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Seoul, South Korea — LG Electronics said Thursday that operating profit for its fiscal fourth quarter rose 28 percent from a year earlier to 275 billion won ($250 million), but price competition and exchange rate issues impacted the bottom line in the period.
For the full year, LG said operating profit more than doubled on the strength of its high-end TVs and record smartphone shipments. LG’s net profit of $474.81 million marked an increase of 125 percent from 2013, as revenue rose 1 percent to $55.91 billion from the prior year.
But the company said profit from the TV division dropped in the fourth quarter to 1.7 billion won, from 153 billion won a year ago.
Intensified price competition for TVs and the weakness of emerging market currencies in Russia and Brazil negatively impacted results in the period, LG said. Also, the closure of LG’s plasma unit contributed a net loss of $189.41 million during the quarter.
For the year, operating profits from LG’s home entertainment operations rose 31 percent to 509 billion won ($482 million).
Despite not shipping any new models in the three-month period, strong sales for LG’s latest smartphones put the mobile business in the black, with a 67.4 billion won ($614 million) profit on shipments of 15.6 million smartphones.
For the full year, LG shipped 59.1 million smartphones, an increase of 24 percent over 2013.
Going forward, LG said its mobile segment is expecting a challenging year ahead as competitor builds from manufacturers in China and other areas.
LG said it will focus on improving the power of its brand and driving better operating efficiencies, while narrowing its focus on key markets.
LG’s home appliance and air conditioning units posted incremental increases, after stronger sales in the Middle East and Europe balanced out weaker sales from North America.


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Vietnam Latest News - Inside Retail Asia
Hong Kong-listed Yue Yuen Industrial’s revenue rose 7.2 per cent for the first half year.
Japanese pancake-restaurant chain Chibo is expanding to new locations in Asia.
Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) is set to privatise after divestment from the State next year.
Puma is on a roll. Southeast Asia GM explains the secrets to the brand’s success in the region.
Swedish fast-fashion brand H&M Vietnam has opened its second store in Hanoi – its fourth in the country.
Vietnam retail sales and services revenue rose 11.1 per cent in the first seven months.
Global research organisation IGD has reported that Asia’s large format retailers are set to grow 3.3 per cent a year to 2022.
Vingroup has opened its 55th shopping centre, The Vincom Center Landmark 81 mall, in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Thanh district.
VinPro is set to acquire a majority stake in mobile retailer Vien Thong A.
Mothercare Vietnam is opening its second store, at Vincom Landmark 81.
Vietnamese coffee company Trung Nguyen International has opened the first of 1000 planned King Coffee cafes.
Vietnamese coffee chain Cong Ca Phe is opening its first Seoul outlet by the end of this month.

domain: news


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CSP Daily News
Promotion carries on tradition of Sundblom’s Santa Claus
05-31-2006 Category News Published in CSP Daily News
J & J Snack Foods Corp. has announced that The ICEE Co. has acquired the Slush Puppie branded business from Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc.
05-25-2006 Category News Published in CSP Daily News
Will add more beverages, including grab and go
Brewer launches caffeinated malt beverage
05-19-2006 Category News Published in CSP Daily News
Brewer also takes gander at Goose Island
Threatened indy c-stores ask government to raise beer prices
05-17-2006 Category News Published in CSP Daily News
Seek to determine role in underage drinking
05-11-2006 Category News Published in CSP Daily News
Hyper-caffeinated brew available at new retailers in Va., Wis., Maine, N.C.
05-09-2006 Category News Published in CSP Daily News
Monster, Lost, Rumba to be distributed through Anheuser-Busch wholesaler network
Rutter's takes best of county for milk, deli; second only to Starbucks for coffee
Convenience Top 101
View All Top 101
Product of the Day
New ready-to-eat lines offer healthy everyday food and snack solutions
GoPicnic’s low-calorie snacking options are all under 300 calories, while its meal selections are under 500...
Today's Top News
Singer croons the retail brand, sips on a Slurpee


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Financing a new or used car has become more expensive than ever, according to research from Edmunds, as reported by CNBC.
Rising interest rates and elevated auto prices have contributed to a record high share of new car buyers with a monthly payment of over $1,000. For the first time, 15% of consumers who financed a new car in Q4 2022 committed to a monthly payment of $1,000 or more, up from 10.5% one year ago. The average price paid for a new car in December reached a record of $46,382, according to estimates from J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. Interest rates on new car loans also reached 6.5%, up from 4.1% a year earlier.
As the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates in an effort to combat persisting inflation, auto loan rates may increase further, though consumers with high credit scores may be able to secure better loan terms. “Elevated pricing coupled with repeated interest rate increases continue to inflate monthly loan payments,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power.
Ivan Drury, Edmunds’ director of insights, warns that many Americans are choosing more expensive SUVs and pickups with all the bells and whistles, which can cost 30% more than the base price. He advises car shoppers to ask themselves if they’re “buying too much car” and to consider if there is a “perfectly good substitute at about half the cost.”
Drury also warns that shelling out more to finance a car today puts car buyers at greater risk of going underwater on those loans down the road as used car values decline. “At the onset of the pandemic, consumers benefited from low interest rates and elevated trade-in values, helping shield even the more questionable financing decisions from resulting in negative equity,” he said. “But as we shifted toward an environment with diminished used car values and rising interest rates over the past few months, consumers have become less insulated from those riskier loan decisions, and we are only seeing the tip of the negative equity iceberg.”


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For many small businesses, the holiday season is a marathon that usually ends in a sprint.
In the final quarter, sales skyrocket with customers buying gifts--for themselves, and others--leading to a jump in revenues, but with costs attached: Supply chain backlogs, an influx of customer service emails, and the risk of mail delivery snafus. Simply put, it takes a lot of strategizing for retail-focused business owners to navigate Q4 without burning out by the new year.
Here, three business owners share their perfect formula for holiday success.
Plan early. No, earlier than that.
For companies in the business of holiday gifting, there's no such thing as getting into the festive spirit too early. "Right now, we're planning holiday 2022," says Sana Javeri Kadri, CEO and founder of the spice company Diaspora Co. "We start as soon as we can." Javeri Kadri realized early on how important the season was to her company after her first product--single origin turmeric sourced from a family-run farm--was featured in a New York Magazine gift guide in 2017, the same year she launched her company. "At that point, I was still pouring turmeric into jars myself--then, I woke up to about 700 orders. I didn't even have enough jars on hand," she says. Today, the company earns about 40 percent of its annual revenue during the holiday season.
The bed linen and clothing company Hill House Home (which went viral in 2020 for its popular Nap Dress) takes a similar approach: The team plans product offerings about a year in advance, although operational planning (communicating with warehouses and shipping companies) doesn't start until summer, shares founder and CEO Nell Diamond. The California-sourced olive oil company Brightland starts brainstorming holiday ideas--artist collaborations, packaging, and marketing--in April and May, and begins executing them in June and July. "It feels odd to start talking about holiday in the summer when everyone's wearing flip-flops, but it's definitely the right strategy," says Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO.
Keep customers in the loop
Supply chain struggles may have become global headlines in 2021, but many businesses have experience snags long before. "Last year, we completely underestimated demand, and our supply chain just couldn't keep up," Iyer says. "Now, our approach is to be as proactive as possible. As soon as we see shipping delays start to happen, we reach out to our customers." Brightland added more buffer days to its holiday shipping cut-off date and stressed these deadlines on social media and its website. Javeri Kadri and Diamond similarly determine ship-by dates by working with their third-party logistics partners and shipping services.
Over communication is also key. Diaspora Co.'s business model is based entirely on creating a more equitable spice trade; shoppers learn exactly where their spices are sourced and when they're harvested. For this reason, pre-orders are a consistent feature for the brand year-round--and customer communication through the ordering process is paramount. "CX has always been a very close role to the team, and our top company value is that we care deeply," Javeri Kadri says. "We want to tell you where you order is and if it's delayed--but we also want to help you find the best pepper mill and tell you what recipes to make."
For this reason, Diaspora Co. stresses a human connection in all customer interactions, as well as an increased level of transparency: "If we explain to someone that Sayed [Ishtiyaque], our India operations manager, is literally on a motorbike with the customs inspector sitting behind him trying to get the shipment cleared in peak lockdown, people are a lot kinder about their spices arriving."
Some businesses have also diversified their communication modes. Over the course of the pandemic, Hill House Home has made a "significant investment" to its CX team. Now, the company not only offers customer support via email, but also Instagram DM--a channel that's more traditionally overseen by a non-CX employee. "We've also started implementing weekend hours," Diamond says. "Because I think the worst customer service is just not hearing back.
Making gift-shopping a cinch
Diamond's key for keeping customers happy amid a holiday crush: Let them plan. Year-round, Hill House Home releases previews of its collections before they launch on social media so that shoppers can decide on their purchases in advance. This is especially key for items that are liable to sell out, like the Nap Dress. These "behind-the-scenes" style posts are crucial for the company's success, Diamond says: "So much of our brand has been built on Instagram, and the relationship we have with customers on that platform."
Brightland's products are naturally gift-able, and Iyer has worked since the company's founding in 2018 to elevate the gifting experience. In 2020--inspired by editorial platforms--she launched an easy-to-buy gifting section with capsule collections at a variety of price points. "It helps to not overwhelm people," she says. "They don't have to scroll through the entire site to look for a gift." Hill House Home similarly offers a selection of gift kits, which have been a feature of the brand since its 2016 launch, and Diaspora Co. has an on-site gifting section, replete with various spice collections and other goods
While each of their brands launched as direct-to-consumer ventures, Iyer, Javeri Kadri, and Diamond are all newly leaning into physical retail: This year, both Hill House Home and Brightland launched holiday pop-up shops in New York City. Diaspora Co. products can be found at select retailers across the country, and Javeri Kadri sees potential in casting her net wider, especially given the challenges of e-commerce shipping. "Next year, I would like our most gift-able items to be in a really wonderful store in every city so that I can direct my friends there [to buy last-minute gifts] easily," she says.


