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The mobile handset production in India has pinned all its hopes on two factors—component imports from China to resume sooner and India to lift its temporary travel suspension from Mainland China—failing which, the production may come to a standstill as the industry will run out of the stocked-up inventory by the end of February.
The coronavirus outbreak in China, which has claimed over 2000 lives so far, has caused the majority of the local businesses to halt operations. Even as the tech and internet firms have restarted operations as they can function remotely, the manufacturing companies are believed to be still largely down as employees are unable to resume work. And there is no certainty when these factories will start operating in a full-fledged manner.
Usually, when the factories reopen after the Lunar New Year, shipments are released once a new set of orders are placed. However, according to people in the industry, there have been no shipments sent from China to India for half a month.
“The inventory (with smartphone companies) is soon going to run out. It is really a matter of weeks before companies run out of raw material to manufacture phones, and other electronic items out of India,” said George Paul, chief executive officer, Manufacturers Association of Information Technology, an industry body which represents India’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
But even if Chinese factories start operations in the coming weeks, the world’s second-largest smartphone industry will still face the shortage of supplies and personnel due to the travel ban India has imposed on China. Moreover, the limited information that China is willing to divulge is not helping the situation either.
“If we look at the news in China, the epidemic is still in the upward growth stage. What makes the situation further difficult is that the updates coming out from China are not so transparent, which is a sign of big concern for the global supply chain,” Paul said. “All the travel (between India-China) has stopped. Leave aside people, there are fears that even cargo and raw materials that are coming can be contaminated with the virus.”
According to him, if there was transparency in updates and information from China, such as current status and the dos and don’ts, these concerns could have been put to rest.
“They could have given us a clear picture (saying) that you don’t have to worry, you are not going to get it from electronic parts, or you just expose them to such and such steps and that will disinfect it,” he added. “That is going to be the next dimension that we will have to grapple with even when the supply comes.”
The smartphone makers’ Chinese employees who went on vacation for the new year are not able to report back to duty, so they also do not have any update on the situation.
“That is precipitating the problem even more in all the electronics goods sector be it mobile, TVs or computers because all of the supply-chain goes through China,” said Paul.
According to Pankaj Mohindro, founder and president of the Indian Cellular Association, the apex body of the mobile industry in India, “if the operations in these factories do not resume, the impact will be very serious, in the sense that there will be a production closure.”
Multiple industry sources told KrASIA that the Chinese government has started giving permission to some factories to resume work. However, it hasn’t improved the situation since the majority of the workers are stuck in their hometowns.
A two-edged problem
India China Mobile Association (CMA), an industry body that represents the Chinese mobile industry in India, has a different problem with India.
A blogpost by India CMA, last week, said there are about 200 odd Chinese mobile phone supply chain manufacturers that have set up and invested in factories in India over the last couple of years. Most of the Chinese employees who work in these factories haven’t returned to India due to the travel ban, which is adversely impacting these suppliers.
Moreover, it said, “there are many cases where the factory has been rented and is ready for production, but the equipment has not been received by the customs, so the factory cannot continue.”
“We need Indian government to lift the (travel) ban and allow Chinese to enter India,” an executive from the association told KrASIA. “It’s a big deal now that people cannot get through.”
Local media has reported that many smartphone makers are looking to diversify their supply chain and source component from countries such as Vietnam, Taiwan, and Japan. However, it’s easier said than done.
“In electronics, because it is such sophisticated technology, once you freeze the supply chain including what components come from where, you can’t change it as you would do in the mechanical industry or the electrical industry,” explained Paul. “If something as simple as one capacitor gets changed, we actually have to test the product once again for reliability.”
Even if a component such as a display panel is made in Japan or Taiwan, it invariably goes through China for some brand evaluation, he said, adding “nobody can escape this because the world’s electronics supply chain travels through China.”
Paul said if the supply situation continues, he expects that Indian mobile factories will slow down production to a single shift and later it could come down to a point where the plants will shut down for a few days in a week.
Industry experts believe that the component supply crunch will delay new product launches since they won’t have supplies for production, and the discounts would be rolled back by smartphone companies as demand will outstrip supply.
“We expect new launches to be pushed back by at least four to five weeks and the ones which are being launched will have limited stock. And, we don’t expect factories to run on full capacity in February. If the virus is contained in March, it will still take two months for commercial activities to come back to normal in China,” Tarun Pathak, associate director, Counterpoint Research told local media Economic Times last week, adding that he expects a 10 to 12% decline in smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2020.
Paul said since India has “the MRP (maximum retail price) framework to safeguard the consumer, where you cannot charge more for a product,” the discount offers will come down for electronic devices because the demand is more than the supply.
“At this stage, what India and the rest of the world are looking for is clear communication from the authorities in China on what is the situation, and what is okay and what is not okay, and how we can continue working,” he said. “So unless that kind of communication comes in, we will all just be waiting for clarity and imports to come.”


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11 May 2020
Bing was awarded Property of the Year for its 2019 activity at the recent Bologna Licensing Awards in Italy.
The brand was awarded the prize thanks to the success of the licensing programme, the variety and quality of the products and consumer experiences, as well as the property’s ability to engage with its audience across multiple touchpoints.
Maurizio Distefano Licensing represents the Bing brand in Italy, working closely with Acamar Films on brand extensions. It has secured over 40 Bing licensees across a range of categories including location-based attractions.
Licensing…it’s a Bing thing!
For more information you can visit: http://www.bolognalicensing.com/en/events/bologna-licensing-award/7271.html
You can contact Acamar Films by email or by post:
Acamar Films Limited
42-43 Gloucester Crescent
London NW1 7DL
Tel: 020 3675 7450

domain: news


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Presented with limited commercial interruption by:
Bloomberg reported that China manufacturing facilities had implanted spying chips in Supermicro computers. DHS disagrees:
The Department of Homeland Security said Saturday that it is aware of reports that Amazon and Apple network servers may have been compromised by Chinese spy microchips, and that it currently has “no reason to doubt the statements from the companies named in the story.”
This story gets stranger by the day.


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Local boy designs MP’s Christmas card
A Croydon North student has won the competition to design a Christmas card for Steve Reed MP. Lewis Dyges, 10, was awarded first prize during a special assembly at his school, Gonville Primary Academy in Thornton Heath. Steve Reed awarded Lewis a certificate, a gift-wrapped prize and a printed copy of his winning design, with two runners-up also receiving certificates.
Students at Gonville Primary Academy entered the competition to design the MP’s 2013 Christmas card earlier in the year. Lewis Dyges’ winning design has been printed and delivered to community leaders across Croydon North, with all costs paid by the GMB trade union. Lewis and the runners-up, Layomi Osinowo and Aluel Omer Garang Yak Tong, were thrilled to receive certificates recognising the high quality of their designs.
Commenting after the special assembly, Steve Reed MP said: “I was astonished by the very high standard of entries this year. It was very hard to pick a winner, but Lewis’s design stood out for its use of colour, visual impact and a very Christmassy feel. Lewis is clearly a very talented young man and I hope he and all the other children who entered the competition have a very happy Christmas.”
Lewis told Mr Reed he thought his mum would be very proud that he’d won, and he decided to save his gift-wrapped prize to open on Christmas Day.


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Upgrade your sales funnel with expert insight at Commerceweek, Feb. 28-29. Broaden your audience with improved data technology and a seamless purchase experience. Register now at 50% off.
The Coca-Cola Company will stop running paid ads on all social media platforms amid an industrywide call for brands to reevaluate where they spend their ad dollars.
“There is no place for racism in the world, and there is no place for racism on social media,” CEO and chairman James Quincey said in a statement to Adweek.
The beverage company will pause all international paid social media advertising for the next 30 days to “reassess our advertising policies to determine whether revisions are needed,” Quincey said.
Coca-Cola’s decision comes at the end of a long week in which companies announced they would stop advertising on Facebook because of the platform’s policies on rooting out misinformation and hateful content.
A formal ad boycott started online in mid-June after anonymous industry insiders began calling for brands to realign their spending and stop advertising on Facebook.


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Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Shaktikanta Das, on Friday, made an announcement which would help non-resident Indians to pay bills for family members living in India.
According to the proposal put forward by RBI, NRI’s would not be able to pay off all kinds of bills, including utility bills, education bills and similar payments using online services provided by the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS).
Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)
Bharat Bill Payment System which was put into operation 9 years ago became a revolutionary step in the history of online payment and settlements in India. BBPS offers a secure, easy-to-control one-stop payment solution which can be used to pay all kinds of bills from anywhere in India. In order to achieve this, National Payment Corporation of India, owner of BBPS, brought all service providers such as banks, agent institutions and payment systems under a single roof.
Now with the recent announcement by RBI, area of operation of BBPS would be expanded outside India. The payments of all kinds of bills would now be processed through a cross-border inward bull payment facility operated under BBPS. There is not much information available regarding the transaction procedures for NRIs.
Currently, if an NRI wants to pay bills for their family members in India, they should send the money to an Indian bank account. The money transferred to the Indian bank account can then be utilised to pay the bills. Another is a conventional way in which a person can directly go to the office of the billings and make the payment. The process of transferring money from a foreign bank account to an Indian account to make bill payments were hectic for senior citizens.
Now, with the introduction of BBPS for inward settlements of bills, the procedure of sending money to an Indian account can be completely avoided, and bill payments can be made directly from a foreign account of NRIs.
Services and Extra Charges under the new scheme
With very limited information regarding the new scheme, experts opine that BBPS for NRIs would not be limited to making utility payments but also for payment of fees for education, local government taxes and even insurance-related payments.
There is also no information regarding whether there will be many extra charges applied for transactions between banks of NRIs and Indian services.
The move has been lauded by experts and players in the online payments industry. More and more foreign banks and currency exchanges would have to be roped in, in order to ensure that the transaction is smoother and happening without many delays.
One of the benchmark feature of using BBPS for resident Indians is the speedy, safe and secure transaction which use an SMS system to inform the customer about all transactions.


