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The fight has just started and it is going to be a long way before we see any overhaul. When Google declared its new Social Network, everyone had doubts about its success. It was natural response from the market after it saw consecutive 3 failures — Buzz, Me and Wave. The first feeling that people … Continue reading The Nasty Fight Between Google Plus and Facebook
SEO Consulting Company, SingleGrain.com has built a fantastic info-graphic on why Google Plus is set to win Facebook. Interesting to see their perspective.
Britney Spears, one of the most Social Media friendly celeb, is now not limited to Twitter and Facebook but she has also commanded a huge fan following in the Google’s new network, Google Plus. Britney Spears now has 10 thousand plus followers who has kept her in their circles, and she receives good number of … Continue reading Britney Spears : From Facebook to Google Plus Queen
Yes, so we all know about table manners, eating habits, hygiene and so on, but do you have Facebook manners? Social networking seems to be the need of the hour at the corporate as well as personal front, with corporate starting to incorporate intra social networking in order to promote healthy relations between colleagues, it … Continue reading Social Networking Manners: An unnoticed need
Google Plus has the viral effect, nothing new, but derived from Twitter and Facebook. This is something Celebs don’t miss. Most followed people in both Twitter and Facebook are these social celebs, Rihanna to Lady Gaga and Ashton Kucher to Barack Obama has collected huge followings in Facebook. Now there are some new and some … Continue reading Top 4 Celebrities Using Google Plus
As the number of Active Internet Users continues to surge in the world and more and more people are using social media channels like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn to share and search information, many companies are entering into this space to engage with their customers and to manage their online reputation. Social media is a … Continue reading Social media marketing: Revenue creation or just awareness generation?
Social Media seems to be proving itself time and again, changing the perception that some people otherwise have about the good it can do. Facebook now has another feather in its cap. Apart from shaping people’s career by helping to build contacts, being used as one of the most effective marketing tools, causing revolutionary changes … Continue reading Facebook Saves Life: another feather in its cap


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BAN Vs ZIM | One-off Test Feb 22, 2020
ZIM 9/2 (5.0)
Latest News on Blackberry Passport
Showing of 0 - 10 from 19 results
Blackberry Passport - Total results - 19
Aug 25, 2015
BlackBerry Passport running Android Lollipop surfaces onlineWe've been hearing about a Blackberry device running Android for some time now. Now, a new video showing Silver Blackberry Passport has surfaced online.
May 01, 2015
BlackBerry partners with Infibeam, announces loyalty program on BB 10 smartphonesIn partnership with e-commerce website Infibeam, Blackberry has announced a new limited-period only Loyalty Program on select Blackberry 10 smartphones for its users in India.
Feb 10, 2015
BlackBerry OS 10.3.1 update could roll out to users on 19 FebruaryBlackBerry will finally roll out the much awaited BB OS 10.3.1 for it's devices which was delayed because of a minor bug which was causing the delay.
Jan 28, 2015
BlackBerry Passport has a limited gold edition which costs $899 in the USBlackBerry announced that they will launch a limited Black and Gold edition of the Passport, which will cost $899 in Canada and a cool $999 in the US.
Nov 26, 2014
BlackBerry offers users up to $550 to ditch their iPhones for a PassportCanadian smartphone maker BlackBerry is wooing Apple customers with a cash offer for trade-ins of iPhones for its new square-screened, keyboard-equipped Passport.
Oct 27, 2014
Blackberry says it's well positioned in India with enterprise solutionsArray
Oct 22, 2014
BlackBerry Passport review: This is BlackBerry's comeback smartphoneThis is BlackBerry's comeback smartphone, and whether it is wildly successful or a moderate success, the company has everyone's attention.
Oct 21, 2014
Lenovo rumoured to make a bid to buyout BlackBerry this weekArray
Sep 30, 2014
On video: A closer look at the Blackberry PassportArray
Sep 30, 2014
BlackBerry Passport first impressions: Aimed at professionals, but does it strike the right chords?Array

domain: news


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Stay current with healthcare furniture-related product launches, case studies and events.
September 9, 2013 | On 9 11 this year, 12 years after the terrorist attacks that shook this country to its core, the New York Chapter of the IIDA held an engaging and lively discussion at the KI New York showroom on the healthcare
GREEN BAY, WIS. - KI CEO Dick Resch recently appeared on the FOX Business network's "MONEY with Melissa Francis" show to discuss how KI has been able to keep health coverage affordable for its employees despite America's out of control
KI introduces the Grazie™ Seating Collection, the latest collaboration between KI and renowned designer Giancarlo. Grazie seating is the world's first true ergonomic stack chair that advances comfort to the next level.
A leading expert in evidence-based design will discuss the latest trends, techniques and issues for designing bariatric patient environments at an educational session at Healthcare Design 2011.
To respond to consumer needs, the public spaces of health facilities are being designed to encourage healthy behaviors and create a more comfortable environment for patients, visitors and staff.
Wellness programs not only contribute to the employees' health but to the health of the company overall by reducing healthcare costs.
On 9/11 this year, 12 years after the terrorist attacks that shook this country to its core, the New York Chapter of the IIDA held an engaging and lively discussion at the KI New York showroom on the healthcare


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Snapchat talks with Hollywood about bringing shows to the platform
Snapchat Discover is going Hollywood. The messaging and media app is out looking for deals with major networks and studios that would transform the Discover section, where publishers like People and Cosmopolitan and Refinery29 host daily channels.
Snapchat is in talks with top TV networks and studios to host shows on Discover, according to sources. Snapchat also is working with the NFL on a Discover channel, and talking to other leagues, sources familiar with those talks confirmed. Mashable reported earlier this week on the NFL talks.
Snapchat is sending Nick Bell, its head of content, to do the negotiating to lure more talent to Discover, according to one source. Snapchat wants to see Discover evolve from its roots as a publishing destination, where players like BuzzFeed and Cosmopolitan post articles and web videos, into more of a premium video destination.
“There is a lot of talk around doing shows and bringing in Hollywood, but the question is how to make money from it,” said one source familiar with Snapchat’s pitch to networks.
Snapchat is holding up its channel called “Good Luck America,” a running political news program following the presidential campaign, as an example of what the networks could do with shows there. Snapchat wants networks to create similar original programming, including scripted content. Snapchat dipped into scripted shows when it first launched Discover in early 2015, but stopped producing them when it shut down its in-house channel.
It’s unclear what impact more networks and studios would have on other Discover partners, a list that already includes Comedy Central, ESPN and MTV.
Discover is in the middle of an overhaul, it was recently redesigned and now runs alongside special Live Stories pop-up channels, which feature user-generated videos from popular events. Discover publishers like Vox Media and Univision recently stopped running daily channels and are retooling their strategies on the platform.
Snapchat declined to comment for this story.
Snapchat is asking for guarantees from network partners that they can sell a certain amount of ads, which they will split. Snapchat can guarantee millions of viewers if the networks and studios bring the advertisers, a source said.
The minimums could add up to a lot, however, because if Snapchat guarantees 30 million views at 3 cents a view for an ad — $30 CPMs — that’s a $1 million commitment, the source said. Discover publishers have faced similar demands from Snapchat and some have said the ad minimums are too burdensome.
Snapchat is taking a different approach from rival Facebook, which has been writing checks to get major media companies to post videos, especially live ones, to the social network. Snapchat, however, is setting a high value for its services for advertisers and publishers.
Snapchat now has 150 million daily users, and generates billions of video views. BuzzFeed has said more than 20 percent of its video views come from Snapchat Discover.
“The war right now is for original destination content and Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat all are behind YouTube in having destination personalities and content in digital video,” said Noah Mallin, head of social at MEC North America. “They know that the next step is to have content that people can only find and largely associate with their platforms.”
‘We see a world where publisher data replaces third-party data’: News U.K. puts its data at the nucleus of post-cookie push for media budgets
News U.K. has overhauled the way it collects, sorts and monetizes its audience data across all its titles via first-party data platform Nucleus.
Here’s why the loss of the third-party cookie is heading toward a collapse in the middle
In the absence of third-party cookies, marketers will need to work more closely with trusted publishers to reach their audiences. Who will lose out? It is posed for a collapse in the middle.
Member ExclusiveMedia Briefing: What to expect from the Digiday Publishing Summit
This week's Media Briefing previews the upcoming Digiday Publishing Summit, which kicks off on Sept. 27 and will feature speakers from media companies including The Washington Post, BDG, Group Nine Media and Essence.
SponsoredHow retailers can be ready for holiday shoppers this year
Suchi Sastri, managing director and partner, Boston Consulting Group As the holiday season approaches and the pandemic continues to evolve, retailers want to know what to expect. Will e-commerce continue to grow at the rate it did last year? How big of a role will in-store shopping play in holiday shopping? While it’s still early, […]
How the pandemic has been a real a buzz kill for office happy hour bonding, culture
As COVID-19 crawls on, more companies are rethinking the wisdom of mixing booze and the stresses of the workplace.
‘Football has lost its soul’: How Copa90 is repositioning itself around the creator economy
Copa90’s overseers believe there’s another shift happening in tandem with the corporatization of the sport that has the potential to be just as transformative


