text:
ETS 2 Multiplayer Mode Convoy Open Beta Launches
Przemyslaw Dygas, 18 June 2021, 19:35
The open beta for the Convoy multiplayer mode in Euro Truck Simulator 2 has been launched. Players can now travel across Europe together with their friends.
American Truck Simulator - Multiplayer Open Beta Goes Live
Adrian Werner, 10 June 2021, 12:00
The open beta of Convoy, the multiplayer mode for SCS Software's American Truck Simulator, has launched.
Assetto Corsa 2 is in the Pipeline, but It's Not Coming Anytime Soon
Jacob Blazewicz, 31 May 2021, 16:29
The racing game series Assetto Corsa will get a new installment. Digital Bros. confirmed that the company is working not only on a mobile installment of the series, but also a full-fledged sequel under the title Assetto Corsa 2.
Convoy in American Truck Simulator; Devs Test Multiplayer [UPDATED]
Jacob Blazewicz, 25 May 2021, 08:30
SCS Software tests the multiplayer mode in American Truck Simulator, called Convoy. For now, we can play with a larger group only as part of the beta update 1.41.
SnowRunner Now On Game Pass, Steam and Switch
Adrian Werner, 18 May 2021, 11:46
SnowRunner is now available on Steam and Microsoft Store. The game also debuted on Nintendo Switch and in Game Pass. Additionally, Season 4: New Frontiers has launched.
SnowRunner Season 4 Will Let Us to Rebuild a Spaceport
Milosz Szubert, 11 May 2021, 20:01
The fourth season of SnowRunner, titled New Frontiers, will soon be launched. From May 18, all season pass or Premium Edition owners will get access to, among other things, a new area, the Russian Amur Region, and two vehicles - ZiKZ 605-R and Khan 317 Sentinel.
SnowRunner Coming to Steam in May
Adrian Werner, 30 April 2021, 13:28
We know when the PC version of SnowRunner will stop being an Epic Games Store exclusive title. The developers revealed the release date on Steam and released a launch trailer.
Iberia DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2 Launches Today
Milosz Szubert, 08 April 2021, 17:34
Today, the Iberia expansion pack for Euro Truck Simulator 2 will be released, enabling us to travel with our virtual truck across Portugal and Spain.
The Bus Driver Simulator Launches in Early Access
Adrian Werner, 25 March 2021, 12:18
The Bus, an ambitious bus simulator that lets us drive around virtual Berlin, debuts today in Steam's Early Access.
Patches 1.40 for ETS and ATS Go Live
Milosz Szubert, 24 March 2021, 22:47
Both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator have received major updates numbered 1.40. Their main attraction is the new lighting system, which SCS Software has been boasting about for quite some time.
Texas is the Next Stop in American Truck Simulator
Ness, 13 March 2021, 17:17
SCS Software, the Czech studio responsible for the popular truck simulator series, has announced the next expansion for American Truck Simulator. This time players will be able to travel to Texas.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 Iberia DLC Map and New Screenshots
Milosz Szubert, 11 March 2021, 15:38
SCS Software released a map showing all the cities we'll be able to visit in the upcoming Iberia expansion for Euro Truck Simulator 2. In addition, we've got a few screenshots showing the virtual version of Porto.
SCS Sofware Announces ETS2 Heart of Russia Expansion
Agnes Adamus, 05 March 2021, 20:46
SCS Software announced the next addition to Euro Truck Simulator 2. It will be called Heart of Russia and will enable us to drive a truck through the European part of Russia.
ETS2 - New Gameplay From Iberia DLC
Milosz Szubert, 25 February 2021, 19:06
We got a new gameplay video, just over fifteen minutes-long, from the Iberia expansion for Euro Truck Simulator 2. In addition, SCS Software has shared how special transports will look in the upcoming DLC.
Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 Announced
Jacob Blazewicz, 01 February 2021, 20:16
PlayWay revealed its publishing plans for 2021. Among the presented games we see a new installment of the Car Mechanic Simulator series.
Project CARS 4 is in the Works and Will Focus on Hyper Realism
Bart Swiatek, 22 December 2020, 10:40
The CEO of Slightly Mad Studios has published a series of posts on Twitter, devoted to the fourth installment of Project CARS. The posts have already been deleted, but it looks like the game is being developed and will have very realistic graphics.
New Spintires DLC Takes Us for a Ride in China
Szarmancki, 16 December 2020, 15:22
British team at Oovee Games continues to develop its original off-road vehicle simulator. This time, Spintires will take our truck through muddy China, carrying rice and other cargo.
ETS 2 1.40 Shows Reskinned Germany on Screenshots
Jacob Blazewicz, 14 December 2020, 19:17
SCS Software shared screenshots from Euro Truck Simulator 2 update 1.40. The pictures show refreshed roads in Germany, but also give us a taste of the new lighting system.
American Truck Simulator Wyoming DLC Confirmed
Adrian Werner, 10 December 2020, 13:26
ATS: Wyoming, another expansion for the popular American Truck Simulator, has been announced. The expansion will use a new lighting model, which SCS Software is working on.
New American Truck Simulator DLC Will Take Us to Wyoming
Bart Swiatek, 25 November 2020, 12:28
The developers responsible for ATS have published a teaser for the upcoming expansion. Everything indicates that we're going to go to the Buffalo State - Wyoming.
SnowRunner Season 2 Launches With New Maps and Vehicles
Bart Swiatek, 17 November 2020, 11:03
Developers from Saber Interactive informed that the second season of support - Explore & Expand - began today in the off-road simulator SnowRunner. Here is a summary of new content.
SnowRunner Gets Giant Vehicle and New Maps
Adrian Werner, 10 November 2020, 14:31
We have learned some details about the second season of the off-road simulator SnowRunner. It will offer, among others, new maps, vehicles and objects.
SnowRunner - New map, Truck and Mod-related Changes
Dameredet, 07 September 2020, 22:03
SnowRunner has just received an update with many new features. Paid DLC with a map, vehicle and as skin has also been added to the game. Besides, it will be much easier to mod the game from now on.
Player Tests Stability of SnowRunner by Stacking Trailers
Bart Swiatek, 02 September 2020, 13:17
Internet user Janko Krytyant decided to test the stability of the off-road game SnowRunner by bringing as many trailers as possible to one canyon.
Offroad Mechanic Simulator Announced
Karol Laska , 13 August 2020, 19:53
The Polish studio Image Power and PlayWay are preparing an original project called Offroad Mechanic Simulator. This time we will be repairing and customizing off-road vehicles.
Bus Simulator 21 Announced
Milosz Szubert, 11 August 2020, 21:48
StillAlive and astragon Entertainment have announced Bus Simulator 21, another installment of the popular series of games that enable us to become a bus driver. The game will debut on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2021.
Spintires Gets New DLC and Competes With Snowrunner
Adrian Werner, 03 August 2020, 13:47
The creators of Spintires do not drop the pace. The game has just received an add-on with new vehicles and a map, as well as the 18.104.22.168 update, which thoroughly improves many elements of the game.
SnowRunner - Season 1 is Coming With New Content
Paul Wozniak, 10 July 2020, 21:20
In a few days, SnowRunner will see the debut of its first paid season (free for owners of season pass or premium edition), which will bring several new features to the game. Among other things, there will be a map located in Russia and vehicles. Free content (e.g. new missions) has been prepared for the owners of the standard version.
First Reviews: F1 2020 - Great Culmination of Current Gen
Paul Wozniak, 06 July 2020, 18:16
The first reviews of the latest installment Formula 1 racing game series from Codemasters Software. According to the journalists, it's a very good game, which highlights the developers' experience with the franchise, although it doesn't lack outdated elements. Mainly the new My Team mode has been gathering a lot of positive feedback.
MudRunner Goes Mobile
Adrian Werner, 06 July 2020, 13:43
MudRunner Mobile, a port of the popular off-road truck simulator to iOS and Android, has been announced. A first trailer was shown along with the game's release date.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Patch 1.38 Introduces Many New Features
Adrian Werner, 29 June 2020, 15:37
Open beta of patch 1.38 for Euro Truck Simulator 2 has been launched. The update brings a ton of changes. The map of one of the French cities has been thoroughly reworked and numerous graphics and controls improvements have been introduced.
Gran Turismo 7 Announced, New Gameplay From PS5
Adrian Werner, 11 June 2020, 22:25
Sony and Polyphony Digital announced Gran Turismo 7. We were shown a game trailer and first gameplay video.
Gran Turismo 7 on PS5 - Sony Ready for an Announcement
Adrian Werner, 08 June 2020, 11:32
Recent trademark registrations by Sony's Argentinean branch suggest that the company is preparing to announce Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 5.
Interactive Map for SnowRunner Shows Hidden Vehicles and Upgrades
Adrian Werner, 19 May 2020, 16:26
The MapRunner project, an interactive map for SnowRunner fans, showing the locations of hidden vehicles and improvements, has gone live.
SnowRunner's Near Future Includes New Map and Bug Fixes
Milosz Szubert, 06 May 2020, 17:44
Saber Interactive revealed its plans for development of SnowRunner in the near future. Among other things, improvements to the PC and PlayStation 4 versions of the title have been announced, as well as a new map - Taymyr.
First Reviews: SnowRunner - Satisfying Fun in Snow
Milosz Szubert, 28 April 2020, 14:25
SnowRunner, the new off-road vehicle simulator from Saber Interactive, debuts on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One today. First reviews of the title are now available online.
SCS Makes Two New States for American Truck Simulator? Watch Teaser
Agnes Adamus, 09 March 2020, 22:07
We will probably get two expansions for American Truck Simulator this year. SCS Software has published a mysterious teaser suggesting that another DLC is in the works. Although it hasn't been revealed exactly which state it is, the community unanimously points to Colorado.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 Will Get New DLC in 2020
Laty, 20 December 2019, 22:30
Next year, we will be able to continue the expansion into Western Europe in the next DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2. But that's not all, SCS Software has also announced another state to American Truck Simulator.
Euro Truck Simulator 2: Road to the Black Sea Launch Date Revealed
Christian Pieniazek, 28 November 2019, 22:42
We've learned the release date of Road to the Black Sea, the sixth big DLC for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Additionally, SCS Software has published a trailer focusing on the picturesque landscapes that will accompany us on our way to the Black Sea.
Project CARS 3 Two Times Better; Announcement Coming Soon
Jacob Blazewicz, 26 July 2019, 17:20
Project CARS 3 will soon be announced. This information was provided by Ian Bell from Slightly Mad Studios, who does not hide his excitement with the game.
Destruction Derby in Liberty City - GTA 3 Map Hits BeamNG.drive
Jacob Blazewicz, 25 July 2019, 00:04
A GTA III - Liberty City mod for BeamNG.drive has appeared on the web. You can drive through the locations known from the third installment of the Grand Theft Auto series and see how the advanced physics system from BeamNG studio's game deals with them.
F1 2019 Launch and Reviews - „Most Complete Formula 1 Experience”
Milosz Szubert, 28 June 2019, 16:01
Today, F1 2019, the next installment in the popular racing game series from Codemasters, debuted on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The title was warmly welcomed by the industry media.
F1 2019 Tests and Screenshots in 4K
Jakub Mirowski, 23 June 2019, 21:06
DSOGaming has published preliminary optimization tests of F1 2019 on a very powerful hardware. The website also showed a dozen or so screenshots in 4K resolution at the maximum level of graphic settings.
Racing in Rain Coming to Gran Turismo Sport
Adrian Werner, 23 June 2019, 20:17
Gran Turismo Sport fans will soon have the chance to race in the rain. A video was published on the official YouTube channel of the series, showing how it will look like in action.
F1 2019 - Hardware Requirements
Agnes Adamus, 20 June 2019, 00:13
Hardware requirements of F1 2019 - the next installment of the racing game series from Codemasters - appeared on Steam.
Euro Truck Simulator 2: Road to the Black Sea Announced
Adrian Werner, 11 May 2019, 19:26
SCS Software team has announced Road to the Black Sea, the next DLC to Euro Truck Simulator 2. The expansion will focus on Romania, Bulgaria and the European part of Turkey.
Assetto Corsa Competizione Release Date Confirmed
Agnes Adamus, 13 April 2019, 22:02
We've learned the official launch date of Assetto Corsa Competizione. The expansive racing simulator is expected to release in full version on May 29, this year.
Next Expansion to Euro Truck Simulator 2 Will be Balkans?
Milosz Szubert, 05 April 2019, 22:53
SCS Software started publishing materials preparing the community for the official announcement of the new expansion to Euro Truck Simulator 2. Much suggests that it will take virtual drivers to the Balkan peninsula.
Project CARS 3 will be more like NFS Shift
Frozen, 02 January 2019, 12:00
CEO of Slightly Mad Games revealed a new direction for Project CARS 3 - the game will resemble NSF Shift.
Gran Turismo Sport without microtransactions
luckie, 10 August 2017, 13:26
In case you've been wondering, no, Gran Turismo Sport is not going to include microtransactions. That's certainly good news for all who complained about paid credit packs in Gran Turismo 6.