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Patrick McKenna, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation and president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Thursday, Sept. 3, in the virtual launch of the first-ever National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP).
The virtual event may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfLAYZoaBzA#action=share
Intended to strengthen America’s economic competitiveness, the NFSP lays out a vision for long-term investments in infrastructure, the workforce and other essential parts of the freight system.
“The Department is unveiling the first-ever National Freight Strategic Plan so that the U.S. can maintain our competitive edge across major industries like agriculture, manufacturing, energy production and E-commerce,” said Chao.
Every day, America’s transportation network moves more than 51 million tons of freight and energy products valued at nearly $52 billion via highways, railways, ports and inland waterways, pipelines and airports. The growth in freight demand due to increasing use of e-commerce and global supply chains in recent years has strained our freight system and could threaten the competitive advantage of American businesses. As these supply chains continue to spread across the world, America’s ability to compete could be limited by inadequate infrastructure and a lack of preparation for incorporating innovative technologies.


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'Pink Star' Diamond Set To Fetch Record Price In Hong Kong
The 59.60-carat "Pink Star" is the largest in its class
Image: AFP relax News
A plum-sized pink diamond is expected to break the world record for a gemstone early next month when it goes under the hammer in Hong Kong, Sotheby's auction house said Wednesday.
The 59.60-carat "Pink Star" is the largest in its class ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). But Sotheby's was been forced to buy back the flawless diamond after a previous buyer defaulted on what was then a record sale in 2013.
That sale in Geneva saw a New York-based diamond cutter secure the stone for $83 million.
Sotheby's is confident the "Pink Star" will again sell for a record price on April 4, somewhere above $60 million.
"I think when it's sold, it will be the new world record price anywhere in the world for a jewel at auction, and I think that's quite remarkable," its deputy chairman for Asia Quek Chin Yeow told AFP Wednesday.
The sparkling oval-cut rock measures 2.69 by 2.06 centimetres (1.06 by 0.81 inches) and weighs 11.92 grams (0.026 pounds).
Quek said Hong Kong is the right place for the sale, with Asian buyers breaking records in other categories for diamond sales in the past few years.
A 12.03-carat "Blue Moon of Josephine" was bought for the then-record price of $48 million in Geneva by Hong Kong property tycoon Joseph Lau in 2015, a day after he had spent $28.5 million on a rare 16.08-carat pink diamond.
Quek said there was still much interest in the "Pink Star" since the abortive sale in 2013.
"Four years is a good time period since the last time it sold in Geneva as there are a lot of new billionaires on the market,"
The Pink Star was discovered in a mine in Africa by De Beers in 1999.
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Operational Changes Made to Accommodate Affected Customers
WEST, TX - Due to an explosion late yesterday at a nearby fertilizer plant, which caused severe damage to many homes and business across the city, postal operations at the West Post Office, located at 301 W Columbus St, will be adjusted as needed to ensure the safety of its customers and employees.
Retail operations and mail delivery for West, TX PO Box customers, with ZIP Code 76691, were delayed this morning pending an inspection of the building to ensure there are no hazards and it was safe to enter. Like many businesses in the city, the Post Office sustained some damage from the concussion of the explosion.
Due to potentially hazardous air quality issues associated with yesterday's explosion and fire, carrier mail delivery operations for residential and business customers in ZIP Code area 76691 will be delayed until tomorrow, when the Postal Service expects to make full deliveries of all mail to homes and businesses not destroyed by yesterday’s explosion. All residential and business customers may pick up their mail at the West Post Office counter today until 4:30 p.m.
Residential and business customers whose homes and buildings were destroyed, or whose mail boxes were destroyed or severely damaged, may continue to pick up their mail from the West Post Office during regular business hours – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturdays. A valid, government issued photo identification will be required for persons picking up their mail at the Post Office counter.
Customers moving to temporary or permanent locations should contact the Post Office to submit a temporary or permanent change-of-address. Customers may also complete a change-of-address online, at www.usps.com
We regret any inconvenience to our customers. Customers can call the Postal Service's toll-free number 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777) or the TTY number 877-TTY-2HLP (877-889-2457) for help with any postal questions they may have.


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Bargain prices in the Caribbean didn’t drag down earnings for Royal Caribbean Cruises in the second quarter.
The Miami-based cruise operator said Thursday that higher prices than expected for late-booked sailings in Europe and China drove positive results for the three-month period that ended June 30.
Spending on popular onboard items such as drink packages and internet service also boosted results, increasing 3 percent. Net revenue yields, which measure revenue per berth per day, increased 2.6 percent.
Revenue increased to $1.98 billion from $1.88 billion the previous year, though that number just missed Wall Street expectations. Costs excluding fuel were down 4.7 percent, and net income jumped to $137.7 million from $24.7 million a year earlier.
Adjusted earnings of $.66 per share soundly beat the company’s own expectations as well as analyst predictions. The company raised its forecast for the full year from $3.25-$3.45 per share to $3.40-$3.50.
Shares of Royal Caribbean closed at $60.56 Thursday, up 7.7 percent from the previous day’s close.
Royal Caribbean Cruises owns several brands in the United States and Europe, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, Pullmantur and CDF Croisieres de France.
UBS Investment Research leisure analyst Robin Farley pointed out in a note to investors that double-digit yield increases for Europe and China itineraries are “perhaps a good sign” for Royal Caribbean International as it starts sailing year-round from China next year with its newest ship, Quantum of the Seas.
Adam Goldstein, the parent company’s president and chief operating officer, said the news out of China has been good so far, but more investment is required to build consumer awareness and loyalty.
“We’re certainly pleased with how it’s gone so far,” he said. “We’ve scored a couple of runs in the first inning, but there’s a lot more innings to play.”
With an eye to the next few years, Royal Caribbean Cruises Chairman and CEO Richard Fain announced a new goal for the company: increase return on invested capital to double digits and double 2014 earnings per share by 2017.
“Obviously, these are aggressive goals, especially since our starting point will be record earnings this year,” Fain said of the “Double-Double Program.”
To meet the objectives, Royal Caribbean will focus on optimizing revenues, controlling costs and growing at a moderate pace, Fain said.
In a note to investors, Morningstar equity analyst Jaime Katz called the plan “ambitious, but feasible, if the company continues to control costs stringently and improve pricing through strategic deployment of its assets.”
She cautioned that stars must align in order for Royal Caribbean to get the results it seeks — earnings as high as $6.80-$7 per share by 2017.
“Most importantly, the industry has to face no further media scrutiny or major downward trend in global consumer confidence,” Katz wrote.


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Litehouse, Inc. was awarded top honors for two of its Simply Artisan Reserve products at the 2017 American Cheese Society (ACS) competition. The Litehouse team won first place for its Simply Artisan Reserve True Gorgonzola and second place for its Simply Artisan Reserve Gorgonzola, both in the Rindless Blue Cheese category. Litehouse has held the top spot in the ACS Competition category for three years running.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) today announced that Litehouse Inc. will expand its manufacturing operations in Hurricane, adding up to 165 jobs to the community and $40 million in capital investment.
“Litehouse will add quality jobs to the Hurricane community and the state’s manufacturing economy,” said Val Hale, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “Their expansion will benefit our business environment.”


