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Last week, palladium prices rocketed to an all-time high near $1600 per ounce as global markets feared a shortage.
The precious metal, which is used primarily in catalytic convertors to clean automobile exhaust, has been seeing rising demand due to environmental concerns in Europe and China. Meanwhile, global supplies have been dwindling, and fears hit panic levels last week after top-exporter Russia announced that it may begin to restrict its sales.
Palladium had nearly doubled in price since last summer and showed no signs of slowing down until this week when the price abruptly collapsed by over $200.
Some attributed the selloff to profit-taking, as well as concerns that Chinese auto demand could waver this year. Longer term, the shift to electric cars, which don’t need catalytic convertors, could eliminate much of the demand for the metal.
For the time being, the world is still primarily using gasoline-powered cars with catalytic convertors, setting up an ongoing saga for investors in this rare metal, which was worth $1340 on Friday.
Up to our ears in corn?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its newest crop outlook on Monday, and it showed that U.S. farmers are rushing to plant corn this spring instead of less-profitable crops.
While all agricultural markets have been hurt by the ongoing trade war with China, corn has weathered the storm better, since very little U.S. corn is sold to China. Other crops like soybeans, cotton, and sorghum all depend on Chinese demand and have seen prices drop as purchases dried up during the last year.
U.S. farmers are expected to plant 92.8 million acres of corn this year, up from 89.1 million acres last year. Meanwhile, the USDA also showed stockpiles of corn leftover from last year’s harvest to be higher than expected, sitting at 8.6 billion bushes as of March 1st. These current big supplies and prospect for a bigger harvest this fall caused markets to tumble to new contract lows, with May corn futures dropping over 17 cents to trade at $3.57 per bushel on Friday.
Opinions are solely the writers’. Walt & Alex Breitinger are commodity futures brokers in Valparaiso, Ind. They can be reached at (800) 411-3888 or www.indianafutures.com. This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell any market.


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In an unexpected announcement, Toyota has announced a major shake-up in its global management structure that will significantly increase the role of the North American market – and senior U.S. executives, in particular.
The realignment positions Jim Lentz, who has been the top American executive at the giant Japanese maker, as its number one boss for all of North America. Meanwhile, the current U.S. head of the Lexus luxury brand will now become managing officer for Lexus International. And Mark Hogan, a former General Motors senior executive, will become the first American ever on the 76-year-old Toyota Motor Co.’s board of directors.
“These changes will help us to achieve sustainable growth and realize our global vision by giving more responsibility to each region, including our North and South American operations, so that they may develop and deliver even better products and offer the best service to our customers,” declared Akio Toyoda, TMC’s global chief executive and grandson of the maker’s founder.

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Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that a new State of Play livestream presentation will occur this Thursday on Aug 6 at 1 PM PT/4 PM ET. This latest episode will for about 40 minutes and will mostly focus on third-party published content coming to PS4 and PS VR.
There will be some news about several upcoming PS5 titles, but the announcements will be for indie titles and third-party content.
Sid Shuman, Senior Director at SIE Content Communications, promises that there will not be any news on titles coming from Sony’s first-party studios, such as Insomniac (Spider-Man) and Santa Monica (God of War). There will also be no updates on the PS5 console itself or details on hot topics such as pricing and pre-order dates.
Coincidentally, Nintendo also released a Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase a couple of weeks back, which was also a presentation geared towards third-party titles coming to the Switch. During it, there was a new trailer for Shin Megami Tensei V, a reveal for Cadence of Hyrule DLC, and some other small surprises.
- JRPG-Inspired VR MMO Zenith Coming to PlayStation VR
- Doom 3 VR Edition Announced for PlayStation VR
- Sony to Discontinue Video Purchases and Rentals on PlayStation Store
- PlayStation Plus Games for March 2021 Announced Including Final Fantasy VII Remake
- PlayStation “Re-Organizing” Its Japan Studio Centered on Astro’s Playroom Developer


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Games lead the way in online sales
Games are leading the way in the digital distribution stakes, the industry's efforts far out-stripping those of the music or film businesses. According to a new report from Strategy Analytics, games made 3.8 billion USD online in 2006 - with the same organisation predicting a rise to 11.8 billion by 2011.
Strategy Analytics, who sound terribly important, also believe that one-third of all software sales took place online. Streets ahead of the film and music industries.
"The rapid growth of the addressable market for digital distribution of both PC and console games will clear the way for distribution of mainstream hit titles which has up to now been restricted to the physical retail channel," explained Martin Olausson, chief research mind.
MMOs have helped digital distribution, apparently, as well as an increase in broadband connections.
Beyond the obvious example of Steam, a number of other firms like EA and Ubisoft have begun looking at ways to deliver their games online, with many analysts foreseeing this delivery method as the future.
- Ultra Street Fighter IV coming to PS4 at the end of May
- Ubisoft to publish Homeworld Remastered Collection at retail next month
- Journey, Flower and FlOw heading to the PS4 in a retail package
- Phil Harrison's departure from Microsoft has been confirmed
- Here's the first look at Star Wars: Battlefront
- Project CARS will feature 110 courses across over 30 iconic locations
- Gratuitous Space Battles 2 arrives today
- First Star Wars: Battlefront details arrive including a release date
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's release date is now set in stone


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Lender-mediated homes for sale accounted for 25.2 percent of the Twin Cities housing market this month, up from 23.8 percent in July 2008, the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors reported Tuesday.
The 13-county metro area had 6,685 lender-mediated listings this month, 18 percent fewer than July 2008.
Lender-mediated listings, which include foreclosed homes and short sales, continue to be most concentrated at the low-price end of the market: 63.6 percent of homes priced under $120,000 were lender mediated; 41.7 percent of homes priced between $120,000 and $150,000 were lender mediated.
The marketwide median selling price for a home was off 19 percent in the second quarter, to $167,500. Lender-mediated home prices were off 20 percent, to $120,000; prices in so-called traditional homes for sale were off 7 percent, to $209,000.
Medtronic heart valve clears hurdle
Medtronic Inc.’s Melody heart valve, which can be inserted without the need for major surgery, passed safety and effectiveness criteria set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said.
The FDA’s review raised concern about fractures of the device, according to a report on the agency’s Web site. There’s a “low probability” the fragments from such failures would cause blood clots, the report said.
An FDA committee of outside experts will review the valve at a meeting today and make recommendations on whether the Fridley-based company should receive approval to market it, according to the Web site. The agency typically follows recommendations from advisory panels.
McGladrey & Pullen drops HR Block
Bloomington-based accounting firm McGladrey & Pullen said Tuesday it will terminate its administrative services agreement with HR Block for cost-saving purposes. The services covered in the agreement — primarily back-office, technology and office-support — were offered through RSM McGladrey of Minneapolis since 1999. The termination of the agreement will have little impact on McGladrey & Pullen, which employs 229 people in Minnesota, said McGladrey & Pullen managing partner Dave Scudder. It is unclear what the termination of the agreement will mean for RSM McGladrey. Executives did not return calls seeking comment.
Alliant unveils new NASA rocket motor
Eden Prairie-based Alliant Techsystems Inc. unveiled a rocket motor designed to propel the next generation of manned space-flight vehicles into orbit. The company has spent four years developing the Ares I first-stage motor, which will provide the initial thrust needed to boost astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion crew capsule into orbit. The company introduced it on the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon, Monday, in Promontory, Utah. The first flight using Ares I, an unmanned flight, is scheduled for October.
Calabrio Inc., a Minneapolis-based business software provider, promoted Tom Goodmanson to president and chief executive officer from chief financial officer, effective immediately. He replaces Paul Lidsky, who will become president and chief executive officer at Datalink Corp., Chanhassen.
Workers broke ground Tuesday at the Wal-Mart in Apple Valley to turn the location into a superstore. The expansion will add 60,000 square feet and 100 jobs. … Target Corp., Minneapolis, on Tuesday announced the opening of 23 stores — four general merchandise stores, 17 general merchandise stores with expanded food options and two full-grocery SuperTarget stores. … FICO, a Minneapolis-based credit-scoring technology company, sold all assets of its RoamEx business to Decisioning Solutions Inc., a provider of decision technology. The Toronto-based company hired the majority of employees of the RoamEx business, whose operations remain in New Jersey. … The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Little Canada-based St. Jude Medical‘s Accent RF pacemaker and Anthem RF CRT-P cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker. The company also announced FDA and European approval of version 4.0 of the Merlin.net Patient Care Network. … Synovis Life Technologies Inc., St. Paul, through a subsidiary, completed the $12.1 million cash purchase of the assets of Pegasus Biologics Inc., a medical device company focused on the development of biological technology for soft-tissue repair.
— From staff and wire reports


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Yezdi motorcycles will be launched in India next year, could use Jawa platform
After the Jawa Motorcycles’ reentry in India, now the Classic Legends plans to launch Yezdi and BSA motorcycles in India. As it seems, the Yezdi models could launch here sometime next year and they could use the Jawa platform. So far, this is going to be a big event in the Indian motorcycle industry, as it will mark the comeback of some stunning iconic and classic retro motorcycles.
Initially, Classic Legends plans to locally produce the Yezdi models in India for the export markets. Later at the end of 2019 or in early 2020, the company could start selling these models in the domestic market. However, further details about the Yezdi and BSA models are yet to be disclosed by the Mahindra owned company. We can assume, the BSA and Yezdi models will focus the 500cc and 750cc segment.
Despite being ambitious and producing some interesting bikes, Mahindra couldn’t fare well in the Indian two-wheeler market. Now, with the riconic brands like Jawa, Yezdi and BSA under the Classic Legends’, Mahindra aims to grab a significant amount of market share in the country. With Jawa already garnered immense attention, the BSA and Yezdi too are expected to grab interest of the customers.
Speaking about Jawa, the iconic Czech brand has made a grand comeback in India just a few days ago with two models on offer. A third model was also showcased that will go on sale later. While the Jawa comes with the classic retro charm, the Jawa Forty Two is based on it, but offers a more modern version. The third model is going to be a bobber based on the Jawa Classic.


