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Opinion: iPhone killed iPod, iPhone 6 Plus will kill the iPad
iPhone 6 Plus kills iPad. Planshetofon – a smartphone with a large screen – fully meets the needs of the owners of “apple” gadget, tablet, they are less and less. These findings, according to Vestifinance , came to the company Read it Later, find out which device users prefer while walking across the network.
Brother against brother
Read it Later – developer of popular applications Pocket. With this program you can collect binder interesting web pages with text that you want, but do not have time to read right now. In Pocket 11 million active users, most of the favor of the version for gadgets, so that the results of the study can be taken seriously.
It turns out, iPhone 5s and 5c does not distract from their owners iPad. Those who have a smartphone and a tablet, it is equally involve them while working with Pocket. With the iPhone and iPhone 6 Plus 6 the situation changes dramatically. If you have and iPad, and any of these smartphones, most likely, you forget about the existence of the tablet. In 72% of iPhone owners last generation came in Pocket from that device.
Why is this happening? It’s simple: Pocket is designed for those who love to read, and therefore prefers the big screen. The old iPhone screen is small, which justifies the existence of the larger iPad. With the new series of gadgets difference is not so obvious.
The tablet is bad, the iPad is even worse
It is known that the smartphone market is growing faster than the market tablets. In the IDC report said that this year the smart phone market will grow by nearly a quarter. To date, the forecast assumes an annual increase in the amount of 23.8%.
In this case, IDC changed its forecast for the tablet market in the direction of decreasing sales.
Analysts have decided to revise its forecast after the II quarter, which showed that the growth rate of the market tablets start to slow down. Now, analysts predict that by the end of this year will be sold about 233.1 million copies tablet PCs. This is only 6.5% higher than last year, whereas previously IDC analysts forecast annual growth in the region of 12.1%.
And what exactly with the iPad? Today’s figures, again from the research firm IDC, look scary. According to the forecast, in 2014 sales of Apple tablet will go to minus 12.7% and amounted to 65 million units. If the problem of slowing growth of the overall market can be attributed to its oversaturation, the situation with the iPad the general trend can not be explained. Here we have to talk about Apple’s product line as a closed ecosystem in which an extremely popular gadget could devour his neighbor, who seemed to be just a second out of fashion.
The story of the iPod again?
So it was with the iPod. In the middle of the zero device could become a household name. A little more, and the word “player” would finally come out of items and replace the word “iPod”.
Recall that once Sony Walkman with her already managed to crank out something like this within the English-speaking world, but Apple is not lucky: she released the iPhone. First iPod was sold as good, then became a gadget for young people, then tried again to conquer the market increased hard drive, but ultimately quite sour.
When in 2010 appeared on the market iPad, many analysts considered it “superfluous” gadget in the line of Apple. At that moment he seemed too large to be mobile, too poor to the functional and technical specifications to withstand the laptop and too expensive to overcome the readers. By an amazing coincidence, today Apple tablet was back in that awkward situation when his weaknesses were important strengths. In the notebook segment, it pressured transformers from third-party developers, superior in performance and ergonomics in the smartphone segment – grown in size iPhone. Returns readers to start mass sale of flexible monochrome displays should not expect, but iPad can not live up to these times.
Realizing this, Apple is promoting the tablet in an enterprise environment. Recall that in the market for a long time, there were rumors that the Cupertino-based company is preparing to release a new iPad, meeting the requirements of the business. Let’s see whether they will offer the new iPad is what can give iPhone 6 Plus.
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Prince has admitted that he hates digital music and remains adamantly against the internet.
The 53-year-old singer has consistently been a critic of the worldwide web and refuses to allow his back catalogue to be sold digitally online by retail outlets such as Amazon and Apple's iTunes store.
Speaking about why he detests the format, he told the Guardian: "I personally can't stand digital music. You're getting sound in bits.
"It affects a different place in your brain. When you play it back, you can't feel anything. We're analogue people, not digital."
The 'Purple Rain' star has previously taken measures to prevent the use of his music or images being used online, having all music videos removed from YouTube.
"I'm supposed to go to the White House to talk about copyright protection. It's like the gold rush out there. Or a carjacking. There's no boundaries."
The performer also addressed the persistent rumours that he is to headline Glastonbury each year, claiming: "They use my name to sell the festival. It's illegal. I've never spoken to anyone about doing that concert, ever."
Prince will headline this year's Hop Farm Music Festival in Kent on July 3. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

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Company will also certify certain third-party PC fan and liquid cooling systems designed to help the chip run faster than its rated speed.
The chipmaker's new Athlon 64 FX-57, released Monday, is priced at $1,031. The chip runs at a clock speed of 2.8GHz and includes 1MB of level-two computer memory cache, which helps with rendering graphic-intensive video games like "Half-Life 2" and running labor-intensive applications such as computer-aided design.
The FX-57 is a follow on to AMD's Athlon 64 FX-55, which runs at 2.6GHz and costs $827.
So far, AMD has identified close to 40 second-tier PC makers in North America, including Alienware, VoodooPC and Boxx, that have signed up to put the new FX-57 in their systems.
Despite the performance improvements, the processor could be the last single-core processor in AMD's FX series. Both AMD and rival Intel have set themselves on a path to switch their processor products from single-core to dual-core technology, which entails placing two computer processors on one piece of silicon.
Jonathan Seckler, AMD's Athlon 64 product marketing manager, told CNET News.com that Athlon FX series processors will continue to ship with just one core for at least 12 months to 18 months. If AMD follows its current course, its Athlon 64 FX-59 processor should be the next processor in the family to be announced.
"Our strategy is to continue with single-core processors in the foreseeable future as long as the need is still there," he said, noting that the majority of video games for the PC are written to take advantage of single-core technology.
To help PC enthusiasts with their game play, Seckler said, AMD will also be "clock-unlocking" the Athlon FX-57 and certifying certain third-party PC fan and liquid cooling systems that are designed to help increase the performance of the chip and help it run faster than its rated speeds.
How fast is fast? At a recent gathering of PC game enthusiasts, many liquid-cooled systems were able to push a standard Athlon FX-55 2.6GHz processor to speeds close to 5GHz.
The process, often referred to as overclocking, generally is not endorsed by chip manufacturers, and AMD says that it is not in fact promoting the practice. Rather, the company, in recognition that some people will overclock regardless, is certifying certain third-party systems in an effort to minimize damage to its chips. Revving up any chip beyond its posted rate invalidates the warranty.
In the meantime, AMD said it is seeding its dual-core processor economy with its recently launched AMD Athlon 64 X2. The chip is designed for semi-professional movie makers and digital media enthusiasts, as well as for people who run many software applications simultaneously.


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Well, to all those who have no idea about what will be blabbered in the latter part of this article, Here’s a short insight for you guys right here. So, here’s the story of Huawei being listed into the ‘entity list’ of the United States.
The company was accused of posing a threat to the National security of the United States. To be precise, being a China-based company, Huawei might act as an asset to the Chinese intelligence about every political, economic and diplomatic move of the United States. Although the company has strongly denied all such claims, still it was listed in the Entity list of US. And guess what the story has just begun!
Back when Huawei was added to the ‘Entity list’ of the United States, for it was suspected to be a spy of the Chinese government under Sheep clothing sharing intelligence on US stats of technology and information. Which was, of course, not the case. As they say, assumptions must be assumed very carefully and on strict experimental grounds at that!
At the same time, Donald Trump president of the United States issued an executive order in the name of the Chinese Multinational Company to effectively ban it from the lands of the US And if you don’t know what’s an ‘entity list’ is? Let me enlighten you on this part!
Well, the Entity list is a rather shortened form and stands for United States Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List. It refers to a list of entities that are not qualified or allowed to do any kind of export tradition in the United States without a license from the Export Administration as per the legal regulations.
Well, to put it in simple words, if included in this list then it gonna be a hell lot of trouble on the profits of your company or business, for one is not legally permitted to do any kind of business with any US-based Company.
Here’s a statement released by the Commerce department back then, “The executive order prohibits transactions that involve information and communications technology or services designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary whenever the secretary of commerce determines that a transaction would pose a threat to national security.”
Despite the continuous denial of Chinese Tech giant, Huawei on these accuses, it was still unfairly listed in the Entity list. And the government didn’t even have a proper justification on its grounds.
Well, this was a story of ‘Once upon a time….’ although not so past. Still, now that you know what’s going on? Let’s moved on to the next part of the same. Recently, Microsoft acquired a licence which allows it to export some of the software to Huawei. And just to be clear Microsoft was also not allowed to entertain any kind of trade with Huawei. Yup, that right! It’s a US-based tech company.
Well, the catch here is that this license has been extended to all the American Companies of the United States to do business with Huawei for a period of another 90 days earlier this week. Yup, you got it right. Although this is just a temporary extended license, still the company can sigh relief for it has a chance to recover on its losses!
In light of this grant, Microsoft Thanked the Commerce department through an email which stated, “On November 20, the US Department of Commerce granted Microsoft’s request for a license to export mass-market software to Huawei. We appreciate the department’s action in response to our request.”
Following which now Microsoft with several other US tech Companies is allowed to sell software to Huawei. Although, it is still unclear what kind of software’s will Microsoft be exporting to Huawei and hence the definition of, “Mass-market” remains a mystery. And it’s expected that Microsoft will probably be exporting Windows software to Huawei for its Windows-powered laptops.
Earlier Huawei has to postpone the release of its new Windows-powered laptop which was yet to be revealed to the tech maniacs in the CES Asia this year, and Microsoft had to restrict the sales of Huawei MateBook X Pro laptops on Microsoft stores due to the unfair listing. But with the new export licence, all this issue might get a push of ease in their streamline.
Still, the entity listing of Huawei had put the Companies into a pit of revenue as well as a dilemma. For to what extent of the trade is allowed and what is not, the lines are still blurred.
For trading with an Entity listed company, the US-based Companies need a license to trade. And just a piece of information, along with this license comes a pile of revenue too which the Companies had to pay in return to permit of ‘trade with the entity company’.
The difficult part was the limitation and boundaries that they were supposed and allowed, especially for Tech oriented Companies. Why? Well, because Huawei was accused of sharing the United States intelligence on technology and selling it off to the Chinese government, posing a threat to the National Security. As such, being the case tech companies lawyers and leaders were trying to seek clarification on this part with the US government for ages.
Microsoft President Brad Smith even questioned the US government on this part and said that they were treating Huawei ‘unfairly’ although it’s a China-based company and sought to clarify on the facts of its accusations as well as an explanation on being listed in the Entity list without proper justification.
This week on Tuesday in an interview with Fox Business Network, Wilbur Ross Commerce Secretary said, “We’ve had 290-something requests for specific licenses. And we’ve now been starting to send out the 20-day intent-to-deny letters and some approvals.” Although Companies has been sending out their request for ages, especially Microsoft got the license recently despite a continuous request and complaints.


