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Ever since the global recession, the United States has been, in varying degrees, written off by the watch industry. For most watch brands, China has become the biggest market and the USA has become more or less an afterthought, and not without reason.
In fact, the US has been a tough place to do business for quite some time, what with the housing market problems, stock market woes, unemployment and now the 2012 presidential election. Storm clouds have been hovering over the US market in general, and disposable income purchases (like watches) in particular, but, according to retailers and brands active in the US, the sun might finally be peeking through.
Exports from Switzerland to the US continue to rise, up 18.4 per cent in 2011, according to the FH, with a value of almost two billion Swiss francs. The growth seems to be continuing, as exports grew by just over 10 per cent in May of 2012, the last month figures were available.
The US market is a huge one, and one that is largely untapped for luxury watches. Sure, fine watches sell in the bigger cities and entry level watches do well throughout the country, but there is a vast, unexploited populace that buys one or two watches over the course of their lifetimes. Reaching these people is important, and could be a windfall for many brands, but for the time being watch companies are focusing on maximizing their existing markets, leaving expansion for the future.
In the bigger cities, watches seem to be picking up at each end of the retailing continuum – entry level (up to $1,000) and high end (over $10,000) are seeing strong sales, while the mid-range has been struggling.
There are brands in the market that are doing quite well in this mid-range, however – brands like Hamilton, Baume & Mercier, Victorinox Swiss Army and others, for example. In truth, this segment of the market was vacated before the crisis, as brands sought to raise their average price points.
“Business in the USA is like an hourglass, with sales at the top end and the lower end strong, with the middle being a challenge,” says Rudy Chavez, president, Baume & Mercier NA. “The opportunity for us is here, to firmly establish Baume & Mercier as the leader in the classic $2,000 - $5,000 range. We offer a strong value proposition, beautifully designed men’s and ladies’ pieces, with an authentic watchmaking heritage. In addition, we have our connection to life’s special moments.
“It’s quite often that I meet people who have stories about their watches, as a milestone in their lives,” he continues. “This gives us a special relationship. Celebrations always happen. They survive ups and downs in economies and they are what make watches special.”
René Stutz, President of Victorinox Swiss Army NA, confirms that the market is not doing too poorly. “The timepiece business for Victorinox Swiss Army is growing with independent fine jewellers and better regional chain jewellers in the US. The strength is in the product collections between $495 to $995 US retail and new automatic timepieces introduced the fourth quarter of 2011 are continuing to sell well this spring/summer. Retailers are cautiously optimistic about the second half of 2012, but they are resistant to build inventories for additional growth.”
Zenith president Jean-Frédéric Dufour is optimistic about the US market, despite the challenges. “The overall business in the US has remained good so far and even shows indications of growth which gave us the confirmation that it is a strong and well established market,” he says. “Thanks to that, we can consolidate this zone of the world which is of course of first importance for Zenith.
“Zenith is still building its image in this huge market and we need to continue to reinforce our presence in order to make consumers more familiar with our collections,” Dufour continues. “The US territory is an impressive market in terms of possibilities and we need to get closer and closer to the watch aficionados in every region. We are therefore monitoring our network very carefully not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of the quality of our representatives.”
Views from the brands
Almost everyone Europa Star talked to was upbeat and positive about the US market as a whole, and their business in particular. There is some caution however, as the country braces for the upcoming presidential election, pitting current president Barack Obama against Republican challenger Mitt Romney (the election takes place in November, 2012).
“Business in the US overall for retailers is steady at the higher end of the watch category,” says Larry Pettinelli, president, Patek Philippe NA. “Everybody has their eyes towards the upcoming election, and some below-average economic indicators have given retailers cause for concern. Fairly low GDP rates around the 2 per cent mark are keeping the recovery modest. Everyone seems to be in agreement that this is going to be a long, slow, but hopefully steady recovery.
“Many businesses are frustrated at their inability to plan due to the unusually slow recovery,” he adds. “However, we are confident that short of any unforeseen economic crises, the US economy will continue to grow. For our brand, we are very fortunate to be at the higher end of the retail business, which tends to be steadier. Long term, we feel very positive about our prospects. We have significant opportunities to raise brand awareness here in the US. We will focus on educating the younger clientele about the intricacies of Swiss watches, and Patek Philippe in particular, enabling them to understand the underlying value of our brand.”
Patrik Hoffmann, president, Ulysse Nardin, acknowledges that business is not easy in the US. “Our numbers are about the same as last year, but last year we had enormous growth,” he says. “We are back where we were in 2007 and 2008. It is a push, it’s not easy. I am convinced that the export numbers into the US don’t agree with the sell-out, brands are building inventory. I see it less positive than the numbers reflect. We never push in, but the big groups have to show numbers. I feel that the US is quite safe, it is doing well. If the crisis comes, out of Europe, the US will go down as well. The US on its own is in quite good shape.”
Stacie Orloff, president of Bell & Ross NA, is also a bit cautious. “Business is not fantastic, but it’s not horrible either,” she says. “It could be, and should be, better. Last year, the US came out and spent some money, then realized the economy was still bad and pulled back. There weren’t any signs – one minute we were flying high and the next we were flat. We are still really confident. We have good partners, we have a great collection.
“There is caution out there again and the brands that have a great collection, a solid marketing plan and strong partners will move again,” she adds. “We have some challenging times ahead, but we are up to it. Retailers should look for brands that will partner with you, have solid financial backing and are good people. This way, they can reduce their dependence on the big boys.”
Evan Yurman, the designer of David Yurman Timepieces, is pleased with how the timepiece business is doing in the US. ”Our women’s watch, the Classic Ladies, is really selling well, especially in steel and diamonds,” he points out. “Business is great for watches. The jewellery business this past quarter didn’t do so well, but we are doing all right, in spite of a down economy. Watches are about 8 per cent of our total business. I’d like them to be 20-30 per cent, and it could easily go up to 40 per cent.”
For Korloff Paris, it was important to have something different from other brands when they entered the US market. “We started in watches 20 years ago. We have over 50 mono-brand boutiques now, and we are in 12 independent retailers in the US,” details Christopher Meek, general manager, Americas, Korloff Paris. “We were surprised – what we heard was to expect an average of 1.2 turns in US retailers but we have had an average of 3.2 turns, which is great. We think it is because of the value for price point. To get a five time zone reversible timepiece, the Kalahari, for $3200, is pretty spectacular.”
Michael Goldstein, president, Perrelet NA, echoes that uniqueness in the US market is a must, especially for a small brand. “We have had good results in big cities,” he says. “In Las Vegas, for example, because of the limited editions, we are doing very well. We are selling limited edition Turbines regularly, and we have a total of over 40 doors in the US now. Because the Turbine has become an iconic design, stores want us now. It doesn’t cannibalize what they are already carrying, and many stores want to work with independent brands.”
Ernst Benz has taken uniqueness to a higher level, making it possible for customers to customize just about any timepiece in their line. “In the US market, we have been opening a number of new independent jewellers who understand who we are,” Leonid Khankin, president, Ernst Benz, says. “We can adjust any watch for any customer – if they want to change the hands, we’ll do it, for a retailer or an end consumer. We make our idea but we will adjust it to any way a customer wants it. We should do anything the customer wants. It’s possible for us to do bespoke quite easily. We are even able to put names on the dial – so customers can have their own personalized watch with their name on the dial! “What’s working for us is that our retailers understand and tell their customers about our craftsmanship and our heritage,” Khankin continues. “We are profitable for them, we are unique in the market and we offer a real margin.”
Milus USA just introduced a new limited edition Snow Star watch to commemorate Milus’s history with the military in the US. “The goal is to give the Snow Star Heritage kit the right platform,” says Doron Basha, president, Milus NA. “Business is all right, but it’s not easy – we are holding our own. This is a very targeted campaign, so I need retailers to find the committed customer.”
For Ball Watch NA’s president Jeff Hess, business is going very strongly. “Business for us is stunning,” he says. “We had our first down month in five years in March, and that was because of Basel, with us out of the office for so long. We had our best April ever. People collect our brand and we have a great price point. There are people who have five, six, seven Ball watches. I know one collector who has 35. We have people who buy one of every model we bring out.
“We are doing this big project with the Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and in September, we are doing a huge launch with BMW – Ball for BMW,” he continues. “We are only doing BMW with our top 25-30 retailers in the US. They really have to be our partners.”
Romain Jerome put the US market to the side over the last two years, but the brand is paying more attention now, according to Manuel Emch, president, Romain Jerome. “We are slowly building the US market,” he says. “The US economy is coming back. We’ve had some good sell-through. We have six retailers now and we are adding more. We would like to have about 10.
“The country is so big, but the market is relatively small, so word of mouth is very important,” he adds. “We don’t want to be over-distributed. We need to be very responsive and to offer great service. That’s why we work with independents, because they have to educate the end consumer. Now we are refocusing on the US. The miracle of the US market is its resilience.”
A brand new limited-edition Romain Jerome watch made out of metal from the Statue of Liberty debuted this year—a very cool idea that Emch expects to do very well in the US and all across the world.
In the US, according to Paul Ziff, president, Salvatore Ferragamo Watches, customers want luxury, but they don’t want to waste money, meaning value for money. ”Business is ok, it’s uptrending,” Ziff says. “Overall, things are moving in the right direction. For Ferragamo, we have huge name recognition and we are in a great price range, from $800 - $2000. It’s all about value. We are trying to position part of our collection towards young people, as a way of educating them about watches.”
A positive outlook from the retailers
Scott Bolozky is the owner of Clarkson Jewelers in St. Louis, MO, a Patek and Rolex dealer. For Bolozky, business has been good. “Watches are strong for us,” he says. “We had a bit of a slowdown in December – we had been up 15 per cent every month until then, then it went down to single digits. It has now picked up again.
“Rolexes are selling best, and Patek is doing well,” he continues. “We sell the complicated Patek pieces very well, better than the standard models. The 24 is also very good for us too. I am anticipating no slowdown.”
Russel Kaplan is the co-owner of Tapper’s, a family-owned multi-brand retailer in San Francisco, CA. “Business keeps getting a little bit better, but it hasn’t gotten to the point where I am saluting the flag, but it is better,” he says. “Omega and Glashütte Original have been selling well. Zenith has been on a very good upswing – it’s accessible and very upscale. There is really something to talk about. We like to talk about these brands. We are doing well with Ball Watch and Bremont because there is really something there.”
For relatively new brands like Bremont, the US is a challenge but also a land filled with opportunity. “The USA is very exciting for Bremont,” confirms Michael Pearson, North American Sales Manager, Bremont. “We have tripled our number of retailers and they are really starting to get it. They see the authenticity. We have opened 26 independents in North America, with the bulk in the USA. They seem to like what Nick and Giles English are doing and they see how genuine they are and the company is. They can trust us.
“It hasn’t been a particularly hard sell, as the retailers have all wanted the brand,” he continues. “What’s exciting is the cities outside NY and LA, like in Alabama or Texas, are doing very well with the brand. Bremont is hitting a niche. You have the big, big brands, but people also want to have brands that are less marketing driven, but more accessible and manufacturing driven. They don’t want the watch that is on everyone’s wrist.”
Hess is also a retailer, having two stores in Florida, one in Tampa, FL and one in St. Petersburg, FL (Old Northeast Jewelers). “As a retailer, when the downturn hit, I went into the most expensive mall in our area and opened a store, and the first year we did $1.6 million, and the next year we did $2.2 million,” he says. “We are doing very well.”
The overall outlook in the US is favourable, but there are hurdles to get over, with a struggling recovery and the pending elections. There are rays of sunshine breaking through the doom and gloom, but the situation is still a bit precarious.
Read the other articles in our Market Focus on North America:
Source: Europa Star August - September 2012 Magazine Issue