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The term dressed to kill has taken on a whole new meaning.
Dangerous chemicals are now so ubiquitous they are in our water supply, the food we eat, and even—the clothing we wear.
PFAS stands for the almost impossible-to-pronounce perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances—also known as “forever chemicals.” The reason they are called “forever chemicals” is that they don’t “break down” in the environment but rather “build up,” or bioaccumulate, in fish, wildlife, and humans. PFAS represent a group of thousands of man-made chemicals used in a number of industries and are found in a large number of household products, from carpets to dental floss.
PFAS are a group of chemicals used to make coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. These coatings exist in a variety of products that include furniture, clothing, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and the insulation of electrical wire, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The unique chemical and physical properties of PFAS to repel oil, water, stain, and soil, as well as their chemical and thermal stability and friction reduction abilities, have a wide range of uses in many industries. These include the aerospace, semiconductor, electronics, medical, automotive, construction, electronics, and aviation industries, as noted by the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (pdf).
Despite their purported usefulness in industry and innumerable household products, evidence demonstrating the ramifications of exposure to PFAS has been mounting—with more and more scientific studies linking them to a plethora of health problems. With a growing understanding of the risks, consumers have been paying attention and are fighting back against the companies using them in their products.
Lately, there has been a surge of class action lawsuits against companies and the clothing they sell. The suits claim that brands are falsely advertising their products as “sustainable,” “natural,” or “healthy” while containing toxic levels of PFAS. One lawsuit against REI (pdf) (Recreational Equipment Inc.), primarily targeting its raincoat line, is moving through the courts.
According to Bloomberg Law, more than 6,400 PFAS-related lawsuits have been filed since 2005, and the numbers have been rising, especially in the last two years, as awareness of PFAS has increased.
In another lawsuit against Thinx (pdf) reusable period underwear, which were found to contain PFAS, the company settled, agreeing to pay out up to $5 million after being accused of fraud and other deceptive practices. The complaint, filed in May 2022, said, “Through its uniform, widespread, nationwide advertising campaign, [Thinx] has led consumers to believe that Thinx Underwear is a safe, healthy, and sustainable choice for women and that it is free of harmful chemicals.” The complaint continues, “In reality, Thinx Underwear contains harmful chemicals … which are a safety hazard to the female body and the environment.”
PFAS have been found in a wide variety of clothing—from outdoor wear such as coats and rain jackets, hiking pants, and shirts—to activewear like yoga pants, leggings, and sports bras made by popular brands like Lululemon, Gaiam, Old Navy, and Athleta. Sources of PFAS contamination in these types of clothing tend to come from treatments the fabrics receive for stain resistance, water resistance, moisture-wicking, and sweat-wicking, which pull moisture and sweat away from the skin—something to be aware of next time you are out shopping for new yoga gear or a jacket for a rainy day.
PFAS have been found in hundreds of consumer products and clothing sold nationwide. Although the health risks associated with wearing clothing containing PFAS are still unclear, the chemicals have been linked to a whole host of serious conditions, from high cholesterol to cancer.
PFAS are not new, and since their invention in the 1940s, they have been accumulating in the environment, the food chain, and, unfortunately, us. According to the CDC, PFAS are present in the blood of nearly all Americans, demonstrating widespread exposure to PFAS in the U.S. population.
Erik D. Olson, senior strategic director of health and food for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), says PFAS are dangerous for three critical reasons “First, the structure of PFAS means they resist breakdown in the environment and in our bodies. Second, they move relatively quickly through the environment, making their contamination hard to contain. Third, for some PFAS, even extremely low levels of exposure can negatively impact our health.”
According to U.S. Right to Know, an investigative public health group, studies have shown the connection of PFAS exposure to various health problems, including:
Children are particularly susceptible to the health effects of toxic chemicals like PFAS because their bodies and brains are still growing and developing.
A study published in 2022 by the American Chemical Society examined 72 children’s textile products that were marketed as “stain resistant” from U.S. and Canadian stores—many of which were school uniforms. Researchers aimed to assess whether the clothing represented significant exposure to PFAS and found that school uniforms had a high level of PFAS—comparable to that of outdoor wear—which is known to have high levels of PFAS because it is often stain and water-repellant.
This level of exposure is particularly dangerous as school uniforms are worn directly on the skin for extended periods every day–between 8–10 hours. The study states that this exposure could account for about one-quarter of Canadian and U.S. school-aged children.
Although PFAS are ubiquitous, there are ways to limit your exposure, which begins with knowing where to find them.
An article from U.S. Right to Know details the health concerns of PFAS and lists the routes of exposure to PFAS identified by researchers, which are:
One of the most common ways to expose yourself to PFAS is in drinking water. The Environmental Working Group, or EWG, has created a national tap water database, which is searchable by zip code. If your city has high levels, consider buying a water filter to limit exposure, especially if you have young children. Experts say reverse osmosis filters are considered some of the best types. The NSF, formerly the National Sanitation Foundation, has a list of the best water filters for PFAS.
In a March news release, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first-ever PFAS National Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS known to occur in drinking water, stating that, if fully implemented, the rule would “prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses.”
EWG has also created a national map of PFAS contamination by location, so you can see your exposure levels where you live.
When it comes to clothing specifically, be aware that outdoor and activewear are at higher risk of containing PFAS because this type of clothing tends to be water, stain, and sweat resistant. A lot of children’s clothing, too, has labels that promise it is resistant to stains and dirt. Read labels, and if something is labeled water, stain, or sweat resistant, there is a good chance it may contain PFAS.
You can also check the clothing brand’s website to see if they have made any public statements about using PFAS or that its clothing is “PFAS free.” NRDC has created a PFAS scorecard that gives a score to various apparel brands. PFAS Central, a Green Science Policy Institute project, offers a helpful list of brands and products that provide PFAS-free outdoor gear, apparel, and other products.
One of the best ways to avoid exposure to these forever chemicals is to keep life simple. There was a time in the not-too-distant past when we lived without clothing that would promise to whisk away sweat during a yoga class or make the coffee you spilled on your pants magically disappear—and the consequences of new “conveniences” on our health seem too high.
Stains and sweat are natural, and considering what is at stake for our health, maybe we can learn to love getting wet in the rain, find the humor in spilling coffee on our pants, and appreciate the hard work that goes into all that sweat in yoga class.


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Former V&H engineers launch new exhaust company
JOHN Peck and Leigh Crawford have announced the launch of Firebrand Design LLC, which will manufacture and design aftermarket products for motorcycles. The two industry veterans said they are "focusing initial efforts on manufacturing exhausts for Harley-Davidsons," but that they "also plan on expanding the line with other products and for additional vehicle brands."
The company's first products are Loose Cannon Slip-Ons for Harley touring models. "Products for Sportster, Softail and Dyna are currently in production and will be available this summer," the company announced.
Firebrand products are being distributed by HardDrive Parts, a division of Boise, Idaho based distributor Western Power Sports (WPS).
Peck, President of Firebrand, is the former Vice President of manufacturing at Vance & Hines. “We saw an opportunity for a company that could combine the experience and production capabilities of the large corporations, with the passion and creativity of the custom shops,” he said. Peck will manage day-to-day operations.
Crawford, taking on the role of Vice President of Development at Firebrand, is the former R&D manager at Vance & Hines.
“We don’t want to be just another exhaust company,” Crawford said. “As an enthusiast, I am creating products that not only push the limits of style and design, but provide riders a tremendous value.”


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As regulators always study payday financing and linked goods, a California business believes it’s come up with exclusive alternative for supplying credit to people with lower credit scores several finance institutions are usually joining.
Palo Alto-based SimpleFi try offering a site to financial institutions alongside firms by which they have low-rate, internet based financial loans and monetary training to enterprises’ workers.
Even though the services was simply for California and Oregon up to now, SimpleFi is actually positioned to expand across the country Feb. 1 considering a certification cooperation with an undisclosed industrial lender in nj.
“Our company is attempting to make high quality funding available to everybody,” stated Adam Potter, president of SimpleFi.
The growth arrives as regulators were creating formula with regards to payday credit and cracking upon deposit progress produced by finance companies. They represents area of the trend of upstarts attempting to crunch payroll information to interrupt payday advances and overdraft charge.
Those integrate Even, a business in Oakland, Calif, and that is piloting innovation that can, among other things, leave consumers become progress to their paychecks when they are experiencing earnings. ActiveHours, which created in 2014, can also be working to permit workers list their particular paydays and expense a tip in the customer’s preference as well as its user number includes workers at banking companies like Chase and Bank of America.
Which comes over perform by well-versed providers like FlexWage, Emerge economic Wellness, and bank-at-work tools.
The methods differ. Some, like ActiveHours, tend to be improving payroll and seeking a tip. SimpleFi, at the same time, try underwriting financial loans and charging you employers a fee.
Patrick Reily, co-founder and chief executive at Verde experts, said various issues could decrease the risk of default inside the staff member unit. For one thing, the debtor is employed (and it is likely to are) at that time the borrowed funds is initiated. Second, some type of automated debit is actually taken, while the repayment is virtually usually first-in a lineup of every nongovernment deduction from payroll. Third, the employee usually has actually an affinity for the boss.
The potential to assist develop a feasible alternative to payday lending is clearly motivating the production of a bungalow field.
“we’ve a need for money smoothing,” stated Arjan Schutte, president and dealing with lover at Core advancement money, a project capitalist company. “Our income comes in increments being at likelihood with costs.”
The advertisers’ merchandise all has various tastes but the majority of face a comparable constant struggle: they need to offer employers from the concept of providing just what some would see a perk but people discover as an unneeded hassle.
Resistance could feature anything from employers fearing these types of partnerships would plunge them into the financing companies for the constantly thorny problem of making sure workforce even comprehend the power is present.
The disrupters may also be addreng a segmet of fund that has been having a beating. The heightened scrutiny is travel nonbanks and banking companies out of the payday credit companies.
“The regulatory planet has actually every person running when it comes to mountains,” stated Schutte.
But SimpleFi, which developed two and a half years back, thinks it has something is of interest. It gives financial loans at singldigit prices, onon-one coaching to enhance economic education, and a reduced standard rate for the items, which is why the typical debtor credit history is 583. The reduced default prices and profits from workplace associates permits the startup to cost lower rates.
The firm aims to generate loans to individuals that more creditworthy than their unique credit history suggests and now have their particular businesses sponsor the perk.
“the audience is looking to get the much less risky an element of the underbanked,” said SimpleFi Potter.
Through SimpleFi system, 95percent of people who’ve applied for a loan happen accepted. (additionally presents a direct-to-consumer option for people within the army.) Because of its employee product, they stated it has got generated 1.5 million in financing with a default speed of lower than 2percent. The majority of clients pay back financial loans via immediate debit from their payroll bank account. It’s expecting to give to 100 million in 2015.
And SimpleFi stated its locating traction within economic treatments. It gives services to local financial institutions with more than 100 branches and also to credit Idaho title loans score rating unions.
Technologies credit score rating Union in California is the one. The institution thought integrating with SimpleFi fit its 2015 initiative: improving their monetary training for staff members, based on Jeannine Jacobsen, senior vice-president of human resources and enterprise issues control at tech Credit Union.
Beyond encouraging the financial loans, the SimpleFi team comes into the organization quarterly to pay for subject areas like how exactly to augment fico scores for many working for the financing union and enthusiastic about the education. Jacobsen said the business’s program could help workers who’re recovering from the receon or potentially millennials who need training about how to establish their own credit. It could additionally appeal to workforce who want to hold their own monetary circumstances exclusive using their company.
The wide tip is to look for approaches to help staff with monetary health to enable them to give attention to services as opposed to bother about funds worries, she said.
The inspiration for SimpleFi originated the Navy-Marine Corp comfort culture’s financial astance plan, which allows individuals bring interest-free loans, among other things.
Emulating the concept, Potter an old Marine officer try forging partnerships with businesses who happen to be willing to sponsor their employees. Simple Fi may demand a waiting period on employers with greater return prices. They currently prevents integrating with merchants and diners while the businesses generally have high turnover. In general, Potter said businesses happen warming-up for the idea in recent months.
Broadly, significantly more than 90percent of employers say they’ve been conditioning their own efforts to help staff the help of its economic health, based on an Aon Hewitt review.
In worker advantage products, Potter said, “finance is the subsequent boundary.”


