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Why The Connected Home Is The Next Digital Frontier
Since we started buying electronic appliances for our home, we have been thinking of ways to get our appliances connected and talking to each other. Even though the technology was there, it was very complicated, thus only ardent enthusiasts were able to achieve this feat. Fast-forward five years and home automation has come a long way to what has evolved into the “connected home”.
Today every consumer electronics manufacturer is talking about the connected home. They are offering more solutions that are simpler to setup and use. Manufacturers are forming alliances and establishing standards to make it easier for different home automation solutions to work together.
Research Points to the connected Home Potential
Companies are announcing larger sales figure of connected home-related devices compare to previous year. Research consultancies are publishing new reports every week predicting high levels of shipment and high market worth of connected home sector. According to Intellect, the UK’s connected home market is predicted to worth £3bn within the next five years. According to Pike Research the smart appliances global market will worth over $26 by 2019.
The connected home has Government backing
Connected home technologies such as smart meters and smart grid have received government backing. In Europe alone there are over 20 government part-funded smart grid projects and according to Pike Research smart meter deployment is predicted to reach 238 million by 2020. With both technologies (smart grid and smart meter), governments have realised that we can better manage our energy use through better monitoring and proactive about it distribution. The connected home industry is going a bit further by making their appliances grid aware that they can save energy and money.
The connected home is a un-top market
The connected home is still and un-top market. For many years, connected home solutions were only available to the super rich and those with the technical knowhow (with degrees in engineering). Today CE Manufacturers have become aware of the potential of the connected home in terms of its revenue.
There is a Need for Flexibility and Connectivity
With the rise of social networks, cloud services and mobile TV, we changing the way we see our home appliances, we now need our devices connected at all times and work around us, according to Motorola. Manufacturers are making big promises about the possibilities of the jetsons’ life style. The Motorola Barometer study also found that more than before there is greater demand for connected home services.
The Technology is here
There is no doubt that the technology to support the connected life style is here, the technology now has its own techzone at CES. Telecoms such as Verizon, AT&T and Swisscom have all launch services, that allow you to connect and manage your home appliances and environment. Unlike before today there are specialist solution providers like Control4, Motorola Mobility along with many more.


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WASHINGTON: What's cheap food for the poor in India is healthy and expensive nutrition for the rich in the west. India's cheapest grains
, ignored, disdained, and disappearing in much of the country, are now much sought after cereals
in America. They are priced some 500 times more than what New Delhi will supply its poor under the food security legislation.
The UPA government's Food Security Bill
promises the country's 810 million poor coarse grains (such as sorghum or jowar, pearl millet or bajra, and finger millet or ragi) at Rs 1 per kg. That's less than two US cents per kg at current exchange rates.
In contrast, the same coarse grains in the US are priced at a staggering $10 (Rs 630) and above per kilogram.
The high prices are mostly on account of low supply and growing demand for cereals such as quinoa and millets from health food faddists in the west. The nutritional quality of such grains is not a state secret; it has been known to ancient India and Africa
for millennia, long before the arrival and popularity of wheat and rice.
But the advent of Green Revolution, with its emphasis on wheat and rice, sidelined these traditional coarse grains, even as the scientific world exulted in its nutrient qualities. Endorsed by world bodies such as FAO and nutrition experts, off take of coarse grains has soared in the west even as it has declined in India and Africa, which are now overflowing with cheap wheat and rice.
"Ragi cultivation has declined precipitously in the state," lamented Karnataka's US-educated agriculture minister Krishna Byre Gowda, in a recent conversation with this correspondent. "Poor rainfall, plunging water tables, and changing preferences have all contributed."
Karnataka is the leading producer of ragi in India, accounting for over 50 per cent of the production. Nationwide, ragi accounts for less than one per cent of the cropped area and cereal production; bajra is even less.
Of course, many poor in rural India, habituated to an ancient diet, still prefer coarse grains. After the Karnataka government recently upstaged New Delhi by promising rice at Rs 1 per kg, many BPL families in north Karnataka (where jowar is the staple grain) and in old Mysore (where ragi is the staple), made it known that they preferred coarse grains to rice. The government has now promised that these grains will also be offered at Rs 1 per kg.
Procurement will be a problem. Combined with declining domestic production, there are fears that much of India's coarse grains will end up being exported if the western craze catches on. Already, expat Indians have cottoned on to the health kick. Coarse grain and its flour are now available at the popular US-based Indian grocery
chain Patel brothers: a 2-pound packet of bajri flour is priced at $2.99 (about Rs 200 at current exchange rate). Ragi is almost twice as expensive — a pound of ragi flour is $2.49. In contrast, wheat flour costs less than 50 cents a pound.
But it's the prices at US health food outlets that are eye-popping. Even on Amazon.com
, a 2-pound packet of ragi flour cost $12.10 (about Rs 800) as of Monday morning. How long Indian governments will be able to procure and process such "rich cereals for the west, poor grains in India" in the face of such skewed economics is something to chew on.

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Amazon’s India marketplace business has now gone live. Currently selling books, movies and TV shows, the store is set to expand by adding mobiles, cameras and more to the website.
Live now on Amazon.in, the website is Amazon’s tenth marketplace and aims to provide Indian customers with a shopping destination to purchase products from third-party sellers. The marketplace will enable these sellers to list their products for customers locally and globally. They will also have access to a suite of services, including Selling on Amazon and Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).
Now in India
Through FOA, sellers will be able to send their products to an Amazon fulfillment centre. When a customer orders from the catalogue on the Amazon site, the company will ship the products from the fulfillment centre to them.
Currently, Amazon’s Indian marketplace is providing free home delivery for a limited time period. Going further, the website will charge Rs. 49 per package for delivery and goods worth Rs. 499 and up will be delivered for free. Cash on delivery facilities are available with the website. If you have an existing Amazon.com account, you can use the same credentials to log-in to the Indian marketplace too.
Amazon had also launched Junglee.com, an aggregator site that listed deals from online retailers in the country. Considering how India does not allow for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), hosting an online marketplace seems like the easiest option for companies like Amazon.
Junglee.com is still online and in beta and Amazon looks keen on maintaining both the websites in the country. While Amazon has not exactly mentioned what the difference between the two websites will be, it looks like it will be maintaining Junglee.com as an aggregator and will push for FBA stocking options on Amazon.in.
Published Date: Jun 05, 2013 09:26 am | Updated Date: Jun 05, 2013 09:26 am


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The government will today launch a competition to help spearhead the roll-out of 5G mobile technology.
Some £25m of matched funding is being made available to help firms develop 5G under a programme called "5G Testbeds and Trials".
Fifth generation, or 5G, mobile coverage is seen by experts as being pivotal to the development of driverless cars and other Internet of Things smart device technologies.
Digital minister Matt Hancock said:
To stay competitive we must be at the cutting edge of new technology and we are determined to be one of the first countries in the world to use 5G.
It's all part of our determination to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business, and deliver for all citizens now and in the years to come.
The competition is part of a £740m national productivity investment fund set up by ministers to support the next generation of digital infrastructure, including 5G and full fibre broadband.
The boost to 5G comes on the back of the announcement that by the end of this year a government investment of £1.7bn will have supported the rollout of superfast broadband to 95 per cent of the UK.
Treasury minister Andrew Jones said: “Improving productivity requires targeted and sustained investment, which is why we are backing the UK’s digital infrastructure with over a billion pounds of government funding. Whether we are doing business online or the weekly grocery shop online, strong and reliable connections are crucial to this.
“Today’s announcement is a big step forward in bringing 5G to the UK and ensuring our digital infrastructure is fit for the future.”


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Since the Trump administration began reshaping trade policy in early 2018, U.S. farmers have endured fluctuating prices and uncertain destinations for what they grow and harvest amid increasing tariffs on grain exports.
"We want trade, we don't want aid, but right now the bankers want paid," Steve Turner recently told hundreds of attendees at the Illinois Farm Bureau's annual meeting in Chicago.
In Washington, meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Democrats had reached an agreement to support passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, delivering a major trade victory to Republican President Donald Trump. Just a few days later, the White House announced a breakthrough in trade negotiations with China.
But as diplomats and lawmakers work to turn trade negotiations into long-term agreements, Steve Turner is among many farmers across the country receiving payments from the U.S. government to compensate for income lost due to trade battles. The Department of Agriculture's Market Facilitation Program is distributing about $14.5 billion overall to farmers in 2019 on top of an estimated $12 billion in 2018.
The MFP is intended to offset the immediate impact of tariffs on U.S. crop exports, helping farmers get through the resulting economic hardship while the Trump administration negotiates with key trading partners.
"It made a big difference to our bottom line, absolutely, there's no question about it," Megan Dwyer told VOA while gazing out on her soybeans fields situated near Colona, Illinois.
"If we're going to have tariffs, we ask that we be taken care of," says farmer Jeff Kirwan, who tends land in Mercer County, Illinois.
The USDA reports that Illinois, where Dwyer and Kirwan both farm - is the state receiving the most MFP funds in the country. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota round out the list of top aid-receiving states.
But many farmers say they prefer trade agreements over the MFP payments.
"No one is looking for a handout," says Dwyer.
Kirwan agrees, and says he supports what President Trump is trying to do in the hopes it makes the U.S. more competitive internationally on trade.
"I think it's important when you talk about trade agreements that we want good, fair trade," which is also why Kirwan and Dwyer say they are relieved the USMCA is moving forward.
The USMCA replaces the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. A key part of the new agreement is to lower or end tariffs and boost markets for U.S. crops - most notably corn and soybeans - in countries bordering the United States.
"One success leads to hopefully more successes," Kirwan said to VOA on the sidelines of the Illinois Farm Bureau meeting. Kirwan and Dwyer both see passage of the USMCA as a sign of things to come as the Trump administration continues to press for a comprehensive trade agreement with China.
"It's just building some confidence with our other foreign markets," says Dwyer, "To show that the U.S. can come up with an agreement."
On Friday, the White House announced progress in trade negotiations with China, agreeing to delay tariffs on Chinese-produced electronics and toys while reducing existing tariffs on other goods. In return, China is promising to buy more American agricultural output.
Advocates for U.S. agricultural producers called the news a good first step.
"America's farmers and ranchers are eager to get back to business globally," American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said in a statement Monday. "China went from the second-largest market for U.S. agricultural products to the fifth-largest since the trade war began. Reopening the door to trade with China and others is key to helping farmers and ranchers get back on their feet. Farmers would much rather farm for the marketplace and not have to rely on government trade aid."
Similarly, the Illinois Farm Bureau called Friday's announcement "welcome news," adding that farmers in the state have "a profound desire to recapture lost export demand due to the prolonged trade war with China." The group expressed hope for "more good news yet to come."
Illinois farmer Evan Hultine says he is "very excited" about the prospects of the purchase commitment China is making in the current phase of negotiations, but that the "residual stress" of the trade war has him taking a wait-and-see approach. "I don't think my nerves or trepidation will completely fade until China starts making physical purchases and commodities and money changes hands," he told VOA.
Trade announcements take time to be implemented and even longer to benefit farmers economically. For all the trade headlines emerging in Washington, Turner says many farmers across America continue to struggle.
"The economic damage to us on prices has still been done out here," he said.
"Let's say that we have a [final] trade agreement [with China], and things really get moving - we know that the farm income situation has been affected and can't be turned around overnight," said Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Censky during a visit to the Illinois Farm Bureau's annual meeting.
Censky said he hopes further MFP payments in 2020 won't be needed if negotiators can reach a full and comprehensive trade agreement with China, which is one of the largest buyers of U.S. soybeans.
"All of us want to have trade and not aid," says Censky. "None of us wants to have this level of government payments going to farmers. We want the markets."
Farmers echo the sentiment but also want to know the U.S. government will continue to support them if further trade progress doesn't materialize and their list of worries continues to extend beyond omnipresent factors, like the weather.