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According to new research, the demand for products with cultural connotations can result from an appreciation of the culture in question, a desire for discovery... and its simple omnipresence.
'Nostalgic consumption' has been on the rise throughout lockdown bringing us the comfort and certainty of better times. But can we use it to build a more sustainable future?
It is easy for people in the industrialised world to blame population growth elsewhere for environmental damage. But increased consumption is just as important – if more confronting.
An acceleration of digital development, of the second-hand market and of concentration movements are notably to be expected in the sector.
We are addicted to consumption during these holidays, which leads to a massive amount of landfill waste. Giant retailers like Walmart could help the problem, but they haven't.
Many businesses are capitalising on the rise in experience-seeking with new and expensive ways to make memories -- and many of them are just as damaging for the planet as products.
Which candies count as candy in the eyes of the tax law? The answer often depends on one ingredient.
Putting all of our eggs in the net zero basket is merely kicking the can down the road.
July 29, 2019 is 'Earth Overshoot Day,' a date coined by the nonprofit Global Footprint Network to publicize overuse of Earth's resources. But their estimates may actually understate the problem.
New research indicates that rising temperatures can push those who prefer sweets to drink more sugary beverages, not water. This has significant implications for public-health policy.
The food system urgently needs to be redesigned if we are to avoid crisis.
Research shows that moving from a larger dwelling to a tiny home can change behavior in surprising ways.
Australian cities are world-leading – in the worst sense – for resource use and greenhouse emissions. China-born residents have embraced these consumption patterns, which is bad news for the planet.
Sears and other department stores not only changed how Americans consumed but altered the very nature of society and culture as well.
Despite the myth of consumption as an ethereal, wasting disease, the more prosaic truth is that the Brontës likely infected one another with tuberculosis.
August 1, 2018 is 'Earth Overshoot Day,' a date coined by the nonprofit Global Footprint Network to publicize overuse of Earth's resources. But their estimates actually understate the problem.
The Whole Earth Catalog was a blueprint for sustainability that envisioned humans living in balance with nature. Its creative spirit was welcomed in a year riven by war, assassinations and riots.
Under some circumstances, people may feel wealthier than they actually are and this makes them psychologically more prone to increase their spending, as well as their borrowing.
Sugar taxes fail to tackle the root of the problem -- the production and marketing of foods that cause chronic disease.
Globally designed products which are then locally manufactured could lead to sustainable and inclusive forms of production and consumption.


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With 900 industry folk in attendance at the B&T Awards, presented by YouTube, on Friday night, the dance floor was always going to be packed with peeps busting a move.
Our fave photography team andre&dominique got right amongst the groovers at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion to get those candid snaps of everyone letting their hair down that we all know you’re dying to see – check out the above photo gallery.
Congratulations once again to all the winners of this year’s B&T Awards! You can meet each and every one via THIS SPECIAL ONLINE BOOKLET.
And finally, a massive shout-out to all of this year’s FAB-U-LOUS sponsors! There’s no way we could continue putting on Australia’s biggest, longest-running and most entertaining awards program for the advertising, marketing and media industries without your unwavering support, and we look forward to doing it all again next year!
Western Australian retailer Liquor Barons has partnered with audience engagement platform Komo to make weekly bottle shop runs more special. To launch its new engagement hub, the team at Liquor Barons are giving away a $5000 audio package through an Aussie Slang trivia challenge for users. Hub visitors can also engage in a Gage Roads […]
Interpublic Group has announced that Team Dynamic has been appointed the regional production and operations partner for the BMW Group in nine markets following a competitive multi-agency pitch. The win consolidates remit across eleven markets with IPG, following Team Dynamic’s appointment as production partner in Japan and India in early 2021. New markets include Australia, […]
Aussie food tech company and meat-free specialists, All G Foods, has commissioned Sydney-based agency, The One Centre to lead the positioning and branding for its stable of brands. The One Centre will now be responsible for all of All G Food’s positioning and branding, as well as that of plant-based ‘meat’ brand Buds, creating the […]


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Possession or sale of products such as K2 can carry third-degree felony charges.
They come packaged as herbal incense, branded as K2 and Spice.
But Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri began reminding store owners Monday these products are hardly potpourri but rather a dangerous, synthetic form of pot.
“There isn’t anybody in their right mind who knows they’re looking at this product and thinks some 16-year-old kid is going to buy this for $6 at a gas station and taking it home to make their room smell better. They’re not,” Gualtieri said. “They’re smoking it, and it’s causing serious health issues and causing kids to die.”
Deputies plan to call on retailers to comply with laws that went into effect Monday that prohibit the sale of the products, which are classified as controlled substances.
“We want the convenience store owners, the gas station owners in Pinellas County to show responsibility in this issue and voluntarily stop,” Gualtieri said. “It’s not just about making a buck. It’s about doing the right thing.”
Under the new Florida law, 92 chemicals have been added to a list of previously banned synthetic marijuana substances. The synthetic products have been banned before, but manufacturers skirt laws by changing the mixtures.
“The Legislature bans the substances, so they alter the compound, alter it slightly to take it outside of what’s banned, then the Legislature bans it again and they alter the compound,” the sheriff said. “This really needs to stop.”
Notices will be passed out to stores warning of the drugs’ dangers, Gualtieri said.
Authorities have said the products can cause side effects that range from increased aggression to hallucinations.
“We know from the phone calls, the problems with emergency room visits, we know from the phone calls from parents and friends and everyone out there, that this product is extremely dangerous,” Sgt. Dan Zsido said. “Basically, you’re playing Russian roulette with your health and your life.”
Zsido, a member of the sheriff’s office’s Narcotics Division, said the effect of the synthetic drug is “10 times stronger than marijuana.” Among the reactions are elevated blood pressure and heart rate, seizures and paranoia.
Possession or sale of these substances can carry third-degree felony charges.


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Zarif Design trunk show held at State Department
WASHINGTON (PAN): (PAN): A Zarif design trunk show was held at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, where sportswear, evening dress and accessories by eminent Afghan entrepreneur, designer and human rights activist Zolaykha Sherzad sold like hot cakes.
Sherzad’s collection, which has been shown and sold around the world, made its first appearance in America’s capital this week. “I am so grateful for the warm welcome in Washington this week,” she said.
At its core, Zarif Design acts as ambassador, sharing Afghanistan's cultural heritage with the world. Sherzad started a non-profit organisation in 2000 that has successfully rebuilt and supported schools in rural Afghanistan and developed programmes in the US and Europe to raise cross-cultural understanding.
While living in Kabul and supporting the schools in 2004, she started Zarif Design with the goal of reviving the Afghan culture.
“The success of Zolaykha’s business and humanitarian initiatives is tremendously inspiring,” said the Afghan ambassador to the US, Eklil Hakimi. “Her passion for beauty and compassion for all people shows the true spirit of our country, and the fact that her beautiful products have been embraced by people around the world is a leading indicator of what we envision – an Afghan renaissance, not just a post-war recovery.”
Zarif Design demonstrates the tremendous possibilities of intersecting new creative designs with these time-honoured arts to satisfy contemporary tastes.
Download “Pajhwok” mobile App, on your smartphone to read and access latest news, features, interviews, videos and photos about Afghanistan.


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Hive3 launches to connect brands with leading AI creatives
Hive3 is released to link companies with top AI creatives
It’s no secret that companies and people can find independent creatives to work on projects for them on sites like Fiverr, or even on popular social networking platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X (previously Twitter).
Yet, the game has altered due to generative AI. Thanks to companies like Runway’s Gen2 and Pika Labs, as well as text-to-video and image-to-video generators like OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, and Ideogram, the technology is quickly becoming a staple creative tool.
Brands may be unsure about who to contact or where to go for a creative with expertise in GenAI, given that these new technologies are already driving highly watched and innovative creative work online.
That is the issue that Forum3 is attempting to resolve. Adam Brotman, a former Chief Digital Officer at Starbucks and the developer of the well-known Starbucks Rewards mobile app, and Andy Sack, a former innovation consultant for Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, co-founded the two-year-old digital tech startup based in Seattle, Washington. Both men currently hold co-CEO positions in the new business.
Cash rewards for gamifying AI-generated brand assets
A glimpse of Forum’s upcoming web platform, Hive3, was released in the summer of 2023. With its several time-boxed challenges, which pitted creatives against one another to produce the greatest assets for a specific brand in return for monetary incentives, it was designed to basically gamify the process of matching businesses with dynamic and experienced AI creatives. The Hive3 community and/or a panel of judges select the winners.
Hive3 has held ten “community-driven challenges” for businesses since then. The website states that “Season One,” a weekly series of “about thirty back-to-back competitions” for various businesses, would be held in conjunction with the platform’s public launch today.
According to the Hive 3 website, AI creatives that finish first, second, or third in each brand challenge will split a $5,000 pot, and playoff victors will take home grand prizes ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.
Given the unsettled legal issues concerning the data used to train the AI models that power the tech and the fact that the U.S. Copyright Office has repeatedly ruled that GenAI artworks cannot be copyrighted, some brands may be reluctant to explore the possibilities and promise of GenAI as a creative tool.
On November 3, 2023, the first Crumbl Cookie challenge will take place.
The first challenge, which has a $5,000 total prize pool and a deadline of Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, is for the popular dessert brand Crumbl Cookies. It starts later this week on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.
So far, the challenge’s real task is quite open-ended: “Create an innovative ad campaign for a fast-growing cookie company.”
The new digital transformation playbook starts with brands understanding how to use AI.” “We are excited to collaborate with innovative companies like Crumbl Cookies to develop fresh approaches to creative output, engage a customer base, and enhance brand marketing through artificial intelligence.”
The Hive3 community has already employed a number of well-known AI designers and artists, including Heather Cooper, Ben Myhre, Nicolas Neubert, and Tatiana Tsiguleva, to provide training and promote the platform.
“With platforms like Hive3, creators can use generative AI technology to learn new skills and use a competitive spirit to produce full projects using different tool stacks that mimic real-world activities,”
The goal of VentureBeat is to serve as a digital town square where technical decision-makers can transact and learn about revolutionary enterprise technologies. Explore our Summaries.