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With crushing underway for sugar season 2023, sugar prices are on the decline month on month. | Representative Image
Recent developments in both domestic and world markets have impacted the Indian sugar industry, in which micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) dominate. While prices of sugarcane (the key raw material) have increased, the increase in price of sugar has not been commensurate.
Globally, supply is expected to ease as output in Brazil and Thailand, both major producers, is likely to revive. Domestic sugar producers saw 14 per cent revenue growth in FY22, as a decrease in output from these countries after the sugar season (October-September) boosted demand for Indian produce and lifted its prices in world markets.
The export momentum continued in the first half of FY23. However, the government imposed a cap on exports at 11.2 million tonnes
First Published: Dec 28 2022 | 6:02 PM IST


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COPD Foundation's Public Response to CVS Caremark Announcement Ending Tobacco Sales in 2014
The COPD Foundation congratulates CVS Caremark on their decision to cease cigarette sales by October 1, 2014 and commends the company for prioritizing health over profits.
Ending cigarette sales at CVS Caremark is an important milestone, coming 50 years after the surgeon general first warned of public health risks associated with tobacco use in 1964, by which time an estimated 42% of Americans were smoking cigarettes on a daily basis. Since then, the appalling truth about the negative health impact of both direct and passive smoking has emerged.
"This new policy represents exemplary corporate leadership, and sends a strong message to other retailers of cigarettes and tobacco products. We applaud CVS Caremark for clearly stating that cigarette sales are no longer compatible with the provision of health-related products and services in a pharmacy and personal care environment. We also encourage all other pharmacies, drugstores and retailers to follow suit," said John W. Walsh, President and Co-Founder, COPD Foundation.
Smoke inhalation has been responsible for countless cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), drastically reducing both quality of life and life expectancy for millions of American men and women, as well as being the leading preventable cause of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Many millions of deaths and billions of dollars in health costs continue to accumulate – in part a consequence of easy access to tobacco products in our communities. This year, by ending the sale of cigarettes at CVS Caremark, Americans are a step closer to rejecting tobacco use as a normal and acceptable behavior.
"Smoking remains without question the greatest health challenge we face. Evidence suggests that smoking causes most preventable illnesses and deaths. Smoking remains the most common cause for COPD, the third leading cause of death in this country. This is a tremendously important step taken by the CVS chain. Hopefully other major chains will follow CVS Caremark’s lead," said Byron M. Thomashow, M.D., Chair, Board of Directors, COPD Foundation.
This policy also reinforces the health education messages that The COPD Foundation and other organizations are communicating in relation to the dangers of smoking and the need to proactively treat nicotine addiction. Not only is rejecting tobacco essential for public health, it is also essential for the reduction of healthcare expenditures in smoking-related illness.
The COPD Foundation celebrates this decision to prioritize public health over tobacco-related revenues, and wishes CVS Caremark every success with the introduction of their tobacco-free retail environment.


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Australian Whisky Holdings’ (AWH) Forty Spotted Gin has launched its barrel-aged 2019 Winter Release Gin.
With the 2018 Winter Release winning Australia’s Best Matured Gin at the World Gin Awards in February, the 2019 batch has replicated the unique botanical composition of dried figs, ruby grapefruit, fresh ginger, black loomi and a touch of Overeem Distillery’s single malt new make spirit to create a rich and wintery contemporary gin.
After distillation, the spirit was matured for four weeks in ex-bourbon casks to give oaky characteristics and a toffee-coloured hue.
Forty Spotted Head Distiller Rick Hoedjes came to work in gin after a number of years in the whisky industry, with his background a key inspiration in the creation of the release.
“Our Winter Releases are inspired by the flavours we traditionally associate with whisky, and came about as I converted to the light side of spirit production — from whisky to gin,” he said. “It seemed like a natural but unique step to make, and I’m pretty proud of the results; a rich, viscous ‘ginsky’!”
Demetrius Giouzelis, Head of Brand and Commercial for AWH added: “After our success at the World Gin Awards in February this year, we’ve followed the same principles to create a barrel-aged contempory gin that is truly distinct, and a true testament to the hard work and unique journey of our Head Distiller Rick Hoedjes.”
The limited-edition run of 2019 Forty Spotted Winter Release is bottled at 40% ABV and will be available in bars, independent bottle shops and online for $90.
Enjoy it neat or with a splash of dry tonic to highlight the creamy citrus characteristics, or embrace the season with a wintery cocktail: mix with equal parts sweet vermouth and Campari to bring a hint of oak to a classic Negroni, or use in a Gin Old Fashioned.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Tuesday's session are Neiman Marcus Group, Shuffle Master Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc.
Casey's General Stores Inc. CASY, -1.82% is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 34 cents a share, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. JOSB is seen posting a second-quarter net profit of 33 cents a share.
McData Corp.'s MCDTA second quarter is expected a show a profit of a penny a share.
Neiman Marcus Group NMG is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of 52 cents, according to two analysts.
Shuffle Master Inc. SHFL is seen posting a third-quarter profit of 21 cents a share.
After Friday's closing bell, Electronic Arts Inc. ERTS said that Don Mattrick, president of worldwide studios, is leaving to pursue other opportunities and will be replaced by Paul Lee. David Gardner was named chief operating officer for worldwide studios. The Redwood City, Calif.-based video game company also appointed Gerhard Florin executive vice president of international publishing and Frank Gibeau executive vice president of North American publishing. Nancy Smith was named executive vice president and general manager of the Sims franchise.
American National Insurance Co. ANAT, +1.01% said that its subsidiaries estimate the pre-tax net loss, net of reinsurance, as a result of Hurricane Katrina will be in the $17 million range. Estimated pre-reinsurance losses could reach the $100 million range based on preliminary modeled losses, including a provision for demand surge and flooded vehicles, the Galveston, Texas-based insurance company said.
Ryan's Restaurant Group Inc. RYAN, -13.61% said that August same-store sales fell 4%. Excluding the impact of Hurricane Katrina, same-store sales would have decreased 3.2%. Total sales for the period fell 1% compared with a year ago to $62.1 million, said the Greer, S.C.-based restaurant chain operator. The storm disrupted operations at 13 restaurants in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Ryan's Restaurant said seven of them remain closed, mainly because of power outages, and it hasn't yet determined when they will be re-opened.
Steel Dynamics Inc. STLD, +0.95% said that it has informed its customers that it's suspending order entry for cold rolled, galvanized and painted sheet products because of a hydrogen gas supply issue. Steel Dynamics said it was informed by Air Products Corp. APC, +1.41%, its hydrogen gas supplier, that it would be unable to meet Steel Dynamics' immediate supply needs because of a New Orleans facility outage due to Hurricane Katrina, as well as a planned two-month shutdown of its plant in Sarnia, Ontario. Production of hot rolled and hot rolled pickled and oiled coils will not be affected, the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based company said.
Tecumseh Products Co. TECUA said that it will be suspending its quarterly dividend until profitability improves. "The company and its board of directors believe that it is in the long-term best interest of shareholders to utilize available funds to continue ongoing restructuring efforts and reduce indebtedness," the Tecumseh, Mich.-based compressor and engine maker said in a statement.
US Airways Group Inc. UAIRQ said that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has approved a deal to sell certain Embraer (ERJ) regional jets and slot assets to Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (RJET) . US Airways said it expects the deal to provide it with $100 million in cash upon its closing within next two weeks.
Walgreen Co. WAG, +0.00% will incur expenses in the fourth quarter ended Aug. 31 because of Hurricane Katrina-related losses of inventory, property and equipment, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The amount of the expenses hasn't yet been determined, it said. The drugstore operator said 49 of the 74 stores it closed in the Gulf Coast states remain closed, and it is unable to determine when those stores will re-open.


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APEX Insight: LocusLabs is powering the new Fly Delta app with its LocusMaps wayfinding functionality, which helps travelers find what they’re looking for – even when offline. Campbell Kennedy, CEO and co-founder of LocusLabs, guides APEX Media through the ins and outs of the technology, which allows passengers to know their destination airport like the back of their hand before they land.
Delta Air Lines has unveiled the newest version of its Fly Delta iPhone app, which features LocusLabs’ indoor mapping and turn-by-turn airport navigation to help passengers quickly find what they’re looking for. The app currently offers mapping for 13 US airports, including San Francisco and John F. Kennedy international airports, as well as Heathrow and Narita airports. Five more airports will be added this spring, including Charles de Gaulle, SÃ£o Paulo-Guarulhos and Shanghai Pudong international airports.
“Delta’s airport maps are another customer experience differentiator,” said Rhonda Crawford, Delta’s vice-president of Global Distribution and Digital Strategy in a press release. “We went beyond the industry standard to fully integrate maps into the boarding pass and other parts of our app experience. We are trying to anticipate when customers may want or need to use a map and provide an easy and intuitive way to do that – whether to find a Sky Club, a gate or a cup of coffee.”
“We went beyond the industry standard to fully integrate maps into the boarding pass.” €” Rhonda Crawford, Delta
The secret sauce is cooked up by LocusLabs, a startup whose mapping and wayfinding technology, called LocusMaps, is integrated into several different airline apps. “LocusMaps works with positioning services technologies that help orient people to their current location indoors,” explained Campbell Kennedy, CEO and co-founder of LocusLabs. “Bluetooth and/or a data connection are required for these functions to work.”
For passengers concerned about finding a reliable Wi-Fi connection at the airport, the LocusMaps technology ensures that core interactive terminal maps can work offline. The airport-specific wayfinding feature is triggered when passengers check in, before showing up at the airport. “Typically airlines background-load airport content when passengers check in,” said Kennendy. “This allows for people to review their journeys before they even arrive, are in the air or don’t have a data connection.”
“Most users who engage with LocusMaps … on average spend over a minute searching.” €” Campbell Kennedy, LocusLabs
Beacon technology integration is on the rise at airports around the world, making it possible to map an indoor space to the same degree of accuracy as you’d find on Google Maps. “Most users who engage with LocusMaps return to the feature and on average spend over a minute searching, wayfinding and exploring what the airport has to offer within the same trip,” said Kennedy.
American Airlines, United Airlines and Lufthansa also leverage LocusLabs’ technology in their apps, and the startup has more customers in the pipeline. “As a first among travel apps to ingrain location services this deeply, Delta has put the passenger’s needs first, while laying the groundwork to streamline the customer experience, improve operations and ultimately provide a superior end-to-end travel service,” said Kennedy. “We look forward to our newest customers making announcements about their use of the framework in their products when they are ready.”