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Ascena Retail Group will acquire Charming Shoppes in a cash transaction valued at approximately $890 million.
The tender offer is expected to commence within 10 business days. Subject to customary conditions and approvals, the transaction is expected to close during the second calendar quarter of 2012.
Charming Shoppes is the parent company of Lane Bryant, Catherines Plus Sizes and Fashion Bug, and also operates direct-to-customer food and gifts merchant Figi’s.
Ascena owns women’s apparel retailers Dress Barn, Maurice’s and Justice.
Charming Shoppes’s financial figures have shown signs of improvement since Anthony Romany took over as president and CEO last March. Its adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2011 improved $62.3% to $81.4 million, and it ended the year with $168.6 million in cash, and increase of $51.1 million. Its ecommerce sales also rose 17% in the fourth quarter.


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Who will be crowned the “Best of Inglewood?” That’s the question business owners and shoppers in Inglewood want to know.
On Wednesday, October 18, Inglewood Today will host its first ever “Best of Inglewood” Awards Ceremony at the Miracle Theatre, 226 W. Market Street. It begins at 6pm. The ceremony will celebrate the successful “Best of Inglewood” contest, which took place in August and September. It’s a free community event, and everyone is invited.
Mayor James Butts, Inglewood Councilmembers and other invited officials will be present to show their support of the hard working businesses in our community. Sponsors include MTA, Papa John’s Pizza, Inglewood Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, Centinela Hospital and Hollywood Park Casino.
Businesses were nominated by Inglewood Today readers online in more than 15 different categories during the contest. Categories include best soul food restaurant, best Mexican food restaurant; best barbershop, dental clinic, car dealership and much more. During the contest, weekly prizes were given away to people voting online. Prizes included one year of pizza, MTA TAP cards, and $100 cash prizes.
On Wednesday, winners will be announced, and awards and prizes will go to the top vote getters in each category, as well as the top winner overall.
“Best of Inglewood” began as a way for Inglewood Today publisher Willie Brown to mobilize local business owners around a positive cause. With the city progressing so quickly, Brown wanted to inspire more appreciation and recognition within the business community. At the same time, he wanted to encourage people to buy locally from Inglewood-based businesses. This contest has achieved both ends.


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FREE Roadside Assistance Available To All Key Workers Who Own A Nissan Vehicle
Nissan is offering all key workers in the UK free Roadside Assistance to ensure they are not left stranded during Coronavirus pandemic.
Apr 17, 2020
Nissan is showing its appreciation to all of our amazing key workers who continue to deliver vital services through these difficult times.
The highly esteemed Japanese manufacturer has kindly pledged free-of-charge breakdown assistance to all key workers across the UK who drive a Nissan car or van. You can even make use of the service if your current vehicle warranty has expired.
@NissanUK tweeted “We can’t thank the UK’s key workers enough for all they’re doing to keep the nation going. To help them keep going, we’re providing free-of-charge Roadside Assistance to all key workers who own a Nissan vehicle, regardless of its age and warranty. Stay safe everybody.”
Nissan’s 'Key Worker Roadside' service includes any roadside repair as well as recovery to the nearest Nissan service centre. Additionally, courtesy cars will be prioritised to all key workers.
Andrew Humberstone, Managing Director of Nissan GB, said: “We are extremely grateful to our nation’s key workers for their selfless dedication and commitment.”
Nissan has also stated that all customer vehicle warranties (non-key workers included) will be honoured in spite of any scheduled service or warranty repair that may have been missed as a result of the current lockdown restrictions.
Their website states: “During the imposed COVID19 government lockdown Nissan want to support our customers. Therefore in the event any customer who has a routine service or warranty repair delayed during this period and cannot have the required work started and/or completed, Nissan will honour the warranty on the vehicle.”
“Additionally, any customer who has previously benefited from our Nissan roadside assistance program through servicing at a Nissan dealership will have an automatic 6 month policy extension should the service due date fall between March and July 2020.”
Contact Nissan Roadside Assistance
If you are a key worker and own a Nissan vehicle, please call the RAC directly on 0330 159 0740 in the event of a breakdown.


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GM CFO: Automaker Stands a "Reasonable Chance" of Making a Profit in 2010
According to General Motors CFO Christopher P. Liddell, the automaker stands a "reasonable chance" of making a profit in 2010. GM previously lost $88 billion from 2004 until its bankruptcy filing in 2009.
The automaker is still 60 percent owned by the U.S. government and is deeply focused on proving it can get back into the black. Of course, a better economy and new car market would help dearly, Liddell said.
An initial public stock offering is also "possible" this year, but there is no rush to do so.
"It's an important part of rejuvenation for the company, but it's important we do it at the right time," the executive said at a recent press conference.
Liddell came to GM from Microsoft for the "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something that's incredibly important and incredibly interesting." He's a self-proclaimed car fan who was lucky enough to drive a Ferrari to work every day in Seattle. Now he's bent on driving each of GM's models.
Source: The New York Times


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A propaganda vehicle for publicising the job fair `Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu' to be held jointly by Andhra University and Millennium Software Solutions on October 29 and 30 at the AU Convocation Hall, was launched on Thursday morning by A.U. Engineering College Principal G.S.N. Raju and Millennium Software Solutions Chief Sridhar Reddy.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sridhar Reddy said that about 100 software companies were expected to participate in the job fair. Youth with qualifications ranging from 10th class to post graduation, ITI, polytechnic diplomas, Pharmacy, BHM and Engineering can attend the interview. Noted companies in the fields of IT, BPO, Pharma, Health Care, Hospitality, Insurance, Infrastructure, Automobile and other companies in retail sector are participating. Companies participating in the job fair include Wipro, HSBC, Mahindra Sathyam, Info-tech, Symbiosis, Reliance, Divis, Inde-Gene, HDFC, SBI Life and Kenexa. He appealed to the unemployed youth to make the best use of the opportunity to secure jobs.
Prof. Raju revealed that 29 IT companies, 12 educational groups, 9 insurance companies, 8 BPO's, 7 automobile companies, 6 health care companies, 4 retail companies, 3 hospitality companies, 3 chemical companies, textile companies and 15 other companies are taking part.