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Drivers prepare for snowy holiday travels
Forecast and Thanksgiving give tire shops a boost
Mechanics say the best time to get snow tires is before the snow flies, but it's not too late to get them.
With winter weather in the forecast, plus the Thanksgiving holiday, which is always a huge travel week, local tire shops are experiencing a mad dash of people wanting snow tires put on their cars.
“The schedule is packed. There’s a lot of phone calls, but we've got a lot of help on this week and cars are moving through,” said Bill Holzer, general manager of Warren Tires in Plattsburgh.
Holzer said how long tires last depends on how much they're driven. Most people get about two or three snow seasons out of them, but the key is to switch to regular tires when the weather warms up.
On a busy week like this, Warren Tires changes about 200 tires a day and they're opening early at 7 a.m. this week because they don't want any of their customers stuck in the snow this holiday season.


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WASHINGTON – A 52-year-old D.C. man was charged Friday in connection with a murder and robbery at an Arlington jewelry store last week.
James Caroline is charged in the murder of 52-year-old Tommy Wong, owner of Capital Jewelers on the 3200 block of Columbia Pike, say Arlington police.
Caroline was arrested on probation violation Thursday.
Wong, of Herndon, was inside his store around 4 p.m. on Friday when police say the incident occurred.
D.C. police are working to determine if Caroline was involved in a June 9 jewelry store robbery in downtown D.C. No one was injured in that incident.
Caroline will be held without bond.
Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
A look at winter weather news from around the D.C. area.
Before you open a store-bought jar of queso or whip up the same old bean dip, take a look at these dip recipes.


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Epson, a leader in digital imaging and printing solutions, has launched the new SureColor F2130 Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printer.
Designed exclusively for direct-to-garment printing, the Epson SureColor F2130 offers a purpose-built system for high-quality prints at production speeds. Users can print and dispatch completed garments in as fast as 27 seconds. Developed using the latest advancements in performance imaging, including Epson PrecisionCore TFP printhead and Epson UltraChrome DG garment ink technology, the Epson SureColor F2130 achieves up to twice the speeds of previous generation DTG printers.
The SC-F2130 is suited for small to medium businesses who want to add direct-to-garment printing to their services, such as production t-shirt printers, online t-shirt retailers, high and low-volume print companies, as well as corporates who want to produce their own branded workwear or promotional items. The new SureColor F2130 DTG printer has an enhanced design and improved usability, enabling faster turnaround time for print jobs and better productivity for the business.


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According to the Recording Industry Association of America, revenue from music streaming in the U.S. cracked the $1 billion mark in the first half of 2015. This marks a 23% increase relative to the first half of 2014, and the second time streaming revenue has exceeded $1 billion in a 6 month period. In comparison, revenue from physical sales only reached $748 million.
The number of streaming service subscribers and the total value of paid streaming subscriptions also increased relative to 2014 levels.
Though revenue from downloads and physical sales both declined from 2014 to 2015, vinyl sales continued to soar: the RIAA reported that record purchases are up 52%. Vinyl now accounts for almost a third of all physical units sold and $222 million dollars in sales. This currently exceeds the $163 million derived from ad-supported on-demand streaming (Youtube, VEVO, ad-supported Spotify).


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In terms of market share for operating systems on what researchers at IDC call smart connected devices--a definition that includes PCs, media tablets, and smartphones--Microsoft led the pack with a market share of 35.9%, at the end of 2011. Google Android held the second spot with a share of 29.4%, while Apple's iOS, which powers the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, was third at 14.6%.
But Microsoft will lose its top spot during the next few years as more computing is done through mobile devices, an area of weakness for Redmond but a stronghold for Google and Apple. By 2016, Android will be the number one player in the market, with a share of 31.1%, Windows will have fallen to second spot, with 25.1% of the market, and iOS will remain third, at 17.3%, IDC predicts.
"Android's growth is tied directly to the propagation of lower-priced devices," said Tom Mainelli, IDC's research director for Mobile Connected Devices.
[ Want to make your Android phone or tablet into a smarter team player? See 10 Great Android Apps For Collaboration. ]
"While we expect dozens of hardware vendors to own some share in the Android market, many will find profitability difficult to sustain," said Mainelli. "Similarly, we expect a large percentage of application developers to continue to focus their efforts on iOS, despite the platform's smaller overall market share, because iOS end users have proven more willing to pay for high-quality apps."
IDC expects the overall market for smart connected devices to grow from 916 million units shipped in 2011 to 1.84 billion units in 2016. "In many if not all instances, the smartphone will be the primary connection to the Internet," said Will Stofega, IDC's program director for Mobile Phone Technologies and Trends.
As more computing goes mobile, Microsoft is getting left behind. The company has had only limited success with its Windows Phone 7 platform, despite an alliance with handset maker Nokia, which is costing Microsoft billions of dollars in transfer fees.
Microsoft's share of the U.S. mobile market was just 4.4% as of January, compared to 29.5% for Apple and 48.6% for Google, according to the latest data from Comscore.


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Yesterday I reported initial retail reports, for all retailers, were positive. Most analysts said it appeared that although it wasn’t spectacular, the observed about a 0.5% uptick in sales. Well today, as usually the case with initial results, we have revisions showing that retail sales were actually down from last year. The Wall Street Journal reported the following:
Trade group National Retail Federation said Sunday that while 195 million shoppers–13% more than last year–visited stores and Web sites over the Black Friday weekend, the average spending over the weekend declined 7.9% to $343.31.
On the consumer electronic retailer front, there were mixed reporting results. Some thought things were better than 2008 Black Friday; most thought things were pretty much the same.
Consumer sampling at several consumer electronics retail locations by CEA and ChannelForce found nearly 40% of consumers believed traffic this year was heavier than last Black Friday and nearly 80% believed it was at least as busy, if not more so, than last year.
AAPL Analysts Mixed
I visited two Apple stores on Friday, in the metro Boston market, and it was shoulder-to-shoulder the whole time I was there. Now this isn’t scientific by any means, and is not uncommon for Apple stores even on days where there’s no special event going on. But more adroit analysts performing customer counts across a vast cross section of Apple stores report mixed results.
Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster and team did a head count at three Apple Stores and reported much weaker numbers compared to last year, his team counted an average of 8.3 Mac sales per hour, down 36% from the 13 Macs per hour they observed on the same day last year. He offset that with comScore numbers; which showed sales at Apple’s online store Friday were up 39% over last year.
Kaufman Brothers analyst Shaw Wu reported that many Apple Stores were so busy that they were running out of stock, which makes him think that his estimate for 2.9 million Macs this quarter could be a very conservative estimate. Wu reiterated Kaufman’s BUY rating and target price of $235.
Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore says that Apple sales were healthy. He says in a research note that Apple stores were packed and the recently refreshed MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Pro were the most popular items. Demand for iMacs was also strong. Whitmore reported the following in a research note:
Channel checks were carried out at 120+ Apple retail stores and 25+ AT&T stores in conjunction with a series of online checks (Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, MacMall, Target and Wal-Mart). Our checks show demand for Macs, iPhones and iPods remains healthy and Apple stores enjoyed heavy traffic throughout the holiday weekend.
Thomas Weisel Partners analyst Doug Reid says they did store checks at 41 Apple retail locations in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., and came away “with increased confidence” in his above-Street December quarter estimates and in his long-term positive thesis on the stock. He says the checks suggest same-store sales are up slightly year over year. Well, 41 stores in three countries. That seems reasonable.
Is the Munster Team Blind?
So how is it that Gene baby got it backwards from what I was seeing, and what Wu and Whitmore reported? It probably has a lot to do with sampling size and methodology. It’s obvious that Deutsche Bank did their homework, and got a very healthy look at Friday’s sales through both direct and indirect means, where Munster and Wu both performed scanty, insufficient studies.
That’s the problem with analysts; you love them while they tell you what you want to hear, even though you may not understand that what you’re hearing may not have any basis in truth, at least a truth that should be garnered through meticulous research.
So, what I’ll be doing in the near future here on the AppleInvestor is compiling the rants, raves and musings of ALL the predominant AAPL analysts and keep that up-to-date for you, so that you can make your own judgement from a consensus. Perhaps we’ll even rate their predictions over time, then we can put a weighting on their future predictions based on past results. Hmmm, nice idea Ern.


