScope Stories May 2
DJI’s VP of Policy and Legal Affairs, Brendan Schulman talks about the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Congress and how new upcoming regulations may impact hobbyist drone pilots. Brendan has been part of the Aviation Rule Making Committee (ARC) to create a report with recommendations for the FAA. This report addresses among other things, remote identification. Brendan is also working with other stakeholders from the manned aviation world, the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and DJI customers on a proposal for Congress to create an online test or tutorial for recreational drone pilots and to prevent section 336 from being repealed.
Yesterday, we had the chance to talk to DJI’s Managing Director of North America, Michael Perry at the AUVSI Xponential 2018 in Denver, Colorado. Michael spoke to us about the new Zenmuse XT2 dual-sensor thermal camera as well as the payload SDK and DJI’s push into the commercial drone market. We also spoke about how drones can help save people lives around the world and of course we asked him about what else consumers can expect from DJI this year.
AeroScope Stories December 20, 2017
AeroScope Stories December 1, 2017
Chinese drone manufacturer, DJI just announced today that they will be adding new identification features to their “electronic license plate” for drones system, Aeroscope. Aeroscope is a system that remotely identifies and tracks airborne drones, allowing law enforcement and aviation safety officials to respond to safety and security concerns about drones. The new additions allow drone operators to voluntarily identify their drone and drone flights to law enforcement agencies. The new features are available in the DJI GO 4 app and as of now work only with the Mavic Pro.
AeroScope Stories November 21, 2017
According to a transport minister, there have been more than 50 near-misses between drones and manned aircraft, including this one at Gatwick Airport, during the last twelve months in the United Kingdom. Drone users will face new restrictions starting in 2018. A new proposed law will likely give the police new powers to land drones suspected of involvement in criminal activity and will restrict drone use near airports.


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Eagan, MN-based Biothera announced that Joy Dubost, Ph.D., R.D., CSSD, (president of Dubost Food and Nutrition Solutions LLC) and sports nutrition consultant Dave Ellis, R.D., CSCS, joined its board of scientific advisors.
Alan Rillorta has joined AIDP of City of Industry, CA as director of branded ingredients sales.
Pamela’s Products of Ukiah, CA added two new employees to its staff: Donna Williams as business manager, and Hannah Hershey as sales and marketing coordinator.
Advanced Nutrition by Zahler, based in Brooklyn, NY, appointed Nicole O’Donnell as its new northeast territory manager.
Ron Wheelwright was hired by Kyowa Hakko USA of New York, NY as senior sales manager for the northwest sales region.
Tom Lomax is now vice president of supply chain for Doctor’s Best, Inc., San Clemente, CA.
Published in WholeFoods Magazine, March 2013


