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By GARTH SNOW
The Covington Art Fair immerses neighboring retailers in the art community while helping those vendors earn the income that sustains that art.
That convergence of creativity and business marks its 27th consecutive year Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23. Covington Plaza shopping center is at 6382 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. The fair is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. There is no admission cost.
“The Covington Art Fair is one of the largest fine arts fairs in the region, featuring artwork of local, regional and national artists,” a representative said in a statement. “More than 90 artists will be on hand with one-of-a-kind artwork from every medium. The two-day event includes live jazz music and food trucks, and many of the plaza merchants will feature special items and demonstrations.” Upscale restaurants also line the perimeter.
“We really love the people,” said Lori Berndt, owner of The Olive Twist. Hundreds of people will wander just yards from the sea of art to sample and buy bottles of specialty olive oils at Berndt’s shop. “It’s really a great group of people who come to the art fair. They’re so relaxed, and hopefully they will be enjoying the beautiful weather.”
Kristy Jo Beber is one such artist. The Leo-based ceramic artist shows her work year-round at Orchard Gallery in Fort Wayne.
“This is how I make my living and how most of these artists make their livings, too,” Beber said. “Each year I do between 12 and 15 events, and like a lot of businesses these kind of wax and wane. You have a general idea of what you might do at a certain show in sales, but there are so many factors — the big one being the weather, of course, at outdoor events.”
“Each art fair I do is just part of a big picture,” she said of her livelihood. “To have a bad show here and there is to be expected. To have a string of them can have a big impact. As I am finishing glazing, hoping for clear skies for art fair weekends, it is rainy, windy, and unseasonably cold outside. Since my last outdoor event was canceled the second day, due to predicted incoming storms, my fingers are crossed for perfect weather Covington Art Fair weekend.”
Matt Breunig of Ossian and his wife, Tyler, will be back to display and sell the vintage-style pieces he creates. “The fair has been very successful for us in the past and we’ve had a lot of repeat customers after attending the first one,” Breunig said.
He describes himself as both a jeweler and an artist, with a focus on “upcycled art” — transforming everyday objects into unique jewelry. He said his works embrace the old coupled with the new. “I also do some organic castings with insects or lost objects, anything from crawdads and crabs to insects of all types, wasps, cicadas,” he said.
He said organizers arrange for artists to have “sandwiches, drinks, a place to sit down and cool off.”
“A lot of shows around the Midwest don’t provide that, so from an artist’s standpoint hats off to them as far as taking care of the people,” he said.
Beber has added to her already impressive inventory as the fair approaches. “There are lots of new pots,” she said last week. “Right now I’m in the middle of glazing and loading the kiln so they get fired tomorrow. I have pottery of all shapes and lots of wall pieces, too.”
Julie Eckert Clancy is the owner of Jophiel’s, which overlooks the southwest corner of the parking lot that once a year becomes an art fair.
“My favorite part of the art fair is engaging with the community in a larger way,” she said in an email. “Since the Covington Art Fair is the only plaza event, I look forward to seeing clients that we only get to interact with during the art fair.” She said this marks the 27th year of the Covington Art Fair and the 25th year for Jophiel’s. “When the community comes out to this event and shops in the plaza, the community is supporting creativity, hard work and originality,” she said.
She said the shop is fully staffed — “all hands on deck” — for the art fair. Like other shops, Jophiel’s uses the opportunity to set up a sidewalk sale.
“We love to have the artists in the store,” she said. “We love that they love our store because we love walking and shopping the artists’ displays.”
Berndt, of The Olive Twist, said she looks forward to the show and so does her husband, who comes out to work the show. “It’s fun to come out and mingle with the artists,” she said. “And we’ve actually benefited over the years because some of the artists have some things that are food-oriented.” Those items include wooden dipping bowls, pottery pieces for bread dipping, and wooden salad hands. “So we have actually partnered with them and carry their products,” she said.
“Art lovers, please do your sunshine dance and join us!” said Beber.


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Tata Nano drives into the Guinness Book of World Records
Link to News Section (Tata Nano drives into the Guinness Book of World Records)
The world's least priced car, the Tata Nano, has just been driven into the Guinness Book of World Records, for the longest journey in a single country. The Nano's 10,218 kilometer journey began at Kanyakumari, the Southern tip of India. The car traversed various parts of the country in 10 days (From March 21st to the 30th) with the road trip ending at Bangalore. The man behind the Nano's wheel was Bangalore-based Srikarunya Subrahmanyam.
The previous best number for this record was a 8046,74 kilometer trip. The Nano has been in the spotlight for more than one cross country run. Last year, a 63 year old man from Kochi, Thomas Chacko, drove the Nano across the country in a 78 day road trip, with the journey including high Himalayan passes.
Prior to Mr Chacko road tripping in the Nano, an English writer named Vanessa Able was a part of another heavily publicized road trip across India. Ms Able's road trip was documented in the NanoDiaries. Other Indian drivers have also driven the Nano across the world's highest motorable passes in the Himalayas, in snowy, treacherous driving conditions.
The Nano sold in India comes with a 624cc petrol engine that outputs 38 PS-51 Nm. This liquid cooled-fuel injected engine is mated to a 4 speed manual gearbox. Tata Motors recently updated the Nano with new features. The 2013 Nano is the third edition of the car, in terms of new features released and improvements made.
The car will get a CNG-Petrol dual fuel version in the coming months. Dubbed the Nano E-MAX, the CNG powered version of the small car is aimed at value conscious buyers looking at low running costs. The CNG powered Nano will be sold in the states of India where CNG dispensing infrastructure exists.
The real game changer for the Nano could be the diesel engined variant. Anticipated to be launched in 2014, the Nano Diesel could become one of the most fuel efficient car in the world if it manages to actually achieve the 35 Kmpl fuel efficiency figure that it is projected to deliver. Currently, Tata Motors is faced with a dud selling Nano, as the tag of the "world's cheapest car" hasn't gone too well with image conscious car buyers in India, a country where a car remains a symbol of aspiration and a sign of having arrived in life rather than just being a form of basic transport.
Last edited by JayPrashanth : 26th June 2013 at 16:35. Reason: News Link Added
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|A Nano trip on a Nano budget...in a Tata Nano||novice_alto||Travelogues||11||28th September 2014 15:19|
|6000Kms in 79 Hours! Limca Book of Records attempt in a Fiat Punto||sam92||Street Experiences||66||22nd May 2012 09:49|
|"Small Wonder: The Making of Nano": a book about the Tata Nano||Mpower||The Indian Car Scene||25||5th December 2010 23:11|
|Ford Fiesta enters Limca Book of Records!!||kdb||The Indian Car Scene||49||19th September 2006 15:12|

domain: news


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SKY HIGH TARIFFS ON SCOTTISH PRODUCE WILL DEVASTATE LOCAL ECONOMY
SNP MSP for Renfrewshire South has said that farmers across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire will feel “betrayed” by the Tory Government’s latest plans for a No Deal Brexit.
The UK government has this week announced plans to remove import tariffs in the event of a No Deal – a move that the SNP and the National Farmers Union says puts homegrown produce at a serious disadvantage.
More than half of all Scottish goods exports were sent to Europe in the last quarter, but leaving without a deal means that we will face the EU’s Common External Tariff – with tariffs of around 84% on Scotch Beef, 53% on wheat, 48% on Scotch Lamb and 30% on pork.
Commenting, SNP MSP Tom Arthur hit out at the plans:
“Local farmers will quite rightly feel betrayed by the conscious decision of this Tory government to sell-out Scottish produce.
“Almost half of our exports go to Europe, so a No Deal Brexit would be seriously damaging for Scottish businesses, jobs and the economy.
“With tariffs of up to 84% on our world renowned Scotch Beef or almost 50% of Scotch Lamb, it’s no exaggeration to say that a No Deal will devastate key sectors of our local economy.
“The SNP has consistently called for Scotland to remain in the EU so that we can maintain free trade, with no tariffs or other barriers that we currently benefit from within Europe’s Single Market.”
NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick said:
“Setting a low or zero tariff rate on the importation of key agricultural products, like cereals, eggs, pork, fruit and veg and some dairy produce will place many of our farmers at a significant disadvantage and undermine any efforts to negotiate new trade arrangements.
“Exports of Scottish produce like lamb and beef to the EU face the prospect of crippling tariffs as we are forced to operate to WTO rules. When we have the ambition to double the size of the farming, food and drink industry in Scotland to £30 billion, the tariff schedule, as proposed by the Government, would place that ambition in jeopardy.”


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For marketers, the focus this Thanksgiving was on Black Friday. Or should we call it Black Thursday? For the first time, some stores started their sales Thanksgiving night. Thousands of Americans skipped Thanksgiving dinner to wait in line for “once in a lifetime” deals, only to learn that the most coveted items were limited to as few as two per store.
Green Marketing, CSR, CleanTech Blogging | The 4GreenPs Blog
(Read Part I, Top Sustainability & CSR Trends).
Back in March, I sat down with Jeffrey Hollender, the man who built Seventh Generation into one of the most successful sustainable brands in the world, and his hand-picked successor, new CEO Chuck Maniscalco, formerly of PepsiCo.
A flurry of ReTweets about a new EConsultancy social media market study caused me to raise an eyebrow late Friday afternoon.