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Businesses to join PayNow next year; fintech sandbox applications to be expedited
FROM next year, the PayNow system can be used for more than just splitting a lunch bill with a friend - it can also be used to pay merchants.
Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung made this announcement, among others, on Monday evening at a dinner to welcome speakers here for the week-long Singapore Fintech Festival.
Mr Ong, who is also a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) board member, said that the PayNow system, which allows individuals to transfer funds to each other via online or mobile banking using just mobile numbers, will be extended to businesses "around the middle of next year".
Businesses will be able to link their Unique Entity Numbers (UENs) to their bank accounts. This will allow businesses to pay each other, or receive payments from customers, through their UENs.
In another move to foster innovation in the fintech space, Mr Ong said, MAS will expedite the application assessment for its fintech regulatory sandbox so that firms can test and launch their innovative solutions faster.
MAS will also further loosen the regulatory boundaries for sandbox cases where the risks do not outweigh the potential benefits of the solution to consumers, he added.
MAS launched the sandbox to allow firms to experiment in innovative solutions within a safe and controlled environment.
So far, Mr Ong said, MAS has received more than 30 applications to "play in the sandbox".
"It turns out that about half of these applications did not require the sandbox. Many did not need any regulatory exemption, and MAS told them to go ahead and launch their solutions. That is really encouraging and a positive reflection of our regulatory framework, because innovation thrives most when enterprising people can commence business easily," he said.
Next, through the Payments Council that was formed in August, the MAS will set nation-wide common QR specifications for e-payments - the "SGQR" - which will be progressively rolled out across the island, Mr Ong said.
"So in the very near future, when you walk into a shop that accepts QR code payments, you should only see SGQR with all the acceptance marks underneath it. If your payment method is accepted by the merchant, you just need to use your smartphone to scan and pay to that one SGQR."
Mr Ong added that Singapore is also striving for e-payments interconnectivity with other countries. The largest merchant acquirer in Singapore, Nets, will establish a framework to enable cross-border payment linkages with the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI).
This means that from the middle of next year, anyone who holds a Nets card in Singapore can make online purchases on any NPCI e-commerce merchant website in India.
Nets is also working with NPCI to allow Nets payments at all 2.8 million RuPay point of sale terminals in India. Conversely, a RuPay customer can use his RuPay card or RuPay-enrolled mobile phone to pay at any Nets acceptance point in Singapore.

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VALENCIA’S oldest market was reopened on Monday by mayor Maria Jose Catala after being closed for five years.
Located near the port on the Plaza del Mercado Nuevo, the Grau Market started trading in 1916.
It has seen €2.8 million spent on its renovation which should have taken just 12 months but a combination of the Covid pandemic and structural issues led to the long delay.
The old facade has been replaced by a large stained glass window that now surrounds the entire area.
In addition, the roofs have been renovated with flat tiles and the stone pavements are the platform for the public spaces and the market stalls.
Construction lasted for three years to eventually create Valencia’s first specifically-designed mixture of market stalls and restaurants.
“We have a very clear commitment to municipal markets and these centres make up a neighbourhood and we must take care of them,” said Maria Jose Catala.
The market has 24 stalls, of which ten positions have been awarded, and a fresh auction of pitches will happen in December.
A variety of food and vegetable products are being sold, and the site has a grocery store, a delicatessen, a bar, and a cafeteria, as well as a multi-purpose rooms for local associations and groups to use.
The Grau Market will also be the first of its kind in Valencia to be open in the afternoon.


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What you need to know
- PlayStation did not attend E3 2019.
- Sony confirmed today that PlayStation will not attend E3 2020.
- PlayStation will instead attend multiple different events throughout the year.
- The ESA leaked the information of many journalists who attended E3 2019.
Update: The ESA has responded to Sony not attending E3 2020.
"E3 is a signature event celebrating the video game industry and showcasing the people, brands and innovations redefining entertainment loved by billions of people around the world. E3 2020 will be an exciting, high-energy show featuring new experiences, partners, exhibitor spaces, activations, and programming that will entertain new and veteran attendees alike. Exhibitor interest in our new activations is gaining the attention of brands that view E3 as a key opportunity to connect with video game fans worldwide."
Today, Sony announced PlayStation will not be attending E3 2020. In a statement given to GamesIndustry.biz, the company confirmed that, for the second year in a row, it will not be present at the yearly gaming showcase ahead of the PlayStation 5 launch.
"After thorough evaluation SIE has decided not to participate in E3 2020," said a Sony Interactive Entertainment spokesperson. "We have great respect for the ESA as an organization, but we do not feel the vision of E3 2020 is the right venue for what we are focused on this year.
The spokesperson went on to state that PlayStation will be present at 'hundreds' of different gaming events throughout 2020, as well as say that PlayStation has a great lineup of PlayStation 4 games coming before the PlayStation 5 launch.
Over the past year, Sony has taken a new approach in teasing its next-generation console, giving a couple of big interviews to Wired while some major leadership changes occured. These interviews have given us an idea of the technology in the console but the full design, price and specs have not yet been released. Sony has confirmed however that the PlayStation 5 will launch in Holiday 2020.
Easy to stock up
PlayStation gift cards are an easy way to grab currency for games, add-ons, themes and more on the PlayStation Store. They also come in a wide variety of denominations.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Daily Coronavirus updates: Amazon sets up its own testing lab for COVID-19
COVID-19 has already infected over 1.3 million people globally and caused over 76,500 fatalities. Here are all the ways the coronavirus is affecting the world.
Call of Duty: Mobile is the first mobile game I've fallen in love with
I'm someone that usually doesn't bother with mobile games — like, at all. However, Call of Duty: Mobile pulled me in the day it launched and hasn't let go of me since.
Here's everything you need to know about Android TV
We all know that Android powers phones and tablets, but did you know it's also an operating system for TVs? Here's everything you need to know about Android TV!
Stock up on the best PlayStation 4 titles before it's too late
The PlayStation 5 will be backward compatible but only has one announced launch title. Make sure you have plenty of ways to enjoy your new console by buying the best games of the generation.


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Johnnie Walker's striding man is now a striding woman called Jane Walker
After more than 100 years, beverage giant Diageo’s Johnnie Walker brand has added a female counterpart to its iconic mascot in tribute to women around the world
Johnnie Walker has launched Jane Walker, its first-ever female iteration of the brand’s iconic ‘Striding Man’ logo. The company revamps the iconic Johnnie Walker logo for the first time in over a century to show a woman in boots—mid-stride and tipping her hat.
Introducing Jane Walker, our new icon that celebrates progress in Women’s Rights. With every step, we all move forward. pic.twitter.com/1YP32odgJk— Johnnie Walker (@JohnnieWalkerUS) February 26, 2018
The Jane Walker Edition will be available in the US beginning March 2018, to coincide with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. Jane Walker represents the brand’s commitment to supporting empowerment causes and widening its appeal among women. Specifically, Diageo will donate up to $150,000 to Monumental Women and an unspecified amount to She Should Run. She Should Run is a group encouraging women to register and run for elected office.