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Global pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer has named WPP’s MediaCom as their global full-service media agency following a competitive process.
Summit Health has announced the launch of its first consumer advertising campaign to illustrate its capabilities as a connected health care network.
MERGE, a premium storytelling technology company that promotes health, wealth and happiness, has announced the acquisition of the digital marketing consultancy, Blue Moon Digital, Inc.
Telehealth gave millions of US adults access to care services in 2020.
Launched ahead of Global Listening Day, the pan-industry 'Heard Mentality' campaign urges leaders to hear the concerns of colleagues and encourages team leaders to hold constructive talks with their team members or peers on mental health.
Brands are revising their campaign strategies and embracing innovative models as they seek to reach hitherto untapped markets and expand their portfolio.
Emplifi, the unified customer experience platform, has announced it has been selected by Mercy Ships, the hospital ship charity, to boost the healthcare organization’s social media presence and expand its global reach.
Mindshare, the media network that is part of WPP, has partnered with UNICEF Globally to launch a campaign targeting the G7 Leaders to ask them to donate 20% of their available vaccines to help developing countries.
The Mental Health Allies programme will be available to all 10,000 UK staff and aims to reduce the stigma around mental health by encouraging open conversations.
Verizon Media partners with Kellogg Company, Snap and Spotify to address the global mental health crisis
Kellogg Company, Snap and Spotify are founding members committed to improving workplace culture around mental health, and scaling best practices.
The global integrated campaign creative and strategy was led by Isobar Amsterdam and is the latest in a three-year pro bono partnership involving creative and media agencies from across the dentsu international network, aimed at ending a disease that kills a child every two minutes.
The star-studded creative campaign invites youth from across Africa and the globe to join the movement to end the world’s oldest deadliest disease.
Cannassure Therapeutics, an Israel based developer and producer of innovative medical cannabis products, announces the singing of an exclusive distribution agreement with DannCan Pharma.
Procter & Gamble (P&G) Oral Care seeks to advance healthy oral care habits to transform people’s health while reducing impact on the planet through its new sustainability commitments.
Hearst UK, the premium content and experience business, has partnered with health technology company, Philips, to launch its ‘Power of Positivity’ campaign.
Procter & Gamble Oral Care has unveiled its newest packaging innovation across its leading toothpaste brands, Crest, Oral-B and Blend-a-med.
Panaxia Israel announced the completion of the registration process from health authorities in Germany, for the marketing and distribution of a line of medical cannabis premium products.
Perrigo Company, global provider of Quality, Affordable Self-Care Products, announced that it has completed the acquisition of three Eastern European OTC skincare and hair loss treatment brands, Emolium, Iwostin and Loxon from Sanofi.
BoldScience, a new global medical communications agency, has launched.
Jeff Winton Associates partners with UK-based Onyx Health to expand global healthcare communications services
Jeff Winton Associates announced expansion into additional global markets through a new partnership with UK-based marketing communications firm Onyx Health.
VMLY&R has announced that it will launch a new global healthcare agency, VMLY&Rx, to service specialty Rx pharmaceutical companies.
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital has awarded its advertising account to Seven Stones.


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Chinese conglomerate Alibaba on Monday announced a major reshuffle at the top as the country tightens its stand against domestic Big Tech companies over data and internet regulations.
Toby Xu, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, will succeed Maggie Wu as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective from April 1, 2022.
Wu will continue as a partner in the Alibaba Partnership and serve as an Executive Director on the Alibaba board, the company said in a statement.
“Going forward, Maggie will leverage her deep experience to support Alibaba in new ways. We will continue to benefit from her guidance and insights in her continued role as an Alibaba board director,” – Daniel Zhang, Chairman, and CEO of Alibaba Group.
Since joining Alibaba almost 15 years ago, Wu has helped lead three successful company public listings as CFO: Alibaba.com on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2007, Alibaba Group Holding on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014, and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2019.
Xu joined Alibaba from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) three years ago and was appointed Deputy Group CFO in July 2019.
“The markets will always have ups and downs, but Alibaba has ambitious long-term goals. We are in a relay race and we must have new generations of talent to take the company forward,” said Wu.
Alibaba also unveiled major reorganization plans to boost its strategy of domestic and international eCommerce, Zhang said in an internal letter.
Founded in 1999, Alibaba went through a major reshuffle when Jack Ma passed the baton as CEO to Zhang in 2015 and further appointed him as Chairman in 2019.
The latest reshuffle came as China’s market regulator last month fined tech giants Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, and eCommerce platform JD.com Inc and Suning for violating the country’s anti-monopoly rules in 34 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals which they failed to declare the illegal implementation of operating concentration, marking the latest move in the nation’s fight against monopoly.
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has fined a raft of companies, especially in the internet platform sector, since the start of this year over their monopolistic behaviors including making M&As without seeking regulatory approval in advance and letting merchants “choose one from two,” which needs to be rectified as the country ramps up anti-monopoly efforts to secure fair market competition, Global Times reported.


text: Qualcomm Inc, already involved in patent disputes over cellular phones with two companies, is now engaged in a court battle with US Philips Corp. The San Diego, California-based company has now filed a complaint at its local court seeking a judicial determination that it does not infringe three of Philips’ patents covering features of Qualcomm products compatible with the Telecommunication Industry Association’s IS-95-A standard. Philips said it was surprised by the suit, as negotiations over cross-licensing were in progress. Qualcomm is facing patent infringement allegations by Motorola Inc (CI No 3,149) and LM Ericsson Telefon AB (CI No 3,066). Separately, Qualcomm has sold its TL2000 dispatch software product to TMW Systems Inc, a developer of software for the trucking industry, on undisclosed terms. Qualcomm bought the software, which runs on IBM AS/400s, from Indianapolis-based McCormick & Associates in 1995 (CI No 2,825). TMW is from Beachwood, Ohio.


