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In July this year, we were fortunate enough to be selected by conveyancing search experts, Search Acumen, to help them redevelop their brand and create targeted outreach campaigns to their different customer segments.
It is always nice to win a competitive pitch, but even more rewarding was the chance to work on such an interesting challenge in a sector that was relatively new to most of us.
Our work has encompassed crafting a new visual identity, producing a compelling positioning for the brand and articulating the Search Acumen difference through a range of internal and customer communications. Our approach for the campaign has seen us build a distinctive theme across varying channels that we believe will have the necessary cut through in this competitive space.
Kate Crook, Search Acumen Marketing Manager, commented “MGA brought a real passion to the process of developing our brand which was evident from the outset. They helped us to refine our value proposition and focus in on what sets us apart in the market, and this manifested itself in a new brand identity and a full suite of communications material that we are really excited about. They lived up to their billing for Extracting the Extraordinary.”
Damien Millns, Group Managing Director at MGA, added “Not only has it been a great brief to get our teeth into but we have also had a lot fun along the way. It has been a collaborative effort from the get-go and we look forward to watching Search Acumen continue to flourish.”
SGA Productions, the live events division of MGA Group, has just launched a nationwide sampling campaign for confectionary favourite MAOAM.
There’s a lot of reminiscing going on here at Weston Street this week as we put the final polish to our plans for our 25th birthday party on Thursday evening.
As MGA celebrates 25 years in business in 2017, our milestone birthday has been a prompt for me to look at how we articulated our value proposition back in ’92,…
As MGA celebrates 25 years in business this year, it’s timely to reflect on some of the major changes over that quarter century to the way we live our lives…


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Stocks To Watch: Aurobindo Pharma, Berger Paints, BPCL, DB Corp, DLF, RIL, SRF
The global stock rally extended into Thursday as investors clung to optimism for a speedy economic recovery from the pandemic. Treasury yields kept Wednesday’s jump and the dollar remained at its weakest since early March. South Korean shares led early gains in Asia, while Japanese stocks opened about 1% higher and U.S. equity futures edged up.
Here are the stocks to watch in trade today:
- Reliance Industries: Rights issue of Rs 53,124.2 crore subscribed 1.59 times cumulating to an overall commitment of over Rs 84,000 crore. The public portion of the Rights issue was subscribed 1.22 times. The allotment of equity shares will happen on or about June 10. The rights shares are expected to be listed on the BSE and NSE on or around June 12.
- GAIL and EESL have signed an accord for tri-generation projects. Tri-generation involves natural gas-fired generators to produce electricity. It’s a 50:50 venture.
- Standard Life Insurance is offering 4 crore share of HDFC Life Insurance shares, in a block trade. Shares are being offered at Rs 490-501.35 per share, which aggregates to $266 million. Price range represents a discount of 0-2.3% to the closing prices on June 3. (Bloomberg News)
- BPCL on Covid-19 impact: Demand of petroleum products down 55% in April compared to last year In May, demand increased 67% on month-on-month basis, but was down around 30% compared to last year. Refineries operated at 63% capacity in April which increased to 77% in May. Managed the crude oil inventory by either deferring or cancelling some crude cargoes and diverting some to strategic petroleum reserves of Government of India.
- VST Tillers and Tractors May Sales: Power Tillers sales up 24% at 1,750 units and Tractors sales up 20% at 633 units.
- DB Corp: CARE Ratings has downgraded long term and short term bank facilities worth Rs 320 crore, from CARE AAA to CARE AA+ with outlook remaining stable. The revision in the rating factors in CARE’s belief that advertisement income (which constituted around 70% of company’s total operating income in financial year 2019) would be to be notably weaker for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, and same is expected to remain muted for rest of the financial year.
- Jindal Steel and Power: May steel sales up 26% at 7.97 lakh tons, on a consolidated basis, driven by exports.
- Berger Paints on Covid-19 impact: The ramp up of production levels will be done gradually to allow for the inventory build-up since April sales were extremely low. However, from the month of May there were signs of recovery. Company was able to manage the sharp drop in business and consequently lower collections in April by accessing the market for commercial papers at competitive rates. International operations in Poland has been less impacted, while plant in Nepal is yet to resume operations.
- Tata Consumer Products on Covid-19 impact: Almost all the tea packaging units, salt/pulses packing centres and 3P spices units are operational with prescribed operating norms. The finished goods stock holding across depots are at a healthy level. Company has now been able to open about 40% of its Starbucks outlets for the delivery and takeaway business. Internationally, tea and coffee sales to retail customers have increased due to higher in-home consumption, however the out-of-home businesses in the USA and Australia have seen a sharp decline. Sales are getting back to normal levels there could be impact of increased input costs including due to commodity price volatility and supply constraints.
- Oil India clarified on the new out of blowout at Baghjan well, stating that the company is currently engaged in blowout control process and the wells are self-insured.
- Heidelberg Cement on Covid-19 impact: Company is sourcing fly ash from other power plants, as availability has been impacted. Dispatches in the future, company expects some constraints due to the reduced availability of truck drivers. Many dealers are facing a liquidity crunch and want to liquidate their existing inventory before placing any fresh orders. Cement demand may remain sluggish due to the shortage of labour in urban areas. However, areas where government spending would be good, will see better demand.
- JK Cement to consider raising capital via NCDs on June 17.
- Persistent Systems and IBM to accelerate and develop cloud solutions to customers.
- Arvind raised Rs 75 crore via issue of NCDs.
- Mishra Dhatu Nigam on Covid-19 impact: There was a disruption in production activities for 45 days. Subsequently, the normal production activities have resumed with effect from May 20. Achieved sales turnover of Rs 50 crore for the month of May.
- NLC India has raised Rs 1,200 crore by issuing commercial paper.
- Chennai Petrochem: Board has recommended a proposal to Indian Oil Corporation for implementing the 9 MMTPA refinery project at Cauvery basin refinery through a joint venture at an estimated cost of Rs 28,983 crore. Board has given in-principle approval for incorporation of a joint venture with the company and Indian Oil Corporation holding 25% stake each and balance to be held by financial/strategic/public investors. Company will invest up to Rs 2,500 crore in the venture. LPG division of company is working partially, while cylinder manufacturing is working at 10% capacity.
- Shree Renuka Sugars: Board approved proposal of raising funds via external commercial borrowings from its holding company Wilmar Sugar Holdings to refinance company’s existing debt. Board also increased borrowing limit from Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore.
BPCL Q4 (Standalone, QoQ)
- Revenue down 7.7% at Rs 68,991.4 crore (Est Rs 62,435 crore)
- Net loss at Rs 1,361 crore versus Net profit at Rs 1,260.6 crore (Est Net loss at Rs 373 crore)
- Ebidta loss at Rs 618.8 crore versus Ebidta gain at Rs 2,703.4 crore (Est Ebidta gain at Rs 183 crore)
- Sales volume down 8.9% at 11.24 MMT
- One-time loss of Rs 108 crore due to inventory loss
Aurobindo Pharma Q4 (Consolidated, YoY
- Revenue up 16.4% at Rs 6,158.4 crore (Est Rs 5,938 crore)
- Net profit up 45.2% at Rs 849.8 crore (Est Rs 700 crore)
- Ebidta up 26.6% at Rs 1,342.3 crore (Est Rs 1,200 crore)
- Margins at 21.8% versus 20%
- Deferred tax reversal of Rs 101 crore in current quarter
- Board approved transfer business of Biosimilars to wholly owned arm CuraTeQ for Rs 361.5 crore
- API Sales down 17.6% at Rs 755.6 crore
- Formulations sales up 23.5% at Rs 5,401.2 crore
- In formulations segment USA, Europe, Growth and ARV markets showed topline growth of 20%+
- Slight margin improvement due to lower input cost
Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Q4 (Standalone, YoY)
- Net Interest Income up 13% at Rs 1015.4 crore (Est Rs 1,038 crore)
- Net profit down 85.4% at Rs 42.7 crore (Est Rs 355 crore)
- Board approved raising NCDs up to Rs 30,000 crore, within the overall limits of the borrowing powers of the company.
- One-time provision of Rs 504 crore for Covid-19 impact, resulted in lower bottom line numbers Moratorium is extended for 76% of customers – expected to be leveraged by them for second stage (June-August) also.
- Moratorium not availed from banks or other lenders – cashflow position strong and adequate to cover up to September
- Disbursements down 36% at Rs 5,663 crore
- AUM up 16% at Rs 66,943 crore
- Coverage ratio at 41.5% versus 38% (33% QoQ)
- Capital adequacy ratio at 20.68%
- PI Industries
- HDFC Life Insurance: Promoter HDFC sold 2.6 crore shares (1.29%) at Rs 490.22 per share
- Neogen Chemicals: Promoters Haridas Kanani and Beena Kanani sold 11.26 lakh shares (4.82%) at Rs 473.53 per share and Malabar India Group acquired 10.47 lakh shares (4.49%) at Rs 473.32 per share.
- SH Kelkar: Kotak Mahinda International acquired 31.52 lakh shares (2.23%) at Rs 62 per share , Fidelity Group sold 34.53 lakh shares (2.44%) at Rs 64.15 per share and HDFC Mutual Fund sold 40 lakh shares (2.83%) at Rs 62.03 per share.
Pledged Share Details
- Zee Learn promoter Asian Satellite Broadcast invoked pledge of 1.76 lakh shares on June 1.
(As Reported On June 3)
Who’s Meeting Whom
- Marico to meet ICICI Pru Life Insurance and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance on June 4
- Dr Lal Pathlabs to meet Baillie Gifford on June 5.
- Price Band Revised From 10% to 5%: Arvind Fashions, Cholamandalam Financial Holdings, GVK Power & Infrastructure, Marksans Pharma, Prince Pipes And Fittings, Shoppers Stop, TCNS Clothing, Tube Investments of India
- Price Band Revised From 20% to 10%: Chalet Hotels, Electrotherm (India), IL&FS Investment Managers, Nandan Denim, Trident.
- Move Into Short-Term ASM Framework: Genus Paper & Boards
- Alembic promoter Nirayu acquired 10.48 lakh shares from June 1-2
- Sabhav Infra Project promoter Sadbhav Engineering acquired 3.58 lakh shares on March 31
- Sagar Cements promoter RV Consulting Services acquired 25,000 shares on June 1
- Vaibhav Global promoter Rahim Ullah sold 1 lakh shares on June 1
- Mindtree promoter NS Parthasarathy sold 1.43 lakh shares on June 2
(As Reported On June 3)
- Nifty June futures closed at 10,036, discount of 25 points versus discount 17 points
- Nifty June futures open interest up 6.2%, adds 6.6 lakh shares in open interest
- Nifty Bank May futures closed at 20,739, discount of 200 points versus discount 64 points
- Nifty Bank May futures open interest down 2%, sheds 32,000 shares in open interest
- India VIX down 0.2% at 30.0
- Nifty Put Call Ratio at 1.58 versus 1.59 across all series
Nifty Weekly Expiry: June 4
- Max open interest on call side at 10,200 strike (21.1 lakh shares)
- Max open interest on put side at 10,000 strike (24.9 lakh shares)
- Active options: 10,000 Put (+18.5 lakh shares), 10,200 Call (+7.9 lakh shares)
Nifty Monthly Expiry: June 25
- Max open interest on call side at 10,500 (13.9 lakh shares)
- Max open interest on put side at 9,000 (32.3 lakh shares)

