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According to police and experts, 80% of cybercrime frauds occurs because of a mistake on the part of the victim due to lack of cyber hygiene.
The most significant feature of this world is that the identity of its users is hidden and cannot be tracked
SIM swap fraud is a relatively new, sophisticated form of cyber fraud that allows hackers to gain access to bank accounts, credit card numbers, and other personal data.
Spike in cyber frauds is bigger than most other types of bank frauds. A total of 5,917 bank frauds were reported in 2017-18.
Of the reported frauds, 22.7% were cyber related in 2013-14 while the percentage grew to 34.1% in 2017-18, indicating a hike in not just the volume of fraudulent cases but also more cyber-related crimes.
Cyber fraudsters who siphoned off Rs 147 crore from the Nariman Point branch of State Bank of Mauritius managed to withdraw only about Rs 30 crore from two accounts in foreign banks before the banks blocked the accounts.
Speaking to TOI, Cosmos Bank chairman Milind Kale said ATM services will be restored by next weekend, after sanitising the network and having KPMG conduct vulnerability tests.
According to the RSA Quarterly Fraud Report for the period between January 1 to March 31, 2018, phishing accounted for 48 per cent of all cyber-attacks.
Although McAfee already works with mobile wallet companies, it is now looking at strengthening its range of products further both from consumer and back end.
Majority of the victims are senior citizens who are digital novices. Along with better detection, the need of the hour is prevention through awareness drives by financial institutions and police so that citizens don’t lose their hard-earned money to fraudsters.
Fraud, cyber, and security risks are at an all-time high, according to the senior corporate executives surveyed worldwide for the 2017/18 report.
Mindful of the heightened risk of cyber fraud on account of growth in digital transactions post-demonetisation, the Centre is contemplating a standard protocol for e-wallet companies on how to prevent and fight online financial fraud. The finance ministry has also been asked to look at a possible Digital Payments Act to regulate the entire gamut of e-payments.
Dr Shah and Jha are not the only victims of cyber thieves, who have now devised a new modus operandi to withdraw money through e-transactions without OTPs.
As per the data made available by RBI, 9,500, 13,083 and 16,468 cases related to Cyber Frauds were reported by the banks during 2013-14.
Topping the 'victim' list on the identity theft charts is the Modi government's Digital India initiative 'Digilockers' for citizens, who want to store sensitive information online.
Last year my organization fell victim to a trans- national export invoice fraud. Since 99 percent of our sales come from exports, the cyber fraud dealt a big blow to our organization. We have a customer in South East Asia and my organization had business dealings with this customer for over five years.
As per information available with RBI, 10048, 8765 and 6035 fraud related cyber crime cases have been reported to the RBI during 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. CBI has registered 12, 11, and 11 cases during 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively


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Researchers from Stanford University found a clever psychological trick to convince people to eat more vegetables. They discovered that, if they give veggie plates sophisticated names, people are more likely to want to pick them up instead of exactly the same plate with a simple name.
Experiment in a cafeteria
Let’s take, for instance, twisted citrus-glazed carrots. A food with such labeling turned out more popular than exactly the same plate presented under a simpler and more healthy-sounding denomination. People are not appealed by foods described as low sodium, low fat, or sugar free.
Last fall, Stanford researchers devised an experiment in a university cafeteria, where they put both sophisticated and simple labels on food. They noticed how people chose the fancy-name food over the one with healthy names and, besides, they asked for larger portions than usual.
People may think that advertising food as healthy might determine people to eat it. However, it turns out it could have the opposite effect. Results showed that people thought healthy food was less tasty, while a nice presentation made it look more appealing.
Vegetables with fancy names sound tastier
This method can be applied to convince people to eat healthier food, and help decrease the obesity rate in the country. Therefore, it can be applied in cafeterias, restaurants, and stores, and ‘trick’ people into choosing a healthier option and making it sound tastier.
The experiment lasted for 46 days, and researchers alternated the appealing names for vegetables with regular, healthy-sounding names. From all 28,000 people who visited the cafeteria during the experiment, around one-third of them chose a veggie plate. Almost 220 people on average chose the tasty option, while the healthy one was less popular, with only 175 people on average.
People were not tricked with false names just to buy vegetables. The labels were accurate, they just described the foods in fancier terms. Thus, researchers showed how people could be easily convinced by a label to make healthier food options, even if they are not aware of it.
Image Source: Max Pixel

domain: news


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A thin piece of silicon lodged in the latest iPhone and iPad is at heart of a lawsuit the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has filed against Apple Inc.
In 2010, Zim Rogers was waiting to hear from his bosses about whether he would be promoted. Rogers, who works in global securities, said that instead of getting a better job, he was fired after a cursory Google search turned ...
Quentin Tarantino has sued a news and gossip site, saying it posted a leaked script of the director's latest project.
Two websites that post mug shots will stop charging people to remove the photos under a settlement reached in a federal lawsuit in Ohio.
(AP)—Troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry Ltd. is accusing a company backed by "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest of being a rip-off artist.
The smartphone is dead? Long live the smartphone!
Two financial firms sued Twitter on Wednesday, saying it supported their own world tour to sell its shares last year, only to disallow the sales in a ruse aimed at boosting the company's valuation above $10 billion for an ...
(AP)—Samsung Electronics Co. has offered not to launch any patent lawsuits over key mobile telephone technology in Europe for the coming five years, in hopes of avoiding a fine from the European Commission.
Georgia on Tuesday became the first state to charge low-income residents for what is now free cellphone service aimed at assuring the poor have access to basic communications.
BlackBerry shareholders on Tuesday launched a class-action lawsuit against the company, alleging its optimistic sales forecasts for its new smartphones cost them hundreds of millions of dollars, lawyers announced.


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SUV sales have been a strong point for some manufacturers in India over the past year, even as sales of the smaller cars that account for most of the passenger vehicle market slumped.
Having a presence in the small car market will be a positive if demand returns in the next fiscal year, but Mahindra will have to compete with established brands such as Maruti Suzuki India Ltd and South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co.
On Wednesday, Mahindra launched the Verito Vibe, a compact version of its sedan, at a starting price of 563,000 rupees - among the cheapest of its passenger vehicles.
"Verito Vibe gives us the opportunity to play in the large and highly competitive compact car segment," Pravin Shah, head of Mahindra's automotive division, told reporters.
The flagship company of the $16 billion Mahindra Group builds every other SUV sold in India, but its share in the segment fell to 48 percent in the fiscal year that ended in March from 56 percent a year earlier, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
In the passenger car segment, which excludes utility vehicles and vans, the company last year held less than 1 percent of the market that is dominated by Maruti Suzuki.
Key to Mahindra holding its market share is not a small car but more SUV launches, some analysts say.
"Mahindra will continue to lose market share in the overall passenger vehicle industry, because of lack of new launches (by Mahindra) in the SUV segment and an extremely competitive environment thanks to launches by their competitors," said Yaresh Kothari, an auto analyst with Mumbai-based Angel Broking.
Renault SA's Duster has become popular in India since its introduction last year, and Mahindra must also compete with automakers including Ford Motor Co and Japan's Nissan Motor Co Ltd, both of which are expected to launch SUVs this year.
Disclaimer: Ventura Securities Ltd has taken due care and caution in compilation of data for its web blog. The information has been obtained from different sources which it considers reliable. However, Ventura Securities Ltd does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Ventura Securities Ltd especially states that it has no financial liability whatsoever to any user on account of the use of information provided on its web blog. The information provided herein is just for the knowledge purpose and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice under any circumstances.


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Nvidia's next-generation Ion graphics processor isn't just finding a home in netbooks. As Engadget reports, Lenovo has introduced a new all-in-one nettop that couples Intel Atom processors with the latest Ion chip—as an option, at least.
The Lenovo C200 has an 18.5" 16:9 display and, judging from the photos in Engadget's story, a black, glossy, rounded exterior. In its top configuration, the system features a dual-core Atom D510 processor, an Nvidia Ion GPU with 256MB of graphics memory, a built-in DVD burner, and a "single-touch touchscreen panel."
Lenovo's press release adds that the C200 will be available this month from the company's own website, as well as through "select retailers." Prices will start at $399, although considering Lenovo labels the Ion GPU as "optional," you'll probably have to pay extra for anything besides integrated graphics. (Engadget actually suggests the Ion-powered model will cost $499.)
Last week, we also saw the new Ion GPU in a pair of nettops from Asus: the EeeTop PC 2010PN and 2010PNT. Both of those nettops have larger, 20" displays, and the 2010PNT adds multi-touch functionality. Asus didn't announce pricing when it introduced the two systems, though.
|Alphacool Eiswolf 120 GPX-Pro takes the RX Vega to the pool||5|
|Deal of the day: a 144-Hz IPS FreeSync monitor for $400||25|
|The Tech Report's summer 2017 mobile staff picks||36|
|Go pro with the Asus ROG Strix XG27VQ gaming monitor||13|
|VivoBook W202NA is ready to brave the toughest of classrooms||6|
|MSI Infinite A desktops flaunt their gaming chops||14|
|Dual chambers and glass meet in the Lian Li PC-Q39||9|
|Razer Atheris is ready to strike on the move||14|
|Alphacool goes big with Eisbaer 420 AIO liquid cooler||6|
|I know you're joking but the numberpad is nothing more than a bad-habit crutch for hunt-and-peck, two-finger typists. Touch-typists don't even use it....||+16|