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The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS), which will assist businesses with their energy costs during the winter months, will open for registrations tomorrow - Saturday 26 November.
The €1.2 billion scheme, which will be administered by Revenue, received approval from the European Commission yesterday.
Businesses will be able to use the online system to submit claims under the scheme from 5 December.
Payments under the scheme will be made once the Finance Bill, which contains the legislation underpinning the scheme, is enacted later in December.
Businesses who have seen their energy bills jump as a result of soaring wholesale prices caused by the war in Ukraine will receive aid in the form of direct grants.
Businesses that qualify will get up to 40% of the additional costs they are facing.
To quality they must demonstrate that their average monthly unit price for either electricity or gas has increased by at least 50%, compared to the average unit price for the same month in the previous year.
The scheme will run initially until 28 February, but may be extended until 30 April at the latest.
It will be open to companies of all sizes active in all sectors that are affected by the current crisis, the only exception being credit and financial institutions.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said the scheme is so important to so many businesses struggling to pay astronomical gas and electricity bills.
"My Government colleagues and I have been hearing from businesses all around the country about how much they really need this money - and we want to get it to them as soon as possible - ideally before Christmas," Mr Varadkar said.
"So I urge businesses owners and managers - have your bills ready, have your tax clearance certs ready, and make sure that your claim can be processed by Revenue without any undue delay," he added.
The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the TBESS scheme is the largest single item announced as part of Budget 2023.
He said the scheme will provide much needed support to thousands of businesses across the country who are experiencing a material shock to the price of their energy inputs.
"The approval by the European Commission paves the way for Revenue to open the online system for registrations for the scheme on 26 November, and to accept claims under the scheme from 5 December," he said.
"Businesses will start to receive payments under the scheme as soon as the Finance Bill is enacted later in December," he added.
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Minister Donohoe said the new scheme would be evaluated over time.
Paschal Donohoe said that during Covid he was called upon to do more with schemes in terms of expansion, but early next year the Government will review this by looking at hard data.
He said that the scheme recognises the huge challenge that small and medium sized businesses are now facing.
It will work with Revenue and make available up to €10,000 a month for businesses with one premises or up to €30,000 a month for those with multiple premises with payments to be made available by the end of the year.
He said that he fully understood and appreciated why some businesses felt the scope of the scheme was not enough, as some businesses - particularly smaller businesses - had "come through the gruelling experience that was trying to look after a business during Covid then face this".
"I utterly understand why they want to know what the future will bring and why I can't do more," he said.
"I need to be confident that whatever programme I bring forward is affordable and can make a difference and I believe we’ve got the balance right here," he added.
He said the Government will reach a view and evaluate the scheme in January and February for 2023.
"We will evaluate with hard facts and data in the coming months," he stated.


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Those who love to drink German beer will have a feast at the upcoming Oktoberfest at Solaire. The German Club Manila will be celebrating it’s 80th anniversary and partnered with Solaire Resort and Casino for Oktoberfest, promising the biggest and most authentic celebration to date.
The German Club Manila’s Oktoberfest is the longest-running and largest Oktoberfest celebration in the Philippines. Solaire is the ideal partner to host German Club Manila’s highly-anticipated event. Aside from Solaire’s expertise in staging international and local events, it is also home to the country’s finest bars and restaurants, which continue to provide impeccable culinary flavors and world-class service.
The three-day event will happen on October 4 – 6, 2018 (Thursday-Saturday) from 6pm to 2am, and will be held at the 2,400 sqm Solaire Oktoberfest Tent. Entrance to the Tent is located at The Gallery, ground floor of The Shoppes.
A grand showcase of German culture, Oktoberfest 2018 will feature free flow German beer, traditional Bavarian food prepared by Solaire’s German chef – sausages, pretzels, schnitzel, and many more, a 12-man German band called Bavarian Sound Express will be flying in from Germany as well as a German host and waitresses. There will also be exciting Oktoberfest games and lucky draws.
Over 25,000 liters of wheat beer and Oktoberfest beer from Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, will be served during the event.
Dress code is smart casual or German traditional outfit (lederhosen or dirndl). Only 18 years old and above are allowed inside the Oktoberfest Tent.
Quotes from German Club and Solaire Resort:
“The German Club is a 112-year-old membership club in Manila, and this year, we are celebrating our biggest Oktoberfest yet. We are very delighted to continue this tradition in the Philippines and celebrate the occasion with our Filipino friends. We are pleased to have a new partner in Solaire.” says German Club President Tobias Rast.
“As one of Manila’s premier destinations, we only aim to give the best experiences to our guests. We are honored and thrilled to be hosting this year’s Oktoberfest, and we want to make it even more memorable by ensuring that everything’s authentic – the beers, the food, and the entertainment. It’ll truly put the spotlight on the best of German culture.” says Solaire VP for Food & Beverage Bastian Breuer.
Ticket holders are entitled to a one-day entry and will be given a wristband based on their designated zone. They will also be given a German beer mug, which they can take home. Ticket holders can enjoy free flow German food and beer as well as snacks from the midnight buffet. (See appendix for pricing and zones)
• TicketWorld – www.ticketworld.com.ph Tickets from TicketWorld will be exchanged at the entrance for German Club tickets.
• German Club – Guests can buy tickets in their office located at 5F Penthouse, Eurovilla II Bldg., 118 V.A Rufino St., Legazpi Village, Makati City. You may reach them thru firstname.lastname@example.org or 818-4236.
• Solaire guests and Solaire Rewards members can also get tickets at Solaire Box Office/TicketWorld counter, which is open from 12noon to 9 pm daily.
• Tickets will also be available during the event.
Appendix: Pricing and zones


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Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) wants to become the biggest two wheeler manufacturer in India by 2020. To achieve this ambitious goal, Honda will launch four new products in the country every year. In 2013, the company has already launched Honda Dream Neo 110cc motorcycle and Honda CB Trigger 150cc, thus, 2 more products are in the pipeline for this-year.
In March-2013, we already reported our readers that Honda Lead 125cc scooter might be heading to India. Now our good friend at OnCars.in, Rohit Paradkar has tweeted ‘Honda 2 Wheelers is planning to launch a new scooter soon. Expected to b a flagship fr its scooter range & cud run a new 125cc mill.’ Although it’s unclear, we speculate the upcoming scooter could be the Honda Lead, which is already on-sale in Vietnam.
Under the skin, the Honda Lead comes powered with a 125cc, liquid cooled and single cylinder engine that provides low friction technology along with high fuel efficiency. It has been provided with Programmed Fuel Injection system (PGM-FI) for high mileage, but we doubt the company will offer the same in India for cost reasons. We expect the upcoming scooter to cost around Rs 50,000-55,000.
Coming to the styling and specification, Honda Lead has been provided with a 5-spoke wheel , V-shaped thick chrome strip also with integrated indicators by the side of the chrome strip, LED Tail lamps, both digital and manual tachometer along with a clock, fuel lid and seat can be opened using the rocker switch through the main key and also a huge 37-liters of storage space under the seat.
The automatic scooter segment in India is heating-up, this is a right move taken by the Honda to further strengthen its share in country’s two-wheeler market. The upcoming Honda scooter will directly compete with the most expensive scooter in the country, Piaggio Vespa. Once launched, it will also become a nightmare to the recently launched Yamaha Ray-Z.
Check out more pictures below the jump.
Source – Rohit Paradkar On Twitter


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Emu mines your conversations and smartphone sensors to add helpful details to messages.
Efforts to build robot hands and humanoids more cheaply could make them affordable enough for businesses and even homes.
Microsoft’s new personal assistant includes features found in Apple and Google’s own virtual helpers.
Samsung’s Galaxy S5 is the first smartphone that can use a fingerprint to authorize payments in stores and online.
A flexible electronic skin patch has strain gauges to measure tremors, and heating elements to release drugs held inside nanoparticles.
Crop yields are expected to decline due to climate change faster than scientists thought.
A startup’s software will let iPhone apps connect phones without the Internet.
A new tool roots out ads that are too easy for users to accidentally click.
Startup Mighty Cast thinks teens may want a wearable computer with modular components.
An itty-bitty camera could bring sight to the Internet of things.