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- CarsWorld's stylish police cars, you didn't know about
Police cars, unlike other vehicles, equipped with high-end techniques to catch anyone on the run, to reach crime scenes fearlessly and so on. While most of us have good knowledge about the luxury car models, brands like Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Hyundai etc; very few know about the hottest and stylish police cars of today. Upon request, we have come up with a list of meanest and fastest police cars around the world. Just take a look at the drop-down list:CarsCar launches in November 2018: All you need to know
The car market host big and small vehicles, each new day. As of now, the November month will witness a list of launches, all of which are multi-seaters, premium and in the luxury category. Cars from the house of Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Rolls-Royce are in queue for the upcoming car launches in November 2018.CarsTata Motors rolls out its first SUV 'Harrier'
Automobile major Tata Motors on Tuesday announced the roll-out of its first SUV "Harrier" from its all-new manufacturing line.CarsHyundai may be cheating customers on all-new Santro price tag
People in India are showing a lot of excitement for the upcoming all-new Hyundai Santro as over 25000 bookings have already been done days before the official launch of the car.CarsNew 2018 Hyundai Santro hits the market: Check list of top selling cars in India
For long time, Maruti Suzuki cars have been capturing the market. This time the new 2018 Maruti Suzuki Swift bagged the title of the top-selling car in India. In September month the company has sold 22,228 units as against 13,193 units sold in the same month last year. The high sales graph is making the brand stronger. On the other hand, the Hyundai Santro has made a big comeback in India.CarsSell only Euro VI compliant vehicles from April 2020: SC
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that from April 1, 2020, only Euro VI fuel complaint vehicles will be permitted to be sold and registered across the country.CarsHyundai's Kona EV ready to hit the road
Carmaker Hyundai is developing a crossover sports utility vehicle (SUV) named Kona and the electric vehicle (EV) is reportedly ready to hit the road.CarsTata Motors launches next generation of compact sedan Tigor
Automobile manufacturer Tata Motors on Wednesday launched the next generation of compact sedan -- Tata Tigor -- in both petrol and diesel variants.CarsNew generation Mercedes-AMG G 63 launched at Rs 2.19 cr
Luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz India on Friday launched the new generation of Mercedes-AMG G 63 SUV with price starting at Rs 2.19 crore (ex-showroom, all India).CarsCar launches this festive season 2018: What's new
The festive aura is all around and it is time for shopping. Indian automobile manufacturers are preparing to launch best of vehicles in the market. From Hyundai Santro to new Ford Aspire, there are at least a dozen products in offering during the festive season 2018. Take a look at the upcoming car launches in the market.
- Laddoo cakes, lotus-shaped barfis spotted ahead of Lok Sabha Election results 2019


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Samsung has announced the new Galaxy S phones at MWC, and the new S6 and S6 Edge should be in line with what you were expecting if you’ve followed recent rumors.
The new Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge (Image credit: Android Central)
As expected we no longer see a Qualcomm SoC powering the new phones, and as the rumors had indicated Samsung opted instead for their own Exynos 7 Octa mobile AP. The Exynos SoC’s have previously been in international versions of Samsung’s mobile devices, but they have apparently ramped up production to meet the demands of the US market as well. There is an interesting twist here, however.
The Exynos 7420 powering both the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge is an 8-core SoC with ARM’s big.LITTLE design, combining four ARM Cortex-A57 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores. Having announced 14nm FinFET mobile AP production earlier in February the possibility of the S6 launching with this new part was interesting, as the current process tech is 20nm HKMG for the Exynos 7. However a switch to this new process so soon before the official announcement seemed unlikely as large-scale 14nm FinFET production was just unveiled on February 16. Regardless, AnandTech is reporting that the new part will indeed be produced using this new 14nm process technology, and this gives Samsung an industry-first for a mobile SoC with the launch of the S6/S6 Edge.
GSM Arena has specs of the Galaxy S6 posted, and here’s a brief overview:
- Display: 5.1” Super AMOLED, QHD resolution (1440 x 2560, ~577 ppi), Gorilla Glass 4
- OS: Android OS, v5.0 (Lollipop) – TouchWiz UI
- Chipset: Exynos 7420
- CPU: Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2.1 GHz Cortex-A57
- GPU: Mali-T760
- Storage/RAM: 32/64/128 GB, 3 GB RAM
- Camera: (Primary) 16 MP, 3456 x 4608, optical image stabilization, autofocus, LED flash
- Battery: 2550 mAh (non-removable)
The new phones both feature attractive styling with metal and glass construction and Gorilla Glass 4 sandwiching the frame, giving each phone a glass back.
The back of the new Galaxy S6 (Image credit: Android Central)
The guys at Android Central (source) had some pre-release time with the phones and have a full preview and hands-on video up on their site. The new phones will be released worldwide on April 10, and no specifics on pricing have been announced.


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The Neofonie’s WeTab tablet was there at the IFA and is still being considered by many as one that can make things difficult for the iPad. However, all of it is on paper as yet and for the WeTab to really compete with the iPad, it has got to reach markets first. And its here that none seemed to have a clear answer as to when we can expect that to really happen. But not anymore for the latest tablet PC news has it that the all important thing is going to happen sometime around the end of September.
There has been several false starts before and let’s just hope all of this is real at last and not one of those optimistic bold statements that manufacturers end up making on fair grounds to keep the buzz going with their products, only to mess things up again.
Sovan Mandal is the senior tablet and tech corespondent for goodereader.com. He brings a international approach to news that is not just applicable to the North American market, but also Asia, India, Europe and others. Sovy brings his own writing flavor to the website and is interested in Science Fiction, Technology and Writing. Any questions, send an email


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Gold futures were on the upward drive on Tuesday and taking silver futures along for the ride as the yellowish metal capitalized on losses to the U.S. dollar, according to Bloomberg.
Gold futures were on the rise on Friday, representing a rare upward drive amid low confidence among gold bugs for bullion’s prospects as the U.S. economy strengthens, according to Bloomberg.
The U.S.’ strengthening economy dragged down gold futures on Wednesday as the yellowish metal slumped to its lowest level in nearly five months, according to Bloomberg.
Indications about a growing U.S. economy prompted copper futures to lose value on Tuesday amid speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve is set to reduce the amount of economy-spurring monetary stimulus measures, according to Bloomberg.
Confidence about the U.S. Federal Reserve preparing to taper economy-spurring monetary stimulus measures pulled down gold futures on Thursday as silver futures tracked bullion’s slump, according to Bloomberg.
Reduced demand and questions about the status of economy-spurring stimulus measures in the U.S. prompted gold futures to ebb and flow on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.
Copper futures were hovering near their lowest value in about 90 days on Monday after the globe’s largest consumer of the base metal publicized economic and social reforms for the first time in nearly 30 years late last week, according to Reuters.
Economic data about the labor market of the world’s largest economy prompted gold futures to climb in value on Thursday, according to Bloomberg.
Speculation about the U.S. Federal Reserve tapering monetary stimulus measures earlier than forecast prompted copper futures to drop to their lowest value in 90 days on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.
Indications about the growing strength of the U.S. economy prompted gold futures to lose value for a fourth consecutive trading session on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.


