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Twitter targets second screen interaction with Amplify advertising partnerships
- 24 May, 2013 01:05
The NBA delivers in-tweet replays during the playoffs
Twitter has rolled out Twitter Amplify, an official program that lets broadcast companies and their advertisers push out promoted tweets.
The move is aimed at tapping into the lucrative second screen market of consumers simultaneously watching TV while interacting through mobile and other devices.
Twitter has already dipped its toes in the water of second-screen partnerships. ESPN and Ford Fusion tweeted instant replays during college football bowl games, and the NCAA offered in-tweet highlights (presented by AT&T and Coke Zero) during March Madness.
Promoted tweets also go beyond sports. BBC America and The Weather Channel (TWC) were among the first to experiment with tweeting custom content. In TWC's case, the use scenario was pushing relevant content to people tweeting about major weather events.
Now people tweeting about content from A&E, Conde Nast, Bloomberg TV, Major League Baseball, Discovery and several other major US media companies can expect to see promoted tweets featuring more content from those brands.
Twitter said the Amplify partnerships will result in tweets that are "timely, brief, and mobile".
"The vast majority of the online public conversation around TV currently happens on Twitter – 95 per cent, according to Crimson Hexagon," Twitter's director of promoted contehnt and sponsorships, Glenn Brown, said in the blog post dated 23 May.
Promoted tweets get specific
The social network is also drilling down into details that will let its Amplify partners find TV viewers who tweeted about a particular show--and presumably saw the ad that aired during that show--and deliver a promoted tweet to that user, too.
Twitter launched keyword ad targeting last month, so companies can look for words or phrases and have Twitter display a promoted tweet in an active user's timeline.That keyword targeting feature is available to all companies, but broadcasters in the Amplify program can search individual tweets in real time to deliver relevant content.
For example, if a user tweets about the new A&E show Bates Motel, its advertisers can target a tweet to consumers, maybe with an in-tweet video related to the show.
The advantages are obvious for advertisers. Brown said the social network's users will also benefit from the second-screen advertising tactics by receiving "spectacular, timely content that rounds out their TV experience or reminds them to tune in."


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Finance Minister Calls for Close Watch on Domestic and International Developments in the Coming Months and for Appropriate Adjustments to Check Inflation
The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that core inflation in May,2011 is higher at 8.71 per cent in comparison to 7.93 per cent in April,2011 and 10.34 per cent in March 2011. Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee said that we would keep a close watch on developments, both domestic as well as international, in the coming months and make appropriate adjustments as we go along.
The Union Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that provisional Whole Sale Price Index data for the month of May 2011 has been released. He said that the year-on-year overall inflation has gone up marginally to 9.06 per cent from 8.66 per cent in April 2011, but is lower than 10.48 per cent recorded in May 2010. The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee said that the picture for the latest month is however mixed. He said while food and primary inflation has declined the core inflation (that is other than food, fuel and power inflation) continues to harden. The Union Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee said that this poses some concerns which will have to be addressed.
Earlier, food inflation has been continuously moderating and at 8.37 per cent is now half of nearly 16.68 per cent recorded in January 2011. Other than fruits, inflation is moderating in all food items. The Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee said that inflation in primary non-food articles, though still elevated, has declined considerably to 22.35 per cent in May from 27.33 per cent in April 2011. Shri Mukherjee said that this should help moderate the inflationary tendency in the economy in the coming months.

domain: news


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ABC Looks at Digital Comics
ABC News headed to San Diego Comic-Con and instead on focusing on the physical medium, they turned their attention to emerging digital comics. The story paints the industry as dying much like newspapers but also goes with a positive spin.
Ira Rubenstein, a vice president of Marvel Entertainment was quoted as saying:
I think digital enables a whole new audience to experience comic books that haven’t had access.
The discussion of physical shops is brought up, and the usual talk of “only the good surviving” is thrown around. The article pegs digital sales as 5% of the $1 billion in annual sales.
It’s an interesting if somewhat empty read with little new insight.


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Shanghai has been on lockdown for almost two months, due to its worst COVID-19 breakout since 2020. Apple supplier Quanta Computer, located in Shanghai, is facing backlash from mostly low-wage workers demanding more freedom from these lockdown restrictions.
Quanta Computer Stories May 27
Quanta Computer Stories May 9
While frustration at highly-restrictive ‘closed-loop’ production practices was the key issue for workers, it appears that two other factors played a role …
Quanta Computer Stories May 6
Video footage (below) has been shared, showing hundred of MacBook Pro workers breaking through COVID barriers intended to keep them inside a Chinese plant. Some can be seen fighting with guards dressed in white protective coveralls.
Quanta Computer Stories November 9, 2021
An alleged member of the REvil ransom group has been charged, with $6.1M in funds seized from another suspect, according to the US Department of Justice.
Back in April, we learned that the REvil group accessed systems belonging to Mac assembler Quanta and obtained schematics of the upcoming MacBook Pro models, which accurately revealed the HDMI, MagSafe, and SD card slot …
Quanta Computer Stories February 17, 2020
A supply-chain report predicts that laptop production in China will be severely hit by the coronavirus outbreak and that global shipments for this quarter will be down by anything between 29% and 36%.
Quanta Computer Stories February 4, 2020
Major Apple suppliers say that they currently plan to resume production in China on February 10.
Most large Chinese companies have extended the Chinese new year holiday in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. February 10 is the government’s target date to re-open factories and re-start production…
Quanta Computer Stories October 29, 2018
A Hong Kong-based human rights group has claimed that high school students are being illegally employed by Quanta Computer to work on Apple Watch assembly in mainland China. The company was last month reported to be working at ‘maximum capacity‘ on production of the Apple Watch Series 4.
It’s alleged that the students were sent to Quanta by their teachers for ‘internships’ …
Quanta Computer Stories September 26, 2018
Quanta Computer Stories July 25, 2017
Quanta Computer Stories November 13, 2015
Apple is reportedly planning to ship the first successor to the Apple Watch sometime next year around the second or third quarter, according to Chinese media source UDN. The report cites comments made during a meeting with Barry Lam, chairman and founder of Quanta Computer, an Apple Watch manufacturer. While it’s no surprise that Apple would be planning to introduce the Apple Watch 2 in 2016, a third quarter release would mean a launch two years after the first model was introduced and roughly a year and a half since it went on sale. expand full story
Quanta Computer Stories December 11, 2014
A report by Taiwan’s United Daily News claims that Apple supplier Quanta will begin mass-production of the Apple Watch in January, echoing an earlier supply-chain rumor from September. It claims that the initial production run will be between three and five million units.
The report says that there have been ‘breakthroughs’ in yield issues, and that the company increased its production staffing from 3000 to 10,000 workers in the second half of the year, with further recruitment ongoing … expand full story
Quanta Computer Stories April 8, 2014
Rumor: Apple planning to release iWatch in August-September timeframe
You can’t get much sketchier than a Chinese Economic Daily report cited by DigiTimes, but the former is citing supply chain sources in claiming that Apple plans to release the iWatch in the third quarter of this year, and that the company expects to ship 65M units this year.
The iWatch will be manufactured by Quanta Computer, while Taiwan-based chip design house Richtek has also entered the supply chain. The device’s touch panel will be supplied by TPK, the paper noted. [With Samsung making the processor to Apple’s design.]
The original story says that suppliers have been asked to meet an August delivery date.
The China Times has previously suggested that TPK would make the touch panel, but this isn’t a particularly notable consistency: the company has in the past been a key panel supplier to Apple, while Quanta is a long-time Mac assembler, mostly in Asia but more recently in the USA also.
Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis, quoted in AppleInsider, is suggesting that the iWatch may include a UV sensor, measuring exposure to sunlight. While Curtis believes that the purpose of the rumored sensor is to prevent excessive exposure to sunlight, it’s possible that for some of us it might be more usefully employed to do the opposite …
Quanta Computer Stories March 26, 2014
The Digitimes article offers no specifics on what the new MacBook Air will feature, aside from the Retina display. A forum poster (who has a track record of accuracy) from last week said that the new model of laptop would feature a fan-less design in an even thinner form factor than the current MacBook Airs’ enclosure.
Quanta Computer Stories December 23, 2013
Rumors of a larger iPad have been bouncing around since May (complete with the world’s silliest name). They gained credibility (minus the name) when reported by the WSJ in July, and our poll certainly suggests there would be demand for it, with 24 percent of 9to5Mac readers declaring that they love the idea. There have, however, so far been few supporting specifics.
Digitimes is not always the most credible of sources, but it is today suggesting that the 12.9-inch iPad will be manufactured by Quanta Computer, launched in October and targeted at the education market, citing its usual anonymous “supply chain sources” … expand full story
Quanta Computer Stories January 25, 2013
In a recent update to its supplier responsibility pages, Apple has listed Quanta Computer USA as a final assembler of its Macs.
Final Assembly Facilities
These are facilities where Apple products are assembled and packaged for distribution.
One of the locations of Quanta’s final assembly is 44350 Nobel Drive Fremont, Calif., indicating that some Macs are or will be built in the facility.
Apple CEO Tim Cook noted in an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams late last year that Apple would invest $100 million to move at least one of its product lines to the United States. Quanta has assembled Macs for Apple for a long time in Asia.
Fremont may sound familiar, because we recorded more than a few of the new iMacs originated from Fremont after the November launch. These iMacs were delivered via FedEx and had the ‘Assembled in the USA’ moniker not only on the package but also on the actual machines. It now appears that Apple is confirming these products are indeed being assembled in Fremont.
Quanta, it should be noted, has U.S. assembly plants in both California and Tennessee. Previous package slips and Origin labels below.
Quanta Computer Stories March 30, 2012
The results of the Fair Labor Association’s investigation into Apple’s suppliers beginning with three Foxconn facilities officially published yesterday. While finding excessive working hours and many violations of Chinese labor law, Foxconn and Apple agreed to reduce workweek and overtime hours within Chinese law to 49 hours per week and 36 overtime hours per month based on the FLA’s recommendations. Foxconn will also hire tens of thousands of new employees and implement a compensation package to make sure workers’ salaries remain the same amid reduced working hours.
In the interview above with Reuters, head of the FLA Auret van Heerden talked about the investigation and noted the agreement could set a new standard for working conditions throughout China. One unanswered question is whether the agreement will lead to higher prices for consumers (which is not necessarily a bad thing)…
Quanta Computer Stories February 14, 2012
Apple’s contract manufacturer Pegatron Technology of Taiwan is unaware of any forthcoming labor inspections at its Asian plants because its client has not officially tipped them about labor audits, according to Chief Financial Officer Charles Lin tells to Bloomberg. Lin was reacting to yesterday’s announcement by Apple of California that the first audits in cooperation with the Fair Labor Association have started at Foxconn City in Shenzhen, China.
Pegatron Corp., a maker of Apple Inc.’s iPhones, said it hasn’t been informed of any pending inspections of factory work conditions by labor groups, a day after the U.S. company said checks would start this spring. Pegatron is aware of Apple’s corporate social responsibility policies, Charles Lin, chief financial officer of the Taipei-based company, said by telephone today. The client hasn’t informed him about any upcoming audits, Lin said.
Apple previously confirmed that audits at Pegatron and Quanta Computer, the company assembling Mac notebooks, are due this spring. The company said the results of FLA audits will be made available on its website at the end of March. In the wake of the Foxconn scandal, a month ago Apple became the first technology company admitted to the FLA. That announcement followed Apple’s release of 2012 Supplier Responsibility Report that for the first time named 156 companies currently supplying components for Apple products, which left only three percent of suppliers absent from the list.
Quanta Computer Stories July 15, 2011
Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes quotes unnamed industry sources who claim Foxconn, the world’s largest contract manufacturer for gadgets, will produce a rumored Android-driven tablet from Amazon, said to sport a 10.1-inch display, with shipments to begin in 2012 at the earnest. Quanta Computer, another contract manufacturer from Asia, has already begun shipping a smaller seven-inch device to Amazon, the report notes:
Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) has reportedly landed orders for 10.1-inch tablet PCs from Amazon with shipments to begin in 2012, while Quanta Computer has begun shipping a 7-inch model to Amazon. Foxconn declined to comment on market speculation.
Foxconn of course is Apple’s long-time manufacturer so it comes as a surprise that Apple did not exercise its influence and billions to block rivals from tapping Foxconn’s manufacturing potentials. That’s not entirely unheard of, however…
Quanta Computer Stories July 11, 2011
Hot on the heels of reports that claim Apple is gearing up to launch a new iPad model this fall, Digitimes reports that Apple will be adding a second manufacture to augment the tablet’s current manufacturing from Foxconn. Foxconn is currently Apple’s exclusive contractor for iPad 2 production and since the plant’s devastating incident in May and with a new tablet right around the corner, Apple is looking for a second manufacture to build their popular tablets.
According to the report, Apple’s second iPad manufacture will either be Pegatron or Quanta Computers. Pegatron, notably manufactures the Verizon iPhone and reportedly landed 15 million iPhone 5 orders for a fall release. Quanta manufactures some Macs and other Apple products. With Apple reportedly gearing up to launch a new iPad 2 model – dubbed iPad HD by This is my next – now is a perfect time for Apple to use more manufacturing power.
The ‘iPad HD’ is expected to be a professional-minded tablet from Apple with a 2048 x 1536 Retina Display. Artwork of this high resolution has already appeared in iOS 5 exclusive SDKframework files and has been a long-rumored feature for the tablet family. This new iPad is pegged at being another iPad model, not the iPad 3.