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March 29, 1990
Whittaker Corp. and Morton International Inc. received Federal Trade Commission clearance for Morton to complete the acquisition of Whittaker's coatings and adhesives businesses. As a condition of the clearance, however, Morton cannot buy Whittaker's domestic flexible laminating adhesives product line. The sale price was thus reduced to about $220 million, plus the assumption of certain liabilities. The deal should be concluded Friday, according to the companies. Chicago-based Morton is a manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals, inflatable restraint systems and salt.
July 20, 2012
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two legal challenges to the Voting Rights Act, a landmark law adopted in 1965 that barred racial discrimination in voting practices, reached the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday. The appeals target a part of the law, known as pre-clearance, that says that states with a history of discrimination must get permission from the federal government before changing election procedures. The first challenge was filed by supporters of a 2008 Kinston, North Carolina, measure that would omit candidates' party affiliations from ballots.
September 8, 1989
- New York real estate developer Donald Trump received clearance from the Federal Trade Commission to buy more than $15 million of stock in Tiffany & Co., the glitzy New York jewelry emporium. A spokeswoman for Trump said he bought the stock stock for investment purposes.
June 30, 2000
Venture ready: Chevron Corp. said its chemicals joint-venture deal with Phillips Petroleum Co. should close on Saturday, having received regulatory clearance for the combination. The venture, called Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., will hold more than $6 billion in assets.
October 10, 1995
North Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, seeking clearance for the use of its new sertindole drug in treating schizophrenia, which afflicts more than 2 million Americans annually.
November 19, 1988
- Chas. A. Stevens, which filed for bankruptcy reorganization in June, will re-open its Northbrook, Randhurst and River Oaks stores for clearance sales next week. The stores, which will be closed when the sales are over at year-end, will carry older merchandise, off-season selections and goods from previously closed Stevens` stores.
August 12, 1997
Edwin Go Yao, 35, 1400 Bent Oak Ter., Aurora, was charged with retail theft Friday after he allegedly changed the price tag on a knife set at Target, police said. He allegedly placed a $7.50 clearance tag over a $15.04 tag.
March 26, 2001
Brian F., a driver for United Parcel Service, called to complain about the frequent traffic backups on Fullerton Avenue caused by trucks slamming into a Metra viaduct just east of the Kennedy Expressway. "Seven to 10 times a week there's a truck wedged under there. It's marked as a 13-foot clearance, but I bet it's only about 11 [feet] 5 [inches]," Brian said, adding that he has never hit the viaduct. Because Getting Around has received other calls and emails on the subject--and because we don't have a long enough ruler--we asked the Chicago Department of Transportation to size up the problem.
April 29, 1998
SPX clearance: SPX Corp., Muskegon, Mich., said the Securities and Exchange Commission cleared its previously announced exchange offer for Echlin Inc. shares and that it will begin mailing materials to the rival auto-parts maker's shareholders on Thursday. Branford, Conn.-based Echlin has been fighting a $3 billion hostile bid from SPX since February. Echlin shareholders would receive $12 in cash plus 0.4796 of an SPX share for each Echlin share.


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BETHESDA, Md. — Marriott International has unveiled its new loyalty brand, Marriott Bonvoy, which will replace the Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) brands.
In August 2018, Marriott completed the combination of its three legacy loyalty brands, which now operate under one set of unified benefits. The launch of the Marriott Bonvoy brand marks the final step of the combined program’s integration.
The Marriott Bonvoy logo and branding will begin rolling out across all consumer touch-points — including on property, marketing and sales channels, digital, mobile and co-brand credit cards — on February 13.
Members currently using either the SPG or The Ritz-Carlton Rewards apps are encouraged to download the current Marriott app, which will automatically update to become the Marriott Bonvoy app on February 13. The SPG and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards apps will be deactivated on that date. At this time, Marriott Rewards Moments and SPG Moments will also become Marriott Bonvoy Moments, which, together with Marriott Moments, will feature approximately 120,000 experiences in 1,000 destinations available for purchase or by redeeming points.
“Represented by a simple, bold and modern logo, Marriott Bonvoy is welcoming and optimistic,” says Stephanie Linnartz, global Chief Commercial Officer, Marriott International. “Our 120 million members have access to the world’s leading hotel portfolio at the best room rates and member benefits, as well our collection of Moments experiences that bring exploration and discovery of the world to the forefront.”
The launch of Marriott Bonvoy will introduce two new names for previous Elite-status tiers. Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite will replace Platinum Premier Elite for members who surpass 75 nights, while Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite will replace Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador for members who surpass 100 nights and more than $20,000 in spend annually.


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Ralph Notaro / Splash News
Only a fashionista like Kim Kardashian could make Halloween look this good!
Kim has worn plenty of amazing Halloween costumes over the years, and since the holiday falls on a Thursday this year, we thought a little Halloween-themed Throwback Thursday would be in order!
One of our favorites is Kim's Catwoman costume from her big Halloween birthday bash last year. Not only did Kim nail the classic Michelle Pfeiffer look from Batman Returns, but her whole family joined in with Batman-related costumes...including Kanye West as the Dark Knight himself!
That isn't the only time Kim went with a Batman theme, though. Back in 2011, Kim opted for a different villain and went as Poison Ivy!
Our very favorite of Kim's past Halloween costumes might be her choice for 2009, when Kim picked out this ultra-sexy Princess Jasmine costume:
How hot is that? Kim totally nailed the look!
Of course, Kim has worn plenty more amazing Halloween costumes over the years...check out the gallery to see them all and let us know which one is your favorite!
Tune in Sunday at 9/8c for an all-new episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, only on E!


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iPhoto is a bloated, slithering mess of an application, and Apple is finally putting it out of its misery.
A developer version of the new Photos app is going out today, according to The Verge, which got its hands on it and published some impressions.
The Photos app apparently has a cleaner, more intuitive interface - like the iOS Photos app - and it's tied closely to the cloud and your other Apple devices, although its editing tools aren't as advanced as Aperture's.
Photos will soon enter into public beta, followed by a full release as part of a free update before Summer, the site says. However, users will still be able to keep iPhoto and Aperture on their machines.
It's great to see Apple actually replacing some of its outdated software instead of just slapping a new, even crappier coat of paint on it. OS X users can only hope that iTunes and Mail are next.
- Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 was big before it was cool


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Kosovo slaps 100% customs fees on Serbia, Bosnia
The import tax comes a day after Serbia blocked Kosovo’s admission into InterpolEuropost
Kosovo has imposed a 100 percent tax on products from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in a move the government said is aimed at defending the country’s “vital interest" following Belgrade's "aggressive campaign” against the young republic on the international stage. The retaliation also requires authorities to remove or prevent from entering any goods that did not address Kosovo by its constitutional name, Republic of Kosovo, which Serbia and Bosnia do not recognise.
“The government has decided to impose a tax of 100% on imported goods coming from Serbia and Bosnia,” Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said, adding that the increased import tax comes into force immediately and will not be applied to products of international brands made in Serbia and Bosnia.
The Kosovar government announced the new tariffs on 21 November, almost two weeks after it announced it would hit its two neighboring states with a 10 percent tax on imports, drawing angry reactions from Belgrade and Sarajevo and calls from the EU to reverse the decision. Nevertheless, the move comes a day after Interpol, the international police organisation, rejected Kosovo's membership for a third time due to what Pristina claimed was campaigning by Serbia.
“Serbia is continuing its aggressive campaign against Kosovo in the international stage. It is also undermining the normalisation process. To defend our vital interest, the government of Kosovo has decided today to increase the customs tariff to 100%. Further measures to be announced soon,” Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj wrote in a Twitter post.
“This will halt any trade between Serbia and Kosovo,” Serbia’s Trade Minister Rasim Ljajić warned in response to the new tariffs, while county's President Aleksandar Vucic called a meeting of Serbia’s National Security Council to review the tariffs.
Bosnia’s Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mirko Sarovic also commented on the matter, claiming that “this is the biggest blow to the regional free trade zone.”
Bosnia, Kosovo and Serbia – along with Albania, Montenegro and Moldova – are part of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) set up to help ex-communist states harmonise their economic and legal systems with EU demands. Thus, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said Kosovo’s move was a clear violation of CEFTA and of the spirit of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Kosovo.
“The Kosovo government has to immediately revoke these decisions,” Mogherini said in a statement.
According to official figures, Serbia’s exports to Kosovo amounted to €440m, while imports amounted to €21m. Bosnia’s exports to Kosovo reached €80m last year. Yet, imports from the two countries had decreased by 50 percent since the previous tax came into force, according to Kosovo's Trade and Industry Ministry.


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Cityside in £2m revamp as it prepares for influx of 15,000 students
The Cityside retail park in Belfast is to undergo a major £2m refurbishment, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
It's focusing on increasing its leisure space, and adding a new food court.
The revamp will add to the existing 14-screen cinema, health club, bingo club and childrens' play area.
The York Street development is adding a number of other retail units, which are due to be completed in June.
Cityside already boasts a range of brands including Asda Living, Sports Direct, New Look, Home Bargains, Poundstretcher and Tesco.
Letting agents, Savills and DTZ McCombe Pierce, say the construction of the new Ulster University campus, which is close to Cityside, will ensure strong demand for space from food and leisure firms.
Claire McAnallen, associate director for Savills retail, said the new Ulster University campus is "expected to accommodate approximately 15,000 students by 2018".
"With Cityside retail park sitting adjacent to the campus, the introduction of Cityside Excite is very timely," she said.
"The new configurations will allow for a wide mix of leisure activities, such as laser tag, climbing walls, bowling and crazy golf."
The entire Cityside development is one of the largest mixed retail and leisure developments in Belfast, covering 365,000 sq ft.
Cityside will aim to attract a swathe of students from the new Ulster University campus, alongside a series of major student housing developments planned close-by.
That includes a 682-bedroom project at York Street by UK firm UniCiti, and a 475-room building by Patton Developments at Great Patrick Street.
More than 1,600 new student rooms have now been granted permission.
The Cityside redevelopment is the latest project to get under way in the city, while there's been movement in a series of other schemes. Not far away, Belfast's Royal Exchange has been bought by a UK investment fund which could see work finally begin on the long-delayed £360m project.
Plans for the city centre development have been under way for five years.
Many of the buildings stretch around Royal Avenue and into the Cathedral Quarter.
But progress has stalled on another huge project, also located in the north area of the city centre.
The £300m Northside Regeneration is planning to develop a so-called 'mixed use' scheme, close to Royal Avenue.
But in January, it hit a roadblock after it was refused outline planning permission.