domain: news


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Jaguar Land Rover has announced that it will open a new production facility in Slovakia.
A statement released by JLR states that the company, owned by Indian industrial giant Tata, has signed a letter of intent with the Slovakian government for the potential development of the factory in the city Nitra, in the west of the country.
Over the last five years, JLR has spent £11 billion on new model development and captial expenditure, investing heavily in its UK facilities at Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull. It also opened a new engine plant, creating 1,400 of the 20,000 jobs that have been added. JLR’s global workforce now stands at 36,000.
The Slovakian factory will add additional output of up to 300,000 units per year, rather than replace any existing facility. JLR already has factories in China and India, is building one in Brazil and plans to contract some production to Magna Steyr in Austria.
JLR Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ralf Speth, said: “The expansion of our business globally is essential to support its long-term, resilient growth. As well as creating additional capacity, it allows us to invest in the development of more new vehicles and technologies which supports jobs in the UK.
“With its established premium automotive industry, Slovakia is an attractive potential development opportunity for us. The new factory will complement our existing facilities in the UK, China, India and the one under construction in Brazil.”
A feasibility study will be completed by the end of this year, and the first cars are expected to roll off the production line in 2018.
Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, said: “We are committed to developing Slovakia’s premium automotive industry and, should we be successful, this investment would represent a significant step forward in achieving this. It would provide a boost to our country’s wider industrial strategy as well as benefitting the European Union as a whole.”
Slovakia recently amended its laws to make large-scale inward investments such as JLR’s easier. The company was also considering sites in the United States, Mexico and elsewhere in Europe, believed to be Poland.
It is thought the cars most likely to be built in Slovakia are the upcoming Land Rover Discovery 5 and next-generation Land Rover Defender.
For more information click here
By Only Motors


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RedDoorz, the budget hotels booking platform that’s been winning cities in Southeast Asia, today announced its expansion into its third market in the region – the Philippines.
We’ve been following the growth of RedDoorz in our news reports and it’s finally time for the company to officially announce its expansion into the Philippines. RedDoorz is now set to win the 7,000-island archipelago by making an investment of more than five million USD. Although the budget hotel booking platform website launched in the country early this year, the company’s efforts are in full bloom only now, projecting to grow its footprint to 100 properties across the country over the next 12 months.
Commenting about the expansion, Amit Saberwal, founder and CEO at RedDoorz, said: “Our expansion into the Philippines came as a natural progression for RedDoorz, which like our first market in Indonesia showed many similarities and thus the potential for a vibrant domestic travel and hospitality industry.”
On the company’s strategy, Saberwal revealed that its business is one ‘based on cities, not countries’. The RedDoorz approach, which proved to be an effective one across Indonesian cities and Singapore, has resulted in over 500 properties, processing more than a million room stays and occupancies of more than 80%.
Saberwal is confident that this success will continue in the Philippines too. He explained: “The Philippines ranks second as the fastest growing internet economy in the world, right after Indonesia – with an internet penetration of 63% (67 million users) of approximately 105.7 million Filipinos.”
This significant number of internet users in the country would mean good business for a company which makes its trade online. And after gaining strong funding earlier this year, RedDoorz is now making a conclusive move to start its expansion.
RedDoorz will run a local team on-the-ground in Manila. The operations unit will run customer service, operations, product sales, branding, finance and marketing.
Saberwal also recognised the challenges that come with a new market: “The biggest challenge is the mindset for property owners to accept our model, especially since this technology disruption has only taken place over the last three to four years in this region.”
“The biggest challenge is the mindset for property owners to accept our model”
“With this disruption, owners of such properties become the most affected and we come in to educate and train these owners and their staff on why it is essential for their businesses to go on online platforms. Becoming a part of the RedDoorz network will allow them access, similar to how large hotel chains operate, which would not have been made available to them. Technology is part of our DNA – the biggest beneficiaries of this are the mid-sized and budget properties.”


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BSC joins the NBS Sustainability Centers Community
The Business Sustainability Collaborative has joined the Network for Business Sustainability (NBS) Centers network, composed of sustainability centers at business schools around the world that are dedicated to helping create a more sustainable business model. Established in 2005, the Network for Business Sustainability is a powerful and growing network of international academic experts and business leaders. NBS produces authoritative resources on important sustainability issues – with the goal of shaping management practice and research. We connect thousands of researchers and professionals worldwide who are interested in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and who believe in the value of research-based practice and practice-based research.
Hundreds of sustainability centers at business schools around the world are dedicated to helping create a more sustainable business model. These centers teach, conduct research, and work with industry to make a social and environmental change. The Sustainability Centres Community was launched in 2012 as a response to the need for greater center collaboration and for an online platform to facilitate collaboration. Members represent more than 120 academic-based sustainability centers from five continents that work to collaborate, and share news and opportunities.business schools. Like the BSC, these centers are directed by academics and administrators who believe in creating more sustainable business through research, teaching, and outreach.


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Nintendo rings in holidays with 3DS, Wii U game discounts 0
by Patrick Holland November 23, 2016 1:52 PM PST
Up Next Pokemon Go tracking finally goes live and actually works
While you still can't buy the much desired Nintendo Classic Edition, Nintendo has announced its deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The video game maker is offering discounts on game titles for the 3DS and the Wii U.
You can save up to 50 percent off 3DS titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens. If you own a Wii U you can save big on titles like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Darksiders II.
My Nintendo members will earn gold points on purchases while still getting discounts on games.
Nintendo's Cyber Deals run from now until December 5 at 8:59 a.m. PT.
Nintendo NES Classic Edition A bundle of classic games with its own controller equals one of the best little gifts of the year.
Relax Nintendo rings in holidays with 3DS, Wii U game discounts stories
Steam announces 8 different video game categories for its inaugural Steam Awards.
Most people don't know this, but Apple does have a price-matching policy in its stores. Though it's not as good as you'd hope.
The video game site wants to give you Black Friday deals before Thanksgiving. Starting today, you can get discounts on thousands of games.
Don't wait until Black Friday. The PlayStation Store is offering discounts of up to 70 percent off games and films right now.
Three Alabama malls won't be opening on Thanksgiving but don't worry - shoppers will find plenty of places for bargain hunting on Nov. 24.
A rundown of when the deals start and what kinds of items shoppers will be clamoring for.
Macy's and Belk's Black Friday sales are live online now. We're even getting a peek at some Cyber Monday deals.
Niantic Labs just switched on a tracking system for Pokemon Go -- just in time for a Thanksgiving weekend bonus XP event.
Battlefield 1 is one of the most anticipated video games this holiday. Check out the absolute best Black Friday deals we found for it.
These high-end computers are great for VR and 4K gaming.