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Matheus Lumber president Gary Powell believes the source of his company’s success is its reputation. Like many dealers around the country, the company thrives on a decades-old reputation that spans the family business’s history. But what else does a company need to succeed? To Powell, the best recipe for success includes a little pinch of this and a little dash of that.
“You need to be as diversified as possible to survive,” he says. To Powell, whose company weathered the recession without losing any yards, the key to bouncing back quickly from the downturn is having your hand in many pots. That’s why the company opened new locations in Texas, Arizona, and Idaho—far from its headquarters near Seattle.
- Sales growth: 71%
- 2013 total sales: $214 million
- 2013 total sales per location: $35.7 million
- 2013 total sales per employee: $2.5 million
Multifamily and commercial sales compose nearly all of Matheus Lumber’s business. But Powell isn’t attached to the idea. If there’s one thing he’s learned while steering the ship through rough seas, it’s that change can come quickly, and unless you’re careful, you may hit rocky shoals.
“Sooner or later, [multifamily] will slow down, and [the growth] will be in residential or something like that,” Powell says.
The company saw most of its new growth in its blooming drop-ship business. To date, the company ships materials to jobsites in 35 states.
“People call us from all over the place—different states than we’re set up in—to furnish materials for their projects,” Powell says. “That’s also why this has gotten a lot bigger in a hurry.”
The strategy is clearly paying off. In 2010, during some of the darkest times of the downturn, Powell and his company clung to plummeting annual sales totaling just $60.4 million. Three years later, the company’s total sales figures have more than tripled to a total of $214 million.
“I think that for the next couple of years we’ll continue to grow,” Powell says. But he humbly attributes some of his company’s success to the favorable market outlook: “The building environment is really good at the moment. It’s one of the best it’s been for a long time.”
And despite the explosive sales growth, Powell knows from experience that it’s still too early to declare victory. “If the economy’s good, we’ll do well,” he says. “But if it goes in the crapper ... then everyone struggles.”


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Australia's Federal Court has found that some Google ads are misleading and deceptive, overturning a previous ruling that the search giant is not responsible for dodgy ads its advertisers create.
The case centered on advertisers who bought keywords and created ads using rivals' names. Travel agency STA Travel, for example, bought ads that appeared when Google users searched for rival travel agency Harvey World Travel. The copy for some of those ads mentioned Harvey World Travel, but the embedded links sent users to the STA Travel website. Several other companies indulged in similar practices.
Australia's consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), has pursued Google through the courts for several years over this kind of advertising, arguing that it is unfair to consumers and to business misrepresented by their rivals.
The Federal Court agreed with that proposition today, saying that consumers would assume that there is an association or affiliation between the two travel agencies and that information about Harvey World Travel could be found on the STA travel website. That, the court says (in a ruling available at Scribd), means Google misled and deceived the general public.
Google must now institute a compliance program to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen any more.
In a statement issued after the judgement, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said the body “... brought this appeal because it raises very important issues as to the role of search engine providers as publishers of paid content in the online age” and declared the win “an important outcome because it makes it clear that Google and other search engine providers which use similar technology to Google will be directly accountable for misleading or deceptive paid search results.”
Google Australia sees things differently and has said it already checks for this kind of misleading ad and removes offending examples. The company also says it feels it is unfair it is held responsible for advertisers' actions.
Australia's High Court is the only avenue of appeal beyond the Federal Court. Google has not yet said if it will appeal but is considering its options. ®


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Facebook’s first cloud game is a digital reality show controlled by users
This seems interesting, but will people actually participate?
Facebook recently announced it was dipping its toes into the world of gaming and now we’re getting a glimpse at what that future may hold.
According to The Washington Post, Rival Peak should be hitting Facebook Watch today. This AI-driven, audience-decided game show has virtual, AI contestants living and working within the fictional town of Rival Peak. Facebook users will vote on what characters should do, and at the end of each week, decide who is voted out.
Rival Peak is actually being developed by some familiar faces, albeit under a new roof. Pipeworks Studios and Genvid Technologies are behind the game, but some of the team includes members of Telltale Games, which shut down abruptly in 2018. Those members are definitely familiar with creating an engaging narrative, and hopefully, some of that will be shown in this new game-meets-reality-show.
What makes this interesting is that the devs have no idea how things will play out. With users creating the narrative for the digital characters, the studio will need to adapt and change things up throughout the game’s 12-week run. There will also be an after-show, which will be hosted by Star Trek’s Wil Wheaton.
Jacob Navok, cofounder and CEO of Genvid Technologies, tells The Washington Post, “We are the creators of the show and we have no idea how it will end. And every single week, we have to change the dialogue, change the weekly wrap-up show. It’s really being built week to week as the audience is collectively deciding what’s going to happen. The storyline that the community decides on is the canonical storyline.”
Overall, this should prove interesting. Rival Peak will almost certainly not be without hitches, but the developers are working in an unknown space right now. It is also another example of mainstream tech leaning more and more into the metaverse, virtual realities where people just kinda exist.
We’re already seeing it at small levels – look at Fortnite and its digital-only live concerts. But past that, augmented reality that blends the real and digital world is becoming more prominent. Navok seems to agree, telling WP, “There are 2 billion users on Facebook, but there is only one ‘Rival Peak’ world. And if those millions start telling AI what to do in a single world, if that’s not the closest thing to the Metaverse we can experience, I don’t know what is.”
What do you think? Are you interested in this game-meets-virtual-world? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.
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- If you want a PlayStation 5 this holiday, scalpers seem to be holding all the stock


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A covert software and hardware firm, Humane, is making the most of the media frenzy cycle. The startup was established in 2017 by Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri, both former employees of Apple. The company has been mostly cloaked in secrecy over the past five years as it has assembled the components of a mysterious wearable that it claims would use AI in novel ways.
Even before it gave the least hint of what it has been working on, the firm generated a lot of attention when it first started interacting with the media. Despite these mysteries—or maybe because of them—Humane is now a well-funded early-stage firm.
It raised a $30 million Series A with a $150 million value by the end of 2020. Following that, in September, the $100 million B round was announced, with participation from Qualcomm Ventures, Forerunner Ventures, BOND, SoftBank Group, and Tiger Global Management. Everything appeared to be a resounding endorsement of the still-seductive corporation. It successfully raised an additional $100 million in March.
Sam Altman also contributes significantly to the company. So, it is no surprise that OpenAI is a crucial partner in the artificial intelligence portion of the project.
Humane announced in June that its first item will be an “AI Pin.”
The business then stated, “The [AI Pin is a] connected and intelligent clothing-based wearable device uses a range of sensors that enable contextual and ambient compute interactions.” The Ai Pin is a specific kind of standalone device with a software platform that uses artificial intelligence to provide cutting-edge personal computing experiences.
It was announced today that the device would be unveiled on November 9 during an event. However, it is currently being worn at a few Parisian fashion events. Supermodel Naomi Campbell supposedly appeared surprised with the gadget on her lapel at Coperni’s 2024 Spring Summer runway presentation at Paris Fashion Week, making her the “first person outside of the company to wear the device in public.”
Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, the creators of Humane, stated in a release that they had long admired Arnaud and Sébastien Coperni. “Our shared passion for the union of design, creativity, and technology is at the heart of this collaboration,” they said. As our devices become extensions of our bodies, thoughts, and souls, “our relationship with technology is profoundly changing and becoming even more personal.”
They called the setup “a new paradigm of ambient, AI-driven computing.” Humane goes on to say the following about the device:
The screenless, independent hardware and software platform, the Humane Ai Pin, was created specifically for AI. The intelligent wearable, built on clothes, is intended to blend smoothly into users’ daily lives and employs a variety of sensors to enable natural and intuitive computing interactions. The gadget prioritizes privacy, reflecting Humane’s goal to create goods with trust. This includes no wake word and no “always on” listening.
You’re not mistaken if you think that sounds like a combination of buzzwords. It’s hard to separate the finished item from the self-created hype until we see it in action. It’s clear from the photographs that the gadget has no screen, yet the huge front may have some use. On top of that are what appear to be front-facing sensors that are perhaps joined by sensors on top that are pointed toward the wearer’s face.
Similar to what businesses have promoted with LTE-enabled wearables, Humane is aggressively pushing the “standalone device” story, which suggests that part of the draw here might be the opportunity to leave your smartphone at home.
It appears that we will have a better response in a few months.


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August 1, 2018
Stewart and Lynda Resnick
Stories this photo appears in:
Billionaire farm and food magnates Lynda and Stewart Resnick have donated an additional $2.4 million to the UCLA School of Law for research and educational resources at their Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy, UCLA officials announced Aug. 1.
Stewart Resnick is chairman and president of Wonderful Co., where his wife, Lynda Resnick, serves as vice chair and co owner and oversees worldwide marketing and product development.