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Career interest in the local marketing sector has grown steadily over the last year with a sizeable increase in job postings and job-seekers, according to a report released yesterday by online career portal Everjobs Cambodia.
The data, collected by the company’s own internal analytics calculated through the number of job postings, showed that over 3,000 marketing positions had been listed on the website since mid-2015.
“According to Everjobs data, the number of job seekers interested in marketing positions in the Kingdom is increasing,” Alexandra Iuchyk, business development manager at Everjobs Cambodia, said in the report.
The data showed that from the last financial quarter of 2015 through the middle of this year, overall recorded growth for marketing positions was around 30 percent.
In addition, the report broke down the most common skills required for marketing positions. Core marketing skills, which include writing abilities, analytical knowledge and creativity, made up nearly 53 percent of application criteria, while sales and planning made up 37 percent and 26 percent, respectively.
“The rapid development of the Cambodian labour market requires employees and job-seekers to develop their professional skills to easily adapt the fast-changing market,” the report added.


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Companies from South Korea PohangIronandSteelCompany (POSCO) makes another step towards the realization of its ambitious plans for its own position in the global stainless steel market. According to foreign press, the management of metallurgical giant has decided to acquire the assets of Zimbabwean company Maranatha, specializing in the production of ferrochrome. This alloy containing iron, chromium, carbon, silicon and other elements used for alloying metals. Currently the world market prices will rise (in I quarter of this year, the cost of a pound of chromium reached $ 1.15, while fluctuating in December of 2011 in the range of $ 0.95−1.05 per pound). In South Africa, ores containing chromium, have risen in price to $ 195−205 per tonne, while in China — up to $ 265−275. Thus, buying a new resource assets, POSCO expects to optimize the management of its own article to supplement the costs required for the production of stainless steel.
A preliminary agreement to purchase shares of Maranatha PohangIronandSteelCompany representatives signed last week. The capacity of the Zimbabwean producer let you receive the order of 80 mln. Tons of ferrochrome a year. The partners of the South Korean steel corporation in the transaction will be the company Anchor Holdings (Mozambique) and Gurta (Switzerland).


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VMware Fusion 13 Now Available With Native Support for Apple Silicon Macs
VMware today announced the launch of Fusion 13, the latest major update to the Fusion virtualization software. For those unfamiliar with Fusion, it is designed to allow Mac users to operate virtual machines to run non-macOS operating systems like Windows 11.
Fusion 13 Pro and Fusion 13 Player are compatible with both Intel Macs and Apple silicon Macs equipped with M-series chips, offering native support. VMware has been testing Apple silicon support for several months now ahead of the launch of the latest version of Fusion.
With Fusion 13, Intel and Apple silicon Mac users can access Windows 11 virtual machines. Intel Macs offer full support for Windows 11, while on Apple silicon, VMware says there is a first round of features for Windows 11 on Arm.
VMware Tools provides virtual graphics and networking, and more is still to come. With certified and signed drivers Windows 11 looks fantastic, and adjust the resolution to 4K and beyond! Note that Fusion on Apple Silicon must run the Arm variant of Windows 11, and it does not support the x86/Intel version of Windows.
Users who need to run traditional win32 and x64 apps can do so through built-in emulation.
Fusion 13 also includes a TPM 2.0 virtual device that can be added to any VM, storing contents in an encrypted section of the virtual machine files and offering hardware-tpm functionality parity. To support this feature, Fusion 13 uses a fast encryption type that encrypts only the parts of the VM necessary to support the TPM device for performance and security.
The software supports OpenGL 4.3 in Windows and Linux VMs on Intel and in Linux VMs on Apple silicon.
Fusion 13 Player is free for personal use, and commercial licenses for both versions are available at a 30 percent discount to celebrate the launch. VMware Fusion 13 Player is priced at $104.30, and VMware Fusion Pro is priced at $139.30. Upgrades from prior versions are also available at a lower cost.
Top Rated Comments
My guess is that since (I believe) VMware makes most their money from enterprise clients and large infrastructure deployments, they were never making much money from home users anyway. Plus people who start with VMware products because they’re free are likely to us VMware products when they need a paid solution.


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What you need to know
- iPhone factory workers have been told not to return to work over Coronavirus fears.
- They were initially due to begin work February 10, after the Lunar Break which was extended because of disruption.
- Employees have been told to wait for further notice.
iPhone factory workers have been told not to return to Shenzhen, in order to comply with government virus prevention measures.
According to Bloomberg:
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. told employees at its Shenzhen facility not to return to work when the extended Lunar New Year break ends Feb. 10, according to a memo obtained by Bloomberg News.
Shenzhen is not Apple's main plant in the country, but this is still the most material disruption we've seen caused by the coronavirus with regards to Apple's supply chain. A text message to Foxconn employees stated:
"To safeguard everyone's health and safety and comply with government virus prevention measures, we urge you not to return to Shenzhen... We'll update you on the situation in the city. The company will protect everyone's work-related rights and interests in the duration. As for the happy reunion date in Shenzhen, please wait for further notice."
Reports of predicted disruption are now widespread, and Apple issued wider-than-normal guidance for its Q2 2020 earnings as a result. Very recently it was reported that AirPods production had slowed to a crawl and that new shipments had not been sent out for more than two weeks.
Reports of workers being told not to return to their posts in Shenzhen is the latest in a growing list of disruption. Apple has been forced to close all of its China operations in the country and the official death toll has risen above 600.
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FAQ: TikTok & WeChat ban — why it’s happening and what it means for you
Are TikTok and WeChat really being banned? When does all of this take effect? Will I still be able to use these apps? All this and more answered in our FAQ regarding the latest U.S. orders.
Plan your day with Hour Blocks and its amazing iOS 14 Home screen widgets
Planning your day is no fun but sometimes you find an app that goes some way to making it less boring. Hour Blocks does a decent job and it looks lovely, too.
Scribble Together gets the coolest iOS 14 App Clip we've seen so far
Scribble Together has released its new App Clip for Scribble Together, which will allow users to collaborate on a Scribble Together whiteboard even if they don't have the app.
Your iPhone 11 Pro will love these screen protectors!
The screen on your new iPhone is very expensive to replace. Because of this, you may want to consider buying an inexpensive screen protector


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Yesterday Realme confirmed that its upcoming smartphone – the Realme X – will sport a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor. Now the Chinese phone maker has confirmed that the Realme X will feature an in-display fingerprint scanner.
Realme also said that this fingerprint scanner is powered by DSP acceleration technology, which not only makes it faster, but also helps you quickly unlock the smartphone under direct light.
Poster confirming in-display fingerprint scanner on Realme X
The Realme X will be unveiled on May 15 alongside the X Lite which is a re-branded 3 Pro. The specs sheet of both…