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E-commerce is here and we have the numbers to prove it
From the HGO Merchandiser
For the best part of two decades now, furniture, mattress and appliance (FMA) retailers have heard their own distinct version of Paul Revere’s cry: “E-commerce is coming, e-commerce is coming!” Experts and consultants of every stripe and kind have been warning tradition brick-and-mortar store owners from the single-unit independent to the national chain that the internet and its offspring, e-commerce, was a significant threat to their continued ability to grow sales and profit.
Finally, there is some hard, empirical evidence to support their foreboding predications, but the picture doesn’t seem as bleak as one would think.
Statistics Canada – which the author lovingly describes as the national bean counter – is beginning to measure e-commerce purchases by consumers for big ticket home goods such as infant, indoor and outdoor furniture; mattresses; decorative accessories; and major appliances as well as televisions and audio/visual equipment as part of its quarterly Retail Commodity Survey (RCS).
By way of explanation, it should be noted the RCS measures what the consumer buys and is not directly related to the agency’s Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS), which measures sales by brick-and-mortar or location-based retail stores without regard to product category.
Only recently has Statistics Canada added what it describes as ‘electronic shopping or mail order houses’ – but what HGO calls ‘e-commerce platforms’ – to the RCS as a channel through which the Canadian consumer purchases the big-ticket goods described above. While these merchants were always part of the MRTS, the agency only recently began examining their sales by product category.
When reviewing the data, there are a few things should be kept in mind: the survey measures the purchases made by Canadian consumers from Canadian retailers, whether brick-and-mortar or online or a combination of both. When referring to sales of a certain product category by furniture and home furnishings stores, the figure includes both instore and online sales. (In other words, sales by Leon’s Furniture Limited’s furniture.ca or Sleep Country Canada’s Endy.com are included in ‘furniture and home furnishings stores’ not ‘e-commerce platforms’.
The survey also doesn’t include purchases made by Canadian consumers from e-commerce sites outside of Canada.
It should also be noted sales by ‘e-commerce platforms’ are not included in ‘all retail stores’ so total consumer purchases of the product category are the sum of the two where both sets of data are provided.
There are also gaps in the data. For reasons not completely understood, Statistics Canada will occasionally decline to disclose sales data for a product category by a particular channel during a particular quarter. In most of these cases it cites privacy concerns but provides no detail as to their nature. Occasionally, it will say the data isn’t sufficiently accurate to be included.
What is clear by examining the data is Canadians are becoming more comfortable buying furniture, mattresses, appliances, decorative accessories and televisions online. While this level of comfort has been building for the past several years, most observers say it was clearly accelerated by the pandemic, which essentially closed most brick-and-mortar retail for roughly two-thirds of the available shopping days over the 12-month span beginning in April 2020.
Indeed, the trend is evident across all seven categories of product carried by most FMA store operators across the country.
15% of all mattress sales were made on the internet this year
In 2019, the year immediately before the onset of the current global health crisis, Canadians purchased mattresses valued at just over $2.06 billion. The following year, their purchases fell slightly to $2.02 billion.
Furniture stores – a category that includes mattress specialists such as Mattress Mattress and Dormez-vous – continue to be the consumer’s first choice when it comes to buying mattresses. In 2019, their sales in this category were valued at $1.94 billion. In 2020, they were essentially unchanged, thanks to surges in consumer demand during the last six months of the year.
The pandemic truly made itself felt in the first half of 2020, particularly in the second quarter when sales fell to a low not seen over the past decade.
The other fact to note is despite the government-mandated closures, furniture stores improved their brick-and-mortar market share from 94.2% in 2019 to 96.3% last year.
Last year was also the first year for which Statistics Canada provided estimates for consumer purchases from the so-called pure play e-commerce mattress purveyors, such as Polysleep, GoodMorning.com, Lunazen and others. These sales were estimated to total $194.5 million.
However, most of the major brick-and-mortar retailers reported their online stores generated as much as 20% of their overall revenue in 2020. Because of this, HGO is estimating Canadian consumers spent has much as $340 million buying mattresses online last year, giving the Internet an approximate market share of 15% in 2020.
Consumers continued to buy mattresses, both instore and online, during the first six months of 2021. Statistics Canada valued their purchases at $929.6 million, while that’s 27.6% higher than the $728.5 million sold in the first half of 2020 – at the height of the slowdown caused by the pandemic – its 1.8% below the $949.6 million for the same in 2019.
Meanwhile, proving the consumer’s increased willingness to buy from them, purchases through the e-commerce vendors leaped 30.6% during the first half of this year to $102.8 million (the first time it’s broken that particular barrier) from the comparable period’s $78.7 million. Citing privacy concerns, Statistics Canada didn’t provide figures for 2019.
Click here to read the rest of our report in the HGO Merchandiser.


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THERE IS no worse place to be a businessman than in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, especially if you have to ship goods from Mombasa.
To judge by the passion of their speeches at last week’s Tripartite Meeting on Infrastructure held in Nairobi, issue of surging transport costs has irked government officials and business executives from these countries the most.
These East African Community landlocked countries are paying billions of dollars annually in transport expenses, pushing up the cost of doing business and pushing many traders out of businesses.
Poor roads connecting EAC member countries have seen road transport costs account for between 14 per cent and 37 per cent of total logistics costs for importing goods, depending on distance, according to a study by CPCS Transcom. The firm was contracted by Northern Corridor Transit Transport Co-ordination Authority.
To transport a 20-tonne container from Mombasa to Nairobi costs $1,300 while a similar container from Mombasa to Kampala and Kigali costs $3,400 and $6,500 respectively. This is more than double the $ 1,200 one would incur to ship the same goods from Japan to Mombasa.
The alternative, railway transport is too underdeveloped to carry more than a fraction of cargo, leaving businessmen with only the road.
It will cost up to $25 billion to complete the Lamu-South Sudan-Ethiopia corridor, meant to improve trade among the countries.
To the tripartite a railway line too remains the solution to equal trade.
“Construction of a standard gauge railway at$1.2 billion connecting the three blocs will reduce such costs,” said Sindiso Ngwenya the Comesa Secretary General.


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February 19, 2019 - 3:01 pm
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — An employee of a clothing and shoe store in a suburban Kansas City shopping mall no longer has a job after a confrontation with a teen wearing a “Make America Great Again” baseball cap.
A video that shows part of Saturday’s encounter at a Vans Off the Wall store in Overland Park, Kansas, was posted by a Twitter account called Red Nation Rising. It shows the teen’s mom telling another store employee that her 14-year-old son was asked to take off his hat as he entered the store. She said that when her son didn’t respond, the employee swore at him.
Asked whether the employee was fired, Vans Global Brand Communications spokeswoman Laura Doherty said in an email that she could confirm only that “the employee is no longer with the company.” She says the employee’s actions were “in contrast with our company’s values and belief in personal expression.”


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Apple has rejected Valve’s previously announced Steam Link app for iOS, citing “business conflicts” as grounds for denying its distribution through the App Store.
Valve unveiled its new software-only streaming solution (an alternative to its Steam Link hardware) earlier this month, explaining that it would be releasing two distinct apps – Steam Link and Steam Video – on iOS and Android soon.
The Steam Link app was designed to enable players to stream their games library from a PC to any iOS or Android device, including phones, tablets, Android-powered TVs and Apple TV boxes. The Steam Video app offers the same streaming functionality, but for video content.
Source: Eurogamer Apple rejects Valve's game-streaming Steam Link app for iOS


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Small businesses facing financial hurdles aren’t the only ones who sell out to large corporations.
There can be many reasons - as well as results, both good and bad - when a local brand is taken over by corporate America.
Consumers are concerned that product quality will change, employees worry about getting laid off and small business owners are left to wonder what will happen to the companies after they sell.
Meanwhile, big businesses aren’t necessarily open about exactly why they want to buy.
“They just have a far different agenda than what the typical seller thinks,” says Jack Garson, attorney and author of “How to Build a Business and Sell it For Millions.”
Here’s a look at why small companies might look to sell and the impact the move can have on loyal consumers when corporations take over.
Beating the Competition
Some small companies, like Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, are so beloved that big competitors are compelled to eliminate their competition simply by buying them. That’s precisely what Unilever (Stock Quote: UN), the makers of Breyer's, did in 2000 when it spent $326 million to take over the brand.
Ben & Jerry’s became popular because of its delicious, creatively-named flavors and its liberal social statements. These were qualities that Unilever appeared to value, at least with their financial benefit in mind. The company promised co-founder Ben Cohen some say in the social stance of the company, presumably to convince him to sell, according to AllBusiness.com.


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Bad news for the mobile development industry: the market analysts at IDC say that growth in worldwide smartphone sales will slow considerably this year. In 2014, smartphone shipments increased 27.6 percent, but in 2015, the firm expects only an 11.3 percent increase.
They blame the slowdown on the Chinese market, where smartphone shipments actually decreased in the first quarter of this year. “This has implications for Android because China has been a critical market for Android smartphone shipments in recent years, accounting for 36 percent of total volume in 2014, said Ryan Reith, Program Director with IDC?s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.
Currently the biggest growth markets for smartphones are India, Indonesia, the Middle East and South Africa. Some areas of South America have growth potential as well, although the market in Brazil is maturing.


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Epic Games, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the business of San Diego, California-based game developer Psyonix Inc., the team behind the sports-action hit, Rocket League. The Psyonix team will continue to bring the full Rocket League experience across all platforms to all current and new players all over the world.
"Psyonix has always been a part of the Epic family, and we're happy to make it official," said Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games. "We have great respect for how Psyonix has built an excellent team and an incredible community around Rocket League."
"We've been working closely with Epic since the early days of Unreal Tournament, and we've survived changing tides as partners, so combining forces makes sense in many ways," said Dave Hagewood, founder and studio director of Psyonix. "The potential of what we can learn from each other and accomplish together makes us truly excited for the future."
Founded in 2001, Psyonix has a long history with Epic, having contributed to titles in the Gears of War and Unreal Tournament franchises, as well as numerous other Unreal Engine games over the years. In 2015, Psyonix released the critically-acclaimed and award-winning vehicular sports title, Rocket League, which is now home to a community of more than 57 million players.
Psyonix currently employs 132 people at its San Diego headquarters, and the team continues to grow as it supports the Rocket League community.
The PC version of Rocket League will come to the Epic Games store in late 2019. In the meantime, it will continue to be available for purchase on Steam; thereafter it will continue to be supported on Steam for all existing purchasers.
Epic and Psyonix currently expect to close the acquisition at the end of May or early June 2019, subject to customary closing conditions.