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Dyson has revealed its first personal care product – an innovative hairdryer that, it says, is quieter and less damaging to hair than a conventional machine.
It is the first hairdryer powered by a miniaturised air pump in the handle, using the same airflow principles as Dyson’s desk fan products.
The company said it had invested £50million in the development of the device. However, the £299 price tag makes it at least twice as expensive as salon-grade dryers made by rival manufacturers.
Dyson is best known for its bag-less vacuum cleaners and high-speed hand dryers, although it says it has a further 40 products currently in development.
However, where’s there’s an engineering invention there are a host of pretenders, eager to exploit consumers’ desire for a bargain by producing copycat products.
BJ Chong, a partner and Intellectual Property expert with Palmers, said: “Dyson is incredibly protective of its intellectual property rights, and rightly so, as it invests huge sums in engineering research and development. Despite this, copycat products pop up all the time; the majority being sold on-line from the Far East and it’s a constant battle for Dyson to track down these manufacturers and sellers; particularly as Chinese law is notoriously time-consuming and expensive to negotiate.”
Earlier this year, Dyson scored a rare victory, for a Western company, in China. It successfully brought legal action against a Chinese company that had infringed the design of its ‘Air Multiplier’ desk fan.
Dyson’s IP Director, Gill Smith commenting about the case, said: “Within three months, Chinese companies were offering identical copies.
“We believe they bought samples of our fans in Australia and reverse-engineered them. They even used our images off our website and our copy.
“Sometimes people are offering products without having any available – they seem to be testing the water before committing to manufacturing or ordering stock,” she added.
BJ Chong continued: “The case shows Dyson’s determination to fully defend its IP rights. Its assertiveness has also led to wider action being taken outside the IP world. In a speech in Beijing, late last year, Prime Minister David Cameron, said: “We need to work together to do more to protect IP rights because this will give businesses more confidence to come and invest in China”.
“This suggests that IP rights have become a big part of the political and business agenda, which many would argue is not before time. Despite the willingness to defend Britain’s IP rights, it will, almost certainly, only be a matter of time before Dyson’s latest invention is picked apart and copied in some corner of the world.”
For more information about Palmers services, tailored to the needs of the construction and engineering sector, please contact us.


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by Apparel Resources News-Desk
15-July-2019 | 1 min read
After registering 21.77 per cent apparel export growth to non-traditional markets in the just concluded fiscal year, Bangladesh’s flourishing readymade garment industry seems to have one more reason to rejoice after South Korea has reportedly agreed to consider giving duty-free quota-free market access to all of Bangladeshi products, which if materialised, would open new growth avenues for the country’s garment makers.
This development followed the recent meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her South Korean counterpart Lee Nak-yon in Dhaka.
As per media reports, during the meeting Sheikh Hasina requested South Korea to consider allowing duty-free quota-free market access for all of Bangladeshi products without any exception to which Lee Nak-yon reciprocated saying that his country would consider the same.
Recounting Korea’s contribution in developing Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector, Hasina also urged South Korea to import woven garments, knitwear, leather goods, alongside other products like ceramic items, pharmaceuticals, frozen food, and jute and jute products from Bangladesh.
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Games galore in Twin PortsThe Twin Ports love gaming; it had an entire gaming and geek convention last spring.
By: LaReesa Sandretsky, Duluth News Tribune
The Twin Ports love gaming. We had an entire gaming and geek convention last spring.
Kevin Mickelson, local gaming enthusiast and organizer of the convention Berserkon, said the community is welcoming and incredibly active. Take one look at these stores’ schedules, and you’ll see he isn’t kidding.
Whether you’re into RPGs, collectible card games, board games or even video games, there’s a place for you.
Rogue Robot Games & Comics is just over a year old and serves downtown Duluth. It has tons of regularly occurring events, such as weekly HeroClix, Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering tournaments in its 2,000-square-foot gaming room.
See the schedule.
Located in West Duluth, Dungeon’s End has six gaming rooms — so there’s space for everyone.
Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh fan? Play it here.
Want to learn how to paint your miniature gaming pieces? It has you covered.
Check out its crazy-full schedule.
Collector’s Connection is Duluth’s gaming pioneer — it has been open for more than 30 years near (and formerly in) the Miller Hill Mall.
In addition to gaming paraphernalia, it offers tons of other collectible goodies such as action figures, comic books and sports cards.
You can join in the Magic and Heroclix tournaments or try something a little different — a pinball tournament.
If you’re into the screen type of games, we have plenty of places to stock your gaming shelves.
Game Galaxy is a new shop downtown offering vintage and new games. It’s growing quickly: working on developing its own game, opening a second location in Cloquet and building a room for video game tournaments and LAN parties.
There are Gamestop locations in Duluth and Superior.
I Play is the locally owned video game seller and buyer in Superior, and it can fix your broken Xbox or PlayStation, too.
Pick up cheap used gear at Pawn Duluth downtown or Pawn America in Duluth or Superior.
Last year, the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center hosted its first gaming convention, drawing close to 300 gamers.
Mickelson already is planning next year’s event (it will take place in June) and will be launching a Kickstarter campaign this fall to help pay for it.


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“We’re trying to learn from that mistake and do better.”
If Crackdown 3 ends up launching in 2018, it will launch a full four years after its initial reveal and announcement- a rather shocking state of things. Crackdown 3 has multiple developers working on it, has been propped up as the showcase for multiple technologies over its development cycle, and has been repeatedly delayed- originally, it was due to launch in 2016.
Speaking to Polygon, Xbox head of first party Shannon Loftis admitted that announcing the game as early as Microsoft did had been a mistake. “I think we probably announced Crackdown too early,” she said. “We definitely underestimated the challenge of making sure the quality bar of all three of those modes was high and it delivers on what we need to deliver on.”
She reiterated something that Xbox boss Phil Spencer has been saying for a while, too- that Microsoft has learned from this, and intends to not announce games this early going forward.
“I think in the past we have made the mistake of announcing some exclusives a little bit too early. We’re trying to learn from that mistake and do better, so we have a bit that’s in development now that we’re not talking about,” she said.
I understand their caution, and it is at least good to see them be aware of their mistakes, and working to learn from them- but it is important for me to point out, when fans and media are losing confidence in your platform because of a perceived lack of first party support, maybe it is okay to bend the rule a little, and keep fans invested over a longer term. I really hope Microsoft has some new, fresh announcements in the works.


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J.P. Morgan, Salomon Fill Swift Quickly
J.P. Morgan and Salomon Smith Barney quickly raised the $200 million "B" tranche for Swift & Co., the name given to the ConAgra Foods beef and pork processing business acquired by Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst. Officials at the banks did not return calls by press time, but a buysider said the deal blew out.
ConAgra is reducing its equity interest in the business from more than $1 billion to just $150 million. Hicks, Muse in conjunction with Booth Creek Management and George Gillett have acquired 54% of the new venture in a $1.4 billion deal (LMW, 6/24).


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Work on the new €50m Kildare Village expansion, which is set to bring 500 jobs, is due to begin late next year.
The plans, which will see the retail outlet almost double its size, are expected to yield 190 full time and 190 part time jobs, as well as 120 construction posts.
The extension will also result in an extra €5.5m being injected into the economy in wages.
Kildare Village was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala last week for the extension.
It was initially granted permission by Kildare County Council last year, but the decision was appealed by Whitewater Shopping Centre.
Speaking on Friday, Maria McGovern, Director of Kildare Village, said; “The new development will generate significant employment opportunities, and the international investment in the region will give the necessary critical mass to enhance the overall experience of Kildare Village, making it an even more attractive shopping destination for national and international tourist visitors to the town and surrounding areas”.
The expansion will enable Kildare Village to increase the number of boutiques by 36.
First opened in July 2007, it is currently home to more than 60 stores and employs 550 people.
In a statement the company said; “The significant expansion of Kildare Village will not only enhance the tourism offering of County Kildare and its surrounding areas but will enable Ireland compete with best international tourist outlet destinations.”
Kildare Chamber president, Brian Flanagan stressed; “We are delighted. We supported the expansion from the very outset.
“Obviously we are thrilled with the number of jobs that will be created. The sooner the work starts, the better.”
Local TD Sean O’Fearghail commented; “This is fantastic news for Kildare.
“I know it has been a particularly long and difficult process to secure permission for this expansion and great credit must go to the management who have perused the plans vigorously.”
Deputy Martin Heydon emphasised Kildare Village makes a huge contribution to the local economy, adding that 80% of the visitors to the facility come from outside the county, with 15% from overseas.
At an oral hearing in April, Whitewater Shopping Centre argued the extension would impact greatly on its business. The Village refuted this.
The development will earn Kildare County Council a once-off development levy payment of €650,000 as well as €240,000 in annual rates.