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Paf had a similar deal with Parlay Games but nothing has come of it as its partnership with Proactive Gaming progresses.
“We hope to develop the industry's best bingo product working with Proactive Gaming", said Kim Johansson, Head of Games at Paf. "We believe that we have found a partner with extensive experience and unique knowledge that gives us the flexibility to be able to go the whole distance and eventually create unique experiences for our customers.”
“We want to work with people and companies that we feel comfortable with and have values that we can share", said Paul Burman, chief executive officer of Proactive Gaming. "Therefore Paf is a dream partner. Paf is a standard bearer for great customer care, their profit goes to public good and they have a deep experience of gaming, which will benefit us in our game development. For us, this relationship is very much a match made in heaven."
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Grass-Fed Label For Meat – Gone!
The US Department of Agriculture is nixing its grass-fed standard, but they’re doing it for the most absurd reason imaginable. Action Alert!
Last week, the USDA announced it would be withdrawing its standard for the grass-fed meat label. The agency is giving producers who used the grass-fed label thirty days to (1) convert the current “grass-fed” standard, in which 99% of the animal’s feed must be from grass or forage, into their own private standard; (2) use some other “recognized grass-fed standard,” or else (3) develop a new, voluntary, grass-fed standard—whatever the company decides is fine with the USDA.
All of this is being implemented through the USDA’s Process Verified Program (PVP). As others have pointed out, PVP is not an inspection program intended to hold producers accountable to their claims, but rather a marketing program that allows producers to make their own claims about their products and slap a USDA logo on the label.
This is the same program that allows Perdue Foods, for example, to market their chickenas being “Humanely Raised,” “Raised Cage Free,” on an “All-Vegetarian Diet,” or with “No Animal By-Products.” The “Humanely Raised” label was such a sham that it drove a Perdue chicken farmer to start a campaign to stop the USDA from putting their stamp of approval on the company’s meat because consumers were, in the farmer’s words, being “hoodwinked.”
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So if producers can create their own standard and call their product “grass-fed,” and if there are no labeling regulations, it could contain 80%, or even 50%, and the rest grain-fed. There is just no way to know.
How will all this play out? It would not surprise us if the USDA either made it too difficult for small producers to get approval of any label, or censored what they can say on the label. Remember that it wasn’t long ago that the USDA refused to allow meat producers to state that they had tested their cows for mad cow disease, even when they had. The USDA didn’t allow this because large meat producers did not want to test their cattle, and did not want to have to compete against those who did. Why have to compete when you can get the government to forbid competition? In the long run, competition is often an excellent regulator, but bought regulators all too often forbid it.
We have already seen the dilution of organic standards through industry influence. What if cows that are 50% grass-fed can use some kind of “grass-fed” label? We can only expect larger companies to abuse this system to the detriment of consumers and small farmers.
Why is this happening? The official reasoning offered by the USDA is rather bizarre: the agency claims that, since a different USDA department, the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), must approve meat labels, there is no guarantee that a USDA-approved marketing claim such as “grass-fed” will be approved by FSIS.
In plain English: because two departments under the same agency cannot coordinate, the grass-fed standard is being eliminated!
This is also one step away from eliminating a grass-fed claim altogether, which would be great for Big Ag—when consumers have less information to differentiate good from bad products, all the better for the companies producing low quality products.
Action Alert! While the withdrawal of the grass-fed standard is a done deal—it is not going through any formal rulemaking process in which the public can comment and register their concerns—please contact the USDA immediately and raise your voice in protest. Send your message immediately.
Other articles in this week’s Pulse of Natural Health:
This article is reprinted here with permission. See other articles in Alliance for Natural Health’s Pulse of Natural Health newsletter. Visit their website, where this article first appeared – for more natural health alerts. Like on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.


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Vivo X Note will go on sale in China on April 11 along with Vivo X Fold and Vivo Pad. Just a few days before the official debut, the company began accepting pre-orders for the Vivo X Note through its official online stores JD.com and Tmall. Vivo X Note comes in three RAM and storage configurations – 8GB + 256GB, 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB. The retail listing also offers three color options for the Vivo smartphone. In addition, Vivo has confirmed the presence of Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC in the new Vivo X Note.
Pre-booking for Vivo X Note is currently available on Vivo China. Web site, JD.com and Tmall. The company charges 100 yuan (roughly Rs. 1,100) as a refundable deposit for pre-booking a flagship phone. The phone is available for booking through the retail network sites in three different color options – black, blue and grey.
The official Vivo online store confirms the presence of the 7-inch 2K Samsung E5 display on the Vivo X Note. It will be equipped with a wide-angle 3D fingerprint sensor. The phone will be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. It will also come with a 5,000mAh battery.
According to previous leaks, the Vivo X Note will have a 120Hz refresh rate display. It is said to come with a quad rear camera module. It may consist of a 50MP Samsung S5KGN1 main camera sensor, a 48MP Sony IMX598 sensor, a 12MP Sony IMX663 sensor, and an 8MP OV08A10 sensor. The phone is expected to support 80W fast charging.
Vivo has already announced that the launch of Vivo X Note, Vivo X Fold and Vivo Pad will take place on April 11 in China.


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- “Even those [consumers] who have smartphones, there’s no guarantee they have or will download your app.”
- “I don’t believe it’s apps versus SMS. You need to have all channels covered. You can’t do it all with in-app notifications. The only truly ubiquitous form of communication is voice or messaging, and SMS is the most prevalent.”
FaceBook, which is often touted as one of the OTT players that will kill SMS, evidently agrees with Stevens. Last week, it added the ability to send and receive text messages from its FaceBook Messenger app for iPhone and Android.
What Does The Future Hold?
Admittedly, there are a ton of OTT players that are vying to beat SMS, including: traditional instant messaging services like Yahoo Messenger or AOL, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), VoIP services like Skype, Apple’s iMessage, FaceBook, Twitter and, most formidably today, WhatsApp.
The free WhatsApp, unlike BBM and iMessage, is not restricted to particular brands of devices. And its fast rise – it carries 10 billion+ messages a day, up from 1 billion 10 months ago - means it is nearly half the popularity of SMS today.
There are several things, though, that should make you wonder how sustainable this growth is. For one, these services are all fragmented. I don’t see that changing anytime soon – can you imagine iMessage and Microsoft‘s Skype suddenly interconnecting?
Also, OTT services generally rely on users having a smartphone with a pricey mobile data plan. For many consumers (though not readers of this blog), that all-you-can-text package may seem like a better option. And smartphones remain outnumbered by featurephones 5:1 worldwide.
Also, the use of mainstream IP networks by OTT players can leave them more vulnerable to outages and delayed messages than SMS.
Finally, while these services are free, some – namely Twitter and WhatsApp – will need to figure out a way to make money. Starting to charge consumers could cause a sudden halt or reversal in their popularity.
Even if SMS is no longer dominant half a decade from now, it will still probably the largest player. Informa, for instance, thinks SMS traffic will grow 60% between 2011-2016, and hold 42% of the market.
Bottom line: Companies thinking about their marketing and communications strategies should consider SMS an important part of the mix for many years to come.


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Isis, the NFC mobile commerce joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, plans to roll out the Isis Mobile Wallet nationwide later this year, following pilots in Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah. The Isis Mobile Wallet uses NFC technology to allow consumers to pay, redeem coupons and present loyalty cards with a tap of their smartphone.
To use the Isis Mobile Wallet, consumers need an NFC-enabled smartphone and a SIM-based secure element, which together make the device Isis Ready. Thirty-five mobile devices across AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile US and Verizon Wireless currently support Isis. Support for iPhone, Windows Phone and Blackberry 10 is expected to be introduced later this year.
Isis plans to incorporate key learnings from the pilot of the Isis Mobile Wallet in Austin and Salt Lake City into its planned national rollout later this year. Findings from the pilot launched in October 2012 show that, on average, active Isis Mobile Wallet users tap more than 10 times per month. Two-thirds of active users opted in to receive offers and messages from their favorite brands, following an average of seven brands.
Contactless acceptance nearly quadrupled to more than 4,000 locations in Austin and Salt Lake City, Isis said. More than 80 percent of transactions take place at everyday spend locations such as quick-service restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, convenience and grocery stores. According to Isis, Wallet users engaged in loyalty and offers tap up to two times more frequently than users who only make payments.
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Last.fm announced Spotify integration towards the end of January, and today dealt a major blow with the shutdown of its radio streaming service on April 28.
The music discovery service took to its forum to announce the unfortunate news, but says users will be able to scrobble music if manufacturers continue to support the functionality.
“Hardware devices that currently scrobble, such as Sonos and Logitech Squeezebox, will continue to scrobble as long as the manufacturers support it. We continue to work on new ways to bring scrobbling to every corner of the music universe to make Last.fm your music home.”
The Scrobbler for iOS app will continue to work as well, Spotify integration will live on, and users can still listen to tracks from the Last.fm Player.
There’s no clear reason why its music streaming service is being shut down, aside from “we’ve chosen to focus on what we think Last.fm does best.”
However, increased competition in the space with the recent introduction of Beats Music could have been the culprit.
For Last.fm streaming music subscribers who purchased an annual subscription, you can go here to request a refund.


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Created by Sand Studios, AirDroid is an app that allows you to share messages and files between your phone and your PC, which is fantastic (Apple devices do this on the fly since this is built into all the operating systems, hence, no issues).
The problem is that the app utilizes unsecured channels to send data between the app and their statistics server, which means that any semi-talented hacker could use a man-in-the-middle attack and intercept the data in order to gain access to your login credentials.
Armed with those, they can force an update of the app, injecting malicious code that allows them full control, and suddenly, they have unfettered access to both your phone and your PC where they can cause all manner of mayhem.
Sand Studios has made the short-term recommendation that users simply uninstall the app until a fix can be implemented, and a spokesman for the company estimated that they would have one ready in about two weeks.
This is hardly the first time that an Android app has been found to have a critical security flaw, but thanks to rigorous checking and testing, almost none of the flawed apps are available on the Google Play store.
That’s what makes this case both interesting and noteworthy. The app was thoroughly scanned and checked, and has been available on the Google Play store for months. In that time, it has developed a robust user base, more than fifty million strong.
Unfortunately, this won’t be the last time we see something like this. The hackers are always on the lookout for any weakness they can exploit. If you are a current AirDroid user, take the company’s advice and uninstall it until they release the patch, or you are putting yourself and your files at risk.