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BAE Systems spends £1.7bn on two defence businesses that will help it expand in the US
BAE Systems has spent £1.7 billion on two defence businesses that will help it expand in the US.
The British defence group will spend almost £1.5 billion buying Collins Aerospace's military GPS division, which makes technology that helps guide missiles to their targets.
Taking aim: BAE has been able to swoop on the two businesses as they are being offloaded as part of a £109 billion mega-merger
And it will spend another £210m on a unit of American rival Raytheon, which makes airborne radios and communications systems for customers that include the US Department of Defence.
BAE has been able to swoop on the two businesses as they are being offloaded as part of a £109 billion mega-merger between Raytheon and United Technologies, which owns Collins Aerospace.
Both firms have to sell some of their divisions so that the deal, which was announced last June, can get approval from regulators.
BAE's takeovers, however, depend on the Raytheon-UTC merger going through, as well as also getting the green light from regulators.
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Bandai Namco has officially announced Eddy as the first DLC character for “Tekken 8,” the latest installment in the iconic fighting game series. This news, revealed in a new video showcasing Tekken 8’s opening movie, has ignited excitement among fans eagerly anticipating the game’s release.
A veteran character of the “Tekken” series, Eddy makes a striking return with a refreshed look, sporting a high-top dreads hairstyle and a new outfit. Despite these aesthetic changes, Eddy retains his signature capoeira fighting style, much to the delight of long-time fans.
His introduction marks the beginning of the Season 1 DLC rollout, with three more characters scheduled to be released throughout the year—another in the summer, one in autumn, and the final addition in winter.
The opening movie of “Tekken 8” itself, described more as a character montage than a story introduction, features a dynamic display of over-the-top expressions and actions from a wide array of characters. It showcases both familiar faces and newcomers, continuing the series’ legacy of diverse and captivating characters.
Central to the Tekken series is the ongoing conflict between Jin and Kazuya, a storyline that has captivated players for years. For those needing a refresher on the intricate plot of the Tekken universe, an explainer narrated by Brian Cox from the popular series “Succession” offers a comprehensive catch-up on the story so far.
“Tekken 8,” set to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC on January 26, marks a significant moment for the franchise. It’s the first major release since “Tekken 7” in 2015 and promises to continue the series’ legacy of intense and engaging fighting gameplay.
The inclusion of DLC characters like Eddy signifies Bandai Namco’s commitment to expanding the game’s universe and providing players with fresh experiences and challenges.


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(Business in Cameroon) - In the next 18 months, Douala will have a gigantic centre at the former Marché Congo destroyed by two fire outbreaks (in 2012 and February 2019). The foundation of this modern shopping area, with 3,350 shops, commercial equipment, restaurants and 300 parking spaces, has just been laid.
According to the promoters of this shopping space, to avoid the fire outbreak that destroyed Marché Congo, this centre, which will be built on the destroyed market’s site, will be equipped with “latest generation fire safety system.”
The modern market, an investment of about XAF28 billion, is the result of a public-private partnership (PPP) between Douala Urban Community and Cameroonian economic operator Emmanuel Neossi, promoter of Neo Industry, a cocoa bean processing unit recently opened in Kekem, in the Western region.
Named Neo Congo Mall, the shopping centre will be Emmanuel Neossi’s major real estate project, after the signature, in September 2019, of a joint venture agreement with the French business engineering company CIOA for the creation of Neo Real Estate, 49% controlled by CIOA and 51% by Neo Industry.
According to the terms of this joint-venture agreement, this joint venture is licensed to use CIOA group's Bati-Fablab micro-plant technologies, which will help Neo Real Estate produce 80% of the building materials it needs in Cameroon. This joint venture, according to authorized sources, also plans to install a pilot Bati-Fablab with a capacity of 1000 housing units per year in Western Cameroon.
Thanks to this partnership with CIOA, Emmanuel Neossi should more easily carry out the Neo Congo Mall project that Southwest International Construction Corporation (SICC), a joint venture between American investors and Cameroonian Soppo Ngalé, was unable to realize. Indeed, SICC's BOT (Built Operate Transfer) contract for the construction of a XAF7 billion shopping centre (1,400 shops) on the Congo market site in Douala was terminated by Douala Urban Community after the February 2019 fire.
At the time, the municipality mentioned the “failure” of its partner, which launched the project in 2013, to meet delivery planned for 2018. But that was without taking into account the financial difficulties and the beginnings of the SICC managers, all factors that finally got the better of this first project.
Brice R. Mbodiam