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This Automaker Is Lifting Off with eVTOL Aircraft
- Stellantis makes $150 million available to Archer Aviation, as the eVTOL startup works toward the start of aircraft production.
- The Archer Midnight is a five-person eVTOL craft with a range of 100 miles, and is intended for short-hop flights typically lasting about 20 minutes.
- The automaker has lent its manufacturing expertise to Archer since 2020, as the air taxi industry prepares for the first operational rollout of this type of craft.
In addition to planning a wide range of electric vehicles, Stellantis will also help get electric flying vehicles off the ground. The automaker is doubling down on its commitment to eVTOL developer Archer Aviation, which plans to begin building the Midnight craft next year.
The automaker had already opened up its supply chain and manufacturing base to Archer starting in 2020, and now intends to get Archer’s new manufacturing facility in Covington, Georgia, up and running in a very short span of time. Stellantis will provide up to $150 million in capital to Archer over the next two years, as it approaches the start of eVTOL craft production.
“We’ve been working closely with Archer for the past two years, and I am continually impressed by their ingenuity and unwavering commitment to deliver,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO.
Archer’s planned Midnight craft is intended for back-to-back trips of just 20 miles, with a 10-minute charging session in between, and is designed to carry a pilot plus four passengers. But the craft is designed to have a nominal range of 100 miles on a full charge.
The Midnight is engineered to take off vertically and then transition to horizontal flight, like many other eVTOL hopefuls which use a variety of layouts. Archer’s design is one of the more conventional ones, with a plane-like fuselage and wing layout housing six propellers on each wing.
The craft is aimed at the air taxi business, which enjoyed quite a lot of publicity in the second half of the 2010s with fanciful plans from the likes of Uber, but has now cooled down along with the overly optimistic Level 5 autonomy bubble of the same time period. Archer is one of the “finalists” that have hung on to the dream of short trips in electric VTOL craft, thanks in part to continuing help from Stellantis.
The air taxi industry, still gathering momentum and hoping for the first operational flights around the middle of the decade, doesn’t quite intend to displace the helicopter industry, but rather open new types of short-hop routes that are typically done by cars.
In this manner it resembles an era of passenger helicopter travel of the late 1960s and early 1970s, particularly in New York City, aiming to whisk people from point to point over a large megapolis, rather than being an alternative to high-speed rail.
However, this industry has yet to reach a critical mass when it comes to operational debuts, with a number of eVTOL hopefuls planning to begin production in the next couple of years.
“Deepening our partnership with Archer as a strategic investor with plans for growing our shareholding demonstrates how Stellantis is pushing the boundaries to provide sustainable freedom of mobility, from the road to the sky,” Tavares added.
Are air taxis a worthwhile investment for automakers, or is this technology too niche to offer a challenge to helicopters this decade? Let us know in the comments below.


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Singapore Motorshow 2020 gears up to a fun-filled event for all!
With 36 participating automotive brands, the Motorshow is bigger than ever before
Singapore, 11 December 2019 – Singapore’s largest and most iconic annual motoring event, the Singapore Motorshow, will return to Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from January 9 to 12, 2020.
For the sixth year in a row, the Singapore Motorshow 2020 is presented by the Motor Traders Association of Singapore (MTA) in partnership with Mediacorp.
The four-day event will be held across three floors this year; levels 3, 4 and 6. Visitors can look forward to over 30 automotive brands showcasing over 100 cars. 20 new models are expected to be launched at the event.
This year, five more brands have come on board versus last year. They are BYD, Harley Davidson, MG, Renault and Lotus. In addition, there will be exhibitors showcasing automotive accessories, lifestyle products and services, hosting lucky draws and games for attendees to experience.
Aside from the plethora of cars, three-time Guinness World Record holder and British precision driver, Russ Swift will also be back by popular demand to showcase his driving skills. Sponsored by Subaru, visitors will be given an exciting display of stunts throughout the 45-minute shows, which take place at least four times a day. Tickets are free-of-charge and will be given out on a first come, first served basis on site.
Visitors can also look forward to special appearances by Mediacorp celebrities such as Shaun Chen, Paige Chua, Romeo Tan, Felicia Chin, Bonnie Loo and Ayden Sng, and have the chance to play games with the artistes and radio deejays from CLASS 95, GOLD 905, YES 933 and LOVE 972.
The Singapore Motorshow 2020 is presented by the Motor Traders Association of Singapore (MTA), in partnership with Mediacorp and in collaboration with official sponsors AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd (Official Insurer), HL Bank (Official Bank) and Shell (Official Automotive Lubricants & Fuel). The Singapore Motorshow 2020 is also sponsored by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).
For more information on the Singapore Motorshow 2020, visit www.motorshow.com.sg.


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GM HOLDEN is standing behind its dealership awards programs despite the awards being classed as “no longer relevant” by some sacked dealers.
The Grand Master and Chairman’s Awards are handed out annually to up to 32 dealers who achieve benchmark criteria in departments including sales, service and parts.
They are effectively a public endorsement by GM of the high standards the winning dealers have achieved and an indicator of the valued role winning dealers have within the Holden retail network.
But the industry was shocked when Metro Holden in Adelaide, one of Holden’s most-awarded dealers, was sacked in 2017.
Metro Holden had won the Grand Master award 18 times and was even a Grand Master dealer last year. It also recorded sales in 2017 that placed it fourth in Australia.
The sacking led to an unsuccessful court bid aimed at being reinstated, during which the judge in the case questioned during the hearing why Holden would sack such an award-winning dealer.
Former Holden dealers – who do not wish to be named – have said the awards showed Holden paid little attention to the success of its dealers.
“It’s a case of paying lip service to dealers when, despite getting awards on a regular basis, they lose their franchise,” said one.
Asked by GoAutoNews Premium at the recent launch of the new imported Holden Commodore about why GM would sack and awarded-winning dealer, GM Holden president and CEO Mark Bernhard replied that the reduction of its dealers was not based on performance but on location.
“Clearly any rationalisation is really tough,” he said.
“You are dealing with real people and their businesses. We took the view based on where the volumes were and unfortunately it meant that we didn’t need as many dealers as before.
“It was a robust review and that has all finished now.”
The exact number of sacked dealers was not available from Holden with staff saying only “about 30” were included on the hit list.
“It doesn’t put the programs into doubt,” he said of the Grand Masters and Chairman’s Awards events.
“As I said it was a robust review that wasn’t based on performance but on where we needed the right dealer to sustain the volume that we see in the future.
“There will be no change to the awards now or into the future.”
In 2016, Mr Bernhard was on record as saying: “the 2015 Grand Masters winners have delivered exceptional results in all areas of the business and demonstrated an outstanding ongoing commitment to serving our customers.”
Comment by Neil Dowling and John Mellor


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Starting tomorrow Google will completely drop support for EAS leaving many Windows Phone users out in the cold. If you haven't received the GDR2 update you won't be able to sync Gcal and Contacts.
Windows 10 Build 10125 leaks online
Ulefone Be Touch: Video unboxing and first impressions
LG G4 Review - the phone that tries to offer everything
"..is now a top seller and lets you put all your favorite sci-fi ships against each other" - Brad Wardell
galactic civilizations 3
Tronsmart's USB Smart Charger; an ideal solution for the household?
All the latest news for Windows 10 Mobile and Desktop previews
Google has reversed an earlier decision and will now allow all developers to access its CalDAV calendar API, and has also opened support for the CardDAV contact API to the general public as well.
The update for Windows Phone that will support CalDAV and CardDAV will arrive in the first half of 2013 according to a product manager for Windows Phone who was interview by a German media outlet.