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The Chinese Communist Party is determined to dominate the global digital marketplace. Chinese companies with virtually unlimited access to capital for the development of the next generation of connectivity are going head-to-head with US companies. Beyond economic competition, Beijing’s techno-authoritarianism travels too, and Beijing is working to export to sympathetic regimes the same combination of equipment and ideology it uses for monitoring and controlling its citizens at home.
Conflicts between China and other nations, including the United States, have been brewing for decades, centering around China’s unfair trade practices, subsidies, market barriers, and intellectual property theft. As high technology becomes increasingly important to the global economy, concern about the Chinese government’s practices in the world of technology also grows.
— Read on issues.org/china-and-5g/


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In response to mounting pressure from privacy and antitrust regulators, Meta Platforms has announced a significant reduction in its monthly subscription fees for Facebook and Instagram services in Europe. The move, revealed by a senior executive on Tuesday, aims to address concerns raised by privacy activists and consumer groups regarding the company’s subscription service.
The monthly subscription fee for Facebook and Instagram, previously set at 9.99 euros, will now be nearly halved to 5.99 euros. Additionally, Meta Platforms will offer a reduced fee of 4 euros for any additional accounts linked to the primary subscription. Tim Lamb, a lawyer representing Meta Platforms, highlighted that this adjustment seeks to strike a balance between compliance with European Union (EU) privacy laws and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which imposes restrictions on personalized advertising without user consent, reported Reuters.
“We have wanted to accelerate that process for some time because we need to get to a steady state … so we have offered to drop the price from 9.99 to 5.99 for a single account and 4 euros for any additional accounts,” stated Tim Lamb during a European Commission hearing. “That is by far the lowest end of the range that any reasonable person should be paying for services of this quality. And I think that is a serious offer. The regulatory uncertainty at the moment is out there and it needs to settle down quickly.”
The decision to reduce subscription fees comes amidst criticism from privacy activists like Max Schrems, who argues that even nominal fees can influence user consent regarding targeted advertisements. “We know from all research that even a fee of just 1.99 euros or less leads to a shift in consent from 3-10% that genuinely want advertisements to 99.9% that still click yes. The GDPR requires that consent must be ‘freely’ given,” Schrems emphasized, referring to the EU General Data Protection Regulation.
Meta Platforms launched its subscription service in November as part of efforts to comply with the DMA, which restricts its ability to personalize advertisements without explicit user consent. However, critics have expressed concerns that the subscription model effectively mandates payment for privacy protection, potentially undermining the principle of freely given consent.
The adjustment in subscription fees reflects Meta Platforms’ ongoing efforts to navigate regulatory challenges while maintaining its user base. As discussions surrounding privacy and antitrust regulations continue, Meta Platforms aims to address regulatory concerns while sustaining its business model within the evolving digital landscape.


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Since the launch in May this year of the Magento Amazon Sales Channel Extension in the US, Canada and Mexico, there has been strong adoption from Magento merchants. Hundreds of brands have downloaded the extension and are now managing over 200K product listings on Amazon. Magento report that the gross merchandise volume has doubled month over month, and the number of sellers with product listings on Amazon has also increased close to 20% month over month as well.
Now at MagentoLive Europe 2019, Adobe have announced the Magento Amazon Sales Channel Extension for Amazon UK. It aims to remove barriers to entry for merchants trying to gain a foothold on Amazon by allowing them to quickly integrate their catalogue, establish a bi-directional data flow and start managing listings from their Magento admin.
By seamlessly integrating their Magento store with multiple Amazon accounts and regions, merchants can make their Magento Admin the central hub for all their critical Amazon marketplace activities, thereby reducing data silos, removing operational friction, and eliminating additional integration costs.
Support for additional European territories (Germany, France, Italy, Spain) will be coming next year. It’s also worth noting that regardless of the Magento merchant’s location, they’re able to utilize the Magento Amazon Sales Channel Extension to list their products in the Amazon UK Marketplace. This already holds true for the other territories where the Amazon Sales Channel extension is already available, including the US, Canada and Mexico.
Other annoucements from MagentoLive Europe 2019 include:
Early Access Program for Product Recommendations Powered by Adobe Sensei
This will be directly integrated into Magento Commerce and accessible through the Magento admin.
Magento Commerce on Microsoft Azure
Now available on both Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) so merchants have the flexibility to pick the cloud provider of their choice.
Adobe Stock Integration with Magento
The highly anticipated feature will provide a searchable interface within the Magento admin to discover, preview and embed licensed stock images within the platform.
General Availability of Magento Commerce 2.3.3 and Magento Open Source 2.3.3
Substantial performance improvements, as well as security enhancements, which allow Magento customers to remain compliant with new directives and regulations. Yotpo’s leading customer ratings, reviews and visual marketing capabilities and Google Shopping Ads, which allows merchants to take advantage of Google’s ad network, now bundled into the core code.


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Richard Petty helps get Pilot open its new St. Marys travel center
ST. MARYS - The lines at the newly opened Pilot Travel Center at Exit 1 off Interstate 95 are usually made up of drivers waiting for cheap gas, at least cheaper than Florida.
Those waits are short, but Tuesday people stood on line for up to an hour to meet Richard Petty, the uncontested king of stock car racing during his visit to Pilot.
At least that's the way 6-year-old Brody Griffin views Petty.
"He's Mr. The King,'' Brody said with his mother Lane Griffin and sister, Katie, 3.
With his trademark western hat with its elaborate feather band and his constant smile, Petty contentedly signed whatever was put before him. He signed posters, tiny models of his old STP cars, pictures and, in Major Strickland's case, a black-and-white picture of Petty stepping off the nuclear submarine the USS Tennessee in the 1980s.
There were no cameras allowed on the submarine, but an official Navy photographer got some photos, said Strickland, who served aboard the Tennessee and is now a civilian employee at Kings Bay.
"It costs me a couple of drinks,'' he said of his print.
Petty also signed the cover of "Meet Richard Petty," a vinyl album with the sounds of the race track.
"I gave a dollar for it,'' Strickland said. "This is the only one I've ever seen."
The best thing for Strickland is that Petty remembered his visit to the Tennessee. When Strickland handed over the picture and said, "This is for you,'' Petty thanked him for bringing it.
Not everyone walked around to the truck stop side of the store to see Petty.
Billy Ray, a Hilliard resident, was up front gassing up his truck.
"I've been buying my gas here since they opened,'' he said. "I only buy gas in Florida when I have to."
His was one of many Florida tags.
A couple of mayors are grateful for people like Ray.
"It's a great opportunity for this area,'' Kingsland Mayor Kenneth Smith said. "To have this facility reopened and re-branded."
It's prior brand, Cisco Travel Plaza, made headlines of the wrong kind. The state shutdown the station and two others at Exit 6 in February 2008 after inspectors found pumps had been purposely miscalibrated to cheat customers.
The stores were bought at public auction in December 2009 and finally one is reopened.
Jason Nordin, director of operations for Pilot, called it a great location for a showcase store.
"Mile marker 1 on I-95, a lot of traffic. A great county and great employee base,'' he said.
It took about five months of "nearly round-the-clock renovation,'' Nordin said.
The company is testing some new concepts, a frozen yogurt bar, home-style food offerings in a more spacious setting with indoor and outdoor seating, he said.
The company it is expected to produce $5.4 million in state and local taxes, Nordin said.
St. Marys Mayor Bill DeLoughy already has contributed to getting that revenue flowing again.
"I waited in line for gas Saturday," he said. "I didn't mind."
firstname.lastname@example.org, (912) 264-0405