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HYPEBEAST 100: The innovators from all realms of creativity in the spotlight.
With in-depth interviews, focused features and fashion-forward editorials, our print publication features long-form coverage of the topics valued by readers.
Explore and be inspired by the latest women's fashion news and trends.
For her 45th birthday.
The visual is also co-directed by Jaden.
The group has announced their return in a big way.
Color-blocked summertime goodness.
SOPHNET. and Island Slipper drop a second pair of Hawaiian-made sandals for Summer 2015.
Hawaii’s Island Slipper reprises its collaboration with SOPHNET. to introduce a pair of camo-emblazoned, stud-covered flip-flops.
An old favorite is brought back for A Bathing Ape’s latest spring/summer footwear release. Much
Having released the same pair in black and brown last year, SOPHNET. and Island Slipper continue
Japanese streetwear imprint A Bathing Ape has teamed up with Hawaiian lifestyle sandal purveyor
A constant collaborator year after year, Island Slipper shares a similar sensibility with A Bathing
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While China's demand for electronics continues to soar, the tech services market may be shrinking for U.S. enterprise vendors. Security concerns over U.S. secret surveillance are giving the Chinese government and local companies more reason to trust ...
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission still has a regulatory role to promote competition in telecommunications and broadband and to ensure Internet users can access the content of their choosing, the agency's new chairman said Monday.
China's recent crackdown on online rumors may have quieted the nation's social networking websites, but local authorities take that as a sign of progress and want to regulate the Internet even more.
India's antitrust agency is investigating allegations that Ericsson is demanding exorbitant royalty rates from an Indian mobile phone vendor for its standard-essential GSM patents.
Europe’s Home Affairs Commissioner said on Wednesday that she would be keeping a close eye on data sharing deals with the U.S.
The European Union will not set up a Terrorist Finance Tracking System (TFTS) due to concerns about data security.
The European Commission said Wednesday it will not suspend the safe harbor agreement with the U.S. despite calls from the European Parliament.
Online music service providers are a step closer to finding it easier to operate legally in the European Union thanks to a vote by politicians on Tuesday.
A Chinese regulator is investigating mobile chip maker Qualcomm in connection with the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law, according to Qualcomm.
Nokia has asked a court in Delhi to revoke a freeze on its factory in India over a tax dispute, ahead of the proposed acquisition by Microsoft of its handset business.
Three major U.S. carriers have agreed not to charge their customers for premium text messages, which have emerged as a route for unauthorized third-party charges on mobile phone bills.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will consider letting passengers use cellular services on airplanes, breaking with a ban that has been in place for years.
The owners of an Atlanta company have agreed to settle U.S. Federal Trade Commission charges that they crammed US$10 million worth of charges onto mobile phone users' bills without their permission.
International talks aimed at removing expensive international tariffs on information technology will now continue until Friday after China continued to stall negotiations on Wednesday.
A U.S. judge has shut down an online business listing operation that allegedly bilked more than US$14 million from U.S. small businesses and churches.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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Sometimes the best “work” to promote your ag operation is to “network” as it seems for about 20 businesses in Cayuga County, New York that have joined the Sweet Treat Trail.
Begun four years ago as an agritourism initiative that mimics the nearby Finger Lakes Wine Trails, the Sweet Treat Trail helps both locals and visitors focus on shopping at farm stores and mom-and-pop shops within the county. The trail spans north to south about 57 miles, from Fair Haven to King Ferry, NY.
Meg Vanek, executive director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism in Auburn, NY, said to participate, businesses must make and sell something sweet or use local ingredients.
“It fits in with the farm-to-table trend,” Vanek said.
Operations that use mostly outside ingredients, factories or facilities that don’t sell anything or cannot accommodate visitors don’t fit the Sweet Treat Trail niche.
Visitors can use the printed or online Sweet Treat Trail maps to find the participating businesses, read descriptions and service information, and see photos as well.
Instead of viewing one another as competing businesses, it helps area businesses collaborate to generate more shopping dollars. Even if two maple syrup places join, that’s okay because their gift shops likely carry many different other items and offer unique experiences. They’re also probably in different parts of the county anyway.
To organize an ag-oriented trail, Vanek recommends a thorough review of what’s available in the area. The trail should have sufficient stops for a daytrip.
She said requesting interested parties join a focus group helped garner enough interested people to kick off the trail. Village and town clerks asked for participants in their newsletters. The Cayuga County Cornell Cooperative Extension helped get the word out, as did other associations and organizations related to agriculture.
Beyond meeting the initial qualifications, participants must also be willing to commit to hosting a tasting event for the trail’s annual kick-off; provide their information and hours for the brochure and keep the business hours listed. Stating “call for hours” won’t cut it for a tourism brochure.
“Every year, the trail changes slightly,” Vanek said. “For some folks, it doesn’t work for them. Maybe their staff isn’t prepared or their location isn’t ideal. We have a couple drop off and that’s fine, but we have a few come on. It’s easier after the first year.”
Each year, Vanek holds a required organizational meeting to ask what the organization should do differently and what would help.
This year, the trail has a two-week-long event where sites will have specials, like buy a cupcake, get one free. The Sweet Treat Trail used to have tasting events all in one place, but Vanek said that it’s better for businesses to host events at their own places of business for convenience and because people tend to spend more money once they’ve arrived at a farm store.
It also has helped the Sweet Treat Trail to provide promotional items. Vanek said tote bags were a hit; buttons — not so much. Visitors that stop at any participating Trail businesses during Spring Fling or Fall Fling receive a free tote bag. Those who receive stamps on their brochure from eight stops on the trail can enter to win one of three Sweet Treat Trail package of goodies.
The partners on the trail let Vanek know what customers like and don’t like. Partners receive banners, brochures and signs to help promote the trail.
To participate in the Sweet Treat Trail, they pay $25 per year, which isn’t much but Vanek said adding a fee helps partners stay committed to promoting the Sweet Treat Trail. When participation was free, some participants didn’t put a lot of effort into promoting the trail.
Vanek said she provides coaching to participating businesses to help them learn how to engage visitors and make their visit a memorable experience.
“The ones that ‘get it’ are not becoming millionaires off it but see extra attention to their spot. They have to have something experiential, like picking apples and a store where people can shop, see cider made and have a doughnut. This is what visitors want. They want to connect with their food.”
The farms, especially, usually don’t host visitors as their primary means of making money. But some have ramped up that aspect of their business partly because of working with the Sweet Treat Trail. Vanek said Strawberry Fields in Skaneateles constructed a new building to accommodate bus tours.
“They get a little tote and can get some jam,” Vanek said. “They also put out a chocolate fountain.”
The Sweet Treat Trail has become so successful that it won the New York State Travel Industry Association Cultural Tourism Award because visitors learn about local culture through food. USA Today also named the Sweet Treat Trail as one of its Top 10 Food Trails.
“Visitors like connecting with the farmer or person running the bake shop and they want to know about what they’re eating,” Vanek said.
The trail operates from June through late November. That timing works well for majority of the vendors along the trail that relate to agriculture, even Skaneateles-based Strawberry Fields. Owned by Linda Eldred, the farm grows ever-bearing, hydroponic strawberries. Eldred joined the Sweet Treat Trail at its inception, viewing the trail as a family-friendly “trail” to add to New York’s Beer Trail and Wine Trails.
“People of all ages can participate,” she said. “There’s lots we have to offer in Cayuga County.”
At the strawberry farm’s market, Eldred sells baked goods and jam made from the berries grown on the farm’s 15,000 plants and also the farm’s honey. The farm remains open until the end of October and re-opens during the holiday season. Amid the gift items and treats, Eldred dedicates counter space to Sweet Treat Trail brochures and promotional items.
“We love to tell people about the Sweet Treat Trail,” Eldred said. “When they discover it, they say they didn’t know it was going on and want to check out the other places on the trail.”
Another of those is Morgan’s Half-Acre Produce in Auburn. Co-owner Kelly Morgan has also participated in the Sweet Treat Trail from its inaugural year.
“I do think it’s helpful, especially for the visitors to our area, because they’re not as familiar with where things are,” Morgan said. “It gives them something to do and along the way as they drive, they can enjoy the scenery.”
Morgan’s Half-Acre Produce is open daily. The farm market sells vegetables and, from a partnering farm’s fruit, home-based fruit pies, quick breads, and shakes.
“People can enjoy whatever is in season at the farm market,” Morgan said.
To view the Sweet Treat Trail brochure, visit http://tinyurl.com/y82u6tpb.


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Fintech is a broad industry, and with the breadth of its sub-sectors comes a large range of trends that change year after year. But with all of the new, hot trends to follow, it’s impossible for banks and fintechs to focus on everything at once.
That’s why our team set out at FinovateFall earlier this month to ask people from across the industry what trend we should be paying attention to. We received a large range of answers, but here were the top picks:
- Fraud mitigation and security
- Business intelligence
- Money movement and payments
- Consumer-permissioned data
- Processing data using AI
- Financial inclusion
- Embedded payments and embedded banking
- Detailed transparency in machine learning solutions
- Customer obsession and customer experience
Check out the full video below, which includes explanations and reasonings behind each of these trends:
We have several people to thank for answering this very broad question, including Gregory Wright, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Experian; Derek Corcoran, SVP Financial Services Strategy at Woodridge Software; Estela Nagahashi, EVP and Chief Operating Officer at University Credit Union; Bill Harris, CEO of Nirvana Money; Craig McLaughlin, CEO of Finalytics; Rikard Bandebo, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at VantageScore; Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore, Head of Global Payments at Silicon Valley Bank; Lora Kornhauser, Co-founder and CEO at Stratyfy; Vivek Bedi, Author of You, the Product; Steven Ramirez, CEO of Beyond the Arc; and Chad Rodgers, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Connexus Credit Union.