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We'd slay zombies all day just for the heck of it, but turns out you can earn some sweet rewards for putting down the undead. Steam (and Xbox 360) achievement points, to be exact. Valve Software has hooked us up with the official full list of Left4Dead's 50 game achievements, which can be earned on both the Survivor and Infected side (in Versus mode). Among our favorites in the list? "Zombie Genocidest", which requires that we kill 53,595 common infected zombies, and "101 Cremations", which you earn by setting 101 infected on fire with the molotov cocktail. Hit the jump for the full list!
Edit: There are actually only 50 achievements, not 52.
Thanks to everybody’s favorite economy, the prices of large-size LCD monitors are on the way down again. After stabilizing for about a month, a lower than expected demand is putting pressure on monitor vendors to drop their prices.
After October prices are expected to drop 5-7%, with that trend continuing in the future. Large financial challenges are expected for the fourth quarter of 2008.
So if you’ve been waiting around to pick up a fancy 30” display, just wait a bit longer and you’ll get the price you’ve always wanted! If you’ve already picked up a 30” display, why not snag another? If you’ve already got three 30” displays, then Al Gore, I’m going to have to ask you to get back to work, sir.
Whether looking forward to groping HP's new touchscreen laptop or getting touch-feely with a rumored touchscreen Eee PC, multi-touch panels look to be the new hot technology on the block. In anticipation of this upcoming demand, Taiwan-based Egalax_empia Technology Incorporated (EETI) has begun developing multi-touch panels for both netbooks and notebooks. The company expects to kick production into high gear by the end of 2008 for 7-inch panels, says DigiTimes.
EETI had started working with US-based Cypress Semiconductor back in April to develop capacitive touch panels, and that forward thinking might soon pay off. In addition to riding the netbook craze, the company plans to churn out 12.1-inch panels for notebook applications as well.
We hear the makers of monitor wipes are ecstatic at what could become a new trend.
If you're a Compact Flash user, life's not been fair to you lately. You've seen CF stalwarts like Nikon and Canon turn their backs on this longtime favorite in favor of the new kid on the block, SDHC, in their newest DSLRs. Buy a new camera, and you make your collection of CF cards obsolete. Meanwhile, you've watched SDHC and its kid brother, SD, dominate the deals in your favorite big-box electronics superstores' weekly tabloids. And, just to add a cherry on the top of your cake of frustration, you've been thinking about how cool it would be to use wireless file transfer with Eye-Fi cards, but Eye-Fi is also in the tank for SD. Oh, and did I mention that "Compact" Flash is now the bulkiest flash memory format?
For all these reasons, Synchrotech's introduction of the CFMulti CompactFlash Type II to Eye-Fi + Multi-Card Adapter has come at a very good time. While CF adapters for SD cards have been around for awhile, the CFMulti also supports newer flavors such as SDHC and MMC+ as well as SD and any old MultiMediaCards (MMC) you have floating around. Plus, it's the first adapter to support Eye-Fi cards, albeit with a reduction in range. See the CFMulti and Eye-Fi FAQ for details and a list of tested cameras.
For more thoughts on the advantages of adding CFMulti to your gadget bag, and your chance to comment, join us after the jump.
Today the New York Post revealed that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg may be looking to follow MySpace’s lead by offering a digital music store. Not through licensing their own content, mind you, but working through a third party that already has the nasty licensing business worked out.
MySpace’s music service currently works as a proprietary service built from the ground up using source licensing, with all their content hosted directly from MySpace. Whereas Facebook is reportedly looking to work with Rhapsody, iLike, Lala and IMEEM as content providers and licensers.
Supposedly, listening to the music itself will be free, and sold through Amazon. Listening to songs on Facebook would prompt on-screen advertising.
“Facebook is a serious challenger to MySpace,” said Phil Leigh, of Inside Digital Media, “and they would certainly want to do anything that record labels would allow them to do with advertising-supported music.”
So what say you, social networking site user? Would you use a Facebook powered music store? Let us know in the comments.
While it seems most PC users got a kick out of watching Seinfeld inquire about the future of chewy computers and Bill Gates doing the robot, I've remained critical of Microsoft's $300 million ad campaign and have yet to be impressed with one of its commercials, including the "I'm a PC" segments currently being aired. By contrast, I found myself chuckling at Apple's initial round of ads, not because I thought they were accurate (they're not), but because they managed to throw humorous jabs without going for that impossible knockout punch. For those of you who follow baseball, it's like being a Red Sox fan (which I am) and tipping your hat at the Tampa Bay Rays for outplaying your team last night (which they did), even though you despise them (which I do).
But lest anyone accuse me of sleeping with the enemy (you know, those whiny Mac losers), let me go on record as saying that the new Mac ads suck too, and not just because I've developed an urge to want to punch Justin Long-in-the-tooth square in the face (I bet he's a Tampa Bay fan too, the smug bastard).
Hit the jump to read my beef with the new Mac ads.
By now everyone is familiar with the problems Nvidia has had with its notebook GPUs, which resulted in an "abnormal failure rate" for what remains an unspecified number of graphics chips. But throughout all the speculation, including accusations that whatever problem has been plaguing the chip maker might also be affecting desktop units as well, Nvidia has avoided speaking out on the issue at any length. Until now, thanks to some prodding by AMD.
Earlier this week AMD's Packaging and Interconnect Director, Neil McLellan, went on the semi-offensive and said Nvidia not only uses inferior materials for its chip package design, but that the company just doesn't care as much about packaging technologies as AMD does, according to The Tech Report. Ouch. Those comments didn't sit well with Nvidia, who fired back in a letter in defense of its position.
"In his recent commentary on chip packaging, Mr. McLellan makes a number of speculative assertions about NVIDIA's people, products and philosophy," Nvidia wrote. "In his interview McLellan asserts that High lead bumps are more prone to fatigue. What he fails to note is that AMD currently uses High lead bumps on their CPU line -- a device well known to undergo high thermal stress, and also go through lots of power cycling."
Nvidia went on to talk about High Lead bumps being used in "10s of billions of semiconductor devices" and a whole lot more, but stopped short of saying what exactly caused earlier problems with its 8M series.
It's been a tough year for Yahoo, and it's Yahoo's employees who have been hit the hardest. Earlier this year the struggling search company had cut about 10 percent of its workforce, and now it appears another sizable chunk will be receiving pink slips.
The exact number of the impending cuts has yet to be decided, but according to The Wall Street Journal, it will be more than the 1,000 jobs the company announced it was cutting in January. Yahoo is expected to announce just how many it will be letting go during its earnings conference call tomorrow.
Jobs aren't the only thing being slashed at Yahoo. As part of its downsizing effort, operating budgets across the board are expected to be cut 15 percent. Meanwhile, Yahoo's share price has dropped more than 40 percent over the past three months, meaning this could be just the beginning.
Next to the "atomic pen", having your name written on a grain of rice is laughably large. That's because the text size to beat - which, by the way, isn't beatable - measures just 2 x 2 nanometers, or about the equivalent of 40,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
"It's not possible to write any smaller than this," said Masayuki Abe, a researcher involved in the project.
Abe is part of a research team at Osaka University who recently demonstrated the atomic pen inscribing nano-sized text. The pen was built based on a previous discovery in which silicon atoms at the tip of an atomic force microscope probe will interchange with the tin atoms in the surface of a semiconductor sample when in close proximity. Using this method, the researchers arranged individual silicon atoms one at a time to write the letters "Si," a task which took the team about an hour and a half.
But there's more at stake here than invisible vandalism. Researchers say the atomic pen could lead to advances in atomic scale technology, eventually making it possible to build a PC small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
November's shaping up to be a busy month, and it has nothing to do with Thanksgiving. On the desktop front, Intel's Core i7 platform is rumored to launch on November 17th, and in the mobile sector, MSI looks to launch its Wind U120 with built-in 3.5G before December rolls around, according to DigiTimes.
The new netbook will feature the usual assortment of components - Atom N270 processor clocked at 1.6GHz, 1GB of RAM, 120GB hard drive, and Windows XP - tucked underneath your choice of a white or black shell and will run about $550. MSI has been working with Taiwan-based telco Vibo Telecom to implement 3.5G functionality in the U120 and will look to do the same with local telecom providers in Europe.
What you won't find on the new netbook is a touchscreen. Asus is rumored to be readying a touchscreen version of its Eee PC line, but MSI cites high costs as a prohibiting factor for its Wind. Bummer.


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PITTSBURGH — PPG Industries Inc. announced that it is considering a number of “restructuring actions,” including facility and job consolidations in the company’s coatings operations, in response to increased manufacturing costs and slowdowns in key end-use markets.
The company did not announce specific moves that might be made, but any initiatives will be aimed at “reducing costs, increasing efficiencies and accelerating performance improvement throughout the company,” said Chairman and CEO Raymond W. LeBoeuf. The company estimated that the actions could result in a charge of $50 million to $100 million in the first quarter of 2001.
LeBoeuf said PPG has been reviewing all operations worldwide since late summer, due to “weakening economic conditions that emerged in late summer and are not abating.” He said the company anticipates “continued declines in a number of our end markets, particularly vehicle production, while natural-gas prices continue to rise.” The company’s actions “will involve facility and job consolidations, primarily in the coatings segment,” he said, adding that the financial benefits of the moves are expected to fully offset the charges in about a year. LeBoeuf also said the company is anticipating fourth-quarter earnings of 65–75¢ per share, compared to 93¢ per share in the fourth quarter of 1999.


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More than 59,000 Mitsubishi Lancer’s recalled over air-bag concerns.
It’s affected almost all other Japanese car brands and now the mammoth global Takata air-bag recall has spread to a Mitsubishi model sold in Australia.
Being overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Mitsubishi Lancer Takata air-bag recall affects 59,522 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles sold in Australia between the 11th of June 2003 and the 30th of December 2008.
Affecting CH Lancer Sedan/Wagon and CY and CZ Lancer EVO Sedans, the ACCC recall notice says the Takata front passenger air-bag may release metallic fragments from the inflator container if the air-bag is deployed.
An inflator rupture during airbag deployment events could result in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.
Letters are being sent to affected Mitsubishi Lancer owners by Mitsubishi Motors Australia.


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As expected, EA has confirmed FIFA 19 has the official Champions League licence.
There's a tournament mode for the Champions League, Alex Hunter can take on the Champions League in story mode, and the tournament will also be incorporated into FIFA Ultimate Team.
EA Sports has the Champions League licence now after a period of exclusivity on PES.
FIFA 19 comes out on 28th September. Meanwhile, EA said it's released a free trial for the World Cup mode for FIFA 18.


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Posted Thu Jun 17, 2010 at 12:00 PM PDT by Tom Landy
For a limited time, save big on Blu-ray movies!
The online retailer has just unveiled another gigantic sale, with some great bargains up for grabs!
Click here to browse the sale at Amazon!
This sale is in effect from now until June 26.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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Tractors and combines should be flying out of U.S. dealerships as farmers desperately need to replace an aging fleet. They’re not, and at the same time, production in Europe is being hampered by supply chain shortages.
Dogged in the past year by trade war uncertainties and low crop prices that kept farmers from ponying up cash, the world’s big machinery companies are now struggling to deal with the ambiguity surrounding a deadly pandemic.
The result: Both Deere & Co. and AGCO Corp. pulled their financial outlooks March 23, and both said they were cutting back operations.
For Deere, the decision comes just a month after it announced an unexpected earnings boost and maintained its annual outlook on early signs of stabilization in the U.S. farm sector.
“The market is pricing in meaningful downside” for machinery companies, “but a global pandemic has not occurred for over a 100 years, thus there is not much precedent to fall back on,” said Mircea Dobre, senior research analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co.
Already, large-tractor sales are 50% below their peak, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Normally, that would be a sign much-needed buying should occur. Instead, as the U.S. starts shutting down to stem the virus’s spread, Deere said it is reducing some operations and closing others on a temporary basis, even though its industry has been designated in the U.S. as essential infrastructure businesses.
In Europe, production has already been significantly reduced or suspended in several AGCO facilities, the company said in its statement. AGCO blamed that on shortages and constraints in the European supply chain.
Since the virus erupted in China, Deere has had a special crisis team of 10 people meeting daily on its impact. Deere has also booked premium space on charter flights to obtain crucial parts directly from China, the company told Bloomberg in an email.
Weak farm fundamentals and lack of detail on the U.S.-China trade deal are bearish factors for 2020. Longer term, though, the aging fleet and the world’s population growth will be supportive, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. That will make adoption of high-tech and pricey precision agriculture methods and after-market services more important for profits.