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Japanese game companies 3rd quarter reporting season review
March 4, 2019
Written by Kenny
Here’s a quick look at the 3rd quarter reports for some of the big Japanese game companies for the financial year ending 31st March 2019.
Nintendo continues to exceed expectations, with net sales up 16.4%, operating profit up 40.6% and ordinary profit up 23.5%.
A good holiday season saw almost 15 million Switches sold this year, with Smash Ultimate selling 12 million and the Pokemon Let’s Go games selling 10 million. Smash Ultimate was the main driver of new Switch Online subscriptions, although many new subscribers chose shorter terms like single month subscriptions. No mention on how Nintendo Labo has been doing. Forecast Switch sales for the year were revised down to 17 million from 20 million, but that’s made up for by an increase in the software sales forecast which has been increased from 100 million to 110 million. There was no change in the full year sales and profit forecast. Switch software sales and digital downloads are both about double what they were last year. Nintendo also announced the opening of the first official Nintendo Store in Tokyo in fall 2019.
Bandai Namco saw sales up 9.4%, operating profit up 30.7% and ordinary profit up 30.6%.
During the quarter, Bandai set up 2 new companies: Bandai Namco Collectibles and Bandai Namco Contents Fund. Bamco is well on its way with their mid term strategy of exploiting IP. Their entire product timeline is now centered on an “IP worldview.” Toy sales are up 11.9% and profits up 66.3%, led by sales of collectibles and other merch aimed at adult audiences. Game sales are up 4.6% and profits up 7.6%, led by Dragonball Z and One Piece games. Idol Master was mentioned as doing well in Japan. In addition, setting up their own platforms and services like the Bandai Namco Store has given the company wider control. Soul Calibur release went “smoothly.” The amusement machine division is also up, with Gundam Extreme VS series leading the way in sales. Actual number of arcades in Japan is down, but sales are up 14.2%, profits up 147.1%. Movie and music division is led by Love Live and Idol Master. Sales up 20% and profits up 59.6%. IP creation division (anime division) reported Gundam and Love Live anime doing well so it seems Bamco are doubling down on the age old tactic of using anime production to develop ideas, see what sticks and then make money on the merch. Sales are up 18.8%, profits up 9%. Dragonball continues to be Bamco’s biggest earning IP. In fact, the only IP in their top ten earners which started as a video game was Aikatsu!
Sega is in a pinch with sales down 4%, operating profit down 53.5% and ordinary profit down 62.9%.
End year sales targets have been revised down about 20%, operating profit down by a third and ordinary profit halved. Investors will see a loss this year, although there will be no change in dividends. Entertainment contents saw sales up 5.2% but profit down 38.6%. Sega cited the mobile games market declining as well as increased development costs. In particular, Sega digital games division (mobile and online games) recorded a loss of 6 billion yen. Several services have shut down, and upcoming 12 new titles have been cut to 9. In addition, forecast profits from new titles have been cut. Top digital games were Phantasy Star Online 2, Puyo Puyo Quest, and Let’s Make a Pro Soccer Club To The World. Upcoming titles include Revolvers 8, Readyyy, and Wonder Gravity. Sega has pledged to better exploit their existing IP in future to turn their mobile games around. Traditional package game sales are slightly down from last year but profits are slightly up. Major titles this quarter were Judge Eyes and Football Manager 2019. The arcade division saw a slight increase driven mostly by prize machines. Upcoming arcade games include Chrono Regalia and WCCF Footista 2019 (another soccer game). The movie and toy division saw a slight boost from Detective Conan movies and other anime. They also released a new kids toy called Who Are You(Scruff a Luvs in English). The amusement machine division saw sales down 20.3% and profits down 36.7%. Japan’s new pachinko regulation was a major factor, and the division will undergo cost cutting. Resort business sales are up 8% but losses continue to extend.
Square Enix saw sales down 4.8%, operating profit down 65%, ordinary profit down 54%.
The Luminous Productions subsidiary lost 3.7 billion yen, due to an overhaul of its business strategy. Tomb Raider, Just Cause and Octopath Traveller actually all did well. Game sales are actually up, but promotion, marketing and increased development costs have brought margins down. The big issue though is the same problem as Sega. Their older mobile and online games have been declining and new titles are failing to keep the audience. Arcade sales are up 8.7% but profits down 42.8%. Part of that was from writing off assets when machines were upgraded. Publication arm saw sales up 20.4% and profits up 52.7%. Publication arm sales were mostly from game strategy guides and comics, but their MANGA UP! comic app did very well. Merchandise is down 11.9% and profits down 64.8%, mostly due to the previous year seeing many big releases.
Capcom saw sales up 28.3%, operating income up 92% and ordinary income up 90.7%.
Digital contents saw sales up 55.2% and profit up 144.3%.Monster Hunter World topped 11 million shipments, and the Iceborne expansion due for this year. The division saw increased sales from rereleases and digital sales, but mobile game income declined. Street Fighter 30th Anniversary collection and Megaman 11 also performed strongly, and Megaman rereleases did well. However, there has been an increase in development costs due to several titles being cancelled. Capcom is also looking at “various possibilities” for esports, including regional tourneys. Arcade operations saw sales up 5.9% and profit up 6.5%. Capcom is also changing up arcade scene to focus on family and a more diverse audience. Amusement machine division saw sales down 58.1% with a loss of 639 million yen. Again, this was due to new Japanese gambling machine regulation. Arcade machine sales are forecast to decline by more than 50% again next year. Monster Hunter and Mega Man hollywood films are on the way. For future reports, Resident Evil 2 and Devil May Cry 5 are expected to do well, with RE2 selling 3 million in its first week.
Konami saw sales up 7.8%, operating income up 2.4% and ordinary income up 2.8%.
Digital entertainment saw sales up 18% and profit up 8.5%. There is more YuGiOh stuff to come for the 20th anniversary. Winning Eleven 2019 continues to perform well, and an esports tournament was held for Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball. The amusement machine division saw sales down 8.2% and profit down 20.3%. The arcade scene is seeing demographics change. More families are visiting, and Bomber Girl (based on Bomberman) is doing well with its online battles. Seniors also coming in to play the medal games, and the industry as a whole is trying to make arcades more welcoming to a variety of audiences. Gaming and systems (gambling machines) saw sales up 62.% and profits up 14.6%. The gambling industry is growing, with more casinos around the world, and new skill based slot machines targeted at young people. Konami also trying to push their health and fitness division but sales are down 3.6% and profits down 15.8%. Konami plans to reach a greater audience by diversifying its games, so they’re gonna continue expanding YuGiOh, sports games, and they’re currently working on a new installment of dating sim Loveplus.
Arcade division wants to concentrate on experiences you can only get in an arcade, and move into esports as well.
Koei Tecmo saw sales up 11.5%, operating income up 24.9% and ordinary income up 0.5%.
Console software and mobile sales are doing well in spite of harsh economic conditions, and Koei’s results are the best they’ve ever had. They are also earning royalties from third party games using company IP, like Shin Sangokushi (New Romance of the Three Kingdoms). They are shifting their focus towards creating global IP. The European Gods in latest Orochi were part of their plan to expand the Warriors brand in the European market. Lots of collaborations. Daikoukai Jidai Origin was codeveloped with LINE Games, Shin Sangoku Musou Zan released by Nexon, Dragon Quest Builders 2 released by Square Enix. Also, Team Ninja working on Marvel Ultimate Alliance is only the beginning of what is planned to be a large scale collaboration with Marvel. Nioh Complete Edition and Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia did well in expanding the overseas market. No mention of how the VR arcade machines are doing. Gust’s Atelier Online broke 2.5 million downloads. Ruby Party held 5 fan events over the year, and the new Midas brand is developing a new mobile game.
So that’s most of the big Japanese company reports for this reporting season. General trend is that traditional game sales are up slightly, and arcades seem to be recovering and changing up their audience. On the other hand, mobile and online games have burnt out their player base and many games aren’t surviving unless they have a big name like Goku attached. Global market volatility means companies are bracing for unexpected conditions.
In the last year, almost every company has mentioned wanting to better exploit IP, so we’re likely going to see more franchise games and guest characters. In addition, profits are no longer Japan-centric, which means companies are starting to take a more global outlook.
Disclaimer: Kenny is just some dumb gamer with an interest in video game stocks. The information and opinions in this article do not represent the views of New Game Plus and do not constitute investment advice.


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Samantha Harris is opening up about the everyday racism she experiences.
On Sunday, the 27-year-old shared a paparazzi photo from the Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes Day in Sydney, that showed her walking alongside a group of friends.
"Definitely not a flattering photo of me but that's ok," the model wrote alongside the Instagram pic. "We can't be ready for a photo all the time. But what does get me down is all the negativity that one photo can cause.
"The amount of hurtful and racists comments I receive is unbelievable I would never go out of my way to say that about another human."
Samantha, who was discovered as a 13-year-old while a finalist in Girlfriend mag model competition, called out the "keyboard warriors" and said that it wasn't the first time she'd been subjected to such nasty comments.
"I'm not one to rant and I never do as this isn't the first time it's happened but enough is enough," she continued. "I'm not everyone's cup of tea and I'm totally fine with that. I love my job I love the fact I can inspire so many women but these keyboard warriors don't even understand how hurtful their words can be."
Her Instagram followers were quick to defend her, with one writing: "Such pathetic people. Thank you for bringing diversity to the fashion world and for being a strong beautiful woman who doesn’t tolerate bullying. You’re an inspiring woman."
Samantha, who was the second Aboriginal model to be on the cover of Vogue, has previously spoken out about diversity in the fashion industry.
"I would love to see more diversity on the catwalks and in campaigns because Australia itself is such a multicultural country," she told AAP in 2013. "Why don't we celebrate that."


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Everyone's favorite FaShiOn iCoN Blake Lively has reportedly teamed up with Amazon Studios to create a brand new scripted fashion series. [As a die-hard Gossip Girl fan, I am shook.]
Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke revealed the news during the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit on Wednesday, calling Lively "a force of nature: ambitious, smart and talented."
There aren't a ton of details on the project as of yet, but it seems there will be some sort of ShOp WhiLe YoU WaTcH component, where viewers will be able to buy pieces featured on the show.
Salke told Variety that the show "will be excellent and culturally relevant and original and all those things, but it will also have a connection to a merchandising opportunity."
We're also not sure whether or not Lively will actually star in the series, but apparently the deal is "a moment from done."


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M-DAQ, a Singapore-based SaaS provider for ecommerce and tech companies to facilitate cross border transactions, raises ~$200M Series D from Affinity_Founded in 2010, M-Daq has received US$34.8 million in its latest round of funding, according to data from VentureCap Insights…
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The Colorado will weigh about 889 pounds less than a comparable Chevy Silverado
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It's official: The Chevrolet Impala has been EPA rated at 30 mpg on the highway for the 2012 model year.
Already the best-selling small car in the United States in May, and Chevrolet’s best-selling nameplate around the world, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is about to become that much more popular.
As we wait for more details about the next generation Chevrolet Impala, General Motors recently released details on the 2012 model in the meantime.