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More and more pet parents are turning to a key component of marijuana derivatives in order to bring some much needed relief to their anxious, sick, or aging pups. CBD, phytocannabinoid, and hemp oil have all been used and recommended to people for years, and more recently several state governments have approved their use as medicine. A few new companies are focusing on providing CBD for dogs in order to live a better quality of life without the need to load up on pharmaceutical pain killers and calming products.
The company used to call them biscuits, but didn’t want them to be confused with regular ol’ dog treats because they contain 2mg of phytocannabinoid-rich hemp oil (sourced directly from a Colorado Department of Agriculture provider) each. “These are not training treats. These are health products or supplements,” Polly Patterson, COO/CMO of HHPC, tells Leafly, adding that they were created in partnership with veterinarians. The green-lipped mussel ingredient is a unique and special touch—it is a rich source of glucosamine and chondroitin, which are popular supplements for aging dogs with aching joints and muscle pain.
Yes, they do! The reason you won’t find CBD on the label is that CBD is not the best term to describe these products anymore. There are hundreds of different molecules in hemp that all contribute to the overall therapeutic effects. So many companies are now calling these products Full Spectrum Hemp, Hemp extract, or Phytocannabinoid-rich (PCR) Oil instead of CBD hemp.
Treatibles makes a wide variety of products, from CBD infused treats to oils and even gel caps. This company also produces its treat in a number of different flavors, and even makes grain free products so even those with especially sensitive stomachs can enjoy the benefits that CBD yields. The company also has some specific feeding instructions, recommending 1mg of oil for every 10 lbs your pup weighs.
Comprehensive research shows that CBD products have a low side-effect profile. However, the one notable concern is CBD's interaction with enzymes in the liver that metabolize the majority of pharmaceuticals. In most cases, studies have shown that this interaction is uncommon, but it can occur. By delaying the rate a pharmaceutical is metabolized, you potentially raise its potency and its side effects. This could be one of the reasons, CBD is able to lower the use of other pharmaceuticals.
Dogs with chronic inflammation and joint troubles can also benefit tremendously from having some CBD added into their diets. CBD is a known pain reliever, and a natural one at that, so it can go a long way in relieving the aches and pains your dog might feel on a daily basis, and it has also been found to help treat inflammation and give pups a more comfortable life.
The American Veterinary Medical Association does not have an official stance on medical marijuana, but cannabis is not FDA-approved for pets. Furthermore, in any given state (even legal states with booming cannabis markets like Colorado), veterinarians are banned from writing prescriptions for cannabis products. In 2015, a bill introduced in the Nevada state legislature that would have allowed pet owners to feed medical marijuana to sick pets was shot down.


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The New England Patriots are entering a new decade and a new era of their franchise with fresh uniforms for the 2020 season and beyond.
The Patriots revealed their new uniforms Monday. It is the first change to the team’s primary uniform in 20 years.
The team’s color rush uniform, which was seen during Thursday night games, is now the new home uniform while a completely new version will be used during road games.
“As we started to think about the 2020 season and a new decade, we began to envision what we wanted our uniforms to reflect,” Jen Ferron, the CMO of Kraft Sports and Entertainment, said in a news release. “The success of the 'Color Rush' uniform that we've worn for the past couple of years had us thinking that we didn't need to make real substantive changes, rather we could make modest changes to our home uniform and then use a complimentary version with those same aesthetics for our away uniform.”
Ferron also opened the door for the possibility of a red uniform further down the line to go along with its “Patriot Pat” helmet logo. However, the NFL allows only one helmet per season.
“Our primary uniforms in the modern era have been blue and white and they will remain so,” she said. “We recognize that fans also have an affinity for the red 'throwback' uniform and we hope to incorporate that into our uniform rotation in the future.”
Patriots players reacted to the new uniforms on social media.
New England will enter the season without Tom Brady on its roster for the first time in two decades.