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Prices of banned vegetables tumble in the retail sector
SANTO DOMINGO. In the month of April, the prices to retailers of some fruits and vegetables have tumbled considerably. Such is the case of salad tomatoes, which has seen their price reduced between February and April 2015 from RD$29 to RD$21.47 per pound, a reduction of 26%, according to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The salad tomato is one of the 18 fruits and vegetables included in the list of items, whose export to the United States was banned last March because of the presence of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) in the Dominican Republic.
If a comparison is made with 2014, in February, when the tomato was priced at RD$27.32 a pound, and presented a reduction of only 8.4% for the month of April, when they cost RD$25.02. Regarding these reductions there is a difference of 18 percentage points between one year and the other.
Regarding these changes, the president of the Greenhouse Cluster, José Miguel do Peña Jimenez, said that the yearly reductions are the result of price fluctuations, but he confirmed that the price reduction this year is the result of the ban of the product entering the United States market.
Bell peppers, another of the products affected by the medfly has fallen in price since February of this year from RD$38.25 to its current price of RD$28.29 in the month of April, which is to say a reduction of 26% in its price.
In 2014, bell peppers only fell in price by 16% to retailers. During the month of February they were sold at RD$45.52, and in April the price was RD$38.33.
Nevertheless, according to De Peña Jimenez, consumers have not benefited from this price reduction. “The prices to the consumer are not going down, there is a lot of distortion in the market, none of the State institutions are intervening in the market, permitting savage capitalism,” he complained.
The collapse of the prices to retailers in comparison with previous years is notable in fruits such as the sapota. During 2014 it presented an increase of 2.5%, selling for RD$24. 86 in the month of February, and then increasing its price in April to RD$25.49.
This year, in the month of February, the sapota at a price to the retailers of RD$23.90 and during the last month, contrary to the increase in 2014, this fell by 7.5%, costing RD$22.12.
The ban in the US
As a result of the ban imposed by the United States, only seven Dominican farm items have been part of the prohibition of exports to those markets, but this ban considerably affects producers of the country. According to the Minister of Industry and Commerce, José Del Castillo Saviñon, the loss caused by the situation represents US$61 million.
José Miguel de Peña says: “The markets are cyclical, but the ban is an atrocity, the producers are going bankrupt.”
May 12, 2015
Category: DR News |


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Today is the day some people celebrate the legacy of St. Patrick by wearing green, wearing shamrock antennae, and — if you’re a drunken, mannerless troglodyte — randomly walk around pinching people who didn’t wear green.
The whole pinching thing is an unfortunate “tradition” that many critics say is just another form of drunken harassment against women. It’s the kind of behavior that probably shouldn’t be encouraged by a multibillion-dollar beverage company with a lot to lose if it’s sued for suggesting that people get drunk and pinch people on the street.
And yet some marketing automaton in the social media cloning center at Anheuser-Busch InBev got the great idea this morning to post a Tweet declaring “On #StPatricksDay you can pinch people who don’t wear green. You can also pinch people who aren’t #UpForWhatever.”
Amazingly, it took two hours for Bud Light to realize that maybe it wasn’t a good idea to tell 127,000 Twitter followers that it’s alright to pinch people because it’s March 17.
In response to the backlash, Bud Light issued a statement saying it never meant to encourage that drunk a-holes assault women in public.
“We understand some people misunderstood our St. Patrick’s Day post and apologize to anyone who was offended,” reads the statement to Mashable. “We would never condone disrespectful behavior and our intention was only to playfully celebrate the holiday.”


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Facebook is partnering with seven companies, including Vice, Disney and CollegeHumor, to create video as branded content, this Variety article reports. The company has made video a priority this past year, and continues to do so. Facebook is calling it “Anthology Network,” and the idea is to match marketers’ needs with the right content creators and demos. In the presentation to agency execs, Facebook said video ads averaged 4 billion daily video views in the Q1. Next week the NewFronts kick off in NYC, so expect more pitches like this one from digital networks soon.
Facebook teamed with seven media partners – including Vice Media, Disney’s Oh My Disney digital division and Electus Digital – to pitch marketers on developing sponsored video content for the world’s No. 1 social service. The social giant and the partners presented the initiative, dubbed Anthology, to ad-agency execs at a private presentation Wednesday in New York.


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Chef Jamie Oliver signs up with Sobeys Inc.
In the heated battle for grocery market share, Sobeys Inc. announces a partnership with chef Jamie Oliver, designed to help Canadians eat better.
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The man on a mission to change the way the world eats will bring his battle to Canada through Sobeys Inc. in the fall, the grocery chain announced on Thursday.
Chef Jamie Oliver, whose Food Revolution is aimed at curbing obesity by improving nutritional knowledge and cooking skills, will work with Sobeys to empower Canadians to eat better, according to a release from Sobeys Inc.
The company is not releasing details of the partnership, but Doug Brummer, senior vice president of marketing at Sobeys Inc. said the partnership will show up the Sobeys brand and assortment of products.
“It’s about how can Sobeys bring more knowledge about food to Canada,” said Brummer.
The partnership will focus on educating Canadians about the best ingredients and how to cook them, said Brummer.
- NEW Raptors beat back ghosts of playoffs past with Game 7 win over Pacers
- Updated Fans jump with joy as Raptors advance to second round
- Photos Photos from Game 7: Toronto Raptors vs Indiana Pacers
- Ontario opens access to more stem-cell transplants
- Proposed court fee hike ‘done on the backs of the poorest litigants,’ says lawyers’ group
- Erosion could cause Gibraltar Point to split in two, says Toronto conservation authority
- Justin Bieber gets a night at the opera at Toronto party
- Photos She escaped Daesh but her 12-year-old daughter remains 'married' to a fighter
Sales in the first quarter of 2016 rose 15.8 per cent from the opening three months of last year, according to the Toronto Real Estate Board.


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Experts have predicted that Australia will be cashless by 2022. Even Singapore which planned a cashless society cannot do it completely. Non-cash buying has reached 69 per cent. It has remained there. People love money and sometimes they want to see it. If you take it away they will lose confidence in the currency. This is just common sense.
Purchasing electronically, then going to pick it up will be the norm say 81 per cent. Unfortunately, this is not sustainable. Most pre-purchasers go out to physical shops to view what they intend to buy, looking at variants and price. If four fifths of the population actually did pre-purchase, existing shops would not be there - they would be bankrupt.
Hardly any article overtly states the real reason why people will not let go of cash: individuals will not say it, but they want to avoid paying tax. Yes, it is simply tax avoidance that will keep cash alive, always. Hardly anyone keeps all their money in the bank. They know the tax department can access the real time data. You cannot hide anything that goes onto a record sheet. Business as well as consumers want cash. Why do shops ask if you want a receipt? If they don't issue a receipt the cash goes straight into the pocket!
Remember: Electronic buying with no electric power means no economy.
◆ Society by Ty Buchanan ◆


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Call for management scheme for restaurants
Industry experts and catering business owners are calling for a centralized management scheme for restaurants to respond to the rising demand for takeaway food.
The revenue from food delivery services has been catching up with dine-in revenue and it is estimated that third-party delivery services will account for about 15 percent of the overall dining business in the near future, according to WeChat-based CRM solution provider WeiMob.
Takeaway orders have been rising at the rate of 50 percent a year while the income from dine-in business only has single-digit growth, according to WeiMob payment data.
Zhou Menghai, the founder of Mind Up Capital, called for more sophisticated thinking for catering businesses instead of just leveraging livestreaming to sell products.
"More product and strategy planning are needed before catering businesses are to shift toward online channels," he added.
Shen Siming, former director of the Shanghai Restaurant Cuisine Association said: "Previously most business decisions were made based on experience or gut feelings but nowadays data analyzing becomes essential."
Social media-based marketing and digital infrastructure has become crucial for catering businesses as people turned to online platforms to read reviews and order food.
They are being advised to combine digital storefronts, food delivery and dine-in services into one integrated membership system to optimize their revenue structure.
Bai Yu, president of WeiMob's smart catering business unit, suggested that in this way companies can save costs instead of relying on third-party platforms, which usually charge commission on every order.
Zheng Mengwu, president of Feng Shou Ri Catering Group, pointed out the data inconsistency of online and offline operations as a major obstacle for restaurants to pursue restructuring.


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Bitmain Stopped Working with a Mining Farm in Texas
The largest manufacturer of network equipment, the company Bitmain prematurely ceased cooperation with a Texas mining farm with a capacity of 50 MW. https://twitter.com/dmgblockchain/status/1214235226542493697 The parties made this decision together, and the reason is too big financial expenses required for the project. According to official data, more than 15 thousand units of miners have already been installed at the facility. The official opening of the farm took place in October last year, while representatives of Bitmain claimed that the capacity of this facility could reach 300 MW in the future. If these plans were realized, this farm would become the largest in the world. To know about the latest developments in the world of cryptocurrencies and the blockchain industry, check out updates on TheCoinShark.