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Samsung Galaxy A21s may launch in Indian market next week
USNMix Report: Samsung Galaxy A21s smartphone will enter
the Indian market next week: report.
Samsung Galaxy A21s may be launched next week. 5,000 mAh battery can be found. The price will be between 15,000 and 20,000 rupees.
Korea’s smartphone maker Samsung (Samsung) is preparing to launch the latest series of Samsung Galaxy A21s in India. Meanwhile, a media report has surfaced, saying that the Samsung Galaxy A21s smartphone will be introduced in the Indian market next week. However, the company has not yet revealed the launch date of the upcoming Galaxy A21s smartphone.
|Samsung Galaxy A21s|
07%;">Expected Price of Samsung Galaxy A21s
According to an Outlook India report, the Samsung Galaxy A21s smartphone will be launched next week. The price of this smartphone will be between 15,000 and 20,000 rupees. Also, this smartphone will be sold through offline and online stores.
Possible specifications of Samsung Galaxy A21s
According to the report surfaced, the Samsung Galaxy A21s can be supported with a 6.5-inch Infinity-O display, 5,000 mAh battery, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage. Apart from this, users are expected to get a 48 megapixel camera in this smartphone. However, other features of this phone have not been reported yet.
Samsung galaxy M01 smartphone
For your information, let us know that the company recently launched the Galaxy M01 smartphone. The price of this smartphone is 8,999 rupees. The company has a 5.71 inch HD Plus display, which has a resolution of 720×1560 pixels. This smartphone has the support of the Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor. Apart from this, users have got a dual rear camera setup in it, which has a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel sensor. Also, a five-megapixel selfie camera has been given in the front.
Other features of Samsung Galaxy M01
The company has given features such as 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth version 4.2, GPS, USB port and 3.5mm headphone jack in terms of connectivity in the Galaxy M01 smartphone. Apart from this, users have got 4,000 mAh battery in this smartphone.
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- 13, Jun, 2020
- 0 Comments


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Method Race Wheels Returns to the 2017 Mint 400
Method Race Wheels Named Time Trials and Pit Crew Challenge Title Sponsor
The Mint 400 today announced the return of Method Race Wheels as title sponsor of The Mint 400 Time Trials and Pit Crew Challenge, continuing their six year sponsorship of The Great American Off-Road Race. Method Race Wheels is putting up $5,000 in cash and a stunning custom made trophy to the fastest overall qualifier for the 2017 Polaris RZR Mint 400 presented by BFGoodrich Tires, as well as a hand painted custom jack to the winners of the Pit Crew Challenge. The Method Race Wheels Time Trials will take place on Thursday, March 2nd at 11:30am at a TBA location and the Pit Crew Challenge will follow that night at 7:30pm on 9th & Fremont St.
The Mint 400 Method Race Wheels Time trials are an all out battle for race day starting positions between the top off-road racers in the world. Starting position is critical for those competing against the ultra brutal four hundred mile race. Racers will throw down on a new time trial course, specifically designed to challenge even the most seasoned racer.
“Method is a perfect example of a brand born from off-road racing that created a performance based product that you can buy for your everyday driver. Method perfectly connects off-road racing to consumer based product. They have supported The Mint 400 and off-road racing from the start of their brand, giving back to the culture they spawned from. We are stoked to have them back for the sixth year as a sponsor and partner of The Mint 400,” stated Mint 400 CEO, Matt Martelli.
The Method Race Wheels Mint 400 Pit Crew Challenge is a celebration of the dedicated pit captains, mechanics, and volunteers that spend countless hours prepping, maintaining and fixing off-road race vehicles before, during, and after they compete. As the margin between first and second overall winner at The Mint 400 becomes more and more narrow each year, the difference between a victory and second place undoubtedly comes down to the speed of a pit stop during the epic race!
This year marks the sixth consecutive year The Mint 400 will host the ultimate single-elimination pit crew challenge contest in front of a crowd of thousands of off-road enthusiasts and race team members. The showdown will be held at the parking lot on 9th & Fremont St., directly across the street from Atomic Liquors. The event is free, open to the public and will be held Thursday, March 2nd at 7:30pm, right after the announcement of top qualifier from the Method Race Wheels Time Trials.
“As racing enthusiasts and participants, The Mint 400 is the perfect fit for us. It gives us the opportunity to reach thousands of enthusiasts directly as well as reinforce our support for off-road racing and many of the teams we sponsor. Our product was our born from the proving ground of off-road racing,” stated Method Race Wheels CEO, Kevin Fitzgerald.
Come visit Method Race Wheels at Contingency on Friday, March 3rd to check out their full line of race and street wheels at Tech & Contingency on Fremont Street East and Saturday, March 4th at the Primm Valley Mint 400 Start/Finish in Primm, NV directly behind Buffalo Bills Casino at The Great American Off-Road Race.


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As the trend towards digital distribution of content continues to gather pace, Sega has signed a new deal with Digital River to offer downloadable games via the company's oneNetwork sales channel.
Digital River, which was also responsible for designing Sega's online shop, will handle digital purchases of games such as Virtua Fighter, House of the Dead and Eastside Hockey Manager 2005 through Sega.com. Selected titles, including House of the Dead 2 and the Virtua Squad games, will also be offered on oneNetwork.
"Online distribution presents growth opportunities for Sega and we are poised to bring leading-edge games into that channel," said Sega's Chris Olson.
"Digital River's oneNetwork will allow us to quickly and easily expose our games to a very large audience of consumers that shop on popular, high-traffic online retail sites."
Digital River CEO Joel Ronning added: "With more than 10 years of experience, we have developed e-commerce best practices to successfully grow an online business."
"By selling software through branded online stores and our oneNetwork online sales channel, our clients can maximize their market and revenue opportunities."
Sega is not the first publishing giant to enter the world of digital distribution and follow in the footsteps of companies like Valve, which launched its Steam service in 2003. Earlier this month Electronic Arts launched a new download service to distribute the new Battlefield 2 expansion pack. A festive-themed add-on for The Sims 2 is also now available via the service for USD 14.99.
EA Online's Chip Lange said that this was just the beginning, promising that "a wide array of games and new game content" will be available digitally in the future.
"We've been working on digital distribution for more than a year now and are thrilled to deliver interactive entertainment in a new way to our players," Lange continued.
"Digital distribution will keep content flowing to players, keeping their current EA games fresh and delivering new EA games quickly and conveniently."


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Though the PSP’s line-up may feel like it’s waning, Sony says 2010 will be a big year for the handheld.
SCEA Senior Vice President of Publisher Relations Rob Dyer is thankfully done putting down the competition (for now), and has made a few comments on the future of his own company instead. Specifically, he says big things are going to happen for the PSP this year as far as third-party releases are concerned, and that Sony plans to fix what went wrong with the PSPgo.
When asked about the launch of the PSPgo, Dyer told IndustryGamers that Sony’s intention was to make purchasing games easier for consumers, and to eliminate some of the piracy issues plaguing the PSP. However, he admits: “Did the PSPgo confuse [consumers]? Yeah, I think the higher price point didn’t help matters any either.”
For those not in the know, the PSPgo removed the previous system iterations’ UMD drive and could only play games downloaded through the internet, which cost the same as those available in stores. It was also launched at $249, which some believe is an absurd price even though the system looks quite chic. According to Dyer, Sony is “going back and re-communicating” on the PSPgo, and we will “see a lot of things coming out from [Sony] to better educate and inform the consumer.” Sounds vague, but I hope by that he means that game download prices will be lowered in 2010.
As for upcoming PSP games, Dyer says: “We still have a very robust lineup this year from third parties on the PSP, starting with Metal Gear Peace Walker. I won’t go through the whole lineup because I want our third-party partners to make those announcements, but there are some big, big titles coming out this year and you’ll see those announcements at GDC, DPS (Destination PlayStation) or E3.”
I love my PSP, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is definitely something I’m looking forward to, along with the Lunar remake and Valkyria Chronicles 2, but other than those three games there isn’t a whole lot more on my “to buy” list where the PSP is concerned. The PSP has been somewhat of a refuge for unique RPGs, so perhaps we’ll see more of those this year on the platform. Dyer’s got me intrigued as to what these “big, big titles” are actually going to be.


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US-based manufacturer of Italian cheeses BelGioioso Cheese has entered into an agreement to acquire Polly-O from Kraft Heinz and Lactalis Group.
The acquisition of Polly-O brand of Italian cheese will expand BelGioioso’s portfolio in the dairy category in addition to its existing Casaro brand.
Founded in 1899, Polly-O is a manufacturer of Italian cheese known for its ricotta, mozzarella, and string cheeses.
“We are thrilled to add the Polly-O brand to our portfolio and want to thank the teams at Kraft Heinz and Lactalis Group for their assistance and dedication to finalizing the agreement in such a short time,” said Errico Auricchio, President of BelGioioso Cheese. “I am confident this will benefit consumers thanks to healthy competition in the category as a result of this acquisition”.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Source: Deli Market News


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Bruce Willis Has Signed On to DeepFake Himself
I do not speak Russian, and I am not in the habit of checking the websites of Russian advertising companies. Thus, had it not been for a Tweet from my friend and former New York magazine colleague Michael Idov, I would not have known that Bruce Willis just signed the most sweetheart of sweetheart deals.
The news item was in the Russian publication Sostav, which, if Google is translating it correctly for me, seems to cover the advertising industry. The piece features an interview with two executives at Russian mobile phone company Megaphone: Commercial Director Vlad Wolfson and Director for Brand and Marketing Communications Vasily Bolshakov. I find it relieving, somehow, to know that they have the same empty titles for executives in Russia as they do here.
The execs discuss a new ad campaign they’ve launched in which the mobile phone giant has made a series of family-friendly comedy episodes where the brand is “seamlessly integrated.” And those films star Willis. Now, it’s certainly not unusual for movie stars to do advertisements in other countries, particularly ones they wouldn’t necessarily want people in America to see. Here’s one for a Chinese car company from Leonardo DiCaprio, for example:
Or this goofy George Clooney one:
So that part isn’t strange. And it’s certainly not strange to see Bruce Willis doing some acting for cash: According to IMDB, Willis was in…


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(MoneyWatch) If you are shopping for a used car, beware of buying one with a problem serious enough to prompt a recall but where no repair has been made.
According to a study by CarFax, which provides reports on individual vehicles, at least 2.7 million vehicles for sale last year were subject to unresolved recalls. In an investigation of the topic, auto website Edmunds.com notes that there are no laws requiring the seller of a car to notify a potential buyer that it is subject to recall.
Thus it falls to the shopper to do careful research to avoid unresolved recalls (more on that below). Some recalls issued by manufacturers through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are for relatively minor problems, but some cover dangerous flaws.
Edmunds cites the case of the General Motors (GM) V-6 engine installed in Chevrolets, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, and Pontiacs for the model years 1997-2003. The NHTSA had reports of about 250 engine fires thought to have been caused by oil spilling or leaking onto heated exhaust manifolds. In a 2009 recall, GM sent out warning letters to all registered owners and has sent repeated letters trying to reach all owners. But the company told Edmunds that only a little over half the vehicles have been repaired. When vehicles are sold, often more than once, auto companies frequently have trouble tracking down new owners' addresses.
One car owner told Edmunds he had never heard about the recall until his 2001 Buick Regal GS caught fire while sitting in his office parking lot. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, another 250 fires have occurred with this engine since the recall was issued in 2009.
If you are shopping for a used car, take these steps to protect yourself:
Look at the CarFax report, sometimes provided by dealers selling used cars or available for $34.99 on one vehicle and $44.99 for multiple reports. The report will show for an individual car (by vehicle identification number) if there are recalls affecting it for most makes. But Audi, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Lexus models do not have the same information because their makers have not cooperated, but CarFax is working to add this information. .
Search databases such as Edmunds' Car Maintenance Guide to check for any recalls on a given make, model, and trim level. Click on the recall tab to see a full history since the car was manufactured. NHTSA's Safecar.gov website provides similar information. But neither will tell you if a repair has been made on a specific car.
- Ask the seller for a receipt or other confirmation that the defect was fixed. "As long as you can confirm that the repair has been made, the threat should be relieved," says Edmunds senior editor John O'Dell, who worked on the recall project.