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Where would the West Side be without its mom-n-pop shops?
Small Business (especially Black, women owned, and mom-and-pop shops in all areas), artists, and gig workers have been neglected as money ran out in the federal Coronavirus stimulus plan while big business and banks made off with unaccounted-for trillions of dollars. With the PPP program—already raided and depleted by big business and categorizing “small businesses” at over $1 million a year, “micro businesses” of under $1 million were totally left out of the setup. Thousands of sole proprietorships, including those who are loved and relied on by their communities, are on the road to close and die, and with them, people’s livelihoods.
We cannot stay on lockdown forever. The 31st of May is forever to many of us. Subjecting people to continued stress and poverty leads to poor health just as surely as one virus. We must implement sensible ways to maintain physical distancing while businesses, including beauty and barber shops and restaurants, begin to reopen. Consider compensating them for the lack of full capacity as people must spread out. Independent businesses should be prioritized, as chain stores are part of larger entities already benefitting from government bailouts.
The city of Chicago’s Connect2Capital applications are now closed.
How many people will be able to get help, and when? For artists, including our blues musicians, will the city-state 3A Arts relief program be adequately funded when applications reopen on May 4?
If it’s too complicated to administer small biz help without involving bank red tape, local and state officials must demand that federal officials continue the individual stimulus checks at, say $1000 a month to individuals for the next six months to a year. This can help many super-small businesses survive.
We ask the Governor, Cook County Commission President, Mayor of Chicago and other Mayors to hold an on-line forum specifically to accept suggestions from actual small businesses on how to conduct a safer reopening. Public officials would use this info to define needs, then lobby for federal emergency funds to fill them. (Citizens can help with this if informed where to direct our asks.)
New York lifestyle physician Dr. David Katz argues for re-opening society while sheltering vulnerable people, and aiming for public immunity in this interview with Bill Maher.
Could barber, beauty, nail shops and other small stores mark 6 foot distances with tape, and have people wait their turn outside the door? Banks and post officers are doing this now, along with plastic barriers for the clerks
Could cheap masks be made available in convenience stores for customers to wear indoors in tight spaces? This could also encourage people to wear masks when riding on CTA.
Could tables in restaurants be laid out 6 feet apart? Could outside dining be spaced and enlarged?
Could parks and kid-oriented restaurants employ extra people to spray and sanitize play equipment, as well as asking people to bring sanitizer and wash their hands in the restrooms often?
Could small festivals be held later in summer, with x-marks and circles on the ground showing where to spread out?
Note to public officials: Small businesses know how to innovate. They will help come up with many answers!


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3D facial recognition and identity provider Animetrics has partnered with Raptor Identification Systems Inc., an Android 4.0-based mobile device maker, for smart phones and tablets that incorporate biometric technologies. The new product is geared to law enforcement officials, military personnel and intelligence officers.
The new devices will incorporate Animetrics’ facial identity management software that has been integrated onto the devices through Raptor ID’s open platform. The system includes the 3D facial recognition technology, the FaceR Lights Out Face and Investigative Face biometric tools, all of which will run as localized apps on the Raptor ID mobile devices. The FaceR MobileID app has the ability to run locally on the device without communications to the FIMS Cloud for local watchlist processing.


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In a week or two, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) founder and CEO Elon Musk will say whether his company has been able to make 5,000 of its new inexpensive Model 3 vehicles a week. It will tell whether the company can produce cars fast enough to catch up to demand, which may be as high as 400,000, and push toward the profit it has not been able to reach after years of operation. But what is the real threshold for investors? What if the number is slightly above or below the 5,000?
The 5,000 number is a magic one, at least as far as the media has reported and many analysts have said. As recently as two months ago, Tesla’s Model 3 production was not even close. Tesla has opened more factory capacity, and Musk currently sleeps on the floor next to one production line, presumably to spur on his workers. Or perhaps he is actually helping assemble cars.
If the weekly production number is, say, 5,100, Tesla’s stock should shoot up. Musk will have proven that his complex factory infrastructure has been turned into a mass production facility. Problems with parts suppliers, rumored factory fires and stories of angry workers will fade. Tesla claims that 400,000 people have made deposits on the Model 3. Tesla can start to eat through that demand. At a price of $35,000 each, strong production will sharply lift Tesla’s revenue. Analyses that Tesla will need to raise money and dilute shareholders also will fade.
However, there is some weekly production number below which investors will panic, and pessimistic investors and analysts will gloat. The short interest in Tesla shares is among the highest of stocks traded on the Nasdaq. At just over 37 million, the shares sold short are 30% of the float, which means the bets that Tesla’s share price will fall are substantial.
Musk will need to make an unusually convincing argument that any number below 5,000 a week is acceptable. Many investors and much of the media already believe he is sort of a shady used car salesman and this will make it hard. A figure of 4,999 may be too low.


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There are those organisations that follow the status quo and get their work done, and there are those that are so innovative that they get the public’s attention.
Whether it is through a genius new product or idea, unique strategies, or other aspects of the company culture, these companies make a name for themselves for their out-of-the-box practices.
In this article, we will provide examples of three completely innovative companies to follow:
Tesla Motors – This maker of electric vehicles has made Forbes’ list of the world’s innovative companies in 2015.
Located in Palo Alto, California, Tesla employs over 10,000 staff, not to mention robots, and is founded by Jeffrey B. Straubel, Elon R. Musk and Marc Tarpenning.
One of the world’s most popular electric cars, Tesla’s Model S, has grasped the world’s attention. The car powers from a solar-powered charging station, and can then drive for up to a week on that one charge.
As opposed to the weak performance of some of the other manufacturer’s electric models, this one can go from 0-60 in less than three seconds, and has one of the best safety ratings of any car in its class.
What really made Tesla innovative is that it looks modern and very appealing to the eye. Tesla also offers great customer service, even offering the car to be delivered to the owner’s house, as well as wireless software updates. No wonder this organisation has become a billion-pound enterprise.
Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) – Bloomberg Business lists P&G as one of the most innovative companies to watch. The company has completely turned its research and development upside down, creating a new strategy called “connect and develop.”
Previously, the company had used inside sources to think of, create and distribute their new products, which range from family health items to cleaning supplies, etc.
However, recognising that the world has much more to offer, they reconceptualised their strategy to be much more innovative, partnering with inventors, scientists and supplies around the world. In fact, the firm has dedicated new managers to scout the globe for the best ideas for the brand.
Alibaba – This e-commerce website run from China made headlines last year when it raised over $25 billion in an IPO.
The site allows visitors to purchase all kinds of inventory, similar to eBay and Amazon.
However, it’s CEO, Jack Ma, has shown an innovative vision to propel the brand to a much higher level than a simple e-commerce site.
He has started to expand to different industries, such as finance and entertainment. Alibaba’s biggest success so far, according to Fast Company, is Yu’e Bao, a financial site that offers users “ higher returns than state-run banks that pay paltry interest rates, and, starved for investment options, the masses responded in droves by putting in $82 billion in the first year.”
These innovative companies have garnered the world’s attention due to their vision and implementation.
It is worthwhile to stay abreast of these developments to encourage you to think outside the box, and come up with unique concepts for your company.
Head of Training and Development
Updated on: 3 September, 2015
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Discussion in 'OS X Yosemite (10.10)' started by sk1wbw, Sep 11, 2014.
Did they mention this the other day? I heard the release date of iOS 8 but not Yosemite.
sometime next month during the october apple event they will announce the release date.
Yep - maybe like last year: iOS 7 has been released September 18, 2013 and 10.9 Mavericks has been released October 22, 2013 ....
Which would lend credibility to the theory that the next "Public Beta" will most likely be the GM.
when is the october event maybe they'll release Yosemite after the event like last year with mavericks
Mavericks GM was released on 10/3 last year, if that means anything to others here.
Wouldn't 10-10 be best for OS X 10.10?
It does mean something to me, but that was not the release date.
Please see http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=19580160#post19580160 and the subsequent post.
Hoping for a release in the first half of October.
Nothing was said about Yo and Apple only announced date is fall.
Now we have iOS8 iCloud drive and cannot use all features, due to the fact: no yosemite. It would be nice, if apple released iOS8 and yosemite the same time.
October 21st. This was announced sometime yesterday, but I can't go about wading in the ocean of threads right now.
OS X: October 21st
iOS 8: September 17th
OS X: October 22nd
iOS 7: September 18th
OS X: July 25th
iOS 6: September 19th
OS X: July 20th
iOS 5: October 12th
Notice how 2012 and 2014 had releases on odd-numbered dates, while 2013 and 2011 were even-numbered. Just found that interesting.
I think I got Yosemite today... LOL I am not a developer and i installed an update to mavericks, and somehow got Yosemite. And I already got another update "OS X 10.10 Update 1"
See my thread I just posted: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1782001
It's really strange. Has this happened to anyone else?
… not by Apple, as far as I can tell.
In the absence of a press release, there are articles such as this, with reference to 22nd October:
Apple's next product splash slated for second half of October – referred from Apple Said to Plan October 21 Media Event to Launch New iPads, OS X Yosemite [Update: No]
Does someone know when Apple will release the Sources from Darwin 14.0.0 / XNU 2782.x.x (used for iOS8/OSX10.10) ?
Wikipedia has mentioned September 18, 2014 - but nothing to see yet on Apples download site ....
That date was "noped" by Jim Dalrymple, it isn't happening. Which is interesting because the dates so far have been just like last year, the 21st was the logical choice. Makes me think something's not ready yet. Maybe Yosemite will just release at the end of October, and there will be a Mac/iPad event later in November.