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Few regions in the world are crying out for help louder than the Sahel, the parched underbelly of the Sahara that runs from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Spanning nine nations, the largest being Chad and Sudan, the Sahel has the dubious distinction of being at the top of global social, economic, and cultural categories that no region would aspire to. Rife with civil war and droughts, the Sahel ranks among the highest in infant mortality rates and the lowest in per capita earnings and literacy rates of any area in the world. The best efforts of aid agencies have served only to create a culture of dependency, completely ignoring the hidden potential of the Sahel’s natural resources to build a resilient, market-based economy.
It’s not surprising, though, that well-meaning groups like the United Nations Development Program and U.S. Agency of International Development have failed to significantly improve the economic fortunes of the citizens of the Sahel. These agencies are not equipped with the type of business expertise required to manage market development and build sustainable commercial ventures. But imagine a business-centric non-governmental organization, an “Executives Sans Frontières” (Executives without Borders), patterned after Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, or Doctors without Borders), the international group of health-care workers that provides medical treatment and training to disadvantaged and underdeveloped countries in the world.
Could such a group change the prospects for the region?
Like MSF, Executives Sans Frontières (ESF) would be run by an international board of directors, who would be in charge of recruiting a group of volunteer, adventurous business executives and rotating teams of committed members into regions like the Sahel to help establish businesses and develop untapped markets. Based on their background and expertise, these managers from the developed world’s corporate elite and recent startups would be parachuted in for several months to several years to address such critical issues as transportation of goods, sustainable harvesting, and international trade practices. ESF’s success would be predicated on its ability to locate, mentor, and, in some cases, underwrite local entrepreneurs. The overarching goal would be to teach people to run ventures themselves.
The Sahel could provide an ideal proving ground for ESF. Although the region is destitute, it has valuable resources such as livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats, as well as cotton, maize, and sorghum that could be better capitalized. There is also the possibility of developing growing techniques that could facilitate the development of lucrative new crops, such as gum arabic and myrrh. Instead of attempting to work with slow-moving and often corrupt central governments in the region, ESF would focus on firing up these businesses at the local level.
Finding a cheaper and more profitable way to bring goods to market would be one of the first areas on which ESF could have a significant impact. The Sahel lacks a self-regulating pan-region commodities exchange, where buyers and sellers can meet to trade and prices are set based on supply and demand. Instead, the region has had to rely on a proliferation of middlemen amid a lack of widely available information about market prices and fees; consequently, it costs the Sahel’s rural farmers more to transport and store goods than it would in, say, the United States. Executives with experience in creating and managing exchanges in developed markets could help foster a trading center to even the playing field and distribute the price of goods more efficiently. Producers would receive current pricing information, negotiate contracts up front, and know what to expect of vendors in the supply chain. Futures markets — for example, involving cattle or goat — could be established as well.


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Danish blogger Kenneth Lund reports that a large Danish Apple reseller is claiming that new MacBook Pros will arrive on March 1. (And that sound you heard was Apple removing a certain Danish company's reseller status).
TUAW notes that, except for a processor bump in October, the MacBook Pro hasn't been revved since April 13, 2010. That's 307 days when the MacBook Pro is usually updated every 208 days. So yeah, it's way overdue. The MacBook Pro refresh has also been rumored for March 11 -- so we're definitely in the right neighborhood.
And March sounds a heck of a lot better than June.
The New MacBook Pros were believed to be delayed due to a $1B flaw that was discovered in Intel's next-gen Sandy Bridge processor. Intel claims that the issue has been resolved and that it will begin shipping dual-core Core i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge processors for laptops on February 20.
In addition to gaining the new Sandy Bridge chip, the MBP refresh has been rumored to take design queues from the MacBook Air, including its thin, wedge design, SSD, no optical, etc.
I just hope Apple doesn't drop the backlit keyboard from the MBP like it did in the 2010 MacBook Air -- a total Apple fail.
MacBook Pro concept: AppleInsider forum's rum_an.


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The Celtic Collection launches e-Commerce Website
Home fragrance brand, The Celtic Collection, built on Irish heritage, has today launched their new e-Commerce website.
Created in 2017 by brand builder GM Marketing, The Celtic Collection is an uplifting range of fragrances that allow consumers to decorate their homes with the diverse aromas of Ireland.
The core range of All-Year-Round candles (345g) features six soy blend scents with up to 60 hours burning time and are available in many retail stores across Ireland such as SuperValu, Centra and Spar, and now online at www.celticcollection.ie.
Commenting on the launch, The Celtic Collection Brand Manager, Claire McNally said, “We are delighted to launch the new e-Commerce website for one of GM Marketing’s own brands. The home fragrances market has witnessed substantial growth since the Pandemic and people’s homes have now become their sanctuary, where comfort and self-care is sought after and a candle is a really accessible way of doing that. We look forward to adding more collections to the range in the near future.”
Operating across the UK and Ireland, GM Marketing are a brand-building distributor, focused on core grocery categories, and home to household names such as Tilda Rice, Fox’s Biscuits and Nando’s sauces, as well as a growing owned brand portfolio.


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The latest issue of Financial Standard now available as an e-newspaper
Default MySuper fees drop to 1%: RainmakerBY JAMIE WILLIAMSON | WEDNESDAY, 20 OCT 2021 12:31PM
New analysis from Rainmaker Information shows about 60% of all MySuper products reduced their fees last financial year, with the average fees paid by members now sitting at 1%.Read more: MySuper, Rainmaker Information, Alex Dunnin, AMG Corporate, AMIST Super, Bendigo SSSE, EISS Super, QSuper, Rest, Suncorp, UniSuper, Virgin Super Employer
The chief operating officer of Countplus will join AZ Next Generation Advisory in the new year, spearheading the group's expansion plans.
ASIC has brought criminal charges against Avanteos Investments for charging deceased superannuation members.
State Street Digital, Vanguard and Symbiont have completed the first live trade for foreign exchange forward contracts leveraging blockchain technology and smart contracts.
New research from Griffith University and Iress has revealed the 'double-edged sword' of the ease with which consumers can switch their superannuation.
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|Access a 20% EOY discount to Financial Standard's premium subscription. Available until 31 December 2021.|


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HARMAN Professional Solutions announced it has realigned distribution of AMX, SVSI, and install ranges of AKG, BSS, Crown and JBL Professional in Australia with the appointment of MadisonAV, part of the Madison Technologies group.
Distribution in Australia for HARMAN’s retail, cinema, touring, performing arts, broadcast, and Martin lighting solutions remains unchanged.
“We are excited to partner with MadisonAV and expand our distribution reach in Australia. This is aimed at enhancing access to HARMAN products and solutions across verticals, focusing on solutions-driven approach and elevating customer experience,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP and GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “MadisonAV brings 28 years of experience serving the Australian market and we look forward to our collaboration with MadisonAV and are confident their experience and in-depth knowledge will help us deliver the latest and most relevant technology solutions to our customers.”
Recognising the unique maturity of the Australian AV market, HARMAN Professional Solutions will be increasing its local presence in 2020. Consisting of seasoned industry professionals, the Australian Professional Solutions team will manage relationships with key systems integrators, consultants and end users, coordinating and combining the significant capability of MadisonAV.
“We are known in the Australian market for our strong market coverage, technical knowledge and customer service. HARMAN Professional Brands and Solutions are renowned for their world class quality and technological superiority,” said Ken Kyle, CEO, MadisonAV. “We understand our customers’ need for world class products and solutions along with reliable after sales service support. With our hands-on experience and coverage in the Australian market, we are excited to bring HARMAN Professional Video, Install Audio and Integrated Solutions to our customers and elevate their experiences.”


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All food cos. agree to drop “Smart Choices” label – for now
Just a few months after rolling out the “Smart Choices” label onto hundreds of food products in grocery stores and other retail outlets across America, all participating companies have temporarily agreed to drop the label, according to an October 29th press release from the Connecticut attorney general’s office.
QUESTIONING THE 'SMART' IN SMART CHOICES LABEL
The suspension of the Smart Choices Program comes amid an investigation by the CT attorney general into the legitimacy of the program. It also follows a recent letter from the FDA to the food industry, detailing the agency’s plans to examine front-of-package labels like Smart Choices, and create new standards for them.
The Smart Choices label, which features a bright green check mark on about 500 packaged foods, is meant to guide consumers to supposedly smart food choices in 19 categories. But the fact that sugary cereals like Froot Loops and fatty spreads like Hellmann’s mayonnaise qualify for the label has raised concerns among government and health experts as to why such products are being called out as smart.
ALL FOOD COS. OPT TO TEMPORARILY DROP LABEL
The attorney general had been publicly calling on the companies to drop the label since October 23rd, when the Smart Choices Program announced it would be postponing its operations. The announcement, however, did not specify that companies would be required to stop using the label.
Regardless, The New York Times reported on October 24th that two companies—PepsiCo and Kellogg’s—were going to drop or phase out the label, whereas Kraft Foods was expected to continue using it. Now, with the new agreement, Kraft would also temporarily stop using the label along with seven others.
To help you find more nutritious foods, Consumer Reports Health recently launched its own nutrition ratings. Watch our cereal nutrition Ratings video and find out which cereals had the highest and lowest nutrition scores (subscribers only). You can also find out why cereal ads might be bad for your child’s health.


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Audi is in news for taking a significant step forward in its long-pursued plan to set up a second venture in China. German Automaker again highlighted for its Cognata partnership, Israel based autonomous startup. The partnership will speed up the development of autonomous vehicles.
The German automaker will use Cognata’s autonomous vehicle simulation platform to test as well as develop its technology, said by Audi’s self-driving unit. Sources stated that Cognata offers a range of testing scenarios including traffic models that simulate realistic conditions.
Audi’s self-driving unit, AID says that the multi-year partnership will help it bring its self-driving vehicles to market faster. Audi is the first automaker to sign partnership on Cognata’s platform. This partnership will also reduce the demand for advanced simulation technology as automakers want to develop and deploy autonomous vehicles.
Autonomous Intelligence Driving CTO Alex Haag said, “At AID, we are convinced that simulation is a key tool to increase our development speed and a necessary one for the validation of our product and for proving it is safe.”
Audi and Cognata deal delineated the developing biological system of Israeli new businesses which created innovation at first intended for military utilize, for example, safeguard applications, just to locate an eager client base inside the self-sufficient vehicle industry.