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Fresh off the heels of Minister Louis Farrakhan’s Justice or Else rally and calls for a boycott of Christmas shopping, many African-Americans are looking for ways to invest their money rather than spend it frivolously on material goods.
America’s Wealth Coach Deborah Owens joined Roland Martin on NewsOne Now to offer wealth building and investing tips that may help you with your desire to invest in lieu of Christmas shopping.
Owens explained, “African-Americans have to figure out how to use this buying power that we have and transfer that into wealth.”
“We’ve been focused on the wrong metric in the African-American community, we’re always focused on income, we’re not focused on wealth. And so in order to focus on wealth — the bottom line is our decisions have to increase our net worth,” Owens said.
According to a recent Nielsen report, African-Americans’ buying power is forecasted to reach $1.3 trillion by 2017.
The American Research Group reported that the average family spent $861 on Christmas shopping in 2014. Owens said if you’re going to spend $861 shopping, why not spend that amount on a few shares of stock? She then offered a couple of examples of investing verses holiday shopping.
Investing Vs. Christmas shopping
Apple iPad Pro $799 – 1 Share of Apple Stock $111.15*
LeBron XIII$245 – 1 Share of Nike Stock $126.42*
*Stock price as of 10/12/15
Owens explained that many people think you need to have tens of thousands of dollars to open an investment account, but you don’t.
According to Owens, many times individuals in the African-American community do not invest as a result of “lack of exposure” to investing. She said, “We have no legacy” where parents would give their children thousands of dollars and show them how to invest their money.
America’s Wealth Coach also explained one of the ways that average Americans can get into investing is by giving their children shares of stock as gifts, so the conversation is about investing instead of spending.
For those interested in purchasing stocks, Owens suggested viewers visit directinvesting.com and computershare.com.
Watch Roland Martin and financial guru Deborah Owens discuss wealth building through the purchase of stocks in lieu of purchasing Christmas gifts in the video clip above.
TV One’s NewsOne Now has moved to 7 A.M. ET, be sure to watch “NewsOne Now” with Roland Martin, in its new time slot on TV One.
Subscribe to the “NewsOne Now” Audio Podcast on iTunes.
Justice Or Else: Min. Louis Farrakhan Calls For Economic Boycott Of Black Friday Shopping To “Redistribute The Pain”
Don’t Miss Our Hottest Stories! Get The NewsOne Flip App for iPhone: Flip, Skip — Or Send Us a Tip!
WealthyU: Investing Vs. Christmas Shopping was originally published on newsone.com
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Samsung’s SmartThings Just Got Smarter, with New App and Ecosystem Updates
SmartThings now has over 120m users world-wide, and is compatible with the world’s leading smart home brands.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd highlights significant new updates to the SmartThings platform for 2020, combining new app features and ecosystem partnerships to bring more simplicity, control and fun to the growing Connected Living experience.
Last year, SmartThings experienced a 61% growth in registered users, bringing total users to over 120 million worldwide. With an ever-expanding ecosystem, including most Samsung products, SmartThings now allows users to bring more devices together than ever before, maximising the value of their smart experience.
Following 12 months of frequent updates and developments, the SmartThings app has further enhanced the user experience through its three key strengths:
- Open: Users’ experience comes first, as SmartThings brings together 80% of the UK’s leading IoT brands and every major voice assistant – Bixby, Alexa and Google Assistant – to work in harmony on one central platform across both iOS and Android.
- Simple: Bringing the smart home to life has never been easier, as SmartThings allows all devices to be controlled in one, simple-to-use app, whilst at home, or on the go.
- Secure: Extra peace of mind for customers with the knowledge their smart home is backed by Knox, Samsung’s enterprise grade security platform, protecting personal data between home and Cloud.
When at home…
SmartThings takes the stress out of controlling the home. Thanks to the latest software updates, users can sit back, relax and let the app do the hard work.
- Experience voice integration – experience updated SmartThings voice integration with Alexa and Google services, providing faster device responses and an easy set-up process. Following an April update, users can now add more than 400 Samsung devices, up from 150 previously.
- Group your lighting – following an update late last year, users can now combine smart bulbs and smart plugs, from any brand, into one group enabling them to create the perfect lighting mood in one tap.
- Enhance your home security – for extra peace-of-mind, group cameras, inside and out, to view them in one place in the SmartThings app, to check your home at a glance. For a crystal-clear and larger view, users can view home CCTV functions on a Samsung TV (2018-2020).
- Control your devices – users can now manage Bluetooth devices – as well as Wi-Fi, ZigBee and ZWave products – without leaving the SmartThings app: smart control has never been easier.
- Add a widget – for additional simplicity, the new SmartThings scene widget, introduced in Autumn last year, allows users to quickly trigger scenes – like “bedtime” and “leaving the house” – without entering the SmartThings app.
When on the go…
The new software updates are just as important for controlling and monitoring the home when users are on the go, as it is when they’re at home.
- Two-factor authentication – in a boost to security, two-factor authentication was added to the SmartThings app in April.
- Home monitor – the SmartThings app now includes a home monitor notification, to send instant alerts relating to detections of movement, smoke or water. To avoid receiving unnecessary push notifications if motion is detected when the user arrives home, the option of setting a 30-60 second delay is available.
- Automation builder – following April’s update, users can now create automations regardless of whether the product is online or not, allowing on-the-go users to provide instructions for devices when they turn back on.
- Landscape view – the Android Tablet app has been updated to provide users with an improved and consistent viewing experience in landscape format. Use SmartThings on a tablet for a bigger, portable smart home control, which can be shared with the whole family. The update follows the launch of the new Tab S6 Lite.
“We are delighted to provide such an extensive update to our SmartThings app. The rise in registered users over the last 12 months has been hugely encouraging, highlighting consumer enthusiasm for building their own smart home environment,” said Teg Dosanjh, Director of Connected Living (AI & IoT), UK & IRE at Samsung Electronics.
“The features included within our updates are designed to make people’s lives that little bit easier, elevating the compatibility SmartThings shares with over 150 leading smart home brands. This is another significant step forward for the platform, and we are excited to continue the journey with SmartThings, its ecosystem and our customers.”
SmartThings is continually adding new brands and devices to enable users to conveniently control all their Smart home products from one app. As part of the latest announcement, SmartThings has added the following third-party services to its ever-growing portfolio:
- Philips Hue – an updated connection with Philip Hue lights allowing users the option to connect via Cloud to Cloud or Lan, without an additional SmartThings hub.
- Sonos and LIFX – integrations were also updated recently, using the most up to date technology to ensure the user experience is seamless.
- Garmin – users can add the SmartThings app to their Garmin Watch for quick, easy control of their smart home automations.
- Popp TRUE Secure Flow Stop – the first SmartThings water shut off valve in the UK, allowing consumers to protect their homes from leaks when combined with a water leak sensor.
To read more about Samsung SmartThings and compatible smart products, visit: smartthings.com
About Samsung SmartThings
Samsung is committed to delivering valuable experiences for its customers, which is why SmartThings is built into all flagship products. SmartThings is the easiest way to connect and control a wide range of devices from Samsung and other leading smart brands, all from one app – making life simpler, safer and more entertaining.
With expertise and experience across consumer technology and IoT, SmartThings hardware and software validates Samsung’s leadership in offering people a single, seamless and intelligent experience, allowing them to live a smarter, more connected life.
With millions of users on the platform to date, and thousands joining every week, SmartThings is one of the largest open ecosystems of connected devices, available on both Android and iOS, and compatible with the leading voice assistants. By openly publishing APIs and schemas, developers are enabled to utilise and evolve the platform’s offering, supporting SmartThings’ mission to help users save time, effort and money.
For more information, www.samsung.com/uk/smartthings.
 All features require a Samsung user account, SmartThings App, and a network connection.


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ANDMORE’s Bob Maricich named trade show industry icon
ANDMORE chairman and CEO Bob Maricich received the Industry Icon Award from Trade Show News Network (TSNN) at its 2023 TSNN Awards on Oct. 28 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The annual award recognizes leaders who have made a major impact on the trade show industry.
“I am honored to be the 2023 TSNN Industry Icon Award honoree,” said Maricich.“When ANDMORE was founded, my intention was to create an exceptional company of enduring value. Through periods of growth and innovation as well as disruption, we have upheld that promise. ANDMORE is proud to provide opportunities for buyers and sellers to connect, grow and prosper through physical markets, design centers and digital channels like no one else in the industry. I accept this honor on behalf of the whole ANDMORE team and our unwavering commitment to putting our customers first.”
“Every year we choose someone who exemplifies true leadership, and for the 2023 TSNN Awards, we were thrilled to honor Bob Maricich as the Industry Icon Award winner,” said TSNN President Rachel Wimberly. “Bob was celebrated at the gala awards dinner Oct. 28 in front of more than 140 trade show professionals in Puerto Rico.”
Maricich was celebrated for his leadership of ANDMORE since its founding in 2011 as International Market Centers. Under his leadership, ANDMORE has flourished, now serving more than 350,000 global wholesale buyers through its physical markets, design centers and digital channels. More than 2,200 exhibitors showcase their products in permanent showroom spaces and its 24 annual buying events present an additional 7,000 temporary exhibitors in 2 million square feet of trade show exhibit space each year. It presents some 30+ apparel, furniture, gift, home décor and lifestyle markets and buying events – in permanent showroom space and trade show exhibits – in Atlanta; High Point, North Carolina; Las Vegas; and New York.
Caption: Bob Maricich (center) accepting the Industry Icon Award from Trade Show News Network (TSNN). Photo courtesy of TSNN.


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Ford India has put in plans to export the EcoSport to about 40 countries, which will start within few months of its launch in the domestic market. Image Credit: Flickr
The company had stated that the EcoSport would play a significant role in its aggressive global plan to achieve a 50 percent increase in worldwide sales by mid decade to eight million vehicles a year.
The model was showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo here in the Capital and the company had then said that it would sell the new SUV in around 100 markets worldwide and it would be produced at plants in India and Brazil initially.
Ford India has invested USD 142 million at its Chennai plant to manufacture the EcoSport.
The company has already started taking bookings of the vehicle and deliveries will start from the day of its launch on June 26.
The EcoSport will take on Renault's best selling SUV Duster which is priced at a range of Rs 7.99 lakh to Rs 12.18 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). It will also be in the same segment as Mahindra Quanto, which is available at a price of Rs 5.99 lakh to Rs 7.75 lakh.
"We expect EcoSport to be a game changer for Ford in India and also set a benchmark in the Indian auto industry," company's President and Managing Director Joginder Singh told reporters.
The company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Ford India is betting big on the new compact sports utility vehicle, which is the second generation version of the model that was developed in Brazil and first launched in South America in 2003.
The company said the automatic transmission version in 1.5 litre petrol will start at Rs 8.45 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
The EcoSport with 1.5 litre diesel will have price starting at Rs 6.69 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
While the price of 1 litre Ecoboost petrol version start at Rs 7.90 lakh, the 1.5 litre petrol variant will be tagged at Rs 5.59 lakh.
The model will be available with three engine options of 1 litre petrol with Ecoboost technology, 1.5 litre petrol and 1.5 litre diesel engine.
The petrol variant of EcoSport is priced at Rs 5.59 lakh (entry level).
Global auto major Ford has launched its new compact sports utility vehicle 'EcoSport' in the country. Image Credit: Flickr