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U.S. luxury retailer Neiman Marcus Group is debuting its NMG awards to recognize fashion luminaries and their contribution to the wider world.
Among those honored will be Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli, who will receive the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion. This award recognizes Mr. Cucinelli’s craftsmanship as well as his commitment to humanistic values.
"The platform is an embodiment of our longstanding devotion to fashion and delighting luxury customers," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, in a statement to Luxury Daily. With these awards, NMG will bring the full strength of Neiman Marcus’ merchandising and brand marketing to deliver our honorees’ unique brand expression and creativity, connecting them to our luxury customer in an entirely new way."
Dallas-based Neiman Marcus Group owns the Neiman Marcus department store chain and the Horchow catalog and ecommerce business.
The NMG awards honor the company’s brand partners with similar values and are part of the company’s efforts to continue a style style of “retail-tainment,” providing customers with immersive experiences.
Since 1938, the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion has been given to some of the industry’s most leaders such as Yves Saint Laurent, Coco Chanel and Christian Dior. Before resuming the award for 2023, the most recent recipient was designer Carolina Herrera in 2016.
Brunello Cucinelli has enjoyed a partnership with the Neiman Marcus Group for more than 20 years.
As part of the honor, Mr. Cucinelli designed the “Icon Collection” for Neiman Marcus, which, for the first time in their partnership, sees each piece labeled as “Exclusively Designed for Neiman Marcus.”
Available beginning in April, the collection includes ready-to-wear shoes and bags for both men and women.
Since founding his eponymous company in 1978, Mr. Cucinelli has been crafting clothing which, Neiman Marcus acknowledges, buyers collect like pieces of art.
Yet, as this award recognizes, his contributions go beyond art and design.
Mr. Cucinelli has long been a proponent of what he calls ‘humanistic capitalism,’ with a focus on fair profits and growth for workers.
The Brunello and Federica Cucinelli Foundation, named for the designer and his wife, supports Mr. Cucinelli's hometown of Solomeo, Italy, part of a greater support for the Italian crafting traditions that contribute to his professional expertise.
This support extends to protecting the town’s land and its monuments. He has funded several initiatives that look to preserve and restore Solomeo and its surroundings. In 2019, he committed to reducing his company’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70 percent.
Mr. Cucinelli's commitment to enhancing knowledge is evidenced by his School of Contemporary High Craftsmanship and Arts, located in Solomeo.
The awards celebration will be held in March during Paris Fashion Week. There, recipients of the new Neiman Marcus Award for Creative Impact in the Field of Fashion will also be honored.
"(After) more than two decades of partnership with Brunello Cucinelli, Neiman Marcus Group has come to value not only his masterful craftsmanship and design, but also the principles attributed to his brand," said Mr. van Raemdonck.
"Brunello’s enduring commitments to humanistic values made him the clear choice as the 2023 recipient of the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion. He has made a profound impact on luxury fashion, and we believe will continue to do so as we look to our industry’s future."


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Business News of Thursday, 10 October 2019
The Spanish Embassy in Ghana has held its “Wines from Spain: Cheers Spain” fair in Accra to offer professionals in the wine and hospitality industries in Ghana the opportunity to showcase their products and network with various wine distributors from Spain.
Head of Economic and Commercial Office at the Embassy, Miguel Higuera in an interview with GhanaWeb said that he is confident Ghanaian wine distributors will be granted export opportunities to other markets in the near future.
“Spain is currently one of the main wine exporters to Ghana and its presence is growing fast and the years ahead are full of excitement for Spanish wine makers and we are hopeful of collaborating with Ghanaian wine distributors and enthusiasts to continue to enjoy them,” he said.
He added that “we also want Ghanaians to understand Spanish wine and it is essential to realize that there are many different origins of wine and it is important to notice that there are as many as 70 denominations of wine experience and what benefits each of them has to offer.”
Highlighting on the importance of the Spanish wine sector, Mr. Higuera said the country is one of the three biggest producers and exporters worldwide adding that, three Spanish wineries – Bodegas Valdepablo, Bodegas Illana and RM Rioja – are currently present in Ghana to introduce their products to Ghanaian distributors.
Ghanaian wine distributors who participated in the fair include Don Emilio, Marina Distribution, Prestige Trade, TT Brothers Limited and West Africa & Gulf Company Ltd.
Patrons were offered more than 80 wines from an array of Spanish regions.
Mr. Higuera used the occasion to thank all the wine and hospitality professionals who have promoted Spanish wines in Ghana.


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Cybersecurity is important for companies of all sizes, but it can be difficult for smaller businesses to keep their companies protected.
To help businesses do this, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) recently launched a new program called RE: Cyber. The organization realized that many leaders of small and medium size businesses lack the resources and tools they need to protect their companies against cyberthreats.
"We want to ensure that small businesses are empowered and have smart cybersecurity plans in place to stay safe online and continue to build customer trust," said Michael Kaiser, executive director of NCSA.
The RE: Cyber program is a Web page dedicated to CEO and board cybersecurity risk management. It's meant to supply CEOs and boards with tools to understand and assess their companies' cyber risks and find ways to better manage them. [For a side-by-side comparison of the best anti-virus software for small business, visit our sister site Top Ten Reviews.]
RE: Cyber features informative articles that give detailed information on cyberthreat trends tailored to CEOs and board members, and answer questions like, "Why can't my information technology staff or security consultants just handle the problem?" The site also offers outlines that explain how companies can assess their risks and implement security plans that work for them, as well as tips for helping employees understand the risks and how they can work with the company to prevent breaches.
The NCSA's ultimate goal for RE: Cyber is to get CEOs and boards to do their part to protect their companies and the country's economic future by including cybersecurity in their enterprise risk management.
"It's time to shift our viewpoint on cybersecurity from one dominated by vulnerability to focusing on building a safer, more secure and trusted Internet," Kaiser said.
The NCSA, which recently partnered with the International Franchise Association (IFA)to further the alliance's cybersecurity efforts, also collaborated with Business Executives for National Security (BENS) to create the RE: Cyber program.
Originally published on Business News Daily.


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- Google has finally rolled out Android 12 (stable build).
- Realme UI 3.0 is slated to be unveiled in India this month.
- Realme GT series devices will be the first to receive the latest Realme UI 3.0 and Android 12.
Yesterday, Google announced the Android 12 stable build and alongside that, it opened the gates for the Android manufacturers to start teasing the arrival of their respective Android 12-based custom skins. Realme, being one of them, has officially confirmed that it will unveil its brand new Realme UI 3.0 in the Indian market (as well as in the global market) in October. The brand has also confirmed that the Realme GT series devices will be the first amongst the brand’s plethora of smartphones to receive Android 12-based Realme UI 3.0.
Realme GT Neo2 to come with Realme UI 3.0 out of the box?
While nowhere near an official confirmation, there is a possibility that the brand’s upcoming Realme GT Neo2 in India could come with Realme UI 3.0 out of the box. If not, since it is a GT-series handset, it should still be among the first in line to receive the Android 12 update.
As far as what features we can expect in Realme UI 3.0 are concerned, there is little information available as of now, but we can expect it to feature (most of) the good stuff Android 12 has in store, including the new interface elements, icons, layouts, and, most importantly, Material You design.
For now, this is pretty much all the information that we have on the upcoming Realme UI 3.0, but we will make sure to keep you posted on the same if and when we receive any more intel on the same. On a side note, a poster claiming that Realme would unveil its Realme UI 3.0 on October 13 has also popped up on the internet. We cannot confirm the legitimacy of the poster because there has been no mention of this poster by the brand so far. Plus, the text on the poster (will be launched on 13.Oct) is a bit, well, weird, for the lack of a better word.
Nevertheless, the date more or less coincides with the earlier rumours surrounding the India launch date of the Realme GT Neo2 and it seems likely that the brand might unveil its newest skin, as well as its newest GT-series device at the same event.


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With the growth of menswear expected to outpace womenswear in the next three years, Mr Porter is looking to capitalize by launching a contemporary line of its own.
The in-house label — which is called Mr P. and officially launches on November 7 — will include a year-round collection of essentials and staple items, as well as trend-driven seasonal capsule collections inspired by iconic men. (The first will be an ode to 20th century British painter Lucian Freud during the height of his 1950s style.) Though Mr Porter has previously forayed into designing its own clothing with lines created in collaboration with “The Kingsman” movie series in both 2014 and 2017, Mr P. will be the first true standalone brand permanently offered by the menswear e-commerce site owned by Yoox Net-A-Porter.
The 60-item collection includes 24 basic styles and 29 rotating pieces, and will be paired with editorial content like instructional style articles and videos that will be housed on Mr Porter’s weekly digital magazine, The Journal. According to Olie Arnold, style director at Mr Porter, the goal of Mr P. is to diversify Mr Porter’s product assortment and serve as a catalyst to lure new contemporary brand partners.
Mr Porter currently sells more than 400 brands to 170 countries, and most are luxury brands that lean on the side of formalwear. Arnold said Mr P. has the potential to appeal to younger men to further widen Mr Porter’s consumer demographic, given Mr Porter’s average consumer is in their mid-thirties. Mr P. is also a response to larger market trends that show an increase of interest among men of all ages in fashion, largely propelled by social media. According to a report by retail analytics firm Edited, menswear is forecasted to be valued by $33 billion by 2020, an increase of 14 percent from 2015.
“Mr Porter can sometimes be out of [a man’s] league, from a price point of view,” Arnold said. “For those who don’t know about our casual and contemporary markets, we’re hoping this will help bring more traffic in.”
The designs for Mr P. were heavily informed by seven years worth of consumer data and shopping habits. These reports found men are buying more casual looks at lower price points than ever before, ultimately spotlighting an opportunity to profit on contemporary offerings, Arnold said. Prices for the collection range from $160 for a classic Oxford shirt, to $865 for a double-breasted overcoat.
“We have this incredible access to data. That’s been a starting point for how we arrange planning,” Arnold said. “[Creating Mr P.] has been something we’ve talked about for several years; it was always the case of when, not if. We’ve learned a lot from ‘The Kingsman’ label and from working with brands, and seeing that internal production system. It felt like the time was right.”
Continuing to hold strategic discussions with brands and collaborating closely to share insights will be important to Mr Porter as it continues to evolve the Mr P. brand, Arnold said. In preparation for the launch, the team held transparent discussions with existing contemporary vendors to ensure the launch of Mr P. will not threaten their position on the site.
“We want to make sure we’re bolstering the market and not taking away from others,” Arnold said. “We’ve been really upfront with them. Our intention is to make that market bigger — we would only have a positive impact by bringing more people into the market.”
Image courtesy of Mr Porter


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Morrisons has said it plans to launch an online food offer by January 2014 to better compete with rivals as it posted its first fall in full-year profits for six years.
Unlike the other grocers that make up Britain's so called "big four" - market leader Tesco, Wal-Mart's Asda and J Sainsbury - Morrisons currently does not have a website for the home delivery of food.
Morrisons is in talks with British online grocer Ocado which could lead to some form of partnership deal, but has said its online offering would not be dependant on the Ocada talks.
Today's announcement that we are launching an online food offer in 2014 is another important step in Morrisons strategy of being 'Different and Better than Ever'. We may be a late entrant to the online food market but we have learnt from our involvement with Kiddicare and Fresh Direct. We have long been a leader in fresh food and our craft skills and vertical integration really set us apart 3 from the competition. Ensuring that these points of difference translate into our online food offer will be a priority.
More top news
The term 'photobomb' has been named the Word of the Year 2014 by lexicographers at Collins English Dictionary.
A Swiss supermarket has apologised for its "unforgivable blunder" after selling coffee cream with pictures of Hitler and Mussolini on.
The Tonight programme looks at government efforts to improve our general wellbeing, and offers tips on how we can all boost our happiness.