text:
CorinneI writes: "Here's something from Palm that's been five years in the making, according to founder Jeff Hawkins. The Foleo boasts a full-size keyboard, a 10.2-inch color screen, and has an SD card slot, VGA out, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and more. Could this be the killer mobile e-mail machine we've been waiting for?"
Slashdot Top Deals
"We Americans, we're a simple people... but piss us off, and we'll bomb
-- Robin Williams, _Good Morning Vietnam_

domain: news


text:
This week, the editors at Northern Virginia Magazine are looking forward to enjoying some brews while shopping, revisiting one of NoVA’s most popular museums and a Christmas charity event for Ch…
Tag: Stefanie Gans
Food news, plus find Hawaiian food in Leesburg's Chefscape.
Victor Mendes has moved his wine shop across the street and makes his own wine across the country.
The spring debut will bring an upscale setting for Afghan food.
This week, the editors at Northern Virginia Magazine are looking forward to the opening of Punch Bowl Social at Ballston Quarter, an author talk on late-night cocktails and a debate on the best Christ…
Roman pizza in Alexandria, a brewpup in Merrifield and Guatemalan in Sterling, here’s where to eat this month.
Food news, plus grab a slice of Killa Cakes in Alexandria.
A healthcare professional turns her hobby into a hardback with a self-published cookbook out this month.
Chef Victor Albisu's modern taco spot will debut Dec. 6.
This week, the editors at Northern Virginia Magazine are looking forward to a final sampling of Cupcakes Actually, readying to wow holiday party hostesses and finally embracing the Christmas season.


text:
Tata Sons on Monday announced that its Board has replaced Cyrus P Mistry as Chairman of Tata Sons at a meeting held in Mumbai. The board has named... ...http://www.news18.com/news/india/ratan-tata-returns-as-interim-chairman-here-are-others-who-made-a-comeback-1304675.html
NEW YORK: Apple co-founder and former chief executive Steve Jobs unveiled iPod, a portable music player, that changed the way people buy and listen... ...http://www.gadgetsnow.com/more-gadgets/Apple-iPod-celebrates-15th-anniversary/articleshow/55029734.cms
Venture capitalists are always chasing the next big thing. Of late, they are struggling to figure out what that might be. Nearly a decade has... ...http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/Compnews-420743-Compnewsdet-Venture_Capitalists_Hunt_for_the_Next_Big_Thing.htm
The article below represents a preview only and is not meant for reuse or republishing. Midrand, Oct. 24 -- A 55-year-old deregistered female... ...http://www.htsyndication.com/htsportal/article/Doctor-nabbed-with-24-foetuses/16600129
George Bernard Shaw once said, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” These words take special... ...http://www.deccanherald.com/content/577468/gift-creating-ourselves.html
In many ways Narendra Modi is like...
The special world class inventor of...
Fighters, pioneers and distinct...


text:
Financial Brokerage Firm uses Hitwise to Optimize User Acquisition and SEO
A leading financial brokerage firm that provides tools for consumers to manage their investments, uses Hitwise to track their competitors…Learn more >
Who were the Fastest Rising Brands, Retailers & Categories of US Cyber Week 2019?
Cyber Week 2019 was another record setter in the US. Purchases from the top 50 US retailers rose +6% YoY…Learn more >
Black Friday 2019 – Multi Market Review: Who were this year’s retailer and brand winners?
Black Friday 2019 results are in with many claiming that online sales have exceeded expectations. Which markets and retail categories…Learn more >
Which new car buyer persona is best to target?
We are right in the middle of the holiday shopping season. While most consumers are after new kitchen appliances or…Learn more >
How can Hilton win back their online browsers?
How the battle of Airbnb vs. Hotels is influencing conversions The competition for getting travelers to book online is fierce.…Learn more >
Retail Peak 2019: Top Learnings So Far
Black Friday will fall one week later this year on November 29th, compared to November 23rd last year. This calendar…Learn more >
Holidays Unwrapped: 2019 Christmas Online Shopping Webinar
ACCESS UK WEBINAR ACCESS US WEBINAR Key Trends and Insights from the 2019 Holiday Season What were the hottest holiday…Learn more >
US News & Media Report 2019
INTRODUCTION 2020 is just two months away and with it comes a new year of breaking stories, inventive technologies, and…Learn more >
Pharmaceutical Leader Segments Their Core Audience with Hitwise
Hitwise spoke to the Manager of Market Intelligence at a global healthcare company to understand how they stay ahead of…Learn more >
Missguided uses Hitwise for Strategic Planning & Campaign Optimisation
Missguided is a leading online fashion brand that has disrupted the UK retail landscape for the past ten years. Bold,…Learn more >


text:
The Global Semiconductor Microchip Shortage has Economic and Geopolitical implications that could potentially see the rise of China as the dominant new world power.
Today, applications for Semiconductor Microchips exist in practically all consumer electronics, Electric Vehicles, Medicine and smart appliances to name a few.
Reasons For The Semiconductor Microchip Shortage
Many factors have contributed to the Semiconductor Microchip shortage that we see today.
Most recently, the Covid-19 Pandemic led to surge in demand for personal computers, new phones and other Semiconductor Microchip dependant devices so people could work from home.
Companies also upgraded their digital infrastructure to enable remote working.
In addition, the rise of Electric Vehicles has resulted in increased demand for Semiconductor Microchips from Automakers leading to a shortage in Semiconductor Microchips.
Globalisation also contributed to the Semiconductor Microchip shortage because US Companies relocated their manufacturing operations to the East, particularly to China and Taiwan because of cheaper labour and production costs.
However, the end result is that Countries such as the United States that were once leaders in Semiconductor Microchip production are now lagging behind Countries like China and Taiwan who benefited from the investment and research in Semiconductor Microchip production in the past several years.
In addition, the Governments of China and Taiwan quickly recognised the importance Semiconductor Microchips to the future Global Economy.
As a result, there was a concerted effort and strategy to build Semiconductor Microchip production capacity in Asia at the same time US companies were exporting their own Capacity to the East in pursuit of lower production costs and profit.
Geopolitics Of The Semiconductor Microchip Shortage
Since we live in a digital world, today the world economy effectively runs on Semiconductor Microchips.
As such, the power to make and the ability to acquire Semiconductor Microchips will play a key role in determining which Countries will progress and which ones will stagnate in the near future.
The rise of 5g and Artificial Intelligence also means that access to the best Semiconductor Microchips is crucial for any Nation that wants to remain relevant as a World Power.
Moore’s Law which states that power of Semiconductor Microchips doubles about every two years means that the cost of remaining behind for any Nation would be exponential and potentially fatal simply because of the rate at which Semiconductor Microchip technology advances.
Today, the big three Microchip producers are Intel from the US, Samsung from South Korea and TSMC from Taiwan which China already claims as a part of the Chinese mainland.
China’s claim to Taiwan makes clear the Geopolitical complexities of the Semiconductor Microchip shortage because of concerns that China may attempt to take over Taiwan’s Semiconductor industry
The Semiconductor Microchip shortage is also important in the field of National Sovereignty because State Security is now dependant on digtial infrastructure run by Semiconductor Microchips.
For this reason, the US has accused China among other things of Security breaches and Intellectual property theft which has culminated in public standoffs such as the Hauwei debacle between China and the US.
Its clear that Semiconductor Microchips are the new Economic and Geopolitical security concern.
As such, all States need to ensure a dependable supply of Semiconductor Microchips which will mean investing in research, development and manufacturing.
In the final analysis, while the global Semiconductor Microchip shortage is a cause of economic and political sensitivity, it is also a reminder of our interdependent global economy as well as the effects of De-Industrialisation in the United States.
Today’s global Semiconductor Microchip shortage means that the consequences of De-Industrialisation in the US may potentially see the United States lose its status as the world’s dominant power to China over time unless the US restores its own Semiconductor Microchip production capacity.
The Global Semiconductor Shortage Documentary


text:
Saturday, Feb. 3
70 Beach Street, 5F
Boston, MA 02111
The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York will speak about phone fraud at the Wong Family Association. Scammers have called Chinese individuals in Mandarin. The calls spoof the embassy’s number and scammers ask for credit card information, along with personal information.
The Embassy advises that it never asks for personal information over the phone. Only when individuals are present at Embassy service counters are they asked to provide identifying details. Its release in Chinese is available here.