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The Aurora, Colo., shooting spree will fuel fresh calls for gun control, but changes in laws are unlikely, partly because of a lack of support for new measures in Congress and among the public at large, people on both sides of the debate said Friday.
"I think very little will happen because our political leaders are so afraid of the gun lobby," said Tom Mauser, who became a gun-control advocate after his 15-year-old son, Daniel, was killed in the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School, about 16 miles from the site of Friday's incident.
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Sep. 11, 2014
Oro Agri, a global manufacturer of bio-pesticides and biorational agricultural adjuvants, soil conditioners and foliar nutrients, announced it has been listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange (CSX).
Erroll Pullen, CEO of Oro Agri, comments on this milestone for the company, “This listing is a key component of our long term corporate strategy. It positions Oro Agri to grow through acquisitions, increasing manufacturing capacity, expanding global distribution, and funding R&D initiatives. In addition, we are proud to be among the groundbreaking industrial manufacturing companies to be listed on the CSX, which has historically been an exchange for financial companies.”
Oro Agri has employees in 15 countries and manufacturing operations in the United States and South America with toll manufacturing partners in South Africa and Europe. Its products are sold in more than 75 countries through more than 3,000 distributors and dealers.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Better Business Bureau has come out with its latest list of businesses they said you should avoid.
The BBB called these "Misleading Advertising, Products and Services that Middle Tennessee Can Do Without."
The BBB said they have gotten numerous complaints about them and these companies have done little or nothing to fix the problems.
Here's who made the list released Thursday:
- SCC, LLC aka State Compliance Center 718 Thompson Ln Ste 108 - 130 PMB, Nashville TN 37204 www.sccpayments.com
The BBB said S-C-C, LLC also known as the State Compliance Center sends notices to businesses that are designed to look like official non-compliance letters from the state of Tennessee. Companies that receive them are led to believe they have to send SCC a fee for services that often are not needed.
- Extensive Travel Solutions 2218 Northpark Dr STE 206, Kingwood TX 77339 www.extensivetravelsolutions.com
The BBB said Extensive Travel Solutions out of Kingwood, Texas has called folks in this area selling timeshares using high pressure, misleading sales tactics.
- Southern Extreme Powersports 433 Sam Ridley Pkwy W, Smyrna, TN 37167 www.southernextremepowersports.com
Customers said they ordered products from Southern Extreme Powersports, but the company failed to ship their items when they were supposed to or failed to ship everything that was ordered.
- Hunter's Lodge, Inc. P.O. Box 203, Ethridge, TN 38456 www.hunterslodge.com
Hunter's Lodge made the BBB's list after gun collectors complained that they ordered guns from this company after seeing their ads or website, but what they received was not what was advertised or promised.
- Promote U 1830 Donelson Pkwy, Dover, TN 37058
The BBB said it's gotten many complaints from businesses in Clarksville, Joelton and Madison about Promote U. Businesses say Promote U sold them marketing products, like signs or hats, but the products were not delivered on time nor were they as promised.
- Nashville Airport Inn and Suites 2425 Atruim Way, Nashville, TN 37210 www.nashvilleairportinnandsuites.com
The Nashville Airport Inn and Suites made the list because the BBB reports numerous guests complained that rooms were dirty, had mold and a bad smell and managers failed to address the problems.
- 24 Hours Locksmiths 5543 Edmondson Pike Ste 28, Nashville, TN 37211 www.24hours-locksmiths.com
And the BBB said 24 Hour Locksmiths has repeatedly taken advantage of consumers who have been locked of their homes or cars by charging for services not needed and using scare tactics. And while this company lists a Nashville address, it is not their office and calls made to this company go to either an out-of-state or out-of-country call center.
All of these businesses, according to the BBB, received a D minus or F when it comes to customer service.


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Could batteries add $100 to Tesla’s share price? Tesla Motors Inc. is set to announce a home battery and a “very large” utility-scale battery later this week, and Deutsche Bank says the market still isn’t pricing in the significance of the firm’s new venture.
The company, known for its luxury electric cars, is now using its lithium-ion battery technology to position itself as a front-runner in the emerging market for energy storage that supplements. It already has batteries installed at 11 Wal-Mart stores and 300 California homes equipped with solar panels as part of a pilot program with sister company SolarCity.
Analysts at Deutsche Bank say this new move has significant potential given its view that the stationary storage market is poised for strong growth. In a note called “Why Tesla’s Thursday Announcement Could Be Significant,” Rod Lache and his team say that despite being difficult to gauge before Thursday’s announcement, the energy storage business could add $100 to Tesla shares.
We have not factored any benefit from this market opportunity into our views on Tesla. Until now, the market has not been provided with sufficient information on the company’s planned product offerings, or their growth expectations, to make a judgment. Nonetheless, based on preliminary work on the economics of Stationary storage, we believe that this has potential to be more significant than the Street currently expects. Tesla has previously hinted at the bull case for this product line. Though we’re reluctant to opine on this business in the absence of information, we noted that Tesla’s management previously suggested that Stationary Storage applications could account for 1/3 of their Gigafactory’s output (business worth $4.5 bn/year if at $300/kWh). The bull case would be that this business could potentially add $5 to our 2020 EPS estimate of $20. At a 20x P/E, this would equate to $100 per share.
Deutsche Bank notes that Tesla’s relationship with SolarCity will also be a boost for shares.
Given Tesla’s relationship with SolarCity, we anticipate that Stationary Storage for the home will be a key focus at Thursday’s meeting. We’ve previously noted that SolarCity is targeting deployment at 1 MM customers by mid-2018 (vs. 190k today), which would imply 6,000 MW installed capacity by that company alone. If Tesla could equip just 50% of SolarCity customers with 6 kWh each of battery storage systems by 2018, this could translate into an $800MM revenue opportunity for Tesla (and we’d note that Tesla will likely be working with many PV companies including competitors to Solar City).


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If you’re not reaching, engaging, and monetizing customers on mobile, you’re likely losing them to someone else. Register now for the 8th annual MobileBeat
, July 13-14, where the best and brightest will be exploring the latest strategies and tactics in the mobile space.
Is the 10-inch Kindle Fire finally on its way?
Amazon has sent an email to media outlets inviting them to an event on September 6 in Santa Monica, Calif. Details on the event are slim so far, but we have a pretty good idea of what to expect.
For one, it’s very likely that Amazon will finally announce its front-lit Kindle eReader, which will compete directly with Barnes & Noble’s Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight.
The main event for the day, however, will likely be a 10-inch Kindle Fire, a device that was rumored even before the original Kindle Fire was released. This larger tablet would be in direct competition with the iPad, which has stood relatively uncontested in the 10-inch tablet space so far.
Amazon is also likely to announce a revamped 7-inch Kindle Fire, which would iron out the hardware kinks found in the first version of the device.
September is shaping up to be a busy time for hardware announcements, with both Nokia and Motorola expected to announce new devices within the first week of the month.
VB's research team is studying mobile user acquisition...
Chime in here, and we’ll share the results


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Facebook is considering lowering the minimum age required to sign up for an account. Currently, users must be 13 years of age or older, or at least claim to be, but the new changes might give access to pre-teens. What do Americans and parents think about this potential change? What do people think is an appropriate age to begin using social networking?
Social Media Use
In Ask Your Target Market’s latest survey, 79% of respondents said they use social media. Females, respondents under 35, and those who make more than $75,000 a year were slightly more likely to use social networks. 83% of parents also use social networking sites.
When asked what is an appropriate age for people to start using social networking sites like Facebook, 6% of survey takers said they think any age is fine. 5% said they think 10 years old should be the minimum Facebook age. 28% said 13 should be the minimum. 33% think users should have to be at least 16 to sign up. 18% think users should be at least 18 years old. And 6% think users should have to wait until they’re at least 21.
60% of US respondents believe that Facebook should be responsible for regulating the minimum age of its users. 24% of respondents said they think that each parent should be able to make the decision of how old their child should be when they start using social media.Only 9% of respondents said they support Facebook’s idea to lower the minimum age. 48% said it might be okay to lower the minimum age as long as Facebook also implements some parental controls. And 44% said they don’t support the change at all.You can view the complete survey results in the widget below and be sure to click “Open Full Report” to take advantage of all the chart and filter options.Photo Credit: Create Your Own Video Game from FlickrWhat do you want to know? If you need some consumer insights on a particular topic, let us know in the comments below and we’ll consider it for an upcoming survey post.
Results were collected on June 10 via AYTM’s online survey panel.


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Taxi companies have launched a legal battle against a 12,000% increase in their licence fee.
The Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) wants to overturn a licensing fee hike that would see some cab operators pay a whopping £700,000.
Transport for London (TfL) approved the price increases for five-year licences last month – but the move was met with anger.
Defending the hike, TfL told the Evening Standard it reflects licensing costs and enforcement and that the fees are proportionate.Twitter is suspending more than 1,000,000 users every day
The fees, which last rose in 2013, would mean operators running 101 to 500 cars, who currently pay £2,826, will see a 5,200% increase over five years – meaning they will have to fork out £150,000.
Companies with 501 to 1,000 cars will see an increase from £2,826 to £350,000 over the next five years.
And those operators who run 1,001 to 10,000 cars will be hit with a huge 12,000% increase, from £2,826 to £700,000.
And now the LPHCA has applied for a judicial review to prevent the increase. A fund has also been launched to finance the legal action.
The LPHCA says TfL has appointed too many enforcement officers.
Chairman Steve Wright told the paper: ‘We are in the middle of a war.’
The GMB Union said the hike – which would be passed on to customers – would put 30,000 drivers out of business.
TfL, the GMB Union and the LPHCA have been contacted for comment.


