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Sandbox Honors 9/11 Heroes But Secret Raccoons Face the Apocalypse
This was the week we marked the twentieth anniversary of 9/11. The Sandbox honored the occasion by teaming up with Epik Prime to launch a 9/11 Day fundraiser. They launched an NFT collection called “Heroes of 9/11” consisting of two firefighters and two paramedics. The four-character NFTs will cost $4,000 SAND each and be limited to a total of 100. Net proceeds from the sale will go towards the 9/11 Day charity.
There’s lots of green in Coin Gecko’s NFT charts this week. The highest fliers recently have been Generative Mask, Space Poggers, and xLoot, all more than doubling their price within 24 hours. The Solana network even picked up its first million-dollar sale. Degenerate Ape #7225, the 13th rarest in the collection, sold for $1.1 million.
Gary Vaynerchuk might be able to beat that. He’s bringing five personal artworks from his NFT collection to auction house Christies. Expect buyers to battle over those but competition is already underway in the NFT RedZone. The 16-team snake-style draft started earlier this month, with captains and co-captains from 16 of the leading NFT communities drafted live and managing the squads. Fans can vote for the NFT community team with the best draft and maybe win a mint pass to the NFT RedZone drop.
It’s not all been good news, though. Members of the Raccoon Secret Society are now mourning their losses. Their critters are dead. The collection’s roadmap had included the word “apocalypse,” and the end of the world has now struck. The team says that they were demonstrating the fragility of the blockchain contract by killing off the avatars, but suggests that collectors gather the bones and prepare for the next phase of the project.
Also dead are the hopes of Disney and DC comic book artists. The publishers have blocked creators from selling NFTs of the characters they’ve made for the companies. Marvel is already active in the NFT space which could be a valuable new collectibles market.
But will they move into the blockchain gaming space? If they don’t move fast, they could find that Animoca Brands has already captured the market. The gaming company is lining itself up to be the Epic of blockchain gaming, with currencies transferrable across games and plans for game-makers to create new platforms for established NFTs. The company has now announced the first sale of MotoGP Ignition Hot Shots, a new series of NFT collectibles of MotoGP racing events. The first Hot Shots will include the most exciting moments from the 2021 Barwa Grand Prix.
Animoca Brands has already got competition, though. Immutable has just raised $60 million for an NFT games platform on Ethereum. Both of those companies may find that they have the support of established giants. Google Cloud has announced a partnership with Dapper Labs, a company part-owned by Animoca Brands and developer of the NBA Top Shot marketplace, to support and scale the company’s Flow blockchain.
And hopefully, secure it too. The Al Cabones NFT project has been so successful that it’s now producing imitations. But there’s one idea that should be copied. A man in Poland has helped his daughter to produce an NFT collection called Ami’s Cats. The collection will help raise funds for cat rescue centers.
And finally, there’s a bunch of new releases to look out for. Wax is launching Crypto Legends and Skrapper Legends Series II; SolChicks and Angry Boars are coming out on NiftyDrops; Rarity.tools have Pork1984 and Monas, and NFT Insider will soon be dropping Derpy Cats Collab Packs and CryptoMoonie #009.
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I wrote the other week about the two-way relationship between new technology and changes to people’s behaviour.
Sometimes it can be hard to unpick and identify the real human motivations behind what’s happening. And, sometimes, as with a couple of things I’ve seen recently, it’s easier to spot the real-world response to new digital habits.
Last week I read news of an Instagram hotel. It offers free accommodation to people with more than a thousand Instagram followers. This followed the announcement of a similar initiative trying to appeal to Twitter users.
This is an explicit acknowledgement of what most brands’ social media strategy is predicated on: that influence is currency.
Except that where normally a brand might attempt to earn recommendation through what it invests in, here a business wants simply to buy the influence that others have earned.
Klout For Business has a similar ambition, of course. Its algorithm can be a useful asset to businesses that want to identify – and treat accordingly – those who might be more supposedly ‘valuable’ customers, with value determined by the strength of their influence.
I’m still undecided as to whether this trend heralds a newly democratic approach to customer service or whether it’s simply a new kind of elitism. Imagine an airline upgrades a passenger according to their influence rather than their income – does that a premium service more or less accessible?
Either way, these are new user experiences caused by new online activites.
The other example that caught my eye this week was in response to teen behaviour on Snapchat.
Itself a response to the flaws teenagers have found with the Facebook experience, this is a platform that allows users to exert more control over how they share what they want to share.
Except that the ability to set the duration for which a user’s image can be seen is already being circumvented by recipients’ ability to amend their phone’s screen capture settings.
Images are shared, re-posted and permanently available – precisely the opposite of what the user intended. And, of course, new apps are being produced that explicitly reflect this behaviour.
Unlike the Instagram hotel, there’s no illusion of consumer control here – quite the opposite. But in each case this is a new consumer experience defined by (also new) peer-to-peer tools.
Both Instagram and Snapchat started out as intimate, private platforms. Their influence is turning out to be anything but.

domain: news


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NEW YORK – Ernst Lieb, president and CEO Mercedes Benz USA, says the ML 450 hybrid cross/utility vehicle unveiled at the auto show here goes on sale later this year exclusively in the U.S. and Canada.
The new hybrid-drive system, which employs two electric motors integrated into the transmission, is a product of a joint venture between Daimler AG, BMW AG and General Motors Corp.
Capable of operating purely on electricity or its V-6 combustion engine the ML 450 also can use both systems simultaneously to produce up to 335 hp and 381 lb.-ft. (517 Nm) of torque.
That's 88% of the power output and 94% of maximum torque produced by Mercedes' V-8 gasoline engine. Yet the hybrid CUV consumes 50% less fuel than a V-8 and 30% less than comparable V-6s.
The vehicle optimizes fuel efficiency in both highway and city driving. Its Environmental Protection Agency rating is 24/21 mpg highway/city (9.8-11.2 L/100 km).
Lieb claims the new hybrid offers V-8 torque with 4-cyl. fuel economy, but says Mercedes doesn't expect the hybrid's sales to reach as high a penetration as the diesel model.
The Mercedes chief is bullish on diesel penetration. “We'll see an increase in diesel sales,” he predicts. “But it depends on fuel prices.” Sales of the Bluetec E-Class 50-state diesel account for 8%-13% of that entry's overall sales, depending on the month. “The sales are pretty much where we targeted them now.”
Lieb says the overall luxury segment fell 18% last year and predicts sales will slide further this year. “The (poor) housing market is the main contributor to this.”
Total sales in the luxury segment were down 35% after the first quarter, while Mercedes sales slid 30%. “We're up 16% in market share in March,” he adds.
The three main players in the segment were bunched tighter in March than ever before, with BMW ahead with a 17% market share, followed by Mercedes with 15% and Lexus with 14%.
“I may be alone, but I think sales are going to get better in three or four months,” Lieb says. “Buyers are holding off right now, but there has been a huge increase in used-car sales.”
Mercedes’ used-car sales rose 29% in March, 57% in February and some 60% range in January, compared with year-ago, he says. “Our dealers are probably only down 15% because of used-car sales.”
Lieb attributes the sales jump to buyers looking for better deals than the best new-car-purchase opportunities.
One bright spot for Mercedes is the sale of the new GLK compact cross/utility vehicle that accounts for 50% of the volume in the segment. “I never thought it was going to that high,” he says.


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Artist Nathan Sawaya shows off his amazing giant Lego sculptures in an exhibition at -- where else? -- Brick Lane.
The Audiophiliac ponders his attraction to intentionally distorted music.
The marquee items at a Google press event this week may be its new Nexus smartphones, but the company's Chromecast devices are more telling of where Google wants to go. The goal: living room domination.
"Gossip Girl" creator Josh Schwartz is bolting together a TV dramedy based on a book about ghosts in a Swedish-style furniture store. Here's hoping it's easier to follow than those instructions.
Want to make live music better or block engine noise? Here Active Listening buds are like equalizers for real life.
Artist Nathan Sawaya chats with Crave about the Lego Oscar statuettes that stole the spotlight at this year's Academy Awards show.
Fender's stunning handmade Pine Cone guitar is a diamond-studded beauty created with an assist from 3D imagery.
Just how much distortion -- and the favored type of distortion, analog or digital -- varies from listener to listener, and that's where the story gets complicated.
Apple's tax bill is under scrutiny once again, Virgin vows to bring down the cost of the Premier League, and Windows turns 10.
Angry spirits torment employees at a modern furniture store, giving new meaning to the phrase "graveyard shift."


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Mazda Launches 2017 CX-5 in South Africa
Photo of the 2017 CX-5 courtesy of Mazda.
The 2017 Mazda CX-5 has launched in South Africa, introducing the newly designed features of the compact SUV to the market.
Mazda’s South African powertrain lineup for the CX-5 features the Skyactiv-G 2.0L and 2.5L petrol as well as the Skyactiv-D 2.2L diesel engines, according to the automaker. Highlights of the 2017 CX-5 include LED headlights, powerlift tailgate, head-up display, Smart City Brake Support and Driver Attention Alert.
The CX-5 is now available at all Mazda dealers in South Africa, according to Opp Trends.