text:
Lamborghini has decided to officially remind us their second only SUV – the Urus – is slated for the worldwide introduction event on December 4 in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy.
There are talks of “exceptional power and torque” and “distinctive design and a very significant presence” – while also offering even “exceptional capabilities on off-road terrains, including sand” that will lead to the creation of “a new Super SUV class of its own.” Marketing talk, we know, but it surely builds up expectations around the LM002 – aka Rambo Lambo – spiritual successor. Speaking of, the company has decided to also present an homage to LM002, which actually retired exactly 25 years ago.
The idea behind it was to deliver “a high performance offroad vehicle for military use” at the end of the 1970s, but turned out to be one of the forefathers of luxury SUVs. The model came with an aluminum and fiberglass body, packing a Countach Quattrovalvole-sourced V12 engine with 450 horsepower (335 kilowatts) and four-wheel drive, complete with transfer case, and three self-locking differentials. On perfect surfaces it was able to achieve more than 124 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour), while, using its special Pirelli Scorpion tires, on rough terrains it was capable of gradients higher than 120 percent. The modern take meanwhile switches to a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 good for 650 hp (484 kW) – and further down the line the company will also deliver a plug-in hybrid version.


text:
Ferrier Hodgson has released its Hospitality Insights report for 2017, observing the drivers and trends in an industry it notes is more competitive than ever.
Hospitality Insights discusses a broad range of aspects affecting hospitality businesses, such as trends in revenue leaders, the advent of technology, and the continued importance of gaming.
In the era of the gastro-pub and an abundance of supply, the paper has particularly prudent advice for the budding foodie operator.
Food is lower margin than beverage and gaming and has high labour costs. Getting the revenue mix wrong for a particular venue could lower margins overall. Focus on the target audience and avoid being everything to everyone.
The introduction by Morgan Kelly speaks of a buoyant 2016, and the outlook for 2017 and beyond.
“Very few headwinds have presented during the year, with the exception of the spectre of a rise in interest rates.
“Potential gaming reform and ongoing debates on extension of lockout laws create uncertainty, but have not dampened confidence in the sector, and the industry remains a strong and vibrant contributor to the Australian economy.”
An industry more competitive than ever before:
- Current explosion of food & beverage-focused venues
- Increasing trend towards premium beverages
- Successful operators leverage their full service offering
- Food revenue should enhance and not replace existing high margin revenue
- A well planned social media strategy is essential
- Accommodation is the next profit growth horizon – using hotel booking websites for underutilised space
- Point of sale technology and payment apps reducing customer friction
- UberEats is a game changer – potential to capitalise on new customers & increase sales
Gaming underpinning growth in profitability and asset values:
- Four years of sustained gaming growth
- Successful operators continue to recognise the importance of gaming to their bottom line
- The industry remaining very sensitive to legislative changes
- Currently few political threats to gaming reform


text:
ABC bosses sleep with ‘enemies’ Netflix and AmazonPUBLISHED: 12 Aug 2013 00:33:36 | UPDATED: 12 Aug 2013 11:20:39PUBLISHED: 12 Aug 2013 PRINT EDITION: 12 Aug 2013
ABC’s Paul Lee sees Netflix and Amazon as more threatening to pay-TV operators such as HBO than to ABC. Photo: ABC
As one of the top network TV producers in North America, ABC Studios vice president Patrick Moran is about to sleep with what many might believe to be the enemy – upstart TV operators Netflix and Amazon.
As with most feature film and TV producers, and Hollywood writers and directors, Mr Moran has been swept up by Kevin Spacey’s exclusive deal with Netflix to create the award-winning politico drama series, House of Cards. And now Amazon, the one-time e-commerce trailblazer, is cutting itself into the TV business, commissioning exclusive TV programs it hopes existing online audiences will pay to watch.
Mr Moran is talking to Amazon and Netflix about creating exclusive TV series even though his primary mandate is to help keep viewers fixed to the programming slate across ABC’s broadcast and digital platforms.
But he and his boss, ABC Entertainment Group president Paul Lee, see Netflix and Amazon as more threatening to pay-TV operators such as HBO than to ABC. “They’re probably the future in terms of subscription-based models to be honest with you,” Mr Moran said. “We’ll see a lot more of them. We’re paying a lot of attention to Netflix because of things like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Their dramas have made a lot of noise. They’re probably not getting the audience volumes, but they are high quality. So we’re having conversations with Netflix and Amazon right now. We’re very close on something with Netflix and we’re having the conversation with Amazon. Netflix right now is skewing more drama and Amazon is skewing more comedy. So they’re all kind of staking out their own territories as well. We’re determined to find something we can do with both.”
Focus still on ABC’s network
The move by ABC Studios to deal with digital TV aspirants is not out of the box – Mr Moran is currently producing a show for ABC TV’s rival CBS, called Intelligence and it recently created a pilot TV series for NBC.
“We have always said that the big win for the studio is a hit on the [ABC] network but we’re not limited to that,” Mr Moran said. “We have series all over basic cable [TV]. We’re developing everywhere but the focus is the [ABC] network.”
Mr Moran said his relationship with Network Seven’s programming team, where ABC’s parent company Disney has an output deal with Seven, was peculiar to most other domestic and international distribution partners.
“Oh my god, they are brutally honest,” he said. “Tim [Worner, Seven West Media CEO] is hilarious. They won’t hold back if they don’t like something. They’ll just say it’s crap if they don’t like it.”Believe me, I really like that objectivity because when they’re looking at something they’re just coming to it completely fresh. I know I’ll get an honest opinion from that group.”
The Australian Financial Review


text:
As COVID-19 ushers in massive ramifications for emerging economies around the globe, the importance of collaborating to ensure sound frameworks for digital transformation cannot be understated. On one hand, many emerging markets are facing the most acute economic effects of COVID-19, but they also have varying assets that indicate tremendous long-term promise. While each region, and each country, faces its own set of challenges in harnessing innovation for long term growth, the potential digital represents is remarkable across the board.
Under this backdrop, Concordia and Google teamed up to host a pair of important conversations on how emerging markets can most effectively leverage digital transformation to bring about sustainable and inclusive economic growth. At the center of these conversations was Google’s new ‘Digital Sprinters,’ framework, which provided the basis for dialogue at both the 2020 Concordia Africa Initiative and the 2020 Concordia Americas Summit.
Presented by Dr. Guy Ben-Ishai, Google’s Head of Economic Policy Research, the notion of ‘Digital Sprinters’ recognizes that, with the right strategies, emerging markets have tremendous potential to leapfrog more established markets. It’s not a question of “if?” but rather “where, when, and which” markets. If utilized to its fullest extent, digital-driven growth has the potential to amount to $3.4 trillion over the next decade across the 16 emerging markets identified in an Alphabeta study.
In turn, each conversation provided insights into the unique regional contexts of Africa and Latin America, with policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts weighing in on the next steps needed to ensure the potential is realized.
At the Concordia Africa Initiative, panelists explored the relationship between regulatory policy and innovation on the African continent. They agreed that policymakers need to consider creative digital policies to promote effective collaboration across sectors, steering innovation toward economic growth and industrialization upstream. Policymakers should also ensure incentives for innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to play a significant role in the governance process to ensure their expertise helps optimize regulatory frameworks. In forging their digital solutions, companies meanwhile need to balance the reach, quality, and effectiveness of their products. In measuring effectiveness, digital solutions should be evaluated through the lens of how well they advance several key markers, from job growth and skills development to economic competitiveness.
At the Concordia Americas Summit, panelists from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, the United States, and Costa Rica cited several key factors for ensuring the ‘Digital Sprinters’ framework achieves positive impact in the region. First off, there is a need for strategic thinking among political leadership on creating an enabling environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry standards for IP, data privacy, and e-commerce. The challenge for governments is in refraining from overregulation, which can damage the growth of the digital ecosystem. Looking to the role of the private sector, panelists emphasized that the goal should be to create digital solutions for workers, whether in the informal economy or among small- and medium-sized enterprises. Seizing the opportunities represented by digital technology would also benefit from stronger coordination of multilaterals, NGOs, and academia, particularly at the regional level.
Across the African and Latin American discussions, a few common themes emerged. First off, there are many initiatives to strengthen digital connectivity in both regions, whether government or private sector-driven, but the efforts need greater alignment and consistency. In the Latin American context, the policies being deployed to regulate digital technology are many, but without greater coordination and long-term thinking, digital transformation will be impeded. In Africa, a greater emphasis on digital connectivity as interoperable, critical national infrastructure — as opposed to disjointed patchwork solutions — would tangibly provide digital access at lower cost.
Second, the rapid development of digital technologies in both regions has created new challenges for policymakers who are looking to leverage the technology for economic growth. Given the rapid pace of innovation, panelists said policymakers need to explore new models of regulation that neither stifle the expansion of digital technology nor let technological risks go unchecked entirely. One promising model was the idea of “regulatory sandboxes,” which allow for multi-stakeholder partnerships to test new innovations in a narrow scope, without impeding the speed of innovation nor the ability of governments to regulate.
Finally, there was recognition in both conversations that digital access must be contextualized within a broader set of socio-economic goals. In Africa, one panelist raised that despite rapid growth in the number of capable African software developers, they are concentrated largely in the development of consumer applications, instead of industries like agribusiness and power that are more likely to be pivotal in supercharging economic growth. Similarly, panelists noted that in Latin America, digital access alone would not unlock rapid, sustainable growth. Under the right framework, it can, however, be used to tackle long standing socio-economic challenges like inequality, formalization of the economy, and unemployment.
Looking ahead, Concordia shares Google’s confident outlook that, with the right mix of cross-sector collaboration and strategic foresight among regional governments, multilaterals, industry players, and NGOs, emerging markets in Africa and Latin America have tremendous long-term economic opportunities at their fingertips. Through convenings like the 2020 Concordia Americas Summit and the 2020 Concordia Africa Initiative, it was our intention to spring action within our community and look at the most pressing steps needed to leverage digital technology toward this goal. We encourage you to check out Google’s ‘Digital Sprinters’ framework, and we look forward to continuing the conversation with our community throughout our 2021 agenda.