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The Peacock Magazine with Jacqueline Fernandes, Radhika Apte and Jim Sarbh
Jacqueline Fernandes, Radhika Apte and Jim Sarbh graced the Peacock Magazine for their first anniversary! Falguni & Shane Peacock presented the October issue of The Peacock Magazine, with a triple whammy of three covers! The Peacock Magazine has become one of the most sought after digital platforms in the fashion & film world.
Jacqueline Fernandez might, after all, be the master of all trades. Seen for her commercially successful films as a Srilankan actress. Her name today is associated with multiple industries.
Apart from creating her own place in the constantly changing equation of Bollywood. She has also managed to elevate the fitness scale in the industry. You’re probably living under a rock if you haven’t seen Fernandez’s Instagram videos. Filled with her acing Pilates, Yoga, and also Pole dancing like it’s a walk in the park!! Jacqueline Fernandez is just getting started.
Radhika Apte has upped the ante as a Bollywood actress. She never checked-in the boxes. Instead, she created her own.”For the first anniversary cover of The Peacock Magazine. It was only fitting to have an actor whose face represents liberating cinema. Those who have been churning path-breaking roles, regardless of inhibitions around them. We decided to reroute our conversation towards fashion”, says Falguni Peacock speaking about the October cover girl.
Our Man of the Month is Jim Sarbh. His performances over the last few years in films like Neerja, Padmavat, Death in Gunj and Sanju have shown his ability. He’s not one to hesitate from challenging roles. Jim being asked about how he effortlessly aced two different ethnicities in both Padmavat and Neerja, he said, “There were dialect coaches that helped me learn the language. Its pronunciations, especially in Neerja where I delivered my dialogues in Arabic. As I had to sound authentic, there were many trial runs and tests before the actual shoot”, reveals Jim in a heart to heart conversation for The Peacock Magazine
Through the Peacock Magazine and the personalities featured perfectly reflect the ethos of the label, the magazine also reveals more about the people behind the label.While the digital space has a glut of fashion blogs, The Peacock Magazine presents an unusual new format with “never seen before” asides into celebrity lifestyles!!
“We came up with the concept of The Peacock Magazine, as a platform to reach out to our digital fan base. While we could have done a simple look book, we decided to weave in exclusive elements from the lives of our celebrity clients in order to keep the contents fashion centric yet engaging, innovative and entertaining”, says Shane Peacock.


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‘We are forgotten’ - cupcake and champagne café in Norwich to close
PUBLISHED: 06:30 20 February 2019 | UPDATED: 13:39 20 February 2019
A city centre champagne and cupcake shop is to close, citing falling footfall in the area and pricey business rates.
Cupcakes and Bubbles, on Timber Hill, was opened in November 2016 by Tracey Watt and Pepe Ong, serving sweet and savoury snacks, gifts and glasses of fizz.
But the business will shut its doors at the start of June, with its owners saying footfall had dropped dramatically in the area.
They said they had felt the impact of the pedestrianisation of All Saints Green, which was completed in spring 2017, and were further hit by the temporary, but ongoing, relocation of Primark last February.
They criticised Norwich City Council, saying they did not feel they had been supported to continue trading.
Mrs Watt said: “We would loved to have stayed until October, but we have to close in June. We’ve not made a profit from this.
“It’s left a bitter taste in my mouth about running a restaurant in Norwich. I would have thought there would be more incentive for independent businesses.”
Mrs Ong said changes to Norwich roads which kept cars out of the city centre would negatively impact footfall in certain areas of the city, and, in turn, would harm local businesses.
She said they had put their “heart and soul” into the business, and that they had been in the industry for 25 years.
“We feel that Timber Hill gets left out,” she added. “There are other brilliant parts of the city, but we are forgotten.”
A spokesman for Norwich City Council said they were always sorry to hear if a business was struggling, and while business rates are set by central government, they helped where possible by rescheduling payments or offering advice.
“Although individual cases vary, the overall picture for Norwich businesses is a positive one, with recent figures showing that footfall is continuing to rise,” they said.
“The Transport for Norwich pedestrianisation of Westlegate and All Saints Green has been a particular success story for the city, reflected in full occupancy of retail units in the area and how visitors and shop owners are making the most of the new public space.”
Properties with business rates which fall below a certain value are exempt from business rates, while others are eligible for small business rate relief.
Concerns over Timber Hill
Earlier this month, a pub in the same road echoed the shop’s concerns.
Phil Cutter, at the Murderers, said the area had been hit by the closure of Primark, with footfall plummeting in the area.
He has lodged a bid with Norwich City Council for a licence to host outdoor tables and chairs in the patch of land on Orford Hill, next to the Santander.
He said he hoped it would encourage people to visit the area, and “bring some vibrancy back to the hill”.
In January last year gift shop JamPot on the road closed, and has remained empty in since. In December, Norwich City Council granted permission for the shop to be turned into a restaurant or café.
And last month, Veeno wine café at Castle Mall closed, less than four months after it opened.
A spokesman for Castle Mall later said Veeno intended to reopen.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Eastern Daily Press. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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Zoned R 1.5.
Taliaferro & Browne (T&B) has recently acquired the block between 22nd and 23rd Prospect and Olive and plans to do a large new development*. This is the company behind some of the biggest developments in Kansas City the last 10 years, including One/Two Light, Bar-K, Linwood/Prospect shopping center, New police station, and many more iconic projects.
The City has already invested in developing new infrastructure for the upcoming development.
*See green outlined area on parcel map photo.


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Have a look at the pictures of the new summer farm suites and rooms...
will be appointed with traditional norwegian farm beds, scandinavian quality madrasses from Jensen and...
We start rebuilding our guest rooms. 18 of them will turn into 10 "Summerfarm - Suites"!
From the 15th of July Norway is finally open for tourists again - we hope that you can visit us then!
This summer you can visit our local farmers on an exclusive round-trip -
The winter package for 2021 is already online and bookable!
We open the 29th of May for summer season and hope to be able to welcome you here again then!


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Weekend Unlimited (CSE: POT) (CSE: POT.CN) (OTCQB: WKULF) has inked a letter of intent with PPK LLC to acquire vertically-integrated operations in Wilburton, Oklahoma. “We have strategically targeted Oklahoma, the state has moved faster than any other state in embracing the industry, and we see the business-friendly market translating into a consumer-friendly environment where the best brands will succeed for the long term,” Weekend CEO Paul Chu said in a statement.
48North Cannabis Corp. (TSXV: NRTH) (OTCMKTS:NCNNF) reported signing Canada’s first-ever letter of intent for outdoor grown cannabis with the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC), the sole legal retailer of recreational cannabis in Quebec. Under the agreement, 48North will supply 1,200 kilograms of cannabis to the SQDC from its outdoor farm in Brant County, Ontario, and 120 kilograms of indoor grown cannabis from its facilities in Brantford and Kirkland Lake in Ontario. The 1,200 kilograms of cannabis will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Dixie Brands (CSE: DIXI.U) (Frankfurt: 0QV) subsidiary Therabis is entering the $2-billion feline treat market with hemp-based soft chews for cats. The first hemp-based, soft-chew treats, Calm and Quiet, will be Therabis’ first product for cats. The soft-chew cat treat is “targeting a specific indication – in this case stress,” Therabis President Bob Rubin said in a statement.
Liht Cannabis Corp. (CSE: LIHT) (OTCQX: LIHTF) announced that hat each of its cultivation facilities in Las Vegas, Nev., have achieved three organically grown certifications from EnvirOganic, Certified Kind and Clean Green. The company reported earning “triple certification, a first in cannabis cultivation in the state, establishing industry leadership,” according to the company.
1933 Industries (CSE: TGIF) (OTCQX: TGIFF), a cultivator and producer of cannabis flower and concentrates and manufacturer of hemp-derived cannabinoid (CBD) wellness products, has engaged professional athlete and mixed martial arts fighter Sarah Moras as a Canna Hemp sponsored athlete for a six-month engagement. Infused MFG, a company subsidiary which makes Canna HempX branded products, has established a new Action Sports Division and will be working with professional athletes to market its CBD sports recovery cream.
Australis Capital (CSE: AUSA)(OTCQB: AUSAF) has acquired a 100% stake in Mr. Natural Productions, a medical and recreational cannabis brand based in California. The acquisition includes the rights to the Mr. Natural brand, the life story right of Robert Luciano and all related intellectual property, including proprietary processes in a deal valued for $1.3 million and royalty payments based on future performance incentives.
Organigram Holdings (TSX VENTURE: OGI) (OTCQX: OGRMF), the parent company of licensed cannabis producer Organigram, has signed a letter of intent with the Société québécoise du cannabis. Based on currently available public information, the agreement makes Organigram one of only three licensed producers in Canada along with Canopy Growth Corp (TSX:WEED) (NYSE: CGC) and Aphria (TSX: APHA) (NYSE: APHA) to have secured distribution agreements with every province.