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The Kiwi film sector adds some muscle to its anti-piracy campaign.WELLINGTON -- New Zealand is putting some serious muscle behind its anti-piracy efforts. Local star Temuera Morrison is lending his voice to the latest Kiwi bid to stamp out movie piracy.
Morrison, who won two New Zealand Film Awards for playing iconic brawler Jake "the Muss" Heke in the hugely popular 1994 local production "Once Were Warriors" and its 1999 sequel, "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?" is now the voice of a new homegrown anti-video piracy campaign being launched this month by the NZ Federation Against Copyright Theft.
As one of New Zealand's most popular actors, Morrison will lend an intimidating voice-over to a new NZFACT trailer that's hitting cinemas at the same time that the Motion Picture Assn.-backed group goes live with its new Web site (www.stopmoviepiracy.co.nz).
MORE NEW ZEALAND COVERAGE
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Fighting mad: Adding muscle to anti-piracy campaign
Additionally, a free phone number and an e-mail service for reporting piracy have been set up, guidelines on how to detect piracy are being distributed to cinema staff and home video retailers, and an interactive DVD for theater managers is in the works.
The beefed-up Kiwi assault on video piracy has sprung from an unfinished copy of 2006's biggest local hit, "Sione's Wedding," which began circulating on DVD before the movie opened in theaters.
The pirated copies have cost the South Pacific Pictures crowd-pleaser an estimated NZ$500,000 ($345,000) at the local boxoffice (it topped NZ$4 million ($2.8 million).
"We were caught off guard with 'Sione's Wedding,'" producer John Barnett says. "We didn't think piracy was an issue because we thought the material was secure."
Yet, "Wedding's" loss was the industry's gain, as the film's phenomenal popularity brought some much-needed attention to the fact that piracy isn't just a Hollywood headache -- and that the Kiwi film sector is certainly not immune to the problem.
As well as spurring more of a coordinated industry approach to combating piracy, the "Wedding" issue led to more resources being pumped into NZFACT under aggressive new leadership.
As a result, last year there were 17 civil actions and 15 arrests, including the first prison term handed down for video piracy. This year, NZFACT expects to be even busier.
But according to its executive director, Tony Eaton, there are still legal loopholes regarding DVD and Internet piracy that he hopes the government's pending digital copyright legislation will close.
Research commissioned by the MPA shows piracy cost the New Zealand film industry about 25% of its potential market in 2005, or NZ$70.8 million ($48.8 million) -- which was double the original estimate.
Of this total, NZ$27.1 million ($18.7 million) was estimated to have been at the expense of MPA member companies.
"Our top priority this year is to educate the industry and the public," Eaton says. "The New Zealand screen industry is worth NZ$2.6 billion ($1.8 billion), and we need to protect it."


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2018年2月20日 7:06 PM #1835Richardゲスト
Who would I report to? buy mifepristone and misoprostol pills online According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, research shows that strongly gender-typed toys “might encourage attributes that aren’t ones you actually want to foster.” Through Professor Judith Elaine Blakemore’s research, a professor of psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University, it has been found that girls’ toys are most often “associated with physical attractiveness, nurturing and domestic skills,” which may mean that for girls, it will emphasize the importance of cosmetics and physical appearance, with the most important message being to look pretty.
maxigra czy kamagra Many economists have come around to that view as well with some Q2 GDP growth estimates as low as 0.3 percent following growth of just 1.8 percent in the first quarter and barely positive growth of 0.4 percent in the quarter before that.
comprar zetia There was no immediate U.S. comment. On Monday, Kerry repeated the U.S. position that the settlements are “illegitimate,” while saying he didn’t think the recent flap over Israeli settlements would delay talks.
keflex dosage for sinus infection It would not surprise me to learn that these perpetrators of fruit and vegetable crime also sneak around the shop slyly inserting apostrophes in the wrong place on the price labels, just so they can sneer at the innocent greengrocer. Where did these people go wrong? It probably started with grapefruit-sniffing and then it was downhill from there.
propranolol 10 mg prospecto Graves will report directly to U.S. President Barack Obama;to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the head of the Office of Managementand Budget; and to Gene Sperling, director of the president’sNational Economic Council.


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MTV Creates Two Mobile Music Apps for International Markets
MTV will soon launch two mobile apps—MTV Play and MTV Trax—in international markets in an effort to help mobile operators differentiate their offerings and build loyalty with young adults.
MTV Play lets viewers tap into over 1,500 hours of MTV programming—including preview episodes of new series such as season 4 of Catfish. Created with mobile developer Vigour, the app lets viewers flick programming to other networked screens, including a tablet or a connected TV.
The MTV Play app will debut with mobile operators in Germany, Switzerland, and Romania on March 5th. Subscribers who pay an MTV Mobile tariff as part of their mobile phone package will get access to the app. Anyone else can get access to the same content for €2.99 per month or €29.99 per year.
The second app, MTV Trax, is an audio-only music service targeted at pre-pay customers and those who want to avoid the higher costs of most unlimited music services. For a monthly fee of £4.99 users get 100 curated popular music tracks downloaded to their phones and updated each day. Tracks play even when the phone is offline.
MTV Trax is powered by MusicQubed. It will debut as a direct-to-consumer offering in the United Kingdom on March 3rd, available in the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Windows Phone Store. MTV didn't say what the pricing will be. MTV add that the app will soon launch in New Zealand in partnership with a mobile operator, but didn't give a date.
Viacom International Media Networks will display both apps at Mobile World Congress next week.
The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) are MTV's annual award celebration for the European region, and are held at a different major European city every year. MTV has been live-streaming the event on the web since 1996, and with its viewership turning more and more towards online media, the significance of the EMA web show grows steadily from year to year.


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LuLuLemon goes on a web expansion run
December 5, 2011 11:14 AM
E-commerce sales remained on an upward path for specialty athletic apparel retailer LuluLemon Athletica Inc. in the third quarter.
But LuluLemon, No. 229 in the Internet Retailer Top 500, will also be undertaking a bevy of new Internet initiatives at the same time it looks for a new e-commerce executive. On the retailer’s third quarter earnings call with Wall Street analysts, CEO Christine Day said that senior vice president of global marketing and direct channel Chris Ladd had left the company. Ladd is now the chief digital officer at Finish Line Inc.
His appointment as the chief e-commerce manager at LuLuLemon was only announced in July. LuluLemon hasn’t announced a replacement. “We will begin our initial round of interviews for a senior vice president of brand and community and replacing Chris Ladd,” Day told analysts.
At the same time LuLuLemon is looking for a new senior vice president to head up its Internet channel, the retailer is also moving forward with an ambitious e-commerce agenda, Day said. A newly designed web site launched in November will be upgraded with more new features including more video.
The retailer, which last month also rolled out Ivivva.com, a dance and athletic apparel site for girls in the U.S., also will open more international e-commerce sites in Australia and elsewhere. “In Q1 2012, we will launch our first localized web site in Australia, with the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and potentially one other market to follow later in the year,” Day told analysts. “Our U.S. sales are exceeding Canadian e-commerce sales, with strong demand coming from Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. As we do with our LuLuLemon site, Ivivva e-Commerce gives us insight into guest demand and potential future store locations.”
The new initiatives will continue to support growing Internet sales. For the third quarter ended Oct. 29, LuLuLemon reported:
- Direct to consumer revenue, which the chain says is virtually all online, increased about 70.7% to $23.9 million from about $14 million in the prior year.
- Total sales increased 30.9% to $230.2 million from $175.8 million.
- Comparable-stores sales increased by 16%.
- Net income was $38.9 million, up by 50.2% from about $25.9 million in the third quarter of 2010.
Internet Retailer calculates direct sales accounted for about 10.4% of total sales compared with 8.0% in the third quarter of 2010
For the first three quarters:
- Direct to consumer revenue, which the chain says is virtually all online, increased about 72.4% to $56.9 million from about $33 million in the prior year.
- Total sales increased 35.0% to $629.3 million from $466.3 million.
- Comparable-stores sales increased by 18%.
- Net income was $111 million, up by 65.2% from about $67.2 million in the first three quarters of 2010.
Internet Retailer calculates direct sales accounted for about 9.0% of total sales compared with 7.1% in the first three quarters of 2010.


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Monthly Archive for September, 2010
Fisher-Price is recalling more than 11 million toys, tricycles, and high chairs because of safety issues. Injuries have been reported from the use of two of the products, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Ben & Jerry’s has agreed to phase out its use of “All Natural” claims on labels on ice creams and frozen yogurts that contain alkalized cocoa, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, or other ingredients that aren’t natural.
The owner of PennyBiddr, based in Federal Way, agreed to shut down the site and refund consumers nationwide as part of a settlement announced today by the Washington Attorney General’s Office.
North County Bank in Arlington, Wash. was closed today by the Washington Department of Financial Institutions. DFI cited inadequate capital and severe loan losses as the reason for the closure. The agency named the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver of the bank.
Tomorrow is the National Take-Back Initiative.
Abbott Laboratories is recalling about 5 million cans of certain Similac-brand powder infant formulas. The products may contain a small beetle or their larvae.
If you’ve watched cable TV, you’ve likely seen celebrity attorney Robert Shapiro tout his company, LegalZoom, as a way to start businesses, patent inventions, and create wills. “We put the law on your side,” he says.
Ricki Lake, former talk show host, was refilling a liquid-fueled propane heater at her Malibu home when her couch caught fire. Lake shouldn’t have been refilling an outdoor heater indoors, according to the ConsumerReports.org article “Reality Gets a Little Too Close for Two TV Stars. The home of Britney Haynes, of Big Brother fame, went up in smoke after embers from an outdoor grill ignited a blaze. A small grill in the backyard that ignited the grass, spread to a trashcan and then to the house, the article reports.
Take-back day drug events to help consumers safely dispose of expired or unused medications are being offered Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Chuck E Cheese is recalling about 1.1 million light-up rings and 120,000 star glasses.