text:
Dear Smart Broadband Inc., First, my apologies for the term. I can’t seem to find a better word to describe my disappointment of your broadband service, which you failed to…
Over a week ago, it has been tipped off that the official launch of Smart Communications 4G LTE service is imminent comes August 25th. The date was confirmed then through Smart’s official Facebook page last week, with the telco saying the first and much-anticipated commercial LTE service in the country will be launched officially at the Resorts World Manila, beginning 1PM on August 25th, Saturday. The event is open-invite so everybody got a chance to witness the highlights right when Smart kick off the event.
But don’t you get all excited, folks. Smart is pushing LTE service in select locations in the country, but the initial availability would be in Metro Manila only. Smart has already tested the service in key cities in the southern part of the country as well, specifically in Davao and Cebu, yet the commercial availability on these cities has still to be announced. I’m inclined to believe though Smart’s commercial LTE service won’t launch here in the South until 2013. And I’d bet all my cards for that wild guess! But yeah, I wish Smart will get me surprised! (more…)
Following Apple’s announcement of The New iPad few days ago, Smart Communications had issued a press release saying it “welcomes the announcement of the New iPad which features high-speed connectivity on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology”.
And speaking of the Philippine launch of the tablet, SMART, through its Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando B. Vea, “believes that the New iPad could be made available locally sooner than expected”, apparently because SMART has a working LTE network in the country. Well, yes; SMART has a working LTE network in some parts of the Philippines, but I’m personally not convinced The New iPad will be launched sooner because the country already has a working LTE network. Is LTE support really a main selling point of The New iPad?
Though SMART didn’t clearly state its network will support such LTE-capable tablet, I personally found the presser horribly deceptive ‘coz it could mislead an ordinary Joe to believe once he gets The New iPad, the LTE connectivity will work with SMART out of the box. With SMART lacking important information on its website about its LTE network, at this point, I’m inclined to believe LTE connectivity of The New iPad won’t work here in the Philippines. Read on for more why I said that… (more…)


text:
Audi globally will achieve 1.5m unit sales in 2014, two years ahead of the brand's plan programme towards 2020, writes Brian Byrne.
At the launch of the latest generation of the Audi TT sports coupe and roadster in Ireland, Audi Ireland's marketing manager Mark O'Connell noted that even in the global market areas where car sales are down, Audi's market share has increased.
He added that a decrease of 0.5pc market share in Ireland in 2014 compared to the previous year was largely due to the difficulty prestige brands have in 'turning on the tap' to make more volume available when a market grows.
But with a market share of over 32pc in the premium sales in Ireland, Audi is now top of that area in Ireland for six years in a row. Audi's growth has mirrored the segment growth of some 16pc this year.
Audi Ireland will finish out the year with 4.5pc of the local market.


text:
Guitar Hero is making a comeback this year with its first new offering in five years, Guitar Hero Live. And it’s bringing with it some face-melting six-string heroes, including Ed Sheeran, Skrillex and the Lumineers.
Yes, you will now be able to strum your plastic ax along to “Ho Hey” for points.
Of course, the game is also offering other songs by legends of classic rock, ’90s alternative and heavy metal, so the Rolling Stones, Pantera, Rage Against the Machine and Green Day will be included, as will younger acts like alt-J and Gary Clark Jr.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Jamie Jackson, owner of Freestyle Games (the company that puts out Guitar Hero, and who partnered with Activision for Guitar Hero Live), said, “It’s been 10 years since the first Guitar Hero game came out. When you think of it like that, and think about how much the musical landscape has changed since then – that’s where we’ve been able to explore some new types of musical style as well. Guitar music is broader than it’s ever been – so we’re reflecting that in the range of music on offer.”
Meanwhile, Rolling Stone reports that among the new features on the revitalized game are a more realistic controller/instrument and a 24-hour music video network called GHTV, “The world’s first playable music video network.”
Game creator Activision says the channel will allow participants to play along to official videos across various genres and challenge other online players of the same skill level.
Jackson noted that there will be rock channels on GHTV, as well as different genres on other channels.
The new version of the game will feature a first-person perspective, allowing gamers to almost interact with the crowd and their bandmates on screen; if you start messing up, both the crowd and your bandmates will react and “turn on you.”


text:
Most private equity firms keep the value of their investments carefully shielded from the public’s eyes. But Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, the giant leveraged buyout firm, is opening up a little on Monday as one of its publicly traded affiliates reports results.
KKR Private Equity Investments, which trades on the Euronext exchange in Amsterdam and is invested primarily in several of its parents’ funds and portfolio companies, announced that its assets’ value fell 32 percent in the fourth quarter, to $2.62 billion. Its net asset value was $12.78 a share, which remained high above its Friday stock price of $2.25.
Popularly known as K.P.E., the fund marked down the value of a wide variety of its investments, including those in companies like the credit-card processor First Data; the British pharmacy chain Alliance Boots; and the Texas energy company Energy Future Holdings.
It is another sign of the damage the global market turmoil is inflicting on private equity firms and their investments. The stocks of buyout firms that already trade publicly, like the Blackstone Group and Fortress Investment Group, have been battered over the last year. On Friday, Blackstone said it had marked down its portfolio by $3.9 billion, contributing to an $827 million loss.
Kohlberg Kravis, which is planning to acquire K.P.E. as a way of becoming a public company, said on Monday that it was evaluating the “continued advisability” of that proposed transaction in light of continued market upheaval. A decision could be reached over the next few weeks.Continue reading the main story
The buyout firm had already delayed that deal in November.
It had previously considered going public through an initial public offering, like Blackstone, but the market has since grown inhospitable to many offerings, let alone one of a private equity firm.
Much of the losses by K.P.E. and its parent were because of new accounting rules forcing private equity firms to value holdings every quarter as if they would sell them immediately.
KKR holdings are not publicly traded, making it difficult to measure their value. So K.P.E. has to extrapolate based on the value of a publicly traded rival. Using that method, the value of K.P.E.’s investment in First Data fell 40 percent, or $164.6 million, during the quarter.
HCA, the big hospital operator, dropped 33 percent and the value of Biomet, a medical device maker, dipped 20 percent. (One exception was Dollar General, a discount retailer whose value rose 10 percent as its revenue and same-store sales jumped during the quarter. The company is seeking to open 450 new stores this year.)
Kohlberg Kravis officials insist that the values are only the result of the current market conditions and that they intend to hold onto these companies for the long term. One person close to the firm said that 69 percent of its companies reported flat to growing profits for 2008.
“We believe that the valuations of K.P.E.’s underlying private equity investments are more reflective of broader global macroeconomic conditions and mark-to-market considerations than they are of the fundamentals of K.P.E.,” Henry R. Kravis, Kohlberg Kravis’s co-founder and the co-chairman of K.P.E.’s board, said in a statement.Continue reading the main story


text:
Not too long ago, Bitcoin was among the first cryptocurrencies which took over the world by storm. Suddenly, the regulation-free digital currency became a favourite for investors around the world and attracted several others in large numbers as its value grew by leaps and bounds. Those who had invested in this new currency at an earlier stage turned rich overnight.
Soon, a number of other cryptocurrencies made an entry in the market around the globe. These cryptocurrencies use a unique ‘open ledger’ system to record peer-to-peer transactions which keep the whole experience transparent for everyone. This way of keeping the record, however, removed the need for middle players which control the currency flow – for example, banks.
The blockchain system and cryptocurrencies, thus, faced a backlash from governments around the world. However, one small country in the European Union decided to take its own course and coming out strongly in support of the blockchain technology. The movement to make Malta a ‘blockchain hub’ gained weight after the Labour Party government was re-elected.
The Maltese government has ensured that this small island country becomes a leading player in adopting the blockchain technology to attract businesses. To show its commitment and gain the trust of investors, the Maltese Parliament passed three bills in July this year establishing a regulatory framework for the blockchain technology.
Silvio Schembri, the Junior Minister for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation in the office of Prime Minister of Malta, took to Twitter after the bills were passed and said: “The 3 Bills that will regulate DLT have been approved by Parliament and enacted into law. Malta , the first world jurisdiction to provide legal certainty to this space.” (sic)
This step by the Maltese government has instilled a sense of confidence and has provided a certainty for the future. Adding to this, a hostile environment in other countries around the world, the smallest member of the European Union has now managed to attract two of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges.
Throwing his weight behind the new technology after the crypto giant Binance made an official announcement that it was moving to Malta, the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat made a bold statement: “The concept of cryptocurrencies excites me as it strikes at the heart of a key philosophical element that economy students are taught at the beginning of their course.”
Moving further, he expressed his confidence in a strong and stable future for the cryptocurrencies. “Millions of people already attribute value to virtual currencies, which has created an entirely new market. The concept sounds confusing right now, but I have no doubt that it will form the base of a new economy in the future. Just as we attribute value to pieces of paper, so too will future generations attribute value to electronic storage systems,” Muscat added.
These words by the leader of Malta have ensured that more crypto giants will soon pack their bags and set base in the Mediterranean archipelago. After Binance’s move, OKEX Technology Co., Neufunf, The Abyss, and Tron have already given an indication that they are planning to move their operations to Malta. This would mean Malta becomes the largest and the first Cryptocurrency and Blockchain hub in the European Union and the West.
Not just stopping at this, a more tangible change is also being seen on the ground in Malta as the country announced recently that it will set up two-way bitcoin ATMs across the island. These bitcoin ATMs have been created by a company named MoonZebra and will enable the users to buy, withdraw and deposit bitcoins. Currently, the ATMs will only be able to accommodate bitcoin users but it is expected that other cryptocurrencies will also be added to the system in near future.
“Domestic job creation is a certainty. In March, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao stated in a blog post that the exchange is aggressively expanding and aims to increase its workforce by 2,000 this year alone – there is no doubt that many of those jobs will be Malta-based. The knock-on effect will be evident in other economic areas. With a greater pool of big-name companies, Malta will inevitably attract more young foreign professionals who bring with them new digital skill sets,” Mediarex Sports & Entertainment CEO Alexandre Dreyfus stated in an article written for Times of Malta.
These positive responses those who support blockchain technology prove that Malta has made a smart move leaving behind some of the biggest economies. The ‘blockchain revolution’ has created the first ‘blockchain island’ and the world is looking at Malta in anticipation to see how it pans out from here. For now, it seems like a win-win situation for Malta.