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Business & Finance
Reuters reported exclusively that British businesses were rushing to stockpile goods just five weeks before post-Brexit customs checks come into force on Jan. 1, driving up the cost of cross-border deliveries and cutting capacity. The frantic activity reflects rising concerns that Britain’s final departure from the world’s biggest trading bloc will bring chaos at its frontiers as companies struggle to navigate a full customs border for the first time since 1993.
Topics of Interest: Business & Finance
Type: Reuters Best
Win Types: Exclusivity
Story Types: Exclusive / Scoop
Media Types: Text
Customer Impact: Major Global Story


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Hamad Port to redefine region’s shipping industry
05 Sep 2017 - 23:14
By Satish Kanady / The Peninsula
Winds of change are blowing in the corridors of the region’s shipping industry. The opening of $7.4bn ultramodern Hamad Port will chart a fresh course on the region’s coastal cargo transportation industry, experts told The Peninsula.
Industry leaders who spoke to this newspaper said the new port has all the potential to emerge as one of the leading international transshipment hubs.
With the full-fledged operations of Qatar’s free economic zones, Hamad Port can attract the businesses of UAE ports, particularly Dubai’s flagship port Jebel Ali, they said.
“The opening of Hamad Port has certainly transformed the dynamics of regional shipping industry. International market is watching ultramodern Hamad Port with great expectations”, a senior official at Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), told The Peninsula.
“Historically , containers to and fro Qatar was routed via Jebel Ali. Now, Hamad port has all the facilities to receive even the largest container ships in the world and the state of the art facility has all the possibilities and potential to become a transshipment hub for the region. The timing of the port opening is very important. An estimated 700- 900 trucks were crossing the Abu Samra border on daily basis until June 4 . Now these volumes are containerised and Hamad port is facilitating the movements”, the official said on condition of anonymity as he is not officially authorised to speak on behalf of his company.
MSC, the world leader in global shipping industry, was the first company to operate the maiden liner service to Hamad Port during the port’s soft opening in December 2016. MSC has a mother vessel serving Hamad Port on a weekly basis from China ( New Falcon Service ) and own feeders operating in Salalah and Kuwait.
Typically, cargo for Qatar stops at Dubai’s massive deep-water Jebel Ali port or in Abu Dhabi, then gets put on smaller boats heading to Doha. In a sense, the country has been largely depending on UAE ports. Qatar no more needs the support of UAE ports.
It can now reach out to international markets on its own. Going forward, Qatar Port is will be in a position to even attracting businesses from Dubai Port, said another Industry expert, whose company has strong business interests with Dubai port.
According to Nader Kabbani, Director of Research-Brookings Doha Center (Senior Fellow-Global Economy and Development), Qatar imports roughly 40 percent of its food overland through Saudi Arabia, and most of the rest via shipping routes that pass through UAE ports of Dubai and Fujairah to refuel.
The region has been showing little sign of any dramatic ramp-up of port capacity for long. The opening of mega facility in Qatar is expected to attract higher container volumes. With huge logistic facilities under construction and the opening of Qatar’s economic zones, Qatar will eventually emerge as an international transshipment hub posing serious threat to Dubai port, said another industry expert.


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Shares of Hormel Foods Corp. HRL, +1.13% fell 0.6% in premarket trade Thursday, after the foods company, which brands include Skippy, Spam and Natural Choice, reported fiscal second-quarter results that fell a bit shy of forecasts. Net income for the quarter to April 29 rose to $237.4 million, or 44 cents a share, from $210.9 million, or 39 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. The FactSet consensus for earnings per share was 45 cents. Revenue increased to $2.33 billion from $2.19 billion, but missed the FactSet consensus of $2.37 billion. Among Hormel's segments, grocery products sales fell 1.4% to $631.6 million but beat the FactSet consensus of $568.8 million, while refrigerated foods sales rose 13.6% to $1.17 billion to miss expectations of $1.25 billion. Jennie-O Turkey Store sales fell 4.2% to $371.9 million, just shy of the FactSet consensus of $376.6 million. The company affirmed its fiscal 2018 EPS outlook of $1.81 to $1.95 and its revenue guidance of $9.70 billion to $10.10 billion. The stock has rallied 9.7% over the past three months through Wednesday, while the S&P 500 SPX, +1.32% had slipped 0.5%.
Shares of Hormel Foods Corp. and Sanderson Farms Inc. fell more than 4% Thursday, after their quarterly earnings fell short of expectations and reflected the inflationary pressures that have weighed on many food companies this season.
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According to research group Gartner's latest global IT outsourcing survey conducted among 1002 companies, 495 of which were in Asia Pacific, Australian companies were found to be less strategic in their use of outsourcing than other developed economies.
In Australia, 63% of companies who outsource use multiple service providers, with the average number being 3.4. Yet 84% of Australian companies say they have no sourcing strategy in place, making their decisions purely ad hoc. Globally, this compares to 46% of companies that don't have a formal sourcing strategy.
'Outsourcing has typically been seen as an IT or procurement issue. But this survey in Australia raises important questions about proper risk-management and business continuity, not to mention the appropriate use of shareholder or company funds,' said Rolf Jester, Gartner vice president and analyst.
'The lack of an appropriate multisourcing strategy will lead to business disruptions at best, a business disaster at worst,' he said.
'As part of their sourcing strategy, organisations must carefully examine the goals they wish to reach from outsourcing, as well as their concerns. This exercise will not only help develop a sourcing strategy, sourcing maxims and the prioritisation of goals, but it will educate various stakeholders about realistic outcomes and possible false assumptions or misperceptions currently held about outsourcing,' Mr Jester said.


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Description: Fashion blog specializing in celebrity and TV show fashion and style.
Description: The latest celebrity gossip, news and more from Heatworld.
Description: Entertainment website featuring news, photos, info and videos related to celebrity, music and movies interest.
Description: Breaking celebrity news and entertainment news headlines.
Description: Read about the latest surgery rumors regarding celebrities. You can also compare the before and after pictures.


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Google provides 5,000 scholarships to Ukrainians for Coursera platform
Google provides 5,000 scholarships to Ukrainians (Photo:REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo)
Google is to provide 5,000 scholarships to Ukrainians who have lost their jobs or who are at risk of losing them, granting access and full support for training on the Coursera platform, it was reported in one of the tech company’s blogs on Sept. 22.
Google is cooperating with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs to offer professional certifications to 1,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises to empower their businesses and create new opportunities for their employees.
Upon completion of the program, participants can add their certifications to their CVs and LinkedIn profiles.
Training is available online on the Coursera platform and covers the following areas:
- Digital Marketing and E-Commerce
- IT support
- Analytics data
- Project Management
It is noted Google has allocated over EUR 3 million in grant funding for the implementation of the project.
As reported earlier, Amazon Web Services will provide $820,000 in credits to Ukrainian start-ups for the use of its cloud technologies.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News


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Golf Retailer Signs Three Leases for New Experiential Golf Retail Stores;
Plans for new locations in Glendale (Phoenix), Hilton Head and Jacksonville
(ATLANTA, GA) – Leading golf equipment and apparel retailer PGA TOUR Superstore continues to show signs it is bucking a retail trend by announcing the signing of leases for three new stores in 2017.
With a successful interactive retail model in place, PGA TOUR Superstore recently acquired a Sports Authority location in Glendale, Arizona, set to open in January 2017, and is also planning new stores in Hilton Head, South Carolina (for April 2017) and in Jacksonville, Florida (later next year). This November, PGA TOUR Superstore will also open a 45,500 square foot store in Woodland TX, its 27th store (just outside of Houston).
“There are more than 26 million golfers in America and there is a demand for the experience we provide,” said Dick Sullivan, President & CEO of PGA TOUR Superstore. “We have built a retail model that is second to none and we’re eager to bring our unmatched retail experience to golf-centric markets.”
Glendale represents the company’s fifth Arizona location (joining Chandler, North Scottsdale, Scottsdale and Tucson), while Hilton Head represents their third store in South Carolina (joining Myrtle Beach and South Myrtle Beach) and Jacksonville will be the fourth PGA TOUR Superstore Florida location (joining Delray Beach, Naples and Orlando).
“With close to 30 percent of golfers playing 100 million rounds a year, our aim is to get these players through our doors and provide them with an experience they will relish and want to revisit. Our brand has been well received by golfers of all levels but particularly avids so expanding our presence in Houston, Phoenix, Hilton Head and Jacksonville is at the core of our growth.”
PGA TOUR Superstore’s model for success has shown consistent growth serving more than seven million customers annually. Each store is staffed with PGA of America teaching professionals and houses up to 14 state-of-the-art swing simulators and hitting bays, and an expansive putting green along with an in-house club making and repair facility to provide a unique, interactive experience to golf enthusiasts of all levels. They offer the largest selection of golf clubs, balls, accessories, apparel, footwear and tennis of any retailer in the U.S.
For more information, visit www.pgatoursuperstore.com.