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South Africans will pay more for premium brands, Nielsen data
About 92 per cent of South Africans reveal they are willing to pay an above-average price for products that deliver higher quality, offer superior functioning (91%) or stand behind environmentally responsible (86%) or socially responsible (77%) principles; this despite economic limitations where only 50% of the population believe that they are financially better off than five years ago.
This was just one of the highlights of the recently released Nielsen Global Premiumisation Survey revealing how and why premium products are experiencing higher demand and strong sales growth in South Africa.
Nielsen Head Emerging Markets Thought Leadership Ailsa Wingfield comments; “As consumers move up the economic ladder, they’re attracted to aspirational brands that signal they’ve achieved a certain level of success. Nonetheless, for many, disposable incomes remain limited, and for these consumers, trusted brands provide an assurance of quality, minimising the risk of wasting money on a product that doesn’t fulfil expectations.”
For those local respondents in the study who indicated that they are significantly or somewhat better off financially, the products/services that are more accessible to them today, versus five years ago, are improved Technology (72%), Better Education (49%) and more Premium Products (35%).
It is also interesting to note that for South Africans, sentiment is not necessarily income-dependent. With only 45% of respondents reporting they’re able to spend freely or comfortably purchase items that they want, 54% cite premium products worth the money and 50% because these products make them feel good. Although, brand trust remains integral to a purchase, 59% believe that premium claims are a way for a brand to just charge more money.
The route for South African’s to engage and try new premium products stems from recommendations from friends and family and television advertising, both at 44%, along with their own research
(45%) and from online advertising (35%). But Wingfield counters; “When launching new products, brands need to align their media tactics with the product’s core value proposition and the target audience via the relevant media platform.
When asking respondents about the key aspects that makes a product premium to them, 64% said it is made with high quality ingredients or materials, 57% said it is from a well-known or trusted brand and 54% said it offers superior function or performance. Only 29% of local consumers cited a product as premium because it was expensive - a clear warning to companies who push up prices without providing a clear value proposition to support the change.
Just as remarkable, is that South African consumers aren’t just trading up on big-ticket purchases; they’re also going premium on everyday items. For fast-moving consumer goods, everyday consumables rise to the top of the list of categories for which respondents most often say they’re willing to trade up. While electronics and clothing/shoes top the list (cited by 44% and 42%, respectively), respondents are also willing to consider trading up for better meat or seafood (41%), coffee and tea (34%), and dairy (33%), with oral, body and hair care, deodorant and vitamins all coming in at 31%.
In a world where conscious consumption is going mainstream, many consumers are buying based on how products make them feel and products with an environmental benefit justify a higher price tag for as many as 86% of South African respondents; while 77% are willing to pay premium (more than average) for products that are socially responsible. Roughly eight in 10 South African respondents will willingly pay a premium for products made with organic or all natural ingredients (82%) while 88% are willing to pay more for a product that offers or does something no other product on the market does.
“Beyond basic-need products, premium products tap directly into a desire for products that provide specialised, enhanced or exclusive benefits. But delivering on consumers’ expectations of the experience remains critical, and the most successful premium products are those that perform an important job for which previously available solutions were unsatisfactory or non-existent,” says Wingfield.
Brands wanting to capitalise on the rising appetite for premium products in South Africa and increase their bottom lines by putting a premium on premium-focused innovation, will need to create a highly-differentiated offering that resolves a real consumer struggle, says Wingfield.
She adds; “What will remain vital will be to ensure premium products lives up to their promise, that the price is right based on consumers’ value perceptions and that its marketing continues to resonate emotionally.”


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The domain TeaBox.com SOLD for $30,000 in June 2013 and now is raising around $1 million in seed funding.
Since it was launched, TeaBox has shipped around 10,000 kg of teas, equivalent to around 5 million cups across 65 countries. This year, the shipment could treble to around 30,000 kg of teas or up to 14 million cups when served. In its top four markets of Russia, US, Canada and Australia, TeaBox’s average order value is around $110 for each package.
Continue reading »


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This week, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company announced some new details about Pokemon’s 20th anniversary celebrates.
This is the news that they will be released a new short-form animated series to go alongside the upcoming Pokemon games. Called Pokemon Generations.
This was revealed by the official Pokemon website, where they revealed that the new animated series will launch soon, with a number of short 3-5 minute episodes.
It will focus on some of the most memorable events since the game franchise was first launched, going all the way from the start to today.
You will be able to watch it on The Pokemon Company’s YouTube channel from September 16th up to December 23rd, with a new episode released for the Pokemon Generations series once every week.
You can find out more about the launch of the new Pokemon Generations YouTube series at the source link below. You can also check out the following teaser trailer for a quick look.


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The BBC is used to dealing with threats to its intellectual property. And as Diane Hamer, a trademark lawyer at the corporation, tells TB&I, those threats are on the increase.
“We're not the most aggressive brand owner in terms of protection,” says Diane Hamer, trademark attorney at the BBC. For a corporation that offers almost unparalleled online services, from its multitude of websites to its diverse range of television programmes, this may seem like a surprising stance.
“There is one example, however, which we most often cite as the pinnacle of what we find intolerable,” says Hamer. “It was something that we considered to be a grave breach of our rights.”
From 1997 to 2002, Teletubbies was a popular children’s TV programme in the UK that soon migrated to countries including the US and India. One day, BBC lawyers came across a website that incorporated the Teletubbies name but was used to display pornography. The corporation’s concerns were obvious. While the website was soon removed, it was just one of example of the many potential sources of cybersquatting and infringement that the BBC faces. Hamer says with the increasing availability of digital technology, there has been an “explosion in infringement”.
BBC, iplayer, gtlds. icann, news sites


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The previous few years have been difficult for any sizable events, including auto exhibitions. We might be about to experience a comeback, but for major events in Canada, that rebound may be unstable since Ford won’t be taking part in the action.
According to Automotive News Canada, such is the statement made by Ford Canada. According to a spokeswoman, corporate sponsorship of events in Canada by the Ford and Lincoln brands will expire in 2023. The language is clear for the coming year, but it’s unclear if this choice will apply through 2024 or beyond. Apart from the company discovering new ways to interact with customers as the transition to EVs was underway, no specific justification for the choice was provided.
Read More: Auto Expo Likely To Be Held In February 2023
Motor1.com has contacted Ford for additional information on auto show participation, including possible changes in plans for US-based shows. We will update this article with new information as it becomes available.
The COVID-19 outbreak forced the cancellation of almost all significant auto shows worldwide in 2020. After numerous cancellations in 2021, there was finally some kind of normalcy in 2022. The North American International Auto Show made its debut this year with a redesigned indoor/outdoor layout and a new time slot in September rather than January. The annual Frankfurt show in Germany relocated to Munich. The most recent new vehicle debuts took place at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, which had a pre-pandemic feel to it.
However, before COVID hit in 2020, automakers’ interest in auto exhibitions was dwindling. The 2019 Detroit Auto Show was abandoned by a number of firms, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. Additionally, long before the New York Auto Show in 2020 was postponed, Audi declared it would not be there. SEMA has seen a decline in automotive participation even though it is not typically a hotspot for the industry.
The effectiveness of auto shows, once a key method for introducing new vehicles to the public, has been called into question in the era of high-speed internet. Many automakers now host debuts on their own terms and stream the event live online. This still reaches millions of potential customers while cutting out the costs of attending shows.


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We're pleased to announce that G2A.com, The fastest growing digital gaming marketplace in the world. has joined ESL One Frankfurt 2015 as a sponsor! Thanks to G2A, attendees of the event and viewers at home will get the chance to win some amazing prizes as part of one of their many giveaways.
In addition to this, G2A will also be presenting the G2A Talk at the official ESL One Frankfurt 2015 afterparty. There G2A will talk to players and esports personalities from the Dota 2 scene and interview them about their thoughts on the event, Dota 2 and much more!
"G2A.com is excited to work with ESL. It's a perfect partnership where both share the same vision and intention for esports. The combination of empowering gamers and growing the business will help make a lasting impression on growing an industry we are passionate about," said Josh Cabrera, chief marketing officer representative at G2A.
G2A is an innovative digital distribution platform that offers swift and easy access to a wide range of products such as software activation licenses for Steam, Origin, Xbox Live cards, PSN codes and time cards for online games at unique prices. Thanks to the implementation of the latest technologies, G2A has the highest level of security and availability on the global market for digital sales platforms, with its mission being to provide the best digital game licenses and retail service to all its partners and customers.
For more information, visit www.g2a.com.