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Normally, analytics software allows webmasters to gather precise data about which search keywords delivered traffic to their sites. Keyword referral data has been a cornerstone of search analytics since the beginning of the industry.
It seems like this is now changing. On October 18th, Google announced that searchers logged into Google accounts will now be automatically sent to the encrypted version of Google, at https://www.google.com. (Note the extra “S”)
This secure version of Google does not pass on keyword referral data. Basically, this means that webmasters will no longer know which keywords drove search engine traffic from Google. For an industry as data-centric as SEO, this loss of data could be crippling to many marketing efforts.
How exactly will this work? Logged in users will get redirected to Google Secure Search. Searches they perform will be encrypted. Analytics software will still record any secure Google traffic, but the keyword itself will be hidden. Instead, analytics software will record the visit as “not provided.”
It’s important to note that these changes only apply to organic search. AdWords will still record keyword data as usual, even from secure search.
Why the Changes?
Google is claiming that these changes are designed to improve user privacy. On the face of it, this seems to make sense. Defaulting to secure search is a win for privacy.
However, many industry analysts have observed that this change is mostly a privacy victory “on paper.” Primarily, the concern is that AdWords will still report on keyword data as usual. AdWords will also continue with features like retargeting and geotargeting, which could easily be considered “creepier” than just keyword information.
A more cynical perspective that many SEO experts have taken, is that Google is working to obscure search referral data as a competitive move against rival ad networks.
Well known SEO expert Ian Lurie argues that by removing referring keyword data, Google is using its virtual monopoly on search to shut out ad networks that rely on search keyword data to measure and target their advertising.
The Size of the Impact
It’s important to note again that secure search will only be the default for users who are logged in to Google accounts. Google estimates that this will represent less than 10% of overall Google searchers.
To give a practical sense of scale, we’ve sampled some of Where 2 Get It’s search data. The graph below shows the volume of lost keyword data over the past few days.
Since secure-by-default began rolling out on October 18th, this particular web property has lost 290 keywords. When compared to the total 31,625 Google visits in the same timespan, this seems fairly insignificant. Less than 1% of Google keyword data has been lost so far.
However, this change is still rolling out, and most experts expect that the percent of logged-in users will rise over time. Google is certainly eager to get more users actively using Google accounts. Google+, gmail, and other key Google services rely on logging in to Google.
Although this loss of data will be damaging to SEO analytics, there are a range of options available for marketers to continue to monitor and measure Google search traffic.
Firstly, non-logged in searches still get reported as usual. Web analysts should now begin tracking “not provided” keyword data, and watching what segment of overall search traffic it occupies over time.
By knowing what percentage of keyword data has been lost, it would be possible to extrapolate up from the keyword data that does get reported, and generate an estimate of what the missing keywords might have been.
Analysts also continue to have full data from Google, Bing, and other search engines. For marketers who may have been ignoring this smaller set of data, it could now become more valuable.
Google Webmaster Tools is also an extremely valuable resource for dealing with this analytics challenge. It seems like WMT will continue to report on all keyword data, although obviously with considerably less precision than web analytics software.
The loss of keyword analytics represents a step backwards for analysts and SEOs. However, this is a business decision for Google, and it seems unlikely to be undone, despite the industry outcry. Ultimately, Marketers have no choice but to adapt, and find new ways of measuring SEO campaigns


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FDAnews Device Daily Bulletin
Jan. 27, 2005 | Vol. 2 No. 19
Genetronics Biomedical, a late-stage developer of oncology and other therapies using electroporation to deliver drugs and nucleic acids, has acquired Oslo-based Inovio.
Insulin pump manufacturer Animas has launched its newest insulin pump, the Animas IR 1250 in the first half of February 2005.
Biolase Technology has completed the acquisition of the intellectual property portfolio of Diodem.
Rocky Mountain Biosystems (RMBI), a Denver-area biotechnology company, has successfully completed Phase I of an NIH Small Business Innovation Research grant (SBIR).
Hindustan Syringe and Medical Devices (HMD) said it received the World Health Organization's approval for its auto disable (AD) syringe under the latter's new as well as old product assessment system.
Novo Nordisk has announced that Norditropin NordiFlex, the prefilled, multidose, liquid growth hormone in a disposable pen, is now available in the U.S. for the long-term treatment of children with growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone and adults with growth hormone deficiency.
A breakthrough system featuring synchronized hearing instruments will offer improved hearing for millions of Britons who suffer from hearing loss in both ears.
Laserscope, a pioneer in the development and commercialization of medical lasers and advanced fiber-optic devices, has signed an exclusive three-year agreement with MD International for distribution of the company's proprietary GreenLight PVP (Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate) laser system, PVP disposable fiber optics and full aesthetic laser system line.
Masimo, the inventor of Read-Through Motion and Low Perfusion Pulse Oximetry, has announced the expansion of Masimo's sensor offering with the introduction of LNCS and LNOPv sensor series.
Spectral Diagnostics has announced the first shipment of its new i-Lynx connectivity solution.
MedCap has signed distributorship agreements for the AccuScan test kits with three established medical products supply companies in Southeast Asia.
Regeneration Technologies (RTI), the Florida-based processor of orthopedic, cardiovascular and other allograft implants, has signed a new five-year agreement with Southeast Tissue Alliance (SETA) for the recovery of human donated tissue.
Filtration and separation company Pall made another acquisition in the chromatography sector with the purchase of Euroflow for an undisclosed amount.
ePublishing :: CMS, Hosting & Web Development | © Copyright by FDAnewsAll rights reserved. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.


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Acquisition of all Property, alliances to cultivate and harvest the vegetation, investment in technological innovation and, eventually, industrialization of cannabis to its Cannabis production of services and products for recreational and medicinal reasons around the world, is one of those objectives established by Terrace Global.
This company Has created an expansion approach in South America, Europe and other continents, to launch itself as one of the planet’s leading manufacturers of dried blossoms and derivatives of both recreational and medicinal cannabis.
It was created With a group of leaders in the cannabis sector as a way to purchase resources globally for its evolution of the cannabis production industry. They perform, stay and transact in all sections of the Earth, by way of capital markets, government and agriculture regulations, benefiting from their comprehensive practical experience in the global level.
The global Context increasingly rewards the legal production and marketing of health care bud , recreational and hemp assets. This cannabis sector has been visualized in a marketplace with all strong potential, valued at tens of thousands of dollars.
These expansion Projections in the cannabis industry tend not to go undetected by the big capitalists, as this marketplace is becoming the excellent possibility to make investments convenient. Sectors such as technologies, finance, property construction, and metallurgy have turned into big expenditure holdings of recreational and medicinal cannabis output.
The process of Increase in cannabis generation is presently due to the marriage of social, societal, political and financial pursuits. Now, all around 3 dozen states have or are at the procedure for restarting the medical use of cannabis targets also it’s estimated that a dozen will legalize it at the next several years.
Some expert Analysts signify the growth speed of the medical and recreational cannabis sector may be over 16% each year from the next several decades, forecasting that in approximately 5 decades, it will be one of many industries that generate the most earnings of health cannabis inside the entire universe.


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2021 was another highly unpredictable year in the FX market. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to dominate action in the first half of last year, although attention among market participants firmly turned towards the sharp increase in global inflation and the hawkish response from the world’s central banks.
But what are likely to be the main drivers of currencies in 2022? Our analysts will outline their expectations for central bank interest rate hikes, the ongoing impact of the pandemic and more during this month’s global webinar.
Join our webinar on Thursday 20th of January at:
14:00 GMT | 15:00 CET
Save your seat below.
** Can't make it at this time? Don't worry, you can register and we will send you the recording for you to watch at a time that suits you.**


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Everyone hears differently, but some headphones are modelled around this. And later this year, a new pair of in-ears, as well.
Australian headphone makers are shaking up the personal audio world with an individual taste in sound technology.
Some made their mark with musician-focused in-ear monitors, while others have looked to the personal sense of sound where we all hear differently.
Amazingly, there are three Australian headphone makers working in this space, represented by Audeara, Nuheara, and Nura, and they each offer slightly different takes on how the technology works, testing your ears and changing the sound accordingly.
The latter of these, Nura, has made some interesting progress in getting its take in personalised audio known with headphones that rely both on an in-ear and around-ear design, something ahead of reviewing them last year hadn’t experienced. They’re certainly unique, and while there’s nothing else like the Nuraphones, they’re not the only thing Nura has been working on.
There’s also a pair of wireless in-earphones coming, arriving in the form of the NuraLoop which feature a similar take on the otoacoustic concept used in the Nuraphones that listens to sounds going in and out of the ear to define an audio profile that better matches the listener.
While there’s a slightly more compact design, NuraLoop will still feature active noise cancellation with an ambient mode to open up the microphones, while battery life can hit up to around 16 hours.
Nura is also talking up the phone call quality, with the NuraLoop reliant on four microphones to deliver what the company claims is “the best possible call quality”.
“At Nura, we are driven by a vision to deliver perfect sound to every individual everywhere,” said Nura’s Dragan Petrovic.
“We are excited to make personalised sound, pioneered by the Nuraphone, available to our community even when on the move — something that has been requested by many in our community, from music fans for listening on the go-to professional musicians for performing on stage.”
Locally, Australians can expect to find the NuraLoop for a recommended retail price of $299, with availability expected later this year, likely from August or September onwards.