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The Midnight Club remake trailer brings back a classic
Rockstar Games used to release video games without GTA 5 in the title.
Anyone of a certain generation will remember a time when Rockstar released banger after hit. Bully! Manhunt! The Warriors The Warriors! All Legendary Games!
The last title in the Midnight Club series, Midnight Club Los Angeles Complete Edition, was released in 2009. Rockstar’s silence on the Midnight Club franchise over the past decade would lead us to believe that the series is dead.
The games can’t be played on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5. Backward compatibility allows you to play the games on Xbox Series or Xbox One.
TeaserPlay has (kind of) answered the prayers of those who have been waiting for a new Midnight Club game. They created a “remake” of the series with Unreal Engine 5 and the use of high-end graphics such as Nanite, Screen Space Raytracing, Global Illumination Shader, etc.
TeaserPlay wrote: “We really hope this video can clear up the expectations that fans have for Rockstar Games.”
Anyone who has been following Rockstar over the past few years knows that they are currently focused on delivering ‘GTA 6. Recent reports indicate that we could see the much-anticipated sequel next year.


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Automotive heads-up displays are a recent fad that has been well received. With technology becoming faster more reliable, the use and acceptance of technology…
Honor received the GLOMO Award for Best in Show alongside an impressive tally of 45 Best of MWC2024 nods from media outlets.
We spotted a magnitude of AI innovation at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC2024) in smartphones, alongside the latest ideas on how generative AI can change the way we interact with technology.
This means the brand Honor may just be finding its recipe in retaining solid trust from consumers.
The brand focused on two company strategies this year, the first was the new AI-empowered all-scenario strategy, which emphasizes cross-OS collaboration and human-centric intent-based AI between devices.
The second focused on embracing the future of AI with collaboration and openness, which will be achieved through leading global industry partners such as Google, Microsoft, Intel, NVDIA and Qualcomm, with a promise to unlock new possibilities in technology.
Honor introduced the Honor Magic 6 Pro with impressive AI advancements and AI integration.
This was showcased through its automotive control capabilities. Honor showcased the Magic 6 Pro’s AI-powered eye-tracking feature, which enables hands-free steering of a vehicle using eye gaze interpretation.
By looking at specific buttons for a few seconds, users can activate commands, which reflects in the car’s movement. This innovative application of AI shows the vast potential of human device interaction beyond traditional controls.
Honor also shed light on the Honor Magic V2 with its interesting design coupled with industry-leading battery prowess. This positioned the Magic V2 as a solid contender in the foldable technology series in terms of innovation.
Honor has been dubbed a fast-growing smartphone brand in the country due to it’s fact sheet to secure market share position in Q4 of 2023 according to a report by Counterpoint.
AI took center stage at this years MW Congress in Barcelona and cutting-edge innovations from different brands were a spectacle to be witnessed.


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Posted: June 01, 2014
Creative finance vs traditional venture capital
Need a loan? Small businesses have more options in 2014Eric Peterson
Of about 15 venture funds in 2001, only two remained active in 2007, said Zell: Foundry Group in Boulder and Westminster's Access Venture Partners.
Since Zell started deal-making in Colorado that year, Virginia-based Grotech has closed on 12 Series A and B investments in the state, with a 13th on track to close this spring. “We're one of the most active investors in Colorado,” he says
Describing an overall upswing, Zell also highlights a critical gap in the Colorado VC world. “At the seed level, there are a lot of good opportunities,” he notes. And companies seeking B and C rounds are usually looking at a broader VC market. “Once a company is at $3 million to $4 million in revenue, we'll have good support from national firms.”
But for startups looking for Series A financing, Colorado is definitely lacking. “Most investors want it to be local,” Zell says.
He adds confidently, though, that things could change quickly, noting roughly 30 opportunities with Colorado startups in 2013. “If there are 60 great companies, the money will come here.”
Not that VC is a match for every startup. “Of all businesses that get started, only about 20 percent fit the venture model,” Zell says. Venture capitalists are looking for companies in high-growth industries where the annual growth rate could hit 50 percent or even triple digits, he explains. Startups in flatter sectors need not apply. While 20 percent growth is nice, it's not enough to justify a VC investment.
Until recently, “Denver/Boulder wasn't a destination for coastal capital sources,” says Chris Onan, a managing director with Denver's Galvanize. “Colorado has always been an importer of venture capital and will continue to be.”
Regardless, Onan says he's seen good signs of growth in the last few years. “The real catalyst was David Cohen, Brad Feld and Jared Polis starting TechStars.”
Exit activity is critical, and lacking in Colorado, adds Onan. “Utah is a great tech market, with unbelievable exits. That's when you really start to see that flywheel. We need to put a couple of those on the board.”
He looks at Zayo Group, Rally Software, Ping Identity and LogRhythm as local companies that could fit the bill.
“I think it's coming,” says Onan. “We've got tons of energy on the early-stage side. We just need to put a couple of runs on the board.”
Denver-based writer Eric Peterson is the author of Frommer's Colorado, Frommer's Montana & Wyoming, Frommer's Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks and the Ramble series of guidebooks, featuring first-person travelogues covering everything from atomic landmarks in New Mexico to celebrity gone wrong in Hollywood. Peterson has also recently written about backpacking in Yosemite, cross-country skiing in Yellowstone and downhill skiing in Colorado for such publications as Denver's Westword and The New York Daily News. He can be reached at Eptcb126@msn.com


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ONE Championship Signs Global Content Partnership With Facebook
November 19, 2020
Martial arts organization ONE Championship has signed a multifaceted global partnership with Facebook that includes distribution of exclusive content on Facebook Watch, a Facebook Gaming channel where ONE’s top athletes will stream gameplay and gaming commentary, and the addition of ONE Virtual Reality content to the Venues app on the Oculus platform.
ONE Championship and Facebook have long worked together in bringing the most exciting martial arts content to millions of fans globally, leveraging the platform’s power. ONE’s Facebook page now exceeds 25M+ followers and the company exceeded 5 billion platform video views in 2019.
“ONE Championship is committed to finding new ways to connect authentically with our fans and allow them to experience the stories of hope, strength, dreams, and inspiration created by our athlete superheroes. Our long-term partnership with Facebook has been instrumental in allowing us to build reach and audiences around the world. We are excited to expand our partnership and leverage the power of the Facebook platform, be that VR with Oculus, the rapid growth of esports and community gaming with Facebook Gaming, or simply non-stop action clips for Facebook Watch you cannot find anywhere else,” said Hari Vijayarajan, Group CCO of ONE Championship.
The partnership’s agreement includes:
- An agreement to deliver custom content to martial arts fans globally, featuring unique camera angles, behind-the-scenes footage and more, exclusively made for Facebook Watch and IGTV.
- The joint launch of ONE Championship and ONE Esports Facebook Gaming channel, where fans can watch their favorite ONE athletes stream their gaming activity exclusively on Facebook Gaming, playing and engaging daily.
- The launch of “Only on Oculus” next-generation VR content in the Venues app for Oculus Quest where martial arts fans across the globe can experience the best seat in the house, virtually.
“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with ONE Championship as we grow our sports collaboration across our platform. Community is at the core of ONE Championship and we will continue to help them reach their audiences whether it is through premium content in Facebook Watch, or to our new engagement opportunities through Facebook Gaming. The announcement also bring content to the Oculus platform is testament to ONE Championship’s ability to anticipate where their community will engage and create a meaningful experience for fans,” said Joyee Biswas, Director Sports Partnerships Facebook Asia Pacific.


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- Apple's new iPhone and iPad software iOS 12 includes a new Stocks app.
- It shows information about the stocks you follow and includes news stories.
- CNBC's Todd Haselton walks through the new Stocks app, coming this fall.
Apple's new iPhone and iPad software update, iOS 12, launches this fall -- you can try it now if you want to -- and includes a brand new Stocks application.
The Stocks app on the iPhone has typically been pretty bare bones, but showed current and historical share prices for different companies you might be following. It becomes a lot more useful in iOS 12, at least for the casual market watcher, and includes news about the companies you're tracking and more.
Here's a look at what Stocks looks like in the iOS 12 preview right now, and glimpse of what you can expect to hit your iPhone through a software update sometime this fall.
That's a quick look at Stocks. You can install Apple's iOS 12 public preview if you want to try it now, just expect some bugs.


text: In touting his new hit product, Kindle, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos may indeed be channeling his inner Steve Jobs. The device could do for text what the iPod has done for music. But there's a much bigger lesson to be learned, according to Fast Company, which offers a description of the future of books that pits the two biggest media titans against each other in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Except for consumers there are no winners - yet. It may even be early in the game. But "what's very dangerous," Bezos concludes, "is not to evolve."


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Gold jewellers vying for internet investment gold
Gold jewellers with physical stores are vying for a piece of the internet investment gold (IIG) market amid changing consumer purchase preferences and rising smartphone adoption.
Till now digital wallets and e-commerce platforms have been the key enablers for low ticket purchases of gold with PhonePe, AmazonPay, Google Pay, Paytm among the companies that offered this service. Through these channels gold can be bought and sold at spot rates or bought and converted into coins.
While jewellers have strengthened their online presence through their own e-commerce platforms to keep sales buoyant during the Covid pandemic when stores were shut, they are now looking to expand their sales channels.
Tata’s jewellery brand Tanishq and Senco Gold and Diamonds on Tuesday announced their foray into digital gold. Tanishq has partnered online digital gold platform SafeGold .
“Tanishq Digital Gold powered by SafeGold is virtually bought and comes with a flexibility to convert into physical gold in the form of jewellery at the time of redemption at 360 plus Tanishq retail stores across the country or Tanishq’s official website,” the company said in a statement. The jeweller said that consumers can even purchase Rs 100 worth of 24-carat pure gold.
“Tanishq in partnership with SafeGold is providing an opportunity to new age digital savvy consumers who may not have an immediate need to buy gold jewellery but may be inclined to purchase it in the near future,” said Ajoy Chawla, CEO, jewellery division, at Titan Company Ltd.
Senco Gold and Diamonds launched its online gold transaction platform — DG Gold. The retail jewellery chain said consumers with valid PAN card/Form 61 and a bank account would be eligible for purchase of gold starting as low as Rs 250. The purchased gold can be converted into physical gold in the form of jewellery at 116 plus retail outlets of Senco or sold online through the DG Gold portal at prevailing rates.
“The new platform gives our consumers the flexibility to create value and wealth which is secure and simple,” said Suvankar Sen, CEO, Senco Gold and Diamonds.
Last year, the World Gold Council had estimated the online gold market in India at around 2 per cent of overall gold sales by value.
“Smartphone penetration and increasing financial inclusion will give a vast swathe of Indian investors the ability to invest in IIG with the swipe of a finger, using mobile wallets/apps or a bank’s digital platform,” World Council said in its report.