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AirPods Pro Are Complementary, Not Replacements to AirPods: Apple CEO Tim Cook
Apple CEO Tim Cook expects the existing AirPods users to be the first to buy the noise-cancelling AirPods Pro.
Image for Representation
Apple announced the launch of AirPods Pro a couple of days back which features a wind-proofed mic, active noise cancellation, audio-transparency mode, sweat resistance and more. According to a report, Apple CEO, while speaking at the company's earnings call, said that he sees AirPods Pro as complementary and not replacements to the original AirPods. The report quoted Tim Cook saying that after AirPods Apple is proud to add another product for people wanting "noise cancellation with the AirPod Pro."
Apple's wearables, home, and accessories category during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2019 witnessed a massive growth of 54 percent year-on-year, hitting revenue of $6.5 billion. These also include AirPods, Apple Watch as well as Beats audio products. The report quoted Tim Cook saying that he expects the existing AirPods users to be the first to buy AirPods Pro when they need noise cancellation.
"We’re anxious to see the customers for the new AirPod Pro. But I would guess that one, particularly in the early going, will be people that have AirPods today and want to also have a pair for the times they need noise cancellation." Speaking about the AirPods, the Apple CEO said the wearable continue to touch "new highs" and he anticipates that the trend will continue over the next quarter as well.
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The fact that crypto casinos are getting more popular is without debate. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, more people are turning to crypto gambling as a way to pass the time and escape the boredom of their daily lives.
However, the rapid expansion of crypto casinos isn’t just owing to the outbreak of the disease. Playing games like poker and baccarat is a popular pastime for people from all over the globe.
The range of games offered by online casinos is a major selling feature for customers. While e-wallets and credit cards were formerly the only payment methods accessible to clients, now we are witnessing a growing number of casinos using bitcoin as a primary payment method. Some cryptocurrency casinos have taken things a step further by allowing players to use cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin to play. We’ll examine some of the most prominent explanations for the rise in popularity of cryptocurrency gaming internationally.
The Adaptation of the Crypto Industry
Online casinos are beginning to accept cryptocurrency gambling as the new standard. New crypto casinos are springing up all the time, enabling players to place bets using a variety of cryptocurrencies. It’s no surprise that crypto casinos are getting more popular as a result of their relationship with high-end software companies like NetEnt, NextGen, and so on.
Punters all over the globe prefer to play at a crypto casino rather than a traditional online casino, and that trend is likely to continue when online and crypto casinos merge. Because of the gravity of the situation, a growing number of online casinos have begun to accept cryptocurrency deposits and wagers in order to stay competitive.
Faster and Efficient Transactions
A major breakthrough is casino sites offering bitcoin deposit and withdrawal options since they have a faster rate of processing time than the normal real money online casinos. This is possible because of the lightning-fast speed of Blockchain technology. It might take days or even weeks for traditional fiat currencies to execute withdrawals or deposits. This may be quite aggravating for bettors, particularly if they’re attempting to get a deal.
There is no waiting period while using cryptocurrency. You wouldn’t have to wait days to get your money, though, if you use bitcoins. There is no need to do anything more than acquire Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency from an exchange and send the cash to your online crypto casino.
Geolocation Restrictions Could be Gone
Digital money may be used to get around geolocation restrictions in online casinos. The reality is that in certain jurisdictions, real money casino games are illegal. Virtual currency users would be able to avoid the limitations of credit cards and bank accounts.
In nations with repressive regimes, individuals may now transfer money without having to depend on corrupt institutions or centralized governments that violate basic human rights as the use of Bitcoin grows worldwide. The regulations of the nation where you are playing must always be followed.
Many gamblers choose to play at a crypto casino since they may stay anonymous while doing so. Most online casinos have rules in place to learn more about their consumers. In spite of the fact that crypto casinos still exist in some capacity, your financial information will remain anonymous.
Hence, if you’re a gambler who doesn’t want anybody to know the source of your deposit or to keep track of your financial history, crypto is the way to go. When you deposit into a casino account from a crypto wallet, just the quantity of tokens you sent and nothing more is recorded in the record.
Special Bonuses Related to Crypto Deposits
Numerous new player incentives and freebies provided by Bitcoin casinos have enticed many new customers. Furthermore, the bonuses provided by these casinos are greater than those offered by the majority of other casinos. While having fun with your favorite casino games like roulette, blackjack, and interactive slots, you can make the most of your money here. Aside from that, people are constantly on the hunt for methods to get their hands on free Bitcoins due to the potential price increase. In addition to free spins, multi-deposit bonuses, matching bonuses, and more, these incentives come in a variety of forms.
After meeting the wagering requirements at the Bitcoin casino of choice, one may collect the bonuses at any chosen time. A 100% match-up bonus up to 0.03 BTC guarantees you 0.06 BTC, for example. If the price of Bitcoin increases overnight, you will see an increase in your profits. Because of this, it’s preferable to risk while the market is on the rise.
A New Era
Because everyone wants a piece of the crypto revolution, it has already taken root in the casino industry. As a result, virtual currencies are moving away from controversy and becoming the most sought-after digital currency. As a result, a growing number of businesses have begun promoting Bitcoin as an investment option, despite its controversial nature. In addition, some investors believe that cryptocurrencies are better than fiat currencies, such as the US dollar, in terms of price and use. As a result, many people have flocked to online casinos in order to win cryptocurrency. Finally, a growing number of casino owners are considering using cryptocurrency as their principal means of payment.


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July 14 marks Bastille Day, the day when the French, and the French at heart, wave Le Tricolore in celebration. The Bastille in Paris was a potent symbol of the ancien régime, and the storming of the infamous fortress and prison on July 14, 1789 fuelled the French Revolution. Calls for “liberté, égalité, fraternité” echoed around the world, and émigré French chefs, who had worked in the kitchens of the nobility, had to seek new opportunities abroad, taking their formidable skills with them.
Classic French gastronomy took root in countless countries with these chefs, and more than two centuries later it still has a far-reaching influence. It’s been the yardstick by which the skills of chefs and the status of restaurants are measured and assessed, from New York to Singapore.
But has classic French gastronomy become a sort of culinary ancien régime, in need of some of that Bastille Day revolutionary spirit? In this pandemic world, when people are reassessing what’s important and what’s not, does classic French cuisine still matter?
A Sense Of Arrogance?
“French food is most definitely still relevant,” says Michel Roux Jr., speaking just two days after Le Gavroche, in London’s swanky Mayfair, reopened after the coronavirus lockdown. “When we opened the phone lines to take reservations, the booking system was jammed. We’re full now–albeit at a reduced capacity, but we are full for the rest of the month. That is testimony that people enjoy eating French food based on classics.”
Yet Roux Jr., scion of the famed French culinary dynasty, isn’t deaf to the criticism that has been laid at French cuisine’s door in recent decades: that it’s too staid, too hidebound by tradition, too self-referential–a cuisine preserved in aspic.
“I suppose France did lose its way a bit in many respects,” he says. “I think that French gastronomy can be a bit too pompous, a bit too serious. The French are incredibly proud, and quite rightly so, about their cuisine–but they’re also incredibly arrogant. And I say that as a Frenchman.”
Tradition Or Innovation?
Yet Roux isn’t buying the idea that French cuisine is unwilling to move with the times. “For a while, I think [French] chefs were resting on their laurels: ‘Our cuisine is the best, and this is how it’s supposed to be done, and this is how it is…’ And I think that they’ve kind of broken from their shackles, and that is, I believe, down to a generation of French chefs who have travelled the world, seen other cuisines and have come back and enriched the French classics.”
Roux cites France’s bistronomy movement of the 1990s as a turning point, when French chefs made a conscious effort to serve good, honest, affordable food in casual surroundings, without all the starched napery and the grasping at Michelin stars. “Bistronomy was about going back to the joys of what a bistro should be, and what gastronomy should be,” says Roux.
Yet, well before then, he says, top French chefs were innovating. He cites chef Alain Chapel, under whom Roux Jr. trained decades ago, in Chapel’s restaurant outside Lyon (Chapel was an originator of Nouvelle Cuisine). “He was an incredible teacher and innovator who sadly passed away too young. Back in 1979 and 1980, he was using soy sauce and ginger–but nonetheless, his food was incredibly classic. He was bringing in little touches of modern flavours. Innovative but respectful of classics.”
Britain’s Changing Food Culture
Roux Jr. is proud of his French heritage but, as his accent attests, he’s lived most of his life in London–and has witnessed how Britain’s food culture has matured over the decades.
“It is incredible how it’s changed,” he says. “The democratisation of dining, of eating out: you can eat out at a reasonable price, and eat well–that I think is the biggest change. People are far more knowledgeable and far more in touch now than they have ever been of seasonality, of where the produce comes from–and incredibly inquisitive as well.”
Bring On La Fraternité
Londoners may now be notorious noshers–but are people ready to eat out again following the strictures brought about by coronavirus? Roux Jr. believes that the government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme will help to boost Londoners’ eating-out confidence.
“Whilst some people are pooh-poohing this ten-quid voucher or whatever shape or form it will be, I applaud it because I think it’s a great message that the hospitality industry is open, and restaurants and hotels are safe.”
And, he says, what people really need right now is comfort food. “What you don’t want now is food that challenges you–food that’s challenging to eat, and to understand. You want food that is a nice, warm blanket around you, that makes you feel good.”
So, this Bastille Day, bring on la fraternité and the feel-good food; but let’s leave la révolution aside for now.


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Don't worry, we speak : Español (Spanish), too!
Contxto – XP Investimentos is a familiar face within the financial industry of Brazil. And since its IPO debut on the Nasdaq in December of last year, it’s been very busy. Besides making multiple acquisitions, it’s recently dished out more details on an up and coming product.
Last Monday (20), XP Investimentos announced that in partnership with Visa, it’ll be launching a credit card with a unique cashback program.
At the moment, the card is still under beta testing with some XP Investimentos staff and key partners. However, it will be rolled out to reach more of its customers during the fourth quarter of this year and eventually its entire investor base by early 2021.
XP Investimentos’ credit card
What makes XP’s cashback proposal different from that of other financial institutions? Simply put, it’s built to make investors out of buyers.
Rather than paying back the entire amount, a part of the money goes into an exclusive fund. Meaning, spend more, get part of your cash back, and another share will be invested into an “exclusive” XP fund.
- Related article: XP Investimentos acquires majority stake in fintech Fliper
Moreover, the company will reportedly not charge its cardholders any annual fees. Nonetheless, it will charge its users a “minimal” amount for handling this investment fund.
There is always a catch.
Either way, it is a way for XP to try and make its own credit card stand out from the competition, while also reaping on Brazilians’ rising interest in investing.
Related articles: Tech and startups from Brazil!