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President Barack Obama is expected to sign the JOBS Act today, officially opening up a new source of funding for small companies and startups. Much of the attention so far has been on this component of the bill because it would allow financing via crowdfunding. Participants can raise as much as $1 million a year without having to do a public offering -- a step requiring state-by-state registrations that can cost thousands of dollars.
What constitutes a small business varies widely around the world. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships. What constitutes "small" in terms of government support and tax policy varies by country and by industry, ranging from fewer than 15 employees under the Australian Fair Work Act 2009, 50 employees according to the definition used by the European Union, and fewer than 500 employees to qualify for many U.S. Small Business Administration programs, although in 2006 there were over 18,000 "small businesses" with over 500 employees that accounted for half of all the employees employed by all "small business ". Small businesses can also be classified according to other methods such as sales, assets, or net profits.
Small businesses are common in many countries, depending on the economic system in operation. Typical examples include: convenience stores, other small shops (such as a bakery or delicatessen), hairdressers,...


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Regional: Lodging figures show powerful Glenwood rebound
It’s official. Glenwood Springs lodges recorded their biggest summer tourist season yet since the Great Recession hit, even surpassing the peak prerecession benchmark year of 2008.
And the ripple effect could be felt across several tourist-dependent sectors, leading to what several observers say was one of the best summers in recent memory for Glenwood Springs tourism.
“Our high season was very successful,” said Lisa Langer, vice president of tourism marketing for the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association.
“We had great reports from hoteliers, attractions, food purveyors and retailers,” Langer said. “The tourism promotion board is very pleased with the positive outlook and encouraged by our marketing efforts.”
According to John Bosco, Glenwood Springs Tourism Board member and finance director for the Hot Springs Lodge and Pool, the summer of 2014 was a record-breaker on the lodging front.
His assessment is based on a review of the city’s June and July accommodations tax figures, as well as the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association’s August report of hotel occupancy levels and the average daily rate charged for rooms.
“I always like to track our recent accommodations tax performance to where we were in 2008, which was the last prosperous year before the economic downturn,” Bosco said.
That comparison showed that the city’s 2.5 percent tax on nightly stays brought in $132,418 in July. It was the third straight year the monthly “bed tax” collection exceeded the July 2008 figure of $111,513. Last year’s July take was $116,961, while the July 2012 figure was $112,067.
Tax figures for June, though less overall than July, were even more telling compared with previous years.
This past June, bed tax collections exceeded $100,000 for the first time ever, topping the June 2008 figure of $91,832. June collections were between $69,500 and $89,120 from 2009-2013.
The June and July figures also help push the year-to-date tax revenues 1 percent higher than they were for the first seven months of 2008, Bosco said. Collections so far this year are running 12.6 percent ahead of last year.
“Based on that analysis, I would say we’re back over the hump,” Bosco said. “It also says to me that the Denver economy is doing much better, since that is where we see most of our visitors coming from.”
Another indicator is the monthly Rocky Mountain Lodging Report, which contains occupancy and daily rate figures for about a dozen larger properties in Glenwood Springs that participate in the survey.
The August report indicates an 85.7 percent occupancy rate for available rooms during the month, at an average daily rate of $139.24 per night. Only Loveland and Fort Collins had higher occupancy rates than Glenwood Springs for the month, and the statewide occupancy rate for August was 79.9 percent.
For the year to date, Glenwood Springs lodges have maintained a 66 percent average rate of room occupancy, up from 61.6 percent for the same eight months of 2013. The average charge for a night’s stay at one of the larger Glenwood lodges is also up compared with last year, from $113.76 to $120.86.
Another statistic included in that report is the “average revenue per available room,” which is also up for Glenwood Springs lodges from $70.13 last year to $79.81 this year.
“We are charging more for rooms, and getting more, which is an indicator of what people are willing to do and spend,” Bosco said. “And Glenwood Springs is performing a little better than the state in that regard.”
The same trend could be seen with the Hot Springs Pool this summer, which also increased its rates and still saw more visitors, he said.
“We had a real strong season, outpacing last year and coming back to about where we were in 2008,” Bosco said. “All around, I think Glenwood Springs is becoming a real strong attractions market. There are a lot of things to do here.”
Glenwood Caverns and Adventure Park owner Steve Beckley concurred.
“It’s been our best year ever, and just a great summer,” Beckley said of one of Glenwood’s more popular summer attractions, which offers a variety of amusement park rides and game, and tours of the ancient Fairy Caves beneath Iron Mountain.
“Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s just been a phenomenal summer, and the whole town was very busy,” said Beckley, who also sits on the city’s tourism board.
Visits to the caverns alone have been up 8.2 percent through August, with 144,000 visitor days compared with 133,000 for the same period last year, he said.
The vast majority of visitors continue to be from the Front Range, Beckley added, although he noted an increase in foreign visitors coming to Glenwood Springs.
Strong visitor numbers have also helped to improve retail sales in Glenwood this summer, as evidenced by a near 10 percent increase in city sales taxes for July, and a 4.8 percent increase year to date over last year.
General retail sales continue to lag behind 2008 figures on a month-to-month basis, although the July sales tax figure this year of $1,454,752 was only about $12,000 less than July 2008.
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If you live in Minnesota, your next smartphone or tablet could have pre-installed software that will allow you to disable the device remotely. That's due to Wednesday's decision by the state government to pass a bill into law requiring such "kill switches" on mobile devices.
CNET reports that the governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton, signed the bill into law on Wednesday. It will require that all mobile connected devices have anti-theft software installed by July 1st, 2015. It's the first state in the U.S. to pass such a requirement.
The California state senate tried and failed to approve a similar bill in that state in April, but a second voting attempt by that group last week was successful. However, the bill is still in committee and has yet to go to the governor for his approval.
In April, a number of smartphone companies, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, along with the major wireless carriers in the U.S, pledged to voluntary install remote free remote wiping software on all of their devices starting with new units sold after July 2015. Previously, some parts of the smartphone industry have resisted adding in such software, claiming that it could lead to making devices more open to hackers.


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Lease rates in the Sacramento region are still off the peak, but Jones Lang LaSalle senior research analyst Elliot Williams said they’re moving in the right direction.
In an analysis of the most expensive places by address in the region, the winner was Capitol Mall between Third and Seventh Streets, where the average rental rate is $32.25 per square foot. That’s more than 46 percent higher than the market average, according to the analysis.
Williams said while the average price in downtown was up only a penny in the third quarter from the previous one, a closer look shows larger spaces of 50,000 square feet or more are getting harder to find.
In downtown, the vacancy rate for office space is 15.2 percent, which is up about 1 percent from where it was in the third quarter of last year, he said. Absorption this year is about 86,000 square feet, a figure Williams said is smaller than what the Sacramento suburbs have experienced.
“Until we see a couple other buildings downtown get rented up, rents are going to stay flat,” he said. “There’s a lot of competition among landlords right now.”
In the suburbs, the most expensive street is Stone Pointe Drive in Roseville, where the average rent is $30.50 per square foot. Nationwide, Stone Pointe is more expensive than 18 central business districts, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.
In the next two years, the spaces to watch will be those 5,000 square feet and smaller, Williams said. If mid-size and small businesses, or large ones looking to establish satellite locations, continue experiencing growth, they’ll start to suck up such square footage.
“Frankly, there’s too much of it right now,” he said.
In related news, retail leasing surged in the third quarter, with vacancies dropping below 9 percent, according to a Voit Real Estate Services report.


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Edgar’s Bakery opened the doors of a new location in Huntsville Thursday morning. It’s located at 2004 Airport Road in South Huntsville. This is Edgar’s second location in Huntsville. There is also a location at the Village of Providence. The Airport Road location was originally supposed to open over the summer, but now it’s official.
Owner Terry Smith tells WZDX the strawberry cake is one of the most popular menu items, and right now, there is something else customers are lining up for.
“We’re very close to Mardi Gras so we are selling a lot of King Cake’s,” said Smith. “We were voted in the nation in the top five of King Cake’s .”
This is Edgar’s Bakery’s ninth location in all.


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Aussie company Circo table saws its way into Australia with its new baby-tableware business.
The new Australian company is now employing 200 people.
It’s not just Australian brands that are moving into the world of baby-tables and tableware.
The UK also opened its doors to its own baby-ware business earlier this year.
But Australian companies are taking it one step further by offering products that can be used by children and adults alike.
Here are the top 10 Australian baby-furniture brands that have launched their own babyware business:1.
Circo Table Saws Australia, Australia’s first table saw company1.
Circo Table saws Australia1.
Rivet Wheel table saw,Australia’s first baby-board maker1.
Nova table sawer,Australia first table-sawer manufacturer1.
Baby tableware maker,Australia-based company that sells baby tableware and other baby-related products to businesses and households.