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On Wednesday, Tesla Inc became the world’s highest-valued automaker as their shares skyrocketed at record-high. Tesla’s market capitalization overtook the previous crown holder Toyota Motors Corp.
Reportedly, Tesla has gained 5% during the morning trade at a record of $1,133, which boosted the electric car maker’s market cap to an unbelievable $209.47 billion.
Tesla has now gained an approximately $6 billion gain on Toyota. Moreover, Tesla is now worth three times the value of General Motors Co and even Ford Motor Co.
Overall, Tesla’s shares have jumped by a whopping 163% since the start of 2020, and more confidence has grown amongst the investors in regards to the bright future of electric vehicles, which is the brand’s niche.
Tesla has had some ups and down with many losses along the way if we summarize the past couple of years altogether. However, the third-quarter of 2019 came as a pleasant surprise; investors reported a decent umber of first-quarter deliveries despite the global coronavirus pandemic.
Before Tesla, Toyota has been dominating the automotive market by being one of the world’s most profitable auto manufacturers as it sold 10.46mn units of cars in 2019. Reportedly, it generated $281.20 billion during the fiscal year.
Whereas on the other hand, Tesla generated total revenue of $24.6 billion by delivering 367,200 units. Tesla’s Chief Executive Elon Musk has said that the automaker targets to hit the 500,000 targets for 2020, despite the pandemic.
Tesla will be sharing its reports for the second quarter later this week.
Tesla’s Cyber Truck
The Tesla Cybertruck became a worldwide viral hit after founder Elon Musk displayed the on its debut day. But, what people remember from the launch event was how the windows of the truck smashed!
The vehicle was first struck with a sledgehammer in what appeared to be a successful demonstration of its armor body’s strength.
But, that had caused an unseen crack which had subsequently led to the windows smashing when they had been hit with a steel ball.
The automaker already released the specs for the truck. It is going to be available in three options:
- Single Motor RWD with 250 miles, 3,500 lbs payload capacity and 7,500 lbs of towing capacity – for $39,900
- Dual Motor AWD with over 300 miles, 3,500 lbs payload capacity and 10,000 lbs towing capacity – for $49,900
- Tri-Motor AWD with over 500 miles, 3,500 lbs of payload and 14,000 pounds of towing capacity – Starting from $69,900
Nonetheless, we are still very much intrigued by Musk’s creation and are looking forwards to this GTA inspired ride to launch officially.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.


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LEADING South Yorkshire home improvements company Yorkshire Windows has a new website.
Completely rebranded and refreshed, the new website – which has been created by Halifax web design company Cubic State – is now also mobile and tablet friendly.
“We are delighted with the approach that the Cubic State team took as they set about giving us the look we needed to take us into the future,” said Yorkshire Windows Managing Director Ian Chester.
“It’s a brighter but softer contemporary look and is also extremely informative and easy to navigate.
“We are delighted with what has been achieved and believe it will be an enormous asset as we look forward to another year of growth in 2019.”
Yorkshire Windows is the South Yorkshire specialist in uPVC doors and windows, composite doors, bi-fold doors, conservatories, orangeries, verandahs, secondary glazing, garage doors and roofline products.
Based at the Bradmarsh Industrial Estate in Rotherham, the company’s showroom is at Ferndale Garden Centre in Dyche Lane, Donfield, on the outskirts of Sheffield.
Visit the new Yorkshire Windows website at yorkshirewindows.com


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Chinese electric-vehicle maker NIO (NIO -5.00%) said that its deliveries more than doubled in August, as it continued an impressive rebound from a coronavirus-induced slump earlier in the year.
NIO delivered 3,965 vehicles to customers last month, up 104.1% from August of 2019, in its best-ever monthly total. That included 1,125 of its top-of-the-line ES8 SUV, revamped earlier this year, and 2,840 of its five-passenger ES6 crossovers.
Year to date through August, NIO's deliveries increased by 109.9% from the same period last year.
NIO is expected to begin shipping its third model, the sporty EC6 crossover, before the end of September.
Its August sales record isn't likely to stand for long. CEO William Bin Li said that after a recent assembly line overhaul, the company's manufacturing partner now has the ability to build up to 5,000 NIOs per month.
Separately, NIO said that its secondary offering of American depositary shares, announced last Friday, has been completed. It sold a total of 101,775,000 shares at $17 each, raising roughly $1.7 billion after fees, as the banks underwriting the offering fully exercised their options to purchase additional shares.
Li said the additional funds have strengthened NIO's balance sheet and left it better prepared to increase its pace of self-driving technology development, and to expand to new markets outside of China in time.


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Solid Feed Segment Performance and Recovery in the Food Segment
Exploring Phase III Expansion of Diamond Green Diesel JV with Valero
IRVING, Texas, Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR), a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries, today announced financial results for the 2017 third quarter ended September 30, 2017.
Third Quarter 2017 Overview
- Revenue of $937.7 million, up 9.8%
- Net income of $7.8 million, or $0.05 per GAAP diluted share
- Adjusted EBITDA of $110.5 million
- Strong balance sheet with debt reduction of $18.5 million
- Global raw material volumes strong, up 3.8%
- Improved global pricing environment, with fats holding firm while protein prices were mixed
- Food Segment highlighted by improved performance across gelatin markets
- Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) facility results tempered due to EPA uncertainty; JV exploring Phase III expansion
For the third quarter of 2017, the Company reported net sales of $937.7 million, as compared with net sales of $853.9 million for the third quarter of 2016. Net income attributable to Darling for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $7.8 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $28.7 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2016. The decrease in net income for the third quarter 2017 is due to higher selling, general and administrative expenses, depreciation expense related to new plant locations in our Feed Ingredients segment, and the absence of the blenders tax credit, which was included in the third quarter 2016 results but has not yet been reinstated for 2017.
Comments on the Third Quarter 2017
"The success of our diversified business model continued to deliver consistent earnings even in volatile markets. Our teams delivered solid results across our business segments supported by strong global rendering volumes and an improved performance in Rousselot and CTH. Despite general seasonality impacting our third quarter and a fire incident at our Rendac facility, we executed well on our key financial metrics," said Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darling Ingredients Inc.
"We remain optimistic the EPA will support the earlier announced Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) mandates, and we remain confident that the blenders tax credit could soon be reinstated. Additionally, we are excited about our just announced joint intention with our partner, Valero Energy, to explore further expansion of DGD, potentially doubling its capacity to 550 million gallons annually by 2021," concluded Mr. Stuewe.
Operational Update by Segment
- Feed Ingredients – EBITDA up 2.0 percent to $80.5 million; revenue up 8.3 percent to $575.5 million; gross margin up 6.9 percent $125.9 million; raw material processed up 3.8 percent.
- Food Ingredients – EBITDA up 36.4 percent to $34.5 million; revenue up 14.6 percent to $300.3 million; gross margin up 18.6 percent to $60.1 million; raw material processed up 9.2 percent.
- Fuel Ingredients – EBITDA down 37.2 percent to $8.1 million; revenue up 2.3 percent $61.9 million; gross margin down 46.5 percent to $7.6 million; raw material processed down 2.2 percent.
- Diamond Green Diesel Joint Venture (DGD) –Delivered in line despite legislative uncertainty. EBITDA of $0.49 per gallon with negative impact from lack of blenders tax credit in 2017 versus 2016. JV exploring further expansion to 550 million gallons of annual production beyond current 275 million gallon capacity planned for Q2 2018 completion.
For More Information:
Melissa A. Gaither, VP IR and Global Communications
Email : firstname.lastname@example.org
251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300, Irving, Texas 75038
Phone : 972-281-4478
SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc.


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Is the radiation emitted by your smartphone dangerous? This is undoubtedly one of the most frequently asked questions in France today. For example, the government agency ANFR recently recognized the radiation level in Apple’s iPhone 12 models as “dangerous” and banned their sale. The ANFR stated that the phones emit excessive levels of radio waves, which can pose a threat to the health of users.
After this incident, it was expected that Apple would enter into legal battles to overturn the ban. However, things did not go as expected. Instead, the company took a step back and promised to fix the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro’s radiation levels through a software update.
The company told Reuters that it will release a software update for users in France to comply with the testing methods used by French regulators.
“We are pleased that the iPhone 12 will continue to be available in France. This is about meeting specific testing requirements set by France, not about security,” the statement said.
Apple iPhone radiation
Don’t worry, Apple has also said that the iPhone 12 does not pose a health risk due to radiation. The problem is related to a specific testing protocol used by French regulators. The company did not specify when the software update would be available, but they said it would be “in a few days.”
Once the update is available, users will be able to download it through the Settings app on their iPhone. However, the French regulatory agency ANFR will need to conduct new tests to lift the sales ban.
It’s important to note that the iPhone 12 is not the first Apple device to be banned in France due to concerns about radiation levels. In 2019, the ANFR banned the sale of the iPhone 8 and iPhone Xr after it was found that the devices exceeded permissible radiation levels. Apple subsequently released a software update that resolved the issue.