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I’ve seen 28 years of developing all around the area for 10 miles in all directions,
I have been on Main Street in Daytona Beach as a local business for 28 years. Yes, the street has changed very much in that time.
But one must not put the blame on Bike Week or Biketoberfest.
These two events have paid the taxes on the properties on Main Street for their owners for many years, and they are greatly appreciated. And without these two events on Main Street, the demise of Main Street is certain.
When I think about why Main Street is the way it is today, I strongly believe it is a sign of the times. I’ve seen 28 years of developing all around the area for 10 miles in all directions, and it has taken a toll on Streets like Beach Street, Seabreeze Boulevard, Main Street and others.
Twenty-plus years ago, there were no restaurants or any businesses to speak of on Dunlawton Avenue in Port Orange, or on Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach. There was no Pavilion in Port Orange.
U.S. 92 was not even called International Speèdway Boulevard, and there were fewer than half the businesses that are here today.
We have had a long run of prime development in all areas, and it is still going on now: Bass Pro Shops and the 75-store Tanger Outlets Mall, and now the rest of the One Daytona complex across from the Speedway. And in case no one has noticed: All the fill-in stores, stand-alone businesses and mega gas stations in our area.
People, do not be fooled. This is called over-development.
As we allow all this new construction of hundreds of new businesses in this area, we will start to see many others like our mom-and-pop and family businesses drop off and go out of business.
This is the core of the problem we are seeing.
One must not blame small businesses on any of our main roads that are struggling and being pushed out by corporate giants. This is poor planning by the greedy and uneducated city leaders of our surrounding communities.
It is not totally their fault either. Our city leaders must be taught about economics and throughly understand the meaning of macroeconomics. I believe if city leaders would understand these facts of life we would be in better shape.
If this development and major construction of restaurants and retail stores continues in this area, we will have a complete turnover of businesses and only the strong will survive.
I’m sorry to say this is happening now, and will continue to get worse as time goes by.
We do not and will not be able to support this kind of growth in this area that is so limited by our current population.
We need people and major tourism as this growth happens. And unfortunately, I must say to my dear friends and business leaders, we have put the cart before the horse.
This will be a difficult problem to fix, but do not blame it on Bike Week or Biketoberfest. These are dollars the small businesses need to survive. If anything, we need many more large money-producing events.
Local people should support local businesses — because there will be a day when they will all be gone. And then we will know who to point the finger at.
— Scianablo is a longtime Main Street merchant.


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Sedans and small cars will for a key part of Volkswagen’s future EV lineup.
We’re still reeling from the shock announcement that Ford is killing all US sedans and small cars in its current lineup by 2022. The only cars that will survive are the Mustang and Focus Active, with SUVs and pickup trucks making up the majority of Ford’s vehicle lineup unless the automaker decides to replace its outgoing lineup with hybrid or electric models. It’s no secret that sedan sales are declining, but we never expected Ford to take such drastic action. It also makes us wonder if automakers will follow Ford’s lead and make similar changes.
One automaker that won’t be killing sedans, however, is Volkswagen. Speaking to Digital Trends, Volkswagen of America boss Hinrich Woebcken admitted there will be more focus on SUVs, but the automaker is still committed to building sedans and small cars, which will be a key part of its future I.D. EV range. “The question of whether electric mobility will favor sedans or SUVs hasn’t been answered yet” Hinrich said. “When you’re talking about electric cars, sedans have more advantages. The shape and the [drag coefficient] has a high effect on range. Therefore, we’ll maybe see a higher sedan share on full electric cars than with conventional cars.”
His comments explain why VW elected the Vizzion sedan as the company’s flagship EV model. It’s only been shown in concept form, but the production model is expected to have a range of 413 miles, the longest range of any VW I.D. concept shown so far. Volkswagen also recently launched the new redesigned 2019 Jetta and is also preparing to replace the Passat. “We are intending to be a full line car manufacturer,” Woebcken explained. But while VW believes the sedan segment still has a future, it isn’t ignoring the unrelenting demand for SUVs in the US. SUVs will form a big part of VW’s lineup in the future and two new models will launch in the near future.
One will be a smaller five-seat Atlas, while the other will be an entry-level SUV positioned below the Tiguan.


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Qualcomm Snapdragon 4-series processors range will be expanded to support 5G in early 2021, the company has revealed through a press release. Qualcomm aims to make 5G accessible globally to “more than 3.5 billion smartphone users.” The Snapdragon 4 series is designed for budget friendly and entry-level smartphones and bringing 5G to the SoCs would surely make the next-generation network technology more affordable and accessible. Motorola, Oppo, and Xiaomi will be working with Qualcomm to incorporate Snapdragon 4-series SoCs with 5G support.
Currently, 5G is supported by some of the Snapdragon 800, 700, and 600 series processors, namely, Snapdragon 865 Plus, Snapdragon 865, Snapdragon 855, Snapdragon 768G, Snapdragon 765, Snapdragon 765G, and the Snapdragon 690. Qualcomm wants to bring the technology to its more affordable and budget-friendly Snapdragon 4-series processors. As of now, the exact Snapdragon 4-series SKUs that will support 5G have not been announced but Qualcomm plans on bringing “an assortment of predominately high- and mid-tier features to a broader audience.”
“Qualcomm continues to pave the way for 5G commercialization at scale, and the expansion of 5G into our Snapdragon 4-series is expected to address regions that currently have approximately 3.5 billion smartphone users combined,” said Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon in a statement.
Qualcomm says it will share more information about the Snapdragon 4-series 5G mobile platforms at a later date and that phones powered by these SoCs will debut in the first quarter of 2021.
Currently, the Snapdragon 4 series includes the Snapdragon 429, Snapdragon 435, Snapdragon 439, Snapdragon 450, and the Snapdragon 460. The Snapdragon 429 is found in entry level phones like the Nokia 3.2, while the Snapdragon 460 is found in phones such as the Oppo A53, Vivo Y20, and the rumoured upcoming OnePlus phone with codename ‘clover'.
Is this the end of the Samsung Galaxy Note series as we know it? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.