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Last week, game developer and virtual hatter Valve put three new hats up for sale in Team Fortress 2, with the proceeds going to Japan disaster relief. Days later, more than $US300,000 has been raised by charitable/fashion-conscious TF2ers. Damn. They should do this more often.
Team Fortress 2 Players Buy $US300,000 Worth Of Hats For Japan
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The new Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo is a reality-show version of tidying guru’s best-selling book. Something as innocuous as reducing clutter finds itself at the center of a backlash from booklovers.


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Compaq took its first steps into storage resource management last week by introducing two software packages aimed at helping customers take advantage of multi-vendor SANs.
Rob Emsley, marketing manager for the enterprise storage software group at Compaq, said SANworks Storage Resource Manager (SRM) and SRM for Exchange were developed jointly with US-based HighGround Systems.
The vendor invested $20m (£12.6m) in HighGround last December.In the past, most Compaq storage products were built around Compaq technology, but as reported earlier this year, these new software packages will focus on multi-platform environments (CRN, 16 February).
Emsley said: "Trying to find an enterprise customer using a single vendor is like finding a needle in a haystack."
SRM currently supports the Windows operating system (OS), Sun Microsystems's Solaris OS, HP-UX, AIX, Compaq Tru64 and Red Hat Linux, Emsley said.
SRM gathers data from storage devices on the various platforms and puts them into an SQL database. It then allows administrators to look at capacity, file details and changes in capacity over time, and allows access to that data via the Web.
It helps resellers to take a consultative role and helps clients to manage their resources, Emsley said. By contrast, SRM for Exchange looks specifically at storage management on Exchange servers.
Dave Richardson, director of alliance partnerships at VAR Berkshire Computer Products, said the timing is right for Compaq to offer such a product.
But Carl Wolfston, director of VAR Headlands Associates, said: "It's a great product, but there's no such thing as open yet, as everyone does things differently."
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NatWest outage comes a day after Barclays' IT systems shut out customers and staff


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Human impact on our world is something we can all reduce. To mark Earth Day – and the launch of National Geographic's new initiative Planet Possible – a look at sustainability ideas that begin with the most important changemakers of all: us.
By Lauren Jarvis
Being more mindful of our consumer habits – from purchasing to water use, food sources and transportation – we can all make a difference.
PHOTOGRAPH BY EDWARD HOWELL, MACAU PHOTO AGENCY, THE CREATIVE EXCHANGE, FRANK BUSCH / ALL VIA UNSPASH
SUSTAINABILITY is a big word. But when it comes to things we all do, if we all did a little, it would add up to a lot. What we consume in our own home can have a direct impact on the biggest and most vital ecosystems in the world – and all it would take to turn the tide on the devastating loss of species and biodiversity is for us to take action.
This Earth Day, National Geographic is launching Planet Possible, a new initiative to empower us all to live a lighter life on our planet. It's a critical year for it. This November, the U.K. will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, known as COP26, in Glasgow. With a focus on climate change, sustainability and biodiversity loss, it’s a chance for world leaders, scientists and environmentalists to agree global, coordinated action. In a planet fatigued by a global pandemic, this may not seem the most pressing concern – but in fact the health of our world and the emergence of diseases such as COVID-19 are linked in more ways than many realise. (Read: to prevent pandemics, stop disrespecting nature.)
Every one of us has the power to make a positive difference through the choices we make each day: here are 26 ways to start.
1. Buy less stuff
Of all the raw materials we take from nature and turn into products, approximately two-thirds end up as waste. The health of the planet therefore depends on us all sustainably sourcing what we need and repurposing it when we’re done. The shape of a successful and sustainable future is round: a circular economy where we use resources sparingly and recycle endlessly. “Our vision of a circular economy is one in which waste and pollution are eliminated, where materials and products are kept in use, and where nature is regenerated, all by design,” says Dame Ellen MacArthur, the UK’s most successful offshore racer, and founder of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “Such an economy would balance society’s needs with those of our planet.” (Read: Ellen MacArthur on why our throwaway culture must end.)
2. Eat more plants
“Raising and killing 80 billion animals each year for food takes a tremendous toll on our planet, mostly due to the land it requires to raise and grow their feed, whether it be soy, corn, or grass,” says filmmaker Kip Andersen, who produced the environmental documentaries Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret and Seaspiracy. According to Andersen, “it is the leading cause of habitat destruction, water consumption and pollution, deforestation, and wildlife extinction. It replaces biodiverse ecosystems with monocultures (soy, corn or grass) and monospecies (cows, pigs or chickens).” The global meat alternatives market is anticipated to be worth over £5 billion by 2025, and plant-based products are winning over the most die-hard meat fans for whom personal and animal wellbeing have been concerns. Coupled with the high environmental cost of production, this makes reducing your meat and dairy consumption one of the most effective ways to reduce your footprint – as well as potentially improving your health.
3. Power down
Policies to encourage investment in low-carbon power generation and emerging technologies saw CO2 emissions in the UK power sector fall by 67% between 2008 and 2019, and costs in offshore wind fall from over £150/MWh to around £40/MWh, but around 22% of the UK’s carbon emissions still come from our homes. Consider switching to a green power company like Green Energy, Octopus, Ecotricity or the highly rated Bulb, which offers instant quotes, handles the changeover with your previous supplier, reduces your monthly bills and helps you to cut your CO2 emissions by an average of 3.2 tonnes every year. Advice from the Energy Saving Trust and installing a smart energy system can also help you to manage and track your energy usage and reduce carbon emissions.
4. Picnic without plastic
We produce 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year: almost the weight of the entire human population. COVID-19 restrictions on indoor dining have made picnics the go-to way to get together, but they’re often not the greenest way to graze – as plastic-strewn beaches and parks have sadly shown. In response, marine conservation organisation Ocean Generation aims to tackle this plastic waste tsunami with some easy-to-follow tips in its Picnic Without Plastic Challenge.
Only around 9 per cent of plastic waste is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfill, rivers or the sea. “Each time plastic goes through the system it is down-cycled and loses quality, until eventually it can’t be recycled and is burnt or buried,” says Ocean Generation’s founder, Jo Ruxton. “Sadly, we cannot recycle our way out of this environmental crisis.” So always take a reusable coffee cup, water bottle and cutlery on your outdoor jaunts.
Social distancing measures make picnics the ideal way to see friends – and using reusable or biodegradable utensils, plates, drinks holder and baskets can make it ideal for the planet, too.
5. Clean green
A clean home has never been more pressing, but you don’t need to whip up a toxic tornado to maintain one. Supermarket shelves are still laden with plastic-packaged cleaning products fizzing with chemicals that are potentially harmful to the health of humans and the planet. Swap corrosive bleach for baking soda or vinegar to clean toilets and drains, or switch to kinder bathroom and kitchen cleaning products from an environmentally friendly company like EcoVibe. Sustainable starter kits include refillable glass spray bottles and plastic-free concentrated cleaning sachets, with a choice of exotic scents, all delivered in biodegradable packaging. Try their all-natural coconut fibre scourers, too. For laundry, the award-winning Ecoegg offers refillable long-life Laundry Eggs, which could save up to 40 plastic bottles of detergent and conditioner each year, plus Bamboo Towels, a reusable alternative to kitchen roll.
6. Scrutinise investments
You may be focussing on reducing your carbon footprint now, but are you unknowingly contributing to unethical, polluting businesses through the investments you’re making for your future? Your bank or pension provider could be financing anything from fossil fuels to deforestation. Find out where your money is being spent, and encourage ethical investment by supporting the Make My Money Matter campaign. The trillions of pounds in the UK pensions pot today could be working towards building a greener tomorrow.
7. Manage microfibres
It’s not just the sea of plastic you see washed up beaches around the world that’s harming the environment. During every domestic wash cycle, synthetic materials shed around 700,000 microfibres: tiny plastic particles which slip through current filtration systems and into our oceans, where they’re ingested by aquatic organisms. One study showed that 63% of North Sea shrimp contained synthetic fibres. (Watch: Plastics 101)
The Marine Conservation Society’s Stop Ocean Threads campaign is calling on washing machine manufacturers to urgently start installing filters to catch the 10 trillion fibres being released weekly into the environment in the UK. “In the meantime, using fabric softener, washing at 30 degrees, washing a full load of clothes and swapping from washing powder to liquid are all ways of reducing microfibre shedding,” says Dr Laura Foster, Head of Clean Seas at the Marine Conservation Society. Using a Guppyfriend Washing Bag can also help by reducing synthetic fibre-shedding by an average of 86% during a wash cycle.
More sustainable grooming items such as non-plastic toothbrushes and refillable cosmetic containers, and reusable carrier bags are obvious – but impactful – ways to make a direct impact on your personal waste production.
PHOTOGRAPH BY THE HUMBLE CO (L) THE CREATIVE EXCHANGE (R) / UNSPLASH
8. Groom smarter
We all love a beauty or grooming product, but once we know what works and what we like, buying a refill instead of another brand new pot or bottle could save tonnes of waste. Luckily, brands are on the case, with many joining forces with specialist recycling company TerraCycle on their Loop Waste-Free Shopping Project and other in-store recycling partnerships. Look for brands that are working to reduce the numbers of their products going to waste or proactively working on sustainable packaging; opting for cleansing bars instead of bottles, reusable razors and refillable, natural deodorants like the sweet-smelling Wild will reduce your plastic use, too.
9. Go paperless
Paperless statements from your bank and updates from any charities you support are a good first step. If you want to go further, consider registering with the Mailing Preference Service to reduce the amount of unsolicited marketing mail you receive through the post. And a 'no unsolicited mail' sticker is easy to make and stick to your letterbox.
As part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Ten-Point Plan For A Green Industrial Revolution, the UK has banned the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030: ten years earlier than planned. With second-hand petrol and diesel cars exempt from the sales ban, the government has pledged £582 million in grants for those buying zero or ultra-low emission vehicles, and £1.3 billion for installing charging points, to encourage the transition. Making better use of communal transport systems is also key to the UK meeting its legally binding target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Cutting your home office's power usage, using cloth masks, considering your transport methods and partaking in litter picks and beach cleanups: all actions with impact.
PHOTOGRAPH BY YASMINA H, VERA DAVIDOVA, ANDREW ROBERTS / UNSPLASH; BOTTOM LEFT, MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
11. Mask sustainably
Just when regions of the world were making progress with ditching disposables, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked an urgent need for personal protective equipment (PPE), which resulted in a seismic increase in single-use plastics. An estimated 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves are being used every month, along with a mountain of protective wrappers. The impact will be felt long into the future as discarded PPE reaches our oceans, but choosing a washable face mask will help. Every 2-pack purchase of the 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton reusable and sustainable face masks from marine conservation organisation, 4Ocean, supports the cleanup of one pound of garbage from rivers, seas and coastlines.
12. Eco your office
Now that many of us are working from home, the eco-efficiency of our office is down to us. Up-cycle furniture for your work space and set up digital filing systems instead of filling your shelves with documents. Recycle and reuse paper and envelopes, and consider selecting Ecosia as your web browser: they’ll plant trees with every online search. Switch to rechargeable batteries, LED bulbs, and invest in an energy-saving smart power strip. Remember to boost your own efficiency – and happiness – with a window, natural light and plenty of plants, too.
13. Stand up for wildlife
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the clearest signals we’ve had that our treatment of the creatures which share our planet must change. Global populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have suffered an average two-thirds decline in less than half a century. With our destinies entwined, there has never been a more important time to stand up for the voiceless. Create and sign petitions, write to your M.P., loudly and peacefully protest, support justice for nature campaigns, follow wildlife advocates on social media, and encourage people you know to do the same.
14. Start young
You’re never too new to be an eco-warrior. An estimated eight million plastic-packed disposable nappies are thrown away daily in the U.K, each one taking up to 500 years to decompose. If there’s a baby in your house, there’s likely to be a sustainable alternative to these nappies on sale, or heading your way. Biodegradable versions are now available, while old-school reusables are making a come-back, cutting significant waste and cost (look out for the stylish seaweed and wood pulp Sumo Diaper by product designer Luisa Kahlfeldt). Meanwhile, carbon-neutral company Piccolo has produced Europe’s first fully recyclable organic baby food pouch, a gigantic step forward for an industry that sells over 60-million non-recyclable pouches each year.
15. Leave fish in the sea
“Taking and killing 1.5 trillion fish from the ocean to feed humans each year is by far the leading cause of the biodiversity collapse occurring in our oceans, regardless of whether the fishing practice is commercial, "sustainable", or farm fishing,” says Seaspiracy and Cowspiracy film maker, Kip Andersen. “The ocean simply cannot thrive with this amount of pillaging.” Get your fishy fill with vegan fish alternatives, or switch to plant-based meals instead.