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The phenomenon that is social networking changes the way people and businesses communicate and Facebook and Twitter have been at the forefront of this worldwide trend.
The leading social-media sites are now being floated on the stock market, allowing individuals and businesses to invest. It is important, however, that investors research the best stocks and shares ISA before putting money into a range of investments.
As the popularity of social media increases, new websites are being launched in the hope that this success can be shared. Internet technology is the future of communication and it is not only social-networking websites that are seen as potentially profitable investments.
Here are five new websites that could be the next big thing. Investors in social media and other internet start-ups may be interested in keeping an eye on these new ventures.


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By Haylee Pence
PIQUA – Join the Piqua community at their weekly Piqua Community Farmers Market held every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. on High Street in front of the Piqua Public Library.
There are currently 16 approved vendors and with produce coming in, more vendors are coming each week, according to Mainstreet Piqua Director Lorna Swisher.
“All items at the market must be home-grown, homemade or home baked. We do allow a certain number of items that are not produced locally (South Carolina peaches etc.) We have a large variety of baked goods and because we want to focus on food, we limit the number of crafters,” said Swisher.
Individuals who utilize WIC, SNAP/EBT, Produce Perks, and Senior Farmers market Nutrition Program can use their benefits at the market. For information on what can be purchased with these benefits, visit www.piquafarmersmarket.com/ebt-snap-produce-perks. The site also contains instructions on how to use the benefits correctly.
“Attendance has been great. Now that produce is coming on we expect even more customers,” stated Swisher.
The market has an info booth available to anyone who has questions. The vendors at the market are able to accept credit cards.
“The vendors are all super friendly,” Swisher commented. “I love the fresh produce. In the ground in the morning and on my table in the evening. Love that!”
There will also be special events at various markets including a salsa contest on Thursday, Aug. 25, the Biggest Tomato Contest on Thursday, Sep. 8, and an Apple Pie Contest on Thursday, Sep. 29.
The last market will be held on Sep. 29. For more information on the market and special events, visit the market website at www.piquafarmersmarket.com.


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Kia Niro EV Named Car of the Year in Britain
Kia Motors is currently blowing up with alternative fuel vehicles. Most recently would be the 2020 Kia Soul EV that shared center stage with the 2020 Kia Soul at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show . We’ve been hearing a whole heck of a lot of good news about the Kia Niro EV , also known as the e-Niro overseas, and are patiently waiting for it to be added to the North American lineup. Before that happens though, we’ve already received some more good news. Receiving the “Car of the Year Award” by consumer magazine and website _ What Car? _ , the Kia Niro EV is the first Korean car to win the prestigious award.
“Everyone at Kia Motors (UK) Limited and Kia Motors Corporation is honoured and delighted that the e-Niro is the first Korean car to win the What Car? Car of the Year Award…This marks an important milestone in the Awards as we approach the tipping point where every motorist will be seriously considering buying an electric car as their next car.” – Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia Motors UK.
The competition took place in Britain, since the vehicle has yet to make much headway with Kia Motors North America just yet. Out of 23 competitors, including vehicles powered by gasoline, diesel, and even hybrids, the fully-charged zero-emissions Kia won out over all of them. Going on sale in the UK on April 1, 2019, a release date for American sales has yet to be released, but based on the cost in euros prior to the £3,500 taxpayer-funded plug-in grant subsidy for buyers of ultra-low emission vehicles, it comes out to around $$41,000. That feels a bit steep given the Niro Plug-in Hybrid has a starting MSRP of only $28,500 (plus destination fee).
Oddly enough, one of the reasons the Kia Niro EV (e-Niro) won Car of the Year was due to its relatively low cost compared to some of its more mainstream rivals, along with its impressive long-range. Having claimed 282 miles with zero tailpipe emissions, that’s also a nice little bonus for the environment. There was no mention of the two battery packs mentioned earlier for the electric vehicle as options for the powertrain. Previously recorded, the high-capacity 64 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack option is the setup that can drive up 280 miles, give or take a few miles with regenerative braking. It’s a whole 20-mile difference when compared with the standard setup, a 39.2 kWh battery system that can travel 150 miles emissions free.
The powertrain of the Kia Niro EV is a 203hp electric motor paired with a one-speed automatic transmission. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 104 mph. _ What Car? _ mentioned that the driving range of the Kia e-Niro can differ according to driving styles and real world conditions, and this would lead us to believe that there is more than one style. One of which is an “ECO” setting that helps extend the range of throttle responses.
“The demand for electric cars has grown exponentially in recent years, and 2019 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet…Most of the leading manufacturers have plans for new electric vehicle and the fact that the Kia e-Niro was able to beat all its petrol and diesel rivals to win the 2019 What Car? Car of the Year Award shows how far this technology has developed.” – Steve Huntingford, _ What Car? _ Editor.
We can’t wait for the Kia Niro EV (e-Niro) to make it North American shores. What do you think? Is the world ready for an electric crossover? Tell us your thoughts on Miami Lakes Kia social media .


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Volvo Rents recently awarded its Miami, AZ location with the company’s regional quarterly safety award.
The Safety Award of the Quarter program was launched earlier this year in January 2013, recognizing the Volvo Rents location that embodies one of the company’s most core values: safety. Locations are selected in each region based on their overall commitment to safety for all employees, customers and the general public.
“Safety is a core value at Volvo Rents,” said Mike Henderson, west region safety manager for Volvo Rents. “We’ve created a safety program, manual and orientation process that all employees must adhere to. The program promotes a safe work environment for not only our employees, but extends throughout our customer base.”
Receiving the regional award on behalf of his team, Kevin Hubbard, branch manager of the Miami, AZ. location, has been recognized for his continued leadership while maintaining an above-average level of excellence in the location’s safety performance and dedication to safety as a Volvo Rents’ core value.
“We are honored to receive an award recognizing our efforts to promote such a fundamental value,” said Hubbard. “Continuing to put our customers and community first, we look forward to continued success and recognition in the community as well as representing the Volvo Rents brand for its safety and consumer-oriented values.”
The Miami, AZ location maintains a zero-accident and incident culture through its dedication to clean working conditions and housekeeping while implementing best practices in management. In addition, the drivers at this location continue to set the bar for clean roadside inspections as well as a prime example for the company, wearing the required PPE, satisfying customers and meeting and exceeding all safety standards.
Employees recognized at the Volvo Rents Miami, AZ location include: Kevin Hubbard, Crystal Allen, Wayne Brownstead, Jason Foster, Doug Leachet, Darrell Lugo, Jeffrey Murphy, Joshua Orosco, Douglas Ricklefs, Raymond Stein and Jack Terry.
For more information about Volvo Rents, visit www.volvorentsconstructionequipment.com.


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In documents obtained by ET, Kim filed a lawsuit against the online retailer on Wednesday for allegedly using her name and image without permission. Kim is asking the court for damages in an amount no less than 10 million, disgorgement -- which is the act of giving up something such as the profits obtained by illegal or unethical acts on demand or by legal compulsion -- of Missguided’s profits, and for a permanent injunction restraining Missguided from future infringement.
The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star also shared photos of what she claimed were Missguided’s “knock-off” versions of her clothing. She also alleges that Missguided “in total disregard of Kardashian’s trademark rights and rights of publicity, have repeatedly used Kardashian’s name and image without authorization to generate interest in their brand and website, and to elicit sales of their products.”
She also claims that Missguided “specializes in 'fast' and inexpensive clothing designs, which are often derivative of other companies’ designs if not blatant knock-offs. Missguided has become particularly well-known for copying designs worn by famous celebrities, which it then offers for sale on its sites within days -- sometimes even hours -- of the celebrity appearing in the clothing.”
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Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner Face Endorsement Backlash
The lawsuit states that “Missguided has not only knocked-off the clothing of other designers, but it has unabashedly misappropriated the rights of celebrities like Kardashian in selling these knock-offs on its websites.”
Per the suit, Kim is suing for “violation of statutory right of publicity, violation of common law right of publicity, false designation of origin, trademark infringement, common law trademark infringement.”
On Tuesday, the makeup mogul turned to social media to blast copycat labels for ripping off the designers who dress her, sometimes in outfits which have taken up to a year to plan.
The series of frustrated tweets came after a website advertised a knock-off of the racy and revealing one-of-a-kind, vintage Thierry Mugler dress, which the 38-year-old reality star wore to the Hollywood Fashion Awards on Sunday evening.
“Only two days ago, I was privileged enough to wear a one-of-a-kind vintage Mugler dress and in less than 24 hours it was knocked off and thrown up on a site -- but it's not for sale,” she wrote. “You have to sign up for a waitlist because the dress hasn’t even been made to sell yet. This is a way to get people to sign up for their mailing list and make people believe there is some kind of relationship between me and this fashion site. There is not.”
“It’s devastating to see these fashion companies rip off designs that have taken the blood, sweat and tears of true designers who have put their all into their own original ideas,” she said. “I’ve watched these companies profit off my husband’s work for years and now that it’s also affecting designers who have been so generous to give me access to their beautiful works, I can no longer sit silent.”


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Today Jam City announced a special Danny Trejo-themed in-game event for FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game which will run from January 14th to January 18th. We are SUPER excited about this partnership with Danny Trejo, a legendary American actor known for playing iconic characters and super-villains in films and TV shows such as Machete, Spy Kids, Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy. The event launch celebrates the 300th episode of the FAMILY GUY television series, from which the Jam City game gets its trademark characters and humor.
Along with the in-game event, we are also releasing comedic videos starring Danny Trejo, featuring real life match-3 challenges, to give players a taste of what to expect in FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game. For a limited-time the game will host an epic match-3 battle between Peter Griffin’s food truck and his Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts’ truck. Word is Peter’s truck business is booming and Danny wants in on the sweet, sweet action.
Commenting on the event, Jam City Co-Founder and President Josh Yguado, said: “We are all in on the FAMILY GUY brand and it’s awesome to celebrate the show’s 300th episode with an icon like Danny Trejo. FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game thrives on the same style of topical yet self-aware humor as the show and Danny’s appearance in the game is no exception.”
Danny Trejo added: “When Jam City asked me to appear in FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game, I had two questions, ‘Who wants some delicious donuts?’ and ‘What happens to players who disrespect the Trejo’s trucks?’ I’ll have words for any players who think they can breeze their way through my game levels.”
Created in close partnership with FoxNext Games and the Family Guy Production team, FAMILY GUY: Another Freakin’ Mobile Game is available for free from the Apple App Store on iPhone, at (http://jamcity.me/AFMGiOS), on Google Play at (http://jamcity.me/AFMGgp), and available via all major app stores worldwide.