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Stormy developments in Britain were triggered by the handover of the Global Travel Taskforce report to the government today. The statements of the Minister of Transport Grant Shapps, which confirm the system of traffic lights and talk about the ranking of countries in three colours, in early May.
At the same time, according to information, Onthebeach postponed the start of its programs on July 1st, with company sources emphasizing that in any case there is the flexibility to start the programs sooner or later, depending on the developments. It is recalled that Onthebeach is the third largest tour operator in Britain in ATOL positions.
Love Holidays also postponed the start of its programs for the 1st of July.
Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy said: “I’m very disappointed with what was announced. It really gives us nothing. With a heavy heart I postpone the restart date to June 24 “.
At the same time, according to what the Minister of Transport said at the beginning of May. The countries will be classified in 3 colours – categories. Questions are raised about the time shift of almost a month and a half by tour operators.
According to travel observers, this is due to two reasons:
1. The distribution of countries in the traffic light system will be subject to continuous review. While formal revisions of all restrictions (and not just the categorization of countries) will take place on 28 June and at “checkpoints” no later than 31 July and until October 1.
2. The very high cost of PCR tests. And the government’s commitment to evaluating cost-cutting options, including the use of cheaper, tests. It is noted that even in the “green” countries will need a double test before returning to Britain. A molecular diagnostic test before departure and another test on the second day after arrival. In the “orange” and even more so in the “red” countries, these requirements and costs multiply.
TUI, has not yet announced a postponement of the start date of flights – packages. However in a statement made by CEO Andrew Flintham, there is great dissatisfaction with the cost of the tests, while giving the possibility of cancellations until the end of July (!!!).
“While the traffic light system will allow trips abroad from May 17, we remain disappointed with the costly proposed testing and quarantine measures,” said the CEO of TUI UK and Ireland. We are firmly committed to finding cost-effective testing solutions for our customers, as well as offering the maximum flexibility to make travel possible this summer and beyond. Customers traveling between May 17 and the end of July already have the option to change their holiday to another date for free. The TUI holiday promise also allows customers who are unable to quarantine on return or pay for trials to later change their holiday.
What Steve Heapy said
Speaking to Travel Weekly after the panel’s report was released, Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy confirmed the change, saying the target for a date in May was not “fair” to customers, travel agents and staff. .
And he said characteristically: “My initial reaction is disappointment, to be honest.
He went on to say: “After five weeks since Global Travel Taskforce wrote the report, they have come up with something that is not very different from what we did last summer. They are committed to cheaper tests, but there is no real detail. “We are trying to ‘run’ an airline and we do not know when we can start flying, where we can start flying and the conditions under which we operate.”
Finally, Heapy said that Jet2 did not wait for the publication of the destination categorization, but wanted to see more details in the panel report.
He explained that in order for the company to fly on May 17, as previously planned, “We would have to hire a lot of seasonal staff in the UK, many seasonal staff in each of the 50 destinations we fly to. And maybe not fly there for two or three months. We would have the cost base of a fully operational airline and possibly could not fly. That fact must be taken into account. ”
He concluded by emphasizing: “I am very disappointed with what was announced. It really gives us nothing. With a heavy heart I postpone the restart date to June 24 “.
What Grant Shapps said
More specifically, the introduction of a “traffic light” system that will allow the safe resumption of international leisure travel was officially confirmed today by the British government, following the delivery of the Global Travel Taskforce report.
The Minister of Transport announced that the countries will fall into the “green”, “orange” or “red” category, depending on. 1. the percentage of their population that will be vaccinated against the coronavirus. 2. the extent of the spread of the virus. 3. the existence of dangerous mutations and 4.access to reliable scientific data and genomic analysis of the virus.
The first possible date for the system to take effect and for British holidays to resume abroad remains May 17, although confirmation will be made in early May.
According to the Minister of Transport, “Global Travel Taskforce has outlined the framework for restarting international travel, reaffirming the need for PCR testing upon arrival, but also a commitment to evaluating cost-cutting options, including of using cheaper tests.
As announced earlier this week, the recommendations include a three-tier “traffic light” system for classifying countries, with an initial list to be published “by early May” to confirm whether international travel can be restarted. as early as possible on 17 May.
To ensure that travel opening is “affordable and possible”, travel liberalization will be given in parallel with the easing of restrictions. This means that passengers will no longer have to provide a valid reason to leave the country.
A “green watch list” will also be introduced to identify countries at risk of moving from low-risk green to orange.
However, the panel’s report said the government “will not hesitate to act immediately if the data show that countries’ risk assessments have changed”.
The report confirms that the UK will play a “leading role in the development of international standards around a digital travel certification system.” With the assessment in progress on how certification could facilitate incoming and outgoing travel.
Other developments include plans to digitize the current passenger tracking form, “which allows electronic gateway checks by autumn 2021”. Enhanced CAA enforcement powers to protect consumer rights and the introduction of a “Covid-19 map”. With requirements and rights of passengers while the measures remain in force.
The distribution of countries in the traffic light system will be subject to continuous review. With formal revisions of all restrictions to be made initially on 28 June and then on 31 July and 1 October at the latest.
International travel is vital – it boosts business and supports the UK economy. But more than that, it brings people together, connects families that have been held apart and allows us to explore new horizons.
The framework announced today will allow us to reopen travel safely and sustainably. Ensure that we protect our achievements with the vaccine. And offer calm to both passengers and industry as we begin to travel abroad again.
We will work with the travel industry and private test providers before the opening of international travel. To see how we can further reduce travel costs for the British while ensuring that travel is as safe as possible.
“This could include cheaper tests used when holidaymakers return home, and whether the government will be able to provide tests before departure.”
Responding to the travel industry’s strong criticism of the cost of the tests on the BBC, Shapps said: “I have said we want to see these tests becoming as cheap and convenient as possible. I will work with the travel industry and private test providers to reduce these costs. I think you are absolutely right and I will not forget these companies that seem to be winning, including possibly removing them from the recommended list. I see no reason, especially since we have a large market of tests now in the UK from almost any other country. As one country examines almost two million people daily and everyone as of today is entitled to a rapid test twice a week.
The minister told Sky News that “the cost is certainly worrying”, but added: “It is one of the factors this year and we have to accept that we are still facing a global pandemic. But today I pledge to reduce the cost of these tests and look into innovative things we could do. For example if we can help provide the rapid tests that people need to do before leaving the country, when they are about to return to the UK. Also to reduce the cost of tests when they return to the UK , where if it is in the green category, it is only a test. That is why we try to make it as practical as possible “.
What the airlines say
Some airlines want the requirement for travel tests from “green” countries to be completely abolished or replaced by cheaper rapid tests. Others want the UK to adopt the same policy as France, where travellers can receive government-subsidized PCR tests at some airports if they show their airline ticket.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said the proposed PCR test requirement risks making international travel “only for the rich”.
EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said the sector was being treated differently from other sectors of the economy.
He said: “They could open up the UK economy with side-flow tests that are much cheaper and much more accessible, and then if it turns out to be positive, a PCR test could be required.”
The consumer organization Which? estimates that for holidays in Greece each traveller will have to pay an extra 370 pounds for all the required tests, with the amount being even higher for other popular destinations.
What are the requirements per colour zone
The requirements for the green, orange and red countries were confirmed as follows:
Green: Arrivals should have a pre-departure test as well as a PCR test on the 2nd day or earlier on arrival in the UK. But will not need quarantine on return (unless positive) or receive additional tests. Halving the cost of tests on return from vacation
Orange: Arrivals should be quarantined for a period of 10 days. Have done a pre-departure test. A PCR test on the 2nd day and a test on the 8th day with the option Test to Release on the 5th day to end the quarantine earlier.
Red: Arrivals will be subject to current restrictions for “red list” countries, which include – a 10 day stay in a specific quarantine hotel, at a tourist cost, pre-departure tests and PCR tests per day 2 and 8, upon arrival
Key factors in assessing countries will include the percentage of population vaccinated. The rate of infection. The prevalence of mutations. And the provision by the country of reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing to detect mutations.


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EVIAN, France — If the American department store truly is in an intensive care unit, do not fear. Dr. Mettler is here, and he has a cure.
Basically it boils down to better-edited assortments, a broadening of the customer base, heightened service and demonstration, more traffic-generating events, enhancement of a store’s personality and further exploitation of three key merchandising opportunities — men’s, large-sized women’s fashion and teens.
Following his speech, Mettler, who is the chairman and CEO of Macy’s West division of Federated Department Stores, was praised by Estée Lauder chairman Leonard A. Lauder as "probably the most original and most dynamic thinker in the entire U.S. cosmetics industry and perhaps in the world."
Mettler observed: "During the last 10 years, department stores have experienced an overall decline in share of sales due to industry consolidation; increased competition from value players on the one hand and specialty stores on the other, and the aging of our customer base and the real fact that we have not attracted the younger customers to the department store channel. So our challenge has been and continues to be to convince existing department store customers to do more of their shopping with us, increasing the share of wallet, but also, more importantly, attracting new customers to the channel."
Mettler admitted that this last objective will not be easy, since "it requires us to make significant improvement in the shopping experience. Department stores are creating a cacophony of sight and sound; there is simply too much merchandise with too little that is new or unique or even interesting." Noting that "we have concentrated too much in the pricing proposition, distorting it out of context and accelerating an already deflationary cycle. As a result, we have been selling the same number of units of merchandise, yet producing less volume."
Mettler pointed out that last year’s business was hit hard by the recession and the tragedy of Sept. 11, but "half our sales drop was attributable to lower prices." So productivity is an issue, particularly in cosmetics.
He noted that the core customer has aged, stagnating sales of some major beauty brands. So the store strategy has been to "reach out to a younger generation both for growth and to generate newness and excitement." Not many of them, however, are used to shopping in department stores. "Now our challenge is to get them in the door and convert them to loyal shoppers," Mettler said, asserting that at Macy’s West, the youthful Trend and Artistry brands have grown tenfold in five years, doubling in the last two years and expected to jump another 30 percent this year.So the merchandise not only has to be playful and trendy but the environment is important. "Our cosmetics departments continue to be intimidating and confusing," Mettler charged, "and our customers won’t stand for it."
Sometimes consumers want to help themselves — and here open sell units have been the hot ticket — and other times they expect service, with a smile and efficiency. "They will not tolerate being dissed," he added. "That’s being disregarded, disrespected or dismissed." Open sell made the "dis" factor a non-issue by inviting customers to touch and play with products on their own. The drawback, however, is that the format can overwhelm the customer with choices. When confronted with four or five products that she likes equally, the customer ends up walking away from all of them.
So what’s better than open sell is open demonstration with a beauty adviser taking the sensory experience to a new level. "The customer is not just touching the product, but she is being touched as well; it provides a pampering experience," he said. "It allows a beauty adviser to educate customers and helps them establish product credibility. And credibility is critical to the productivity challenge."
Mettler noted that his experience with the new makeup artist and trendy brands coupled with the advent of open sell merchandising units "tells us that success in the beauty department today requires a shift in selling techniques and selling strategy, where once the gift-with-purchase was the engine that moved product all year long, it is now service, animation, personality, interaction and events."
Stores must do a better job of educating sales associates, in addition to recruiting and retaining top-grade people. The importance of the human bond was driven home after Sept. 11, when it was discovered that Shiseido performed at elevated levels in the aftermath of the disaster. Customers construed the brand’s generous service as a sign of genuine caring. "So it suggests more powerfully that it’s who, not what, that is selling. Care of the customer is a feeling, an ethic," Mettler said, adding that "our departments need to feel like an oasis of pleasure in an otherwise stressful world."Turning to opportunities, Mettler pointed to the men’s market, and that one of the keys is recruiting more nonintimidating beauty advisers. "Men don’t want to approach a counter or experiment with products without encouragement," he said. "We need to be more interactive and we need to create more events."
Another huge opportunity is the large-size fashion customer. While these consumers have been reluctant to venture into the cosmetics department, the store has successfully established beauty outposts in the fashion areas.
While the teen and youth brands represent the store’s strongest growth area, Mettler sees the flattened out baby- boomer markets yielding new fruit. "With baby boomers spending $400 a pop on Botox injections," he observed, "the cosmeceutical business clearly represents an opportunity for new brands and for the life cycle solutions within existing brands."
Mettler quoted Thomas Moore, author of the bestseller "Care of the Soul," and suggested that beauty products also may figure into the feeding of one’s soul. "After all, what does the sale of books, music and candles and greeting cards tell us?" he asked. "It tells us that people are looking for a connection, they’re looking for relief, they’re looking for a little bit of fun, they’re looking for diversion and they’re looking for something deeper, something that helps them express their spirit and connect to the beauty of life. And can’t this department provide this experience? Which leads me to wonder if the barriers to growth are not more psychological than they are economic."
He continued: "The retail industry and the beauty industry have been guilty of endless repetition. We’ve taken what worked and made it larger and larger and larger, but in doing so, we have forgotten the value of experimentation. We need to be testing new approaches, perhaps in smaller markets, and if they work, let’s figure out how to roll them out."
Yesterday, the Parisian fashion house @azzaro_official cut the ribbon on a temeporary retrospective at the wing of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. The exhibition, which shows the lasting influence of the brand’s founder Loris Azzaro, is titled “Azzaro, Fifty Sparkling Years” and presents 50 looks. In it’s ’70s heyday, fans of the brand included Jane Birkin, pictured here, Raquel Welch, Brigitte Bardot and more. See more photos on WWD.com #wwdfashion
@trinaturk and @macys Inc International Concepts line are linking up on a collection for summer — filled with accessories, swimwear and shoes. The collection will also include a Mr Turk men’s line, both of which are the designer’s first entry into a more accessibly priced area. “It’s very world-traveler, gypset-inspired,” said Turk. The Trina Turk x INC line will launch on May 15th. #wwdfashion
Assouline is paying homage to the late Azzedine Alaïa with a reprint of "Alaïa Livre de Collection.” The book is comprised of photographs of the designer's summer 1992 runway show with models Christy Turlington Burns, Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks, pictured here at right. #wwdfashion #alaia #tyrabanks
Fall 2018 accessories take on a painterly hue, with Nebulas Blue among Pantone’s top 10 colors of the season. (📸: @jonghyupstudio ; editor: @twallz21 ; stylist and set designer: @haideefindlaylevin ) #wwdaccessories
@americanapparelusa is relaunching the brand outside of the U.S. today, opening its online store to more than 200 countries. The company is also contemplating a return to brick-and-mortar, though details have not been confirmed. In tandem with the expanded distribution is a recasting of a social media ad campagn, called “Back to Basics,” pictured here, with a focus on diversity and a cast of models above the age of 21. Read more on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion
Exclusive: @britneyspears is continuing to expand her brand. The pop icon, who appears in @kenzo ’s latest campaign, is partnering with Epic Rights to launch a line of branded merchandise. Read @hernameislex ‘s story, link in bio. #wwdnews #britneyspears
The Duchess of Cambridge channeled Princess Diana’s look upon giving birth to Prince Harry, when she and the Duke of Cambridge departed the hospital with the new baby Prince this afternoon in London. #wwdeye #princeofcambridge
The new Prince of Cambridge has arrived! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posed with the 8-pound newborn. She wore a look from one of her go-to designers, @jennypackham. Tap link in bio for more. #wwdeye #princeofcambridge