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From left: Nations Trust Bank Head of Cards Nimesh Fernando, Milroy Perera and his wife, Nations Trust Bank American Express Cards and Consumer Banking Deputy General Manager Priyantha Talwatte and Nations Trust Bank Chief Marketing Officer Shaan Wickremesinghe
Since its inception, Nations Trust Bank (NTB) has been committed to delivering unparalleled products and services and recently announced Milroy Perera as the winner of the free fuel bowser giveaway, a unique and revolutionary programme which offers the bank’s American Express and MasterCard card members a chance to win 13,200 litres of fuel.
“We, at Nations Trust Bank, have conceptualized a gamut of unique programmes to enhance the lives of our American Express and MasterCard card members. This fuel programme was formulated to deliver on this promise and give one lucky card member the experience of unique benefits, such as travelling without worrying about fuel costs for months to come. This offer substantially complements our brand promise of enhancing a card member’s dynamic lifestyle. I thank all our loyal cardmembers for being part of this promotion and extend my congratulations to Milroy Perera,” said NTB Head of Cards Nimesh Fernando.
This programme, which launched on July 1 and concluded on September 30, required card members to use their NTB American Express or MasterCard credit card at any fuel station islandwide for a minimum value of Rs.2,500.
The winner was selected through a draw and will be rewarded with a monthly credit limit equivalent to their average monthly transactions during the promotion period until the total winning amount has been remunerated.
Perera said, “It’s exciting to be rewarded with this fabulous programme from NTB. I have been an American Express Platinum cardmember of NTB for nine years now and have been overwhelmed with the programmes and services provided. NTB has lived up to its promise of being a lifestyle partner and has thus enhanced my shopping, lodging, dining and travel experiences with a multitude of programmes. I will continue to use my card and eagerly await more programmes the bank will introduce in the months to come.”
In addition to this programme, the bank also offers cardmembers with an opportunity to win Rs.100,000 each month, simply by using their American Express and MasterCard credit card at any fuel station islandwide for a minimum value of Rs.2,500 from October 1 to December 31. The bank intends to continually grant their cardholders with programmes that enhance their lifestyles.


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Gartner said in a statement that that display formats will make up most of the revenue, but video will show the highest growth. However in countries like India, where most devices are sub-Rs 5,000 with screen sizes below three inches the market will be challenging, though attractive as mobile internet is just about taking off in India. North America is where most of growth will come from, due to the sheer scale of its advertising budgets and their shift to mobile.
Overall, in initial years growth of mobile ads will be slow. "Over the next few years, growth in mobile advertising spending will slow due to ad space inventory supply growing faster than demand, as the number of mobile websites and applications increases faster than brands request ad space on mobile device screens," said Stephanie Baghdassarian, research director at Gartner. "However, from 2015 to 2017, growth will be fueled by improved market conditions, such as provider consolidation, measurement standardization and new targeting technologies, along with a sustained interest in the mobile medium from advertisers."
With regard to the different ad formats used in the mobile sector, mobile display ad formats are collectively the single biggest category of ads, and will remain so throughout the forecast period, although this category will shift to mobile Web display after several years of higher growth in in-app display. Uptake of the audio/video format by the end of the forecast period is higher because the tablet form factor will drive video, and the tablet market continues to grow.
In addition, search/map ad types will benefit from increased use of location data gathered from users, either through them opting into being located automatically through their devices or because they proactively check in the places they visit using apps such as Foursquare and Pinterest. As a result, local advertisers will be more interested in the mobile channel as a means of pushing ads. The split between in-app and Web display is taking longer to shift in favor of the latter, as the use of HTML5 tools in mobile website development is taking longer to impact the market.
Western Europe's market for mobile advertising will remain similar to North America's, albeit at a slightly lower scale, for the duration of the forecast period. “The mobile channel will become more and more integrated into 360-degree advertising campaigns, eating up budget historically allocated to print and radio advertising,” said Ms. Baghdassarian.
Asia/Pacific and Japan is the most mature region for mobile advertising, and therefore growth will slow between 2012 and 2017, averaging 30% a year. Historically, the unusually high adoption of handsets for digital content consumption in Japan and South Korea has given the Asia/Pacific region an early lead in mobile advertising. Looking forward, Gartner expects the high-growth economies of China and India to contribute increasingly to mobile advertising growth as their expanding middle classes present attractive markets for global and local brands.
In the emerging markets of Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, mobile advertising growth will largely track the technology adoption and stabilization of emerging economies, but will mostly be driven by large markets such as Russia, Brazil and Mexico. From 2015, growth rates in this region will exceed the worldwide average.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- Centre Agrees to Convert Vi Interest on Dues into Equity
The government has agreed to convert Vodafone Idea’s accrued interest worth over ₹16,000 crore on deferred adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues into equity at ₹10 a share.D-St Indices Jump; Some Adani Stocks End in Green
“This week was very tough for the Indian markets with so many events but the markets appear to have started absorbing a lot of bad news, especially surrounding the Adani Group,” said B Gopkumar, MD and CEO of Axis Securities.Adani Group may Shelve Plans to Raise $500 m via Overseas Bonds
The Adani Group is likely to shelve its plans to raise close to $500 million via international bonds and will explore other refinancing options, including partially paying the outstanding from internal accruals, to refinance the first tranche of the $4.5 billion debt taken from a clutch of global banks to acquire ACC and Ambuja Cements last year, said two people directly aware of the matter.
ETPrime stories of the day
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The press invite sent out by Motorola suggests that the company will be unveiling the successor to the value-for-money Moto G.
Motorola has sent out a press invite for a smartphone launch event on May 13 in London, and the teaser text hints at the arrival of the Moto E.
As previous leaks have revealed, the Moto E will offer relatively premium specs at a budget price, similar to the Moto G. These specs are expected to include a 4.3-inch display, a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 4GB of internal memory, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera, Android 4.4 KitKat, and a 1,900 mAh battery. The Moto E is also said to have a microSD slot, the absence of which was one of the very few shortcomings of the Moto G.
Motorola hasn’t provided any details, but the “Priced for all” text in the invite is a surefire indication that the company’s next smartphone will be aimed at the masses. It’s unclear what the exact pricing strategy will be, but if the Moto G’s rock-bottom price is anything to go by, Motorola will be offering yet another device that puts all other low-end smartphones to shame.


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Biotech And Pharma Archives
Our 9th annual report card of the state, metro and international pecking order features more than 50 rankings categories, including new energy rankings and a close look at which locations are maintaining/upgrading critical infrastructure. From the July/August 2013 issue.
This TEF investment will support the company’s new manufacturing facilities aligned to Dow’s performance plastics franchise, which will produce a range of polyolefins and elastomer products using ethylene produced at the company’s new ethylene unit in Texas.
Marcellus shale drilling in WV spurs Pietro Fiorentini to set first U.S. manufacturing facility.
High tech customer center will serve as catalyst to spur pharmacy and health care innovation.
A 4,400-acre former military base in the heart of Massachusetts is helping startups and industry leaders succeed and conquer.
A consortium of 300 suppliers and vendors to the wind energy industry in the Badger State are organized in an online directory with 16 product and service categories.
Planned national security, health and engineering solutions company Leidos to move into Reston Town Center.
From the digitization of equipment and processes to 3D printing to materials with custom-designed properties, advanced manufacturing is driving high-tech innovation, exports and the creation on high-wage jobs. From the May/June 2013 issue.
On what seems to be a job-creation winning streak, Carolina economic developers must be doing something right. From the May/June 2013 issue.
Digital health pioneer’s new location, immediately adjacent to UC San Francisco’s (UCSF) Mission Bay campus, further positions Mission Bay at epicenter of digital health revolution.


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Easter eggs have hit the shelves in January. What is going on?
The Christmas chocolate tubs are barely off the shelves but supermarkets are already replacing them with Easter eggs, to shoppers' bemusement.
Although Valentine’s Day is the next chocolate-heavy event on the consumer calendar, Easter is already making its presence felt on shelves.
Easter Sunday, although falling early this year, is still 12 weeks away on April 1.
The Co-operative, which is giving over shelf space to Easter eggs, said many customers liked to buy them ‘as soon as they can’.
Customers have taken to social media to voice opinions, with many saying they believe March 1 is a reasonable start date to be subjected to Easter advertising and products.
Lucy Lawson, who posted a picture of chocolate eggs in a Co-operative store in Settle, North Yorkshire, simply wrote: ‘I kid you not,’ while other opinions differed little from ‘way too early’ to ‘that’s actually insane’.
A spokeswoman for the Co-operative said: ‘As a convenience retailer our stores often have limited backroom space which means products go on shelf when space appears. Sales figures also show that many customers will buy Easter eggs as soon as they can.’
A number of consumers have also posted pictures claiming to have seen Easter eggs on sale at Tesco stores, despite the supermarket saying it was not selling them currently.
Sainsbury’s said it was not selling them ‘at the moment’.


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Today is February 29, a date that only comes around once every four years and is known as Leap Day. There aren’t a whole lot of traditions or celebrations that are normally associated with Leap Day, but some people may create their own ways of celebrating in various ways. So how many plan on doing something fun or interesting in honor of Leap Day this year?
Leap Day Celebrations
In Ask Your Target Market’s latest survey, 16% of respondents said that they are likely to celebrate or do something special or interesting for Leap Day this year. 68% said they are unlikely to celebrate in any way. And 15% were neutral or undecided at this point.
One way that people might choose to celebrate Leap Day is by visiting stores or businesses that offer discounts or specials because of the holiday. 8% of respondents said they know of multiple businesses that have Leap Day specials or sales. And another 7% said they know of at least one such business. Walmart, Amazon, Sears and Target were the most popular businesses mentioned by respondents in relation to Leap Day sales.
Leap Year Birthdays
Birthdays are also another potential reason for celebration, since those with Leap Day birthdays only get to celebrate on their actual birthdays every four years. Overall, just 2% of respondents said they have Leap Day birthdays. And another 20% at least know of someone who has a Leap Day birthday. Those respondents were 19% more to likely to have plans for celebrating Leap Day in some way.
You can view the complete survey results in the widget below and be sure to click “Open Full Report” to take advantage of all the chart and filter options.
What do you want to know? If you need some consumer insights on a particular topic, let us know in the comments below and we’ll consider it for an upcoming survey post.
Results were collected on February 26 via AYTM’s online survey panel.