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X could launch a CTV app as early as this week, according to reports confirmed by Elon Musk, as the company formerly known as Twitter seeks to compete with YouTube.
The news was first revealed by inside sources, before Musk posted on X that the app was “coming soon”. The owner has been vocal in his ambitions to turn the social media company into a “video-first platform”, seeking to compete with YouTube and TikTok.
According to Fortune, the app will be available on Amazon and Samsung smart TVs. The source said the product looks “identical” to the YouTube app, adding that Musk was “set on competing with YouTube.”
Musk first hinted at plans for an X smart TV app in July 2023, when the company claimed that vertical video accounts for more than ten percent of time spent on the platform. Since Musk’s takeover the company has extended the maximum length of videos, with paid-up members able to post videos up to two hours long.
And the company has tried to position itself as more of a video destination by commissioning its own content, largely from disgraced news anchors, including Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon. X has also tried to encourage influencers onto the platform, along with their large audiences.
In January, YouTube star MrBeast reposted one of his videos to X, and claimed it generated $250,000 in revenue. The creator and other commentators were quick to point out that the exceptional circumstances meant the numbers were unlikely to be representative of video monetisation on the platform.
The battle for the living room
Regardless, there is a focus among video-sharing companies to encourage longer videos, which tend to generate higher ad revenues. The source at X said Musk was keen to push “long videos on a bigger screen.” The strategy appears to compete with TikTok’s revamped monetisation model that rewards creators for longer-form content.
And the move to TV viewing also chases YouTube’s living room domianance. According to Nielsen, YouTube is the most-watched streaming service in the US, capturing 8.6 percent of TV viewing in January 2024. YouTube said that in the last three years, the number of top creators who received the majority of their views on the TV screen increased by more than 400 percent.
From an advertising perspective, X will hope that the association of TV screens with premium content will make the app an appealing investment for advertisers. This is of particular concern for the company, which has been hemorrhaging high-profile advertisers over brand safety concerns on its social media platform. The company has lost 71.5 percent of its value since Musk’s acquisition, according to the most recent valuation by Fidelity, a major shareholder in X.
It remains to be seen whether the pivot to TV will pay off for X. It is worth noting that YouTube has its own history of brand safety violations, which have had seemingly little impact on its ad revenues. But stealing share from YouTube may prove a challenge. While Musk’s “free speech absolutist” position appeals to a certain subset of news anchors and their audiences, those same principles are a tougher sell for major advertisers.


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Licensing firm Iconix Brand Group Inc. agreed to buy a women's clothing retailer and a brand aimed at girls for $207 million in two cash-and-stock deals.
Mossimo Inc., which makes clothes sold in Target stores, and the Mudd brand, which includes girls clothing sold in department and specialty stores, represent the sixth and seventh major acquisitions for Manhattan-based Iconix.
Formerly known as Candies Inc., the firm has been on a growth spurt and recently moved into bigger Garment District headquarters to accommodate its expanding portfolio.
The news sent Iconix's stock to a new 52-week high early Monday. Shares of Iconix rose as much as 3.8%, to $15.10 during morning trading.
Iconix will pay $7.50 a share, comprising $3.25 a share in Iconix stock and $4.25 a share in cash, for Mossimo and 50% in cash and 50% in stock for Mudd.
Mossimo, which saw sales jump more than 50% last year, is expected to generate between $20 million to $25 million in licensing revenue in 2007 and Mudd is expected to add $18 million to $20 million.
"Our goal is to maximize our existing brands, while at the same time aggressively pursuing strategic acquisitions," said Iconix Chief Executive Neil Cole in a statement.
Iconix, which also owns Candie's, Bongo, Badgley Mischka and Joe Boxer, expects the acquisitions to add to its earnings this year. The company now anticipates earnings of 75 cents to 80 cents a share for the year, up from its prior forecast of between 65 cents and 70 cents a share.