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The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of smart, interconnected devices and services that are capable of sensing or even listening to requests. IoT is an aggregation of endpoints that are uniquely identifiable and that communicate bi-directionally over a network using some form of automated connectivity. The Internet of Things relies on networked sensors to remotely connect, track and manage products, systems and grids. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) – a subset of the larger Internet of Things – focuses on the specialized requirements of industrial applications, such as manufacturing, oil and gas, and utilities.
In May 2021, the Advanced Technology for Industry project (ATI) published its Sectoral Watch titled ”Technological trends in the financial s
European car sales have seen the sharpest drop on record in the year of 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) predicts that the first steps towards recovery will be marked in 2021.
For the first time in the fashion industry, the Italian leader fashion media platform Edizioni AF has announced that their Spring / Summer 2021 collection will be based on the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In February 2021, the Advanced Technology for Industry (ATI) project published its product watch about Satellites and drones for less intensive farming and arable crops.


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Zite's Mark Johnson visits digits to discuss a new partnership with Bergdorf Goodman. Plus, Quidsi's Marc Lore discusses a new home shopping site, Casa.com. The FCC rejects Ligtsquared's national wireless plans and Zynga shares drop after its first earnings report.
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Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, on Monday announced to launch the Jio Giga Fiber from September 5, offering people with free voice calls for life from landline phones, free high-definition TV and dish, high-speed broadband with minimum speed of 100 mbps. The services can be availed on a minimum subscription of Rs 700 per month.
While speaking at the 42nd AGM of the company, RIL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said, “In India even the most basic Jio Giga Fiber will start at 100 mbps at the lowest end. We have plans to go all the way to 1 gbps. We are pricing our plan at one-tenth of global rate to make it accessible for every home.”
Adding further he said, the premium Jio Giga Fiber customers will be facilitated with the service to watch new movies on the same day of its release from mid-2020.


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CEDIA Hosting Regional Tech Forum and Connect Events in 2016
CEDIA is set to host its CEDIA Tech Forums this year.
D&H Distributing Hosts Its 2016 West Coast Technology Show in California
D&H Distributing will host its first trade show of the season, the 2016 West Coast Technology Show, on March 10 at the Pacific Palms...
Integrated Systems Europe 2016 Wraps Up with Record Attendance Numbers
Co-owners CEDIA and InfoComm International celebrate record attendance at ISE 2016 with a 10.7 percent increase over 2015.
CEDIA Business Xchange to Help You ‘Hire for Attitude’
CEDIA Business Xchange is designed specifically to address the challenges of building and retaining a team of motivated professionals.
Nortek Security & Control Kicks-Off National Dealer Roadshow
Nortek Security & Control kicked off their “Behind the Scenes Tour” on February 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado and will continue throughout 10 additional...
AVAD Re-Launches ‘Commercial Days’ Education Events
AVAD LLC is re-launching its Commercial Days touring roadshow. The roadshow highlights commercial products and travels to numerous branches throughout the United States in...
CEDIA Opens 2016 Awards Programs, Plans Global Awards Competition
CEDIA is now accepting entries for its 2016 CEDIA Awards competition from member home technology professional companies and manufacturers.
AVnu Alliance Prepares Industry Training Day for ISE
AVnu Alliance has prepared an education seminar for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2016. The half-day education training will be hosted at the RAI the...
Consumer Technology Association Celebrates Success of CES 2016
CES 2016 wrapped up this past Saturday as the most expansive CES yet, breaking records across the board and providing exposure opportunities for companies...
AVAD Plots a Course for 14-City North American Vendopalooza Tour
AVAD has plotted out 14 new dates in locations spanning across North America for Vendopalooza 2016, an exclusive touring trade show for custom installers...
CES Implements New Bag Restrictions, Enhanced Security Measures
Following recent global tragedies, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is implementing enhanced security measures surrounding the upcoming CES 2016 to produce a safer event....
Steve Case and Nick Woodman to Explore Future of Innovation During CES
Leaders from the government sector and technology industry will address current events and the future of innovation during a series of SuperSessions at CES...
Residential Systems Readers Select Stellar Service Award Winners
The results are in from Residential Systems magazine’s third-annual Stellar Service Awards reader poll honoring manufacturers and distributors for their exceptional customer service and...
Vote Now for Residential Systems Stellar Service Award Nominees
Voting is now open until Monday, December 14, for Residential Systems' third-annual Stellar Service Awards competition.
Residential Systems 2016 Stellar Service Awards Nominees
Voting is now open until Monday, December 14, for Residential Systems' third-annual Stellar Service Awards competition. Here are the nominees and descriptions.
Consumer Technology Association Named Among Best Places to Work in Virginia
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), formerly the Consumer Electronics Association, was recently named as one of the 2016 Best Places to Work in Virginia.
George Feldstein, Floyd Toole Added to CTA Hall of Fame
The Consumer Technology Association has inducted eight industry leaders into its CE Hall of Fame.
Manufacturers: Enter the Resi Systems Stellar Service Awards
If you're an industry "vendor", then you've probably spent the year designing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling exceptional products and providing equally exceptional service for...
Soundcast Principals Gather for European Sales Summit
Principals from Soundcast’s international sales and marketing partners gathered in Belgium for its European Fall Sales Summit.
ProAct Sales Named Rep of the Year, Breaks Million Dollar Mark
Independent sales representative firm ProAct Sales has earned the 2015 Dana Innovations Rep of the Year, and has become the first residential AV channel...
Petra Industries Celebrates 30 Years and New Facility
Petra Industries celebrated its 30th anniversary October 22 with a reception and ribbon cutting and a ribbon cutting for Petra’s newly acquired and renovated...
Nine Programmers Win $9,000 in URC’s ‘Accelerator Challenge’ at CEDIA 2015
During CEDIA 2015, URC offered cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000, and $5,000 per day to programmers who had to program an eight-zone Total Control...


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AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
Love it or not the Lincoln Navigator has finally received some much-needed attention for the 2015 model year. Despite getting an early reveal on the Interwebz not long ago the refreshed full-size luxury SUV was formally introduced to the public right here at the Chicago Auto Show.
When it comes to full size SUVs, General Motors has the segment locked down.
Dodge is bringing a touch of style to the seven-passenger vehicles in its lineup. Starting a little later this year Grand Caravan, Durango and Journey buyers will have the option of ordering a unique “Blacktop” package on these vehicles, which adds a healthy dose of design flair without breaking the bank.