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|Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
From data breaches to Facebook privacy to dumpster diving, many individuals are left wondering if certain facts about them and their lives are making their way around the world to be used fraudulently.
To help keep up with the latest scams and frauds, the Office of Attorney General’s website lists advisories for consumers, tips for keeping personal information safe and news about consumer investigations.
Specifically, the website offers guides for charitable giving, buying used cars, living trust scams, work-at-home schemes, telemarketing, fraudulent investment and tips for travelers. A special section – with links to brochures and in-person educational programs – is also designed for senior citizens to educate themselves about this fast-growing crime.
According to the Office of Attorney General, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has the third highest percentage of elderly residents in the United States with nearly 2 million residents over the age of 65. Scam artist of all types take advantage of this and target this generation.
To find out more, click here.
House Asks Attorney General to Investigate State Data Breaches
With news breaking last week of a security breach at the Pennsylvania Department of Health and a previous breach at the Department of Human Services, the House has asked the Office of Attorney General to investigate. Since then, it has come to light that personal information of nearly 13,000 personnel and inmates within the state Department of Corrections may have been compromised in recent weeks.
The House has asked the attorney general to investigate whether Pennsylvanians’ vital personal information was exposed during the Department of Health breach in late June. The attorney general has conducted several other investigations involving data breaches of Equifax, Uber, the TIO Networks, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., Facebook and the Target Corporation.
In addition to the call for an investigation, the House passed two bills this session dealing with data security and informing the public of possible breaches.
House Bill 1846 would require notice within 45 days to Pennsylvania residents when there is a breach of security in plain language and must include the date of the breach and the toll-free numbers to credit reporting agencies.
House Bill 1847 would amend the Credit Reporting Agency Act to waive the current $10 fee to freeze credit reports and would provide consumers with three months of free credit monitoring following a data breach and three free credit reports for one calendar year after the breach.
Credit Card Skimming Becomes a Crime
State law now includes criminal penalties for those who steal personal and financial data by skimming the information from credit cards that are used at such places as automatic teller machines (ATMs) or self-pay gas pumps.
Until Act 60 of 2018, possessing these devices was not illegal, even though they have no use other than for criminal, deceitful and deceptive purposes. Anyone convicted of using or possessing a scanning or skimming device now faces a third-degree felony for a first offense and a second-degree felony for a second or subsequent offense.
This new law brings Pennsylvania in line with 30 other states that have enacted similar legislation. It takes effect in late August.
Preventing Double Taxation on Mobile Devices
Legislation to prevent the state from collecting double taxes from mobile telecommunications consumers is now law.
Act 52 of 2018 excludes the sales of telephones, telephone handsets, modems, tablets and related accessories, including cases, chargers, holsters, clips, hands-free devices, screen protectors and batteries, from being subject to the Gross Receipts Tax. Those devices are already subject to the 6 percent Sales and Use Tax.
The change is needed because the Commonwealth had not updated its definition of mobile telecommunication since 2002. During the last 16 years, communications technology has advanced, causing uncertainty about which tax better fits.
The new law clarifies the definition of what is subject to the Gross Receipts Tax and is subject to the Sales and Use Tax. Updating these definitions further protects consumers from bureaucratic overreach.
Empowering Consumers with Prescription Pricing Info
To help give patients more information regarding the costs and prices for prescription drugs, the House approved legislation this spring to protect consumers and independent pharmacies from unfair drug prices and reimbursement rates.
Some pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have been cutting reimbursements to community pharmacies for medications sold to patients on Medicaid. This practice has led to substantial financial difficulties for community pharmacies, which are typically locally owned family businesses. House Bill 2212 would remedy the problem by preventing PBMs from cutting reimbursements to community pharmacies for medications sold to patients on Medicaid.
Also, when PBMs contract with pharmacies, the documents may at times contain what is referred to as a “gag clause,” which prohibits pharmacists from disclosing information to a customer that could reduce their out-of-pocket costs for medications. House Bill 2211 addresses those situations by allowing pharmacists to disclose drug information, allowing consumers to get the best price for their medications.
Both bills are now in the state Senate for review.
Persian Gulf Veterans Bonus Deadline is Next Month
Veterans who served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations, including Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, are reminded they have until Aug. 31, 2018, to apply for the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Bonus.
The bonus pays $75 per month for qualifying, active-duty service members, up to a $525 maximum. For personnel whose death was related to illness or injury received in the line of duty in Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm, an additional $5,000 is available to the surviving family. Service members who were declared prisoners of war may also be eligible for an additional $5,000.
To qualify, the service member must have:
Since 2008, more than 9,000 Persian Gulf Conflict veterans have applied for and received a bonus for their war efforts. Individuals who received a bonus or similar compensation from any other state are not eligible for the Pennsylvania program.
- Served with the U.S. Armed Forces, a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Pennsylvania National Guard.
- Served on active duty in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations during the period from Aug. 2, 1990, to Aug. 31, 1991, and received the Southwest Asia Service Medal.
- Been a legal resident of Pennsylvania at the time of active duty service.
- Been discharged from active duty under honorable conditions, if not currently on active duty.
For more information about how to apply, click here.


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M&B reports Vintage Inns ‘pizza evolution’ in record time: Mitchells & Butlers is over half way through a roll-out of a new menu concept for Vintage Inns that will see all of its 188 plus pub restaurants have stone-baked pizza ovens. The new menu includes pizzas that are hand-rolled and prepared in-house, alongside freshly prepared salads as well as other new offerings such as wagyu burgers and delicate quinoa and edamame bean salad. The bar presentation features a range of cask ales, craft beers and carefully selected gins and fine wines gesturing to the consumer that they can have both a dining or drinking experience in a relaxed, contemporary setting. The remaining sites will have introduced the range by spring 2016. Mark O’Sullivan, retail director for Vintage Inns said: “It’s great to both see, and hear, how our customers are excited by the new offer. We trialled it in the last quarter of 2015 at various sites, including the Bears Head and the Oyster Catcher, the success and strong performance has meant that we are on track for a full roll-out to be completed before the end of April. We have listened to our guests and delivered a new evolution of the brand in record time that people love.”
JD Wetherspoon to launch all-day Sunday brunch in wake of roast row: JD Wetherspoon is launching an all-day Sunday brunch menu amid changes to its offerings across the UK. Each brunch meal comes with a club-range drink of choice, to which Wetherspoon has added a new iced frappé. Brunch meals feature Lincolnshire sausages, eggs, baked beans and chips, with a vegetarian option available. The move comes in the wake of customer anger over Wetherspoon’s decision to axe Sunday roasts from its menu after Mother’s Day (6 March), to focus on its all-day, “core 8am to 11pm” menu. JD Wetherspoon food development manager Matt Elsdon said: “We strive to offer our customers a huge variety of meals and snacks – all day, every day – including our all-day brunch option. Our new Sunday brunch offer, which now includes a drink, makes it even better value.” Wetherspoon’s new frappe is served over ice, topped with whipped cream, and comes in two flavours – vanilla with chocolate sauce on top and caramel with caramel sauce.
Beefeater to trial ‘no phone zones’ on Mother’s Day: Whitbread will trial “no phone zones” at its Beefeater sites on Mother’s Day (Sunday, 6 March). Diners will have to hand over their mobile phones before taking a seat in the zones, which will be patrolled by staff who will move guests who do not comply with the rule. With a view to making the zones permanent if well-received, Whitbread said it was setting up phone-free areas in response to research that outlined behaviour which can ruin family outings. The company said top of the list was “constantly checking phones at the table”, which 54% of respondents listed as the single most likely occurrence to cause an argument. Conversely, family conversation is rated as the single most beneficial aspect of a good day out, with nearly two-thirds of respondents suggesting having a chat is the best bit of a family outing. Beefeater head of marketing Sarah Tinsley said: “There’s no denying the huge benefits our smartphones provide us but there is a time and a place for their use and, especially on Mother’s Day, we think we can do without them for an hour or two.”


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A money markets update by the central bank has indicated that the local currency – the Pula depreciated by 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent against the South African rand and the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR), respectively, over the one-month period to August 2021. According to Bank of Botswana, the Pula had a mixed performance against the SDR constituent currencies. It depreciated by 0.5 percent against the Chinese renminbi, 0.4 percent against the US dollar and 0.2 percent against the Japanese yen. It appreciated by 0.7 percent against the British pound and remained relatively stable against the euro.
Over the twelve months period to August 2021, the nominal Pula exchange rate depreciated by 9.2 percent against the South African rand and appreciated by 2.8 percent against the SDR. Against the SDR constituent currencies, the Pula appreciated by 7.3 percent against the Japanese yen, 3.8 percent against the euro and 3.2 percent against the US dollar, while it depreciated by 2.8 percent against the Chinese renminbi and 0.3 percent against the British pound.
The depreciation comes at a time when Botswana’s diamond led economy continues to record trade deficits, which have weakened the country’s reserves and balance of payments.
According to the Trade and Merchandise report for June released this week by Statistics Botswana, exports increased by 43.4 percent to P7 billion compared to May’s revised value of P4.8 billion.
As usual, the increase was on the back of improved trade in rough diamonds, with the country selling P6.4 billion in June, up by 43.9 percent from the previous month. Diamonds account for over 90 percent of Botswana’s total exports.
Imports in June declined slightly by 1.9 percent to P7.6 billion, down from May’s P7.7 billion. The decrease was attributed to a 36.1 percent reduction in importation of vehicles and transport equipment . However, the decline was moderated by 16.4 percent uptick in importation of chemicals and rubber products.
The majority of goods bought outside Botswana in Botswana were led by diamonds, which contributed 36.9 percent (P2.8 billion) to total imports, followed by Food, Beverages and Tobacco with 11.3 percent (P859.5 million) and 11.2 percent (P858.7 million) for fuel. Machinery and Electrical Equipment contributed 11.1 percent (P850.6 million).
With imports higher than exports, the monthly trade for June resulted in a P611 million deficit, lower than the massive P2.8 billion deficit in May. The latest data from Statistics Botswana shows that Botswana has recorded a P5.4 billion trade deficit in the second quarter, a major reversal from the P863 million surplus in the first quarter.
The last time the country recorded a quarterly trade surplus was in the second quarter of 2018. Last year, Botswana registered a P25.9 billion trade deficit, the largest trade imbalance on record. The historic deficit extended the P14.2 billion shortfall recoded in 2019, the third highest since 2012’s trade shortfall of P16.3 billion.
The country’s continued growing deficits have reversed gains made in the five-year period of consecutive trade balance surpluses that started in 2014, though the surpluses were growing smaller in size.