text:
In 2004 the domain name was purchased and the company changed its name.
Partly because of its ad campaign, True has become, in only four years since its founding, one of the most visited sites in the online dating industry, according to The New York Times.
On September 14, 2007, the New York Times' "Bits" blog reported that an executive at a major Internet company said that True is delinquent on its advertising payments on his and other websites and has had to cut back on advertising as a result.
True has lobbied state lawmakers in favor of legislation requiring online dating services to disclose whether or not they conduct background checks.
True is currently supporting bills under consideration in Texas, Michigan, and Florida.
CEO Herb Vest has expressed a preference for pursuing such bills at the state level, saying "state legislatures are particularly vulnerable to influence from special interest groups because they are less in the media spotlight than the national Congress." True will cancel the account of anyone found to be married, separated or having a pending divorce without warning, and also reports them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Convicted felons will not only have their accounts canceled, but are reported to the IC3 and to local authorities.
The company has even filed lawsuits against individuals for misrepresenting themselves on its site, under the premise that doing so is wire fraud.
Most notably, it sued Robert Wells, a 66-year-old convicted felon and child molester from Walnut Creek, California.
Fun Text brings flirting to the online and cell phone world.
People all around the world can now flirt free and faster through SMS text messages.
Fun Text offers the only free two way text flirting service where you can receive replies via email!


text:
NAA said the award "honors retailers who have demonstrated a long-term cooperative effort to sell and market newspapers in their stores and who model the industry's cutting edge approach to single-copy promotions."
Wal-Mart, which was nominated by Angie Hauser of the Visalia (Calif.) Times Delta, won in the category of mass merchandiser.
Winning for grocery stores was Jewel-Osco. Walgreens won in the drug stores category, while Kazi Foods Corp. won among restaurants.
Circulation executives from The Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune, the Herald Tribune in Sarasota, Fla., and The Courier Journal in Louisville, Ky. were named circulation sales executives of the year at the conference.
Winning in the under 75,000-circulation category was Keely Byars, circulation director of the Tribune. John Wiley, circulation and marketing sales manager of the Herald Tribune, was the winner in the 75,000- to 150,000-circulation category. Helen Hoffman, the Courier-Journal's circulation director/sales, was the winner in the category for paper with more than 150,000 circulation.
The awards recognizes the executive "who has successfully created and implemented innovative programs and strategies to grow circulation or readership during the last two to five years," NAA said.
By: Mark Fitzgerald Wal-Mart, the behemoth retailer known to publishers across the country for refusing to advertise in the local paper, was named Newspaper Merchandiser of the Year at Monday at the Newspaper Association of America's Newspapers '05 marketing and production conference in Dallas.


text:
Cloud infrastructure services company Digital Planet is planning to launch its services into the US, UK and mainland European technology markets in the coming months, the company’s operations director Brian Larkin told Siliconrepublic.com.
Digital Planet was formed when Irish IT firm HiberniaEvros revealed a €1.6m investment in a new cloud computing division that will create 50 jobs over the next three years, including a €500,000 infrastructure platform deal with HP.
In an interview with Siliconrepublic.com ahead of the upcoming Cloud Capital Forum on 23 November, Larkin pointed out that a legacy of deploying core IT infrastructure is vital in terms of cloud computing. He said the infrastructure model is still the same and what has really changed is the business model that cloud enables in terms of getting computing resources on demand.
“A history of building these environments is vital. In Digital Planet, we’ve 20 years of experience. We’re a tier 1 provider of HP infrastructure and we’re also a tier 1 provider for VMware and Microsoft in terms of hypervisors and we’re also tier 1 with IBM and Cisco in terms of infrastructure.
“The next natural step for Digital Planet as we move towards building our own solutions is to move to the international market.
“I believe that Digital Planet is in a fantastic position to actually become the cloud infrastructure service leader in Ireland. That’s not going to be good enough for us. We need to go international and create our brand in the UK and the US.”
Larkin said the key to moving into the US, UK and European markets has been to build up a reference base of customers in terms of providing cloud infrastructure services.
“We’ve established that now with a substantial amount of customers on our cloud and so our next step is to drive this out of the Irish market and into the UK, Europe and the US.”
Larkin added that one of his ambitions is to use the substantial cloud infrastructure Digital Planet has created to offer services to Irish start-ups and software companies initially for free.
“You can’t build a cloud buying one server or NAS box at a time. You need to build a huge environment up front. We have lots of capacity and I’d love to see Digital Planet become a facilitator for Irish companies to get into the global market,” he said.
Debunking myths around cloud computing
Straight-talking Larkin admitted he finds it frustrating at how the term ‘cloud’ has been bandied about as if it’s a technological evolution, when in reality he and others see it as an evolution of a business model.
“There is no new technology in cloud computing – what cloud computing is, is it is an evolution of a business model. It’s how we consume our IT requirements.
“To give you an example, who would you call the biggest cloud companies in the world? And if you ask that question some people would say Salesforce.com because it was at the front end of the cloud terminology and so on. Salesforce.com is a CRM solutions company. They develop software, they deliver their software under a different model, a remote model. That’s what cloud computing is, the delivery of your technology remotely.
“In the past this was called computing on demand. Look at Office 365 from Microsoft. People say Microsoft is a big cloud company. They are not. Microsoft is again a big software company. They deliver their solutions remotely and online so when people talk about cloud as an evolution of technology they should be talking about an evolution of a business model – how we consume our technology in a different fashion.
“This is no different from 10-15 years ago when you looked at the travel industry, you walked in, you bought your holiday from the local travel agents. That industry is now gone, it’s been usurped by people going online and buying their holidays online.
“So what cloud is: it is a different business model, not a different technology model, it’s an evolution of a business model,” Larkin said.
Join Brian Larkin and Ireland’s digital leaders who will gather to discuss cloud computing and the big data revolution at the Cloud Capital Forum on Friday, 23 November, at the Convention Centre Dublin


text:
SOLVAY has sold its amphoteric surfactant manufacturing business, including production plants in UK, Germany and the US, to private equity firm OpenGate Capital.
Amphoteric surfactants are primarily used in shampoos, body soaps and homecare products. The business employs around 175 people and has three main production sites in Halifax, UK; Genthin, Germany; and Illinois, US. It also has a tolling business in Turkey.
The Belgian chemicals major said the sale continues its strategy to focus more on specialty formulations and custom solutions, and it expects to close the deal by the end of March.
OpenGate, which is headquartered in the US, plans to appoint John Foley, who previously worked as CEO of ORG Chemical Holdings, as the new head of the surfactant business. The companies have not disclosed the value of the deal.
Catch up on the latest news, views and jobs from The Chemical Engineer. Below are the four latest issues. View a wider selection of the archive from within the Magazine section of this site.


text:
OYO scales back operations in multiple cities, warns of more layoffs in coming months
Softbank-backed OYO is looking to scale back its operations with the sole motive to cut costs. The hotel aggregator firm had notably spent the last two years aggressively expanding its presence in India and across the globe.
According to latest reports, as part of its restructuring and reorganisation of teams across businesses and functions in India, the Gurugram-based firm is rolling back operations and slashing jobs with warns of more such layoffs in the coming months.
In an internal mail to its employees in India and South Asia, OYO founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal has confirmed the implication of the new strategy of making some roles at the company redundant.
“One of the implications of the new strategic objectives for 2020, is that, like the leadership team, we will reorganise more teams across businesses and functions. And this means that, unfortunately, some roles at OYO will become redundant as we further drive tech-enabled synergy, enhanced efficiency and remove duplication of effort across businesses or geographies,” Agarwal said.
Though he did not reveal the number of layoffs, multiple media reports hint the number to be over 2,000. On January 10, Bloomberg reported that OYO has let go of 5% of its 12,000 employees in China on account of non-performance. It plans to shed another 1,200 in India over the next three to four months, it added.
According to a New York Times report, OYO has lost more than 65,000 rooms since October in India and has also stopped selling rooms in over 200 small cities as of this month.
Agarwal further said that his company would focus on sustainable growth, profitability, training and governance. “Change can be hard,” he said. “It requires tough choices and it demands bold actions.”
Employees who are asked to leave are being offered standard two months of severance pay.
The development comes at a time when the six-year-old firm has been facing allegations of tax evasion, bribery and anti-competitive practices.