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08 March 2017
The exclusive and innovative food-and-wine dinners launched last year by Platter’s, featuring bottlings from producers who have excelled in the guide alongside exciting cuisine, resumes on 6 April 2017 with a gala evening in the company of the guide’s prestigious 2017 Winery of the Year, Nederburg Wines. ... More
19 May 2016
For the first time, Platter’s Guide in collaboration with Cape Town’s five star The Table Bay Hotel is hosting a series of exclusive and innovative food-and-wine events, A Toast to Diversity, featuring bottlings from producers that have excelled in the guide alongside exciting cuisine. ... More
09 November 2013
In a banner year for the South African wine industry, Platter's South African Wine Guide has chosen a remarkable 80 wines to be awarded the highest honour of five stars in this 34th edition of the guide – up from 62 in the last edition. ... More
10 October 2013
Platter’s Guide is delighted to announce the appointment of Jean-Pierre (JP) Rossouw as publisher, effective 1 November 2013. He takes over from Andrew McDowall who is retiring at the end of December 2013. ... More
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President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) Plc is significantly scaling up its investment in the sugar sub-sector in line with the requirement of the Nigeria Sugar Master plan (NSMP).
Business magnate and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has identified priority investments in infrastructure and core industries among other recommendations, as vital panaceas to boost Nigeria’s economy to its desired level among contemporary nations and in the world overall.
The Zambian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Chipoka Mulenga, has sought the assistance of the President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote in the development of his country’s agricultural sector.
President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, being decorated by Chairman/Chief Executive, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), as the Grand Ambassador of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) of the Agency, on Thursday, June 2, 2022 during a courtesy visit to Dangote Head Office in Lagos
The Pan-African and fully integrated conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has again emerged as the most Admired Brand in Africa for the year 2022, for its leadership position in driving quality brands across the continent.
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has challenged state governments to consider as topmost priority, the provision of enabling environment for investments as a potent means of attracting private sector operators to their state for investments
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja lauded the entrepreneurial spirit and doggedness of the President of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote and urged Nigerians in business to emulate this iconic figure, to enable the country witness real economic growth and development.
President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina with the President/ CE of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, posing with some excited young engineers and artisans working on Dangote Oil Refinery Projects, over the weekend
Given its massive investments in the Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, the Pan-African conglomerate, the Dangote Group has been described as a pillar of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
L-R: Azad Nawabuddin, Plant Director, Dangote Cement Plc., Ibese Plant; Kolawole Michael Amoo, Comptroller of Immigration, Ogun State Command and Abu Sufyan, General Manager, Human Asset Management & Administration, Dangote Cement Plc., Ibese Plant, during a Courtesy visit of the Comptroller to Ibese Plant.


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September 25 — our professional holiday — Machine Builder Day!
Production Association “BelautoMAZ” and JSC “MAZ” meets it with amazing success. MAZ is rightly called the flagship of the domestic engineering industry.
Hardworking, highly skilled and responsible leaders, engineers and workers, working people today at MAZ, — the creators of present and guarantee of future success. Smart economic strategy and tactic, production new models of vehicles, introduce them into production, increasing the quantity and quality of produced and sold products — the result of our common work. Despite the fact that this year we pay to the State previously taken huge credits, despite any economic difficulties – wage is increased. Work at the Minsk automobile Plant has become a very prestigious!
On the eve of Machine Builder Day I would like to express my deep gratitude to all plant workers for their selfless work and dedication, wish them good health, family happiness, prosperity and new successes in their work!
General Director of “BelautoMAZ” — JSC “MAZ” A.V. Borovsky.


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Business around Barclays Center are reaping record profits from a bonanza of customers flooding to the popular new arena.
The list includes sud spots like Cyprus Avenue and Alchemy, which are swimming with an influx of customers due to spillover from the 18,000-seat arena at Flatbush and Atlantic Aves.
"The Barclays Center is fantastic," said Adam Smith, 28, one of the owners of Cyprus Avenue, which is located on the corner 5th Ave. and Bergen St.
"It brings in wonderful, fun crowds that are looking to eat and drink before or after going to a show or a Nets game."
Earlier this month, the Depeche Mode and Fall Out Boy concerts brought more than just their dated rock acts to Prospect Heights.
"We were packed for those," said Dave Smith, 28, the manager of Mullanes Bar and Grill on 71 Lafayette Ave.
A large number of the two million visitors at the arena over the last year went straight to the event and left right afterwards, according to residents and shop owners.
But some, especially tourists, stuck around to explore the downtown neighborhood.
"We've definitely felt some positive effects," said Will Crabb, the manager of Alchemy bar and restaurant on 5th Ave., which is a few blocks from the arena.
The sales spike is not limited to food and drink spots.
"Business has been tremendous," said Nick Chang, the general manager of the Modell's Sporting Goods store on Flatbush Ave.
Last year, the sports store hired several new employees to deal with the demand, and is still looking to bring on more workers.
The hottest-selling item is a T-shirt with "Brooklyn" emblazoned on the front with sneakers hanging from the letters.
"There are tourists, and Brooklyn transplants that moved away, who buy it," Chang said.
By all accounts, concerts tend to attract more people who stick around after the curtain falls.
The series of Paul McCartney shows in June was especially lucrative for one restaurant.
"We were busy every night," said the bartender at The Vanderbelt. "We've done pretty well with the Barclays Center."
That's all part of the so-called "Barclays Effect" hitting the neighborhood.
The family-run Livingston Diner was just one of the places to benefit.
That's largely because of the influx of people moving into the area and due to a sudden spike in tourists looking for a local, authentic place to eat, according to the restaurant's owner, Omar Vazquez, 25.
"When they have a big event we have a lot of tourists who come in and ask for directions, but some dine in," he said.
Still, the increase in business was not as much as he and his father Julio initially expected.
"We stayed open until 1 a.m. for two weeks after the arena opened," Vazquez recalled. "But we didn't get that rush of customers. I think a lot of people just come in for the show and go home."
The restaurant now closes at 10 p.m.
And they are not the only ones who wish it wasn't so easy for visitors to get back home with the multiple transit lines nearby.
"Some restaurants and bars have had a boost in pre- and post-event business," said Andrew Rigie, executive director of NYC Hospitality Alliance, a restaurant umbrella group. "But others feel the increased foot traffic hasn't led to the increase in revenue they had hoped for. In any case, the excitement … created by the (arena) presents opportunities for businesses trying to capture a piece of the action."
Some of the business boom is not directly tied to the arena.
"My business has been great. But we are not seeing a big difference from the Barclays Center," said Murat Uyaroglu, who owns the chi-chi Hungry Ghost bakery.
Still staff setting up for the MTV Music Awards stopped in his shop every morning, buying loads of cheese croissants.
"We saw about a 20 percent increase," Uyaroglu said.
While most sports fans walk right past his shop on their way to the subway, some concert-goers stop in. "They are more likely to explore the neighborhood," he said.
At the Livingston diner, Vasquez and his father, Julio, negotiated a 10-year lease last year before the neighborhood was abuzz with the anticipated new foot traffic.
They were among the lucky ones.
Landlords near the arena are eager to bring in franchise restaurants and stores who can pay more.
"Over the next few years, I believe you will see a wholesale change in the immediate area," said Chris Havens, the director of aptsandlofts.com, a real estate brokerage site.
The rent for spots right near the arena is double the price store owners are being asked to pay for locations slightly further away, Havens said.
"Rents have gone through the roof," said City Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Prospect Heights), who has been a big critic of the arena. "It's displacing mom-and-pop shops, which are the backbone of our economy."
But Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, one of the biggest supporters of the arena, hailed the first year as a major success.
"I see nothing but positive," he said. "[Critics) will always nitpick. They just can't come to grips that it's becoming a Brooklyn icon. More people are spending more time in Brooklyn and the arena is a part of it."
He acknowledged that rising rents are becoming a problem throughout Brooklyn, leading to an influx of banks and franchise stores. "It's not the fault of the arena," he said. "As property values go up, landlords that own commercial are going to charge more."
And many family run stores are already in long-term leases.
The owner of Mullanes bar has 12 ½ years left on his lease, saving the popular pub from rent increases around 20 percent in the area, said the bar's manager, Dave Smith. "Everything," he said, "is picking up around here."


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Following the massive success of the PS2, which to this day remains the best-selling console of all time, Sony seemed to be cocky as it went into the release of its seventh-generation system. Called the PS4 update 4.50, it introduced several enhancements and greater functionality such as the introduction of USB storage device compatibility.
So what do you think... are these better games than the last few months of PS Plus titles or is Sony still swinging its subscribers into a bramble bush using a dirty horse dong?
The PS3's idiosyncratic Cell microprocessor-powered architecture also hampered adoption: performance of multi-platform games was frequently worse on PS3 than on the Xbox 360, which had launched a year earlier. The Playstation 3 console was first launched in 2006 in North America and Japan.
Most of the titles Sony brings on PlayStation Vita include indie games and the upcoming free games are likely to be the games from independent developers.
Not a bad slate of free games.
The May games are already available for the PlayStation Plus. All of these are multi-platform releases that are also coming out on the PS4. For nearly a year, it sold at a loss amid criticism that Sony had priced it very high.
After a lengthy eleven year journey, Sony is bidding adieu to the PlayStation 3. As the PS3 is not selling how it used to, and is now negatively affecting Sony's bottom line, this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that shipments have come to an end in Japan.
Sony would eventually right the PlayStation 3 ship somewhat by making changes to the console's price and basic design. The said console is nowhere near its predecessor, PlayStation 2, which sold around 155 million and the newest PlayStation 4 is nearing 80 million as well.