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A recent discovery by Trail of Bits researchers has identified a critical flaw in GPUs from tech firms Apple, AMD, and Qualcomm.
This vulnerability, capable of leaking substantial data amounts, raises alarms about the security of widely used graphic processing units integral to AI development and gaming.
Understanding the flaw: LeftoverLocals
The vulnerability, named LeftoverLocals, is a significant concern for the industry, which was previously focused on CPU security. GPUs, primarily designed for high graphics processing, now face scrutiny over data privacy, especially as they become pivotal in AI and machine learning applications. Trail of Bits, a New York-based security firm, reveals that this flaw could lead to data leakage ranging from 5 to 181 megabytes, a concerning figure in contrast to the stringent data protection in CPUs.
“LeftoverLocals can leak ~5.5 MB per GPU invocation on an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, which, when running a 7B model on llama.cpp, adds up to ~181 MB for each LLM query.”
For attackers to leverage LeftoverLocals, they must first gain operating system access on the target device. Modern computing devices are designed to compartmentalize data to prevent such breaches. However, this attack breaks down these protective walls, enabling hackers to extract data from the GPU’s local memory. This data could include sensitive information processed by large language models (LLMs), posing a significant risk to user privacy and data security.
The vulnerability affects popular chips and devices, including Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro and M2 MacBook Air, as well as AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XT. Notably, the flaw is absent in Nvidia, Intel, and Arm GPUs, as per the researchers’ findings. This situation risks millions of devices using the affected Apple, Qualcomm, and AMD chips.
Responses from industry firms
Apple confirmed the presence of LeftoverLocals, indicating that fixes were implemented in its latest M3 and A17 processors, which were revealed at the end of 2023. Nonetheless, many devices, such as the M2 MacBook Air, remain vulnerable. Apple’s efforts to patch these vulnerabilities in older models are underway, but the widespread nature of their devices means that millions are still at risk.
“We re-tested the vulnerability on January 10, and it appears that some devices have been patched, i.e., the Apple iPad Air 3rd G (A12).”
In the same vein, Qualcomm has begun releasing firmware patches to address the vulnerability and is urging end-users to apply these security updates promptly. Similarly, AMD has issued a security advisory and plans to release optional mitigations in March. These steps signify the industry’s recognition of the issue’s severity and focus on user security.
“AMD expects to start rolling out mitigation options beginning in March 2024 through upcoming driver updates.”
Google has also acknowledged the vulnerability’s impact on devices with AMD and Qualcomm GPUs, releasing fixes for ChromeOS devices. This proactive approach underscores the tech industry’s broader challenge of ensuring end-to-end security in an increasingly interconnected and hardware-diverse ecosystem.
A complex challenge in tech security
The distribution of these security fixes is a complex process. According to Trail of Bits, GPU manufacturers need to develop patches, which then must be integrated by device makers into their systems and finally relayed to end-users. This multi-layered approach to security patch distribution involves coordination across various players in the global tech ecosystem, presenting logistical challenges.
The potential implications of the LeftoverLocals vulnerability are substantial, given the common practice among hackers to chain multiple vulnerabilities for attacks. Furthermore, initial access to a device, a prerequisite for this attack, is a standard requirement for many digital attacks, underscoring the seriousness of this security lapse.
In light of these revelations, one pivotal question emerges: How will the industry evolve its security protocols to address the unique challenges posed by GPU vulnerabilities significantly as the use of these chips expands beyond traditional graphics processing into the realm of AI and large-scale data processing?


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Black Friday may be the day for door-buster sales at Target and Best Buy, but the day after is for local, independent businesses to make a big dent in their annual sales.
Dubbed Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday, is a 3-year-old initiative developed by American Express Co. to help bring more customers into America’s small, local businesses. This year the day is Nov. 24.
“In these challenging times, one of the small-business owners’ most pressing needs is how do you drive more traffic, how do you increase sales?” said Patricia Norins, the Small Business Saturday expert at AmEx.
The nation’s small businesses have accounted for 64 percent of new jobs during the past 15 years and employ nearly half of all workers in the private sector, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. That fact makes helping them succeed that much more important.
Thriving small businesses provide healthy competition and choice in communities, as well as generating additional tax revenues, Norins said.
This will be the third year of SBS, and despite its short lifespan, has been “spreading like wildfire,” Norins said.
“Consumer awareness is rapidly growing,” she said. “Millions of Americans went out and shopped small and are now budgeting to shop small and make it part of the holiday plan.”
Awareness of the initiative has spread among small businesses, as well. A recent survey from the National Federation of Independent Business and American Express found that 47 percent of small businesses plan on using the day to draw customers to their stores. Additionally, 67 percent are planning discounts for Nov. 24.
“Independent business owners are also embracing Small Business Saturday,” Norin said.
Black Friday is usually a bust for Scottsdale Pen, a writing implement boutique, said its owner Jay Sadow. But he has been promoting his business through the Small Business Saturday initiative and anticipates a steady flow of customers that day.
“Traditionally, the day after (Black Friday) is when people start to get out to the other stores,” he said. “That would include smaller boutique stores like mine.”
Jeannine Rometty, owner of Scottsdale-based Old Town Candy & Toys, said she believes more people are looking to avoid the hustle and bustle on Black Friday and will support local businesses the following day.
“There are a lot of people who’d rather avoid (Black Friday) and have a less stressful shopping experience,” she said. “A lot of people make it a point to shop small.”
Local First Arizona, which encourages shoppers to spend money at local businesses, has spread the word about Small Business Saturday to its members through its email lists, said Kimber Lanning, founder and director of Local First.
Lanning lauded American Express for the initiative that, she added, has gained traction and grown in its short existence.
“I think it’s great for a company the size of AMEX to recognize that small businesses are their bread and butter and to want to do something to support them,” she said.


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Fertiliser prices help boost Incitec profit 20pcPUBLISHED: 14 Nov 2011 09:21:00 | UPDATED: 15 Nov 2011 06:50:25PUBLISHED: 15 Nov 2011 PRINT EDITION: 15 Nov 2011
Fertiliser and explosives maker Incitec Pivot delivered a 20 per cent jump in annual profit on Monday, slightly ahead of market forecasts.
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Coronavirus has impacted the fundamental way in which we live our daily lives and will change how things operate in the future.
Nottinghamshire Live has reported on the devastating impact lockdown measures have had on smaller businesses in the city and county - from furloughing staff to huge drops in revenue.
But even the county's biggest billion-pound businesses have not escaped the impact the deadly virus has had on the global economy as people stay indoors to help slow the spread and save lives.
From closing stores and sites to furloughing staff here's how some of the area's biggest companies have been faring since the lockdown.
The pharmaceutical giant has been at the forefront of helping the UK battle coronavirus.
At the end of March, Boots launched a new drive-through Covid-19 testing facility at its headquarters for NHS workers.
Volunteers from Boots helped set up the facility at the company's head office site in Beeston in just 10 days and tests are being conducted by volunteers from staff.
And Boots has also had to temporarily shut 60 stores in a bid to reorganise staff.
A Boots UK spokesperson told Nottinghamshire Live: "Boots UK’s priority is to ensure access to a pharmacy for every community, and look after our amazing and selfless colleagues as they serve on the front line to support our patients and customers get the advice, healthcare, medicine and essential products that they need at this time.
"We are also looking at ways to support communities and the NHS through some of our partnerships. We are proud of the fantastic teams who continue to set up drive-through Covid-19 test centres, dedicated to testing NHS workers, right across the country."
Boots also announced a partnership with The Hygiene Bank and Fareshare to donate and distribute over 200,000 essential toiletries to NHS hospital workers and charities supporting the most vulnerable in communities.
It is also supporting the Nightingale Hospitals with care packages for patients and staff.
Thousands of employees at Nottinghamshire's second biggest company were placed on furlough leave in a bid to protect the firm's financial future.
More than 80 percent of staff at car dealership giant Pendragon, which employs more than 9,00 people, were placed on leave for a 21-day period.
Pendragon is responsible for companies including Evans Halshaw, Car Store and Stratstone Evans, which have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Voluntary pay cuts are also being brought in as the pandemic continues to affect the economy. This includes a 10 per cent cut for corporate and field support personnel, 15 per cent for upper management and 20 per cent for board members and senior leaders.
In order to support frontline medical workers, Pendragon said it will be donating the 20 per cent reduction in the salary of CEO Bill Berman to the NHS at his request.
The company, which is based in Annesley, is also donating 20,000 disposable seat covers to local health trusts.
Pendragon closed all its dealership sales showrooms on March 24, in accordance with government regulations, although a reduced workforce is in place to allow for the maintenance and repair of emergency service vehicles and those belonging to frontline workers.
All 415 Wilko store stores have remained open throughout the lockdown, as they are deemed essential providers of household and hardware supplies by the government.
The retailer, headquartered in Worksop, said staff are being paid in full and will continue for as long as it can do - whether at work or quarantined at home.
A Wilko spokesperson added: "We’ve introduced an enhanced package of support for our most vulnerable team members; those who are over 70 years old or pregnant and who need to self-isolate have been given 12 weeks full pay.
"We’re incredibly proud of, and thankful to our team members across the entire business who have demonstrated great community spirit.
"This Easter, we came together to offer support, products and funds to causes, frontline key workers, families and the elderly. We donated 160,000 chocolate Easter eggs to good causes and NHS teams across the country including: Doncaster and Bassetlaw Trust and Sherwood Forest Trust.
"We’ve also worked with Nottingham Forest in the Community and Nottinghamshire County Council to distribute a bumper batches of essential non-food stock to those in need. On top of this, team members raised over £12,000 for charity by donating 50p in return for an egg for themselves to enjoy."
Wilko has also made changes to stores to make them safer with enhanced cleaning, protective screens, encouraging social distancing supported by floor markings and signage and 45,000 units of hand sanitizer for teams’ personal use.
Stores have also been closing earlier to allow more time for them to be cleaned and shelves re-stocked.
With holidays on hold for now, the company has had to close its villages and furlough a large number of staff, Center Parcs insists it is a strong business.
A spokesman said: "Our villages and Head Office are all closed with a large number of our workforce furloughed. We have key team working on our villages ensuring that we protect and maintain our facilities and a Head Office team working from home to keep our basic business functions running.
"Our teams have also been doing great work locally helping to support the vulnerable in our communities as well as the key workers that are keeping us all safe.
"Center Parcs (headquartered in Newark) is a strong business, and we look forward to opening our doors again to guests when the time is right."
Sports Direct has announced it will now close its stores, contradicting company boss Mike Ashley who said they would remain open during the coronavirus crisis.
The sportswear company - which also counts Evans Cycles as one of its high street brands - came in for heavy criticism after claiming its stores were an 'essential service' because they sold sporting and fitness equipment.
The Shirebrook headquartered company was contacted for comment.