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They said it
He is the most evil, vile, demonic criminal. He is dead to me. There will be no visits, there will be no phone calls. He can never be Daddy again. I have no sympathy for the man.
Gregg was speaking about her father Ariel Castro who allegedly kidnapped, raped and held captive for a decade, three young women in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Record Your Vote
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who is 84, is being retried in Cairo. Do you believe this is a good thing?
Bangladesh SunBangladesh Sun - Authoritative Bangladesh News Source
Newspapers the world over strive to provide readers with the ultimate news coverage.
The Bangladesh Sun is no exception.
As an online news service we have advantages over traditional newspapers in that stories can be added and updated 24 hours day.
Our objective is to provide the most comprehensive Bangladesh news available, from our resources, contracted wire services and an inventory of some thousands of sources comprising newspapers, cable and TV networks, radio stations, public broadcasters, NGOs and others, Bangladesh news is a priority.
National news comes first. We do however strive to provide a complete news services for our readers. World news headlines top several of our pages, we also provide news on what's happening in business, and in the financial markets.
Whether it's the latest Nikkei 225 reading in Tokyo, the sterling exchange rate in London, or the status of the Nasdaq in New York, whether it's local Bangladesh news, the weather forecast for Bangladesh you'll find it all in the Bangladesh Sun.
From Dhaka to Chattagam, the Bangladesh Sun should be your number one choice for breaking news - local, regional, and national.
DHAKA - Bangladesh has re-opened hundreds of garment factories after just three days of closure following protests over pay and poor work conditions.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association had called for the re-opening on Friday.
The shutdown of factories this week was prompted by worker protests over low pay and poor working conditions sparked by the country's worst industrial accident.
In response to workers' demands, the Bangladeshi government has approved labor law changes, making it easier for workers to form unions. The government has also set up a panel to consider garment workers salary raise.
Pope Francis has described the garment workers' $38 monthly wage as "slave labor."
Bangladesh is the world's second largest apparel maker after China. The $20 billion industry accounts for up to 80 per cent of annual exports.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association says about 85% of employees were back at work. They will get overtime for working on a Friday, a weekend day in Bangladesh.
The manufacturers have accused the workers of disrupting production and say they will not pay wages for the last few days.
Badrul Alam, police chief for the Ashulia district, told the Agence France Presse news agency that there had been "no reports of any protest or violence" after the reopening. ...
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News tagged ‘iPhone’
Following the launch of Apple Pay in Russia earlier this month, Apple has launched the payments system in New Zealand. Currently, Apple Pay is available only for the customers of one bank called ANZ Bank. They can add their credit and debit Visa cards and start using the system for sending payments and making purchases at McDonald's, Glassons, Hallenstein Brothers, and K-Mart.
According to the latest report from Gartner, Mac shipments declined 13.4% in the last quarter. Apple managed to sell only 4.9 million Mac units that accounted for the market share of 7.2%. As to the global computer market, it is experiencing problems as well. PC shipments in Q3 2016 reached 68.9 million, which is a decline of 5.7% year-over-year.
Samsung has permanently stopped the production of the Galaxy Note 7. Such decision comes after dozens of reports about exploding handsets from both old and new batch that was believed to be safe. The company will focus on the development of the new Galaxy S8 model as well as sales of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
Apple has just announced that iOS 10 adoption has reached 54%. The figure is based on the statistics gathered by the App Store, so it includes only those devices that have been active over the last couple of weeks.
According to the latest report from a research firm Fiksu, iOS 10 adoption rate has reached impressive 66.7% less than a month after public release. Strong initial demand for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus as well as the compatibility of the operating system with older devices like the iPhone 5 are among the factors that contributed to such fast adoption. As to the main reasons for people to upgrade, they include new design and many new features.
Samsung has temporarily stopped the production of the infamous Galaxy Note 7. Such a difficult decision comes after numerous reports about exploding smartphones from the new batch that was deemed safe.
It is Sunday today, which means that it’s time I told you about the most interesting posts of the last couple of days.
As it turns out, it’s not only the Galaxy Note 7 units that explode or catch fire. According to the latest report from KFSN, the iPhone 6 Plus exploded in the middle of the night causing minor damage to the furniture and other possessions of Yvette Estrada from California.
Another replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has caught fire making the company’s claim that new devices are safe an absurd. The device started smoking in the hands of 13-year-old girl Abby Zuis from Farmington who suddenly felt “burning sensation" while holding the handset. Fortunately for the girl and her parents, she suffered only minor burns.
Apple has won an appeal in the court case against its South Korean rival Samsung over the ‘slide to unlock’ patent. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that Samsung is guilty and has to pay Apple $119.6 million for infringing on its patents. The report about this ruling comes from Bloomberg, which is a reliable source.
Apple has confirmed the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 launch dates for a couple of new countries.
In particular, on October 14th, local retailers will start selling new devices in Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Montenegro, and Turkey. On October 15th, the iPhone 7 will become available in Jordan and Oman. On October 20th, both new handsets and smartwatches will go on sale in Israel. Finally, on October 21st, the sales of the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch will begin in Maurice, Madagascar, Maroc, Ukraine, and Uganda.
Apple launched the iPhone 7 in India on Friday. Currently, the new device is available on all major markets.
The iFixit team has recently posted a teardown of Apple’s cheapest product ever. This is the new Lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter that comes with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The teardown and X-Ray images of the adapter reveal that it contains a number of components including a chip with both DAC and ADC responsible for audio quality as well as an amplifier. Unfortunately, the manufacturer of the chip remains unknown, all we have is the model part number.
A growing number of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus users are complaining about the Activation Lock issue affecting their brand new smartphones. According to the most popular reports from MacRumors forums and Twitter, many phones are linked to Apple IDs that do not belong to the owners of these devices. Apple removed the Activation Lock from several handsets after getting proofs of ownership from their owners. The company also agreed to replace several affected units. Still, it has to comment on the issue.
Apple has released the second beta of iOS 10.1 to public testers. The release comes one day after the release of the same build to developers.
The update contains a number of bug fixes and stability improvements. In particular, Apple has fixed an issue causing the Notes app quit unexpectedly. The company also recommends the users who face the problem go to Settings - iCloud, disable and then enable the Notes once again. This should help.
iOS 10.1 brought the long-awaited ‘Portrait’ mode to the Camera app on the iPhone 7 Plus. It also contains some fixes for multitasking that make the open apps stay active in the background.
If you have a tester account and a compatible device, you can download iOS 10.1 Beta 2 right now.
Apple has discontinued the third-generation Apple TV and removed the device from its online store. Moreover, the company confirmed that it will no longer produce and officially promote the older set-top box, focusing on the newer Apple TV 4 working on tvOS.


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The EU ‘will ultimately show President Trump the error of his ways,’ the commissioner said.
Administration officials opposed to the tariffs hope a visit by the European Commission president this week could head off a bruising trade war.
As fall approaches, everything from groceries to appliances could start to cost more at major US retailers.
‘President Juncker is not communicating via tweet with President Trump,’ Commission spokesperson says.
‘I’m not filling myself with expectations or predictions,’ German chancellor says.
‘The hope is to convince Trump that we are close allies, not foes,’ a diplomat said of next week’s meeting at the White House.
Berlin wants to offer Washington a trade fix next week, but faces misgivings from France.
Brussels and Washington should rekindle negotiations ‘in spite of current situation,’ says EU’s Brexit negotiator.
Germany wants Juncker to discuss different options for a trade deal with Trump.
Merkel and Li parade their deepening ties as the US president ramps up his hostile rhetoric.
US president says ‘other countries’ trade barriers and tariffs’ destroy American businesses.
The administration once again tries to target exports from Chinese high-tech industries that benefit from government subsidies, officials say.
The fierce internal debate over whether to hit China with tariffs amounted to a battle over the soul of Trumpism.
Our diplomats are professional and they are staying on our NATO issues,’ says Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Corporate leaders and former US officials have been fielding calls from Chinese officials anxious for information.
US president uses an obscure measure to impose tariffs and other restrictions.
Trump’s first comments on López Obrador’s presidency were positive.
The president’s widening trade war is pushing longtime Republican allies to the front lines of a fight against the Trump administration.
Trade war is ‘not positive. We have to work something out,’ says Dutch PM.
‘I think that Harley is an American bike, it’s an American motorcycle and they shouldn’t play cute,’ president says.
European Commission says impact of tariffs on US GDP would be ‘in the order of 13-14 billion USD.’
The US president offered a better trade deal for France than with the rest of the EU.
‘Don’t ever tell them I said that. You’ll screw up my negotiations,’ says US president.
‘We can’t let that happen,’ US president said.


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As reported 44 years ago in The Columbia News, June 9, 1960:
Milton B. Anderson of Dearing was winner of the free pig given away by the local Western Auto Store Saturday night.
The dressed pig was given in connection with the store's annual carload freezer sale, which was held during the weekend.
Lake land auction
The sale of some 11,000 acres of land from the Clarks Hill reservoir area on the Savannah River above Augusta has been tentatively set for late August or early September.
The acreage, declared surplus at the big government dam reservation, will be offered in public auction.
Sixty-seven tracts ranging from 20 to 400 acres each and totaling some 11,000 acres will go on the auction block. The major portion of the land is on the Georgia side of the river.
Sixty-five parcels, totaling 10,800 acres mainly in Lincoln and Elbert counties, will be sold on the Georgia side. Two tracts totaling 10 acres are in McCormick County, S.C.
Retail sales rise
Columbia County retail sales for the first quarter of 1960 increased $31,037 over the same period last year.
Retail sales in Columbia County for the first quarter of 1960 totaled $1,149,798 as compared with $1,118,761 for the same period in 1959, according to the Georgia State Chamber of Commerce report.
J.W. McNair of Harlem won second place in a recent grazing contest covering 27 counties. He has a herd of 250 white face Herefords that enjoy the 350 acres of Coastal Bermuda and Pensacola Bahia.
In addition to grazing, McNair has already cut 2,000 bales of hay this year. He was one of 15 Columbia County farmers to participate in the contest.
Little League tie
On Friday, June 3, 1960 at Grovetown, the Grovetown Red Sox and the Grovetown Dodgers played quite well and finished the game with a tied score of 17-17.
The Columbia County News-Times ©2013. All Rights Reserved.


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Free items you can receive with your vaccination card
With vaccination rates slowing down, new ways to excite unvaccinated people to acquire the vaccine are being explored. As a result, local and prominent businesses are rolling out free items as an incentive to increase vaccination rates.
Major grocery store chains are offering cash and other incentives to employees who get vaccinated.
For example, Kroger rewards their employees $100 in store credit and $100 cash for getting a shot.
While consumers will not access the same benefits as employees, many businesses provide free items for people with complete vaccine doses.
That said, here are some ways you can score free items with your vaccination card:
OfficeMax and Office Depot
Looking to get your vaccine card laminated? Have no fear OfficeMax and Office Depot are here.
For a limited time, Office Depot and OfficeMax locations nationwide will laminate and make a copy of your vaccination card for free. The deal is available for applicable consumers until July 25.
For the avid shoppers of Target, the retail corporation has something in mind for their customers. In May, the company announced they will give any adult who gets a COVID-19 vaccine in their CVS pharmacy a $5 Target coupon.
With many CVS pharmacies integrated with Target, only select locations recognize the offer.
To see which Target CVS will administer the COVID-19 vaccine, appointments must be made through the CVS website.
Krispy Kreme Donuts
Krispy Kreme is giving a free donut a day to those who are fully vaccinated for the rest of the year. Any qualified customer will have to show their vaccination card to receive a Krispy Kreme classic — their Original Glazed doughnut.
Customers are only liable to one donut per vaccination card, and the offer is only redeemable through in-store and drive-through at select participating locations.
Uber and Lyft
Uber and Lyft are partnering with the Biden administration to offer free rides to anyone going to a COVID-19 vaccination site to get their shots.
After noticing a dip in vaccination rates, the Biden administration hopes their partnership with the ride-share programs will increase turnout to vaccination sites.
The program will last until July 4, when President Joe Biden hopes to reach his vaccination goal of 70 percent.