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Cyber security is a worldwide issue. Reports on data breaches that affect millions of people around the world come in every day, but one continent in particular has been hit hard by cyber security attacks over the last year.
Research from the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) found that South Africa has the third highest number of cyber crime victims worldwide. According to the SABRIC research, South Africa loses around R2.2 billion a year to cyber attacks.
It’s not a topic that has not gone completely unnoticed – in the latest Allianz Risk Barometer report, cyber incidents topped South African businesses’ list for top 10 business threats. But it’s an issue that still needs to be fully addressed, as the Liberty Life and Viewfines hacks of 2018 show.
South Africa is host to a lot of major company headquarters, particularly those in banking and retail and particularly by comparison to the rest of Africa. Naturally, this makes the region more attractive to hackers. South Africa also isn’t lagging behind in terms of technology like it once did. That means that the cyber security challenge in South Africa is not dissimilar to other areas around the world and needs to be addressed in a similar way.
Current measures in place to address the cyber security challenge in South Africa
The good news is that measures are being put in place by the government to properly manage the increasing rates of cyber crime. In November 2018, The National Assembly adopted the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill, which once enacted, will see South Africans facing jail time of up to three years if convicted of offences which have a bearing on cyber crime. It also contains new rules for organisations in terms of what they can and can’t do with customer data.
There are some who dispute the efficiency of the bill – Jan Vermeulen, Editor at Large at MyBroadband.co.za, told CapeTalk FM that whilst it tries to do admirable things, it’s still too broad and “basically criminalises anybody that uses a computer or goes online.”
South Africa previously had a gap in data protection legislation compared to European countries, so the new Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill seems like a step in the right direction. It might not be perfect just yet, but the very creation of the bill is a sure sign that the government is taking the issue seriously.
Cyber security training in South Africa
Like most countries around the world, South Africa is suffering from a cyber skills shortage. What’s unique to South Africa is the fact that students who might be interested in a career in cyber security are still mainly routed via a three-year diploma or degree in IT or Computer Science. Students are only exposed to security-specific subjects at an Honours or Masters degree level, which makes it more exclusive than it needs to be.
The National Cyber Policy Framework states that the Department of Science and Technology (DST) “shall be responsible for developing and facilitating the implementation of a national cybersecurity research and development agenda for South Africa”. In their article ‘Mind the Gap: Addressing South Africa’s cybersecurity skills shortage’, Prof Elmarie Biermann, Director of the Cyber Security Institute and Noëlle van der Waag-Cowling, cyber warfare strategy teacher at Stellenbosch University, say that so far, there has been ‘a distinct lack of momentum in this regard’ and that South Africa ‘can no longer afford not to invest in creating both cyber awareness and a cyber workforce, both within the public and the private sectors.’
How companies can address their own cyber security challenges in South Africa
South African companies that are concerned about their cyber security can take comfort in the fact that plenty of cyber security solutions are readily available in the region. Email security solutions are usually the first port of call for companies looking to eliminate the number of phishing emails and spam that their employees are at risk of clicking on.
There is also the small matter of educating employees. A lot of the fundamentals of cyber security come down to awareness and education. By implementing simple steps such as password managers (like Lastpass, for example) and requiring employees to change their password every quarter already makes them more aware of the issue. But it’s also worth telling them about the implications of a cyber attack and what that would do to the business. If you then have practical steps that they can take, they’re more likely to understand the need for a more stringent cyber security strategy in the business.
It’s also worth looking at your current employees and seeing whether you think any of them have what it takes to train up in cyber security. Those with a knack for technology often seem like an obvious choice, but research has shown cyber security specialists often have to be good communicators, logical and strategic in other ways, which means there might be a less obvious candidate amongst your team to train up in cyber security.


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Super7 Announces #StreetFighter 3.75" Action Figures - Wave 1 Revealed!
First revealed at New York Comic Con, Super7 now announces Wave One of their STREET FIGHTER 3.75" retro action figures - featuring card art by Ed Repka! Wave 1’s line-up includes Zangief, M. Bison, Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and Blanka! Pre-orders via the Super7 webstore begins Monday, October 24th at Noon PST with shipping in early-November.
UPDATED: There will be a launch event for the figures on Friday, November 4th at Super7’s San Francisco Mission District store (located at 3253 16th Street).


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Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak hasn't been at Apple for years. But that doesn't mean he doesn't still collect a salary from the company he created with Steve Jobs.
In a podcast interview with Guy Kawasaki this week, Wozniak said that he's the only person who has received a salary from Apple since the first week the company was open. But that doesn't mean he's making boatloads of cash from one of the world's most valuable companies. Quite the contrary, you might be surprised by how little Apple's co-founder makes in salary from Apple.
Woz nets just $50 in weekly salary, he told Kawasaki. That translates to about $2,500 in annual salary earnings from the company.
Woz didn't say how much he makes per year from Apple in stock compensation and other benefits, but he told Kawasaki that the company still pays him a weekly salary to keep him on as an employee.
Woz was quick to note that his pay isn't really about pay; it's about being Apple's co-founder and getting a small amount each week to honor that.
"It's small, but it's out of loyalty, because what could I do that's more important in my life?" he said, according to CNET, which earlier reported on his pay. "Nobody's going to fire me. And I really do have strong feelings always for Apple."
That said, Woz hasn't always been an Apple cheerleader. He has, at times, criticized the company when it's made mistakes. For instance, he wasn't a big fan of the iPhone X when it was released, and although he later clarified his comments and said they were misconstrued to suggest he wanted Apple to break up, he has shared some concerns about Apple's size and power over the years.
Either way, it's hard to discount his importance to Apple's early success and his broader importance today to the technology industry. Indeed, he's earned his place as one of the most respected voices in technology. And he doesn't need a big salary to prove it.


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Fashion House Givenchy, currently helmed by Clare Waight Keller, has just announced that the music and pop culture effigy, Ariana Grande, has been selected as the brand's new face. "A modern muse and the voice of a generation, Ariana has emerged as one of the most influential forces in pop culture today. A Grammy award-winning performer, songwriter and singer, she naturally embodies the spirit of the Givenchy woman with impertinence, generosity and a lightning wit —all cloaked in a touch of mystery," gushed the Givenchy press release regarding the selection.
Grande was equally buoyant, “I am so proud to be the new face of Givenchy. It is a House I have forever admired and to now be part of that family is such an honuor. I love this clothing and the confidence and joy it brings to the people wearing it. Not only is the clothing timeless and beautiful but I'm proud to work with a brand that makes people feel celebrated for who they are, and unapologetic about whatever they want to be."
The first Ariana Grande faced campaign will be for the Givenchy Fall-Winter '19 campaign, and is set to be unveiled in July.


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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Photobucket Appoints New VPs
Denver-based Photobucket said today that it has named three new executives. The photo sharing site said it has named Kate Hare ad Vice President of Products, David Toner as Vice President of Marketing, and Allison Zweig as Vice President of Global Branded Sales. Hare joins the firm from Webroot Software, and also has served at Lumension Security, Sage Software, Apple, Oracle, and Khimetrics. Turner has worked at such companies as CBS Interactive, Yahoo!, Dell Inc and BBDO. Zweig joins from AOL.


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- Industry Roundup
- Fab & Facilities
- Cell Processing
- Thin Film
- PV Modules
- Power Generation
PV cell manufacturer, Jinko Solar has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Lingwu City government for a 200MW solar plant.
Hanergy Solar is set to receive significant investment from its parent company as it prepares to ramp up its thin-film production capacity.
Shunfeng Photovoltaic is planning to place a 10-year convertible bond valued at HK$3,580,000,000 (US$461.77 million) with selected investors to pay for the US$492.3 million acquisition of Wuxi Suntech via court administrators in China.
Solar manufacturing and construction firm, Conergy, says it is close to selling its module factory in Frankfurt to PV manufacturer, Astronergy.
Major tier one PV manufacturer, Trina Solar, is to take over operations of tier two module manufacturer, NESL Solartech, and expand capacity to 500MW.
Mozambique has officially opened the country’s first PV module production facility.
Mitsubishi Materials, a minority shareholder in polysilicon producer, Hemlock Semiconductor has sold its stake in the company to Dow Corning for US$240 million.
Citing the fast pace of material developments for PV manufacturing, Heraeus’ Photovoltaics Business Unit is expanding its silver paste R&D capabilities at its site in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
Automobile manufacturer, SEAT, part of the Volkswagen group, has completed an 11MW PV project on the roof of its factory in Martorell, Spain.
Spanish module manufacturer Tamesol is reported to be planning a new 50MW production line at its facility in Girona, northern Spain.
Bosch has sold its solar cell and module operations in Arnstadt, Germany to SolarWorld, securing around 800 jobs, according to an official statement from the company. Financial details were not disclosed.
The Dutch economy ministry has announced that Netherlands module manufacturing equipment supplier Eurotron will supply a PV module production line to a manufacturer in Qatar.
Germany-based renewable energy control manufacturer, Skytron Energy, has completed of a monitoring system in Kuwait’s first solar energy plant.
PV equipment supplier Spire Corporation said that it had completed the installation of a turn-key module assembly line for an unidentified customer in Eastern Europe.
Daqo New Energy has plans to double polysilicon production at its plant in Xinjiang, China to 12,000MT per annum by the end of 2014.