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Trust in Advertising – Paid, Owned, and Earned
In a recent Nielsen global study, all forms of paid advertising—TV, print, digital, radio—showed a gap in the “trust factor,” with a majority of respondents reporting that they don’t trust each type much or at all. Conversely, and not surprisingly, “recommendations from people I know” scored highest on trust, with 92 percent of consumers trusting this source completely or somewhat. Owned media, such as brand websites, scored higher than paid advertising but lower than social recommendations. Yet advertising as a medium continues to thrive, with ad dollars on the rise globally and in many markets around the world.
Trust in Advertising – Q3 2011
Now What? The Convergence of Paid, Owned and Earned
Now that we’ve demonstrated what many of us already knew, what should we do about it? Does trust in advertising matter? If so, can we even do anything about it?
Read the rest of the article at Nielsen.
For more on metrics – specifically more on mobile metrics – be sure to check out David Gill, VP of Emerging Media, at AdMonsters Mobile Publisher Forum! He'll be delivering a keynote, "Crunching Numbers: Simplifying Measurement in Our Mobile World."


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Sales of the Dodge Caliber compact, launched internationally in June, hit 2,566 cars last month, making it Chrysler's best-selling vehicle outside its core North American market for the first time, Chrysler said in a statement.
Chrysler division sales rose 13 percent in western Europe to 8,489 units. Sales grew 3 percent in the Asia-Pacific region and by 52 percent in the Middle East, it said without giving absolute numbers.
Chrysler Group sales outside North America generate around 8 percent of overall turnover, it said. The division includes the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands.
Adjusted for selling days, Chrysler sales in the crucial U.S. market fell 3.5 percent last month to 156,308 units.


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After old schools BMW 3-Series when the day of announcement it was 25 years ago. This 2014 BMW M3 was appeared on four different generations and evolved from a 2.3 liter inline-four cylinder engine with 200 HP to an impressive V8 hitting 420 HP. 2014 BMW M3 maybe not the best sport cars out there, but it have the most needed functions as sport cars such as extraordinary look, great performance, the best class handling, and a luxurious interior. The brand new 2014 BMW M3 concept was continuity from 2013 models which the sports car’s history will move on to its next chapter as BMW will be set to reveal the new generation M3.
Prosche presents their latest addition to the Porsche 911 line up is the Carrera 4 GTS. 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS is the top end version of the Carrera models that combines the carrera GTS technology with an all wheel drive twin. With Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS they would make the latest version of Carrera which become limited edition and this Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS new models will be put on sale in July with prices for Germany starting from 111,956 euro (about $160,000 at the current rates) for the coupe and 122,071 euro (about $175,000 at the current rates) for the convertible version.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu the first global version of the popular mid-size Chevy, has finally been revealed in 2011 New York Auto Show. 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was revealed one day before at 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu concept will take all of modernism of car design include exterior and interior of the car. Like 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T in New York 2011 Auto Show, the Chevy got many eyes look on its beautiful modern design style. The new Malibu is 4.5 inches smaller in wheelbase at 107.8 inches, and it’s 191.3 inches long–but an inch wider.
UVO infotainment system has presents the new 2012 Kia Sorento which will be available with its brand spanking new GDI direct injection 4 cylinder engine. With those new features 2012 kia sorento will be really dance with the big guns from the likes of ford. Another options of this new 2012 kia sorento is this new kia will be include Kia’s YES Essential seat treatment, which makes the seats resistant to stains and static electricity and includes an anti-bacterial chemical. With that options the owner will have an entertainment system to be reckoned with, should keep the young family demographic very happy.
The brand new 2013 Nissan GTR was get its new engine which powered 560 Horse Power. As like oldest one, this 2013 Nissan GTR gets better and better every year and will no exception fot this one. As we know the first version of GTR was launched in 2007 at the Tokyo Motor Show delivered a total of 473 HP. The 2012 models was got impressive 530 HP and things aren’t slowing down for the Japanese automaker which prepare the next model year (2012 in Japan, 2013 in USA) will deliver an impressive 2013 Nissan GTR 560 HP.
Related Auto Show & Car Showoff for does 2014 malibu come with a six cylinder engine at AutoCarShowOff.com
The most powerful Camaro ever leaving the other debuts of the Chicago Auto Show as spanking new 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the dust is the brand of Chevrolet. LSA 6.2L supercharged V-8 engine that produces an estimated 550 HP and 550 lb-ft of torque powered this Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on 2012. With the new [...]
Behind Audi completely new ideology behind this electric R8 and the normal gasoline version, they serious about bringing this Audi R8 E-Tron to the market. And after the E-tron Detroit Show car, Audi has brought us the e-tron technology platform based on the 2013 Audi R8 E-Tron. The supercar form of R8 was made an [...]
The german tuning company Novitec Rosso building a fabulous works with 2011 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider which stands on top of tuning specs and modification style. Featuring 2011 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, Novitec Rosso gave the fastest and the most powerful Alfa Romeo even more another fast cars. This 2011 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider powered [...]
Awesome design show of a mans car, truly gentleman car its a landrover range range rover RS300 with limited edition type was tuned by British based tuner, Project Kahn. The landrover range company was released the new range rover with the limited edition RS300 Afzal Kahn. The landrover range tune based on the landrover range [...]
The most impressive 2011 BMW M3 GTS series car ever was tuned by G-Power into an awesome orange edition cars. Differences from standard 2011 BMW M3 GTS, this orange edition BMW got lightweight body parts, carbon aerodynamic parts, titanium exhaust, racing suspension, roll cage, and racing bucket seats with six-point seat-belts. But G-Power missing one [...]
Facelifted the XF range at this New York 2011 come to the new 2012 Jaguar XK with convertible body styles. The new 2012 Jaguar XK range, which consists of both Coupe and Convertible bodystyles, has evolved to take on an elegant new look, elements of which are shared with the XKR-S, first revealed last month [...]
From trio of Transportation Design students at the Politecnico di Milano in italy, Jaime Cervantes, Andrea Coccia, and Chetan Rajput has bring their maserati concept to the internet which fit to wear the maserati crown. Based on GranTurismo, they designed a future vehicle which would look like in 2020 with a throwback to the Maserati [...]
Based on Disney Tron the Movie, Timur Bozca a young and enthusiastic designer has developed the Tron Car. For those people who fans of this awesome movies, this Tron Car will be the choosen one to give applause which has vehicle that seems suitable for any ride on both Earth or Grid. Aired last year [...]
There is no replacement or displacement for V8 car engine, but in modern times and with new fuel efficiency laws taking hold, turbocharging points the way forward. Todays, most of automaker is scrambling to create turbocharged alternatives to larger displacement engines. This 2011 Mercedes Benz CL550 4Matic with Twin Turbo V8s, not offering some sort [...]
2013 Chevrolet Malibu the first global version of the popular mid-size Chevy, has finally been revealed in 2011 New York Auto Show. 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was revealed one day before at 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu concept will take all of modernism of car design include exterior and interior of the car. [...]


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but not a 100 percent free lunch
The corporate will store ads with a computer’s harddisk prior to it ships, and update them periodically when users log on. Idealab unveiled its latest undertaking Monday within the Demo 99 conference in Palm Springs, California.”I believe that it is really likely to always be obstacle,” suggests Paul Huges, replica louboutin men a Yankee Group analyst, who’s amongst all those skeptical for the startup’s accomplishment. The modelIndustry prognosticators have explained for many years that Pc selling prices would sooner or later drop so decreased that sellers would give absent pcs, a lot like cellular services suppliers hand out telephones. “It’s like NBC giving you a television established and earning you guarantee you’ll watch NBC for just a a number of numbers of hours per week.”Instead, louboutin sneakers replica FreePC will exam the limits of personal privateness because it monitors, information, and experiences to advertisers its users’ habits and interests. Gross believes no cost PCs will be financially rewarding due to the fact that the future earnings from advertising promoting and transaction costs for a variety of many years is price further in comparison to the computer’s components. “I you shouldn’t understand how most of us are likely to jump at that opportunity.”One on-line merchant was enthusiastic. “It sounds like a dream come correct for men or women like me, christianlouboutinhoney.com ” states Scott Schoenherr, general supervisor of Important Know-how. Schoenherr is in command of profits, promoting, christian louboutin replica and e-commerce for his organization.”Accurate specifics of how folks make use of a Personal computer is tough to discover and almost always costly,” Schoenherr claims. Dwindling opportunitiesA glut of World wide web ads on the internet interprets into a slow decrease in advertisement prices, suggests Barry Parr, christian louboutin replica analyst with Intercontinental Information Corporation. Jupiter Communications jobs that online advertisers will shell out $3 billion in 1999 and $7.seven billion by 2002. “Ad-supported ISPs and software have not been popular with clients,” suggests Marissa Gluck, a Jupiter analyst. Yet, christian louboutin replicachristian louboutin replica for men an ad-supported $1000 Laptop may have a chance, she provides. “The value proposition is far better along with a machine. Who is familiar with? It’d just job,” Gluck states. Will not glance at no cost PCs on street corners anytime shortly. “We are in conversations with a few merchants — not only The web support vendors — about integrating low-cost PCs right into a totally free Computer enterprise product,” states an Emachine representative. Web obtain may be supplied by NetZero, a new Idealab enterprise.