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The Hyundai Virtual Guide will soon be launched by the company and will be a pioneering move in the augmented reality space going by market sources and released information.
Hyundai is stepping into a highly innovative space with its new app. This move is being hailed by industry experts and associations as the company is finally stepping into the augmented reality space, a step that it had been mulling for quite some time. The Hyundai Virtual Guide can now identify and offer vital information relating to Smart Cruise Control, air filter, warning indicators, Bluetooth phone pairing, brake fluid, engine oil, smart trunk and fuse box. The Korean automotive giant wishes to integrate AR car manuals directly into the hands of its customers.
The Hyundai Virtual Guide will be a free app and will be released by the company later in 2015. The app will be compatible with both Android and iOS devices. At the time of its launch, the Hyundai Virtual Guide will be empowered to identify in excess of 45 features of the gorgeous 2015 Hyundai Sonata luxury sedan. Two and three dimensional tracking technologies are made use of by this guide, thereby allowing users to position their tablet or smartphone cameras over various areas and parts of their vehicles to attain extra information and details. Hyundai has claimed that there are six 3D overlays that will pop up on devices post scanning of car parts. However, AR manuals and how-to’s will not be displayed at all times.
Scanning of the car should throw up one of the 82 videos that are integrated into the manual. The 2015 Sonata will be the first of many such models with AR manuals as Hyundai is looking at enlisting all its hot selling car models as quickly as possible.


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Brits favour product ads if they get cheaper TV content
Monday 30 August 2010
Six out of 10 British viewers say they will welcome product placement if it means free content or cheaper premium television, with experts predicting the advertising could be worth more than £100m as the economy recovers.
The findings from YouGov and Deloitte, just months before the rules are set to be relaxed, are positive for an industry that is desperately trying to boost revenues after being hit by the recession, a fall in advertising spending and a fragmenting market.
While only a quarter of viewers aged 55 or over would accept product placement, there was much more traction among younger viewers, and it was backed by seven out of 10 among 18 to 24-year-olds. Paul Lee, media director at Deloitte, said, "There already is a widespread pragmatic understanding of the trade-off between advertising, in all forms, and the funding of content" among the public. He added: "Indeed if the economic outlook were to weaken, the public may even urge greater quantities of product placement, if this meant cheaper quality television."
While two-fifths of those polled found product placement annoying, 72 per cent watch programmes regardless of whether such advertising was in it.
Among younger viewers, 81 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds were willing to watch programmes with product placement. Only 5 per cent would avoid such programmes altogether. YouGov found that even in the current era of prop placement – where shows can use donated products if they fit with the context – 41 per cent of respondents said they had had occasionally purchased a product having seen it on TV.
The European Union approved plans to loosen product placement rules in 2007. The UK's media regulator, Ofcom, is still consulting on the issue, and is expected to give the go-ahead for next year.
Legislation allowing the relaxation of the broadcasting code came into force in April. While product placement will be allowed in film, drama, sports and light entertainment, it will be banned in children's, religious and current affairs programmes.
First-year revenues from product placement on TV are expected to be in the "low tens of millions," according to Deloitte, but they believe it could add as much as £140m a year as the rules are relaxed and the economy recovers. That would represent about 4 per cent of current advertising revenues, which are expected to total £3.25bn for 2010.
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Spotify, the world's biggest on-demand music service, could finally turn a profit in 2017, one of its board members said on Thursday.
"Up until now, I think it's been growth, growth growth," Par-Jorgen Parson told Reuters. Parson is a general partner with venture capital firm Northzone, and one of Spotify's first investors. Asked whether Spotify could turn a profit next year, he said it was "absolutely" the case.
Spotify now has a presence in 60 markets, and over 40 million paid subscribers, plus an even larger contingent of people listening on its free ad-based tier. To date though it has posted a loss in every quarter, pumping money into expansion and/or the music licenses it needs to offer content. The company doesn't generate much money from ad-based listeners, and regularly encourages them to upgrade.
While Apple Music has far fewer subscribers — somewhere north of 17 million in total — it's thought to be doing well financially. Even if it weren't, Apple isn't dependent on its success, and is likely using the service as a way of keeping people attached to its hardware and software platforms.
Apple is rumored to be considering a temporary 20 percent price cut on its individual and family subscriptions. If so that could dramatically undercut Spotify, which doesn't have any alternate sources of revenue to fall back on.


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THE RESULTS: Whirlpool Corp. reported a second-quarter loss of $2.10 per share on revenue of $4.73 billion. Adjusted earnings were $2.76 per share. Analysts predicted earnings of $2.73 per share on revenue of $4.74 billion.
COST HEADACHE: The appliance maker said Thursday that it is being pressured by higher material and oil-related costs. The company is not alone, as rival Electrolux AB said Tuesday that its quarterly results were hurt by increased raw material costs.
OUTLOOK: Whirlpool now expects full-year earnings at the low end of its $12 to $13 per share range. Analysts expect earnings of $11.82 per share.


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Deutsche Bahn, the German rail company, launched a campaign that encourages domestic travel using photos of German location that mirror famous world tourist destinations.
According to Deutsche Bahn, 72% of Germans travel abroad for their holidays. The reasons are multiple of course, but the quest for famous world landmarks is often the main reason behind far and expensive travels.
Strong from this insight, the German rail company worked with Ogilvy Germany and Getty Images to launch the “No Need To Fly” campaign, inviting Germans to enjoy the benefits of cheaper train travels in Germany.
The campaign used AI to identify German locations that resembles iconic world landmarks. Then, using Facebook data, they targeted travel enthusiasts and local influencers with dynamic video ads including real-time comparisons of travel costs between international landmarks and their German counterparts.
Over 13 days, 750 unique ads were created, generating an impressive 6.61% conversion rate and resulting in a 24% increase in YoY revenue for Deutsche Bahn.
Who said Instagram travels had to be out of reach?
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EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand-owned dairy conglomerate Fonterra has kicked off a local pitch for its creative account, as competition in the dairy category heats up.
The group is on the hunt for a second ad agency to work alongside lead agency Clemenger BBDO Melbourne.
The review encompasses several Fonterra brands in the yoghurt, chilled dairy and beverage categories.
The decision to split creative duties across two lead agencies comes as competition in the dairy category intensifies.
Clemenger BBDO Melbourne previously handled the majority of these brands, although Sapient Nitro handled one of the yoghurt brands, Nestlé Diet.
Clemenger BBDO will not be re-pitching, but will continue to handle other brands, which do not fall into the categories involved in the tender.
Fonterra’s media business, handled by OMD, is unaffected by the pitch. The creative pitch is being overseen by TrinityP3.
For the full story, read today's AdNews.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Update: As things sometimes do on the broken-telephone world of internet news, Chen Pudong’s statement was mistranslated, and presented here incorrectly. In a statement to us, Lenovo assures us that the Moto E and G are alive and well, and will receive updates this year. Where things may change is how they are represented, since the Vibe line, Lenovo’s Chinese line of smartphones, may intersect the same price points.
“Chen Xudong’s remarks to Chinese media have been misunderstood. Although we are simplifying the combined Motorola and Vibe portfolio, we have no plans to retire Moto G, our most successful smartphone, or Moto E.
We will focus on the Moto and Vibe product brands moving forward, with each brand having its own purpose and target audiences. Together they enable us to give smartphone users all around the world the power to choose the device that’s best for them.
Moto will be our innovative trendsetting brand. Vibe will be our mass-market challenger brand. The brands will overlap in some price points and key geographies, but with different brand identities, features experiences and designs. The product brands are meant to be complementary and address multiple target audiences and ends of the product price spectrum.”
Certainly not the death knell we claimed earlier. Sorry for the confusion.
It turns out there’s more happening at the company formerly known as Motorola than a simple name change.
In an interview with Digital Trends, Chen Pudong, senior vice president of mobile at Lenovo, outlined a significant shift in strategy for the historic phone-maker. In 2016, the company will change its focus to exclusively developing flagship smartphones that feature 5-inch and greater displays.
Perhaps most significantly, as a part of the move, the Moto G and Moto E, both considered excellent phones at their respective price points, will not receive new iterations in 2016. With the Canadian Dollar in its current condition, the loss of affordable and compelling devices like the Moto E and G is sure to hurt Canadian consumers.
If there’s a silver lining to the news, it’s that moving forward, all phones bearing the Moto name will ship with fingerprint scanners. When it came to integrating fingerprint authentication into the experience of using a smartphone, Motorola was one of the most forward-thinking smartphone OEMs.
The Atrix 4G, released in Canada in 2011, was one of the first smartphones to include the feature, and based on leaked prototypes, it’s clear Motorola was keen on perfecting the feature. However, Apple’s acquisition of AuthenTec, then one of the only suppliers of fingerprint authentication technology, in 2012 for $356 million meant that Motorola, as well as other Android OEMs, found it difficult to source the component at the scale needed to outfit an entire lineup of phones with the technology.
It’s obvious Lenovo needed a new mobile strategy, but it’s hard to say if this is the one that will help the company find success. Even with its recent troubles, Samsung is still synonymous with high-end Android smartphones. Likewise, despite the success it found with laptop computers and the ThinkPad brand, Lenovo has been slow to adapt to other competitors in China like Xiaomi and Huawei, companies that have shown they’re capable of putting out compelling devices at a fraction of the price of other Android OEMS.
[source]Tech Sina[/source][via]Digital Trends[/via]