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Summer incentives at Chrysler
If this is summer in Detroit, it must mean incentives. Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda and Joe Eberhardt, Executive Vice President, Global Sales, Marketing, & Service, said Thursday at the Chrysler Proving Grounds that DaimlerChrysler (DCX) is once again looking at employee pricing as an incentive program to be launched around the first of July. DCX is trying to find a way to sell out their 06 models before they bring out their 07s in October. According to Eberhardt, “We haven’t reached a final decision. We’ve enlisted feedback from dealers. We cant do this without the dealer support, so we will talk to them and make the decision.” According to LaSorda, through all the incentives provided last year, DaimlerChrysler still made $1.9 Billion in net income.
Eberhardt acknowledged that the trucks and SUVs segment overall is fading, that the weekend warrior SUV segment is slowing, while the functional worker truck is still strong.
Chrysler unveiled a refreshed Chrysler Pacifica and a completely redesigned Chrysler Sebring. DaimlerChrysler just unveiled the 2007 Chrysler Sebring which includes a 2.7-liter 6-cylinder flex-fuel vehicle. DCX has 1.5 million flex-fuel vehicles on the road and plans to bring out 200,000 more this year in 6cylinder and 8 cylinder versions.
LaSorda stated in a speech at the Renewables Fuel Association, right after President Bush’s speech, “In fact, a sensor that pioneered flex-fuel capability in cars was a Chrysler innovation. It was made available to customers in the methanol flex-fuel Dodge Spirit and Plymouth Acclaim models back in early 1992.
We were doing the right thing, but the timing was bad. Gas was cheap. The infrastructure wasn’t there, and neither was the car-buying public. There simply was no critical mass.
Since 1998, the Chrysler Group has provided to customers more than 1.5 million vehicles that run on E85 (a mix of 85 percent renewable ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), including Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country minivans, Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Sebring cars, Dodge Durango SUVs, and Dodge Ram pickup trucks. That number represents about 10 percent of all vehicles we’ve sold since 1998 a greater percentage than any other auto company.
And today we’re announcing that in the 2007 model year well put our popular Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander on our list of flex-fuel vehicles for both fleet and retail sales. They’ll be the first ethanol flex-fuel vehicles to be sold under the Jeep name. Our first-ever flex-fuel Dodge Dakota mid-size pickup will also join them. We plan to sell more than 250,000 ethanol flex-fuel vehicles in 2007. And we plan to nearly double that number to about one-half million in 2008, including both fleet and retail sales. That’s roughly 25 percent of our total production that we’re committed to making capable of running on ethanol-blended fuels.
As reported, GM and Ford have signed up to bring another 1.3 million ethanol flex-fuel vehicles to the market in the same period along with the almost 4 million they have today combined. That makes for a total of over 8 million flex-fuel vehicles coming to this market by 2008.”
DCX has taken the Jeep Liberty diesel off the road. Once again, the diesel engine can’t meet the federal EPA standards of tier II, Bin5. Chrysler Group executive vice president, Frank Klegon provided an up-close and under the hood look at the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel. The Grand Cherokee diesel is already available in Europe where diesel vehicles make up 50 percent of the market.
Klegon would like the standards for fuel emissions from diesel engines to be uniform between the United States and Europe. According to Klegon, “Right now Europe has Euro4 and the United States has tier-II Bin10 which are different standards. In 2007 we will have Bin 8, then Bin 5 in 2009 which will reduce the NOX by 80 percent.”
Klegon sees hybrids and diesel buyers as two different markets, “the near term hybrid still costs more money. Diesel has a torque advantage and gets 25 percent more miles than a gasoline engine.”
In the same speech that LaSorda talked about ethanol, he talked about diesel;
“Were also working to increase the “bio content” in diesel fuel. In our 2007 model year Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty diesel pickup, we stepped up and endorsed the use of B20 a 20 percent bio-diesel mix for use by our military, government, and commercial fleet customers.
We believe that allowing our fleet customers to use fuel made to the current military specification is helping to accelerate the development and adoption of B20 for general use.
And we’re working with industry partners to establish a national standard that would enable all diesel vehicle owners to use B20 fuel, no matter whose nameplate is on the vehicle. In support of this effort, we have teamed up with the Detroit-based nonprofit NextEnergy, the nation’s largest chain of biodiesel refiners, and industry-leading suppliers and local universities to conduct much-needed research and field testing. We’ve also teamed up with the EPA, the State of Michigan and researchers from Michigan State University to put a former Superfund site back to productive use developing better biodiesel.
Were doing this under the EPAs “Return to Use Initiative.” We’ll explore different crops and cultivation systems in the search for more productive ways to produce this biofuel. And just to complete the package the crops may help us remediate the brownfield site. We expect our partners from Michigan State to put the seeds in the ground any day now. Better bio-fuel from an old Superfund site … hows that for a neat idea?
Clearly, bio-fuels offer enormous potential to our economy, country, and environment.”
The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 3.0-liter common rail turbo diesel (CRD) engine will arrive at Jeep dealerships in the first quarter of 2007. The new 3.0-liter CRD engine, built by Mercedes-Benz, produces 215 hp (160 kW) @ 3800 rpm and 376 lb.-ft. torque (510 N¢m) @ 1600-2800 rpm and gets an estimated fuel economy of 19 miles city and 23 miles highway. The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD offers class-leading torque, outstanding towing capacity (7,400 lbs.), and a class-leading driving range of approximately 425 miles. And, clean diesel technology improves fuel economy by up to 30 percent and has up to 20 percent fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The 3.0-liter CRD engine will be available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, Limited and Overland models. The Jeep will be available in 45 states.
Klegon is concerned that the public still sees diesel as they remember it from yesterday, smelly and plumes of smoke. He notes that diesel in the United States will get a real kick when diesel fuel becomes as clean as diesel fuel in Europe. That will happen on October 15, according to the EPA.
In the meantime, Chrysler is using the military’s requirement by the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) that requires biodiesel blend components to reintroduce diesel into America. The military has developed specifications to avoid fuel quality problems and still meet it’s EPA alternative fuel requirement. The B20 Dodge Ram pickup is equipped with a Cummins diesel engine for military, government and commercial fleet customers only The military must agree with Chrysler because they are buying the Dodge Ram trucks that can take up to 20 percent bio-diesel.


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Single-stream collections to begin April 1
The City of Sarasota began rolling out new recycling carts for residents this week as it officially launches its “single-stream” collection service.
The 65-gallon carts will replace the smaller bins that have been in use for residential recycling, a city news release says. “The new carts come with wheels for easy maneuvering and attached lids to keep your recyclables dry and prevent them from becoming litter,” the release adds. “All recyclable materials can be placed together in the new carts,” it points out.
Approximately 15,000 carts will be delivered to residential customers throughout March, the release adds. Residents can start using those new carts on their regular collection days beginning April 1, it notes. Old recycling bins then can be placed curbside for pickup during the month of April, so the city can re-purpose or recycle them, the release explains.
The city’s contract with its current recycling provider, Waste Pro, will expire on March 31, the release points out. The Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department will take over recycling and bulk waste item collection in April, the release says.
In his March 1 newsletter, City Manager Tom Barwin added, “To help pay for the new carts, City staff applied for and received a grant for [more than] $100,000 from The Recycling Partnership. Great work! Sarasota is just one of six cities selected to receive this Coastal and Waterway Community Recycling Grant,” he added.
That grant also covers the expense of education and outreach about recycling, as well as litter cleanup.
City staff asks that residents continue to do their part by placing only recyclable materials in their carts, including aluminum and steel cans, food and beverage cartons, glass bottles and jars, paper products (newspapers, magazines and flattened cardboard), and empty plastic bottles and containers.
Among items that cannot be recycled are plastic bags, pizza boxes, clothing, linens, anything containing food or liquid, and any wires, hoses or chains that could tangle recycling equipment, the release stresses. “These items often get mixed into recycling carts because of what’s known as ‘wishcycling,’ or hoping that they can be recyclable — but they can cause serious issues, officials say.”
“Those types of items contaminate the truckload and could cause delays and shutdowns of our recycling process, damage the sorting equipment or even injure our workers,” said Public Works General Manager Todd Kucharski in the release. “Decreased production and increased operational costs can ultimately cause your utility bills to go up. Please do your part to recycle smart.”
For more information and instructions on what can and cannot be recycled, plus other Frequently Asked Questions, visit sarasotafl.gov/becartsmart.


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With cyber risk rampant in Australia, CGU has launched a new product aimed at protecting SME business owners.
CGU Cyber Defence was launched at the 2016 Steadfast Convention in Brisbane. The policy is designed to protect the at-risk SME business market from a range of cyber threats, including privacy breaches, extortion, system damage and malicious hacking.
Public relations consultancy and business interruption costs are also included. It is available as a standalone product, or as extensions to existing policies.
CGU’s National Underwriting Manager, Professional Risks, Najibi Bisso, said that every business is potentially at risk in the cyber space, and that small businesses cannot afford to be complacent.
“The Australian Government estimates that almost 700,000 businesses have experience cybercrime – and 60% of those are small to medium sized businesses,” she told Broker Buzz.
“The average cost of a cyber crime attack to these businesses is more than $270,000, so it’s really important we educate SME business owners about the risks they face.”
She also pointed out that it’s not only cyber criminals that represent a threat. Human error from company employees can just as easily create a cyber breach.
“It could be something as simple as an employee innocently attaching the wrong file to an email, and that can create a privacy breach.
“I can’t see one business that doesn’t have some sort of online record keeping, whether that’s a farmer who records soil results or sales to market, or a cleaner who stores billing information, that’s all information that can be hacked, or used maliciously, and that can damage a business.”
CGU has partnered with Norton Rose Fulbright to provide clients with 24/7 access to a cyber incident response team.


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Andrew Stewart, owner of the late, lamented Dr. Dremo’s Taphouse, is still raising money for a possible new Dremo’s location in Clarendon.
Stewart tells ARLnow.com that he has raised about $175,000 of the $400,000 to $500,000 he needs to bring the watering hole back to life. Having already sold interest-bearing investments, Stewart is now selling ownership shares in the new bar.
Stewart says that he has negotiated a purchase price for an existing business in Clarendon, and now just must raise enough money to get the new Dremo’s off the ground and running.
In June, the Washington Business Journal first reported that Stewart was eying a 6,000 square foot space somewhere in Clarendon. Stewart says he’s not going to reveal the exact location until he signs a lease.