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WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Another huge Ford recall to pass along.
This time it involves 485,000 Escape and Maverick models from 2001 through 2004.
The problem deals with gas pedals that stick.
In January, a teenage girl died when an Escape crashed in Arizona.
Ford says the cruise control cables can get caught on a plastic engine cover and cause a problem with the pedals.
Dealers will replace the covers for free.


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iPhone 6 'prototype' for sale on eBay, bids reach $100000
An eBay user who claims to have an iPhone 6 prototype for sale has attracted bids of more than $US100,000 ($114,155) on the online auction website after apparently receiving the phone in error.
The purported prototype, which has been available to bid on since Thursday, had a starting price of $US999.
By Saturday one bidder took the biding to $US50,000, up from $US14,800. Since then, bidding has sat at around $US100,000, with more than 80 bidders and 200 bids.
Now where is my creditcard I want 3 of those LOL.


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- Cargo Services, JL Enterprises hold minority stakes in firm
- John Lau was among backers of majority owner EmergeVest
Cargo Services Group and JL Enterprises Holdings Ltd., two logistics firms founded by Hong Kong tycoon John Lau, are planning to sell their stakes in EV Cargo, reports Bloomberg.
About the investment
Cargo Services, a supply chain services provider, and JL Enterprises, a family office investing in freight forwarding and logistics, will completely divest their entire investment in Hong Kong-based EV Cargo, according to a statement confirming a Bloomberg News report.
Lau founded both Cargo Services and JL Enterprises in 1989 and 2000, respectively. He is also the chairman of Hong Kong-listed CN Logistics International Holdings Ltd., and was an early backer of EmergeVest, the Hong Kong-based private equity firm which owns a majority stake in EV Cargo.
A divestiture by Cargo Services and JL Enterprises would follow in the footsteps of EmergeVest, which has been considering strategic options for its majority stake in EV Cargo, Bloomberg News reported in 2021. Options under evaluation included a sale or an initial public offering of the business at a valuation of at least $1.5 billion, people familiar with the matter said at the time.
EmergeVest created EV Cargo in 2018 after combining six UK logistics companies in its portfolio, according to a press release. The freight forwarding, supply chain and technology company’s operations span more than 50 countries, and has grown both organically and via mergers and acquisitions, EmergeVest’s website shows.
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6 top trends that will impact data management in 2020
This year will mark the beginning of a complex new era for technology as innovation and disruption flourish.
Read the Full Article >>>>
This syndicated post originally appeared at The Latest
Tagged analytics, Big Data, Business Analytics, business intelligence, dashboard, Data Integration, data warehouse