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ATV Prize Winner Announced
Liv Outdoor’s CAMO Hidden Deck Fastening System promotion wrapped up on May 11, 2012 and the winners were:
- CAMO Honda ATV – Craig Jermyn of Jermyn Lumber Castle
- CAMO Honda Generator – Lind Lumber Castle
The introduction of the CAMO Hidden Deck Fastener for the 2012 Season proved to be a huge success with over 200 merchandisers being sold across Canada.


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There are well-known geographical trends for international buying habits in the automotive world, yet new technology will soon influence these trends and political pressure will alter them further.
For now they still hold strong. Drivers in the United Kingdom, for example, have long exhibited an insatiable appetite for imperious German cars. And those with a driving licence in the US prop up the Japanese automakers by buying hundreds of thousands of their reliable but ultimately prosaic sedans. The French, on the other hand, have done, currently do, and will always buy French. It’s almost a law.
Electric cars are subtly altering the status quo, however, as their sales are heavily influenced by local politics, prevalent social attitudes, and of course the cost of energy. So who are the emerging power players in the dawning era of electromobility?
Consulting firm McKinsey & Company have kindly supplied ecomento.com with some graphs that provide the answer – or at least part of the picture. The company’s ‘Electric Vehicle Index’ plots import/export data and sales figures from the world’s largest automotive economies and generates a ranking of ‘importance’. As you can see below, no single country is currently regarded as being much more significant than the rest, although it’s not quite that simple.
These conclusions have been reached by using data for the sales of battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extended vehicles, discounting the enormous global market for hybrids. The cars used for this study are all capable of driving on electricity alone, in other words.
Unsurprisingly Norway dominates when it comes to market penetration of electric vehicles. Due to some very generous incentives – that will soon run out – the Tesla Model S was, incredibly, the best-selling car during September last year and the Nissan LEAF has also beaten Volkswagen’s Golf. Because of Norway’s non-existent electric vehicle exports, however, the Scandinavian country only ranks sixth on McKinsey & Company’s index.
At the opposite end of scale is Germany, where battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars have endured the cold shoulder from buyers. Things are picking up after just 6,710 sales during 2013, but for such a prosperous country it speaks volumes that only 30 examples of the Tesla Model S were sold in January this year. Like the the French, however, the Germans are proud of their indigenous automotive expertise and models like the BMW i3 and the superb Volkswagen e-Golf we recently reviewed are expected to do extremely well in the future.
Despite poor domestic appetite for electric cars, Germany still makes it into the index’s top three, along with Japan and the USA. Japan’s inclusion is easily explained: the Nissan LEAF has sold to the tune of more than 100,000 worldwide, and that number could explode if the Chinese market develops a taste for the zero emissions hatch. The LEAF is also successful in the US, and in addition to sales of home-grown electric cars such as the 23,094 Chevrolet Volts sold last year (and a similar number of Tesla Model S’), it’s no surprise to see the States ranked top.
The chart below reflects this to a certain extent, although you may ask why Germany is so far ahead when the country’s automakers are only just opening their order books? What are the country’s engineers, marketers, and service personnel doing to justify this leap over their American, French, and Japanese counterparts?
The gulf is because the index for supply takes the form of a five-year prognosis, taking into account the depth and expertise in engineering a country’s automakers possess and the number of prototypes in development. With this in mind it’s no surprise that Germany is streets ahead, not least because Volkswagen Group has only just launched a electric vehicle offensive of potentially magnificent proportions. Tesla, on the other hand, is unproven in the long term and General Motors only has one battery-electric car to its name – the Chevrolet Volt.
Where the US, Germany and Japan can’t compete is market penetration. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently said that his company would have to sell 100,000 cars a year just to hold a one percent share of the global car market. According to McKinsey & Company, Norway and Holland are already there, with market penetration rates of 1.9 percent and 1.1 percent respectively. Only when larger economies can say ‘one in every 10 cars here is electric’ will real progress have been made, many experts argue.
However, nearly 30,000 electric vehicles were registered in the US in the last quarter of 2014, so the market is certainly heading in the right direction.
With an increasing awareness of the damage pollution is causing to its population and global image, only China is likely to break into the top three ranked countries in the foreseeable future. When it does, however, don’t be surprised to see it quickly overtake the US. McKinsey & Company has previously estimated that the Chinese vehicle market will reach 22 million by 2020 – more than Europe or North America.


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// Ex-Missguided CEO of online, Gareth Jones, joins White Stuff as non-executive director
// He was at the helm of Missguided between 2017 and 2018
The former chief executive of online at Missguided, Gareth Jones, has reportedly joined White Stuff as a non-executive director.
According to Drapers, White Stuff chair Debbie Hewitt said Jones’ “strong digital and online experience” would benefit the retailer.
Jones said there was a “significant opportunity” to develop the multichannel offering of White Stuff.
READ MORE: 390 job cuts at White Stuff
He was at the helm of Missguided between 2017 and 2018. He was most recently the chief executive of MuscleFood.
Before Missguided, Jones worked at Shop Direct, now The Very Group, where he joined in 2009 as group retail director and was tasked with implementing its strategy in 2013.
He was then promoted to deputy chief executive in October 2014.
Jones was also a non-executive director at Moss Bros until March 2020.
Earlier this month, White Stuff made 390 of its staff across its head office and shop floor teams redundant.
The job cuts came as part of a wider restructuring and transformation scheme, which has now been completed.
The redundancies affected 100 head office staff and 290 employees from its UK store estate.
The retailer said in May that the Covid-19 crisis had impacted trading conditions on the high street and would continue to do so even when lockdown ends.


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With supply uncertainty at levels not seen in over 30 years, the ongoing chip shortages continue to present numerous challenges and unparalleled levels of risk along the global electronics supply chain. Numerous factors, including the ongoing pandemic, have pushed foundries to their limits.
With steep demand recovery, elongated lead times, and massive spikes in pricing, Supplyframe’s own data shows that current shortages could extend into 2023 at a minimum. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but a combination of new investments, expanded capacity, and access to intelligence and insights can help leaders navigate the numerous challenges before them.
The Cost and Complexity of Chip Manufacturing
Perhaps the most common reaction to a situation like this is to increase capacity to meet demand. In the case of complex components, sensors, and semiconductors, this is far easier said than done.
We explored the topic of semiconductor manufacturing in a past article, detailing the complexity of the process and the sheer costs. In total, the process incorporates up to 1,400 steps and can take up to 20 weeks to complete.
“It’s almost impossible to start chip manufacturing from scratch. This is why we are seeing industry consolidation: it has become so difficult and expensive to do, that companies couldn’t afford to do it on their own.”Alan Priestley, Europe Semiconductor Analyst at Gartner
There are very few companies who specialize in the production of semiconductors. Roughly three-quarters of the world’s total semiconductor manufacturing capacity comes from China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, specifically from companies like TSMC and Samsung.
It’s clear that capacity needs to increase, but even this will be a long and expensive process. Various companies are investing billions of dollars to expand production. GlobalFoundries, for example, recently announced a new factory near its headquarters in Malta, New York that will cost $1 billion in total, but will ultimately boost their own output of chips for industries like 5G and automotive.
Over the next several years, new foundries will emerge around the world to increase capacity, but for those stuck in the shortages of the present, what can be done to mitigate risk and control costs?
Navigating Global Component Shortages
While the electronics value chain leverages investments and new capacity on a global scale, leaders across individual organizations need some sort of guidance on how to navigate an incredibly fragile situation.
In an industry where decisions can affect billions of dollars in revenue, flying blind is simply not an option. This is why we created Supplyframe Commodity IQ. This new solution is our answer to the question of “What now?”
Most market research solutions are static and rarely updated, if at all. Commodity IQ provides a fully up-to-date experience for subscribers, ranging across numerous commodity categories, and powered by both industry partners and our globe-spanning Design-to-Source Intelligence Network.
A combination of timely insights, valuable data not found anywhere else, and expert analysis give industry leaders an edge and help them stay ahead of the curve. It also fuels smarter, more agile decision-making, opening the door for other Supplyframe Design-to-Source Intelligence solutions that can augment your capabilities even further.
Global chip shortages aren’t going anywhere, but with the right intelligence and insights at your disposal, your organization will be able to weather the storm with minimal impact to your bottom line. Learn more about Supplyframe Commodity IQ today.


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August 26, 2008
Chinese President Meets South Korean Business Leaders
Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap
[Yonhap headline: "China's Hu Meets S. Korean Business Leaders"]Seoul, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) - Chinese President Hu Jintao met South Korean business leaders on Tuesday on his final leg of a two-day visit here.
About 200 South Korean businesspeople, including Hyundai Motor Co. Chairman Chung Mong-koo and POSCO Co. Chairman Lee Ku-taek, attended a luncheon meeting with the Chinese president.
"Since South Korea and China established diplomatic ties in 1992, the two nations have expanded cooperation in all fields including politics, economy and culture," said Yi Hu'i-po'm [Lee Hee-beom], chairman of Korea International Trade Association, a government-run trade body that jointly organized the meeting.
"We strongly support the expansion of ties in energy, high technology, trade and investment agreed on at summits between the leaders of South Korea and China," Lee said.
On Monday, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak [Yi Myo'ng-pak] and China's Hu agreed to strengthen their cooperation in political, economic and other fields.
China is South Korea's largest trading partner, with two-way trade totalling US$145 billion in 2007, according to the South Korean trade ministry.
At the summit, the leaders of South Korea and China said they aim to boost bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2010, two years ahead of a previous target.
South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, has been in preliminary discussions with China to start negotiations to sign a free trade pact.
Hu was reportedly slated to leave for Tajikistan on Tuesday to attend a security summit meeting with Russia and Central Asian nations.
Originally published by Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0202 26 Aug 08.
(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.