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Law-makers in the province of British Columbia have passed regulations hitting tobacco marketers with a $13 million licensing fee, which the new rules say can't be recouped by a price hike.
Full-page ads from the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council are running in major daily newspapers in British Columbia criticizing the move as simply another tax hike and "a dangerous precedent" of price controls. Handling is McLaughlan Group, Toronto.
Spending could reach $1 million and the council promises to keep up its advertising as long as needed to make its point. "The industry wanted to be part of the debate," says Marie-Josee Lapointe, VP of communications at the council, which represents marketers RJR-Macdonald, Imperial Tobacco, and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges.
Copyright October 1998, Crain Communications Inc.


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The company’s commitment to hydrogen vision was underscored recently with the appointment of industry veteran Jim Park as its senior vice president of commercial vehicle and hydrogen business development for North America.
Hyundai CEO, José Muñoz, expressed his belief that hydrogen technology provides a scalable, zero-emissions solution for various applications, and that Park’s extensive automotive industry experience would contribute significantly to Hyundai’s hydrogen expansion plans.
Jim Park brings to the table more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, with prior leadership roles at Harman-Samsung and Chrysler. He was most recently president of Harman International Korea, where he spearheaded strategies for auto business units and Samsung’s automotive electric businesses.
His appointment comes hot on the heels of Hyundai’s 2023 CEO Investor Day in Seoul, South Korea. The event served as a platform for Hyundai to reveal its mid-to-long-term business strategies and financial plans. Among them were ambitious plans to ramp up its annual EV sales to 2 million units by 2030 while also accelerating initiatives in autonomous driving, software, robotics, and critically, hydrogen.
Hyundai’s press release dubbed the company the “global leader in commercializing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles”. It outlined a comprehensive plan for an “energy toolbox” that includes hydrogen production, steel manufacturing without fossil fuels, and decarbonizing work sites.
Hyundai NEXO, one of the few hydrogen-fuelled vehicles available on the market, stands as a testament to the company’s faith in hydrogen as a viable alternative fuel. However, Hyundai is not alone in exploring the potential of hydrogen. Toyota, known for its hydrogen-powered Mirai model, recently announced plans to extend its hydrogen offerings, particularly in commercial vehicles, by 2030.
Other auto giants like BMW and Honda are also joining the hydrogen fuel race. BMW, in partnership with Garrett Motion, recently shed light on its BMW iX5 Hydrogen prototype, while Honda executives outlined their ongoing hydrogen initiatives, which span fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs), commercial vehicles, stationary power stations, and construction machinery.
Notably, the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC) announced the development of the world’s first ammonia-powered car engine, heralding another significant development in the alternative fuel sector.


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- Outsourcing News
- Outsourcing Press-Releases
- Outsourcing Events
- Outsourcing Analytics
Over 200 international companies from 14 countries participated in this year’s most prestigious European forum in the outsourcing industry – Call Centre & Customer Management EXPO, held last week in London. Sofica Group was the only company which presented the advantages of Bulgaria as outsourcing destination.
Mr. Lyubomir Kyuchukov ambassador of our country in the UK visited the company’s booth during the exhibition. Ambassador Kyuchukov and Mr. Stefan Bumov, CEO of Sofica Group discussed the possibilities to present Bulgaria in London in the area of outsourcing industry. The meeting is fully coherent with the initiatives taken by the Bulgarian Investment Agency to promote the industry, which is a priority for the economic development of our country. Ideas were exchanged for greater awareness of the Bulgarian business in the UK and taking further steps to open the British market for outsourcing services provided in Bulgaria.
The main trend that dominates the field of contact center services is the use of “cloud computing” technology. As a partner of the U.S. company Interactive Intelligence, Sofica Group present opportunities for the deployment of these technologies in today’s contact centers and their impact on quality and optimization of their operations.
Call Centre & Customer Management EXPO collected over 5,000 participants, nearly 70% of them come with a specific purpose – to conclude transactions and a quarter of the visitors have an investment budget of more than 1 million pounds. Organizers report that this year’s forum was the most visited from senior managers compared to the previous.


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Weather, a car trading company, has signed a reseller agreement with Nordcars Finland Oy for the resale of Dongfeng and Voyah electric cars in Finland. The value of the contract has not been disclosed. This retail agreement is expected to significantly increase Weather’s share in the national electric car market. The company plans to expand its electric car offerings with 8-9 new fully electric and plug-in hybrid passenger car models this year.
Wetter’s locations cover more than 80% of Finland’s Dongfeng and Voyah market potential. By 2024, the company aims for a sales volume of approximately 500 vehicles. With the expansion of the Dongfeng collection in 2025, a significant increase in the brand’s sales volume is anticipated. Weather’s CEO Aarne Simula commented that in recent years, many new electric cars have entered the European market from China, and the company aims to meet the demand for high-quality electric cars at a more affordable price range while offering options for demanding needs.
In other news, clinics in Kiev are offering vision assessments, and forums are discussing various eye procedures such as cataract removal and laser eye correction. People are seeking advice and recommendations on eye care services, including treatment for conditions like glaucoma and dry eye syndrome. Additionally, there are discussions on forums about breed-specific pet care, travel forums, and conversations about the latest trends in eye care treatments and clinics.


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NEW RULES FOR SAFE DATA ON CREDIT CARD NUMBERS
Anyone who accepts and stores credit card numbers — and that includes small and medium enterprises — must comply with strict new security regulations by December 31 or face hefty fines if that card data is compromised in any way.
The Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standard, created by the major credit card brands, including Visa and MasterCard, forces companies to conform to a strict set of rules or face stiff financial penalties.
The security standard was drawn up in an effort to reduce rampant credit card fraud worldwide by securing computer databases that contain credit card information.
The standard, which is already in force in the US and elsewhere, sets out the technical requirements for the secure storage, processing and transmission of cardholder data. There is an onus on banks to ensure that merchants and payment service providers know about it and comply with the controls.
Companies that aren’t compliant by the deadline and whose credit card databases are then compromised — by a hacker, for example — also risk possible exclusion from card acceptance programmes. That means they might no longer be able to accept credit cards as a means of payment for their goods and services, putting their businesses as risk.
“Everyone who handles a credit card, from the point of sale up, has to comply with the PCI data security standard,” says Riaan Versfeld, MD of information security consultancy One-Sec, which is advising SA banks on the issue.
There are about 130000 merchants in SA that accept credit cards at the point of sale. All will have to comply with the PCI standard. Larger merchants will have to undergo quarterly compliance tests to ensure that necessary security and controls are in place to safeguard credit card data.
Smaller merchants will need to complete and sign a self-assessment questionnaire in which they certify that they are compliant with the PCI standard.


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iOS 'uber hacker' Comex no longer working for AppleIn a tweet on Thursday, Nicholas Allegra, better known by his hacker handle "Comex," announced that he was no longer interning at Apple, ending a one-year stint at the Cupertino company.
So no point in delaying.As of last week, after about a year, Im no longer associated with Apple. comex (@comex) October 18, 2012
A follow-up tweet explained that Allegra was not fired from Apple, but "forgot to reply to an email," which Fortune discovered to be an offer to continue employment as a remote intern. Comex first joined Apple in August 2011.
I wasnt too happy about it, but it didnt seem like I was able to fix it, Allegra said, referring to the
rescinded offer. So thats what it is.
The hacker, who gained legendary status by coding iOS jailbreaking tools like JailbreakMe 2 and JailbreakMe 3, admitted that there was a bit more to the story of his departure from Apple, but declined to comment further. Allegra did say, however, that "it wasn't a bad ending," pointing out that he enjoyed his time in Cupertino.
As for the future, Allegra said he plans to concentrate on his studies at Brown University, adding that he may not be returning to the iOS jailbreaking scene any time soon as it is likely to be a breach of his former contract with Apple.
On Topic: General
- Natalie Portman rumored for troubled Steve Jobs biopic
- Judge rules Apple entitled to potential ongoing royalties from patent-infringing Samsung products
- Union pushes Apple for better treatment of campus security guards
- More secrets could come from GT Advanced bankruptcy as Apple divulges details to creditors
- Google's search deal with Apple expires in early 2015, could bring new default to Safari


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Cybersecurity has been in the headlines lately especially with the Equifax breach that occurred earlier this year. Most people do not think that their personal data is at risk but this breach should be a reminder that the world depends on critical systems, networks and data repositories, which might not be as secure as people think. Cybersecurity procedures need to be improved and constantly updated.
Companies need to be serious about cybersecurity. This means fixing problems and enacting procedures to curb the security breaches. Fixing these problems come down to a few manageable things. One way to fix is to properly staff cybersecurity operations. Often, companies outsource their technology in order to save money. This saves money in the short term but in the long term, it can lose money because there is a lack of institutional knowledge about how the company functions. Key cybersecurity functions should be worked on in-house and worked on by in-house staff. Cybersecurity involves both technical skills and a good amount of creative thinking. Workers need to understand the context of cybersecurity to be most effective over the long term.
The right people can offer guidance to combat these breaches. However, people can become complacent when it comes to cyber security due to the cyber insurance market. Companies can purchase insurance policies to cover the cost of breaches of customer data. However, this does not solve the underlying security problem. It only transfers the financial risk from one company to another.
Cybersecurity issues should not be another risk that people accept to use the internet. The technology industry needs to design new products and administering system with effective security guidelines and practices. Cybersecurity professionals need to drive innovative thinking and action that can fix our cybersecurity issues and not just sell more products. Most people and companies do not follow basic cybersecurity practices. Some companies benefit more from selling products to affected customers than spending money to keep data safe. It is even worse with Equifax because consumers did not ask for their data to be collected and are now faced with the consequences and the costs.
Government regulators need to step up to the plate by increasing requirements for data security and other protections. They need to protect the consumer from these corporate harms. Companies that hold sensitive information should be willing to spend money and staff time on ensuring their cybersecurity is the utmost.
Many of these breaches are preventable but everyone needs to be realistic when it comes to cybersecurity. Mistakes must be admitted and we need to change our thinking on cybersecurity. Once this occurs, companies can take on the task of devoting time, money and personnel to making meaningful cybersecurity improvements.