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The Costly New Importance of Brand Loyalty
Making the switch to a new brand could be steep, particularly when you consider device compatibility.
From an early age, my parents taught me that brand loyalty was a good way to ensure you always purchased quality products. Find a good brand that delivers quality products that perform, and you can trust them to do so in the future.
But lately, I’m beginning to wonder if brand loyalty is more of a hindrance than a help. That idea really took hold when I heard about Apple’s recent admission that they’ve started throttling older iPhones. Their excuse is that they don’t want my phone to just die on me, but that seems like a brand being “too helpful” (or just one making an excuse to drive consumers to upgrade).
Is Apple punishing loyal customers?
According to the reports, throttling is only occurring on 4 and 5 series iPhones. Again, Apples’ explanation is that these older phones may quit unexpectedly, leaving users in a lurch. But it feels more like a brand trying to push me to purchase again.
So, Apple’s not punishing loyalty, so much as they’re punishing people on a budget who can’t afford the latest and greatest models. I’m not sticking with the 6 series because I don’t want a new phone; I’m sticking with my phone because my husband went back to school and we can’t exactly shell out money right now.
But it does concern me that my phone could be throttled soon. Admittedly, I’ve seen the performance on my phone drop over the past year. Is it throttling or just an old product performing less than stellar? Hard to say. But the admission has changed my perception of the brand, nonetheless.
Apple isn’t the only brand pushing you into new products
When I worked for a major small appliance company, an engineer gave me a fascinating explanation of how today’s products don’t last as long as products used to. The idea behind it made sense: If you make a product that lasts twenty years, you continually have to work to get new customers. By contrast, if you make a product that only last five years, you get returning customers much faster. At the time, he even said that five years was the sweet-spot threshold – just long enough to seem dependable, but short enough to be a better revenue generator.
So, it’s not all that surprising to hear about Apple’s tactic. Instead of using inferior parts to make the products perform well over a shorter time, they use the technology at their disposal to throttle their older phones. Brilliant, but not exactly the message you want to send to customers that have been loyal to your brand for years, or even decades.
And this change in position from desiring faster repeat purchasing over brand loyalty could be hurting brands long-term. A 2016 study found that only 29% of Millennials say they usually buy the same brand, compared to 35% of Gen Xers like myself. And over one in four Millennials (265) said they “buy whatever brand they feel like at the time.”
This brand fickleness is making it harder for Apple and other brands to predict consumer behavior. But that’s a problem they created. The problem for consumers is that brand fickleness now comes with an increasingly high cost… product compatibility.
How product compatibility forces the importance of brand loyalty
Let’s say this news from Apple was the last straw that convinced me that my i-loyalty should come to an end. Now I have a new problem – how do I affordably switch to a different brand? My phone isn’t the only Apple product we own. My laptop is apple, my tablet is apple, and we have a Mac mini hooked up to our TV. Having all my products be compatible is useful for syncing and sharing. Everything in my life right now is integrated to the Apple world.
Changing my smartphone suddenly creates a compatibility problem. My new phone wouldn’t be an Apple product. Ergo, the new phone would integrate more easily with other Microsoft or Google products. But that means buying a whole new series of electronics, instead of just replacing my phone. And all the apps that I’ve come to love may or may not be included on the Android network. The only good news is that I left iTunes a long time ago in favor of Spotify. But otherwise, it would be like uprooting my whole digital life.
I’ve talked to other users who are in the same situation. “I’m no longer as happy with Apple as I was five years ago, but now I’m stuck.”
This compatibility issue is only going to get worse
I’d like to end this article on a high note, but the truth is, compatibility problems are only going to get worse. As everything becomes digital – from home assistants like Alexa and Google Home to all the appliances in your kitchen – integration is key. You want all your products to work together. But that forces you into buying a single brand.
There’s also a new issue of brands forming strategic partnerships. Spotify, for instance, is the music steaming service for PlayStation. Good for me, since I use both brands. But if I was a paid Pandora user, I’d be stuck on music choices for my PS4. This is happening with car compatibility features, too. Your car may only integrate with certain smartphones.
As products become more integrated and brands form alliances, the rest may be that consumers like us are increasingly stuck. So, consider carefully which brand you want to hitch your wagon to. Even if you don’t believe in brand loyalty, you may not have a choice.


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Azerbaijan suspends poultry products import from more regions
By Ayya Lmahamad
Azerbaijan’s Food and Safety Agency has suspended import of poultry, live birds and animal products from some regions of South Africa, Albania, Iraq, the Kingdom of Lesotho and the UK over bird flu concerns.
The World Organization for Animal Health reported that a highly pathogenic disease "bird flu" has been found in Albania's Durres, Tirana, Kukes, Iraq's Basra, the UK's North Yorkshire, Lisburn, Castlerie, the Kingdom of Lesotho, as well as South Africa's province of KwaZulu - Natal territorial-administrative units.
The Food and Safety Agency is taking relevant measures in line with Organization's warning against infectious animal diseases that may enter Azerbaijan's territory from other countries.
In this regard, the Agency has imposed temporary import restrictions on all types of live birds, poultry and animal products from the above-mentioned territories.
Meanwhile, an appeal has been made to Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee to take relevant measures to strengthen control over vehicles arriving and passing through the mentioned territories.
Earlier, the Agency imposed a temporary ban on the import of poultry from some territories of Bulgaria, Korea, Ukraine, Estonia, Kuwait, Germany, Northern Ireland, Poland, Romania, Iran, Sweden, Vietnam, Iraq, India, Wales, France, England, Finland, the Netherlands, Mali, Scotland, the Czech Republic and Belgium into Azerbaijan after the World Organization for Animal Health’s warning.
Set up in 2017, the Azerbaijani Food Safety Agency is a central executive authority, which oversees the regulation of food safety standards, risk assessment, official registration of food products and their packaging materials, issue of food safety certificates to exported food products.
Ayya Lmahamad is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @AyyaLmahamad
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz


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Teenage boys across Britain are stocking up on masturbatory related paraphernalia in preparation for a long summer holiday wankathon, it can be revealed. Steven Dwight, Professor of Onanism at the Steven’s Institute said:
“Typically online retailers such as Amazon and Ocado see massive spikes in the sales of tissues, lotions and other onanistic aids in the run up to the summer holidays. Our data shows that while some of the tissue and lotion sales can be attributed to seasonal factors such as hay fever and sunburn, that upwards of 80% of the sales are masturbation related. Of course one shouldn’t be surprised by this effect given that males of all ages have a propensity to masturbate if they think they have five minutes to spare let alone the entire summer break on their hands, so to speak.”
Professor Dwight continued:
“In recent years, strongly vibrating electric toothbrushes have also shown a spike in sales and initial research suggests that girls are now getting in on the holiday wanking craze. I’m personally heading up a research group in the autumn to verify if this is a new social phenomenon.
God I love my job.”


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United Plugins has released a new audio effect designed to give your sounds a 3D feel. Developed by JMG Sound, Expanse 3D features a complex...
The post Expanse 3D: Enhance depth and add space with JMG Sound’s new plugin appeared first on rekkerd.org.
This is a syndicated post. To read more, click the source link above.


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Google’s top marketing executive, Cindy McCaffrey, has stepped down from that post to pursue personal interests, including work at the Google Foundation. McCaffrey held the title of vice president of corporate marketing.
McCaffrey is the first high-ranking employee to depart after the company’s August initial public offering. She’d been with Google for over five years and is credited with overseeing the company’s low-key marketing approach.
Since its founding, Google has relied largely on public relations, business-to-business online advertising and direct mail to get its message out. The company has avoided splashy traditional marketing efforts, even during the go-go days of the late ’90s.
Before she joined Google, McCaffrey headed corporate communications at Apple Computer, E*Trade, the 3DO Company and SmartForce.
McCaffrey will continue to be involved with the Google Foundation, a non-profit the company is developing to invest employee time and one percent of equity and profits.
Google spokespeople didn’t respond to inquiries about the hiring of a replacement for McCaffrey by press time. The company said it didn’t expect to change its overall marketing strategy despite her departure.
Header bidding is a programmatic technique that allows publishers to offer their inventory through multiple ad exchanges before they serve up ads from their ad server.
YouTube is said to be preparing new non-video features that will allow content creators to interact with their viewers through photos, text posts, links and polls.
Few digital terms are as dirty as clickbait. It's the scourge of the web, and Facebook recently announced a News Feed update aimed at reducing the prevalence of clickbait headlines on its service.
The website of National Public Radio (NPR), npr.org, receives upwards of 30 million unique visitors each month, but as of next Tuesday, ... read more


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The new fashion director of the brand, Anthony Vaccarello, decided to go back to Saint Laurent’s roots and show everyone that no one does it better than a Parisian. Vaccarello has been leading Saint Laurent for less than a year, and he is not the first one to find inspiration in a woman of the Gainsbourg family. His predecessor, Heidi Slimane, had the legendary Jane Birkin star in the campaign for Saint Laurent in March 2016.
The 46-second video, directed by Nathalie Canguilhem, was shot at an abandoned industrial space in Los Angeles. The French actress is seen roaming an abandoned warehouse, wearing one of the brand’s new one-sleeved, glittery minidresses with YSL heels; she takes slow, deliberate steps, swiping at an invisible opponent. Her eyes are rimmed with kohl; her hair is perfectly tousled. Her weapon: not a baseball bat like Beyoncé, nor a black two-by-four as it might first seem, but rather the brand’s new, extraordinary long statement clutch.
Her close relationship with Vaccarello and Saint Laurent was confirmed on many occasions. Charlotte was following his first show for the brand last fall alongside her mother and half-sister Lou Doillon. She wears clothes with Saint Laurent’s signature on a regular basis. This collaboration is just another step up the ladder for the young French trendsetter.
Content by Les Facons. lesfacons.com


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Digital trunk show platform Trunkist.com has announced it will bring exclusive designs from Season 14 contestants of “Project Runway” directly to consumers.
Four capsule collections from select Season 14 designers will be launched, including finalist Kelly Dempsey, Lindsey Creel, known for her chambray maxi dresses and oversized indigo linen jacket, Amanda Perna and Duncan Chambers-Watson, who made a splash with tailored denim pants and jackets with satin details.
“We are thrilled to work with these inspirational and talented designers from Project Runway Season 14,” said Dustin Hindman, Trunkist.com founder and CEO. “Our team is carefully crafting, sourcing and producing each designer’s look to meet their unique specifications and price points and help them expand their brands beyond Season 14. Trunkist’s Cut To Order digital trunk show platform allows customers to pre-order these limited edition apparel products, and is proud to produce ‘fashion without waste’ for every collection.”
The capsule collections are currently available for pre-order on Trunkist.com.