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Brings Home Best CEO, Best Platform, Best Partner and Ecosystem Builder, Best Acquisition, Company to Watch, and IoT Event Honors.
PTC today announced it won multiple honors in the 4th Annual Postscapes Internet of Things (IoT) Awards, claiming nearly a third of all awards made, including CEO of the Year, Best Platform (ThingWorx® Development Platform), Best Partner and Ecosystem Builder, Best Acquisition (ThingWorx and Axeda), Must Follow IoT Company (ThingWorx), and IoT Event honors (LiveWorx; next held May 5-7, 2015, Boston, MA). The scope of awards conferred on PTC and its recent acquisitions – ThingWorx and Axeda – demonstrate the strength of the company’s ability to enable its customers to capture the value opportunities presented by the IoT.
“These awards collectively are recognition of PTC’s overall IoT strategy,” said Jim Heppelmann, president and CEO, PTC.
“From thought leadership business frameworks to technology to partnerships to events to acquisitions, PTC is focused on giving companies the tools and technology needed to connect their products and create the applications that will empower them, and their customers, to thrive in this new world. These awards validate the strength of our vision, leadership and product offerings.”
The Postscapes IoT Awards highlight and celebrate the year’s best projects, companies and ideas helping to create the IoT. PTC won awards in the following categories as described by Postscapes:
- CEO of the Year. An exceptional company is a collective effort, but sometimes a visionary executive can elevate one player above the competition. Jim Heppelmann has set the vision and strategy for PTC to continually lead in the IoT era. From acquisitions to product technology to being a co-author of a visionary IoT piece in Harvard Business Review, Jim Heppelmann continues to demonstrate he is a leader.
- Technical Enabler: Platform and Tools. Well-designed technology may be indistinguishable from magic, but that belies all the hard work and creativity that went on under the hood. The Technical Enabler awards acknowledge the elements that make it easier for everyone, from garage hobbyists to tech giants, to develop new products and services for the IoT. The ThingWorx Application Platform won this award because it enables companies to build and deploy IoT applications and connected solutions across all major industries as well as IoT applications including smart cities, smart agriculture and smart transportation.
- Partner and Ecosystem Builder of the Year. Far more than a scattering of standalone products, the Internet of Things is a tightly-woven fabric in which lots of products and services work together organically. The Partner and Ecosystem Builder award goes to organizations that leverage industry connections to champion cooperation and interoperability. PTC delivers technology solutions that transform the way companies create, operate and service their products. PTC solutions enable manufacturers to achieve Product and Service Advantage in a smart, connected world.
- Acquisition of the Year. Consolidation is inevitable in any growing industry, and this year the IoT land grab was in full swing. This award highlights the shrewdest and smartest deals that went down in 2014. In less than one year, PTC quickly scaled to a dominant position of IoT leadership in helping manufacturers seize the opportunity presented by a smart, connected world through its acquisitions of ThingWorx and Axeda.
- Must-Follow IoT Company. Whether they’ve been in the IoT business for years or are just getting started, some companies seem to have captured more than their fair share of attention this year. The Must-Follow Company award commends the teams that have us all on the edge of our seats, wondering what they’ll come up with next. ThingWorx, a PTC business, is the first platform designed to build and run the applications of the connected world. From Smart Cows to Smart Traffic to Smart Agriculture, it’s being used in ways that have never been previously discovered.
- Event of the Year. Conferences, expos and symposiums bring the community of connected technology innovators together. The gatherings that have the greatest impact on the IoT are distinguished with the Event of the Year award. LiveWorx, being held May 5-7, 2015 in Boston, MA will be the largest industry event for IoT leaders. This conference will be filled with customer-focused business and technical sessions, plus valuable network opportunities for attendees to help shape the future of IoT.
“The Annual IoT Awards were developed to honor and recognize industry leaders that are advancing the IoT industry,” said Trevor Harwood, founder, Postscapes. “PTC made some impressive strategic maneuvers to position itself as a leader in connected products and services. The voting results clearly reflected that and we are looking forward to watching the company closely in the coming years.”


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Netflix is one of the most successful subscription services of all time, and with good reason. It offers subscribers an enormous library of streaming, DVD and Blu-Ray titles with several affordable plans to choose from in order to get the best setup for you. Now, for the first time in a while, Netflix is upping its price on its most popular plan, the standard plan.
Beginning on November 11, new customers will pay $9.99/month for the standard plan, a $1 rise over the existing price of $8.99/month. Interestingly, Netflix’s website is already showing the price increase, so we’ll have to see how that plays out. As for existing customers on the standard plan, they’ll be grandfathered into the existing price until October 2016, which gives people an entire year to calm down over the thought of their Netflix price going up. For a reminder, the standard plan includes viewing on up to two screens at a time as well as HD video playback.
The prices on other Netflix plans will remain the same.
The $1 increase on the standard plan is nothing to get worried about and won’t affect most until a year from now as it is. Netflix is a company that has done its best to keep prices extremely affordable, and this new change shows that the company is continuing that trend, making it a wise move in the eyes of customers. As for Netflix’s shareholders, they seem happy with the increase plan, with Netflix stock rising by over 2% after the announcement.


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Members of the Big Bear Professional Firefighters Association often find themselves in heated situations. This winter they want to help keep Big Bear children warm from the cold.
On Dec. 3, the association handed $1,000 worth of winter jackets, gloves and hats over to the Bear Valley Unified School District to be used by kids without the means to keep themselves warm. “We work with the school district for the Christmas shopping spree,” said Matt Fonda. “In talking with them we basically asked if there was anything else we could do to help out. They offered this opportunity so we just jumped all over it.”
The school district will work with Lutheran Social Services to distribute the winter gear. “We’ll also carry extra on the buses, too, for kids getting on the bus without,” said Mary Suzuki, Bear Valley Unified superintendent. “If we see kids without they can get them right away.”
Fonda said this will become an annual project in addition to the Christmas shopping spree. “We’re going to do our best to get these kids appropriate winter stuff,” Fonda said. “Kmart worked with us on this, just like they do every year with the shopping spree. They’ve been good partners.”


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Amazon has been the ecommerce leader in innovation, in particular with its immensely popular Prime service. It connects subscribers – who tender an average of $99 per year for the service – to generous two-day shipping and hassle-free returns on millions of products in its marketplace. For the annual fee, subscribers also gain access to thousands of streaming movies, TV shows and digital music via Amazon’s streaming service. All said, it’s not a bad bargain if you shop online a lot and if you are a movie or TV buff.
With Amazon recently surpassing the value of Wal-Mart, previously the world’s largest retailer, it should come as no surprise that they have something intuitive up their sleeve. This time around, it’s the next generation of package delivery: Amazon Prime Air – which will deliver packages to customers via air drone in 30 minutes or less.
What is Amazon Prime Air?
Amazon Prime Air is a package delivery service that’s being designed by Amazon. The logistics and the details are still being fine-tuned. Basically, small delivery drones will be used to deliver packages from metropolitan fulfilment centers to businesses and homes within a predetermined geographical range within 30 minutes from the order being placed.
According to Paul Misener, Amazon’s vice president for global public policy, “[Amazon] Prime Air is a future delivery service that will get packages to customers within 30 minutes of them ordering it online at Amazon.com. The goals we’ve set for ourselves are: The range has to be over 10 miles. These things [delivery drones] will weigh about 55-pounds each, but they’ll be able to deliver parcels that weigh up to five-pounds. It turns out that the vast majority of the things we sell at Amazon weigh less than five-pounds.”
How Does it Work?
Customers who are members of Amazon Prime Air simply order from the marketplace as they normally would. Except, when they go to tender payment and checkout, they will have the option, in certain circumstances and on certain products, to use Prime Air. According to Misener, this may or may not incur an added fee, “I don’t know if we’ve priced it out yet.”
As for now, it appears that the service will be offered in select test cities, once it has been made operational. Once regulations have been met, shoppers who use the service will be able to select where the drones drop their packages (e.g. front yard, back yard, door step, etc.), so that packages can be delivered whether they are home or not.
This detailed infographic, courtesy of Graphic News, provides some technical information on how the delivery service would work, and how the drones function.
Will the FAA Approve It?
Of course, any flying commercial object in U.S. airspace would be regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As for that hurdle, Misener has stated the company is working with regulators to get it approved. But there’s no window on exactly when it will be approved. The idea being proposed right now is a layered airspace that helps regulate air traffic and maintain a strict safety standard.
“We were thinking: Manned aircraft above 500 feet. Between 400 and 500 feet there’d be a no-fly zone—a safety buffer,” Misener said. “Between 200 and 400 feet would be a transit zone, where drones could fly fairly quickly, horizontally. And then below 200 feet, that would be limited to certain operations. For us, it would be takeoff and landing. For others, it might be aerial photography. The realtors, for example, wouldn’t need to fly above 200 feet to get a great shot of a house.”
The project could suffer setbacks if regulators do not get on board, something Misener is confident Amazon can overcome. “Challenges are there, for sure. But once we demonstrate that this is safe, we’ll be able to take it to the regulators and hopefully deploy it for our customers quickly. I’ve seen it. It’s going to happen. It’s coming.”
What About Retailers Using Amazon Fulfillment?
There’s no word on cost of participation or delivery cost just yet, for either retailers or consumers. One has a good mind to think that retailers would be subjected to similar shipping charges as they are now for Prime fulfillment. Given that Amazon taps its retailers at a 20% surcharge for all goods sold in addition to shipping fees, it’s safe to bet that participating in this service would come with added fees, with the goal of increasing sales and conversions that ultimately would offset the added cost.
The Complete Scoop on Amazon Prime Air
Take a look at this video to get the complete scoop on Amazon Prime Air. It shows you how simple it could be to get that five-pounds package delivered right to your backyard. Using a simple Amazon landing pad that is provided by the delivery service, you place your order and position the pad to where you want the drone to deliver your order. It then automatically lands and drops the package before taking flight again.