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Iranian HRC imports slump by 67%
Iranian imports of hot rolled coil (HRC) fell by 67% in the month from November 20 to December 20, against the corresponding period the year before.
Paragraph entered by Atlantic migration, in order for SteelFirst articles to display correctly on Metal Bulletin.
HRC import volumes for the month slumped from 160,052 tonnes to 52,686 tonnes year-on-year, according to trade data published by Iranian customs.
Over the first nine months of the Iranian year, which started on March 20, Iran imported 1.04 million tonnes of HRC, down by 33% year-on-year against 1.35 million tonnes.
Iran imported HRC, as well as other flat and long products, from Russia via the Caspian Sea.
But the flow of imports has been restricted recently, especially since the latest round of international trading sanctions on Iran came into effect in 2012.
More than 70% of imported HRC has a thickness of less than 3mm, and is mainly used for the production of pipe and hollow sections.
“There is no doubt that the tightening trade sanctions against Iran will restrict import flows more and more in future. Falling inventories in the local market will make prices rocket sooner or later,” a local trader commented.
“The only option left for Iran is to increase local production, which will not be easy as the sanctions also affect the progress of steel-plant projects,” he added.


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“Creating great customer experiences — what leaders like Disney, Zappos and Nordstrom do on a consistent basis — is one of the few areas left for companies to differentiate and generate good margins. Making it happen, however, is easier said than done; fundamentally, it is a people issue. How do you get employees to go beyond the call of duty to regularly exceed customer expectations? By empowering them to develop emotional connections with each customer. A great client experience can happen wherever an organization interacts with a customer. And, it is not limited to face-to-face interactions or front-line staff. Zappos, an online retailer, provides great experiences through call centres and online dealings. A great customer experience is hard to pin down because the definition of ‘great’ and ‘experience’ are tough to define.” [Source: Financial Post]
“While Zappos has become a go-to site for Middle America footwear shoppers, it’s still seeking to elevate its image among more highbrow consumers. To that end, the Amazon-owned site has named André Leon Talley as artistic director of its high-end Zappos Couture business. The former Vogue eminence will oversee editorial content on the Zappos Couture site, including fashion shoots, videos and trend picks, all set to debut on Jan. 22. ’The digital universe is a new, exciting opportunity for me to reach a broad audience in terms of the global luxury market,’ said Talley, adding that his goal is to ‘create something unique, in terms of a Web magazine within the Zappos Couture Web site, that conveys the immediacy and excitement of luxury retail products, season by season.’” [Source: WWD]
Since the birth of ecommerce in the mid-1990s, retailers have wrestled with the issue of sizing. If consumers can’t try on a sweater or suit before they buy it, how do they know it will fit? Lack of understanding about size and fit can discourage sales on the consumer side, and when a consumer chooses the wrong size, they’re apt to return it. According to Kirthi Kalyanam, director of the Internet Retailing and Retail Studies Program at Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, sizing is part of a larger issue of how consumers determine that a product is right for them without seeing it, holding it, or trying it on. It’s not a major concern when buying basics like printer paper or light bulbs, but the more a product’s appeal centers on design aesthetics and uniqueness (like with clothing or jewelry), the more it important that tactile contact becomes. “Some consumers have a high need for touch,” he said. Also compounding this problem is the fact that there’s …
Last minute preparations are being made for what is effectively retail’s Super Bowl – a stretch where both brick-and-mortar and online stores will be flooded with holiday shoppers looking for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Many retailers have added seasonal employees to handle increased service calls, hoping to improve their customer service levels from the previous year or at least stay consistent with normal levels.
STELLAService analysts conducted detailed tests of the 25 largest retailers in the country to measure service performance during the 2011 holiday season, learning which retailer offered fastest shipping, the quickest refunds, and the speediest phone support, with proprietary data like no other resource.
Highlights of last year’s study include:
- On the busiest shopping weekend – Black Friday through Cyber Monday – shoppers found the following five sites offered the shortest phone hold times (MM:SS): Nordstrom.com (00:18), Overstock.com (00:44), LLBean.com …
When it comes to the holidays, surprises should be left to the gifts, not the delivery speed of products you order online. That’s why we tested the top 25 Internet Retailers for standard delivery speed. These are the same 25 retailers that we studied in the 2011 Cyber Monday Customer Service Study.
We ordered several products from each of the top retailers via standard shipping to various parts of the country over the last few weeks to test how long it took for the items to arrive.
Who was the fastest, and who was the slowest?
Some key highlights from the study include:
- 8 retailers had an average standard shipping time of three days or less: Zappos.com (2 days), Newegg.com (2.3 days), HPshopping.com (2.5 days), JCPenney.com (2.7 days), Amazon.com, (2.7 days), Gap.com (2.8 days), Dell.com (2.8 days), and SonyStyle.com (2.8 days).
- 3 retailers had an average standard shipping time of over 5 days: ToysRUs.com (5.5 days), HSN.com (5.5 days), and Kohls.com (5 days).
Note: this is the second in a three part series looking at the customer service performance of the top 25 online retailers during the 2011 Black Friday through Cyber Monday weekend. View Part 1 (Phone Support) and Part 3 (Live Chat Support) for a complete view on how the largest online retailers cared for customers during the big shopping holiday.
According to Forrester, 55% of online shoppers use email when attempting to solve a customer service problem. Most consumers expect relatively quick responses to email inquiries. In fact, if you’re shopping online and have a question, what’s the point of sending an email if the company doesn’t get back to you for days? The product, special deal or issue in question may no longer be relevant by the time you get a reply.
To give shoppers a better idea of which stores plan to keep you in the loop and which stores are likely to dismiss your message into the email abyss as you do your online holiday shopping, STELLAService …
One of the conveniences of online shopping is not having to leave your house to retrieve the product. The same should go for returns. Therefore, it should not be surprising that an easy returns process is something online shoppers seek out. This is especially true when shoppers buy clothes and books, the top two products purchased online that are returned or exchanged.
However, last week, the United States Postal Service announced it was considering closing 3,653 municipal post offices. The post offices in consideration are located mostly in rural areas and their closure would affect hundreds of thousands of people that depend on their services.
Since an estimated 62% of online shoppers prefer to return products purchased online via the mail instead of to the brick-and-mortar store (when a brick-and-mortar store exists) the potential shut-down of thousands of post offices means it will be a whole lot more difficult to return a product for those people whose local post offices close. …
As an introduction to the list, David VanAmburg from the ASCI points out that all of the companies included operate in industries that lack a high degree of competition — i.e. commercial banking, utilities, and cable companies. Not coincidentally, this means that customers of these companies who’d like to switch to a competitor have a very laborious task in front of them — it’s difficult and expensive to do so, and you’re not transitioning to a company that’s assuredly better. This puts the customer in a serious bind.
The online retail marketplace offers a positive contrast to the above predicament. The existence of many retailers offering similar products at nearly identical prices effectively shows how increased competition begets increased (read: better) customer …
It’s wedding season! In particular there’s a very important wedding that just took place, and of course I’m talking about William and Kate. Naturally, my morning routine of watching Good Morning America had been infiltrated with coverage of the “Epic Event”.
As part of its coverage, ABC found anyone they could who was attending the wedding and interviewed him/her about useless information. For some reason, I actually paid attention to the interviews last week. Glad I did… One young guy they interviewed was not only the very close Step-2nd Cousin of Prince William, but also happened to be one of the co-founders of Quintessentially, “the world’s leading private members’ club with a global concierge that provides a unique brand of service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.” Never hearing of this before, I was intrigued to see what something like that costs. After being made fun of by my “in-the-know” girlfriend for never …


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Terapeak and WorthPoint launch Terapeak Collectibles
The new service, available only via eBay’s Selling Manager Applications platform, combines antiques and collectibles data from eBay, other online marketplaces, and real-life auction houses.
Auction data is sourced from WorthPoint's own price database, Worthopedia, which includes data from more than 10 years of live and online auctions. Worthopedia is also accessible via WorthPoint's own research service, PriceMiner.
Terapeak Collectibles is only available to eBay.com sellers who have subscribed to Selling Manager.


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Will Charitybuzz's offer of a coffee date with Tim Cook surpass the $1 million mark? There are still 18 days left to bid, but from what we can tell the auction is already off to a smashing start. So far, bids have topped $295,000, which is more than the site's previous record bid of $255,000 for a chance to spend a day with former US president (and new Twitter user) Bill Clinton.
The Charitybuzz auction has an estimated value of $50,000, notes The Verge, and proceeds will benefit the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights. Whoever wins is allowed to bring one guest and spend between 30 minutes to an hour with Cook at Apple HQ in Cupertino, Calif. Bids close May 14.
Update: The bid is currently at $580,000.
[via The Verge]


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Kiwi Scott McLaughlin's 2017 race helmet and racesuit are back up for grabs to raise money for bushfire relief.
The reigning Supercars champion believed he had sold the gear last month, when a week-long auction produced a winning bid of NZ$48,000.
McLaughlin, 26, agreed to match the amount, but unfortunately, the winner withdrew their bid.
So the DJR-Penske star has made the prized items available again, with the auction scheduled over the season-opening Adelaide 500 this weekend.
McLaughlin's 2017 season was full of highs, but ended in a career-low, when he was pipped for the title by Holden veteran Jamie Whincup.
Just two months earlier, the flying Kiwi and his Ford-powered Falcon set a new lap record around Bathurst's Mount Panorama circuit.
"It has been absolutely devastating to see the bushfires ravage across Australia this summer," said McLaughlin. "The destruction and loss of life has been horrific.
"I felt compelled to help in some way, so I decided to sell my 2017 helmet to raise money for bushfire relief and recovery, with [team principal Ryan Storey] also kindly donating my racesuit to the auction.
"While the outcome from the original auction was disappointing, I am putting the items up for sale again, with the hope of raising a significant amount of money to aid those impacted by the fires and in desperate need of help."
The online auction is currently live.