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The collaboration will deliver an enhanced customer experience for StormPay’s customers and more control over their data.
Today, we are delighted to announce our partnership with StormPay, a London-based fintech company that provides embedded financial services for both business and personal customers. The collaboration will deliver a truly embedded and digital experience to StormPay’s customers.
Open banking leverages the power of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), computer programming rules that give service providers like banks and fintechs the ability to connect to third-party service providers more easily and vice-versa. With these seamless and secure communication lines in place, consumers can share their personal and financial data more easily and securely with companies whose services they utilize.
In offering embedded financial solutions to its customers, StormPay turned to Ozone, given its reputation as a leader and pioneer in open banking standards. For fintech firms trying to implement open banking standards on their own, the process can be time-consuming, complicated, and expensive. Leveraging its deep industry expertise, Ozone streamlines the API implementation process, giving its partners standards-based APIs for open banking that help them open up streams of revenue and better serve their customers.
Otabek Nuritdinov, CEO of StormPay, said “We are excited to partner with Ozone to implement open banking services that give our customers more seamless payment experiences. StormPay’s open-banking solution is a win-win both for us and our customers, by making the transaction processes more open and transparent and increasing the data security level we significantly improve the customer experience. We look forward to a long and productive partnership with Ozone as we aim to storm the fintech sector and lead the way in delivering innovative financial solutions.”
Huw Davies, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Ozone continued “We’re thrilled to be partnering with StormPay. It’s exciting to be working with such an innovator and we look forward to helping them and their customers bring to life exciting propositions based on a solid foundation of really high performing standards compliant open APIs.”
Founded in 2017, Ozone is a leader in open API software, with a mission to accelerate the global adoption of open banking and provide key industry players with the technology to build a thriving ecosystem.
Ozone’s founding team has been involved in the setup and implementation of UK open banking from the outset, having developed the standards for the UK Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE) and supplied their official sandbox, as the model example of how to build to this standard.
Today Ozone’s software helps banks and financial institutions of all sizes across the world deliver high-quality, standards-based open APIs that handle the complexity of open banking and open finance.
To learn more about StormPay, visit https://stormpay.io/.


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Smart shopping gives top credit card deals
Credit Card providers are out to tempt new customers this month and consumers should take advantage of them, according to a money expert.
"With credit cards, if you have a good credit rating ... you're much better off not being loyal to anyone, because of all the introductory offers around," says banking specialist David Black.
Offers typically include 0 per cent on purchases or special rates for balance transfers he says, while some providers also offer cashback on purchases for a set period of time.
Consumers could make the most of their credit cards and other financial products if they take up these offers, according to David Black.
He cites the American Express platinum cashback credit card as an example – it offers five per cent cash back up to £100 during the first three months.


text: It’s been introduced by a state senator and is a long way from becoming law. The idea is that parents could request any text or image be removed from Facebook and the company must then comply within 48 hours. It would be a $10,000 fine each time they didn’t. The bill would also require all accounts of minors to be set at maximum privacy settings by default. As Tech Crunch points out, this could get a little dicey when you have something like a divorce case. And parents are abusive sometimes too. Facebook will also argue that this is unduly burdensome on them as a business.


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Oregon’s recreational cannabis industry had its first recall this week when a batch of bud being sold at Mapleton, OR retailer Buds 4 U tested positive for high levels of pesticides and was removed from dispensary shelves.
According to the Portland Tribune, it was Buds 4 U that contacted the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) after the pot shop tested a delivery of the strain Blue Magoo and found high pyrethin levels. Pyrethins are deadly to insects, but can also be found naturally in plants like chrysanthemum flowers and used, in some cases, on organic plants. The levels exceeded the state’s legal limit, prompting the dispensary to call in the OLCC.
"The retailer was great," Mark Pettinger, spokesman for the OLCC, said. "They get the gold star."
The bud was grown by licensed recreational cannabis cultivators Emerald Wave Estate based out of Creswell, Oregon. Buds 4 U had sold 82.5 grams of the tainted bud in the two days before test results came back. The OLCC recommends that anyone who purchased nugs from that particular batch should dispose of them or return them to Buds 4 U.
The pesticide levels were supposed to be caught on the growers end, but a break in protocol occurred when Cascade Cannabis Distribution, a wholesaler out of Eugene, shipped the batch to the Mapleton retailer before the pesticide test results were punched into the Oregon cannabis tracking system. Oregon keeps a state registry of potency, water content, and pesticide residues for all cannabis sold in the state’s recreational dispensaries.
The Blue Magoo recall, while unfortunate for those involved, marks an important landmark for Oregon’s recreational cannabis market, and represents a significant move towards industry legitimacy.
Regulated markets of all kinds have recalls all the time. Whether it’s a black eye for Blue Bunny ice cream or Samsung cell phones, recalls happen to legitimate businesses. Without structured regulations in place, consumers would never know if their buds had excess pesticide levels. So while it may be a hard situation for Emerald Wave Estate - no one stopped buying cell phones after Samsung’s phones blew up, they simply made more informed consumer decisions.
So while this particular nine-pound batch of Blue Magoo has been put on administrative hold by state authorities, Oregon’s first cannabis recall proves that cannabis can be regulated just like any other mainstream product, and that cannabis users should be protected as much as consumers of ice cream and cell phones.


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Lean…..Mean….Fighting Machine (read fighting CAR). That’s what the new 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is. It’s much more sleeker that its predecessor. Redesigned to be leaner, lighter, with a host of new engines to bring the fight to its arch-rival: The Ford Mustang, the Camaro was revealed on Saturday before a crowd of enthusiastic Camaro fans on Belle Isle in Detroit.
This is the sixth generation of this legendary sports car and its aim is to be the best combination of style and capability, acceleration and fuel economy. “Redesigning the Camaro is thrilling and challenging all at once, but the secret is to offer something more,” Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice president of product development, said in a statement.
The major change in the new Camaro is its weight. The car has shed more than 200 pounds. Engineers cut off weight nearly everywhere, using aluminum for the instrumental panel frame and some suspension components to trim as much fat as possible. The rear wheel drive platform is lighter and stiffer which will lead to better handling. The new Camaro is about two inches shorter in length, due to its compact wheelbase.
Eventhough the Camaro will be lighter, it’s still going to pack a very heavy punch. The Camaro SS tops the range with the Corvette’s 6.2 liter V8 pushing out 455 horsepower and 455 pound feet of torque. Known as the LT1, it has a cast aluminium bloddk and cast aluminm cylinder heads, and it’s fortified with direct injection, variable valve timing, and cylinder deactivation. The Camaro also gets a four-cylinder engine that promised to maintain performance and offer improved fuel economy. Chevy says it will hit 60 miles in less than six seconds and return more than 30 miles per gallon on the highway. It’s expected to be the most fuel-efficient Camaro ever.
As for the exterior appearance, the front get a grill/head lamp aperture, which Chevy says is reminiscent of the first generation Camaro. The roofline in the rear has a more dramatic, fastback appearance, and the SS variant gets a spoiler. The roof panel is lighter and more rigid. Inside the cabin, the Camaro gets a new instrument panel. It blends analogue elements with an eight-inch center screen that shows performance, entertainment, and navigation information. Designers also integrated the heating cooling controls into the vents, and dressed things up with an LED ambient lighting system. Drivers can tailor the shifting, steering, and chassis settings via a new driver mode selector, which is mounted in the center console.
“The driving experience is significantly different,” Aaron Link, lead development engineer said in a statement. “Immediately, you will notice how much lighter and more nimble the Camaro feels. That feeling increases when you drive the Camaro harder – it brakes more powerfully, dives into corners quicker, and accelerates faster than ever.”


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Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we’re going to have to make some changes to our spring hackathon.
Two quick changes:
- We’re moving the hackathon to the weekend on 25-26 June.
- The new winner of the free website based on our Goodz Shop theme on Themes Kingdom Managed is “Pavlović Optics”
Our previous winner sadly dropped out of the free website, which means the runners up “Pavlović Optics” will be getting a brand new e-commerce website in June.
That’s it. Keep calm and carry on.