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The UK financial regulator, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has taken action regarding Cyprus-based company ICC Intercertus Capital Ltd, whose brand name is EverFX. FCA has banned EverFX, from offering high-risk CFDs to British investors. ICC Intercertus and its brand EverFX have been regulated in the UK under the Temporary Permission Regime (TPR), introduced for companies that have worked in the United Kingdom and wish to continue to operate there after leaving the European Union. However, many consumers were subsequently encouraged to make transactions with overseas members of the EverFX Group, which were not allowed to provide regulated services in the UK because customers do not have the same level of protection.
The FCA has serious concerns about the EverFX Group’s sales and marketing practices, including the use of misleading financial promotions, failing to inform consumers about the nature and risks of CFDs, pushing them to invest additional funds, instructing clients how to trade, and preventing them to withdraw funds. This has led to some consumers losing significant amounts of money.
The regulator has stopped ICC Intercertus from carrying out any regulated or marketing activities in the UK and has ordered it to take all reasonable steps to stop other members of the EverFX Group from doing the same. It has also ordered the company to close all trading positions and return the money to customers.


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To celebrate the launch of The Burning Crusade Classic for WoW Classic, Blizzard ANZ commissioned a special mural in Sydney based on the expansion’s iconic dark portal art.
The mural is located at the corner of Cleveland street and Woodburn street in Redfern. As you can see in the video below, the mural includes not only an excellent drawing of the key art, but also it has some projected elements that bring it to life in greater detail. Check it out below:
“On launch night and ahead of the opening of the Dark Portal, the custom piece of artwork united physical installation and digital projection to celebrate all the adventurers who have ventured beyond the Dark Portal, and those who will for the first time in the coming days,” reads a line from Blizzard ANZ’s news release.
Sydney locals can see the artwork in real life until June 27.
The Burning Crusade Classic is out now for WoW Classic. It was the first expansion to the original WoW, and players can re-live the iconic landmark add-on once again.
For lots more, check out GameSpot’s interview with veteran Blizzard developers who told us about their favorite Burning Crusade memories, what it was like revisiting the expansion, and lots more.
Check it out


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PARIS, France - Europe's volume carmakers are returning from summer breaks with their sleeves rolled up, ready to shut plants and lay off staff in what many see as an overdue push to cut costs as their US counterparts did three years ago.
In 2009, when the United States rescued General Motors and Chrysler from bankruptcy on condition they close plants and slash jobs to rebuild profits, European governments responded to a slump in vehicle sales by offering car firms aid to do the opposite - maintain employment levels in the hope of a swift recovery.
CUTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COLLAPSE
Three years on, and with no sign of an end to a European economic crisis that has crushed demand for cars in core Mediterranean markets, French and Italian makers, along with GM's German Opel unit and Ford's regional division, face less resistance from politicians and labour unions as they present cuts as an alternative to risking outright collapse.
Governments, including the newly elected Socialists in Paris, no longer have funds to rescue companies. Philippe Houchois, a
London-based auto analyst with UBS, said: "They can't just prop up sales again, because there's no underlying
demand and they're too broke anyway."
And some union leaders are calculating that cuts now can save more jobs later - though few expect workforces, which have in some cases already been substantially eroded, to take plant closures quietly.
But American auto consultant David Cole said he expected major restructuring to get under way as Europeans faced the choice to "sacrifice a battalion in order to save a division".
"Everybody has decided this is the right time to make structural changes," said Cole, a former head of the Centre for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "When they see that a company could disappear with all its jobs, they may realise it's better to lose 20%."
Laurent Petizon, a Paris-based director for consultancy Alix Partners which advised GM on its state-aided turnaround, said factory closures were no longer the "taboo subject" they were when the industry faced the first wave of crisis after 2008. "There seems to be a growing realisation that overcapacity needs to be dealt with."
Three years after the drastic cuts demanded by US President Barack Obama's administration in return for public cash, GM and Chrysler are reporting strong earnings, even with the US market still below pre-crisis levels.
Global No.1 GM, which shed four brands, 14 US plants and 21 000 jobs, posted a record profit of $7.6 billion in 2011, while Chrysler netted $183 million under new parent Fiat after a similar tightening of its belt.
In Europe, where the industry was barred from closing factories in return for billions in state loans, scrappage bonuses and other life support subsidies, most mass automakers now appear locked in a downward spiral.
PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault and Fiat - along with Ford in Europe and GM's Opel - are struggling to stay profitable and in most cases are failing.
Peugeot is leading the losses, and the charge, with plans to cut more than 10 000 French jobs and carry out the country's first car plant closure in two decades.
Fiat, which shuttered one Italian plant in 2011, has warned it will close another unless it can build vehicles competitively for US export.
Renault has been careful not to rule out cutting capacity. Four months before Peugeot's announcement, Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn had predicted that any significant restructuring move in Europe would "force all carmakers to do it".
GM may also order deeper cutbacks after ousting Opel chief Karl-Friedrich Stracke in July, 2012. Stracke had reached an outline union deal to extend a moratorium on firings until the likely closure of Opel's Bochum plant in 2017.
The politics have not stymied all change. European governments have often "looked the other way" as companies have shrunk plants and headcount by attrition, said Ron Harbour, a managing partner with consulting firm Oliver Wyman.
Renault's French headcount fell 9.6% in the three years to 2011, and Peugeot's shrank 7.6%. Fiat, however, barely dented its domestic workforce of nearly 63 000 despite being the only European maker to close an assembly plant.
In all cases, the softly-softly approach has failed to keep pace with a 13% Western European market decline over the period. Harbour said: "They've just been kicking the can down the road, but they're getting to the end of the road."
From similar overcapacity levels in 2007, when auto plants on both sides of the Atlantic were producing about 85% of maximum output, surviving US plants have stepped up to 90% while Europeans sagged to 74%, AlixPartners says.
The averages mask contrasts: two in five European plants are running below 75%, deemed the minimum profitable rate, while Volkswagen's factories are close to full tilt. The laggards are concentrated in Italy, France and Spain.
Higher restructuring hurdles, from bankruptcy law to labour protection, also mean European cutbacks will never match Detroit's for depth or speed. Still, the US example is too recent and, so far, successful to ignore.


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The Not So Popular Pc
Computer makers who dream of making their machines as ubiquitous as toasters have their work cut out for them. A survey by the public relations firm Porter/Novelli found that Americans still regard computers as harder to use than any other high-tech home equipment. Respondents said that microwaves, television remote controls, and VCRs were the electronic products that had the most beneficial effect on their lives. Computers did rank ahead of cellular phones and CD players.
The survey also found that Americans spend an average of nearly nine hours a week in front of a computer screen and 91/2 hours on the phone. However, they average almost 201/2 hours watching TV.
LEARNING DIFFICULTY (10=hardest, 1=easiest) PERSONAL COMPUTER 5.4 VIDEO GAMES 4.3 VCR 3.6 MICROWAVE OVEN 1.9 DATA: PORTER/NOVELLI Questions? Comments? email@example.com on Internet or fax (202) 383-2125


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Due to the corona pandemic and the Ukraine war, there are currently major production and delivery problems throughout the supplier industry. This results in significant price increases and long delivery times for many products – and of course Apple is not protected from these difficulties either. Analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush assumes that the iPhone 14 will be up to $100 more expensive compared to the previous generation. According to Ives, Apple is struggling with price increases for almost all iPhone components.
Cheapest iPhone soon to be just under 1,000 euros?
The iPhone 13 mini is currently the cheapest iPhone model at 799 euros (apart from the iPhone SE). However, since Apple is removing the Mini from the iPhone 14 range and it can be assumed that the iPhone 14 “Plus” will be more expensive than the Mini, the iPhone 14 without a name suffix will be the cheapest model from autumn. Apple currently offers this for 899 euros. If Apple were to raise the price of the new iPhone models by $100 in the US, the cheapest iPhone model in this country would probably come onto the market for €999 – or even more.
Euro weakness increases prices further
In Europe, however, there is another factor that influences the prices of some products: the exchange rate of the euro against the dollar is approaching parity these days: one dollar will soon get one euro and vice versa. For comparison: A year ago you could exchange one euro for just under 1.2 dollars. The consequence of this is that Apple will probably increase device prices in the euro zone even more.
Tag: iphone design, iphone 14, apple iphone, iphone release