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19 August 2013 17:15 [Source: ICIS news]
By John Richardson
PERTH (ICIS)--One of the misconceptions about China could be that growth in chemicals and polymers demand will be mainly driven by lots of middle and high-income people buying ever-larger amounts of frivolous consumer goods. That might well be the impression if you have only visited the glitzy high-end shopping districts of Shanghai and Beijing.
But when you talk to polyolefin industry executives who travel to inland China, away from where most Westerners do their sightseeing, the impression is altogether different. The bigger story for them is instead about satisfying what are very basic needs by Western standards.
“I expect double-digit demand growth in plastic packaging every year in China over the next 10-20 years,” said a polyolefins industry executive.
Driving the optimism is that many less-developed provinces in China are playing catch-up with the developed southern and eastern coastal provinces. Income levels in these poorer provinces are expected to rise at faster rates percentage-wise over the next decade than increases in overall GDP growth, thanks to government policy.
The gap between under-developed and developed China is huge, according to a Peking University survey, which was released last month.
“Average annual income for a family in 2012 was Rmb13,000 [CNY 13,000], or about $2,100,” wrote the New York Times in a 19 July report on the survey.
“When broken down by geography, the survey results showed that the average amount in Shanghai, a huge coastal city, was just over Rmb29,000, or $4,700, while the average in Gansu Province, far from the coast in northwest China, was Rmb11,400, or just under $2,000. Average family income in urban areas was about $2,600, while it was $1,600 in rural areas.”
And people in all regions of China are becoming more environmentally aware, which includes a great deal of anger over food contamination.
Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow Chemical, told the Wall Street Journal in a 25 July article that food safety concerns in China, including those surrounding the number of dead pigs floating down a river in Shanghai and rat meat being sold as lamb at some food stalls, were resulting in more people buying pre-packaged foods in supermarkets.
“When you travel to poorer provinces in China you realise that very few people can afford decent packaging for their food,” the executive added.
“If you look at how they pack pork or ham, you wouldn’t bring it back for your family. The food is one-third, or even 20%, of overseas prices, but you can tell why. The plastic packaging peels off and there are bubbles in the packaging, they don’t use proper polymers and don’t always put food into refrigeration,” he said.
Quality wise, and therefore food-safety wise, overseas producers were well-placed to take advantage growth, provided they could keep costs down, as affordability would remain a big issue in most of China, he added.
“Minor changes in density etc can change performance when you are dealing with an extrusion structure [for packaging film] with nine layers, each layer of which has a unique performance. This type of film is very commonly used in the West and more developed parts of Asia,” he added.
“The Chinese are still producing one to three layer material and they don’t even understand how to make three layers perform well, and so there is a lot we can do to help them catch-up.”
Once the Chinese government realised how much poor food packaging was costing the economy in wasted food, improvements would happen very quickly, he said.
“This has major health implications. You are talking about billions of dollars of economic losses from wasted food and health issues,” he added.
In the short term, some of the changes in government policy have been bad for the chemicals industry – for instance, the crackdown on corruption.
“It is going to remain very bad for consumer luxury-goods items. Luxury-goods manufacturers are scaling back their investments and even golf memberships are being returned to golf clubs. Nobody wants to show off their wealth anymore,” added the polyolefin industry executive.
“There are still some old-fashioned guys, including some of our customers, who want a return to corruption because they think it will be good for business.”
But he argued that Beijing would not change course and that this new direction would eventually be great news for growth.
“The more I look into the government’s new policies the more I think they will be good for China in the long term,” he said.
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Changing FileMaker, Inc's name to Claris shows a certain awareness of Apple history, but possibly not a very complete one. If you've been around Apple for a long time, you're likely to have fond memories of the application suite ClarisWorks. Yet if you've been around for even longer, you'll know that Claris has a complicated relationship with Apple.
This week on the AppleInsider Podcast, Victor is sad to inform you that Instagram leaked your information for months. William points out that at least it wasn't Facebook this time — and Victor looks at him for that just like you're doing now. In better news, Apple has new MacBook Pro models and the much-liked software developer Panic is moving into games hardware, because it can.
Apple subsidiary FileMaker has released a new ad campaign touting the custom app development tool, with a video and website featuring cast members from 'The Office' in a mock documentary about a highly successful beet farm powered by a FileMaker-produced app.
The Apple-owned FileMaker has expanded the availability of its FileMaker Cloud service to countries outside North America, with customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa now able to use the cloud-based server platform for their apps.
The latest FileMaker Pro 22.214.171.124 is at the center of an entire ecosystem aiming to help individuals and whole corporations manage their data. AppleInsider examines the platform's main app, which is now — mostly — macOS Sierra-ready.
Sierra is still proving to be one of the less problematic Mac software upgrade in a long time, but as expected, there are some minor issues here and there, including FileMaker incompatibility problems, tracking issues with some Logitech mice, and problems with missing options on some third party 4k displays.
Apple-owned FileMaker on Tuesday launched FileMaker 14, a major update of its database software for Mac, Windows, and iOS devices, focusing on speed improvements but adding a variety of other new features as well.
FileMaker, Inc., on Tuesday launched the next major update to its database software, with the new FileMaker 13 packing in more than 50 new features, including WebDirect, an entirely new browser-based technology for easier access.
Wholly owned Apple subsidiary FileMaker Inc., makers of database programs FileMaker and the now-defunct Bento, reportedly conducted a round of layoffs on Thursday as the company restructures and consolidates its workforce.


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The new year means many of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority's Pikepass customers should receive new windshield sticker tags.
Distribution efforts of the new stickers will pick up early this year, with plans to get them sent to all account holders by the end of next year, said Jack Damrill, Turnpike Authority spokesman.
The sticker tags are replacing hard-case units that mount on the windshield. The hard-case units are no longer being produced.
The sticker tags should solve a problem with hard-case units that are switched between the same account holder's vehicles. When the hard-case units aren't mounted correctly, electronic readers at the turnpike gates can misread or not read the tags.
The sticker tag mounts on the windshield under the rearview mirror, similar to where the hard-case tag is placed. But the sticker must be mounted correctly in order for it to work properly; a few motorists who were selected to try out the stickers reported difficulties putting the sticker on the windshield, Damrill said.
No serious problems have occurred during two rounds of tests with the stickers on more than 25,000 vehicles, including 15,000 commercial trucks, he said. Those who took part in the trial tests were allowed to keep their sticker tags.
So far, nearly 32,000 sticker tags have been issued. The Turnpike Authority has nearly 543,000 Pikepass accounts.
Some Pikepass customers who have more than one vehicle switch the hard case tags between vehicles. Damrill said a sticker tag will be required for each vehicle.
Immediate plans are not to charge customers for the sticker tags, and account holders won't be charged when they buy a different vehicle or replace broken windshields, he said. The sticker tags don't work if they are removed from the windshield.
Exceptions will be made for owners who have upper-end vehicles that have metallic windshields, Damrill said. The sticker tags won't work on metallic windshields; those vehicle owners are given a bumper-mounted or vehicle tag-mounted device.
Customers who abuse the system by going through a high number of sticker tags eventually will be charged for replacement tags, he said. Sticker tags cost about $9 each.
The Turnpike Authority will notify account holders when they should get a sticker tag, Damrill said.
“After the first of the year, we'll be full-steam in transferring people over,” he said.
The Turnpike Authority plans to replace the hard-case units based on age, he said. The longer a Pikepass customer has had a hard-case tag, the sooner the customer will get a sticker tag.