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NEW DELHI: The Covid2019 pandemic sank the automobile industry in India to abysmal depths this year. With the enforcement of lockdown, people retreated indoors, businesses and offices shut down, the streets were deserted; and auto sales plunged to zero in the month of April.
While the automobile market is desperately trying to rally and recover pre-Covid numbers, one category that has shown resilience in these troubled times is that of pre-owned vehicles. Growing at 6.2 per cent during FY16-20, it too was buffeted by the headwinds of the pandemic, but since then has witnessed a steady uptick in demand. Leading this segment are digital platforms that buy and sell second-hand cars and two-wheelers, which have logged manifold increase in online engagement and annual sales over the past several months.
One such company is Droom, a digital motorplace that claims to have captured 80 per cent market share of the automobile transactions happening online in India. The portal has clocked a massive 260 per cent surge in sales in the aftermath of Covid, along with a 175 per cent jump in traffic for new and pre-owned automobiles. Indiantelevision.com spoke to Krishna Veer Singh, president – marketplace, Droom to decode the recent upheaval in the used car business, how the platform is faring and what the road ahead looks like.
Singh started off by clarifying that while Droom is seeing unprecedented numbers now, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
“When Covid happened, we witnessed 90 per cent drop in orders within two months of lockdown. In June, we started seeing recovery even though we were far away from full recovery. Around August 2020, indicators like growth in traffic, leads and listings went up with huge numbers and we again achieved pre-Covid number of orders driven by two-wheeler demand. Also, we have achieved around 75 per cent of pre-Covid GMV by November 20,” he detailed.
As Singh pointed out, the resurgence of the automobile sector is led by two-wheelers and pre-owned cars. This is mainly due to a massive shift in consumer mindset: in the aftermath of the highly-contagious Coronavirus, public transport and ridesharing are no longer considered safe. However, the upswing in the desire for personal mobility has been compounded by the problem of limited means.
“With economic activity slowing down, people are more inclined towards lower-priced or smaller vehicles in personal mobility space which in turn has boosted sales of used vehicles. As a result, there is an increase in the demand for budget-friendly options like Swift, WagonR, Dzire, Honda City, i10, Scorpio and Santro, among others and two-wheelers,” he said, adding that these make up 70 per cent of total orders.
FY21 auto sales are estimated to be decadal lows, and the industry has yet to recover to monthly sales levels of new vehicles seen before the pandemic. But it’s a fact that the automobile sector had undergone considerable slowdown over the last 12-18 months, labouring as it was under the GST regime change, stiff competition from ride-hailing apps, general liquidity issues, and several other factors.
By contrast, the used car market is 1.3 times of the new car market, with the organised segment expected to register a CAGR of 22.79 per cent during 2020-25. Majority of the OEMs such as Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra, Hyundai and Toyota, and luxury car manufacturers like BMW, Audi, and JLR, have their own used car network. Online used car sellers have also reported good sales over the last few years. Government policies, for instance the reduction of GST rate on used cars from 28 per cent to 12-18 per cent, are also favourable – a key growth driver for the sector. Does all this portend that India is on the road to becoming a second-hand car market? Singh appeared to think so.
“Demand for used cars has increased manifold in the last few years. The economic slowdown caused by the pandemic has resulted in financial restraints which leads to an increase in demand for budget-friendly options of Rs 2-5 lakh and middle budget of Rs 5-10 lakh. Overall, 25,000 cars were sold this year,” he highlighted.
Post pandemic, the surge in sales has been powered, in main, by the top five to six metros in the country – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad – and prospective customers are most interested in vehicles, germ shield and auto services, shared Singh. The site has clocked a 550 per cent jump in leads and an average MAU of six million over the last few months. An impressive feat, considering that 60 per cent of the traffic on Droom is organic.
The reason may be that apart from catering to vehicles, the platform has branched out into several complimentary ventures in the wake of Covid. These new endeavours were initiated after careful consideration of consumer needs and the rising hygiene consciousness among people. Droom now offers Contactless Commerce, an end-to-end contactless experience including online vehicle research, doorstep test drive and delivery, online documentation, and digital payments. The Jumpstart service was introduced in May to provide vehicle service at your doorstep.
Another big revenue driver this fiscal has proved to be Droom’s Germ Shield business. Not just limited to vehicles, the service has been extended to cover residences, offices and commercial spaces.
“Germ Shield is a separate P&L and currently driven by our proprietary tool, ECO, and its network. The technology is relevant to all kinds of surfaces and expanding to other categories like homes, schools, and commercial gave us an opportunity to bring more business, along with more awareness and adoption of the product utilising the same network of ECO services and without any additional capex,” said Singh.
All this doesn’t discount the fact that the used car market is a competitive space, with several players jostling for buyers’ attention. Curiously, despite commanding 80 per cent of the market share, Droom doesn’t really stand out. Its rivals, on the other hand, have greater brand recall on the back of their ATL campaigns. When asked about this dichotomy, Singh asserted that the brand doesn't believe in burning huge budgets on marketing. Instead, it has invested in building better solutions using technology and data science.
“We are trying to bring transparency, convenience, and trust by building the whole ecosystem around automobile buying and selling by building and enhancing proprietary tools such as OBV, ECO, History, Quick Sell, etc. Also, Droom is the only pure-play internet company while others offer offline services. We work simultaneously with dealers and sellers instead of holding inventory. Droom has built an entire ecosystem around used automobiles for the digital economy,” he elaborated.
The consumer uptake has been significant, particularly during the Dussehra-Diwali period this year. As families and friends met after a long time, and people thronged malls and markets for festive shopping, Droom registered a fivefold increase in bookings for germ shield sanitation services which offers antimicrobial surface protection service.
“This festive season, we have witnessed over 60 per cent peak in sales. In new vehicles, sales of cars have witnessed 60 per cent surge and premium cars accounted for 100 per cent growth. Two-wheelers also witnessed growth over 240 per cent and 25 per cent jump in GMV,” added Singh.
While the used car market, valued at $24.24 billion in 2019, is on an upward trajectory, it’s not without its own share of problems and shortcomings. Unorganised and semi-organised players take up most of the market share, leading to a highly supply-constrained market. Consumer-to-consumer deals still make up 32 per cent of the segment – not a good sign in terms of regulation and accountability. Financing and other value-added services aren't readily available in the used car business, which acts as a roadblock in customer engagement. However, recent growth through organised modes has been somewhat driven by cannibalisation of the consumer-to-consumer and unorganised channels – a trend that should bode well for companies like Droom.
“The biggest challenge is to maintain the organic traffic and eventually make growth sustainable. Going forward we will keep practicing our customer-centric approach and build the latest technological solutions to make the buying and selling experience of automobiles better and better,” he concluded.


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WORLD TRADE CENTER
Bitcoin can't save world's autocrats from the sanctions squeeze
Any autocrat eyeing bitcoin as a sanctions safe haven must confront a simple matter of scale.
Indonesia’s Pundi X looks to launch crypto PoS network
The company plans to launch its network in Singapore, Indonesia followed by India late...
With new clothes as cheap as used ones, Panipat’s recycling industry goes out of fashion
Panipat's mills specialize in a cloth known as shodd...
Markets appear overvalued, India is no exception: Rupal Bhansali, Ariel Investments
We feel India’s valuations are stretched and if there is better risk-reward elsewhere, that’s where we go.
Buy Mahindra Lifespace Developers, target Rs 635: HDFC Securities
Buy Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd. at a price target of Rs 635.0 .
Government taking steps to boost economy: PM Narendra Modi at Indo-Israeli CEOs forum
Modi pointed out the results of the reform. “One, our procedures, processes and systems are getting aligned with the best in the world. Second, we are able to maintain the faster pace of growth.”
Diamonds in the rough as Angadias suspend operations
The angadias, who have been ferrying rough diamonds from Mumbai to Surat and polished diamonds from Surat to Mumbai, have decided not to resume work till they get clear guidelines from the government.
need2know: 9 macro cues for your day on D-Street
Here's a look at top macro triggers that may move the market on Tuesday.
Apparel industry model holds the key for India’s job creation requirements
Apparel requires modest investment per job and the demand for it is there. In 2015, the apparel export market was $465 billion.
China's run as world's largest exporter may end, expert says
China could no longer rely on exports to expand its economy as exports will become unsustainable and would put too much strain on ties with the rest of the world.
Commerce Ministry for slashing gold import duty in Budget
The Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has demanded cut in import duty on gold to 4 per cent from the current 10 per cent.
After PM Narendra Modi receives ‘friend’ Benjamin Netanyahu, focus shifts to business
MoUs will be signed on the sidelines of the Indo-Israel Business Innovation Forum and CEOs meet which will be addressed by Netanyahu in both Delhi and Mumbai).
Asian shares hit historic high, dollar on defensive
The euro was up at a three-year peak of $1.2203 and holding all of Friday's 1.3 per cent surge.
Jeff Bezos steps out! Why the world’s richest person can afford any luxury, but not obscurity
Getting thanked at the Golden Globes & targeted by presidential tweet tantrums, not even Steve Jobs had that kind of pop-culture currency.
H-1B can impact trade ties, say lobby groups
The group has said the H-1B visa issue cannot be looked at in isolation as it has the potential to influence geo-political and trade relations between the US and India.