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Greats news for fans of Yu Yu Hakusho as Bandai Namco have announced that Toguro and Yusuke Urameshi have been added to their upcoming fighting game Jump Force as playable characters.
Closed beta for Jump Force will take place in Europe and...
During Tokyo Game Show 2018, Granzilla released a new trailer for their upcoming survival...
The folks over at Insomniac Games should be very proud of themselves as Sony Interactive...
Square Enix have released a new trailer for their upcoming game World of Final Fantasy...
D3 Publisher have announced they are remaking The Onechanbara and The Onechanbara 2...
Aquaplus have released two Japanese TV spots for their upcoming Utawarerumono game...
Enhance Games have announced that Tetris Effect has received an official release...
Compile Heart have released a new trailer for their upcoming tactical action RPG Arc...
Koei Tecmo have released 6 minutes of gameplay footage for their upcoming game Warriors...
The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has revealed that Catherine: Full Body has received an official release date in Japan. The game will launch within...
Sony Interactive Entertainment


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UPDATE: "The Flash" Hasn't Cast Savitar, Says Berlanti
TV, Comic Books
While the previous vehicle was based on the Christopher Nolan films, the new one draws inspiration from Batman: Arkham Knight. Beneath the carbon-fiber body lurks a Lamborghini Gallardo, with a 5.2L V10 engine, which is unquestionably enough for the mean streets of Gotham. However, will it propel the Batmobile 2.0 to victory Friday in Bucharest?
Although directors Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder favored a tank-like Batmobile, for most of the Dark Knight’s 77-year career, his vehicle has been sleek and futuristic in its design … with the occasional oversized bat-like wings for effect. Bulgarian designer Encho Enchev manages to merge both approaches in this beautiful concept for a new Batmobile.
The bad news is that Conan O’Brien’s car is in the shop. The good news is that he can rent the Batmobile from Batman v Superman for just $5 more than a Chevy Malibu. Who could possibly pass that up? Not O’Brien and Andy Richter, as we see in this cold open from TBS’s Conan.
We learn a few surprising things from the segment: Bruce Wayne is a fan of the Spin Doctors (Pocket Full of Kryptonite, naturally); the Batmobile has an ingenious cloaking device; and you should really be careful which buttons you push in the cockpit.
After spending more than two and half years and $2,800 on modifications, one Batman fan has unveiled his own Batmobile. Well, it’s actually his family’s Mitsubishi Lancer, but it definitely screams “Batman.”
The black compact car belongs to 48-year-old Scott Russell of Johnstone, Scotland, who definitely has an eye for detail: Bat-symbols grace the wheels, grill, headlights and headrests, with a much larger version stretched across the doors. The Dark Knight himself keeps watch from the hood.
Although we’ve known for a few months that a Batmobile would be released as part of Hot Toys’ Cosbaby line of Batman v Superman collectibles, I’m not sure anyone was prepared for how darned adorable it is. Seriously, just look those itty-bitty machine guns!
It’s part of the new Batman and Batmobile Cosbaby Collectible Set, which will undoubtedly be able to defeat Superman, Lex Luthor and Doomsday with its cuteness alone. Of course, if that’s not enough, there are sill those machine guns.
Even at the most staid formal affairs, you can signal your readiness to fight crime — and possibly break into the Batusi — at a moment’s notice with these classic Batmobile 3D cufflinks.
While they’re not flashy (save that for your nighttime escapades), they are elegant and memorable. Boasting a matte black finish and a fixed-back closure depicting a new play on a classic DC Comics logo, the cufflinks are perfect for a soiree at Wayne Manor or a board meeting at Wayne Enterprises.
Although this sleek little Batmobile may look like part of the never-ending avalanche of merchandise tied to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it’s actually a custom PC case.
Built from scratch by thechoozen and his friends for the Batman v Superman casemod challenge at MSI Forums, doesn’t boast all the fire- and horse- power needed for crimefighting, but what it does have is 16GB of RAM and a GTX 960 Gaming 4G graphics card. Plus, oh, yeah, working lights.
For when your actual Batmobile is in the shop, Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM has unveiled the X-Bow GT Black Edition.
Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, the X-Bow GT looks as if it drove straight out of the Batcave. It’s been described by multiple auto sites as having a “sinister appearance,” which is all the better to strike fear into the hearts of criminals.
Don’t be surprised if you see more than a few adults at the airport dragging this Batmobile travel case behind them — y’know, for their kids. Because everyone wants to be the goddamned Batman, even in economy class.
Produced by Welly, this may be the best Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice merchandising tie-in to date. Seriously, just look at the attention to detail given to something intended to hold socks and underwear. It even boasts tiny machine guns on the front, undoubtedly intended to ward off grabby hands at the baggage carousel.
The U.S. Supreme Court this morning declined to review a ruling that the Batmobile isn’t merely an automobile, but rather distinctive enough to warrant copyright protection.
Mark Towle, who previously created unlicensed replicas of the 1966 and 1989 Batmobiles, petitioned the high court in January to consider his five-year-old dispute with DC Comics. The company had sued Towle in 2011, claiming his Gotham Garage violated its trademarks and copyrights by manufacturing the replicas, which he sold for about $90,000 each.
Countless comic fans have headed out to the various auto shows across America over the decades to see the Batmobile in person. But this weekend, fans in Detroit can get a look at the iconic roadster as it’s never been rendered before: in full aluminum.
Facebook user Hot Rod Valdez headed out to the first day of the Motor City’s Autorama show and snapped pictures of a custommade tribute to designer George Barris’ legendary car created for the 1966 Adam West Batman TV series.
No more info on the brilliant creation is publically available at present, but Detroit area fans can check out Autorama (which has a history of Batmobile appreciation), and everyone else can peek a few pics after the jump.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will race into Rocket League next month with an official Batmobile Battle-Car.
The popular sports-action game brings together racing and soccer, as players are equipped with rocket-powered vehicles to crash into large balls to score goals.
A manufacturer of unlicensed Batmobile replicas has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to determine whether Batman’s signature vehicle is indeed protected by copyright.
Towle, who produced replicas of the 1966 and 1989 Batmobiles that sold for as much as $90,000 each, was sued in 2011 by DC, which claimed copyright and trademark infringement, trademark counterfeiting and unfair competition. Towle had argued that the U.S. Copyright Act doesn’t protect “useful articles,” defined as objects that have “an intrinsic utilitarian function” (for example, clothing, household appliances or, in this case, automobile functions); in short, that the Batmobile’s design is merely functional.
The FFZERO1 looks like the Batmobile, and can even drive itself like the Dark Knight’s signature ride. However, you won’t find any room for Robin (or Catwoman) in this one-seater.
Officially unveiled this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the sleek concept car by Faraday Future — the California startup calls it “a car of concepts” — is a high-performance electric vehicle boasts a top speed of more than 200mph (0 to 60 in less than three seconds), making the pursuit of The Joker and his crew a snap.
Ahead of the official debut on Friday at Toy Soul 2015 in Hong Kong, Hot Toys has unveiled the first images of its Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 1/6th-scale action figures and Batmobile.
Expect more photos later in the week, but for now we get a look at both the exterior and interior of the (of course) highly detailed Batmobile, as well as a blurry shot of two of the Dark Knight and Man of Steel figures.