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Australian advertising revenues are expected to grow by 2.9 per cent to $16 billion in 2018, according to the latest forecast from IPG Mediabrands’ media intelligence and investment division.
Magna’s most recent forecast, issued this week, sees 2018 growth lower than 2017’s expected full-year performance of 3.2 per cent, and also below Magna’s prior forecast for 2018 of 4.3 per cent.
Taking a longer view on industry growth, Magna expects total ad spend to see a 3.8 per cent, five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) – about half the pace seen in previous years.
Magna Australia managing director Victor Corones said: “The International Monetary Fund has reduced Australian growth expectations to 4.2 per cent on a nominal GDP basis – down from prior expectations of 5.3 per cent growth.
“This is a combination of both lower real GDP and lower inflation, both of which result in a headwind to advertising spending.
“Whilst forecasts appear initially dampened, The Commonwealth Games and several state elections are potential growth levers across the year for several media sectors. A federal election currently pegged for 2019 also has the potential to move earlier and fall into 2018.”
Magna’s study found that sectors such as travel, automotive and retail (in particular, as the Australian market awaits the impact of Amazon’s launch) are expected to grow in 2018.
One ad-spend sector Magna expects to contract in 2018 is real estate, as activity cools from pace seen in 2017.
Magna’s assessment of macroeconomics affecting future media ad spend include rising household debt, inflation outstripping wage growth, under-employment (those that are unemployed and/or seeking more employment) and flat consumer retail spending in the third quarter of 2017.
It is no surprise that digital remains the driver of ad revenue growth in Australia, and is expected to increase by 10 per cent in 2018 to reach $9 billion.
Australia remains one of the most advanced digital advertising economies globally, with the fourth-highest digital share of media spend expected in 2018, at 57 per cent of total budgets.
Search is predicted to increase 7.7 per cent in 2018, fuelled by an increase of new features and innovation such as location-based search, shopping feeds and integration of search features in more devices, giving advertisers more opportunity to connect with customers, according to Magna.
However, diversification of social media through players like Facebook, Snapchat and Pinterest are expected to place pressure on the growth of search.
Social media is expected to see continued growth in ad spend of 18.1 per cent. The rise of news feeds, diversification of social platforms and increased mobile usage are seen as key drivers in 2018.
Total digital display investment is expected to remain close to flat.
Across the total digital ecosystem, mobile will attract close to 54 per cent of spend. By 2022 Magna predicts mobile will account for as much as 72 per cent of all digital ad spend in Australia.
Screen video advertising, which includes linear, catch-up and video streaming services, is expected to see 2 per cent growth in 2018 and a 1.9 per cent five-year CAGR.
Video is by far the standout performer, expected to see 21.7 per cent growth in 2018 and a 17.8 per cent five-year CAGR.
Linear TV is expected to see a 4 per cent decline in 2018 and 6 per cent contracted CAGR. This is partly a reflection of how TV networks are shifting their business model into newer revenue streams, such as streaming, that are currently classified under digital, Magna noted.
The study says linear TV’s greatest challenge is how best to diversify revenues while continuing to protect the dominant revenues of their broadcast services.
“The clock is ticking on this scenario,” Corones said. “As consumers continue to seek out content across multiple devices and platforms, linear TV channels face audience declines, which in turn is driving inflation for this medium.
“The concept of clients paying more for less is always challenging, even for such a powerful and dominant medium such as linear TV.
“All three major commercial TV networks spoke about their digital streaming capabilities in their upfronts going into 2018, particularly as connected TV apps start to deliver audiences at scale.
“This lays an important foundation for new revenues, so getting the consumer and experience right are critical.”
Magna’s report says out-of-home (OOH) ad spend is expected to see growth of 6.6 per cent in ad spend in 2018, with digital OOH expected to increase by 15 per cent and account for close to half of ad spend within this sector. Traditional OOH is forecast to remain flat.
Radio growth is pegged to 1 per cent year-on-year growth, while print continues to see precipitous declines, and expectations for 2018 are for contraction rates worse than 20 per cent for both magazines and newspapers.
The Australian media industry has responded to Meta’s decision to walk away from funding Aussie journalism once the current content deals expire. In a blow to local media outlets Meta said it will not enter negotiations to extend a deal to pay with Australian media companies for the news that appears on its platform. Michael […]
Google’s position on funding Aussie journalism hasn’t changed as Meta reveals it plans to walk from future news content deals. Google has confirmed that it will not abandon news content deals with publishers, and has even been renegotiating ones that have nearly expired. Today, Meta said it will not enter negotiations to extend content deals […]
Free TV has said that today’s announcement by Meta that it will not be renewing any of the deals struck with Australian media companies for use of news content on its platforms should be met with swift action by the government. Meta today revealed it will walk away from funding Aussie journalism once the current content […]
NOVA Entertainment has today announced the launch of a refreshed brand identity for FIVEAA, Adelaide’s premier commercial talkback station. The forward-looking brand refresh reflects FIVEAA’s new lineup and vision while paying homage to the station’s previous logo and rich heritage. Built upon the new tagline of Always Adelaide, the new direction celebrates the ‘AA’ branding […]
Australian social and content marketing workflow platform Fabulate has won big at the industry’s annual AiMCO Awards, taking out the highly competitive Best Influencer Marketing Technology Service category. Lead image: Fabulate team at Aimco Awards The win saw the start up platform, which has a team of around 50, receive the industry recognition against competitor […]
Australia’s newest transformative TV technology, Hubbl, will be on sale from March 10 in Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi retail stores nationally and via Hubbl.com.au. Lead Image: Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany at Hubbl Launch. Also from March 10, Hubbl will unveil a national advertising campaign starring brand ambassadors Hamish Blake and Andy Lee. The multi-channel […]
Marking a historic moment, THE LUME Melbourne will welcome original pages from Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus to Australian shores for the first time, as they touch down on March 9, before going on display to the public from March 16, when Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius presented by Webuild opens to […]
Eyeota, a Dun & Bradstreet company and a global source of data for digital marketing, have selected Proximic by Comscore, a leading provider of audience and content targeting solutions for programmatic activation, as its preferred partner for making its full taxonomy of audience segments available for contextual cookieless targeting.


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Brick-and-mortar retail sinks artfully into coma.
It’s been a tough quarter for Macy’s. Again. Sales dropped 4% to $5.87 billion in the second quarter, it reported today. It had already closed 41 “underperforming Macy’s stores” in its fiscal year 2015. So among the remaining company-owned stores, comparable sales fell 2.6%. Operating income plunged 73% to $117 million. Net income plummeted 95% to a nearly invisible $11 million, or 3 cents a share.
The first quarter, on a year-over-year basis, was even worse. So for the first half, sales dropped 5.7%, operating income 53%, and net income 82%.
“We are encouraged by the distinct improvement in our sales and earnings trend in the second quarter,” is how CEO Terry Lundgren explained the phenomenon. He even gave credit to “a normalized weather pattern” – rather than blaming the weather, as is normally the case. And tourist spending dropped again, but less than before.
Then came the music to Wall Street’s ears.
In a separate statement, Macy’s announced that it would be “reallocating investments to highest-growth-potential store and digital businesses, and capitalizing on opportunities within the company’s real estate assets.” These changes “represent an advancement in our thinking on the role of stores….”
What this corporate speak means in numbers is this: It will shutter “approximately” 100 Macy’s full-line stores, or about 15% of its current 675 full-line stores. Final decisions which stores to close haven’t been made yet, it said. Most of this will happen in early 2017.
And there’s a real estate angle, testament to the breath-taking commercial property bubble that has transpired across the US, and particularly in large urban markets. It’s going to shutter “a number of stores” and sell the locations because the “value of the real estate exceeds their value to Macy’s as a retail store.”
One of them is the Macy’s Men’s Store on Union Square in San Francisco, a fabulously expensive location. It’s a big store, with a number of floors. You don’t have to wind past perfumes, bras, stockings, and handbags to get to the escalators or the underwear section. It’s a little threadbare, but who cares. I treat shopping like I treat unpleasant jobs around the house, such as replacing tile grout in the shower. When I finally decide to do it, I make a plan, and I execute the plan as efficiently as possible. That store allows me to get in, get my business done, and get out.
But that’s not what Macy’s wants. It wants me to wander past bras and perfumes apparently. So it’s “in negotiations” to sell the property. If the deal goes through, the big men’s store will be shuttered, and merchandise will be crammed into a floor or so in “a comprehensive and compelling men’s shopping experience” at the women’s store across the street. Surely, men can find other suppliers for their stuff, like online.
Macy’s figured that out too. Online retailers are eating its lunch. Amazon is cleaning house. Millennials, the customers that Macy’s really, really needs, are shopping online. And so Macy’s will try to gravitate that way and “invest in growth sooner and more aggressively in digital and mobile.”
Given all these store closings, the already declining sales will be “somewhat smaller” still – by about another $1 billion!
But as miserable as 3 cents a share in net earnings is, Macy’s couldn’t leave it at that. So it adjusted its earnings by removing the biggest bad items, such as the costs of closing stores and axing employees – which is not a one-time item but part of its regular business model these days – and the costs of the retirement plan settlement.
Thus, it managed to pump up its adjusted fictional ex-bad-items earnings to 54 cents a share, easily blowing past analysts’ expectations of 48 cents a share. But the most positive thing must have been the layoffs and store closings coming down the pike. That always sells on Wall Street.
And Macy’s shares soared 17% today. You’d think Microsoft had made one of its wild-and-woolly buyout offers, or something. But shares are still down 45% from their peak during the glory days of mere sales stagnation in July last year.
These store closings, and those over the past few years – in total nearly 200 – show that Macy’s is trying to shift its footprint out of brick-and-mortar retail into online and mobile. They’re all trying to do it, spread over years. Brick-and-mortar retail is sinking into a coma, artfully dressed in corporate speak and “adjusted” accounting figures to cover up declining sales and plunging earnings.
It’s really tough out there. American consumers are squeezed. The shift to online has been brutal. Numerous retail chains have already taken refuge in bankruptcy. Private equity firms, which thought that retail was the best thing since sliced bread and bought out numerous retailers, are now getting burned. Read… Another Leveraged Buyout of a Retailer Bites the Dust
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The lure of the surf has prompted the head of Billabong's US surfwear business to call it quits.
Ed Leasure, who joined Billabong nine years ago, played a major role in helping the retailer restructure its business after long-running problems.
"After getting into the business to surf more, I'm now stepping back from the business to surf more," he said on Thursday.
Mr Leasure, who used to make surfboards and run his own chain of surf stores, will retire from his role as Billabong's president of the Americas at the end of January. He will remain a consultant and "ambassador" for the group.
Brand Billabong president Shannan North will head the group's Americas retail operations.
The wholesale and international development parts of the US business will be headed by other senior executives.
Billabong chief executive Neil Fiske praised Mr Leasure's tenure and contribution.
"On accepting the role as Billabong CEO in 2013, I asked Ed to take on the challenge of rebuilding our Americas team and operations after a period of significant organisational turmoil, and he's done a terrific job," he said.
"Ed is a pioneer and one of the best surf retailers in the business. Widely respected and admired in the industry, he brought credibility and expertise to the Americas region at a critical time."
Mr Leasure began making surfboards with his brother in their Cocoa Beach garage in Florida, before opening a chain of surf stores in 1979, the company said.
He joined Billabong in 2008 following the acquisition of his Quiet Flight stores and has since held a range of senior roles within the group.
In a turbulent day on the market on Thursday Billabong shares lost 3.6 per cent to close at $2.13.
Billabong shares slumped 23 per cent in one day in November after the company warned that earnings would come under pressure in the short term from the weaker Australian dollar and poor demand in North America.
The share price weakness set up quite a milestone for its former subsidiary Surfstitch, which surpassed the market capitalisation of its former parent. Billabong is now worth $438 million compared to $507 million for Surfstitch.
Surfstitch was worth just $214 million when it floated last December after founders Justin Cameron and Lex Pedersen bought out Billabong's 51 per cent stake and Billabong's North American online business Swell.com