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Will Consumers Pay the Price for Living-Wage Factories?
With the signing of President Barack Obama’s executive order to increase minimum wage for federal contract workers, the issue of minimum wage was put firmly on the table for discussion in 2014. The administration has also called for Congress to increase the federal minimum wage for all American workers, a move that would translate into a raise for 17 million people. Behind the president’s campaign to boost “opportunity for all” this year is the idea that minimum wage should be a living wage — pay that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living.
“Today, after four years of economic growth, corporate profits and stock prices have rarely been higher, and those at the top have never done better. But average wages have barely budged,” Obama said in his January State of the Union address. “Inequality has deepened. Upward mobility has stalled. The cold, hard fact is that even in the midst of recovery, too many Americans are working more than ever just to get by — let alone get ahead.”
For lawmakers and economists, the question is whether an increase in the federal minimum wage will cause employers to slim their workforces, thereby eliminating jobs and increasing unemployment. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, pushing the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would eliminate jobs for 500,000, or approximately 0.3 percent of the nation’s total workforce, while overall real income would rise by $2 billion for all workers. That combination of positives and negatives has created the fodder for a national debate — a debate centered around the intricate balance between labor costs, employment, prices for goods and services, and business performance. Living wage is by no means a debate unique to the U.S. But abroad, the questions plaguing leaders and economists are far more complex; for example, the garment industry of southeast Asia and the Caribbean must consider whether implementing a living wage would dampen demand of U.S. retailers for their products.
The horrendous conditions were many of the garments sold in the United States were thrown into the spotlight by several high-profile disasters in Bangladesh — a south Asian country that ranks as the world’s second largest garment exporter. In recent years, several deadly industrial accidents have occurred in and in the area surrounding Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh; since 2005, factories that produce clothing for brands like Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF), Target (NYSE:TGT), Gap (NYSE:GPS), and J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP) have suffered building collapses, fires, and a boiler explosion that have together killed more than 200 people and injured hundreds more. While unsafe working conditions have eclipsed the other aspects of the poor labor conditions in the garment industry, the added spotlight on these factories has also drawn attention to the low wages paid to those workers.
In other garment-exporting countries, low wages have become much bigger issues. In Cambodia, for example, labor unrest spread across the country in 2012. The 400,000 workers spread across approximately 300 factories in and near the capital of Phnom Penh called for fewer hours, better conditions and higher wages. As trade union leader Chey Mony told PBS Newshour through a translator, workers are paid a low wage, equivalent to 61 U.S. dollars per month, which is far too little on which to live.
Plus, there is no health insurance or retirement benefits. Even though a system of labor standards — complete with minimum wages, a limit on working hours, union representation, and freedom of expression — was implemented in the years following the fall of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, one garment worker interviewed by PBS likened his job as the equivalent of a legal slave. Naturally, the industry holds a different opinion; Cambodia Garment Manufacturing Association’s Ken Loo argued that while wages may seem low, garment workers who accrue overtime not only earn more than policemen, teachers or most civil servants but also earn 40 percent more than national per capita gross domestic product.
The debate between garment workers who feel they do not make a living wage, the powers that be in the garment industry, which see wages as comparatively high, manufactures that want to keep profits strong, and U.S. retailers that are under increasing pressure to source products ethically reveals further intricacies of the labor debate. But the big question that emerged from this discussion, and others like it, is whether American consumers will pay higher retail prices.
At first glance, it may seem unlikely that consumers would want to spend more on clothing; already retail sales data shows that Americans have generally been spending less on discretionary purchases, especially on apparel. While there is a growing concern among consumers about the conditions in garment factories, the average shopper when presented with two identical T-shirts — the one produced in a living-wage factor priced significantly higher than the other — would likely purchase the cheaper option. As special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro explained on a Wednesday segment for Newshour, “Experts say much will depend on consumers, whose behavior can be influenced by factors as varied as a team’s performance or even a news headline from Bangladesh.”
What has been proven is that certain businesses in niche markets can be moderately successful while paying a living wage. Joe Bozich’s Knights Apparel is the largest maker of licensed college sportswear. The firm’s Alta Garcia factory — located in the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean nation of 10 million where unemployment totals nearly 15 percent — has a union to represent workers and pays wages based on the cost of living for a family of five. That living wage totals $3 hour, or three times the legal minimum wage, and significantly higher than the minimum wage of between 19 cents per hour and 34 cents per hour paid garment workers in Bangladesh.
“There is no pressure here to produce all the time,” explained factory worker Manuel Guzman to Newshour through an interpreter. “People come here to train us. Lawyers have taught us our rights.” The finished product comes with a hangtag that includes a picture of a company employee and a line of text detailing how higher wages improve standards of living, explained Bozich on the program. “One of the hangtags says, ‘My son goes to school because of these clothes.’ Another one might say, ‘I can afford food, clean water, and medicine for my children when they’re sick because of your purchase of these clothes,’” he added.
Still, the Alta Gracia factory runs at just 60 percent capacity, and in its three years of operation, has yet to turn a profit. Knights Apparel is facing brutal competition from garment manufacturers across the globe; as Lazaro describes, surrounding the Alta Gracia factory are empty buildings, or “reminders of the daunting global competition” that has forced thousands of jobs to move to lower-cost countries. But even with the company facing that stark reality, Georgetown University’s John Kline believes that, “Joe [Bozich] is big enough with Knights Apparel” to give the living-wage factory model a “real test.”
More From Wall St. Cheat Sheet:
- Americans Increasingly View China as an Economic Threat
- Gap Raises Its Minimum Wage; All Eyes on Wal-Mart
- Economist: Labor Market Will Gain Momentum This Year
Follow Meghan on Twitter @MFoley_WSCS


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A school district in Liberty, Illinois took apple juice off its menu, amid concerns about the safety of the levels of arsenic in the juice.
The school made the move in response to an investigation which aired Monday on the popular Dr. Oz Show.
On the program, the Dr. Mehmet Oz alerted parents about the safety of arsenic levels in apple juice. He said that in one juice sample, arsenic surpassed the 'level of concern' for apple juice (23 parts per billion), that could increase risks of disease such as kidney failure.
"A lot of people asked this morning, because it is a favorite, and they were asking why there wasn't any apple juice," the school district’s Food Supervisor Chris Hogge told ABC's affilliate KHQA Wednesday.
"They found traces of arsenic in all apple juice concentrate, from China, Chile, Brazil and Argentina and a few other countries", Hogge explained. "I checked our labels and also found that these were made from Chile and China concentrate," he said according to KHQA.
The school pulled off the drink amid an ongoing debate between Oz, federal authorities and the juice industry. Generally speaking, scientists say that Dr. Oz measured the total amount of arsenic in apple juice from different brands but did not distinguish organic arsenic from the inorganic arsenic. The organic type is considered harmless while the inorganic type could be poisonous. Arsenic found on juices is mostly organic, according to U.S. authorities.
The Food and Drug Administration distinguishes organic from inorganic arsenic in its analysis of apple juice. It reported finding very low levels of inorganic arsenic -- 6 parts per billion at most in particular juice sample, according to ABC News
“There is currently no evidence to suggest a public health risk from fruit juices, including apple juice,” the FDA said.
In the same way, the juice industry criticized Dr. Oz and said his reports about arsenic in apple juice are misleading.
"Dr. Oz Show may needlessly cause concern among consumers because the program fails to explain that arsenic is in the soil, water and air and therefore it is found in very low, harmless levels in many naturally sourced foods and beverages", the Juice Products Association representing the industry, said in a press release.
The juice industry stated that the FDA measured arsenic of the same lots of juice from one of the named brands mentioned by Oz and found significantly lower levels of arsenic, all "well under any FDA level of concern."
Published by Medicaldaily.com


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In the wake of the GDPR regulations and Cambridge Analytica scandal, there's been an increased focus recently on the security of data. Valve have not missed this, and a recent update to Steam changes the way that users profiles are viewed. It's a great thing for anyone security conscious but not tech savvy enough to have locked down their profiles, but not necessarily for the creator of Steam Spy.
The analytic service, used by many smaller developers to plan their marketing as well as potential purchasers of games who wanted more info on the community, has had to shut down. In a post on Twitter, service creator Sergey Galyonkin explained what happened.
Valve just made a change to their privacy settings, making games owned by Steam users hidden by default.— Steam Spy (@Steam_Spy) April 11, 2018
Steam Spy relied on this information being visible by default and won't be able to operate anymore.https://t.co/0ejZgRQ6Kd
The service has been running since 2015 and was incredibly popular, but sadly with big data being the new oil (fill in your buzz word bingo cards everyone), this is a sadly necessary precaution on Valve's part.


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DETROIT (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co’s luxury Infiniti brand showed strong gains to rank No. 2 in a closely watched annual survey of vehicle quality released on Wednesday, while Toyota Motor Corp stood as the top mass-market brand.
The J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study showed Japanese and luxury automakers dominating the top five quality rankings by brand.
The Infiniti brand ranked 9th in the survey last year, while Honda Motor Co was ranked first among mass market brands.
The survey records the difficulties faced by new car owners in the first 90 days of ownership.
Ford Motor Co’s Mercury was the top U.S. brand, ranking No. 6, and the automaker’s flagship Ford brand came in at No. 8, just behind Honda.
The survey results are used heavily in auto industry marketing and are seen as influential in shaping consumer perceptions.
The quality rankings also influence resale values and are read by analysts as a proxy for warranty costs.
Kevin Martin, Nissan’s vice president of total customer satisfaction, told Reuters that Infiniti’s strong showing was partly due to quality improvements in Infiniti’s QX 56 large sports utility vehicle, which is made in North America.
Porsche topped the overall nameplate rankings for the third consecutive year, averaging 87 problems per 100 vehicles, while Audi posted the largest improvement in ranking, moving to 10th place in 2008 from 26th place in 2007.
J.D. Power based its study on responses to its 228-question survey from 81,500 respondents who bought 2008 model cars and trucks.
The industry as a whole improved by 6 percent this year, driven by strong new vehicle launches and reduction in levels of defects, David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power said.
All three of Chrysler LLC’s brands ranked below industry average, the J.D. Power survey showed. The automaker’s Jeep brand ranked last in the survey with 167 problems per 100 vehicles.
The results come at a time when Chrysler, which was bought by Cerberus last year, is seeing its U.S. sales falter despite a heavily promoted gas-discount incentive offered to consumers.
General Motors Corp had mixed results with its Chevrolet, Cadillac, Pontiac, Buick brands scoring above industry average while its Hummer, Saab, Saturn and GMC brands ranking below industry average.
BMW’s Mini brand debuted in the J.D. Power quality survey one rank from the bottom, above Jeep, with 163 problems per 100 vehicles.
Among vehicle segments, Honda took three honors for top quality for the Civic, CR-V and Fit -- more than any other automaker. Toyota’s market-dominating Prius hybrid was named among the most reliable compact cars and the factory in Japan that makes it was ranked as the best in the Asian region.
Reporting by Poornima Gupta, editing by Dave Zimmerman, Carol Bishopric, Gary Hill