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The idea behind Mike Durrant’s nano-brewery, The Saucy Otter Brewing Company, comes from Belgium’s neighborhood beer culture. “In Belgium, every town has a different brewery,” Mike said. “And every brewery is a huge part of the culture of that town.”
Saucy Otter plans to set up shop at 511 Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove about one year from now, pending some building remodeling and permit approvals. They’ll serve small-batch craft beers and bites to eat. According to Mike, “This is not a place to wear your tuxedo.” In fact, Saucy Otter plans to have more of a locals-only vibe. In a town as Instagram-worthy as Pacific Grove, Mike noticed the need for a local hub where folks from the neighborhood could relax and socialize, away from the sea of tourists with smartphones.
It’s also worth mentioning that Pacific Grove was California’s last dry town, and since it legalized alcohol in 1969 — more than 30 years after the federal repeal of Prohibition — the area hasn’t gotten much attention from the bar scene. So one could say Pacific Grove’s locals are long overdue for a pub to call their own.


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Dutch beer giant Heineken on Friday gave Singapore food and beverage group Fraser and Neave (F&N) one more week to consider its $4.1 billion takeover offer for Asia Pacific Breweries (APB).
Heineken last week set a July 27 deadline for APB's parent to accept a buyout but agreed to a one-week extension amid rumours of a potential takeover battle for F&N's assets involving Thai Beverage and Japan's Kirin Holdings.
Apart from beer, APB has major soft-drink and dairy assets along with property, publishing and printing operations.
APB, the maker of Tiger Beer, is its crown jewel.
In a statement posted on the Singapore Exchange website, F&N said "it has reached a mutual agreement with Heineken to extend the deadline for acceptance of the Heineken offer by one week from 27 July 2012".
"Shareholders should note that, as at the time of this announcement, there is no agreement between the parties on the terms of the Heineken offer and there is therefore no certainty that any transaction or agreement will be entered into."
Heineken in turn said in a statement issued in Amsterdam that it was determined to press its July 20 offer of Sg$50 a share for F&N's entire stake in the brewer, a premium of Sg$8 over its previous closing price.
Since then, APB shares have risen as high as Sg$52 and were trading above Sg$51 on Friday morning when the extension was announced.
Heineken said it was "keen to agree a consensual deal with F&N" but if it is "denied the ability to extend its offer to all APB shareholders, it will review all options available to protect its commercial interests".
"There can be no certainty that a transaction will ultimately be forthcoming."
Heineken's offer came after companies linked to Thai tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi secured separate deals to buy a 22 percent stake in F&N and a 8.6 percent stake in APB.
Charoen's Thai Beverage has since moved to raise its stake in F&N to 23.9 percent, the Singapore conglomerate said Thursday.
Dow Jones Newswires quoted people familiar with the situation as saying that Japanese beverage giant Kirin Holdings, which has a 15 percent stake in F&N, could also enter the fray.


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The Pixel phones are both made out of aluminum with a big glass window at the back, surrounding the camera, flash, and the fingerprint sensor (now dubbed Pixel Imprint). As for color, Google gives a choice between black or silver with an exclusive “really blue” option with Verizon in the US.
Google says the camera on the Pixel is the “best ever,” which is based on DxOMark testing. It also notes that the Pixel has the shortest capture time of any phone. The Pixel phones are shipping with Android Nougat which includes support for the Daydream virtual reality platform that was announced at Google I/O in the summer. You can long-press the home button to launch Assistant at any time. What is the difference between models, see here: for Pixel, the RAM is 4 GB, Storage: 32GB, 128GB, Display: 5-inch 1080p AMOLED, Camera: 12.3 MP, Battery: 2770mAh with fast charging; for Pixel XL, RAM is: 4GB, Storage: 32GB, 128GB, Display: 5.5-inch 1440p AMOLED, Camera: 12.3MP, Battery: 3450mAh with fast charging. Google will allow free unlimited storage for full-resolution images and videos shot with the Pixel.


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If you are in Canada or soon are going to visit the country – good news for you! KFC Canada, the fast food restaurant, focusing on serving well-fired chicken, accepts bitcoin for payment since this year January 11. Moreover, the branch has started selling crypto-friendly “Bitcoin Bucket”, alongside with its original chicken buckets.Heaven For Bitcoin-Fans & Chicken Gourmets”Bitcoin Bucket” has been out since KFC Canada started creating the hype over the new themed product on social networks. The company informed about its novelty on Twitter, in particular, stating:”KFC Canada presents The Bitcoin Bucket.
Sure, we don’t know exactly what Bitcoins are, or how they work, but that shouldn’t come between you and some finger lickin’ good chicken.” Furthermore, Canadian KFC resorted to livestreaming the price of the bucket in BTC. Interestingly, it is bounded to the exchange rate of $20 CAD but swings depending on the price of bitcoin itself. Unluckily for the rest of the world, the “Bitcoin Bucket” is available only in Canadian local restaurants. But if you appear in the region, do not miss the opportunity to use the service of the evening delivery. You might have also wondered what is inside the magical “Bitcoin Bucket”. Well, the following information is for the genuine KFC-fans:10 original recipe tenderswaffle fries,a medium sidemedium gravytwo dipsHow To Pay?KFC Canada receives bitcoin funding methods by dealing with BitPay.
However, the fiat money is still accepted. If you stick to traditional payment means the company will still be glad to serve you meal like that. Nevertheless, KFC is looking forward to adopting alternative coins in order to attract those clients, who are staying away from BTC high transaction fees.PR Stunt And Smart Jokes TimeThe official Twitter of KFC has been known for its buffoonery style. It seems that KFC Canada decided to retrace its footsteps, twitting hilarious remarks and promoting the freshly launched product.
For example, the company schemed to unveil the real identity of bitcoin’s ‘father’ Satoshi Nakamoto, inviting him to taste their bucket. Additionally, KFC Canada cracks jokes about price drops of bitcoin bucket referring to the value swings of the most known cryptocurrency. It also recently informed the clients about all the new buckets being sold out, and that the company needed to ‘mine’ some more of them. To see more amusing jokes, keep scrolling down.


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A wealth of new Hawaii products was unveiled at the recent Hawaii Lodging, Hospitality & Foodservice Expo at Blaisdell Center.
The annual industry-only event allows all sorts of companies to show off their wares and drum up business, and Crave went with an eye toward new food and drink.
Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative
Ulu could feed the world, it is said, but even in Hawaii where it once was a staple, it is underutilized. The Kealakekua-based Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative is seeking to change that by amalgamating Hawaii County’s growers. Eleven member-farmers are offering fresh and fresh-frozen breadfruit, as well as value- added products, in natural food stores.
The co-op has aligned itself with HFM Foodservice, a major distributor, in an effort to reach beyond the Big Island.
Under the Ulu La brand the co-op is offering a tasty breadfruit hummus and chocolate breadfruit mousse that uses fair-trade, organic dark chocolate. Both products are non-GMO and dairy-, egg- and gluten-free.
Pickled breadfruit, a new product, is made with baby, or immature, breadfruit and is similar to pickled artichoke hearts, said Dana Shapiro, co-op manager. (The hummus is made with mature fruit, and the mousse from ripe fruit.)
The co-op offers fresh, whole Hawaiian ulu and Ma’afala, a Samoan variety, as well as fruit that has been steamed and cut up before being frozen, which ensures the food-service industry with a year-round supply. Quarters, spears, cubes and mashed ulu can be ordered.
Last year the co-op processed some 18,000 pounds of breadfruit, and this year production is projected to nearly double, Shapiro said.
Herman Tam, HFM director of marketing, said industry clients on all islands, including restaurants, hospitals and grocery stores with delis, “would be obvious outlets for the ulu.”
Getting the product into chefs’ hands is likely to expand exposure and create demand, Tam said. “We can definitely help Dana and connect her to the right people.”
Zen Island Kitchen
Word that the University of Hawaii has had initial success cultivating chickpeas in the islands was great news for Maui-based Zen Island Kitchen, which is in the final stages of bringing a garbanzo “cheeze” to market.
Ayako Hashimoto, chef-owner of the company, said she had met with Amjad Ahmad, who is leading the UH project, “and heard more about the exciting news for the future of local chickpea farming.”
Zen Island Kitchen’s vegan spread comes in three flavors: wasabi-lavender, herbes de Provence and sun-dried tomato. “I just want to spread veganism,” Hashimoto said.
For many an omnivore, traditional vegan cheese can be a disappointment, but Zen Island’s version is creamy, flavorful and spreadable. It is also nut- and soy-free, “hence it is allergen-free,” Hashimoto said. “None of the existing vegan cheeses on the market are made from chickpeas and allergen-free.”
Commercial production of the humble but powerfully nutritious garbanzo bean in Hawaii will give Hashimoto a locally sourced crop for other food products she plans to develop.
“Down to Earth, other health food stores, restaurants and distributors on Maui, Oahu and Big Island are waiting for the product,” she said.
As soon as TheBuzz gets word that Garbanzo Cheeze is available in stores, you’ll read about it right here.
Maui Fruit Jewels’ new Hawaii Fruit Paste is available at the Kahala and Maui Whole Foods Markets, but it is sold by weight from the cheese case and is not branded. That will change in the coming weeks, with retail rollouts scheduled far and wide by specialty food manufacturer Maui Epicure.
The new product is intended to be sliced and paired with cheese and crackers, and provides an explosion of flavor. The packaging for each of the three flavors — lilikoi, pineapple and pineapple with Hawaiian chili pepper — even suggests cheese pairings for a no-fuss pupu or snack. Cheesecake topping is another idea.
Company owners and product developers Chris and Lin ter Horst debuted their original Maui Fruit Jewels line at the Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food Show, and it was named a finalist for the association’s Sofi Award in 2014.
At the show, the ter Horsts learned the importance of offering a shelf-stable product that could last a year without refrigeration, Lin said. They worked five years to perfect their fruit paste, and waited to launch until July 1 in order to qualify for the 2018 Sofi Awards.
The product is already available in its new packaging at Dean & DeLuca in Waikiki. It also is targeted for Down to Earth Natural Foods stores, R. Field sections of Foodland supermarkets and Foodland Farms stores, Whole Foods Markets, Neiman Marcus and Gift & Gourmet on Merchant Street, with more stores possible.
Even a big dog among Hawaii’s food manufacturers has to learn new tricks in order to stay relevant and appeal to customers’ changing tastes.
Two new Redondo’s products heading for retail stores include 100 percent local beef hot dogs, which are smoked and contain no nitrites, no monosodium glutamate and no fillers; and smoked dinner bacon, which has been the local food-service industry’s delicious little secret for about two years.
Redondo’s isn’t giving up on its traditional red hot dogs, but is adding to the line with the all-local beef product.
“This is for our corporate social responsibility,” said President Hitoshi Okada, “to make a real, local product.”
The smoked dinner bacon is sure to make any bacon lover’s eyes grow big as dinner plates. Half-inch-thick slabs will be fully cooked and sold in packages of just under a pound for about $6.99.
“It tastes good cold,” Okada said. “You can put it on a salad.”
The hot dogs likely will be available in stores later this year; the bacon at Don Quijote stores, in September or October.
Not brand new, but perhaps underrecognized, are the company’s Blackline pork and Miyazaki Wagyu Beef.
The crossbred pork from Canada combines Berkshire (kurobuta), Duroc and Hampshire- breed pigs and is a favorite of local ramen houses. The premium pork is sold under the Blackline label at Don Quijote and Marukai.
Miyazaki Wagyu, imported from Japan, is available year-round to Redondo’s food- service clients, but twice a year the public gets a crack at the buttery, tender, specialty meat. Again, it is sold only at Don Quijote and Marukai, and only at New Year’s and around Father’s Day.
“It should have an official Japanese Wagyu label, which we get directly from the Japan Livestock Industry Association,” said Mike Fagaragan, Redondo’s sales manager for distribution. As with most specialty foods, the price point is not for the faint of heart: This Father’s Day it was advertised at $89.99 a pound.
Send restaurant news and notes to firstname.lastname@example.org or call 529-4303. Follow Erika Engle on Twitter @eriKaengle.