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Kubota Tractor Corporation has announced new senior leadership roles within Marketing and Dealer Development and across the Construction Equipment, Agriculture & Turf divisions. The senior-level promotions and addition are part of Kubota’s ongoing efforts to further expand and strengthen its position in the U.S. marketplace.
“Kubota is growing into the future, and we are dedicated to improving organizational alignment and strengthening our core business,” said Mr. Yuichi “Ken” Kitao, president of Kubota Tractor Corporation. “These deeply experienced leaders within our organization bring tremendous knowledge, skills and industry depth that will help ensure Kubota’s continued momentum and success.”
Organizational changes within the Kubota senior leadership team include:
- Greg Embury, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Dealer Development: Embury began his career with Kubota in 2001 as vice president of sales and marketing. With more than 30 years of agriculture and construction equipment industry experience, Embury has led the nationwide Kubota team through significant company growth. In his new role, he will provide continued strategic direction for Kubota’s marketing efforts, while further fostering relationships and growth within the national dealership network.
- Ted Pederson, Vice President, Construction Equipment and Northern Division: Pederson joined Kubota in 1979 as a regional sales manager in the company’s Southeast Division and has held various positions of increasing responsibilities since that time. He has been an integral part of Kubota’s success throughout the years and is a long-tenured and dedicated employee. In his new role, Pederson will guide expansion of Kubota’s construction equipment line, while overseeing the activities of the Northern Division.
- Todd Stucke, Vice President, Agriculture & Turf Division: Prior to joining Kubota in January 2013, Stucke spent 23 years at AGCO Corporation. While at AGCO, he held various positions of increasing responsibility and rose through the ranks in sales and marketing, most recently serving as director of marketing of the hay and harvesting division. His extensive experience and knowledge of the agriculture industry will serve him well in his new role where he will lead Kubota’s continued growth in the agriculture and turf markets.
The senior leadership team announcement coincides with the expansion of the Kubota Industrial Engineering (KIE) facility in Jefferson, Georgia. The KIE facility expansion will allow for greater manufacturing capacity and distribution of Kubota’s American-built tractor and turf products, while adding more jobs to the company’s growing workforce that assembles and delivers Kubota products in the U.S. KIE will host an official grand opening ceremony at the newly-expanded plant on April 8, 2013.
“At Kubota, we are deeply committed to the U.S. market, and are making strategic investments and decisions – such as the expanded manufacturing facility and recent leadership changes – to service the outstanding growth and strong customer demand for Kubota equipment, as well as to enhance our relationships with our nationwide network of loyal and valued dealers,” said Kitao.


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Wheatstone to Feature Updates, New Products at IBC2014
Aug 7, 2014 1:49 PM
NEW BERN, N.C.� Wheatstone will show a new generation of its IP audio networking system and digital control surfaces for radio at the upcoming IBC conference in Amsterdam.
Among the changes are new I/O and specialty Blades that make up the WheatNet-IP Intelligent Network for routing audio and controlling audio functions.
Wheatstone''s new B3 I/O Blades add embedded audio, a multiband processor, updated routing functionality, double the virtual logic ports f, AES67 compatibility and OLED interface displays.
Wheatstone will also showcase its new WheatNet-IP PC app with widgets such as faders, meters, labels, buttons, clocks and timers for creating virtual control panels, quick-access buttons and other customized studio control from a PC or PC touchscreen.
Adding more flexibility to Wheatstone''s IP audio network are several new digital consoles, including new networked talent stations and its new 12-channel L-12 control surface, a precision-built, low-profile, tabletop IP control surface that offers assignable sources to any fader and with hot-swappable individual fader modules.


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New Games Coming Out For 2020
Top 15 Awesome Upcoming War Games Of 2019 2020 Ps4
The holidays have come and gone and 2020 is marching right along. despite the number of big games that got delayed early this year, there are still plenty coming out this spring for you to look. Below you can find an index by month of all the new games coming out over the next year; those scheduled to drop in 2020 without a concrete release date can be found in the tbc section. But now that developers have figured out the current gen down to the last molecule, expect these games to squeeze every last ounce of power out of them, and possibly redefine how we even thought of them. here are the best games coming out in 2020. Yes, that's right. a new half life game is coming out in 2020. this time around valve is taking half life into the world of vr. set between the events of the half life and half life 2, you'll be. If you're wondering what games are coming up in 2020, we've put them all in one convenient location. this list will be continually updated to act as a living, breathing schedule as new dates are announced, titles are delayed, and big reveals happen. this should help you plan out your next several months in gaming and beyond.
Top 20 Best Upcoming Games 2019 2020 Most Anticipated
4 video games coming out in 2020 (and 16 possibilities) some amazing video games are coming out in 2019 but 2020 could be shaping up to be a fantastic year for the industry. While 2019 may not have had as many standout games as previous years, 2020 is shaping up to be an absolute monster. we’re in for some new franchises, new entries in long dormant series, remakes. Related: 30 big ps4 and ps5 games coming in 2020 click through the gallery below or continue scrolling for our list of the 36 biggest games with confirmed 2020 release dates. all the big games. Numerous video games are scheduled to be released in 2020. in the video game industry, 2020 is expected to see the launch of the next generation of video game consoles, with both microsoft and sony interactive entertainment poised to release the xbox series x and playstation 5 consoles near the end of the year, respectively. 20 insane upcoming games of 2019 & 2020 | new games 2019 for ps4 xbox one pc games list: 00:00 project eve 02:02 oddworld soulstorm 03:15 star wars: jedi fallen order 05:06 the elder scrolls.
Top 10 Most Anticipated Video Games Of 2020
Upcoming pc games q1 2020 doom eternal. hell is coming to earth. but, in better news, doom eternal’s heaven is on its way, too. we’ve been waiting a while for the doom eternal but, when the. Here are the biggest and best rpg releases coming out in 2020 and beyond. more new games of 2020: biggest new horror games of 2020 & beyond | biggest new fighting games of 2020 & beyond. 2020 promises to be a bumper year for games, with new consoles in the xbox series x and playstation 5, as well as more and more games being rolled out on google's cloud based platform stadia. 2020 is already looking like a packed year, and nintendo's line up is no exception. here are the biggest games slated to come out in 2020 for the switch (as well as a few we think could come in. On the cusp on the new year, we're looking ahead at the biggest games confirmed for 2020, from the last of us part two to cyberpunk 2077. #ign #gaming.


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The food economy is going through a transition; some would call it a revolution. The term revolution pops up a lot, from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s food revolution (bringing healthy food back to working class communities), to the innovative, fast-growing company Revolution Foods, which brings healthy food into schools.
We heard from Revolution Foods co-founder and CEO Kristin Groos Richmond over lunch today at Urban 2.0. She talked about the importance of bringing healthy food into schools, in particular inner city schools. A phenomenon that’s garnered attention in recent years is that of food deserts, where local residents don’t have a grocery store nearby, and struggle to access healthy, non-processed food. In bringing quality food (and teaching good nutritional and cooking knowledge to students and parents alike), Revolution Foods is helping students and families become more healthy and productive (teachers report better student performance), along with teaching invaluable life skills.
Another revolution has been the shift to growing food on a larger scale inside the city. Food growth in the city for the past several decades has been a largely private, small-scale endeavor, people growing food for their own supply in their backyards, balconies, and in small community gardens. If farms were found inside the city limits, they were on the outskirts, fighting against the ever-encroaching growth of suburbia. Recently, this trend has been turned on its head. With Detroit leading the way, shrinking (usually former industrial) cities are converting abandoned tracts of land to agricultural purposes. Cities like Cleveland are pursuing this strategy as well.
A parallel development is happening in more affluent cities. Food is grown just outside the city, but many aspects of the food economy occur inside the city. Cities like Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC are leading the way. Some of the outputs in both struggling and thriving urban centers are an increase in farmers’ markets, food trucks and carts, and independent, locally owned restaurants and food producers.
This strikes me as a smart economic strategy for regions that have an existing agriculture base nearby (or one with lots of vacant, underutilized land). Food is a growth industry. Consumers are willing to pay more for quality (locally grown) food, either at a market or a restaurant. There will always be a demand for food, making it a more stable investment than a commodity that will experience more elasticity. An exciting, quality restaurant and food scene is a big attraction for residents (as quality of life) and tourists (as an experience). On a holistic level, it creates jobs in the local community, and smart food production strategies learned on the job can also transfer to one’s home life, encouraging healthier, better living.
This isn’t to say everyone should shop local all the time (there are good reasons against doing so). But maximizing a region’s potential for food output can be a catalyst for growth and success.