text:
Coffee Flour Coming Soon to the Baking Aisle – D-brief | DiscoverMagazine.com.
“By Carl Engelking | April 11, 2014 2:56 pm
Growing, harvesting and roasting the coffee beans for your morning cup of java generates a lot of waste. But a Vancouver-based startup company now turns coffee castoffs into bread, cakes and pasta dough.
Coffee beans are actually seeds, extracted from fruits called coffee cherries. Once coffee producers remove the beans, the leftover fruit is usually cast aside and left to decompose. That is, until a company called CF Global Holdings came up with a method to convert the discarded fruit into nutritious flour.
This coffee flour is gluten free and contains more iron than spinach, more protein than kale, and more fiber than whole grain flour, Businessweek reports. It doesn’t contain high levels of caffeine — a person would need to consume 16 slices of coffee flour bread to get the jolt of one cup of joe. And instead of tasting like coffee, the flour’s flavor has hints of floral citrus and roasted fruit.
“My wife made some shortbread cookies and granola,” CF Global’s Dan Belliveau told Businessweek. “When it actually tasted good we thought, wow, we’ve got something here.”
In addition to minimizing waste from coffee production, Belliveau also hopes the flour will help coffee growers take home additional income, and give them a leg up in a globally competitive market. Coffee flour is currently being produced in factories in Hawaii, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico and Vietnam. The flour should be available for purchase by next year, according to the coffee flour website.
Photo credit: AFNR/Shutterstock
The basics of coffee drinks in one infographic !
“If you’re like me and T.S. Eliot, you’ve measured out your life with coffee spoons. But chances are, the actual amount of caffeine you consume versus the volume you drink is a fuzzier matter. If you go in for those fancy coffee drinks, you’re getting proportionately less caffeine than if you went for a straight shot of espresso, as this nifty Venn diagram, by the London-based graphic designer David Staffell, so clearly illustrates. Of course, as a coffee connoisseur, you already know all this, but it’s still cool to see it laid out in graphic shorthand.”
via Infographic Of The Day: The Definitive Guide To Crazy Coffee Drinks | Co. Design.
Coffee marketing is more and more sophisticated. Who knew that “ coffee gourmandism has the potential to rival oenophilia’s cultish obsessiveness. Watts notes that while the fruit of the vine incorporates about 200 different taste-bestowing elements, more than 800 distinct flavor- and aroma-imparting compounds have been detected in java. “In 30 years or so,” he says, “our taste in coffee will match our taste in wine.” ? ”
“The first Cup of Excellence competition was held 12 years ago in Brazil. Any farmer in the nation could submit beans for consideration. A panel of importers, roasters, and expert sippers selected a winner, which was then sold for exorbitant sums in an Internet auction. Susie Spindler, executive director of the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, masterminded the format, which was exported to countries across Latin America and to Rwanda. She now has her eyes set on Burundi, Kenya, and Tanzania. “Cup of Excellence has completely changed the infrastructure of how coffees are sold,” she says.
Once upon a time, coffee-growing countries were focused solely on maximizing the volume of beans produced. But the more that bean quality has affected price, the more impassioned coffee-producing nations have become about divergent strains and varietals. At last year’s Colombian Cup of Excellence, the winning beans, called Finca La Loma, caused a scandal. They garnered a score of 94.92, the highest in the history of the Colombian coffee industry, and judges declared that the velvety brew was exceptionally sweet and smacked of clover and watermelon. A 2,000-pound microlot sold at auction to a consortium of international buyers for $40.09 a pound, which translated to a staggering street value of $260 a kilo in Japan.”
via Sip, Spit, Grade: Coffee Experts Crown Colombia’s Best Beans | Magazine.


text:
Durex Pakistan is synonymous with taking current affairs, pop culture, and trending news, then turning them into hilarious content that ties in with the brand. This has previously won the brand awards as their efforts to remove taboos about topics that are typically shied away from are communicated with a great strategy. This time, the brand found another way for its latest campaign that has been completely different on its digital pages.
Through a series of riddles released under the hashtag, #RiddleMeThis, Durex started a campaign to launch an exciting variant, Durex Invisible. The riddles released were clever, amusing, and extremely engaging. The internet was alight with commenters taking their shot at cracking the riddles. The answers ranged from innocent to hilarious and we just could not get enough! No matter what the answers guessed, one thing is for sure, Durex knows how to get the conversation started!
View this post on Instagram
The comments on these posts were filled with enthusiasm as people tried to guess what it is. Some cracked the code, while many others were left scratching their heads. Riddles like “I am thinner than your patience and not always on the head”, created hype in the market as people could not wait to see what it was. While the official Durex social media pages were uploading these curiosity-filled riddles, many meme pages and other publications were giving recognition to the campaign. Following the riddles, Durex Pakistan simply posted a story on their socials stating, “This story is no longer visible”, doing just enough to keep interest piqued without giving too much away.
The excited audience finally saw what the riddles were about when the brand released a DVC. They revealed the exciting new variant with its details that eventually satiated curiosity. The brand not only released the variant, but also gave consumers an easy, efficient, and most importantly private way of getting the product via online stores, such as Daraz and Pandamart.
Though approaching a topic like physical intimacy in Pakistan is nothing short of a challenging feat, Durex campaigns cater well to the market’s sensibilities while keeping in mind the sensitivity of the matter. Durex managed to not only create successful campaigns but also create a voice of its own, one that consumers could understand.


text:
Strong performance in Asia-Pacific helps Richemont return to growth
By Robert Laing - Nov 10th 2017, 15:34
A 23% surge in luxury watch and jewellery sales in Richemont’s largest market, Asia-Pacific, helped the group return to growth in the first half of its financial year.
Measured in rand, Richemont’s interim sales remained flat at R84bn but its net profit jumped 66% to R14.6bn due to a low base set in the comparative period when it invested heavily in buying back slow-moving stock.
In euros, the luxury brands group’s sales grew 10% to €5.6bn and its profit rose 80% to €974m, the company said in its results statement for the six months to end-September that were released on Friday.
Excluding a one-off charge of €249m in the matching period, profit grew 11%. Richemont got its business units, which it refers to as "maisons", to buy back €249m worth of slow-moving stock in the first half of its 2016 financial year.
"Most markets were in positive territory, led by mainland China, Korea, the UK and notably a return to growth in Hong Kong," Richemont chairman Johann Rupert said in the results statement.
The group also announced a management reshuffle on Friday.
The CEO of Richemont’s subsidiary Montblanc, Jérôme Lambert, has taken the newly created role of group chief operating officer.
"Mr Lambert will be responsible for all maisons other than Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels. In addition, he will continue to be responsible for the Richemont regional support platforms and central support services, excluding finance, human resources, and technology," Richemont said.
Cartier’s international sales director Emmanuel Perrin has been given the newly created role of head of specialist watchmakers distribution.
"Mr Perrin, in his 25 years with the group, has been successful with Van Cleef and Arpels and, most recently, Cartier, in developing partnerships with our wholesale partners. A prime area of focus will be matching supply with end customer demand," Rupert said.
Richemont segments itself into five geographic regions. Its largest region, Asia-Pacific, grew sales by 23% to contribute 39% of the group’s total.
Europe accounted for 29% of overall sales. Sales in the region grew by 3%, partly impacted by the increasing strength of the euro. Performance within the region was characterised by double-digit growth in the UK, moderate growth in most major markets and stable sales in France, the results statement said.© BusinessLIVE MMXVII
SA consumer spend shows moderate uptick ahead of festive season
18/12/2018 - 13:58
Consumers are ringing in the holiday season with a solid start to retail sales, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse™, which looks at overall retail spending trends across all payment types.
What FMCG companies can learn from the online trading industry
18/12/2018 - 08:09
Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) are, by their very nature, products that are designed to be sold quickly at a relatively low cost. Unlike luxury items that often need to sit on the shelf for an extended period of time in order to build up some exclusivity, FMCG products need to be sold as quickly as they’re advertised. With speed being the key ingredient in the FMCG industry, any weak links in the chain can harm a manufacturer's bottom-line.
Edcon chief confirms recapitalisation drive
17/12/2018 - 19:22
South African retailer Edcon confirmed that it is in discussions with stakeholders, including landlords and suppliers, regarding the group’s continued recapitalisation programme.
Iceland opens world’s first supermarket ice rink
14/12/2018 - 14:05
Iceland has introduced a new concept for Christmas – shopping on ice!
Superdry blames warm weather as shares plunge on warning
14/12/2018 - 10:02
Superdry shares plunged more than a third after the British fashion chain warned on profits for the second time in less than three months, blaming unusually warm weather for hitting sales of winter jackets and jerseys.


text:
Authored by: Ollie Lammers
According to Law.com, Johnson & Johnson recently filed for bankruptcy under a new subsidiary, LTL Management LLC. The company filing bankruptcy allows for shifting legal liability over its talc-based baby powder.
The company has faced many lawsuits over the last few years alleging their talc-based baby powder causes cancer. The plaintiffs' bar is concerned that the company is filing bankruptcy to avoid spending money on legal fees and paying victims.
The company would have a trust created to pay out victims through current and future tort claims with a $2 billion trust fund.
The company has about 38,000 ovarian cancer cases and 430 mesothelioma lawsuits pending against them. Johnson & Johnson would be estimated to pay out $367.1 million if they lost the cases pending against them.
Some plaintiff lawyers have petitioned courts to halt the anticipated bankruptcy filing to prevent their clients from being impacted.
Johnson & Johnson has not admitted liability despite scientific evidence proving their talc-based baby powder causes either ovarian cancer or mesothelioma. The company claims they continue to face an "unrelenting assault by the plaintiff trial bar."
This year, the company has won four ovarian cancer trials, but their brief filed with the bankruptcy petition claimed it could face hundreds of millions of dollars in defense costs alone. Johnson & Johnson has lost other cases to plaintiffs that have consistently awarded tens of millions of dollars.
Photo Credit: wutwhan, 123rf.com


text:
KARACHI: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Punjab Chairman Amir Fayyaz has deplored the delay in announcement of promised textile package by the government. This, he alleged, has led to a transfer of Pakistani textile jobs to India which is dumping its textiles into Pakistan’s unprotected textile market.
Addressing media along with the APTMA administration, Fayyaz revealed that the approach of Pakistani government towards textile is in contrast with its approach to other textile economies. “Textile sector considered as creator of jobs around the world which why is it is protected and facilitated.”
He said exports are universally zero rated but in Pakistan the textile exports are subjected to different taxes and levies that have reached 5% of the export value. These taxes, he claims, are not being refunded. He said India, China and Bangladesh provide generous rebate on textile exports that cover all taxes, even those paid during manufacturing and transportation.
He said that the duty charged on diesel used in the export process is factored in this rebate. He said APTMA has provided documented details of the different taxes they pay on exports that are not refunded.
Fayyaz added, “India facilitates its textile exporters beyond normal rebates. Under the concept of ‘focus markets’ the Indian government provides 3% to 6% additional rebate on textile exports to 94 countries, which includes Pakistan. This has provided an opportunity for the Indian exporters to dump their textiles in Pakistan”.
Additionally, India charges a 28% duty on imported yarn to protect its domestic industry, whereas Pakistan charges a mere 5%. “Why can’t we levy the same duty on Indian yarn that is charged by Indian government on Pakistani yarn?”