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- Two class-action seeking lawsuits against PetSmart were voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff.
- The filed suit claimed that PetSmart sold products that did not hold up to their marketed expectations.
- The parties dropped the claims without prejudice, and the suit can be filed again at any time.
Two separate but similar federal lawsuits against PetSmart were voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff who accused them of selling pet hemp products despite the lack of approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the attorney who is representing the plaintiff in both suits, the parties dropped their claims “without prejudice,” meaning the lawsuits could be filed again at a later time.
Both of the lawsuits were filed in Broward County, Florida, and are filed on behalf of individual customers who are seeking class-action status. The suit was originally filed because the customers said they bought products that were marketed as a remedy for treating, mitigating, and preventing disease, while providing stress and anxiety relief for dogs.
One of the customers purchased hemp soft chews while the other purchased hemp seed oil and krill and cod liver. The plaintiff’s attorney in the lawsuit says the products did not live up “to their expectations as created by the defendant.”
The lawsuits also claimed that because the FDA has yet to approve these products, they should be considered unsafe and “cannot lawfully be sold.” The customers had not specified what damages they sought, but were calling for PetSmart to stop selling those products.
The products were purchased back in April, and PetSmart has not provided commentary on the lawsuit as of yet.
Until the FDA can provide clear regulations for the CBD and hemp industry, lawsuits will continue to wait in limbo. Big companies, such as PetSmart, have to wait patiently and do their best to market products carefully until that point to ensure that the process is not delayed longer as a result of mixed opinion and lack of research.
PetSmart is one of the biggest companies to carry CBD pet products, an area of the CBD industry that has been growing by leaps and bounds.


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So far the biggest news this morning is Capcom's announcement of Dead Rising 2. Hopefully a few meatier tidbits will rear their heads later on today...
ARMA II Website Updated
505 Games reports that the official website for ARMA II was updated with more "declassified" information. Visitors can check out a video featuring a short news report that "reveals the tense and fearful atmosphere in Chernogorsk city after a terrorist attack shatters the sleepy, idyllic atmosphere of Chernarus´ countryside." ARMA II will be available across Europe in 2009.
Dead Rising 2 Confirmed
Capcom said that Dead Rising 2 is definitely in the works, scheduled to hit the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Acording to the company, the sequel will take place in the gambling paradise of Fortune City, and will include new in-game objects that can be used as deadly weapons "to stave off the zombie assault." The game takes place several years after the first installment, as the zombie virus was NOT contained, but rather spread throughout the United States. Capcom signed on Canadian developer Blue Castle Games to crate the new zombie sequel, however a number members from the original Dead Rising team will be working alongside the developer throughout the development process.
Gobliiins 4 Released Next Month
Kalypso Media announced that the fourth installment of its wacky adventure game series Gobliiins will hit retail shelves on March 27. In this chapter, the king's pet has suddenly run away. The investigators are hired on to find the missing orycterope, and to prove that the beast is happier living without its master. During the quest, the investigators must solve riddles while defending themselves from dangerous monsters.
New Dungeons for Last Chaos
Aeria Games released two new dungeons for Last Chaos in preparation for the upcoming content expansion planned for the next few months. Called Quanian and Golem, these two new dungeons offer all new monster A.I., new armor and weapons for players, and new items including "Phoenix Tickets", which allow players to transform into a Phoenix character to do battle with the forces of evil. Additionally, the company said that the upcoming expansion packs will include even more armor, weapons and items, and introduce unique gameplay elements such as a PvP team's dungeon, a new level cap and a hefty amount of intriguing new skills and abilities for existing players.
Commander in Chief Next month in UK
Eversim said that the PC game Commander in Chief will hit UK retail shelves on March 12. The game is a comprehensive geo-political simulation game for PCs where players face the same complex issues confronting leaders like President Obama on a day to day basis. Just as in real life, players can test their ability to deal with these issues domestically or on the world stage, responding to actions taken by fellow global leaders.
D.I.C.E. Sells Out
The Academy of Interactive Arts&Sciences (AIAS) said that all available attendee slots for the 2009 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit has officially sold out. The event will be held at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, February 17-20, 2009, and will feature a line-up of "industry leaders, visionaries, and decision makers that are shaping the future of interactive entertainment." The Academy said that it has opened a waitlist that will be cleared before the beginning of the summit on February 17th.
GoldenEye: Source Beta 3 Released
Team GoldenEye: Source announced that it has released the third beta for the Goldeneye-inspired mod. According to the team, the development process began with the switch over to the new Source Orange Box Engine, forcing them to complete start the code from scratch. The group also said that two official Goldeneye: Source servers are now live, provided for free by ImpulseGaming.net. To download the client, head here.
Far Cry 2 Multiplayer Gets Hardcore
This forum post states that a new "hardcore" multiplayer setting will be available in the next round of updates for all three platforms. The post states that, because of the new hardcore mode, a new damage model will be applied with increased damage for all weapons. The developers also rebalanced all weapons in both normal and hardcore mode, and enemy names will disappear after the spawning invincibility period is over. There's also an option to tweak spawning time and a new multiplayer search option.
As always, more to come....
I couldn't agree more. I find less & lesss to interest me here. Where is Tom when you need him? I wonder how long his buyout clause prohibits him from starting another website.
I found ben and rob. They have a sports blog lol.


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THE wider They included market heavyweight
Markets were buoyed by testimony from new US Federal Reserve chair
On the currency markets, the prospect of continuing low interest rates in the US saw the pound strengthen against the greenback, up
Overall underlying profit for the final three months of 2013 was also significantly lower, plunging by pound(s)1.2bn quarter on quarter to pound(s)191 million, after being dragged down by factors such as litigation and regulation penalties. Shares were off 10.3p at 264.7p.
Supermarkets also featured on the fallers' board after Kantar Worldpanel reported the weakest growth in the overall grocery sector since 2005.
It said till rolls were 2.4% higher in the 12 weeks to
Tesco shares were 5p lower at 318.7p and
Sainsbury's was 7.3p down at 348.9p, despite growing its market share to 17.1% in the latest Kantar figures.
Non-food retailers looked to have fared better over the winter after the
Furniture and flooring retailers have been among those to benefit, prompting shares in B&Q owner Kingfisher to rise 11.7p to 376.8p.
The company has been impacted by the political turmoil in
They included market heavyweight


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Halsey Just Dyed Her Hair Red
Halsey changed her hair once again—this time, dying it a beautiful shade of red.
The "Graveyard" singer, who often experiments with different looks and is best known for her ever-changing hairstyles, first revealed she dyed her hair on Twitter early Thursday morning (October 31), tweeting, "I died my hair." (Note: She even addressed her "typo," writing, "This was on purpose it’s Halloween.")
Halsey then unveiled her new hairstyle by posting a selfie and revealing she's wanted to dye her hair this color since last Halloween. "Been wanting to go this color since I was Poison Ivy last year. 1 year later and it’s time!" she wrote.
In the photo, she styled the new hair in loose curls to one side and added a chunky, gold hair clip. The pop star completed her look with a rainbow-colored cat-eye, a rosy lip, and a colorful blazer.
Halsey's latest look is just more proof that she's a beauty chameleon. Over the years, she sported everything from blue, purple and pink hair, as well as bangs, pixie cuts and her natural curls in all their glory.
Once, she even called out people who thought her curls were fake. "I can’t believe I spent a whole damn year growing out my curls under those wigs for y’all to say my natural hair looks like a wig... some f--ked up s--t lmao," she wrote.