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Hoping to set a new industry standard, Google has announced a new plan to measure online advertising.
The new plan is being called Brand Activate which is designed to “reimagine online measurement for brand marketers”. With better metrics, hopefully marketers will feel more comfortable allocating more money to online advertising.
The first two components of Brand Activate are Active View and Active GRP. Active View’s proposal stated it will count a viewed ad impression as one that is at least 50% viewable on the screen for at least one second. Active GRP will calculate the reach and frequency of a campaign, but let advertisers react in real time.
A further explanation can be found in the video below


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Frederic Moll has to be one of the most successful inventors and entrepreneurs who is not yet a household name.
Moll’s successes include the 22-year-old, publicly traded Intuitive Surgical, a robotic surgical systems manufacturer now worth around $61.4 billion, and Hansen Medical, a company that developed tools to manipulate catheters.
Most recently, the serial medical device entrepreneur sold Auris, a manufacturer of advanced surgical robots that was sold earlier this year to Johnson & Johnson in a $3.4 billion deal that also holds the possibility of an additional $2.35 billion in payouts.
More significant than the money, though, are the changes that technologies like Auris presage for the medical profession.
“With Auris, we realized there aren’t going to be enough surgeons to address the needs of the additional 5 billion people who are going to be on earth, and everyone deserves equally good healthcare, and you’ve got to find a way to deliver that with technology. So, what is the equivalent of cell phones for surgery?” said Ajay Royan, the co-founder of Mithril Capital and an investor in the company, in an interview with Fortune earlier this year. “It sounds crazy, but what is the iPhone of surgery, where you can deliver an insanely sophisticated platform but be able to operate it in a very intuitive and simple fashion? That was the thesis behind Auris; it was not an instrument that we were funding, we were funding a platform and a way of training people in surgery.”
Royan, who co-founded Mithril Capital with Peter Thiel back in 2014, saw in Auris a startup that epitomized his firm’s approach to investments. It led Mithril to back the company and paved the way for what looks like a $700 million windfall for the fund.
Mithril closed its second fund with $850 million roughly two years ago and has been methodically investing in a wide range of companies that include the intelligence data mining company Palantir, along with big swings in robotics companies around the world.
Expect to hear updates on investment in robotics, disruptions in the medical device world and much, much more at Disrupt SF in October when these two titans take the stage.
Disrupt SF runs October 2 – October 4 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Tickets are available here.


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From Prada Jackets to Detergents — The List of All the Things ‘Sold Out King’ Jungkook Has Caused to Sell Out
South Korean singer and songwriter Jungkook, born Jeon Jung-kook, has a huge fan following, not just in his native country, but all over the world. Presumably, that is the reason why whenever he advertises or promotes a product, his dedicated fans jump into buying it, eventually resulting in the product selling out.
And that has happened quite a lot of time, and whatever the product is — from Prada jackets to detergents — it gets sold out in a blink of an eye. Many experts have stated that his brand reputation and power have, therefore, made a massive economic impact on growing businesses like Zijangsa, TEAZEN, and Lamodechief.
For instance, Maeil Economic Daily, one of the most popular newspapers in South Korea specializing in business and economy, named him an "emerging icon who shakes up the retail industry" while detailing his massive economic impact.
So, here is the list of things the "Sold out King" has helped to clear from the shelves.
In June 2020, Vogue Japan released a BTS issue featuring all the band members dressed in Prada, but fans were more interested in what the youngest member of the band was wearing.
After result? The jacket — which Jungkook wore and was priced on the Prada website at $2,820 — was immediately sold out in over 25 countries, including the US, Japan, France, Italy, Australia, Germany, and Switzerland.
Kim Soo-hyun’s Book 'I Decided to Live as Me'
Author Kim Soo-hyun’s self-help book I Decided to Live as Me became a bestseller in Japan after Jungkook recommended it in 2018.
Jungkook suggested the book, which was initially published in 2016, to his followers during season three of the BTS’ travel series, Bon Voyage. Right after his seal of approval, there was a dramatic increase in sales, seeing the book soon surpassing 600,000 copies in South Korea.
[UCC] Korean essay “I Decided To Live As Me” known as the book read by BTS' Jungkook has surpassed 150K copies in sales in Japan https://t.co/MYToBd0ADr pic.twitter.com/V2tpgNhPpF — allkpop (@allkpop) June 27, 2019
During a 2020 interview with a Korean news outlet, Soo-hyun also thanked him, stating it would have been hard for her to enter the market without him recommending her work to the BTS Army.
Louis Vuitton Denim
Jungkook’s Louis Vuitton denim for 'Dynamite,' which cost $2,120, was sold out (in some countries) on the brand’s official website, shortly after that concept photo came out.
The Trunk Project T-Shirt
During the 95th episode of Run BTS!, Jungkook wore a gray Trunk Project T-Shirt, also referred to as The Ripped Hole Pigment. The t-shirt was sold out on the Trunk Project website in less than 12 hours after the episode aired.
Kindness Killz Shorts
In 2020, Jungkook's wardrobe choice caused a buying frenzy when he wore a pair of Kindness Killz Shorts for his boxing workout. On skootskootskoot.com, the shorts that cost $95 was quickly sold out after his image came out in public.
Downy Laundry Detergent
During a chat with fans in 2019, Jungkook revealed that his favorite fabric softener was Downy, after which there was a Downy shortage across Korea. According to reports, the detergent brand sold two months-worth of products in one day.
Jungkook said he really sensitive to smell and he use fabric softener with detergent when doing laundry and sent the fabric softener pic he using lol why he is so cute ðŸ’›#ì •êµ @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/Q4HBLpgQbW — JungkookUSA! (@JeonggukUSA) January 20, 2019
After he found out the news, the singer-songwriter took to Twitter to inform his followers that he was also unable to buy his favorite softener that day. Sometime later, in August 2020, Downy even created a Tiny Tan edition of their softener with BTS’ chibi characters adorning the bottle.


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Today's car shoppers are smarter and savvier than ever before. And it's changing the way car shopping is done.
Shopping for a new automobile may not be typically thought of as a high-tech process, but it is. Beyond mobile apps that allow for pricing information, security ratings, customer reviews, and inventory data, technology has even rendered the traditional test drive somewhat obsolete. According to testimony from countless dealership managers, consumers frequently march onto their lot, express their wishes, and drive home with a new car in 30 minutes or less.
These days, it can take longer to get a pizza than a new car.
"For generations," says Jaclyn Trop of The New York Times
, "the auto dealer has been the primary avenue for carmakers to sell vehicles to consumers. But technology is rapidly changing that equation. Consumers no longer depend on dealers to learn about cars."
Today, at West Valley City's Henry Day Ford
, one of Utah's foremost Ford dealerships, current and prospective customers alike are given an innovative opportunity to “virtually test drive
” a number of new model vehicles. Want to check out the 2015 Ford Explorer SUV? Just a few clicks will take you inside the vehicle for a comprehensive look at the model that provides everything but the new car smell.
Henry Day Ford's website, hailed by many as a perfect example of how a dealer should accommodate tech-savvy consumers in the modern era, may be the standard-bearer today, but others are quickly following the lead and ramping up the elaborate bells and whistles afforded by their dealership's website.
"Car shopping is going the way of eCommerce," explains tech analyst and blogger Ian Hayes. "Dealerships aren't dying and they're not going away. They're just being challenged to adapt. Some are obviously doing that better than others. But car shopping has undergone a monumental transformation and I think the changes have only just begun, which is great for both consumers and dealerships. At no time in recent memory have you seen car shoppers enjoy such pleasant relationships with the people that sell automobiles. Technology has removed so much of the mistrust and misinformation that used to hang over this industry."


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Wall Street Welcomes Bob Iger’s Plan To Slash Costs at Disney (UPDATED)
No plan to spin off ESPN
Bob Iger brought the Mighty Thor’s ax, Stormbreaker, to his first earnings call since returning as CEO of The Walt Disney Co., and Wall Street loved it.
Moving quickly and taking big swings, Iger announced a restructuring of the company into three core business units and plans to cut $5.5 billion in costs at the company, a move that will eliminate 7,000 jobs.
All those cost reductions and cuts might just literally pay dividends for Disney shareholders, who stopped getting dividend checks during the pandemic.
The carnage thrilled analysts. It even appeared to satisfy Nelson Peltz, the activist investor who started a proxy war to get a seat on Disney's board. Peltz went on CNBC Thursday to say the proxy war was over. "Disney plans to do everything we wanted them to do," Peltz said.
Disney's board greeted Peltz's decision with a statement: “We respect and value the input of all our shareholders and we appreciate the decision by Trian Fund announced by Nelson Peltz this morning," the board said. "We are pleased that our Board and management can remain focused without the distraction of a proxy contest, and we have tremendous faith in Bob Iger’s leadership and the transformative vision for Disney’s future he set forth yesterday."
Disney shares were up more than 2% in midday trading Thursday.
“Everything the bulls wanted” was the takeaway from Wells Fargo media analyst Steven Cahall.
“Bob Iger returns by delivering the goods: cost cuts … pulling the Disney Plus sub guidance, curating the content strategy, ring-fencing ESPN, promising to have a dividend this year and reaffirming high-single-digit growth in fiscal year 2023 operating income,” Cahall said. “While the future isn’t 100% certain, the strategy is: profit.”
Cahall raised his target price for Disney stock to $141 a share from $125 a share. (Disney closed Wednesday at $11.78 before the earnings were announced.)
“Restoring the Magic” was the headline on a report by Evercore ISI media analyst Vijay Jayant. He raised his target for Disney stock to $130 from $115.
Jayant noted that the cost savings Iger announced were “meaningfully higher than expectations.” He added that the $3 billion in nonsports content cost reductions “are protracted and the incremental savings will not impact the business until 2024/25.”
The analysts noted the change in the way Disney will be approaching its direct-to-consumer business during Iger’s second term
“As expected Disney is no longer providing sub guidance on DTC,” Jayant noted. Analysts did not think that the targets Disney had set for having 240 million Disney Plus subscribers by 2024 was attainable. Disney solved that problem by saying it was out of the prediction business when it came to subscriber growth.
“Management is targeting long-term margins higher than previously expected,” Jayant noted. “The company aims to hit this target by pulling back on general entertainment content, focusing on franchise content spend and monetizing brands across all opportunities compared to pure DTC subscriber growth.”
On the earnings call. Iger defended his purchase of 21st Century Fox and criticized his successor, Bob Chapek, for taking financial control out of the hands of Disney’s creative executives.
“I have always believed that the best way to spur great creativity is to make sure that people who are managing the creative processes feel empowered. Therefore, our new structure is aimed at returning greater authority to our creative leaders and making them accountable for how their content performs financially,” Iger said.
“Our former structure severed that link and it must be restored,“ he said. ”Moving forward, our creative teams will determine what content we are making, how it is distributed and monetized and how it gets marketed. Managing costs, maximizing revenue and driving growth from the content being produced will be their responsibility.”
Details of how that will be managed will be forthcoming.
Iger also responded to questions about the future of ESPN, whose linear business is under the same cord-cutting pressure as Disney’s other broadcast and cable properties.
In the new corporate structure, ESPN stands alone as one of the company’s core business units, along with entertainment and parks.
“The brand of ESPN is very healthy, and the programming of ESPN is very healthy,“ Iger said. “We just have to figure out how to monetize it in disrupting and a continuing or disrupting world. That’s it.”
“But we are not engaged in any conversations right now or considering a spinoff of ESPN,” he added. “That had been done, by the way, in my absence. And I am told the company concluded after exploring it very carefully that it wasn’t something the company wanted to do.”
Iger was also asked when ESPN would be available as an a la carte streaming product.
“Regarding ESPN and when we might make the shift, if you are asking me, is the shift inevitable, the answer is yes,” he said. “But I am not going to give you any sense of when that could be because we have to do it obviously at a time that really makes sense for the bottom line. And we are just not there yet. And that’s not just about how many subscribers we could get. It’s also about what is the pricing power of ESPN, which obviously ties to the menu of sports that they have licensed.” ■
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Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.