text:
Agriculture economic issues to watch in 2014
Dec. 30, 2013, Regina, SK - Farm Credit Canada's chief agricultural economist J. P. Gervais shares five key economic issues in agriculture to watch in 2014.
North American farmland values have been increasing rapidly over the past several years, but they could soon plateau, according to Gervais.
A record-setting harvest in 2013 for many grain and oilseed producers means increased world supplies and prices retreating closer to their average, compared to above normal prices over the past few years. Reduced commodity prices could mean many producers will be less aggressive in expanding their operations, resulting in lower appreciation of land values.
"Many producers will be surveying the landscape to determine if they should buy more land or pay off some debt," says Gervais. "A lot of their decisions will be based on commodity price forecasts, their current profit margin and how much they have invested in land in recent years."
The tentative agreement between the European Union and Canada on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) may be generating the headlines, but Canada is also involved in negotiating other significant trade deals, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Both trade deals represent a concerted effort by Canada to become less dependent on its main trading partner, the United States, which accounts for 30 per cent of our country's agriculture exports and two-thirds of agri-food exports. Over-reliance on a single market makes the Canadian agriculture sector vulnerable to dramatic downturns in the U.S. economy.
CETA, once ratified, will open up a market of 500 million consumers for Canadian agriculture products, while TPP negotiations involve 12 countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan and the United States.
"Between those two agreements, every sector of Canadian agriculture will have opportunities and face some challenges," says Gervais. "We need to start preparing to manage our business in a new environment."
U.S. politics and economics
U.S. political infighting promises to create more uncertainty south of the border. The dispute resulted in a partial government shutdown this year and continues to pose a risk that the U.S. will default on its debt.
Gervais, however, predicts things will continue to improve south of the border. The U.S. Federal Reserve recently started scaling back its aggressive monetary policy because it is seeing strength in the labour market and household finances.
"Rolling back a program of this magnitude is sailing in uncharted waters," Gervais says. "This change in the U.S. monetary direction can have wide impacts in the financial markets - mostly on the value of the emerging markets' currencies - impacting the competitiveness of Canadian agricultural commodities."
Disputes also distract U.S. legislators from coming up with a long-term plan for the Farm Bill, which funds many important programs aimed at providing farm support and nutrition assistance to low income families. Legislators recently passed a short-term extension of the 2008 Farm Bill and are confident a new farm bill will be enacted in early 2014.
"The lack of a five-year farm bill means the status quo for now," Gervais says. "The Farm Bill indirectly impacts Canadian producers by influencing the crops planted in the US and therefore world prices."
Canadian beef gets bullish
Canadian livestock producers - particularly beef producers - should expect healthy returns over the next couple of years, according to Gervais.
Stronger beef prices are the result of supply and demand dynamics. Cattle numbers have been declining for some years; a result of drought in the U.S. and financial conditions that forced many producers to reduce the size of their herd or leave the sector. The U.S. herd was reduced by five per cent over the past two years and will take a couple of years to recover, while the Canadian herd is stable and appears ready to rebound.
"In the short-term, Canadian producers are in a much better position to serve the North American market, which has seen an end to the decline in per capita red meat consumption. The demand for animal proteins is also growing in emerging markets, such as China," Gervais said. "The European Union trade deal has the potential to give Canadian beef the advantage in other global markets, including Europe."
Gervais says the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) legislation has hurt Canadian cattle producers, especially since new rules were issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The coming year will determine if the U.S. government backpedals or even takes apart this legislation, either voluntarily or through pressure from its trading partners.
Equipment sales gearing down
Like much of the rest of the agriculture economy, equipment sales were on fire for many of the past five years. From 2006 to 2012, an average of 2,100 tractors were sold every month in Canada, according the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Sales are expected to be equally as strong for 2013 when the final numbers are tallied.
With slightly lower crop prices, 2014 could see a retreat in equipment sales. Sales are likely to move closer to the 2001-2005 average, when 1,540 tractors were sold monthly; lower than levels of the past several years. Another factor lowering sales could be a weaker Canadian dollar in 2014, which will make buying imported equipment more expensive.
"In the short-term, we will likely see equipment prices staying steady, but they could soften somewhat if supplies remain high and producers decide to retain their old equipment or buy used equipment," Gervais says. "Broad economic factors may influence how producers use their past profits, but it really comes down to the unique circumstances of individual producers."
December 30, 2013 By Marketwired


text:
Check out the on-demand sessions from the Low-Code/No-Code Summit to learn how to successfully innovate and achieve efficiency by upskilling and scaling citizen developers. Watch now.
Did you know that 89 percent of users do not return to an app one week after first using it? That’s one of the details in the new Global Benchmarks 2.0 report from mobile measurement and fraud prevention firm Adjust.
The second version of the benchmarks provides sophisticated metrics and a wider range of data than before. Designed to empower marketers and publishers to better understand the mobile marketing landscape, the tool makes publicly available specific key performance indicators (KPIs), such as session data.
“All mobile marketers want to improve their apps’ performance, but finding the right data to inform marketing decisions can be a time-consuming and costly process,” said Christian Henschel, CEO of Berlin-based Adjust, in a statement. “Adjust’s Global Benchmarks 2.0 provides the insights needed to make smart, data-driven decisions, and after receiving great feedback from the industry on the launch, we’re very pleased to share expanded metrics and fresh new data with this second version.”
With time spent on mobile soon to surpass TV, and ad spend on the channel increasing accordingly, the ability to understand app performance and user behavior is critical for marketers looking to pinpoint shifts in user habits.
Adjust’s Global Benchmarks 2.0 follows the launch of the platform in the summer of this year and includes five new metrics and fresh data from the past two quarters. The tool is based on Adjust’s aggregated database, and it analyzes a combination of over 7,000 apps.
The tool for marketers and publishers can be used to create tailored reports for free, which means users don’t have to buy expensive third-party benchmark reports.
The new metrics included in the update consist of Click Through Rate (CTR), Conversion Rate from Click to Install, Cost per Mille (CPM), Cost per Click (CPC), and Distribution of Fraud Types. This is in addition to the original metrics, which count Retention Rates, Cost per Install (CPI), Sessions per User, and Rates of Fraudulent Installs.
The metrics can be sliced and diced by quarter, vertical, acquisition type, platform, and region. The latter includes Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, and Africa and the Middle East. This level of customization allows mobile marketers and app publishers to get the data they need to optimize performance, and ultimately revenues.
Data from the benchmarking tool shows that retention rates — the number of users who still use an app after a certain number of days, post-install — continue to drop.
More than three-quarters (79 percent) of users now churn (or drop out) the day after installing an app. One week later, that number stands at 89 percent. As the opportunity to retain users shrinks, the data highlights the importance of creating a better user onboarding experience. Incentivizing users to check back into an app within the first week will also go some way toward reducing churn rates.
With ad fraud costing the mobile industry an estimated $4.9 billion, the issue remains top of mind for app marketers everywhere. The data shows that fraud rates have increased slightly, and as methods of fraud constantly evolve, keeping an eye on distribution of fraud rates can shed light on fraudsters’ preferred methods. SDK Spoofing, for example, has gained in popularity, and currently makes up almost a quarter (24 percent) of all mobile fraud.
The Global Benchmarks tool forms part of Adjust’s mission to bring education and transparency to the mobile marketing ecosystem.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


text:
NandGate is an ambitious hardware platform for delivering fast, high-bandwidth data in a cheap and open way.
It was originally pitched by Microsoft at its recent Build conference in New York City.
But now the hardware startup is looking to build a broader ecosystem, partnering with Google to build the cloud computing platform that would enable Nand Gate to scale with both enterprise and consumer applications.
“Our aim is to provide a scalable solution to the storage, computing, and analytics challenges that are driving the growth of the Internet of Things, and we’re taking a bold approach with Nand Gateway,” said John Lee, chief operating officer of Nandgate.
“NandGate offers a scalable storage solution, with the ability to scale to tens of terabytes, and it has a lot of power over the cloud.
Our goal is to take Nand as a foundational cloud platform that will be an industry leader in the future.”
Nand Gates has partnered with Google Cloud to build Cloud Nand, a cloud-native Nand gateway platform.
Nand has been around since 2013, and is now a fully-fledged software platform.
Cloud Nan is an open-source hardware platform that leverages Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and IBM OpenStack to build Nand.
Microsoft Azure is a cloud platform provider that can be used to build custom cloud-based infrastructure on a variety of hardware platforms.
Cloud Nan has a dedicated developer community and is open source.
NanGate’s goal is “to offer a scalable cloud platform with high availability, scalability, and low latency,” Lee said.
CloudNan is currently in beta and the company plans to launch in Q4 2019.
The Nand platform will be available to developers through a new cloud service, Nand Cloud.
Nanda is a hardware and software company that works with cloud services to build and distribute custom hardware and cloud software, such as cloud computing and data centers.
Nands main competitors include Cisco’s OpenShift and HPE’s Azure Cloud.
Microsoft’s CloudNano is currently available for developers.
Nandi is a software platform that uses Microsoft Azure and other cloud services and is also open source, according to Lee.
Nanding is currently on sale for $499.99.
Cloud-native computing Nand is based on a cloud based solution, but it is open-sourced and can be ported to other cloud platforms.
Lee said Nand will offer a “single, unified and scalable solution” for storage, processing, analytics, and compute.
“We are taking this approach to enable enterprises to run their own cloud infrastructure and use Nand on that infrastructure to build on top of that cloud platform,” he said.
The company’s initial plan is to make Nand available to both the enterprise and the consumer markets.
“This means that the cloud is accessible to all enterprises and the end user is free to access the cloud with just one click,” Lee added.
Microsoft also has a presence at Nand’s event, where it showed off the company’s Azure cloud-driven Nand cloud solution and its Nand SDK.
“The enterprise platform is the new cloud and we want to bring that to all the platforms we build,” said Lee.
“If you can build it for enterprise, we’ll build it on top.
We will support that and provide tools and solutions for you to help you build your own cloud.”
Nanding will be supported on the Microsoft Azure platform in Q1 2020, Lee said, adding that the company is “looking at a number of options” to extend the Nand ecosystem.
“As a cloud provider, we are committed to offering a secure, scalable, and easy to use experience to all our customers,” Lee explained.
“Microsoft Azure provides a solid foundation for our enterprise customers to build their own infrastructure in the cloud.”
In a statement, Nandi said that “Microsoft Cloud NAND is the foundation for cloud computing.
It is a high performance and high availability solution with a simple interface that allows you to scale across all your clouds.”
The Nands cloud platform will support “customized hardware and the ability for enterprise customers with limited resources to build, deploy, and scale their own custom applications.”
Microsoft is also looking to bring Nand to more enterprise customers.
“There is a need for a secure platform for all data that needs to move across the enterprise to be securely stored, processed, and delivered,” Microsoft said.
“Windows 10 is a powerful cloud platform and we are exploring the possibility of bringing Nand with Windows 10 to customers who need it.
Our next steps will be to expand Nand into more cloud services for enterprises and to explore ways to support the next generation of enterprise cloud computing.”
Nands platform is available on the Windows Azure platform.
Google has also announced it is developing its own cloud computing solution, called Cloud Nano, which is open sourced and will be made available to customers on a free-of-charge basis.
Microsoft will also be building a