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By Holly Ellyat
Concerns over online privacy are leading Facebook users to commit "virtual identity suicide" by deleting their Facebook accounts, according to new scientific research.
A survey of around 300 Facebook users and 300 quitters of the social networking site by Austrian psychologists at the University of Vienna assessing what motivated them to use or abandon Facebook revealed an emerging counter-movement against social networking.
Among those saying they were quitting Facebook, almost half were leaving because of privacy concerns. Others said that the shallow nature of online relationships and feelings that they were becoming addicted to Facebook were reasons for abandoning their virtual social lives, according to the research on users and quitters from 47 countries.
Facebook quitters were more likely to be older males who displayed higher Internet addiction scores, the research led by Dr Stefan Stieger found.
"Although the Facebook quitters of the present sample represented only a very small amount of all Facebook users, many of them seemed to be concerned about privacy to such an extent that it outweighed perceived advantages of Facebook and eventually led them to quit their virtual Facebook identity," Stieger and his co-authors said in an article entitled "Who Commits Virtual Identity Suicide?"published on Wednesday.
With 1.16 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the most popular social networking site in the world, followed by Twitter and MySpace. Over half of these log on every day (699 million).
Recent high-profile controversies over online privacy such as the NSA surveillance scandal and Wikileaks have prompted users to reconsider their online presence and what it can reveal about them, however, with many deciding to remove their accounts committing "virtual identity suicide."
"Given high profile stories such as WikiLeaks and the recent NSA surveillance reports, individual citizens are becoming increasingly more wary of cyber-related privacy concerns," said Brenda Wiederhold,the editor-in-chief of the journal "Cyberpsychology,Behavior and Social Networking". in which the article was published.
The phenomenon has not been lost on some enterprising firms looking to facilitate the quitting process, with applications such as The Suicide Machine and Seppukoo assisting the "suicide," caused as a result of getting fed up with online social interaction, the authors' said.
"Committing virtual identity suicide is — in our view — not connected to a state of increased psychological distress, as it is typical for suicides, but rather to a deep dissatisfaction with some facets of social networking sites such as privacy and peer-group pressure to be online."
Facebook declined to comment on the University of Vienna survey.


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Microsoft has avoided a potentially huge setback to its mobile handset business, after the International Trade Commission decided not to block imports of its devices as part of a long-running patent dispute with InterDigital.
The decision on Aug. 28 turned back a ruling in April that deemed that Microsoft had in fact infringed upon two InterDigital patents, a ruling that would have resulted in a U.S. import ban on Microsoft-made Nokia phones.
The decision is certainly good news for Microsoft, which has been struggling in its mobile business against the likes of Apple and Google for a number of years. Of course, the decision isn't so good for InterDigital.
"Today's decision is disappointing but is expected to have a limited impact on our going-forward business, given the decline of the Nokia mobile device business under Microsoft's control and its limited market position," said William J. Merritt, CEO of InterDigital, in a statement. "InterDigital will continue to seek compensation for past infringement and the further unlicensed use of our contributions to wireless mobile communication standards."
Following the decision, InterDigital's stock was down 3 percent. The issue is amplified because of the fact that the patents owned by InterDigital are considered essential to how smartphones work. InterDigital says that it will continue to seek compensation for past infringements.
The case itself was first filed in 2007, long before Nokia's handset business was sold to Microsoft in 2014.
The decision found that Microsoft did not violate InterDigital's rights. However, the ITC did not address whether or not InterDigital had offered licenses to its patents on fair terms.


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BY TOM JACKSON
It was Bwanika Charles’ teenage passion for agriculture that drove him to venture into growing cereal crops, mainly maize, on a rented piece of land in his home district of Masaka back in 2014.
“I harvested two tonnes of maize, only to fail on getting the right market given the fact that prices had drastically fluctuated,” he told Disrupt Africa. “I ended up selling off this harvest on the cheap.”
This disappointment led Charles to thoroughly research post-harvest loss control and value addition in the cereal crop space in order to provide a solution to farmers who suffered from similar challenges, and he is now founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Farm Kiosk. Launched in August 2018, the startup launched its mobile app in October 2019.
The Farm Kiosk mobile app has interactive user-friendly features which allow it to profile farmers, buyers and extension workers, specifically agronomists and veterinarians, so that it can help farmers sell their produce and access specialist knowledge.
“We support in extending specific sector services like group financial literacy training, agribusiness project selection, planning and management training, agronomy and veterinary services, and digital literacy training,” Charles said.
“One of the unique features in our app is the profiling feature which helps us to identify the type of produce specific farmers in a specific location will have in a specific season, and their anticipated harvest period, which guides us to link them to outtakers of their produce.”
Upskilling farmers and connecting them with markets has critical importance in Africa, which imports US$40 billion worth of food annually but is a huge potential producer.
“Agriculture in Uganda provides approximately 24 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), generates nearly 48 per cent of export earnings, and provides direct and indirect livelihood support to 80 per cent of all households. Despite the fact 80 per cent of Uganda’s land is arable only 20 per cent is being utilised,” said Charles.
Farm Kiosk wants to address this by making it easier and more attractive for young people to get into farming, and is currently working with more than 40 women groups and 20 youth groups comprising 1,530 farmers, 37 B2B customers, and over 1,500 B2C customers spread around seven districts.
The self-funded startup is earning revenues on profit margins on market linkages and quarterly subscriptions on services, and plans to move into other East African countries in future.
“We are currently running a five-year strategic plan which we recently revised to absorb the shocks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Charles said.
“Principally we aim to expand our services to all the 10 agricultural zones of Uganda, facilitate the purchase of our delivery trucks, facilitate the establishment of our call centre and our storage facility, which will enhance on the creation of jobs in the sector.”


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Petfood manufacturer Horizon Pet Nutrition launched a new grain-free diet program, Pulsar, which will be sold at petfood stores beginning in January.
The company says its Pulsar line, available at a lower cost to consumers, incorporates petfood ingredients like peas and lentils as the key carbohydrate and fiber source.
"Our philosophy (at Horizon Pet Nutrition) is to seek new combinations of exceptional ingredients to optimize pet nutrition and push the boundaries of dietary evolution," said Jeff English, co-founder of Horizon Pet Nutrition. "This is an evolution we expect the pet food industry will follow, as it provides a high-quality, low GI grain-free diet, at an unparalleled price in the market."
By Lindsay Beaton
Pet food safety is top-of-mind all along the production line, and everything from the ingredients to the equipment must offer solutions.
By Debbie Phillips-Donaldson
Many hours, efforts, dollars and brainpower go into pet food companies’ and regulatory bodies’ efforts to ensure that products on the market are safe and healthy for pets.


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by Staff Writers
San Francisco (AFP) Nov 13, 2017
US ride-sharing startup Lyft said Monday it is launching next month in Toronto, the first city in what is expected to be an international expansion for the Uber rival.
"Our passports are packed and we're crossing the border. Before you know it, Lyft will be coming to you live in Toronto," a blog from the California company said announcing its plans for the Canadian city.
"We've been looking forward to taking our brand of ride-sharing international for some time, and we're super pumped to share this with our close friends up north."
No specific launch date was announced but Lyft said it "will be around to help ring in the holidays," presumably before Christmas.
Lyft announced last month a $1 billion investment led by the venture arm of Google parent Alphabet, to help ramp up its challenge to market leader Uber.
Lyft said the new funding gives it a valuation of $11 billion as it steps up competition against Uber, which is reeling from a series of missteps and scandals which have forced out its founder and chief executive.
Lyft has been expanding in the US market as Uber's image has taken a hit in recent months. It has also been expanding its partnerships including with General Motors and the former Google Car unit now called Waymo.
Uber meanwhile on Sunday announced a $1 billion investment from SoftBank as part of a deal that could eventually give the Japanese tech giant a 14 percent stake through purchases from existing shareholders.
Los Angeles (AFP) Nov 9, 2017
Uber on Wednesday unveiled a partnership with NASA that will see it develop flying taxis priced competitively with standard Uber journeys. It also announced Los Angeles will join two other previously revealed "UberAIR" pilot schemes in Dallas Fort-Worth, Texas, and Dubai. California and Texas are the US states with the largest number of cars. "Uber's participation in NASA's UTM (Unma ... read more
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McDonald's global sales suffer as Covid-19 lockdowns limit operations
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By Nivedita Balu and Hilary Russ
INTERNATIONAL - McDonald’s on Tuesday reported a bigger-than-expected drop in global same-store sales as the burger chain’s restaurants across the world were shut because of the Covid-19 pandemic, limiting operations to only drive-thru and delivery.
Global same-store sales fell 23.9 percent for the second quarter ended June 30, dragged down by big international markets including the United Kingdom, France and Latin America.
Analysts had forecast a 23.24 percent fall, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
In the United States, where it operates more than a third of its restaurants, same-restaurant sales fell 8.7 percent, but were better than the anticipated 9.97 percent fall, as most locations were able to stay open with drive-thru and delivery options.
As lockdowns eased, sales improved and losses were not as bad, providing some optimism for a measured rebound.
Restaurants have been struggling to cope with the changing dynamics and consumer behaviors around the health crisis, forcing them to simplify menus and shift largely to online and mobile orders for pickup, delivery and drive-thru.
“Our strong drive-thru presence and the investments we’ve made in delivery and digital over the past few years have served us well through these uncertain times,” Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski said.
To help drive its recovery, McDonald’s, like many other US restaurant chains and retailers, said face coverings would be mandatory at its stores in the United States and employees would offer one to anyone entering without a mask.
The company said about 96 percent of its restaurants were operating with drive-thru, delivery or reduced seating capacity.
Revenue fell 30.5 percent to $3.76 billion, but beat the estimate of $3.68 billion.
Net income fell to $483.8 million, or 65 cents per share, from $1.52 billion, or $1.97 per share, a year earlier.