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At the SMB Innovation Lab in Shanghai, China, SAP is helping ensure small and midsize businesses (SMBs) don’t miss out on hot technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain.
What if every piece of furniture for sale was fitted with a sensor that could transform it into a smart store device capable of engaging with potential customers nearby?
What if a retailer could combine face recognition and smart glasses technology to identify immediately when customers enter a store which products they are interested in, when they last visited, and whether they have open complaints requiring attention?
And what if SMBs could benefit, just as much as the major retail players, from innovations like these?
SMBs often have limited scope to deploy technology because they lack the time or resources to keep up with the rapid pace of change. They often find themselves in a ‘Catch-22:’ Technology would help them speed up, become more efficient, and implement new business processes. But they have neither the time to be constantly on the lookout for the latest trends, nor the funds to deploy them.
Drew Bates and the SMB Innovation Lab want to ensure that SMBs in all sectors of industry benefit from the hottest technology trends – from artificial intelligence and natural language processing, to blockchain, solar-powered drones, and robots.
The small SMB Innovation Lab team, led by Michael Renz, has seven permanent employees and several fellows. It is part of the global SAP SMB group and operates on worldwide projects out of SAP Labs China in Shanghai. The team focuses on two SAP solutions for SMBs, SAP Business One and SAP Business ByDesign.
“We act as a startup poised on the shoulders of a global market leader in SMB software,” is how Michael describes his team’s role. Bates, who has been a product manager on the team since it was set up about 18 months ago, adds, “We look way ahead into the future to identify technologies that could prove to be game-changing for SMBs.”
Creating Equal Opportunities for All
Take the example of face recognition: In-Store Analytics is a project the team is working to enable bricks-and-mortar store operators to combine artificial intelligence and face recognition to create “digital footprints” for their customers. Armed with this data, they can – as has long been the case in online retail –calculate both visit duration and bounce rate, and display personal recommendations for individual customers.
Also, with the help of cameras mounted in-store, they can gauge customers’ emotions and make sure VIP customers enjoy a very special shopping experience.
“Smart glasses still have a rather spooky appearance,” says Bates, “but we expect them to become much less intrusive and more natural-looking very soon.”
“Historically, retailers were challenged to find ways to reduce costs but also leverage new technologies to help improve customer relationships. That’s not the case anymore,” says Rodolpho Cardenuto, president, Global Partner Organization, SAP. “Today SMBs have access to the same tools and services that larger organizations do. They don’t want the cheapest option, they want the best option. Now that’s affordable to almost anyone.”
SAP’s key advantage, he says, is its ability to invest heavily so that SMBs can keep up with the pace of innovation, however rapid.
Drew and his colleagues have found that there is huge interest in innovative solutions among the majority of customers and partners. “I don’t think there are any limits to their appetite or willingness to adopt certain types of innovation,” he says.
He and his team are strong advocates of cloud-based software and services because, he explains, they make it possible for SMBs in particular, to keep a handle on costs.
Many of the prototypes developed by his team can be integrated easily into SAP Business One, SAP Business ByDesign, or even SAP S/4HANA, provided a prior implementation has been successful.
“We offer cost-effective additions to existing core solutions,” says Bates, “and thus enable SMBs to stay on the pulse of technology at all times.”
Growing Importance of Partners
Naturally, partners play a key role in this segment. Just recently, Bates and his colleagues took to the road for several weeks to present their projects to partner organizations with marked success: More than 30 partners have now begun building face recognition into their retail solutions.
“We serve SMBs across a wide range of industries, with professional services, retail and small manufacturing being the top three,” says Meaghan Sullivan, head of Global Partner Marketing for SAP. “We make sure they all benefit from the same innovations our largest customers do,” Meaghan says. “In fact, last quarter, more than half of the new SAP S/4HANA platform customers were SMBs, and many are starting to embrace new innovations like machine learning and AI,” she added.
Obviously, not every project is a winner. “In fact, most of our ideas may not proceed beyond the first rounds,” says Bates. And there is certainly no hemming and hawing in the decision-making process. “Our development sprints last two weeks,” he reports. “After that, we decide whether we want to end the topic, add it to the product managers’ backlog, or carry on working on it.” The team always learns something along the way and documents everything precisely, he says, “because it often happens that we later find the impetus to pursue an idea further down the line.”
If you want a project to reach a point where you can decide on its future, you must focus, says Bates. Aspects such as the data platform, security, and compliance are not factored in initially. “What we ask ourselves is this: If we didn’t have to worry about those things right now, would we have an idea that is worth pursuing?”
SAP’s nearly 300,000 SMB customers hope that the answer is “yes.”