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Not a lot of things seem certain in the UK economy at the moment, but most people seem to agree on the fact that the
Bank of England may well raise interest rates in the not-too-distant future. As any lender or homeowner knows, this means significant changes both for mortgage holders and providers, and over the longer term, increased costs.
These costs don’t just come directly from higher rates; to communicate these changes to their customers would cost a mortgage provider, on average, 40p each time to send a letter to every single customer. This kind of mass communication can rack up a significant
bill when multiplied by the number of customers the typical mortgage provider has. More daunting is that industry conditions can change at any time – meaning more communications, and more frustration for customers. So how can financial institutions turn this
kind of costly situation into an opportunity to thrive?
Keeping customers on side
Added cost from rising interest rates, or any other source, is bound to sour any relationship the customer had with its mortgage provider, no matter how happy they were previously. As a result, it is increasingly important that the bank does all it can
to keep its customers happy. Research from Quadient found that more than three quarters (76 percent) of European consumers said they would be likely to switch from a business that doesn’t meet their expectations on communication.
This means consistently communicating to the customer with the right message, at the right time, and in the right way. Failing to do this – for instance, by only letting Tom from Bicester know about the changes to interest rates by post when he only ever checks
email, and after the increased rates have taken effect – is taking the wrong steps to ensuring a fruitful relationship with the customer. It can also introduce unnecessary costs, such as spending money on posting letters to customers who only use email. Putting
the customer first and ensuring communication is consistent will go a long way in getting past any obstacles.
Offering more value-added services
A time-honoured way of reducing the impact of bad news is to accompany it with good news. Banks can do this by offering customers services that will give them added value. This means in addition to sharing news of interest rate rises, also sharing more
positive messages – such as suggesting alternative products the customer may want to consider, or ways to help save money elsewhere.
For example, the bank could suggest swapping current accounts to give customers cashback on mortgage repayments. By opening up the customer conversation, banks will increase their chances of upselling and cross-selling products, while also giving the customer
something they will benefit from in turn. This approach to looking after the customer will reduce the risk of customer churn, as well as positioning the organisation as a trusted advisor. A bank that misses these opportunities could seriously damage its relationship
with a customer if it fails to communicate how they could save money, or worse, only gives the best offers to its new customers – setting the stage for resentment from existing customers and from these new customers in a few years’ time.
Getting into the customer mindset
Knowing customers well enough to know exactly what value-added services to offer them, and when, can seem an overwhelming task. But if a bank has a clear view of a customer’s journey with them and maps what steps the customer has taken at every point of
contact – from when a bill was sent to a complaint on social media – it will make the task far easier. By utilising a customer journey mapping tool, banks can gain a better understanding of the customer and know exactly what value-added services would benefit
them the most. For example, if Tanya has notified the bank that she has moved to the US for six months, she will not be interested in hearing about the new savings account that offers better rates for only those living permanently in the UK. But she will be
interested to hear about the reduced card fees for customers travelling abroad.
Proactivity is king
With this setup in place, financial institutions can be on the front foot, whether the Bank of England raises rates or not, ensuring any duty-bound communications will represent opportunities rather than irritating costs, benefitting both the customer and
At a time when nothing is certain but the importance of the consumer to a bank, everything must be done to prioritise the customer experience. If banks can take the time to understand who the customer is and what they value the most, they can open up the conversation
to ensure they are able to give the customer what they’re looking for. By looking at the customer journey and understanding what works for them, banks will be able to ride the waves of uncertainty, while keeping the customer happy.


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Intel ‘just talking’ about old LG Wales fab
Why isn't it 'just talking' to Alpha Queensferry?
Chip giant Intel is in talks with Hyundai over a mothballed Welsh memory factory which used to belong to LG Semicon, it confirmed today. But that doesn't mean Intel is about to rescue the memory fab and its former workers from their plight, a representative said. He confirmed that Intel was in talks about this factory with its Korean owners but stressed that was part of an "ongoing" attempt to increase capacity worldwide. Earlier this year, Intel took over a former Rockwell fab in order to boost its Flash production. There is currently a worldwide shortage of Flash memory, a lucrative component in many electronic gadgets. It is unlikely that the former LG Semicon fab would be suitable for converting into a microprocessor production centre, and it is unclear that if Intel's talks with Hyundai are fruitful, whether it would receive grants from the Welsh government, in a similar fashion to LG. LG Semicon was acquired by Hyundai early last year after the South Korean government brokered a merger. While Intel is talking about fabs, we suggest it look at the former Alpha fab in Queensferry, Scotland. This was opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II to huge fanfare maybe nine years back. The local authority paid for a multimillion motorway spur to go straight to the fab, and taxpayers there are still having to foot the bill for its maintenance. When the old DEC (now Compaq) closed it down, we are reliably informed that AMD seriously considered acquiring the Queensferry plant, but lack of liquidity at the time ruled that out. The fab, we are reliably informed by an Alpha geezer, is currently manned by a small band of security guards, who wait, forlornly, for the motorway spur to be filled with traffic headed their way. Or else Motorola is still using the 150mm technology. We wouldn't know, being in London. ®


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Oil prices are likely to jump if Trump and Xi can hash out a deal.
The U.S. and China have started to sketch out the framework of a comprehensive trade deal, including on some of the thorniest issues that have long prevented an agreement, according to a new report from Reuters.
The progress comes at the eleventh hour of the trade negotiations. In late 2018, President Trump punted on steeper import tariffs on Chinese goods, declaring a ceasefire and setting a March 1 deadline for a trade deal. If both sides couldn’t reach an agreement, Trump vowed to move forward with tariff hikes from 10 to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.
The odds were stacked against the talks. The U.S. demands didn’t just include buying some more American goods, but sweeping structural changes to the way it says China unfairly props up its own businesses. In the first few weeks of the year, there seemed to be little progress, raising the specter of a huge escalation in the trade war at a time when the global economic expansion is running on fumes.
Now, suddenly, there seems to be major progress. Sources told Reuters that “the broad outline of what could make up a deal is beginning to emerge from the talks,” even though serious disagreement remains. The outline includes memorandums of understanding on six overarching issues, Reuters says, including forced technology transfer and cyber theft, intellectual property rights, services, currency, agriculture and non-tariff barriers to trade. Related: Cracks Begin To Form In Saudi-Russian Alliance
That is, uh, a rather ambitious list of issues to tackle. It is entirely possible that the two sides cannot reach an agreement at all. In fact, much of the progress so far has been on trade imbalances. For instance, China has offered to buy an additional $30 billion worth of American agricultural products, such as soybeans, corn and wheat. This is easy stuff compared to some of the so-called “structural” issues on the agenda, such as intellectual property rights, barriers to the Chinese market for American companies, state support for Chinese companies and currency controls. Some skeptics wonder if the gulf between the two sides can ever be bridged.
However, having come this far, another possibility is that the talks are extended and the tariff threat is taken off of the table, something that President Trump suggested he would be open to. His flexibility suggests negotiators are making significant progress. The flip side is that China may be unwilling to make deep concessions, but could be offering just enough to drag out the talks and put off new tariffs. Time will tell.
A breakthrough on trade negotiations, or at least the suspension of new tariffs, could conceivably remove one of the most bearish factors threatening oil prices this year. The U.S.-China trade war would inflict damage on both sides, and because China’s economy is already decelerating, new tariffs could be painful. And, as the world’s growth engine, a sputtering Chinese economy would have global implications.
Europe is already feeling the pain. German manufacturing activity fell to its lowest level since 2012 in February. “In terms of the factors behind the slowdown in manufacturing order books, many of the usual suspects — the uncertainty relating to US-China trade tensions and weakness in the autos industry — were highlighted, although there were also reports of growing competitive pressures within Europe” Phil Smith, an economist at IHS Markit, told the FT. Related: The Ultimate Tool To Prop Up Oil Prices
There is also another major land mine lurking just over the horizon – the Trump administration is reviewing possible tariffs on imported autos, something that would almost certainly rattle global manufacturing. The White House just received a report from the Commerce Department that reviewed the national security implications of auto manufacturing, the basis for which could be used by Trump to slap tariffs on car imports. VW’s CEO said that the biggest threat to its profit this year would be U.S. tariffs. Still, this threat remains speculative.
The U.S., too, is arguably not as strong as it outwardly seems. Growth has been inflated because of massive corporate tax cuts phased in last year, the effects of which should wear off. Also, the U.S. is sitting on at least a few sub-prime bubbles – one for autos and one for corporate debt. The Federal Reserve also hiked interest rates multiple times last year, tightening the overall credit environment. In the face of global economic headwinds, the Fed backed off earlier this year on its hawkish plans to hike rates even more.
And the U.S. can only weather a global slowdown for so long. The Trump administration cannot do much about a slowdown elsewhere, but the trade fight is the one arena where it exercises a lot of control. In a few days, we will find out what the president plans to do.
By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
- How Sanctions Are Helping The U.S. Become A Net Oil Exporter
- Permian Production To Break 4 Million Bpd In March
- A Worrying Trend For International Oil Giants


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Germany’s BASF to invest in Iran’s petchem industry
The Managing Director of NPC, Abbas Sheri Moqaddam, also reported that Iran targets to increase its petrochemical production to 70 million tons during the next Iranian calendar year which starts on March 20, 2016. The country is also expected to attract about $70 billion in petrochemical investments by 2025. So far, several countries including France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea and Japan have stated their willingness to participate in Iran’s petrochemical sector during the post-sanctions period.
More free plastics newsPlastic resin (PP, LDPE, LLDPE ,HDPE, PVC, GPS; HIPS, PET, ABS) prices, polymer market trends, and more...
- COVID-19 resurgence weighs on polymer sentiment in Vietnam
- Stats: Turkey’s H1 polymer imports defy pandemic, hit all-time high
- Stats: China’s total PP, PE imports set a new record in H1 2020
- Lackluster demand outweighs tightness in Asian ABS markets
- Will costs drum up support for a 3rd-month-firming in Europe PET market?
- Import PE markets give softening signals in China, SE Asia
- PVC supplies tight, demand robust across Europe
- China’s local PP, PE markets snap nine-week rally
- Turnarounds keep PP supply tight in SE Asia
- European PP market sees step backs from initial July offers


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Technological developments in recent years have made some once popular items almost obsolete.
Do you still watch movies on VHS tapes? That's just one device, according to a new report, that you no longer need in your home.
Do you have a point and shoot camera, and also a smartphone? You really don't need both.
DealNews.com has just listed a number of devices it says you soon may no longer need, and could become obsolete in the next 10 years.
It's list includes:
Stand alone GPS unit....if you have a smartphone.
A DVD player....now that we stream movies.
A Blu Ray player....see DVD, above.
Flash Drives...thanks to the Cloud.
MP3 players....since smartphones play music.
Desktop Computers...as a laptop does it all now.
Home Camcorders....again, a victim of smartphones.
Alarm Clocks...again, soon to be replaced by your phone or tablet.
None of these items will disappear anytime soon, and a lot of people still like to have a separate GPS unit, as a Garmin or Tom Tom does not use up your monthly smartphone data.
But DealNews says if your phone already does it, then buying an extra gadget may be a case of don't waste your money.
Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.
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