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The biomass supplier is to buy two more woodchip supply companies as it expands its presence in the UK market.
“The acquisition gives us a really strong customer offering in both woodchip and wood pellet,” Burrell told Proactive Investors.
In regards to further acquisitions, Burrel says there are a number of targets in the group’s sights.
“We’ve always said this market needs further consolidation, but it’s all about price and it’s all about fit,” he says.
Burrell said the group was not concerned government subsidiaries given to the biomass market would be affected by Brexit, as the government renewable targets are enshrined in UK law.


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Approximately one in four marketers (26%) believe their businesses are unprepared for the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming to life in May 2018.
The new regulation will harmonise data privacy laws across Europe to protect and empower EU citizens and reshape the way organisations across the region approach data privacy.
The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) survey, ‘GDPR and you’, which investigated the industry’s awareness and preparedness for the impending regulatory changes, found that, although unready right now, 68% of marketers are confident companies will be compliant in time for the regulation.
The DMA’s CEO, Chris Combemale, has described the lack of preparedness across businesses as “concerning” and believes the next 16 months are crucial to get the industry ready for the new policies.
“The finish line for GDPR readiness is fixed and the risk to businesses of not being compliant is significant. Our advice is to continue preparations in earnest over the coming year,” said Combemale.
He added that not making it across the line in time is “not an option” while displaying concern over B2B communities’ underestimation of the impact the new regulation will have on companies.
Conversely, marketers’ level of GDPR awareness has risen since last year, with more than half (66%) considering their awareness as ‘good’, up from 53% in June 2016, and their ‘personal’ feeling of preparedness lifting from 49% to 71%.
While providing a layer of protection for consumers, GDPR means all channels relying on personal data will be affected and this is a source of worries for marketers. According to DMA’s study, many are concerned the changes will hinder their businesses and the benefits might outweigh the cost, and there is a common perception that the policy might only benefit consumers.
Among marketers’ concerns, the top three are consent (70%), legacy data (50%) and profiling (37%).
The perception of how the new regulation might affect their businesses and how many issues it might pose varies between those working in B2B, B2C and mixed environments.
Although the number of those who believe they will be ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ affected has decreased, businesses serving B2B and B2C communities see the greatest challenges, while B2C-focused companies are most comfortable with the changes ahead.
Policies after Brexit
GDPR was introduced to provide consistency across countries in Europe, however, in the light of Britain’s decision to leave the EU, the DMA’s survey also addressed concerns surrounding the new situation, but with the regulation coming into force before the Brexit agreement has been finalised, the report suggests it won’t affect the new rules.
Affiliate Window’s data analyst Craig Foster reminded that in July last year, the IAB and ICO highlighted the importance of companies formally complying with the regulations, regardless of Brexit, and this still remains the case.
“While it’s not certain what data protection legislation will look like in the UK after we formally leave the EU, the ICO has said that it will likely be the same or very similar. It is worth considering that any business in the UK that deals with customers based in the EU will be bound by the GDPR regardless,” Foster commented.
According to DMA’s study, most (83%) businesses haven’t changed their plans to implement GDPR and a handful (7%) actively sped up the processes, with the majority of marketers (74%) being confident the best data protection policy is adhering to GDPR.
“In an increasingly global digital marketplace, Brexit does not change the behaviours that companies must adopt in order to succeed and build long-term relationships with customers based on transparency and trust,” added Combemale.


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After three long years, we’ve finally gotten a taste of Electronic Arts’ next installment in the Battlefield franchise, Battlefield 2042. The new trailer injected every single fan with enough hype to last them until this October, which is when the game is slated to be released.
The series has always been known for its vast, populated warfare that spans across multiple facets of battle, including jet fighters, tanks, boats, and more. Things aren’t changing whatsoever for Battlefield 2042 and the game is bringing even more variety to the mix for players to enjoy.
There are four game modes that have been confirmed for the new title so far. Here’s what we know about them.
One of Battlefield‘s classic game modes, the massively-scaled sandbox battle will now support 128 players on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Players set out to capture and defend Control Points scattered around the map in an attempt to run down the enemy team’s number of spawn tickets by killing them or capturing points. If a team’s number of tickets drops to zero or is lower than the enemy’s by the end of the round, they lose the match.
Breakthrough is another mode that’s been featured in the last two installments of the series. The game mode has attacker and defender sides, with the former trying to push forward until they conquer the entire map while the defenders try to hold the line and keep the enemies at bay. Each area has also been designed to hold more players.
Not many details have been given about Hazard Zone, but EA said it’s “a tense experience that combines edge-of-your-seat gameplay with the best of the Battlefield sandbox.” More information will be coming later in the year about this new mode.
Unnamed new mode
Another unnamed game mode has also been revealed by EA, “created as a love letter to [their] core fans.” More information will be revealed about this hidden game mode at EA Play Live, which will be taking place next month on Thursday, July 22.
Battlefield 2042 is set to be released on Oct. 22.


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China has imported nearly double the quantity of cotton during the first four months of the current year compared to the volume of cotton imported by it during the corresponding period of 2011.
During January-April 2012 period, China imported a total of 2.077 million tons of cotton, as against imports of 1.016 million tons during the same period last year, registering a year-on-year rise of 95.7 percent, according to customs statistics.
In April 2012, China imported 509,700 tons of cotton, up 143.1 percent compared to imports of 209,700 tons posted during the same month last year.
However, on a month-on-month basis, China's cotton imports witnessed a decline of 18.47 percent or 115,500 tons.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - China


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The most recent company to enter the metaverse is LG, which on July 19 submitted a trademark application for its LG ART LAB brand to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The company intends, as stated in the application, to offer TV software for the issuance and trading of NFTs, as well as trading software, brokerage services, and digital asset management. In addition, payment services and software for cryptocurrency wallets can be found in the metaverse.
Before making this announcement, LG had already released a number of products related to NFT. This collaboration between the company and media artist Refik Anadol began in May and will result in the display of NFT artwork on OLED TVs.
Metaverse and NFT have created a new way for businesses to interact with customers, which has persuaded many established technology companies to enter the space. Samsung and HTC are among the more recent businesses that have expressed interest in expanding into NFT or smartphones.
In addition to LG, another electronic giant based in South Korea, Samsung, also unveiled a variety of products under the NFTs umbrella. Samsung has begun incorporating an NFT platform into its televisions, enabling customers to purchase NFTs directly from their respective devices.
In general, prominent global brands hailing from a variety of industries have been working toward the goal of entering the metaverse by filing trademark applications. According to a report by Finbold, the total number of trademarks associated with NFTs surpassed 4,000 in the United States alone between January 1 and May 31 of 2022.
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A former office manager is accused of skimming $1.5 million from a Home Hardware store in Thompson over the course of five years.
A forensic audit in 2009 confirmed the shop owner’s suspicions that money had been ripped off since 2004 using a variety of fraudulent means.
Last week, RCMP arrested Theresa Foley, 43, a former office manager of the store. Foley had relocated to St. John’s, N.L., so Mounties there were called in to bring her back.
Foley is in custody in Winnipeg awaiting prosecution on 98 fraud-related charges. She is scheduled to appear in court April 5.
The charges include fraud over and under $5,000, theft over $5,000, and numerous counts of forging and falsifying documents.
tap here to see other videos from our team.


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Penske Racing returns to top-level endurance racing with Honda and the new Acura ARX-05 prototype racer and Juan Pablo Montoya!
All posts from Jo Borrás
In this video, a 1050 HP, fully electric Acura NSX blasts its way up the historic Pike’s Peak Hillclimb course. Just watch!
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Talks Tough on Diesel, ICE Phase-out just days after “diesel summit” to save diesel engined cars.
Recycled Hawtness: Alfaholics GTA-R 290 restomod takes everything good about the classic Alfa Romeo and makes it even better!
Twenty years since designer Michimasa Fujino first sketched the HondaJet concept in 1997, the fuel-efficient little airplane is in full production, offering a low-cost alternative to other private jets. Well, low-er, anyway, since these planes are still over $5 million, making access to one for testing or reviews … let’s call it: limited. That’s where […]
Super Awesome: French company De La Chapelle builds 2/3 Scale Classic Car Replicas for your race-ready kids to Go Kart racing in!
Volvo and Geely Holdings to Develop Lynk & Co Brand vehicles with new shared platforms and EV, hybrid technology.
Honda has shown Off some new Safety Tech for Scooter riders – a full body airbag that significantly reduces injuries in a crash!
Last week, the Australian government has revealed plans to build a new, 1800 kilometer-long electric highway on coastal roads running along the Great Barrier Reef. featuring free EV charging stations. The project is an effort to promote EVs in Australia as countries like Britain and France move to completely ban the sales of diesel and […]
If you’ve been looking for a legit, carbon-fiber, single-seat race car to tear up your local track day, then I have just thing. Meet the Griiip G1- an all-new spec racer powered by a 1000cc Aprilia V4 engine that puts out a healthy 201 HP at an ear-splitting thirteen-thousand RPM. I don’t really need to […]
What is the Difference Between Gas and Diesel Engines? You can find the answer to that little-known question in this instructional video!
We’ve been covering the Forze Delft hydrogen-fuel celled racing project off and on for a few years, now. Depending on who wrote the article, we’ve called it anything from “vaporware” to “a fun class project”, but we’ve never really called it what it’s about to become: a real racing car. Forze Delft VII Chassis […]
Friday Flashback: this movie about the 1930s’ Chevy Streamliners (Film) is from an era when aerodynamics was more about looks than science.
Trump’s $3 Million Gift to Harley Davidson is Super Scary, because it sets the stage to a massive de-funding of the existing EPA.
Schaeffler BioHybrid Prototype Pedal Car Gets Real, as this fully functional prototype of the CES concept gets driven on public roads.
After years of delays, inquiries, and please for millions of dollars, Does ANYONE Still Think Elio Motors is Going to Happen?
By changing the shape of its trucks’ pistons, the New Volvo Wave Piston boosts Diesel Power while increasing MPG and cutting emissions.
New Water-cooled Exhaust Manifold technology from Volkswagen and Honda means More Power, Less Emissions from new internal combustion engines.
There is a rumor being circulated by German Magazine Auto Bild that might be of particular interest to racing fans everywhere. That rumor: Porsche is coming back to Formula 1. That’s right- after another convincing win at the 24 Hours of LeMans earlier this month, Porsche seems to be setting its sights on other racing […]
Polestar has been making a name for itself on race tracks around the world by providing some of the closest and most exciting race finishes in recent history. Now, the Volvo-owned tuning firm is going to be competing with the real big boys in the automotive business — by becoming a manufacturer in its own […]