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Cable Technology Feature Article
T-Mobile Seeks to Halt Verizon Spectrum Acquisition
By Chris Freeburn, Web Editor
Fresh from seeing its attempted merger with AT&T collapse under pressure from regulators, T-Mobile (News - Alert) filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop Verizon from acquiring wireless spectrum from a group of cable companies.
The spectrum deal between Verizon Wireless (News - Alert), Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Cox Communications is valued at $3.9 billion, according to the Associated Press (News - Alert) (AP). The cable companies purchased the spectrum at a 2006 federal auction with plans to launch a new wireless venture, the AP said. The new venture never materialized and the cable companies agreed to sell the spectrum to Verizon in December.
In its FCC (News - Alert) filing, T-Mobile alleges that the acquisition would allow Verizon to create an “excessive concentration" of wireless spectrum. The AP notes that Verizon, the largest cell service provider in the U.S., currently controls a significant amount of wireless spectrum, while T-Mobile has rights to relatively little.
T-Mobile received support in its bid to halt the Verizon purchase from MetroPCS Communications Inc., ranked just behind T-Mobile as the fifth largest U.S. cell carrier, as well as ten public interest groups who independently filed petitions to block the acquisition, the AP reported. The T-Mobile filing also follows last week’s request to the FCC from the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel to kill the spectrum purchase on similar grounds.
Other cell carriers, like Sprint Nextel (News - Alert) Corp., requested that the FCC investigate the proposed spectrum purchase, especially the cross-marketing of Verizon and cable company products, the AP said. Verizon Wireless retail outlets now offer Comcast cable service while Comcast outlets now promote Verizon cellular phone and data plans. According to the AP, the cross-promotion between Verizon and its cable allies represents a new paradigm compared to the usual competition between cellular and cable providers, both of which offer phone, broadband and TV services.
Verizon Wireless argues that the additional spectrum will benefit consumers, resulting in faster service to wireless devices like tablets and smartphones, according to the AP.
Chris Freeburn is a Web Editor for TMCnet.
Edited by Rich Steeves


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JAIPUR: The “forgotten recipes” of Persia are about to be revived at a 13-day food festival that promises an authentic culinary fare through the subtle flavours that originated in Iran centuries ago.
Heralding Nowruz, the dawn of the Persian New Year, Fairmont Jaipur yesterday launched the food fest at the hotel’s signature Indo-Persian restaurant “Zarin” – a name inspired by the Persian connotation for gold – that celebrates the fusion of two ancient culinary traditions of Asia.
“Zarin is a unique restaurant that adds drama and flair to our repertoire of dining facilities at Fairmont Jaipur. The restaurant evokes heart-warming nostalgia of grandiose culinary traditions of the warrior kings and emperors across Persia,” Srijan Vadhera, General Manager, Fairmont Jaipur, said.
The Persian food festival that also marks the launch of a new menu at Zarin will offer guests a wide selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies, including Iranian Haleem, Mutton Dhansak, Tabriz Koftey – stuffed chicken dumpling filled with nuts and spices – and Patrani Paneer Kebab – banana leaf wrapped grilled cottage cheese flavoured with garlic and cinnamon.
“The new menu at Zarin will offer diners a delightful insight into a bygone era that has influenced our cuisine in countless ways. The food festival that celebrates Nowruz is a compilation of highlights from the new menu breathing life into the forgotten recipes of Persia,” Manpreet Singh, Executive Chef, Fairmont Jaipur, said. Courtsey: IANS


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Horsepower is usually the hot topic at the Chicago Auto Show, but get ready for this: ''zebra-power.'' An innovative electric car called the XEBRA from California automotive pioneer ZAP debuts this week at the 99th annual Chicago Auto Show, booth number NH20A. The show runs February 9 - 18 at McCormick Place ( http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/ ).
So how many ZP (zebra-power) does a XEBRA have? Chicago-area dealer Rick Sbragia says it''s not about the power you can deliver, but the power you save.
"This cute, little electric car speaks volumes," said Sbragia, owner of Star Motors, aka ZAP of Oak Forrest, Illinois.
"The writing is on the wall in the auto industry and green is the name of the game. All the cars at the show this year will be touting MPG, miles per gallon to show how efficient they can be, but here''s a car that has zero miles per gallon. It''s so efficient they will have to come up with a new metric -- maybe zebra-power?"
Sbragia noted that the XEBRA car and truck costs drivers about a penny a mile in electricity to fill-up at any household outlet. ZAP calls the XEBRA a ''city-car,'' an all-electric design to handle city-speed driving up to 40 MPH. A 20+ year veteran of the auto dealer business, Sbragia says green thinking is nothing new to him. He owns one of the largest dent repair operations in the Chicago area, DentStar, which specializes in non-toxic, paint-less dent removal.
"ZAP has shown good foresight to bring this car to market at the right time," said Sbragia. "So many people today are thinking about the environment when they buy cars and I think the XEBRA is a natural. It''s exciting to be the first dealer in the Chicago area. The market potential for such an affordable, practical design like this is staggering."
Sbragia says the XEBRA sedan and truck are very appealing for multi-car families as well as corporate and municipal fleets. Priced around $10,000, ZAP created the XEBRA through a strategic partnership with an auto manufacturer in China.


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Famed comic book publisher DC Comics announced today that they are launching a roster of comic books in digital format for the first time, making super-heroic stories from the likes of Batman and Superman available on iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches and PlayStation Portable game devices.
DC Comics has partnered with both comiXology and the PlayStation Network and will begin distributing digital versions of their comic books on demand starting today.
Both PSP and Apple device owners will be able to pay for classic titles from DC Comics, Vertigo and WildStorm. Among them: “Batman: Hush,” “Green Lantern: Rebirth,” “Fables: Legends in Exiles” and “Planetary: All Over the World and Other Stories.” In both cases, the digital comics will be priced between 99 cents to $2.99 per issue.
Until today, DC had been an important holdout on the digital publication front, with comic book publishers like Marvel and Dark Horse already offering many of their series through the App Store and PlayStation network.
Apple device owners will need to download the free DC Comics/comiXology app via the App store. They will be able to access more than 100 issues from DC and its imprint publishers immediately, with 100 more being made available each month. According to the release, one issue of Neil Gaiman’s famed “Sandman” series will be made available each week exclusively through the comiXology program. (comiXology developed Marvel’s comic book reader app as well.)
DC’s partnership with comiXology includes an agreement that makes it so a portion of digital revenues will be invested in a program that supports traditional comic book retailers, which have long been the backbone of the comic book world.
“As both a comic book creator and co-publisher, it was incredibly important that our plan includes not only creator incentive payments, but also an innovative component that supports comic shop owners,” Jim Lee, co-publisher for DC Comics, said in a released statement.
Meanwhile, PSP owners will be able to access more than 80 issues from DC as of today, including the first 25 issues of both “Superman” and “Batman.” More than 50 new issues will then be made available each month.
For those without extra change in their pockets, DC also will offer several comics for free at launch to both PSP owners and Apple device owners, including the first installment of the ZUDA series “Bayou” and select stories from “Batman: Black & White.”
DC also is offering a free 10-page preview of the 700th issue of “Superman.” The pages are a prelude to writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Eddy Barrows’ “Grounded” storyline. “Grounded” will be available on both the PlayStation Network and App Store the same day the issue goes on sale in comic book stores.
According to Dan DiDio, co-publisher of DC Comics, “Grounded” will examine how Superman sees America, and how America sees Superman and is “a major turning point in the history of Superman.”
You can find Wonder Winda Benedetti leaping tall buildings in a single bound and conquering Twitter .


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Bank holiday opening hours25 August 2019
Nottingham Forest's ticket office, club shop and commercial department will all be open on Bank Holiday Monday.
Bank holiday opening hours24 May 2019
Nottingham Forest supporters are advised of the club’s opening hours for bank holiday Monday.
Bank Holiday opening hours27 August 2018
The Nottingham Forest ticket office and Megastore will both be open on Bank Holiday Monday.


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The latest issue of the Weekly Famitsu magazine had Digimon fans worried when it updated Digimon Survive‘s release window from 2020 to “To Be Announced.” Many thought this meant that the game had been delayed indefinitely, especially in light of COVID-19, but a Bandai Namco Entertainment representative has told Gematsu (thanks, DualShockers) that Digimon Survive is still on track to release this year. Apparently, the change to “TBA” was an error on Famitsu’s end.
The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has a change in release date for Digimon Survive from “2020” to “TBA.”
A @BandaiNamcoUS rep has confirmed to Gematsu that Digimon Survive is still on track for a 2020 release and that “the switch from 2020 to TBA is a typo on Famitsu’s side.” pic.twitter.com/jSjjO0QeME
— Gematsu (@gematsucom) April 22, 2020
Digimon Survive has already been delayed once. During Anime Expo 2019, Bandai Namco announced that it was pushing the game’s release window to 2020 but didn’t provide a reason for the delay. However, the move was hardly surprising considering not much was known about the title at the time following its announcement in 2018. We’ve had some more information since then so make sure to check out our previous coverage.
An overview is as follows:
Digimon Survive sees a brand-new group of teenagers, led by Takuma Momozuka, get lost on a school camping trip, finding them transported to a strange new world of monsters and danger.
As they fight their way back home through an animated world of difficult decisions and deadly battles, players’ choices throughout the game will impact the evolution of their monster allies, and the final ending. Battles in the game are fought in 2D, in a more classic SRPG style.
Digimon Survive was originally slated for a summer 2019 release.