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Fortune launched Wednesday a new website, new newsletters, a paywall and a new app.
Of the redesign, Fortune CEO Alan Murray said, “Fortune will be 90 years old next month, and we are in the midst of a massive reinvention that we believe will propel us through the next 90 years.”
Online, an on-demand video hub will serve as an immersive, curated destination for Fortune’s exclusive videos. The app will feature curation, newsletter subscriptions, and every story from Fortune’s print magazine and website.
Some stories on Fortune.com will be behind a registration wall. In February, Fortune plans to launch a tiered subscription model, beginning at approximately $1 per week.
The three tiers are:
- Digital Access, which includes all of Fortune’s journalism online and through the app at $49/year, or $5/month;
- Access Plus+, which includes all digital access, plus early access to Fortune list data, quarterly Investor Guides, and home delivery of the print magazine with annual subscription at $99/year, or $11/month; and
- Premium, which, in addition to everything included in Access Plus+, will include the video hub, a monthly conference call, and a premium Fortune Analytics newsletter, for $199 annually, or $22/month.
The upgraded print magazine will have more stories per issue, a revamped design aesthetic harkening back to Fortune’s early days, a thicker cover, and higher-quality paper stock. The number of print issues will drop to 10 a year, down two.
Fortune editor-in-chief Clifton Leaf said, “It has been an extraordinary privilege to create, hand in hand with my brilliant colleagues, a bold new design of this print magazine—one that captures in an even deeper sense Fortune’s longstanding passion for art, photography, and style.”


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Dunkin’ is adding a salty new snack to its menu: bacon.
Amid the surging plant-based "meats" frenzy, Dunkin’ is going against the grain with its new pork Snackin’ Bacon side item. The $2.79 dish rolled out nationwide this week.
“For anyone who’s seeking a satisfying snack but is stuck with a sad selection at their desk, office kitchen or vending machine, Dunkin’ is adding some extra sizzle to its menu,” the chain said in a press release. “Dunkin’s Snackin’ Bacon is served in a sleeve to make it easy to enjoy while on the go, any time of day.”
Each serving comes with eight half-slices of bacon, glazed with sweet black pepper seasoning and served in a french fry sleeve. Customers can also get the bacon served on the restaurant’s Sweet Black Pepper Bacon Breakfast Sandwich, per the release.
But bacon isn’t the only thing Dunkin’ has added to the menu. The chain also added the Egg White Bowl, Sausage Scramble Bowl and the Lucky Shamrock-themed doughnut and Irish creme-flavored coffee in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day. And for those who prefer to go meatless, Dunkin’ launched its plant-based Beyond Sausage sandwich late last year.
As the chain continues to roll out new menu items, the stock of parent Dunkin’ Brands Group has been going in the wrong direction. Despite Dunkin’ restaurants generating $9 billion in the fiscal year of 2018, DBG’s stock is down nearly 6 percent year-to-date.


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ST. PAUL, Minn. - One of the pioneers in the regional craft beer craze is expanding its capacity to make beer.
Cameras descended on Summit Brewing Wednesday to capture a great spectacle, as cranes dropped huge aluminum tanks through holes in the brewery roof.
The tanks, custom crafted in St. Cloud, will each hold 600 barrels of fermenting beer, the equivalent of 18,000 gallons. Four were installed Wednesday and another eight are on the way, expanding Summit's beer-making capacity to 240,000 at any given time.
The activity is all part of a $13 million expansion to ensure that Summit can produce enough beer to meet increased demand both nationally and internationally,
(Copyright 2013 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. )


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–Zac Efron gives a smile on the red carpet at the premiere of The Hangover at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday evening. Earlier in the day, Zac shot scenes for an upcoming cameo on “Entourage.”
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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Exterminators, a Sri Lanka pest management company, captured another prestigious award by winning the “Small Business Brand of the Year 2010” at the SLIM BRAND EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2010 held on Oct, 1, at Water’s Edge Colombo.
SLIM Brand Excellence Awards organized annually by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing. The criteria employed in evaluating the performance of a BRAND was divided into two categories from sales volume, growth, brand reputation, customer satisfaction etc., while the other set related to what the brand did, brand content, brand intent etc., The Exterminators (Pvt) Ltd is the only ISO 9001-2008 QMS & ISO 14001-2004 EMS certified Pest Management Company in Sri Lanka the company is also a member of the National Pest Management Association since 2004 and also the American Mosquito Control Association. In 2009 the company received the Silver Award for the small category and also the National Merit Award for the other service sector category.
The CEO also won two awards at the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the year 2009.
For more information visit www.pestcontrol.lk