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Of the nation’s biggest e-commerce companies, Amazon.com, Apple and QVC have the best mobile commerce platforms.
That’s according to a survey of 6,200 consumers being released today by ForeSee, a firm that analyzes and measures customer satisfaction. Rounding out the top five were Newegg, the electronics-focused Web site, and Victoria’s Secret, while Target, Barnes & Noble, Sears and Wal-Mart made solid headway in the mobile channel.
“Amazon is totally focused on the customer experience,” said Larry Freed, president and chief executive officer of ForeSee. “It’s an easy-to-use mobile site with great merchandise selection and great features like bar-code scanning.”
Though Apple was ranked high, “they had some challenges on the Web last holiday season and dropped a couple of points,” Freed said. “One of the main reasons was the wider variety of products. It made it harder for customers to decide. However, Apple’s mobile site is still a pretty easy-to-use environment” and remains focused on customer experience, Freed said.
The survey — called the ForeSee Mobile Satisfaction Index: Holiday Retail Edition — was conducted between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when mobile usage skyrocketed. Consumers were asked to rate the mobile sites of high-volume e-commerce companies based on such criteria as functionality, merchandise presentation, pricing and special features such as bar-code scanning. From the ratings, ForeSee compiled scores that could have ranged from one to 100. Amazon topped ForeSee’s list with a score of 85. Apple and QVC tied at 83. Newegg and Victoria’s Secret both scored 80.
ShopNBC had the lowest score at 73, while Gilt.com, Overstock, RueLaLa and Sears were near the lowest with scores of 74. Yet Sears, as well as Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart and Target, gained points by making improvements to its mobile site over the past year.
Among the key findings:
• Consumer satisfaction with mobile sites is improving, as the index average rose to 78 out of a possible 100, from 76 in holiday 2011, when the survey on mobile sites was conducted for the first time.
• Satisfied customers were 64 percent more likely to revisit a site than dissatisfied ones.
• Showrooming is common but may not be as big of a threat to brick and mortar as it is widely perceived to be. Nearly 70 percent of the respondents reported using a mobile phone while in a retail store during the holiday season, and 62 percent accessed that store’s site or app rather than a competitor’s. But the threat of showrooming still exists, with 37 percent accessing a competitor’s site or app.
Eric Feinberg, senior director of mobile at ForeSee and coauthor of the report, said showrooming is as much of an opportunity as it is a threat. “Retailers need to engage their customers equally well through all channels, especially through mobile sites and apps, or risk losing customers and sales to competitors that do a better job of meeting their needs,” Feinberg said.
Barnes & Noble, Foot Locker and HSN tied at 79; Costco, Hewlett-Packard, Kohl’s and Sportsmansguide.com came in at 78; Best Buy, Buy.com, J.C. Penney, Macy’s, One Kings Lane, Staples and Target tied at 77, and Wal-Mart scored 75.
EXCLUSIVE: @tomford is opening its first-ever beauty store. The boutique, which opens November 20 in London’s Covent Gardens, was designed with the over-the-top glam Ford is known for. Read the full story on WWD.com, link in bio. #wwdbeauty #wwdnews (📷: Simon Wagner) #TomFordBeauty
New York-based DJ @harleyvnewton threw a party to celebrate the holiday collection of her dress and pajama line @hvn at the Ladurée Beverly Hills. It Girls @katebosworth, @rashidajones and more joined in on the fun, which included cocktails, croque monsieur sandwiches and a photo booth. #wwdfashion (📷: Owen Kolasinski/BFA.com)
For the holidays, @Burberry partnered with 20-year-old artist @blondeymccoy on a series of three outdoor murals in downtown Manhattan. The murals are McCoy’s interpretation of a Christmas eve party, the idea of charity and the spirit of family. His third mural, pictured here, is the most personal. The image depicts McCoy’s grandparents and father in London’s Trafalgar Square in the Seventies. “My work often features lots of sentimental objects.” #wwdeye
For spring 2018, designers applied bold colors and cartoonish motifs on everything from sneakers and belts to key chains. See all the top men’s accessories trends on WWD.com. #wwdtrends (📷: George Chinsee; Prop Styling by @rnasti; Market Editor: @luiscampuzano)
The @dior-sponsored @guggenheim international gala pre-party has a history of drawing cool-girl musical acts to serenade the crowd –– and last night was no exception. @haimtheband performed songs both new and old, and lured a star-studded audience with the likes of Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Mamoudou Athie and more. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)
In a partnership between the @metopera and the @englishnationalopera, “Marnie” was born. The opera, with costumes sponsored by @mrporterlive, is an adaptation of the 1961 thriller by Winston Graham. Arianne Phillips, who created the costumes, is no rookie: She’s styled Madonna for her tours and created costumes for a myriad of films in the past. Read WWD’s interview with Phillips, where she talks about her inspiration for the opera’s costumes on WWD.com #wwdfashion
@barneysnyc took a different approach to their holiday windows this year. Instead of Christmas decor, Barneys tapped @thehaasbrothers to tell a story of positivity, gratitude and inclusivity via heartwarming silliness and humor. “It’s about kids and it’s about coming together and being family and loving each other,” said Simon Haas. #wwdfashion (📷: @joshuascottphoto)
Beauty influencer @kandeejohnson makes her foray into hair care with a collaboration with @ogx_beauty — making it the first time that OGX has teamed up for a product creation. The collab includes shampoos and conditioners in three scents. At 39 and a mom, Johnson is a different profile than the emerging social media stars, but is considered one of the pioneers of the digital beauty influencer world. Read WWD’s interview with her on wwd.com, including the strangest beauty product she’s ever tried #wwdbeauty


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Today's Babies Are Eating More Fruit than Older Siblings
There's pretty good news from USA Today on this Halloween morning. Americans are eating more fruit, digging into yogurt and drinking more water and less soda. In fact, fruit is now the second most popular food consumed every day, up from number five a decade ago
There’s pretty good news from USA Today this morning. Americans are eating more fruit, digging into yogurt and drinking more water and less soda. In fact, fruit is now the second most popular food consumed every day, up from number five a decade ago. So what’s first?
Sandwiches! Easily portable, they’re the most popular lunch for Americans (duh!) but also a big time player at dinner, since hamburgers and hot dogs are counted as “sandwiches” (meh.)
According to Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst from the NPD Group, a market research firm that followed 5,000 people’s food diaries and released today’s report, the most popular foods are as follows (and not really surprising).
“Sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, carbonated soft drinks, milk, coffee, potatoes, salty snacks, fruit juice and cold cereal. These foods account for 50% of the foods and beverages we eat and drink,” he says.
So kids are getting more fruit these days—bananas, apples, oranges and grapes, in that order—but vegetables haven’t moved up the list. Prep time was cited as a possible reason for veggies’ bad rap, but I also wonder if outdated ideas like “broccoli is gross” are more to blame.
We have three little kids in our house (4 years, 2 1/2 and 1). Admittedly, fruit is usually a winner, but vegetables are only as hit-or-miss as any other dish (and we have plenty of misses). If you’re looking for new ways to get more of the good stuff onto your dinner table, our triple-kid-tested favorites are:
- Roasted cauliflower
- Sauteed spinach
- Crunchy cucumber slices
- Stuffed tomatoes (technically a fruit but they feel so much like a veggie this way…)
- Kid-friendly crudite, raw veggie cups with yogurt “Ranch” dip
- Oven roasted broccoli with olive oil and sea salt
- Zucchini lasagna
And, of course, there is all that baby food! A few of our biggest hits:
It’s great that kids are eating more fruit, and everyone from Michelle Obama to Jamie Oliver and even foodie bloggers like myself, are sure to be encouraged today. But it seems like there’s still a lot of room for improvement. Sandwiches, soda and “salty snacks,” we’re talking to you.
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By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard 2/6/11
The bee crisis has been treated as a niche concern until now, but as the UN's index of food prices hits an all time high, it is becoming urgent to know whether the plight of the honey bee risks further exhausting our food supply.
Almost a third of global farm output depends on animal pollination, largely by honey bees.
These foods provide 35pc of our calories, most of our minerals, vitamins, and anti-oxidants, and the foundations of gastronomy. Yet the bees are dying – or being killed – at a disturbing pace. Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/8306970/Einstein-was-right-honey-bee-collapse-threatens-global-food-security.html