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Gartner: IoT Analytics ‘Cool Vendors’ Address Things-Specific NeedsGartner: IoT Analytics ‘Cool Vendors’ Address Things-Specific Needs
The four vendors on the Gartner IoT analytics ‘cool vendors’ list offer IoT-specific analytics capabilities, which are useful in handling two important tasks unique to IoT environments.
June 23, 2017
To better realize value from IoT projects, organizations should begin to target specific domain use cases with IoT analytics–like an increase of equipment life span, asset optimization, predictive maintenance of devices, anomaly detection in the manufacturing processes or finding new product usage patterns–according to a recent Gartner IoT-related report profiling “cool” vendors in the space.
Gartner named four “cool vendors in Internet of Things analytics” that focus on some of the hottest areas of IoT–such as visibility into the manufacturing process; enabling new analytics users; and device diagnostics, repairs and information–that the analyst firm says can help organizations derive more value from IoT projects.
“The possibilities for analytics are limitless, and ever-growing data sources present more opportunities to innovate through holding novel insights,” researchers wrote in the report. “But currently, data and analytics leaders should narrow their focus to deriving additional value from the ongoing IoT implementations.”
There’s no preferred method of analyzing IoT data yet, with respondents to a Gartner IoT survey indicating equal preferences for leveraging non-IoT analytics tools already in place, analytical capabilities within an IoT platform, building proprietary capabilities and leveraging IoT-specific analytics solutions.
While researchers said general-purpose, modern analytics tools can be used for IoT in most instances, two differences specific to IoT analytics–adding new analytics users like those with deep domain expertise and engineers who want to embed analytics into projects, and consuming massive amounts of sensor data that must often be enriched with other data–are best addressed by IoT-specific analytics, according to the report.
As such, it names four “cool vendors” that can help with those scenarios. Gartner defines a cool vendor as a small company offering a technology or service that is innovative and enables users to do things they couldn’t before, has a business impact and is intriguing.
Vendors this year include:
Arcadia Data. To meet the needs of new analytics users and especially engineers, Arcadia offers options for adaptive visualization and embedded analytics. The software, which enables everything from technical analysis of IoT data for device maintenance and monitoring, to marketing tasks, like product pricing, also offers unique per-node pricing for IoT teams whose members use analytics to different extents, according to the report.
Optimal+. With heavy presence in the semiconductor industry, Optimal + creates a multi-industry and value-chain digital thread for end-to-end product visibility, by gathering data from IT and OT systems; creating a “quality index”; and binding data on wafer geography, parametric outliers, multivariate analysis and yield, according to the report.
Predii. A repair and predictive maintenance platform, Predii leverages domain-specific knowledge to empower technicians with artificial intelligence, helping diagnose problems and also providing repair instructions to fix them. Organizations in automotive and manufacturing industries could use the platform for pre-emptive maintenance, guided repairs, selecting which parts to take on service calls and automated claim approval, according to the report.
Predikto. The Predikto Max predictive maintenance platform accounts for contextual data such as weather, topology, operations data, personnel, inventory, asset usage and maintenance—in addition to equipment telemetry data—to dynamically create reliable predictive models using machine learning, according to the report, helping asset-intensive industries do everything from reducing predictive maintenance costs to addressing operational challenges.
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NEW DELHI: Housing.com has launched a Rs 9,999 Premium Price Card, which will give its owners special discounts in properties sold by 25 developers. The portal claims that the card, which is the first-of-its-kind in the sector, can yield savings in the range of Rs 1.2-31.5 lakh, depending on the developer and the house on sale. “Homebuyers will get access to assured savings,” said Nikhil Rungta, chief marketing officer, Housing.com. The concept will be launched in Pune, and then extended to Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi.
First Published: Jun 13, 2016 06:20 IST


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N&O Innovation and Technology Newsletter: May 14, 2021
Enjoying the newsletter? Subscribe to it here, and share with your friends and colleagues.
Brad Stone’s new book about Amazon is full of interesting tidbits and stories about billionaire Jeff Bezos and the e-commerce giant he created.
But one, in particular, stood out to me: Amazon’s HQ2 search team liked Raleigh so much it proposed the city should be among three final candidates for the campus. The other recommended finalists: Philadelphia and Chicago.
In the end, none of the three were selected. After submitting its decision to Bezos and his executive team, Raleigh was nixed. Instead five other cities, including the eventual winners D.C. and N.Y., were put forward.
I spoke with Stone about his new book, how HQ2’s priorities changed and what Amazon liked and disliked about Raleigh.
Philanthropy funds the Innovate Raleigh fellowship. Consider supporting philanthropy-funded journalism by going to www.newsobserver.com/donate
(Red Hat employees walk in downtown Raleigh.)
Tech news from the Triangle
Fidelity is expanding in Durham by launching new line of business, creating 500 jobs. [N&O]
Red Hat planning 500-job hiring spree as demand for edge computing grows. [N&O]
Mark Rein, Epic Games co-founder, donates land for conservation in Granville County. [N&O]
Morrisville cybersecurity firm JupiterOne is on a tear. [N&O]
Tergus Pharma opens its new headquarters in Durham Thursday, bringing with it almost 150 new jobs. [N&O]
Amazon opening $500M warehouse in Johnston County, hiring 500. [N&O]
Council for Entrepreneurial Development names interim exec Kelly Rowell as CEO. [WRAL]
ChannelAdvisor plans to hire 100 new employees. [TBJ]
What I’m reading
Colonial Pipeline paid hackers $5M ransom. [BBG]
Bottom drops out of the red-hot market for electric vehicle startups. [NYT]
WSJ profiles Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is presiding over Epic Games vs. Apple. [WSJ]
Where have all the Uber and Lyft drivers gone? [WaPo]
The cobalt pipeline: Tracing the path from deadly hand-dug mines in Congo to consumers’ phones and laptops. [WaPo]
Coinbase revenue tripled last quarter. [CNBC]
Other Triangle business
A record number of Triangle homes have sold for $1 million+ so far this year. [N&O]
A redevelopment deal for downtown Durham fell apart. Why and what happens next. [N&O]
His logo made the Carolina Mudcats tens of millions of dollars. He got none of it. [N&O]
‘Top Chef’ star plans his comeback with a new Mexican restaurant. Here are his plans. [N&O]
Let me know what you’re seeing. Email me at email@example.com. Tweet me @zeanes. Call me at 919-829-4516.
Zachery Eanes is the Innovate Raleigh reporter for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. He covers technology, startups and main street businesses, biotechnology, and education issues related to those areas.
This newsletter was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. Learn more; go to bit.ly/newsinnovate


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Universal Plans to Expand To 14 Stores by 2010
Universal, the popular chain of onestop shopping destinations, plans to open four more stores before 2010, bringing their Costa Rican total to 14.
The store’s leadership will take the beginning of 2009 to evaluate the country’s economic situation, and have not set exact locations for most of the planned stores, according to the Costa Rican daily La Nación.
The new shops are tentatively planned for Escazú, west of San José; Moravia to the northeast; Alajuela, northwest of the capital; and Cartago, to the east.
A new store is opening in Multicentro Desamparados this week, becoming the 10th Universal in the country.
Universal sells technological products, sports equipment, books, office supplies and furniture, children’s toys and other goods.
The first Universal opened in 1926 in San José. Stores can also be found in the western San José suburb of Santa Ana; Heredia, north of San José; and Liberia, the capital of the northwestern province of Guanacaste.
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