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Lenovo announced on September 20 the new TruScale for Edge and AI services that are designed to give companies immediate, scalable access to next-generation AI. The company also released the new ThinkEdge SE455 V3 edge server, an AI-ready hardware resource for businesses that build their own edge infrastructure.
TechRepublic spoke to Blake Kerrigan, general manager, Global ThinkEdge Business Group at Lenovo, to learn what types of businesses should look into the new solutions, discuss challenges affecting the AI industry, including tech talent gaps, and find out how these products could help with environmental, social and governance concerns.
- What are Lenovo’s new TruScale services?
- Which businesses should consider the new ThinkEdge SE455 V3?
- Challenges of the U.S.-China tech regulations and AI talent gaps
- ESG and AI consumption demands and opportunities
- Top AI infrastructure-as-a-service competitors
What are Lenovo’s new TruScale services?
Building on TruScale’s Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Lenovo’s new TruScale for Edge and AI services allows businesses to leverage a pay-as-you-go model and rapidly deploy edge computing resources with AI-powered insights.
Kerrigan explained that even businesses with limited resources and funding can benefit from TruScale for Edge and AI solutions, giving them immediate access to edge AI deployment and Lenovo’s more than 150 turnkey AI solutions that address a wide range of industry-specific applications. Companies can also avoid the costs of managing their infrastructure because the platform is managed by Lenovo from end to end, from deployment to management and operation and scaling.
Lenovo TruScale allows companies to access:
- AI-ready hardware infrastructure from data centers to the edge.
- Expert support for companies to keep their IT staff focused on business innovation.
- A diverse portfolio of Lenovo edge’s clients, edge servers and data center hardware.
- High-performing CPU and GPU systems to efficiently handle heavy AI workloads.
- Lenovo Open Cloud Automation — a software solution for rapid deployment and management of on-premises infrastructure inside a data center or distributed across edge infrastructure.
- Hardware shipped directly from the factory, ready to be unboxed, activated and automated for remote deployment.
Companies can scale up or down and customize their infrastructure for AI.
Lenovo assures that the TruScale for Edge and AI services are designed for businesses across every industry, no matter where they work or operate.
“Whether that is on a city street, a manufacturing line or a fishing boat in the middle of the ocean,” Kerrigan said.
“As the amount of worldwide data grows exponentially, efficient edge computing infrastructure is essential to overcoming AI deployment complexities and helping businesses quickly translate data into actionable insights that streamline operations and improve business outcomes,” Kerrigan explained. “Across every industry, data center-like computing at the edge is empowering AI for improved emergency response, public safety, accessibility, tourism and retail experiences.”
Which businesses should consider the new ThinkEdge SE455 V3?
Companies that are heavily invested and committed to building their own infrastructure should look into the new ThinkEdge SE455 V3, especially if they’re facing networking constraints and lags due to massive data transfers from and to their edge systems.
Built into the new ThinkEdge SE455 V3 is the AMD EPYC 8004 Series Processor, which is designed for advanced data center computing. This processor enables next-generation AI applications while lowering power consumption.
The SE455 V3 edge hardware can handle the latest innovations such as large language models, which are known for their high computing demands. Lenovo says the edge server is silent, discrete and rugged to withstand tough environments.
“So whether it’s near a cash register, in a streetside cabinet, on a factory floor or in a guest lobby, businesses are able to leverage the (ThinkEdge SE455 Edge AI server) while gaining significant cost savings from lower power consumption in a small, quiet form factor with enhanced security,” Kerrigan said. Lenovo states the ThinkEdge SE455 is the most powerful edge AI server in the global market today.
Challenges of the U.S.-China tech regulations and AI talent gaps
U.S.-China tech regulations
In the past month, tensions between China and the U.S. have increased as both nations seek to control AI and the technology sector by applying import and export restrictions on chips and supply chain materials. The Biden administration says its China AI policy and restrictions are driven by concerns of how Beijing plans to use AI for cybersecurity, surveillance and AI weapons development, while China continues to impose new restrictions on the exports of key raw materials vital for the global tech industry.
U.S. company NVIDIA, which has already been banned from selling the A100 and H100 GPUs to China and any company operating in that country, along with AMD and others leading the AI development sector, assure that the escalation of tensions between both countries will hurt national businesses and lead to permanent long term losses.
We asked Kerrigan how the conflict impacts Lenovo globally and its operations in the U.S. Kerrigan explained that Lenovo remains strong in its position on AI and continues to push on through investing in AI.
“A challenging business environment also presents opportunities and only makes our focus on innovation more important,” Kerrigan said. “We will continue to leverage the opportunities the market presents, especially around AI and computing, to drive our sustainable growth and profitability.”
Kerrigan added that Lenovo considers AI and computing as their anchor technologies and critical pillars of its intelligent transformation strategy. The company is heavily invested in the area and has recently committed an additional $1 billion to AI initiatives, solutions and hardware.
If the tech conflicts between the U.S. and China continue to escalate, platforms such as TruScale for Edge and AI may benefit companies because they provide access to vital AI infrastructure.
AI talent gaps
Another issue affecting AI deployment in the U.S. and globally is talent gaps. While the U.S. leads the way in AI tech, the nation also faces serious AI talent deficits. McKinsey Digital reveals that applied AI and next-generation software development posted nearly one million jobs between 2018 and 2022, but the shortage of qualified talent “has been a persistent limiting factor.”
McKinsey data shows that the talent supply for some roles is extremely low. For example, for cloud and edge computing and generative AI regulatory compliance — both essential roles for companies to deploy and manage AI — there is only one skilled person for every 10 jobs posted.
Kerrigan explained that companies affected by talent gaps can use TruScale for Edge and AI to ” … offload all aspects of the deployment and lifecycle management to Lenovo’s team of AI experts.”
By significantly reducing the upfront costs of powering AI solutions and maximizing the end-to-end services and solutions offered by Lenovo, companies with reduced IT teams can deploy AI solutions.
ESG and AI consumption demands and opportunities
AI is expected to impact economic, sustainable and governance policies. Companies with ESG goals are looking closely into AI vendors that offer built-in ESG features; they want to track energy and power consumption and make sure their AI solutions are compliant and fair.
“Balancing performance with energy consumption is a challenge, especially when AI models demand significant computational resources,” Kerrigan said. “Edge devices often run on limited power sources, making power efficiency a crucial concern and barrier to adoption for industries navigating environmental variability and remote and specialized locations.”
Lenovo says the ThinkEdge SE455 V3 provides breakthrough performance without compromising energy efficiency.
“By consuming significantly less power compared to other servers, it not only reduces operational costs but also minimizes carbon footprint, contributing to ESG goals for Lenovo and our customers,” Kerrigan explained.
He added that customers can optimize their data center with TruScale to reduce their CO2 emissions and power consumption by up to 20% while supporting efficient edge AI computing to help improve business outcomes.
Lenovo AI Innovators program
Through the Lenovo AI Innovators program, the company offers more than 150 ready-to-go AI solutions. These solutions, developed by Lenovo and its partners, have already been tested, proven efficient and can be seamlessly deployed.
For example, in manufacturing, a Lenovo and partner edge AI solution is helping companies detect workplace hazards such as accidents, defective machinery and fires while state-of-the-art edge AI computing processes. Other solutions work specifically for sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, security and business intelligence and can enhance social and governance postures.
These AI solutions were developed prior to the launch of Lenovo’s new AI server, though the solutions use some of the infrastructure that TruScale offers. As more AI Innovators’s solutions are developed, it’s likely we’ll see them use the latest edge AI server.
Top AI infrastructure-as-a-service competitors
AI infrastructure-as-a-service is a relatively new industry that’s being developed using edge, cloud and infrastructure-as-a-service models combined with AI-as-a-service. While there has been a rise in new vendors specializing solely in AI software solutions, there are other companies that compete with Lenovo and offer the hardware and the software needed to deploy AI.
Amazon Web Services: The popular cloud vendors offer AI hardware and software solutions for customers to adopt machine learning and AI. AWS AI products and services are focused on business solutions and e-commerce and include generative AI chatbots and virtual assistance, antifraud and product recommendations.
Google Cloud AI: Google is another top cloud vendor that has incorporated AI infrastructure into its portfolio. Google Cloud AI provides a wide range of tools for developers to build generative AI apps, speech, text and language APIs and image and video APIs. Google Cloud AI also offers hardware for every type of AI workload through its partners (NVIDIA, Intel, AMD, Arm and more), as well as AI-optimized compute options across TPUs, GPUs and CPUs.
Azure AI infrastructure: Microsoft, through Azure, competes in the AI market offering compute-intensive hardware and software for AI workloads. The company is known for its Azure virtual machines and its AI infrastructure, which is optimized for Azure machine learning. Microsoft recently added the option for clients to access supercomputing resources, which they achieve by combining NVIDIA GPUs.
IBM Watson: Companies seeking data, AI training, coding and advanced business solutions can look into IBM Watson — the enterprise-ready AI and data platform. IBM provides infrastructure through its IBM edge and cloud computing solutions.
DataRobot: Founded in 2012 to support data scientists globally, this company has evolved to become one of the most well-known names in the AI adoption business. The company provides everything a business needs to build, deploy, manage and govern generative and predictive AI. Part of the hardware infrastructure DataRobot offers is through partners such as Google Cloud.
Alibaba Cloud AI and Data Intelligence: The biggest cloud vendor in China has jumped into the AI infrastructure-as-a-service market, leveraging its cloud and edge portfolio and combining it with a new and wide range of AI services, including pretrained models, machine learning frameworks and tools for developers and data scientists.
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The Clinton Township location will be the third B Spot in Michigan. The first, at the Village of Rochester Hills outdoor shopping center at 176 N. Adams Rd. in Rochester Hills, opened in May. Another B Spot is planned for 310 Main St. in downtown Royal Oak, in the former Small Plates restaurant space.
The Royal Oak location is to open in the fall and the Partridge Creek location will open "soon thereafter," according to Southfield-based Colliers International, the leasing agency working with Cleveland-based B Spot.
The Partridge Creek restaurant will be in a 3,756-square-foot space.
Symon told Crain's last year that his attraction to Detroit for the growth of B Spot comes from the city's similarity to his hometown of Cleveland.
"Both cities have had tough times," Symon said. "We kind of saw the effect of the economy on Cleveland. We opened our first restaurant there 17 years ago. But we saw the effect a restaurant can have on a city and it gets exciting."
At the time, Symon said he planned to open three or four B Spots in metro Detroit.