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Report: Chrysler may add shift at Belvidere plant
Bloomberg News reported today that Chrysler Group LLC may add production shifts at plants in Michigan and Illinois, including its assembly plant in Belvidere where the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot are made.
According to Bloomberg, General Holiefield, United Auto Workers vice president in charge of Chrysler, said in an interview Tuesday in Detroit that Chrysler may hire 3,000 workers for additional shifts in Detroit, Sterling Heights, Mich., and Belvidere.
A Chrysler spokesman would not comment on the Bloomberg report.
Read more on Alex Gary's blog.


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Nando's reveals opening date for new Bishop's Stortford restaurant
Nando's is set to open its new Bishop's Stortford branch in Potter Street on September 18.
The public relations company representing the South African chain, which serves Portuguese-style piri piri chicken, confirmed the date but said that no other details were yet available.
The restaurant is expected to employ 30-35 people.
After a wrangle over potential noise and fumes and despite objections from Eat 17 next door, East Herts Council has granted Nando's planning permission to change the vacant Jackson Square shop unit into a restaurant, alter the frontage and add its iconic name and cockerel logo to the fascia.
The business has also asked the authority for a licence to serve alcohol.


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This is not just a jam sandwich... Oh, actually, it is
The new M&S jam sandwich
It's hardly a dish that requires great culinary skill and hours of preparation in the kitchen.
Yet it seems that some of us lead such busy lives that we are simply unable to knock up a quick strawberry jam sandwich.
If that applies to you, then relax. Because Marks & Spencer is going to do it for you - and charge you 75p for the privilege.
In an age when even potato comes ready mashed, perhaps it was only a matter of time before someone started selling us something we could easily make ourselves in about a minute.
Even M&S itself admits that its latest takeaway offering is nothing more complicated that two slices of white bread spread with butter and jam.
But there are likely to be many adults who will be pleased to see a snack most commonly associated with childhood appearing on the shelves alongside a sea of far more exotic fillings.
In today's health-conscious times, the combination of white bread and sugary sweet jam might well have nutritionists throwing up their hands in horror.
But M&S remains unperturbed. It says the jam sandwich is 'one of the greatest simple pleasures of life' and that it will evoke memories of yesteryear.
It also claims it is the perfect quick fix credit crunch lunch.
The store says it will be the first jam sandwich for adults available on the high street and is part of the new 'Simply . . .' range of five sandwiches that contain straightforward ingredients - such as free-range egg, British ham and cheese.
M&S Sandwich specialist Katy Patino said: 'We are delighted to be launching this national favourite.
'It really is the ultimate comfort food at an unbeatable price, plus it's the only place on the high street where you can get a jam sandwich.
'For those who haven't eaten one for years, one bite takes you straight back to your childhood.'
The strawberry jam sandwich will be available in stores from next Thursday.
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What you need to know
- Several tech companies participated in April Fools' Day, including Razer and Surfshark.
- Some people also fell for fake news on April Fools' Day.
- Unfortunately, Razer's RGB hair dye that you can control from your phone is not real.
April Fools' Day is a dangerous day for news writers. We have to sift through pranks and news alike to find out what's real and what's not. While some companies are kind enough to make it obvious, like Razer announcing an RGB hair dye you can control with your phone, other pranks aren't so clear. We're rounding up the best April Fools' Day pranks and stories from the day to make things just a bit easier for you — and for us.
Razer Rapunzel Glow Up
One thing that Razer's known for is its love of RGB lighting. For April Fools' Day, Razer created a fake product page for Razer Rapunzel Chroma Hair Dye. The fake dye allows you to apply green slime to your hair to dye it into any color you want.
"The secret to Razer Rapunzel Chroma Hair Dye lies in its billions of cutting-edge nanites that bond with your hair at a molecular level—powering, lighting, and pairing with our Chroma app to bring out your hair's true potential," says the dye's fake listing.
The full page for Razer Rapunzel is quite entertaining. The FAQ section includes advice on what to do if the nanites in the hair start taking over your consciousness and if it's safe to drink. There's also a fake ingredient list.
A quick jab from Halo
While the official Halo Twitter account didn't share any fake news or products, it did take a friendly jab at a site for falling for a fake Halo Infinite delay post.
For the latest official news on Halo Infinite, be sure to follow @Halo (that's us) right here on Twitter! 😉 https://t.co/f9A5EfEZFpFor the latest official news on Halo Infinite, be sure to follow @Halo (that's us) right here on Twitter! 😉 https://t.co/f9A5EfEZFp— Halo (@Halo) March 31, 2021March 31, 2021
The official Xbox Twitter account also joined in on the fun.
Tangentially related to the aforementioned Microsoft and Halo "news" is this little treat: incredibly, the Moa burger-flavored Pringles are not an April Fools' Day prank. They're an actual product that will be available for a limited time.
Usually, protecting your PC is no laughing matter, but Surfshark decided to have some April Fools' Day fun by "launching" Surfshark '95 for Windows 95. You can use just five floppy disks to install the VPN on your Windows 95 PC. If you order now, you'll also get a free mouse cleaning tool. Hard to resist.
Below the button to place an order, there's a quick note that states:
- Recommended settings and software for visiting our site: 800x600 or higher, 16-bit color, at least 16MB of RAM. If you're having any issues, call our 24/7 support at 1-800-APRIL-FOOLS.
If you're actually on the hunt for the best Windows 10 VPN service, you probably want to go with something a bit more modern.
With Godzilla vs. Kong in theaters and on HBO Max, people have giant monsters on the mind. Audio-Technica AU tweeted out a fake pair of Kaiju headphones for April Fools' Day. They feature 4.5m 'mega-aperture drivers,' so they should be big enough for monsters that are several stories tall.
Introducing the new limited edition ATH-M50xGZ, designed for the Kaiju who truly cares about sound. The ATH-M50xGZ features proprietary 4.5m mega-aperture drivers to deliver exceptional clarity and earth-shattering bass.
From the studio to the street. No survivors. pic.twitter.com/r3YYVOCjTYIntroducing the new limited edition ATH-M50xGZ, designed for the Kaiju who truly cares about sound. The ATH-M50xGZ features proprietary 4.5m mega-aperture drivers to deliver exceptional clarity and earth-shattering bass.
From the studio to the street. No survivors. pic.twitter.com/r3YYVOCjTY— Audio-Technica AU (@AudioTechnicaAU) April 1, 2021April 1, 2021
NVIDIA RTX 4090
A YouTuber by the name of Captains Workspace shared a video showcasing a fake NVIDIA RTX 4090. It uses two power plugs, has 18,000 Cuda cores, and is an absolute unit. The video jokingly says that the fictional card's starting stock of 21 units is an improvement over the RTX 3000 series.
Secretlab chair for dogs
"Be the best parent you can be. Support your kid the right way today with a seat that's been proven to help them aim better and react faster. They'll soon be a walking highlight reel," says the listing under a section titled "Start them young. Teach your kid to carry you."
Multiple members of our newsroom would consider buying one of these if it was real, and we're sad that it's just an April Fools' Day joke. Dear Secretlab, please let us review a tiny gaming chair for our pets.
While Secretlab doesn't make a Titan XXXXXS, you can grab a Secretlab Titan XL.
Not everyone played along
While some companies joined in on the fun, others felt it wasn't appropriate. Google canceled its April Fools' Day festivities this year. Google told The Verge:
Have you spotted any other good pranks? Please share them in the comments below, and we might add them to the roundup.
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Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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The catastrophic demise of the FTX exchange has given rise to new worries in the DeFi and crypto circles around the world. The news of its sudden collapse spread like wildfire among the cryptocurrency and finance circles and many investors started to become skeptical about these exchanges.
Many FTX investors suffered from losing their deposits that were present in the custodial wallets.
These changes make cryptocurrency investors come face to face with the problem of using non-custodial wallets. Therefore, more investors started to move their crypto reserves out of digital wallets and into self-custodial or hardware wallets.
It is important to note that FTX was only part of a bigger problem with some other enterprises such as Celsius, Three Arrow Capital, Terra Luna, and other crypto entities running into the ground during 2022.
The ongoing banking crisis in the USA has kept the same streak as the crypto winters last year. Many users kept moving towards self-custodial options for this duration.
One of the people who are still trying to recover their lost funds from the defunct FTX exchange has shared some choice remarks for the now-convicted former CEO of the crypto exchange.
Meanwhile, another person told Wired that they should have taken some preventive measures to foresee and manage the potential risks. At present, he has some coins stored in an exchange wallet and held them for trading purposes.
Moving crypto reserves in and out of the exchange can be a costly exercise. On the other hand, a cryptocurrency investor has shared that their funds are locked in an interest-bearing account with a P2P contract or personal wallet.
Most experienced traders have promoted the idea of “Not your keys, not your money” within their social circles. In case, any centralized exchange or trading platform has your private keys the expert claim that it is under their ownership.
Hardware Wallets Give Extra Protection
Therefore, consumers must take measures to move their funds to self-custody wallets such as storing them in hardware or cold wallet for best security protection. CertiK director of Security Hugh Brooks has suggested that there are issues related to self-custody wallet and key management that needs to be addressed.
He mentioned that a considerable amount of users have migrated to self-custody wallets such as Ledger.
Ledger executives have reported increased sales and traction since November last year. Ledger sales indicate sales of 1 million new units between 2022 and 2023. Meanwhile, the hardware wallet manufacturer has managed to sell around 8 million units since its inception 8 years ago.
Meanwhile, Brooks claims that self-custody poses a greater threat to the average user. He explained that most people tend to forget or compromise their private keys or recovery phrases and end up locking themselves out of their reserves.
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