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Nick Hanauer's three steps for creating breakthrough ideas
- John Cook
As an initial investor in Amazon.com and founder of aQuantive, Seattle venture capitalist and entrepreneur Nick Hanauer has played a part in some of the region's biggest technological successes. But how do entrepreneurs really come up with breakthrough ideas?
Hanauer -- speaking today at the Xconomy Forum in Seattle -- said it sometimes take entrepreneurs who have the right "oddity quotient" as well as what he terms a "black sheep instinct." In fact, Hanauer offered three key steps to coming up with breakthrough ideas.
Hanauer's first piece of advice: "Always find a giant industry populated by giant entrenched players." In his view, entrenched players are relatively easy to topple because they are afraid to admit that someone else has come up with a better way to do things.
"I suppose, counterintuitively, large, entrenched companies turn out to be the easiest people to compete with because they so loathe change," said Hanauer, a co-founder of Second Avenue Partners. Big companies, Hanauer said, don't like to admit that what they are doing is "stupid." And big, breakthrough ideas usually point out those glaring holes at established players.
Along those lines, Hanauer said that innovative ideas usually happen when you can turn an entrenched company's strengths into weaknesses.
For example, at Amazon.com, Hanauer said they turned brick-and-mortar retail shops into a weakness for the competitors. At aQuantive, he noted that they turned the emotional decisions around brand advertising into a liability by bringing in new ways to measure the effectiveness of advertisements.
Secondly, Hanauer said that breakthrough ideas also arise when companies create "transformational value." In Hanauer's view, that means you need to be investigating ideas which create 10 to 100 times more value.
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The major thing new in online travel companies holding onto customer cash and investing it is that interest rates are a lot higher, and they are taking advantage. The rich get richer.
Dennis' Online Travel Briefing
Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, Executive Editor and online travel rockstar Dennis Schaal will bring readers exclusive reporting and insight into the business of online travel and digital booking, and how this sector has an impact across the travel industry.
Online Travel This Week
The longtime business models of online travel companies ranging from Airbnb to Expedia and Booking.com are getting increased scrutiny from the media and short-term rental hosts because these companies hold onto customer funds, and invest them for profits before disbursing them, sometimes months later.
My reaction to this — with one caveat that I will discuss further below — is so what. One reason they would be foolhardy to send the money to hosts and hotels at the time of booking, which might be months in advance of a stay, is because the trips might be cancelled and never take place. And these companies, which use some of these monies for cash flow purposes, would be fiscally irresponsible to shareholders and employees, for that matter, if they didn’t invest these customer monies, and make some dinero.
A Tuesday Wall Street Journal story detailed how Airbnb and Expedia Turn Customer Cash Into Profit, Aided by Rising Interest Rates. For that matter, so does Booking.com when it accepts prepaid bookings, as it’s been doing more of in recent years, as well as some major cruise lines, which sometimes accept a customer deposit on a cruise a year or more in advance.
During the third quarter, which ended September 30, Airbnb generated $58 million in interest income from its own cash, as well as from customers’ advance bookings, the Wall Street Journal reported. Expedia took in $20 million in interest income, taking advantage of rising interest rates, during the same period.
Although it wasn’t discussed in the Wall Street Journal piece, Carnival Corp. generated $74 million in interest income during fiscal year 2022, which ended November 30. Unlike Airbnb, Expedia and Booking, which forward a cut of these customer monies along to hosts and hotels around the time of the stay, Carnival generally pays travel agents when the sailing is paid in full regardless of the time of the departure date.
Not all of the cash the online travel companies are investing to take advantage of rising interest rates is customer money. The Wall Street Journal said “customer funds accounted for around 30 percent of the company’s [Airbnb’s] current assets.”
Nothing is really too much new in the business models of these companies as it pertains to their practice of banking customer monies prior to the stay other than interest rates are increasing, and they are seeing a greater benefit than in the recent past. Another wrinkle is that in recent years Booking.com has been doing a lot more of these prepaid bookings as it got heavier into short-term rentals. In its earlier years, Booking.com didn’t get heavily involved in payments, and most of its customers paid the hotels directly during their stays.
Airbnb hosts have been prolific writing social media posts or posting on forums complaints that the company not only holds onto their money too long, it sometimes doesn’t pay them what’s due. To the extent that Airbnb is taking customer money and generating investment income from it, and withholding it from hosts in a manner that violates its terms of service, then that would be egregious.
“In my opinion, treasury management is a very standard practice for any large corporation,” said Skift Research’s Seth Borko. “Placing consumer balances in risky investments would be irresponsible but investing in money markets and other low-risk cash management tools is standard.”
AirAsia Drops Lifestyle Superapp Ambitions
AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes, who heads parent company Capital A, said it will no longer labor to become a lifestyle superapp, but it will focus on travel. Perhaps in a future phase the company will reverse its online travel agency ambitions and focus on being an airline. Isn’t that difficult enough? Skift
Former ITA Software Vets Took It Hard in Google Layoffs
Google Flights personnel, especially ITA Software alums, were particularly hard hit by the layoffs at Google. That could signal less Google investment in its business powering airline websites, and more focus on driving flights-related revenue from Google.com. Skift
India’s EaseMyTrip Takes Majority Stake in CheQin
India’s EaseMyTrip, looking to bolster its hotel-booking tech, took a majority stake in CheQin. This is part of the online travel agency’s bid to reduce its reliance on flight bookings. Skift
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Tags: airasia, airbnb, booking.com, capital a, carnival corp., Dennis' Online Travel Briefing, easemytrip, expedia, future of lodging, google, hotels, ita software, online travel newsletter, short-term rentals, Skift Pro Columns, superapps, vacation rentals


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Start-up customer service platform Yatango is embarking on an international capital raising round as it seeks to expand into new industry sectors and list on an overseas exchange in the next year.
The company’s founder and chief executive, Andy Taylor, who is best known for co-founding peer-to-peer lender SocietyOne, is wooing investors as part of a bid to raise £5 million ($9.1 million), which will be largely invested in marketing programs to encourage users onto its platforms.
The company is most commonly viewed as a mobile virtual network operator, offering prepaid smartphone plans by reselling the Optus network. But Mr Taylor said the company has been founded as a cloud software platform that consumers could use to find the best products and link them with suppliers across many different sectors.
Having started in the mobile sector, it has already expanded into online shopping, and plans to expand into banking next year.
The platform works by getting a large community of consumers signed up and then offering them tailored products and offers. In what is essentially a wholesale model, customers access services from suppliers through the Yatango interface, and the company takes a fee.
Having raised $5 million from angel investors in 2013, Yatango has now signed up broking house BBY to run its current funding round, ahead of a likely IPO. Mr Taylor told The Australian Financial Review that it was still undecided where the company would list, but the UK or US were the most likely destination.
“At the moment we are open. There are a lot of benefits to the UK and there are a lot of benefits here. I think the fact that our engineers are based here, and our head office is here – we want to stay here," he said.
“But I have to factor in the need to find talent and the fact that our future will be in the UK and predominantly the US."
He said while there were some institutional backers, Yatango’s investors were mainly family offices, who took a longer- term view on investments. His other business, SocietyOne, has attracted Westpac ’s venture capital fund and KKR’s local head Justin Reizes to invest, with Lachlan Murdoch , Kerry Stokes and James Packer understood to be poised to buy into another funding round.
Mr Taylor stepped back from duties at SocietyOne a couple of years ago, and now spends all his time on Yatango. His ambitious vision for the company sees it being viewed as a brand like Virgin, which transcends industry sectors and becomes known for customer service.
“It is very easy for people to just tag us as an MVNO model, which we are not. If you compare us to an amaysim, it is a very different model. We are a great believer that competing on price is not sustainable, you have to give more to the customer," Mr Taylor said.
“Australia is very much the test bed and there is room for us to grow here, but our technology can be applied to much bigger markets, particularly the US, that are actually much further behind here in certain categories."
Mr Taylor said the current round of funding would see Yatango comfortably funded until well into next year. It is already generating annualised revenue of $US20 million and expects to be operating at break even next year.
He concedes that it has taken some time to explain the true potential of the company to some investors, but despite the high profile success of SocietyOne, said he expects Yatango to be his most significant business.
“I am very passionate about building a consumer brand that puts the customer in control and I see this as my big long term play," Mr Taylor said.
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Apple conquered the smartphone and tablet market, and it may be turning its sights on the gaming market next. According to a report from MCV, Robin Burrowes, the Xbox Live marketing manager for EMEA, has left Microsoft to join Apple. Burrowes will supposedly take over marketing for the App Store in Europe. Apple hasn't commented on this report, so this is still a rumor.
If this is true, Burrowes will become the third high-profile gaming hire to join Apple in the past year. Apple also grabbed Rob Saunders, former PR and communications boss for Nintendo, and Nick Grange, the previous PR head for Xbox.
Does this mean Apple is taking a new direction in gaming? Probably not. We'll likely see an increase in marketing for iOS games as a result. There may also be an increased emphasis on iOS as a gaming platform to replace portables like the Nintendo DS. Portable gaming is on a downward slide, and, as MacStories recently points out, Nintendo needs to overhaul its business before the iPhone and iPad steal it away.


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Ford Philippines’ experiential test drive event Ford Island Conquest (FIC) is making its next stop in Cebu City at the end of this month, further expanding its presence to reach more customers in the Queen City of the South and nearby areas.
The Ford Island Conquest will be at the SM Seaside City Cebu on October 28-30 and will feature a dynamic display and on-road test drive, allowing customers to see and experience the segment-leading features and capabilities of Ford vehicles led by the next-generation Ford Ranger and Ford Everest.
Customers who will make a reservation at the 3-day event are entitled to pick a prize when they reserve the next-generation Ranger and Everest, as well as the Territory, Mustang, and Explorer.
Over P2 million worth of cash discounts and prizes are up for grabs for customers, with a cash discount of as much as P100,000. Other prizes include cash discounts of P10,000, P20,000, P30,000, a 3-year Scheduled Service Plan (SSP), various premium Ford merchandise, and next-gen Ranger and Everest accessories packs.
Customers who will avail of a financing program through partner banks BPI or EastWest for the next-gen Ranger and Everest, Territory, Mustang, and Explorer will also get an additional P15,000 cash discount.
“We are excited to bring our Ford Island Conquest event to Cebu City and give more customers and enthusiasts the chance to check out and test drive our next-generation Ford vehicles,” says Mike Breen, Managing Director, Ford Philippines. “We’re definitely encouraged with the great results and positive feedback from our previous FIC legs, and we intend to sustain the momentum with our fifth FIC leg in Cebu and a few more planned roll-outs before the end of the year.”
The Ford Island Conquest in SM Seaside City Cebu will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the test drive activity open until 6:00 pm. Customers who are going to test drive the vehicles are advised to wear the appropriate footwear. The event is open to the public and admission is free.