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- Verizon pumps its 5G capex
- CityFibre seeks additional backer, continues expansion
- Mavenir adds to its AI toolbox
Verizon’s updated 5G network plans and CityFibre’s ongoing expansion are at the front of today’s news queue.
- Verizon is committing an additional $10 billion in capital expenditure during the next three years to accelerate the build of its 5G network and take advantage of the spectrum it acquired in the recent C-band auction. For full details of Verizon’s plan and its expectations for the 5G market, see this extensive announcement.
- CityFibre is seeking an additional investor to help fund its £4 billion fibre network rollout plans, according to Sky News. The report comes as CityFibre announces the start of network construction in Glasgow and a £30 million network investment in Cheltenham.
- Open RAN flag-waver Mavenir has extended its Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Analytics portfolio to “enable closed-loop automation and drive digital transformation.” See this announcement for further details.
- Nokia is conducting a 5G business-to-business digital platform trial with South Korean operator LG U-Plus with the aim of accelerating the launch of new enterprise services. See this press release for further details.
- Nokia has also has struck a video patent licensing agreement with Samsung that will see the giant Korean vendor pay royalties to the Finnish company: Financial terms were not shared.
- Following the departure of its CTO Brendan O’Reilly earlier this year, Telefónica UK (O2) has split that role, bringing in Omar Calvo as Director of Radio Engineering to work alongside Head of Core and IT Infrastructure Jorge Ribeiro, reports Light Reading.
- The old opt-in or opt-out issue over data privacy has reared its head in the US. T-Mobile US says it’s changed its approach to customer data privacy and intends to sell web browsing and device usage data to advertisers by default unless the relevant subscriber explicitly opts out of data sharing. You can see what T-Mobile is proposing and how customers can block data sharing on its web site privacy notice. To ease customers’ fears on privacy, T-Mobile says the data it makes available will be anonymised by being tied to ‘advertising IDs rather than named subscribers. This is despite a widespread understanding within the industry that anonymity cannot be secured by such manoeuvres since it’s ALWAYS possible (easy, even) to link a body of personal data back to its owner.
- Facebook is continuing to signal that it intends to fight to the death over any moves that threaten to dismember its empire. Yesterday it says it filed motions to dismiss antitrust lawsuits brought by the FTC and State Attorneys General. “Antitrust laws are intended to promote competition and protect consumers. These complaints do not credibly claim that our conduct harmed either. Relying on a market definition that doesn’t make sense, these cases attempt a do-over – challenging acquisitions cleared by the FTC years ago, after enormous investment by Facebook to make them into the apps people enjoy today,” thunders a Facebook blog from December. Yeah, yeah. We’ve heard it all before. You achieved a dominant position by simply being better than your competitors and giving your users what they want. But maybe it’s time just being a dominant player is seen as illegal in its own right? Dangerous driving is still a crime even when no deaths are caused.
- DSPs looking to provide streaming services for video games, augmented reality, eSports and so on, might be well advised to take note of what, with hindsight, might be the least surprising lifestyle change brought about by Covid and lockdown. According to Limelight Networks’ latest ‘State of Online Gaming 2021’ report, almost one third of UK females started playing video games through the lockdown. In fact UK females (at 30%) overtook UK males (at 21%). And it’s not just a girl/boy thing. The same research also found that there had been a boom in ‘grey gamers’. The over 60s have flocked to the screens also due to lockdown boredom and a desire to make new friends online.
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While Persona 5 is in development and is scheduled for release in 2015, the Persona 3 and Persona 4 merchandise keeps rolling out in the meantime.
Anime News Network reports that Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is getting two new manga series this year. One will be published titled Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth – Side:P3. The other, predictably, will be titled Side:P4.
Both manga will be published in the pages of Kodansha’s Bessatsu Shounen Magazine. Side:P3 will make its debut in the March issue of the magazine, which will be released on February 9th in Japan.


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Levelling off or still falling?
It has been quite a month for the forecasters. Not the weather forecasters mind you – although the winter weather that has sprinkled the UK and parts of Europe with a fresh dusting of snow will no doubt have kept them busy too – but rather the market forecasters. With ETRMA reporting that tyre unit sales fell off a cliff last year, Conti saying the market is likely to bottom out in 2013 and with other analysts predicting 2013 will be a good year for tyre retailers, what is on the horizon for the next 12 months?
Basically, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturer’s Association reported that after two consecutive years of modest growth in total tyre unit sales, European tyre makers experienced double digit drops in sell-in demand virtually across the board in 2012. While previous market growth can be qualified by the fact that the increases came despite a decrease of ETRMA member market share, it is clear that the economic crisis is far from being over (see Company News for more on this). This meant that all major tyre segments were negatively affected, with the biggest fall affecting replacement truck tyres (-19 per cent), followed by consumer replacement tyres (-13 per cent). Furthermore demand for winter tyres was described as “saturated” resulting in a drop of 20 per cent in 2012.
This somewhat depressing news is supported by Michelin’s most recent market trend figures which suggest tyre sell-in unit volumes were weak both in December 2012 and the year as a whole. European light vehicle replacement sales, specifically, continued to slip (-7 per cent), despite falling 19 per cent year—on–year in December 2011. Overall this is being interpreted as a response to a poor winter tyre season.
However, it may not all be doom and gloom. In parallel with previewing its 2012 full-year financial results Continental AG executives suggested that this the could all be the tail end of the decline. Some may see it as somewhat optimistic, but their view suggests that the decline in European market demand will “bottom out” soon. But that is not to say that it is all over. Instead Conti’s view is that the European markets will only be down by around two per cent more than current levels by the time we reach full-year 2013.
This view would seem to be in line with the analysis espoused by third-party market analysts GfK. Their UK market data for the first nine months of the year highlighted a similar trend. Comparing the latest two moving annual totals GfK sees a market that is 3.7 per cent down. However, comparing the latest two year-to-date figures up to September 2012, the situation looks brighter and the market is a better 2.6 per cent down. Or in other words the pace of decline is slowing.
What about the sharp end?
However, while all these different views on what has been taking place in the market are all valuable, they are of course limited. Naturally they are all retrospective so, with the best will in the world, cannot claim to represent what will happen next, but rather give an indirection of the direction things are heading. By definition, these figures tell us more about the relationship between tyre manufacturers and the market than sales of tyres to end-users. Therefore there is a paucity of prognostications when it comes to retail/sell-out outlook.
For its part Plimsoll Publishing’s latest report goes some way to filling this gap and is even more positive than the variety of sell-in projections observed. The company’s Tyre Dealers Analysis states that 190 UK tyre retail businesses are showing growth as high as 15 per cent compared to the average growth of just over five per cent. Apparently these “elite” companies are driving up their productivity. In general, they are said to be 25 per cent more efficient than the industry average, averaging over £266,000 sales per employee. Something else the report points out is that the largest companies are increasing sales fastest. Typically larger companies are seeing sales increases of almost 11 per cent.
However, it must be said that the Plimsoll analysis is based on past financial performance of companies and not necessarily trends affecting the market factors that precipitate improvement or otherwise. Therefore predictions about the performance of the companies are based on their relative fiscal strength rather than their ability to increase sales or gain market share. Nevertheless the suggestion that certain companies are growing quicker and are investing in growth strategies in order to achieve this stands as a point in and of itself and – balanced with other market perspectives – is an interesting take on what may take place this year.
So where does that leave us? Any further forward? A little. While the question: “is the market levelling off or still falling?” remains to be answered, there are signs that the decline is slowing and that optimism is gradually increasing. Whether these turn out to be so-called green-shots of recovery only time will tell.


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LifeProof Press Releases
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung expands the Galaxy lineup with stunning new devices and continues to add advanced technology, packing in a brand-new camera with 8K video technology and Space Zoom in Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra. LifeProof helps guard your Galaxy with NËXT, a case ready for every adventure on the slopes, through the city or in the backyard.
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NËXT is drop tested up to 6.6 feet (two meters) and keeps out dirt and snow with built-in port and speaker guards so Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra are always protected. A raised, beveled edge keeps the screen safe from front-facing drops. NËXT also offers a slim profile with a clear back and colorful bumper to show off the device in minimalist fashion without compromising protection.
LifeProof NËXT is available today for $79.99 MSRP. For more information, visit lifeproof.com.
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