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Zero waste festival celebrates thoughtful, plant-based nutrition and sustainable living practices at Knoxville Expo Center
Scruffy City VeganFest, a festival designed to showcase local and out of town businesses who provide compassionate and cruelty-free food and services, will be held Sunday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Knoxville Expo Center. Attendees will experience and enjoy plant-based food samples, live entertainment, children’s activities, giveaways and more.
“This event is not just for vegans and vegetarians, it’s for anyone who is curious about thoughtful, sustainable eating and living,” said Helene Greenberg, founder of Triangle VegFest and producer of Scruffy City VeganFest. “There’s a lot of talk in the media today about veganism and what it means for our health, animals, and the future of our planet. We’re excited to showcase more than 50 local and regional vendors that are making an impact on the sustainable and cruelty-free scene in East Tennessee. They will be on hand to showcase their food and products, and with the help of our sponsors, like Three Rivers Market and Born This Way Body Arts, this will be a zero waste event.”
Triangle VegFest, the 501(c)3 nonprofit producing the festival, has worked to create similar events in Nashville; the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill area, Asheville, and Wilmington, North Carolina; as well as in New Jersey. Scruffy City VeganFest is hosted by Knoxville Farmed Animal Save, a member of The Save Movement Worldwide Network, dedicated to raising awareness of animal cruelty by bearing witness to animal suffering, is hosting the event.
“Veganism is a growing movement and more and more cities are starting to not only embrace plant-based and cruelty-free businesses, they’re asking for them,” Greenberg said. “Knoxville is no different, and we encourage anyone who is interested in understanding more about how regional businesses are putting their own stamp on the movement are encouraged to attend this fun, family-friendly event.”
Speakers at Scruffy City VeganFest include Allison and Shayler Spellman, Ronnie Tsunami, Lisa Marie McDonald, Brittany Sadé, and musician Grey, whose music and clothing line, Plant Based Drippin, is creating new energy in the vegan community.
In addition, musical acts Three Day Flight, James Shepard and Chloe Hanson will perform.
A few select vendor slots are still available for the event. Those interested should contact Greenberg at firstname.lastname@example.org.
For more information about Scruffy City VeganFest, visit https://www.knoxvillevegfest.com.
To buy tickets to Scruffy City VeganFest, visit https://www.universe.com/events/scruffy-city-veganfest-2019-tickets-tickets-knoxville-0RQK9L.
To RSVP to Scruffy City Vegan Fest, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/403271223562243/.


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Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) plans to update its regulations on cryptocurrency sales and requirements due to the evolving market development of the digital asset industry. The SFC will address five major areas in the upcoming amendment notice, including the distribution of virtual asset-related products and the provision of crypto dealing services. The SFC acknowledges that while virtual assets have gained popularity globally, the regulatory landscape remains uneven, and risks such as money laundering and terrorism financing are still present. The SFC aims to prioritize investor protection and will implement stricter measures to mitigate risks associated with digital assets. The amendment notice also includes restrictions on selling certain assets, limiting them to professional investors only. Several financial regulators, including the SFC, have released guidelines to oversee the virtual asset industry since there is no specific legislative policy in Hong Kong. The SFC will regulate virtual assets that have security characteristics under Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Ordinance. The decision to update the regulations comes in response to complaints about the JPEX crypto exchange, which operated without a license and resulted in significant losses for investors. The SFC has partnered with the Hong Kong Police Force to establish a crypto-centric group to investigate illicit activities and prevent similar scandals in the future.
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Last December Kim Jones took us interstellar, sharing a Fall 2021 Dior menswear collection populated by strange toothy critters that gathered across garments courtesy of a collaboration with US painter Kenny Scharf. Known for his fantastical and futuristic compositions, here Scharf’s sci-fi cartoons communicate with Jones’ cosmic beatniks.
Now, as part of a series of pop-up stores across the world, Dior’s collection lands in London at Selfridges Corner Shop. Bringing the collection’s world into our own, the space will be populated by Scharf’s alien friends, who take form as strange sculptures, giant balloons and 3-D stickers alongside immersive screens. The pop-up will also house exclusive products from the Fall 2021 show, including the new b27 sneakers and knitwear featuring the twelve Chinese zodiac signs translated by Scharf exclusively for the collection.
The Dior Fall21 Men’s Pop-Up @ The Selfridges Corner Shop is open now.


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Earlier this week, Tata Motors teased the new avatar of its flagship SUV, the Safari facelift. Now, the manufacturer has commenced the bookings of the seven-seater SUV in the country.
As seen from the pictures, the updated Safari will debut with a new close-patterned grille with bronze-coloured vertical slats, a long LED bar stretching across the bonnet with a welcome function, new pair of LED headlamps housed on the front bumpers, and a new exterior hue.
On the equipment front, the flagship SUV comes loaded with a large touchscreen infotainment screen with wireless mobile connectivity, digital instrument cluster with a new interface, ambient lighting, and a two-spoke steering wheel with an illuminated logo.
At the heart, the Safari facelift will be powered by a BS6 Phase 2-compliant 2.0-litre diesel engine that is tuned to produce 168bhp and 350Nm of torque.
This motor comes paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and a six-speed torque converter sending power to the front wheels.
Along with this, it also continue to get features like a panoramic sunroof, powered and ventilated front seats, 360-degree camera, air purifier, and an ADAS safety suite.
Rs. 16.00 - 25.00 Lakh


text: The EliteBook 800 series should have included the features of the Spectre X2 plus docking ability. Current new features fall just short of available technologies today. Yes, HP will state that cost is the driving motivation why features are excluded. But this standpoint leaves HP vulnerable to their competition efforts to grab market share. HP shall be a technology, quality and price leader, implementing the same ASAP. Only this will assure continued success. Let manufacturers who rely on cheap prices alone thread mud!


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Yahoo buys self-destructing messaging app BlinkReuters | Updated: May 14, 2014, 01.58 PM IST
Yahoo has bought Blink, an app that lets users send messages that self-destruct and control who sees their ... Read More
The deal comes just days after rival messaging startup
Blink will be shutting down its app for both the iOS and Android platforms in the coming weeks, the company said in a post on its website on Tuesday. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Yahoo was not immediately available for comment outside regular US business hours.
Yahoo Chief Executive
The company now counts 430 million monthly users of its mobile products, while the number of online video streams consumers watched increased 30% from the fourth quarter.
Mobile messaging apps have drawn attention in the last year as they seek to capitalize on the appeal of their free services, especially in emerging markets.
Snapchat received a $3 billion buyout offer from Facebook Inc late last year, which the startup rejected. Facebook eventually acquired Whatsapp for $19 billion, its largest acquisition ever.
In February, Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten Inc bought Viber, a mobile app enabling free calls and messages, for $900 million.


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DWF has advised the Business Growth Fund on its investment in TD4 Brands Limited, parent company to the group that owns Boost Juice Bars in the UK.
The Business Growth Fund, which offers long-term capital for small to medium sized companies, has invested £2.5 million into TD4 in order to help the group expand its juice bar network within the UK.
Advising the Business Growth Fund on the deal at DWF was Frank Shephard, head of DWF's Northwest Corporate team. Frank was supported by Vicky Barker, senior solicitor, and Will Munday at DWF.
Frank comments: "The Business Growth Fund offers a brilliant opportunity for British businesses and TD4 certainly has ambitious plans for its Boost Juice Bars, which have already proven to be very popular in the UK."
The Business Growth Fund invests between £2 million and £10 million in fast-growing British companies in return for a minority stake in the business and a seat on the board. The opportunity is usually open to companies turning over between £5 million and £100 million a year.


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Guatemala to Explore Asian Markets
As part of its plans to increase exports to $13 billion a year, the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) is encouraging entrepreneurs to pursue opportunities in Asia.
Friday, March 2, 2012
The Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) announced that by 2012 it expects to have reached a total of U.S. $13 billion in exported goods and services, about $2.6 billion more than in 2011, announced Francisco Menendez, the organization's president.
Opportunities in the Arab country have been announced for chutneys, organic coffee, pastries, organic tuna, dried fruits, plants, flowers and foliage.
Guatemala exports to South Korea and China have increased by 185% and 382%, respectively.
Exports to that market have increased in recent years, from $13 million in 2007 to $19 million in 2008.
Sugar, coffee, fishmeal, plastics and paper products are the best selling products to the Asian island.
- Daily Update
- Government Purchases
- Classified Ads
- Indexes & Statistics
- Press Releases
- Events Calendar


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Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony Ericsson's head of content marketing and strategy Tim Harrison has revealed that the company will be focusing on content in response to criticisms about a lack of titles for the phone.
“We're still very much building the overall content story - we obviously released with a bunch of games and we've announced a great new catalogue of games here at Gamescom. We've got a really broad cross-section of content for it.
“That's why we're here at the show, to try and bring the story across that we've got AAA content coming through...
"We've got new PlayStation content coming through, more classics, but also we're particularly focused on some of the new developer talent."
He added that Sony Ericsson intends to have more games out in time to entice players during the Christmas surge.
“Obviously we're entering the pre-Christmas sales season now and we wanted to ensure that we had a nice strong catalogue coming fresh to the table around this time, so the strategy has always been around a slow build, a continual build.
“It's still quite early days, but we're very pleased about where we are with the content selection.”