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Although a massive number of individuals are quarantined or under shelter-in-place orders to stem the spread of the coronavirus, resulting in spiking social media usage, Pinterest does not seem to be benefiting as much as its rivals from the current situation.
Shares of the image-sharing company sank more than 10% to trade near under $19 a share in extended session trading on Tuesday after the company reported disappointing user growth its first-quarter results.
Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv expected a loss of 9 cents per share and $270.1 million in revenue for the first quarter. Pinterest, however, lost 10 cents per share and had total revenue of $272 million.
Comparing Pinterest’s results versus analysts’ estimates is somewhat more complex however, given that the coronavirus pandemic has been ravaging economies around the world.
User growth in the U.S. was up 6% compared to a year prior, which was a decline from the 8% annualized growth the company achieved in the U.S. during the fourth quarter.
But where things get interesting is how Pinterest compares to its social media competitors. In comparison to Pinterest, digital marketing rivals Facebook, Google and Snap saw improvements in user growth as individuals remain at home for the most part and are going online to alleviate boredom, occupy time, and connect with friends as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our strategic priorities for 2020 remain content, ads diversification, use case expansion, and shopping,” the Pinterest earnings release said, noting that the company’s focus has largely on content and advertising, similar to its social media rivals.
But despite efforts to expand its effectiveness, the company CEO acknowledged that the coronavirus pandemic has certainly affected the bottom line.
“The spread of Covid-19 has certainly had an impact on our business and the businesses of our advertisers, but we remain optimistic about the future,” Pinterest Chief Financial Officer Todd Morgenfeld said in written remarks.
“While we’ve been adapting to the current environment, we will continue to invest in our strategic priorities of content, ads diversification, use case expansion, and shopping,” Morgenfeld said in a statement. “We’re committed to delivering inspiration to our users and measurable results to businesses.”
Despite the decline Tuesday, RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney sees potential for the company and has an outperform rating and price target on Pinterest stock of 27.
“We will be looking for color on whether ad revenue growth trends have stabilized, like Facebook and Alphabet,” Mahaney wrote in a note to clients.
For more market trends, visit ETF Trends.


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Internet search-engine stocks surged en masse Wednesday in the wake of several multimillion dollar deal announcements, and they were at it again Thursday.
Lycos jumped US$6.75 to $51 Wednesday after announcing it had signed a marketing deal with CDnow worth $18.5 million, bringing the combined value of e-commerce, advertising, and sponsorship agreements signed in March to more than $30 million. Lycos stock was up another $3.86 Thursday to $55. Excite, which anounced a three-year, multimillion dollar marketing pact with Software.net, rose $3.56 Wednesday to $54.50. On Thursday, it was up again to $55.88.
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DSL on AOL: America Online said Thursday it is set to begin offering its customers connection speeds about 25 times faster than they're used to on standard 28.8 modems – for a price. The online giant will soon begin field trials of digital subscriber line (DSL) services, which allow high-speed computer connections over copper telephone lines. The subscription fee will be US$49.95 per month.
GTE Internetworking will handle the integration of the initial tests, coordinating between AOL and the regional phone companies in the selected markets which include Birmingham, Alabama; Phoenix, Arizona; the greater San Francisco Bay Area; the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC; and Redmond, Washington. AOL said it anticipates the number of trial locations to increase over the next few months.
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Taiwan cited for chip dumping, South Korea cleared: The International Trade Commission says Taiwan's static random access memory (SRAM) computer chips are hurting US companies and is ordering imposition of anti-dumping duties. The Commerce Department had set anti-dumping duty margins against Taiwan producers ranging all the way from 7.59 to 113.85 percent.
At the same time, the independent panel cleared South Korea of dumping charges brought at the request of Boise, Idaho-based chipmaker Micron Technology. The United States consumes about $1.5 billion worth of SRAMs a year. Imports, mostly from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, account for about 7.9 percent of that demand.
Reuters contributed to this report.


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Latest Road Tests and Reviews
TMP, the company that owns and operates the international motorsport park at Taupo, say it is to be renamed the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park. The motorsport park’s future was re-assured following a financial and management Read More
Three-year-old Avondale lad Devon Roke has never walked under his own steam, but from Wednesday he and seven other children with cerebral palsy will at last be independently mobile, thanks to volunteer-run charity Gobabygo.
The small group of volunteers adapts ride-in electric toy cars specifically for each disabled child who successfully applies, to give them the experience of independent mobility.
Research has discovered that being independently mobile in a fun way, using an easily-available ride-in device, helps children make friends, relate to siblings, and even test boundaries. Continue reading “More electric wheels for disabled tots” »
Three-year-old Avondale lad Devon Roke has never walked under his own ...
America’s widely-respected Consumer Reports has again found the most reliable brands in the automotive world to be Japanese. Or Audi.
Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru join the German make as the most reliable, while buyers site new transmissions as the biggest headache – and the most damaging tho their wallets – when it comes to repairs, the latest Consumer Reports survey finds.
Problematic infotainment systems continue to be a major issue for new car owners, but there’s a notable increase in problems with new automatic transmissions that are designed to improve fuel economy. Continue reading “Infotainment, trans problems hit reliability rankings” »
America’s widely-respected Consumer Reports has again found the most r ...
Electric vehicle adoption is being stifled by the government, says First party leader Winston Peters.
Speaking at today’s opening of ChargeNet’s latest fast charging station at Kaiwaka, Peters said that New Zealand is lagging behind the rest of the world when it comes to electric vehicles.
“New Zealand is way behind in reducing emissions from vehicles, yet we have the renewable energy to power electric cars at our fingertips,” he said. Continue reading “EV cars stalled by ‘hands off’ government” »
Electric vehicle adoption is being stifled by the government, says Fir ...
An Ohio farm has paid tribute to Ford’s F-150 truck – in corn.
Leaders Farms near Napoleon, Ohio, has made the seven-acre maze to entertain locals – who have been tackling the family’s mazes for nearly two decades.
“We are a multi-generation Ford-driving family,” said Kristin Leaders. Continue reading “Maize maze tribute to truck” »
An Ohio farm has paid tribute to Ford’s F-150 truck - in corn. Lead ...
With ‘Back to the Future’ day this week – the day Michael J. Fox arrives in the future in the iconic movie trilogy, a number of companies have jumped on the band wagon with videos and other tie-ins.
We decided to pick just one to show readers, and this is it, from automotive Giant Toyota.
The company is using the movie, and stars Fox and Christopher Lloyd to promote its new Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Continue reading “Great scott!” »
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFyY7_hc-14 With ‘Back to the Futur ...
Ferrari’s share offering on the NYSE stayed true to form when debuted to the public.
The Maranello-based manufacturer’s shares, trading as RACE, jumped sharply upon released.
Its addition to Fiat-Chrysler meant alarm bells for many, Sergio Marchionne Chrysler chief executive and Ferrari chairman was on the floor, saying all the right things. Continue reading “Ferrari float fires up Wall St” »
Ferrari’s share offering on the NYSE stayed true to form when debuted ...
A toe-dipping test import of the fiery Ford Focus RS was so successful that the company is biting the bullet and bringing the hardcore hatches in ‘properly.’
The rally-bred Focus RS weights around 1500kg, but pushes that along with a 275kW/440Nm wallop courtesy of the company’s 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost engine.
It’s had a number of technology updates that make it even more tractable – a beefier all-wheel-drive system with selectable drive modes and dynamic torque vectoring take its grip ability to a whole new level. Continue reading “Ford adds hardcore Focus RS to hatch line-up” »
A toe-dipping test import of the fiery Ford Focus RS was so successful ...
The trickle down of active safety technology from the flagship Hyundai Genesis sedan has begun with the refreshed series two model Santa Fe SUV gaining many of these features.
Hyundai claims the Santa Fe remains New Zealand’s most popular large SUV, it has sold 1620 units in the year to September 30, against 1571 registrations from the Toyota Highlander.
Back rental sales out of the equation say Hyundai and the Santa Fe is sitting on 1484 registrations, followed by the Holden Captiva on 976, Subaru Outback on 903, and the Toyota Highlander had 867 private buyer registrations. Continue reading “Active safety focus for Santa Fe Series II” »
The trickle down of active safety technology from the flagship Hyundai ...


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From thinking that swallowing a seed will cause a watermelon to grow in their stomach, following the “five-second rule” and eating carrots to enhance night vision, two in five millennials grew up believing food myths, according to new research.
A new survey of 2,000 millennials (aged 23–38) asked about a variety of food myths and found that 44 percent of respondents currently or previously believed a myth about food.
Top food myths were found to be believing gum takes seven years to digest when swallowed, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are always less healthy and everyone should drink eight glasses of water per day.
That’s in addition to believing the five-second rule and thinking that fat-free/low-fat foods are always better versions.
Mom was the one most likely to spread these food myths (65 percent), followed by dad (57 percent) or an older sibling (44 percent).
Commissioned by Ajinomoto and conducted by OnePoll, results reveal that the average millennial who believed food myths outgrew them by age 14.
Interestingly enough, 69 percent of millennials surveyed said social media and access to technology makes it more difficult for their generation to be told food myths.
But even though respondents might not believe food myths anymore — that doesn’t mean they don’t act on them.
The survey found that the majority of respondents would still follow the five-second rule depending on the situation, especially if their food wasn’t messy (49 percent) or if they were at home (46 percent).
Interestingly enough, 68 percent agree: They’re more likely to believe a food myth if it aligns with what they already know or believe about food – showing how deeply these misconceptions can affect us.
Results also showed that six in 10 respondents (61 percent) still avoid eating food with MSG, a habit which might be rooted in another commonly-shared food myth — even though just 13 percent currently believe MSG is bad for them.
“Food beliefs, especially when influenced by friends and family, can stick with you for a long time,” says Tia Rains, PhD, Nutrition Scientist at Ajinomoto.
“It’s interesting to see that even though scientists, regulatory agencies and public health organizations have stood by MSG’s safety over the last 30 years, these misperceptions still exist.”
Thirty-one percent of millennials surveyed believed — or currently believe — that MSG is bad for them, but many don’t know what MSG is.
Only a quarter of those surveyed (26 percent) knew what MSG stood for — monosodium glutamate — while 38 percent incorrectly believe that MSG gives most people headaches.
Just over half (54 percent) were aware that MSG is a seasoning used to enhance the flavor of food.
“There’s something to be said for what we miss in perpetuating some of these myths.
For example, MSG has two-thirds less sodium than table salt, so it’s a great tool for sodium reduction — and it can add umami taste to plant-based dishes,” continued Rains.
“But we were pleasantly surprised to find that 67 percent of people agree that perpetuating food myths is harmful — people are more eager than ever to set the record straight.”