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Taxes, costs tap into Molson Coors profit
Send this to a friend
Molson Coors Brewing Co. Thursday reported a hefty decline in fourth-quarter profit despite higher sales, with the Denver-based global beermaker citing steeper tax rates and costs.
Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) posted underlying after-tax income of $126.1 million, or 69 cents a share, for the final quarter of 2012, down from $176 million, or 97 cents cents a share, in Q4 2011.
Exclusing one-time items, per-share earnings came in at 69 cents.
Attributable net income from continuing operations was $60.1 million in Q4, down 65 percent.
Net sales amounted to $1.03 billion for the quarter, up 10 percent from a year earlier.
Analysts on average had expected adjusted earnings of 64 cents a share on sales of $1.07 billion, Thomson Reuters reported.
Global beer volume came in at 14.1 million hectoliters, up 15 percent, helped by Molson Coors' acquisition of European brewer StarBev in June 2012.
But the company's underlying effective income tax rate jumped to 18 percent in Q4 2012 from 7 percent a year earlier, and rising ingredient costs and other expenses also sipped down profit.
Separately, Chicago-based MillerCoors LLC -- the joint venture of Molson Coors and London-based SABMiller that operates their U.S. businesses -- posted a profit of $170.4 million in the fourth quarter, down 12 percent from Q4 2011.
Net sales came in at $1.78 billion, up 1.7 percent.
Mark Harden directs print and digital news content for the Denver Business Journal, contributes to the "17th & Lincoln" blog and compiles the daily "Afternoon Edition" email. Email: firstname.lastname@example.org. Phone: 303-803-9227.
- Most popular
- 7 habits that will kill your next job interview
- Hancock, DIA chief Day fire back at Frontier Airlines CEO over letter
- KUSA-9News changes its news director for first time in 18 years
- Frontier Airlines dropping flights to regional airports across U.S.
- Thrillist names 11 must-visit new Denver restaurants (Slideshow)
- DIA to charge fees of Uber, Lyft as it licenses ride-share services
- Earls' downtown Denver location reopens after $4 million renovation
- Another record high for Denver home prices (Video)
- $124M sale of Aurora shopping center is biggest retail deal of 2014
- Forbes names 2 Colorado ski resorts to the top 10
Front Desk / Entry level Career Position Farmer & Betts | Littleton, CO
Fulfillment Specialist Investing In You | Littleton, CO
Cost Accountant Terumo BCT | Lakewood, CO
Executive Director - Search Reopened! IntoGreat Management Partners | Denver, CO
Pension Consultant / Sales Farmer & Betts | Denver, CO


text:
Cheap Snapdragon phone for the masses: JioPhone Next specs, release date, and price prediction surface
Last month we reported about the “world’s most affordable Android smartphone” and now it seems the JioPhone Next can add another epithet to its collection: “Cheap Snapdragon phone for the masses”. The specs for the JioPhone Next have been shared by a couple of sources, and for the predicted price it certainly doesn’t scrub up too badly. The Snapdragon 215 SoC is the processor of choice here, a 4-core chip that can clock at up to 1,300 MHz. The iGPU is the Adreno 308, and this chipset is capable of supporting Bluetooth 4.2 and 4G connectivity.
Apparently, 2 GB and 3 GB RAM variants of the JioPhone Next will be made available, and the display will be a 1440x720 panel surrounded by chunky bezels that contain an 8 MP selfie camera (GalaxyCore GC8034W) in the top edge. As for software, the JioPhone Next is “created with Google” so Android Go 11 is unsurprisingly onboard. Shutterbugs can get creative with the OmniVision OV13B10 13 MP main camera sensor that supports HDR, FHD+ video recording, and it even has a night mode.
It has already been announced by Reliance Jio that the JioPhone Next is to be released on September 10 but the price tag has not been officially revealed yet. The phone will be targeted at consumers in India and other countries who cannot consider the latest Galaxy or Mi smartphone as a viable purchase option, so the price tag is expected to very cheap. A prediction made by Tech4Addiction has gone with a figure of ₹3,000, which is equivalent to about US$40.


text:
Engines roared as car enthusiasts surrounded classic cars inside 1900 13th Ave. N., a former crossfit gym that has been flipped into Car Locker – St. Pete’s only combined luxury car storage facility, detailing and consignment shop.
Founders Roger Thrun and his son Sam celebrated the opening of Car Locker Friday evening with cars from convertibles to classic Porsches lining the 30 lifts against the walls inside the 13,000-square-foot-plus, climate-controlled storage facility.
Roger, a five-time cancer survivor, moved from Wisconsin to St. Petersburg roughly seven years ago to spend time in the sun with his family.
He is the founder and CEO WHR Global, a global employee relocation provider based outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin that works with Fortune 100 corporations.
Four years ago, Roger purchased the 13th Avenue warehouse building that housed a crossfit gym without a concrete vision for the property – that was until he purchased a Porsche from Josh Kramer at European Performance.
“There really wasn’t a place to store your car, and we started looking at these towers going up and some people have up to three cars,” Roger told the St. Pete Catalyst. “There’s a good group of enthusiasts and we saw the opportunity. These aren’t just expensive assets for people, they [represent] memories.”
Roger doesn’t have a traditional automotive business background, but he described his family line as having the entrepreneurial spirit in their blood, as his mother and father had businesses in Chicago, where Roger spent his childhood.
“I want this to be St. Pete’s car storage, I want a business that will survive and isn’t a franchise,” Roger said.
Roger’s son Sam, who has the title of co-founder and general manager at Car Locker, was a first responder and EMT serving the area for the past five years, through Sunstar and Manatee County Search and Rescue. His service with the Search and Rescue team brought him to back to the St. Pete community to assist in missing person cases, according to the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. “I’ve spent a lot of time taking care of people and I plan on doing that here,” Sam said.
He and Roger noticed the specific area was underserved and also looked at other neighborhoods, including Kenwood, before pressing the gas on the major $2 million flip.
The Thruns worked with Scott Ferris at Tampa-based Axis One Construction Company as the general contractor to reinforce the walls inside the building and convert it into Car Locker.
The permitting process for the project took over a year due to the Covid pandemic. Roger said longtime St. Pete real estate attorney Don Mastry with Trenam Law was instrumental in the permitting process.
An outside mural created by the Vitale Brothers highlights iconic landmarks and businesses such as Haslam’s Book Store, Derby Lane and Ferg’s as well as European Performance and Realistic Auto Restorations, which is providing Car Lock’s storage customers with mechanical work on their vehicles.
The slogan “Removing the B.S. so you can Enjoy Your Ride!” can be seen on the front of the building – the Car Locker specializes in maintaining people’s luxury vehicles, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
In 30-60 days, the detailing service will be added. Car Locker currently has five employees and is hiring detailers.
Car Locker is one of several businesses coming online in St. Petersburg that are solely dedicated to the car collector community.
Motocave Tampa Bay – St. Pete’s first-ever car condo community – is underway at the northeast corner of Interstate 275 and Gandy Boulevard, as well as Elite Garage Suites at 2350 20th Ave. North.


text:
The Congressional Research Service published a report on the effects of the Farm Bill expiration.
CNN reported on the spread of African swine fever in Europe and Asia.
The Washington Post reported on the new NAFTA trade deal.
Food Safety News discussed FDA report on pesticide levels in food.
CNN discussed the Amazon Go grocery store.


text:
Mark Zuckerberg Slams Apple's CEO Over Comments About Customers
While Facebook and Apple might not look like direct competitors on the surface, that’s not stopping Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook from engaging in a war of words with regard to their respective companies’ varying business models.
In a new Time magazine profile, an irritated Zuckerberg is slamming Cook for a letter he wrote regarding Apple’s evolving privacy policies last September. “A few years ago,” wrote Cook at the time, “users of Internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you’re not the customer. You’re the product.”
While the jab was probably directed at Google, whom Cook has previously called Apple’s chief adversary, Zuckerberg came out swinging.
“A frustration I have is that a lot of people increasingly seem to equate an advertising business model with somehow being out of alignment with your customers,” he told Time. “I think it’s the most ridiculous concept. What, you think because you’re paying Apple that you’re somehow in alignment with them? If you were in alignment with them, then they’d make their products a lot cheaper!”
Earlier this year, Cook told Charlie Rose that he sees Facebook as a partner rather than a competitor, being that Apple has no foreseeable plans to enter social networking, and that the service is baked into iOS.
Nevertheless, this latest skirmish illustrates that, on a quest for global domination, the fiercely competitive spirit pervading two of Silicon Valley’s most successful companies can even turn allies into enemies.