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Evening Standard Names 10 Fashion Faces To Watch
Picked by Fashion Editor Karen Dacre and Emma McCarthy, the list features emerging models, casting directors and designers who are set to make waves over the coming year.
The list kicks off with Rosie Tapner (left), an emerging model who had already scored her first Balenciaga campaign at the tender age of 15. Tapner has since gone on to model for the likes of Burberry, Chloe and graced the cover of Vogue.
Several designers feature amongst the 10, including Claire Barrow (clutch bag below right), whose fans include Rihanna, and London-based Nicholas Kirkwood who has been credited with putting British accessory design firmly on the map this year after being awarded Vogue’s prestigious Fashion Fund Award.
Other designers include JW Anderson, nominated for his incredibly successful design collaboration with Topshop as well as his increasingly popular eponymous label and accessories designer Sophie Hulme is also highlighted for her emerging label and signature quiet luxury style, and finally new-comer Craig Green whose impressive collaborators include Adidas and Christopher Shannon.
Kate Reardon is the only editor to appear in the 10. The Editor in Chief of Tatler UK has been credited for injecting her unique tongue-in-cheek humour to the prestigious magazine.
Casting Director Jess Hallett has been dubbed one of the most influential casting director’s in the industry and has maintained a collaborative relationship with Alexander McQueen spanning 10 years.
Tammy Kane, business partner and sister to Christopher Kane, is the driving force behind the Kane empire and is still heavily involved in the creative aspects of the hugely successful brand.
Finally, Gary Card, the artist and set designer makes his debut on the Power 1000 after working with some of the biggest names in the fashion world and even creating headpieces for Lady Gaga.
The annual Power 1000, in association with Battersea Power Station, will reveal the entire list of the most influential people in London on 19th September at Battersea Power Station. The celebratory evening event will be the last held in the Boiler Room at the iconic venue before the site is transformed into one of the most ambitious redevelopments in the capital. The night will feature Boris Johnson, who was named the most influential Londoner in the list last year, as guest speaker.
The list, recognises the most influential people throughout the whole of London – from the finance district, to theatre, to technology and politics – and is picked by a panel of specialist Evening Standard reporters and critics.
Image courtesy of Vogue and Claire Barrow for Matches


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Smart speakers are now found in 35% of U.S. households, according to Interpret’s New Media Measure quarterly survey of 9,000 U.S. households. The screen-enabled version of smart speakers, called smart displays, were heavily promoted for the holidays, with commercials for Facebook’s Portal, Amazon’s Echo Show, and Google’s Nest Home Hub. Smart displays will likely be used more frequently than smart speakers for shopping, as only 8% of respondents claim to make purchases through smart speakers. The primary use case for the devices is asking about the weather (53% of respondents), searching the web to answer questions (34% of respondents), followed by keeping a to-do list and task reminders (27%). An impressive 26% of respondents reported that they control smart home devices through their smart speaker.
Smart home devices, which include connected lighting, connected security systems, smart thermostats, connected cameras, doorbell cameras, smart locks and smart pet feeders/cameras, are more often found in households that own a smart speaker. Over half (54%) of smart speaker owners own some other kind of smart home product, compared to non-smart speaker homes, of which only 17% have one or more smart home products. Among all smart speaker owners, the smart home product that is most often owned is a connected light bulb, followed by a smart thermostat.
While Amazon’s market share of all Alexa-powered speakers and displays is 25 percentage points more than that of Google’s (71% versus 44% of all smart speakers/devices owned), both brands have been integrated and promoted for use with most smart home security systems. Owners of smart home security systems are three times more likely than non-security systems owners to have a smart speaker, and nearly five times more likely to have a smart display device. The smart speaker and smart display have become a convenient addition to smart home security systems.
Apple, Amazon, Google and the Zigbee Alliance announced, at the end of 2019, work on a new smart home protocol, based on IP, aptly called Connected Home over IP.
The new standard, if ultimately created and implemented, will help end the confusion and uncertainty of products working together – a significant barrier plaguing the growing number smart home enthusiasts. Until then, smart speakers have the potential to integrate disparate smart home products, from different vendors, using different standards, controlled by separate apps.
Just how important is connecting one smart home device to another among households who have snapped up popular smart home gadgets? Interpret’s New Media Measure survey has quantified the value of interoperability and we are sharing it with our clients. Ask us to learn more.


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Companies need to take a serious look at their digital ad programs, make needed adjustments, and prepare sales teams for success.
Brands big and small are optimizing SMM with influencers — but a new study finds social influencer fraud will cost you $1.3 billion.
In this episode Melissa shares a new partnership from Cheez-It and House Wine, bringing a snack and beverage pairing to its fans.
The success or failure of user acquisition advertising campaigns comes down to creative testing.
Facebook News Feed ads will change on Aug. 19, to benefit mobile users and advertisers who are trying to reach those consumers.
In Shutterstock’s new campaign, it both celebrates the Moon landing and makes the case for how it has the tools needed to recreate it.
Kekionga Cider Company decided it wanted to attract audience and enter new retail markets with its cider in 2018.
To digital advertisers, programmatic has transformed from the holy grail to an effective tool to regain control over ad budgets.
Recent research has shown that many small advertisers spend all of their marketing budgets online. These businesses, like poker players
Adidas UK promoted the new home kit for Premier League team Arsenal on Twitter, but sadly it didn’t go as planned.


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In front of a smiling crowd, Nicole's musician husband rehearses for the 43rd Academy Of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas
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The Path to Purchase Expo is back again — but this time like never before. The revamped 2019 Path to Purchase Expo will provide an eye-opening experience that gives brands, agencies, and retailers new tools to maximize sales, as well as compelling insights into today’s consumer behavior. We can’t wait to check out the restructured event design and to learn and share ideas at this year’s #P2PX. Here are a few things we’re looking forward to the most.
Brand New CPG eCommerce Data to be Revealed
SmartCommerce’s CEO, Jennifer Silverberg, will be speaking on Thursday at 11:15 am. Join us for her session, Linking Content to eCommerce: the CPG Opportunity, where she will share new CPG data gleaned from watching over 7 million consumers drop products into online carts from CPG touchpoints over the last year. This data not only helps define the unexpected opportunities that most CPG brands are missing but also reveals simple changes that can unlock serious online volume from real consumers.
A Speaker Lineup that Doesn’t Disappoint
In addition to our awesome CEO (sorry, we have to brag…), The 2019 Path to Purchase Expo agenda includes some truly stellar speakers. We’re excited for tomorrow morning’s Keynote Session, Walgreens: Combining Technology and the Human Touch to Improve Customer Experience, featuring Alyssa Raine, Divisional VP, Brand Marketing and Creative at Walgreens. Alyssa will explain how Walgreens leverages today’s digital tools to meet the needs of consumers and builds loyalty through personalized experiences.
An Exhibit Hall Stocked Full of Innovation
The exhibitors at this year’s event also can’t be rivaled. We’re honored to be chosen as one of the 2019 ‘Show Stoppers’ by the editors of The Path to Purchase Institute among companies like Coolio North America, Volta Charging, and Brook & Whittle, that will also be showcasing unique innovations on the exhibit floor.
To discuss the exciting opportunities for CPG brands and see for yourself some of the solutions that CPG brands are using to drive online sales, visit us at Booth #436 or simply download the Path to Purchase Expo app that features our Click2Cart® technology.
The 2019 Path to Purchase Expo app includes SmartCommerce Click2Cart® technology.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Path to Purchase Expo
When: November 13-14, 2019
Where: Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago, IL
SmartCommerce — Booth #436


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Petrol sales, which were down 2.4 billion litres in the first nine months of 2011 compared to 2008, look set to collapse further in 2012, according to a new report by the AA.
A poll of 20,181 AA members revealed that motorists plan to cut back even more on car use this year, with nearly 40% saying they will either drive more economically (26%) or drive less often (12%) in 2012.
The cost of fuel and the affordability of driving has become such an obsession that other New Year resolutions have taken a far lower priority: drive more safely 5%, keep to the speed limit 4%, drive less aggressively 3%.
The response from lower-income drivers once again indicates how much harder they have been hit by record pump prices. While 37% of professionals and senior managers say they will drive less often or more economically, that rises to 40% for socio-economic groups that include skilled and unskilled manual and service workers, pensioners and the unemployed. A higher percentage of unskilled workers, pensioners and unemployed (14%) will drive less often in 2012 than top and middle-level managers and professionals (11%).
Paul Watters, head of AA Public Affairs at the AA, said: “Drivers are clearly being forced into cutting their motoring by the high price of fuel and, for many, this will impose difficult constraints on their lives. We have reached the stage where motoring is once again only easily affordable for the better off and, with the car still the mainstay means of travel for the majority, that is depressing news at the start of 2012
“The impact of high fuel prices on ordinary drivers is staggering with just over a quarter of those choosing a new-year resolution saying they would drive more economically and a further one in 10 intending to drive less. This far exceeded the 12% going for road safety-related resolutions, perhaps because the cost of motoring threatens the way they live their lives.”
Latest government statistics show that between January and September this year:
- UK petrol retail sales have fallen 2.4 billion litres compared to the same period in 2008. More than 40% of the fall happened this year (petrol retail sales: Jan-Sept 2008 – 16.3 billion litres, Jan-Sept 2010 – 14.9 bn, Jan-Sept 2011 13.9 bn).
- UK diesel retail sales are up 0.5 billion litres compared to the same period in 2008, although sales direct to company depots are down 8.1% during Jan-Sept 2010 compared to Jan-Sept 2008. It is thought that many companies now buy their diesel direct from fuel station forecourts.
- Even after UK average petrol prices fell away from the record highs in May (137.43p a litre), sales declined more quickly. Compared to 2010, there were 348.4 million fewer litres of petrol sold in the second quarter of 2011, but this drop escalated to 435.5 million litres in the third.
Regionally, the South West and Northern Ireland are most resolved to cut back on car use, both with 41% of AA members saying that they aim to drive more economically or less often. Least determined are those in London with 35%.


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Though 2020 hasn’t been a positive year for most, there has been a lot to learn from it. 2021 will be a time for rebuilding, reorganizing, and growing both professionally and personally. We believe Influencer marketing will continue to flourish as it has this year and continues to provide great opportunities for businesses, creators, and agencies alike.
In the wake of the new Instagram update and introduction of reels, we wanted to discuss some of the things we feel you should know about the feature.
Newer brands (or fully-fledged brands) may not be sure how best to conduct their marketing to get the best results. We wanted to discuss why influencer marketing is by far, the simplest form of marketing they can choose.
In the wake of the festive season and brands releasing their Christmas adverts, we thought we’d take a moment to reflect on the art of storytelling within marketing and why it is so successful in refining a brand.
It can be far too easy to lump all influencers into one, big category. Today, we wanted to discuss the importance of influencer discovery itself and recognising that each influencer is vastly different in what they can bring to a campaign.
There has been a lot of discussion recently about the importance of supporting small businesses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This helps small businesses survive and continue their work in these difficult times.