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Content creator Sherwood has released a new video with Bowler, showcasing some gameplay for Krystal, who will be included in the next patch!
Content creator Bowler has released a new video with Sherwood, showcasing some upcoming characters to be included in the next patch!
The final day is live!
Make sure you catch the last reveal between 1pm and 3pm EST!
We’re live for day 2, let’s gooo!
Don’t forget that the next big reveal will be between 12pm at 2pm EST, don’t miss it!
And don’t forget to tune in between 12pm and 2pm EST for the first of the big reveals!


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Dele Ayodele, the Deputy Managing Director, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Thursday identified poor funding and low tariff charged by Distribution Companies (DISCOs) as the bane of irregularities in the power sector.
According to NAN’s report, Ayodele in Lagos said that due to the lack of a cost-reflective tariff in the sector, funding has become a problem, adding that consumers want electricity supply for free, as the DISCOs sell electricity at a loss.
In his woprds, “We are buying energy from other chains in the sector at a higher price, while selling to consumers at a very low tariff. If DISCOs have to make any reasonable profit, there should be a cost-reflective tariff.
“At present, the tariff is structured between N28 and N29 per kilowatt, while we are getting a kilowatt for close to N100.
“This is the more reason which the government should bridge the gap by subsidising it,’’ he said.
“Government should find ways to bridge the widening gap by a form of subsidy because the DISCOs are not making any profit now. IBEDC is indebted to the tune of N55 billion to the market at present,’’ he noted.
Ayodele, however, urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to adopt a cost-reflective tariff, in order to save the sector from collapse.
According to him, it will be impossible for the DISCOs to meter all their residential consumers under this tariff, Reuters reports.


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Twitter’s advertising rates fell again in the last three months of 2013, according to the company’s annual report released Thursday.
The cost of advertising on Twitter dropped 18%, the seventh straight quarter of declines.
The trend is worrisome for Twitter, but for now it isn’t a big deal that advertisers are paying less for each ad unit. Advertisers are overall spending more on Twitter because more users are clicking on ads. Twitter only gets paid when a user engages with the ad somehow by retweeting, favoriting or clicking on the embedded link, for example. Twitter said the number of ad engagements increased 74% in the three months through Dec. 31 from the previous quarter.
The engagement growth shows advertisers that ads on Twitter work, thus spurring more demand. This is why Twitter’s advertising revenue, which accounts for the bulk of the company’s earnings, has been increasing by leaps and bounds. It more than doubled to $220 million in the last three months of 2013 compared to a year earlier.
But the sliding advertising rate could eventually become a real downer.
“In the event that cost per ad engagement continues to decline, and we are unable to continue to offset the impact of such decreases on advertising revenue by increasing the number of ad engagements, our advertising revenue would decline,” according to Twitter’s 10-K report.
One cause for concern is Twitter’s user-growth rate.
In its 10-K report, Twitter said ad engagements have been increasing in part because there are more users on Twitter with each passing quarter. Yet there are persistent signs that its user-growth rate is slowing. As of Dec. 31, there are 241 million monthly active users on Twitter, just 9 million more than the previous quarter. A slowing user-growth rate isn’t the end-all, but it would put more pressure on Twitter to squeeze more activity from each existing user.
Twitter warns “we expect the cost per ad engagement to decline in the near term.” It explains that the falling advertising rate is due to an uptick in the amount of advertising space available on the service as it expanded its offering on its mobile apps and overseas. But it points out that a cheaper rate has its benefits, too, by making it more affordable for small and medium-sized businesses as well as international advertisers.


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It took 1,100 deaths in 2013 for fashion and large retail chains across Europe and North America to come together and address an inevitable crisis. Rana Plaza, an eight-story commercial building in Bangladesh, which is considered to be a hub of textile manufacturing, collapsed because of its shabby condition. This incident led to extensive loss of life and property and an international outcry for businesses to be more responsible. The inevitability of the crisis resulted from warnings ignored by the owner of Rana Plaza, Sohel Rana, about the building being unsafe for work given the appearance of cracks. Yet the following day, Sohel Rana insisted that the workers report for work, and of the 3,122 workers who reported that day, 1,100 met a horrendous fate.
One might conclude that Sohel Rana is the sole person to blame for this disaster. However I argue that the large retailers and fashion houses that are comfortably sourcing their supply from Rana Plaza, and selling it off for billions of USD halfway across the world, are also partly responsible. Fashion and retail giants such as H&M, JC Penny, Gap, Walmart and Target, source supplies, mainly apparel, from Bangladesh’s mammoth textile industry. Yet there are no records of measures taken to address the lamentable conditions surrounding the workers who produce these billions of dollars worth of goods. A business is not only responsible for ensuring that it taps into suppliers that provide the best value but also should take the extra step to critically evaluate the conditions surrounding the supply chain.
Bangladesh is second to China in terms of industry size. In 2011, Bangladesh’s exports were reported to be $20 Billion, 80% of the country’s GDP. What is even more remarkable is that the booming of this industry has led to widespread employment and empowerment among women, who are considered to be the main class of employees in the textile manufacturing business. Unfortunately the Rana Plaza incident revealed further appalling conditions which these women were subjected to in addition to the unsafe working environments. These women workers participate under extremely difficult work conditions and routines with a minimum wage that is quite possibly the lowest in the world – a mere $38 or 3000 takas per month (Economist, 2013). These work conditions include working hours of 7:30 AM – 3:00 AM in some of the 4000 or so textile factories in Bangladesh with little or no job security. Coupling these conditions with working in spaces that are not marked for safety, poses an even bigger concern – should the firms who outsource production to local manufacturers in Bangladesh shoulder responsibility for improving labor conditions?
A responsible business should take the necessary step to ensure that its entire value chain is free from practices or conditions that will likely harm people, the environment, the brand, the reputation, the end-consumer, and the stakeholders’ interests. But what we witness in the commercial practices of today is that businesses, while being aware of their supply chain and the conditions surrounding it, rarely take preventive measures to remedy a situation before it leads to a disaster. Businesses respond and react – preemption and prevention of such tragedies is rare, and this is a norm that extends beyond the textile industry.
Fierce competition has forced businesses to find every possible avenue in cost cutting and creating more value. This includes outsourcing production to countries with the least wages, in this case Bangladesh, which has 1/5th of the wage cost compared to China, one of the top textile exporters in the world. But while businesses are trying to cut costs, they neglect taking the extra step to ensure that their supplies are coming from companies that adhere to international labor rights and work environment standards. Following the Rana Plaza incident, notable leaders in the fashion and retail industry came forward to provide funds for improving building safety standards and lobbying for improved wages for workers. On May 13, 2013, a legally binding “Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh” to help pay for fire safety and building improvements was signed by various firms, mostly from Europe. A fund was also created of $14 Million by these leading firms to compensate the victims of the families in the Rana Plaza incident. But the issue remains as to why a business could not act upon the knowledge that the workers who are responsible for producing its products are not being taken care of by the owners of these production houses? Can we assume that the businesses were simply unaware? Or could it be that they chose not to take the extra step to free its value chain of inconsistent and unsafe practices? These issues are difficult to explore because the assumption that a business knew of an impending incident is hard to prove. However one can conclude that it is the responsibility of the business to take preventive measures while it is dealing with unpredictable manufacturing houses in a country that is struck by poverty. Rana Plaza was a supplier of several retail chains and a quick inspection would have made it clear that it was unfit to be a constant source of apparel – yet the companies on both the buying and selling side of apparel chose to ignore the safety and conditions of workers and focused solely on meeting demand.
Loose stitches such as these cause international outcries because they are left unattended until the garment fragments and then everyone rushes to find thread and needles to sew the garment back together. Yet given the resources at the disposal of retail giants, it should be expected of them to dedicate some resources and employ a decent sewing machine and sew these stitches before the garment tears away.