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I got a call from the state Apiary Board here in Arkansas today about the Oxalic Acid.
I was told that even though it is approved by the feds it has to be sent to each state.
The state will then see what chemical is to be used whether liquid, granule or powder.
The state will decide which chemical to use and how to administer it.
The Oxalic Acid has to have on the container that it is approved for use of honey bees.
In other words you can't go to the hardware store and buy it.
The chemical company has to register their product in the state and label it approved for treatment of honeybees.
Until then it is illegal to use it here in Arkansas.
They are going to put a label with wording for use with honeybee treatment and jack the price up.
That is what was told to me today from the Arkansas State Apiary Board.


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Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s newest fast-casual restaurant concept, is scheduled to open its second franchise location in Chattanooga, next week on July 22, 2014. The new restaurant will be located at 1820 Gunbarrel Road Suite 200, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
“We are so excited to add another location to the new Chicken Salad Chick community in Tennessee,” said president, Kevin Brown. “With our other Chattanooga restaurant located downtown, we believe that this site will better serve those who are in the more residential areas of the city.”
The new restaurant is owned by Josh Patton, current owner of the first Chattanooga location on Market Street that opened in April. “I’m very excited to open my second location this summer in an upscale shopping center near the Hamilton Place Mall,” said Patton. “Chattanooga is in for another real treat.”
Born In Alabama
The Chicken Salad Chick concept was established in Auburn, AL in 2008 in the kitchen of founder, Stacy Brown. Stacy quickly learned that selling a homemade recipe from her kitchen is against the law, and after being shut down by the health department, she decided to solicit the business expertise of her future husband and fellow founder, Kevin Brown. Together, they opened a small takeout restaurant which quickly grew to enormous demand and additional locations. The unique concept puts an edgy twist on a southern classic by offering customers a “custom-fit” chicken salad experience, with 15 original flavors to choose from, as well as gourmet soups, flavorful side salads and freshly-baked desserts. Chicken Salad Chick has sold 85 franchises to be developed across the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina and South Carolina, and has plans to expand nationally in the coming years.
“It is so encouraging that one of our most loyal customers is opening two Chicken Salad Chicks within a few months,” said Founder Stacy Brown. “We got to know Josh when he was a student at Auburn and frequent customer of our original location, and we are so excited that he is bringing our concept and passion to Tennessee.”
Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s newest, fast-casual restaurant concept, is led by experienced food and operations executives. The concept puts an edgy twist on a southern classic, offering customers a “custom-fit” chicken salad experience, with 15 original flavors to choose from, as well as gourmet soups, flavorful side salads and freshly-baked desserts. Corporate offices are located at 724 North Dean Road in Auburn, Alabama. Recently, the franchise has been expanding to other cities throughout Southeast, including Alabama, Florida and Georgia. See http://www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.


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Want to join the conversation?
John Baumgartner of Wells Fargo asks if any changes or improvements have been made in the company's pricing mechanisms. $DF said that the company has put in a pricing team that has got some new tools that has made $DF more effective in its pricing. Secondly, the investment made behind the brands have allowed to expand margins.
The latest earnings report by $VZ shows how it is losing customers despite offering the unlimited data plans, a record for the company.
$BEBE is closing down all its stores by the end of May.
$WFC agreed to hike its payout in a class-action settlement over unauthorized accounts by $32 million to $142 million for its retail sales practices. The settlement will now include customers who were impacted as early as May 2002.


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Apple manager charged with taking over US$1 million in kickbacks from suppliers
Monday, August 16, 2010
A global supply manager for Apple Inc. was arrested Friday in California and indicted for and , after accepting over US$1 million in kickbacks. The manager, 37-year-old Paul Shin Devine, used a system of international bank accounts and a in order to receive the payments, reported the .
Andrew Ang, of Singapore, was also named in the indictment. Ang is accused of receiving confidential data, as well as accepting a portion of the kickbacks paid to Devine.
According to hisprofile, Devine was a 1996 graduate of the and a 2005 graduate from the . He began working at in 1998 and left to join Apple in 2005.
In addition to the 23-count federal indictment, Devine is also the subject of a civil lawsuit filed by Apple. The company said that he took more than US$1 million in "payments, kickbacks and bribes" over a period of several years. An Apple spokesperson said that the company "is committed to the highest ethical standards in the way [it does] business," and that there is "zero tolerance for dishonest behavior inside or outside the company."
- William McQuillen and Tim Culpan. "Apple Manager Indicted on Wire Fraud, Money Laundering Charges" — , August 16, 2010
- "Apple manager indicted in CA on kickback charges" — , August 15, 2010
- Philip Elmer-DeWitt. "Apple manager arrested" — , August 14, 2010


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Elected leaders welcomed a well-known businessman to the Soundview section.
Dominic Broccoli cut the ribbon with elected leaders for the new IHOP restaurant located at 1001 White Plains Road, near the service entrance to the Bruckner Expressway. The restaurant has been opened since February, but elected leaders had the time on Monday, April 2, to visit the restaurant and taste some of the franchise’s famous buttermilk pancakes.
“He’s a business leader that has very simple creedo–you have to give back to the community,” said Senator Jeff Klein, who admires Broccoli’s effort in creating hundreds of jobs for the borough.
“To see an established restaurant like IHOP come here is a testament to the redevelopment happening here in the Bronx,” said Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, who congratulated Broccoli for bringing in a well-known business like IHOP to Soundview.
Broccoli has been living and breathing the restaurant business since he was 14 years old. He learned the trade after arriving with his parents from Italy. He grew up atop his father’s renowned Italian restaurant, Gino’s Cafe, once located at 1817 Allerton Avenue. It’s now the site of his first IHOP.
“I enjoy the whole IHOP experience,” said Broccoli, who was attracted to the family feel IHOP exudes.
“I do like it because there’s no alcohol at IHOP,” said Broccoli. “This is a lot less stressful, let’s put it that way.”
Less stressful but still the type of business that requires Broccoli to devote odd hours.
“With the restaurant business you either love it or hate it,” said Broccoli, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. “If you’re not used to giving up weekends or holidays then you gotta pick a different career.”
For now, maintaining the chain is on his mind. The new restaurant is 4500 square feet that can fit 200 people. It also features a parking lot comprised of 30 spots and a to-go window.
The IHOP is opened seven days a week, from 6am to midnight.
To reach reporter David Cruz, call (718) 742-3383 or email at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Eva Herzigova for 1.2.3. Photos via WWD
Etam loves its models. The French fashion company tapped model Natalia Vodianova last year to design an ongoing lingerie collection. Then there was the splashy fete at the Paris Ritz in February for Natalia and her equally fine-boned friends to celebrate the collaboration. But turns out Etam’s model diaries are just taking off.
The company announced today that their line with iconic model Eva Herzigova for its brand 1.2.3. has hit stores, reports WWD. Expect the looks to be quite a bit more covered up– such as the three-piece suit and long column dress above– and the company explains that they’re actually targeting the 40+ age group with prices at a reasonable $92 to $440 range. And it sounds like it’s not just Eva mugging as the face of the brand; Etam has given her free design reign. “It has been totally hands-on, no one telling me what to do and designing whatever crossed my mind, the model told the fashion news site. Watch for the collection to hit stores hi
While we’re sure models can rock everything from sportswear to lacy skivvies better than anybody else (see video below for evidence), we’re wondering how well can they do in design? There’s Kate Moss for Topshop’s collaboration which have created some serious queues and then there’s L.A. contemporary brand Monrow’s team-up with Amber Valletta. Any other good (or bad) models-turned-designers we should know about? Let us know in a comment below!
Natalia Vodianova for Etam, Spring 2010 collection. Photos: Etam.com


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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is reportedly investing $700 million in 20-nanometer chip technology to prepare for a possible deal with Apple in 2014.
According to DigiTimes, TSMC kicked off its initiative early in the hopes that it can achieve sufficient production capabilities by the above-mentioned date.
Indeed, the foundry is apparently struggling with the 28nm production process, with reports indicating that TSMC is currently “unable” to provide sufficient capacity.
Nevertheless, overseas supply chain sources believe TSMC has a “good chance” of winning CPU orders from Apple in 2014.
As AppleInsider’s Sam Oliver points out, Apple is still using Samsung’s 45nm chip process to fab its indigenously designed A5X CPU that powers the wildly popular iPad.
Perhaps not unsurprisingly, Apple is wary of newer chips built on smaller production processes, fearing potential supply constraints that could threaten iPhone and iPad sales. It is unclear when Cupertino plans on making the inevitable jump to 28nm, although the company has already deployed 32nm A5 chips in its third-gen Apple TV and the new iPad 2.
While Apple’s primary chipmaker remains Samsung, Apple reportedly signed a major foundry agreement with TSMC in 2011 to build future ARM-based mobile processors.