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Ubisoft and Blue Byte announced a reboot to The Settlers series of city building and strategy games back in 2018, but the project never materialized in 2020 as planned. Today, the company gave a fresh look at the reboot while also attaching a new launch date to it, and it's not that far off. The Settlers is hitting PC on March 17, more than 10 years after the previous entry. Catch the new gameplay trailer above.
Like the in the original games, The Settlers will have players claiming land, building cities, growing a medieval economy, and even fighting rivals. Both a story-driven campaign and multiplayer (both head-to-head and co-op) are included in the package. The title is being developed on the Snowdrop engine much like the upcoming Splinter Cell.
This time there are three factions to choose from: The Elari, the Maru, and the Jorn. Each faction has its own home biome, abilities, architecture, and military units. Developer Blue Byte is taking inspiration from The Settlers III and IV to expand on the game's economy and military development by adding Engineers. These are a new civilian unit that can be directly commanded to discover deposits, build structures, expand borders, and more instead of utilizing automated workers.
“It's not about changing, it's about evolving,” creative director Christian Hagedorn says. “Settlers III and IV had all of these specialists that used to do one task, but you needed to have 20 units for each of those. You needed to have 20 geologists, 20 pioneers, 20 robbers. We have put them all together into the Engineer, which has enabled the players to pay a lot more attention to what they can do.”
Maps will also feature Landmarks, a special kind of new locations such as mysterious ruins and caches spread across maps that can only be accessed by Engineers for gaining bonuses by trading in a set number of resources.
The combat side of things is getting major upgrades too. Blue Byte is including modern RTS elements like waypoints, group splitting, ambushing with chokepoints, siege elements, and more to unit management too. While combat won't be the main focus of the campaign, it sounds like Ubisoft wants the multiplayer side to be more action-packed and tactical.
The Settlers is coming to PC on March 17. The Ubisoft+ subscription is also providing access to the full experience at launch. A closed beta will be kicking off later this month, slated to run from January 20 to 24. Head here to sign up for that.
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5 Reasons Bitcoin Popularity Continues To Soar In Nigeria
Nigeria ranks at No-23 in trading Bitcoin, according to estimates gathered from various sources. By the end of 2017, Nigerians traded around US$5 million per week through Bitcoin. The figure may appear small compared to Bitcoin traded in the USA and Europe or parts of Asia. However, for an African nation, this distinction is rather unique: it indicates economic and political stability alongside technological advances. According to various reports, Bitcoin users in Nigeria have grown exponentially- by over 1,000 percent since 2013 when the crypto-currency first arrived in the sub-Saharan country of Africa. Though debates rage over how and when Bitcoin arrived in Nigeria, it is widely believed the crypto-currency was popularized by a scammer running a Ponzi scheme. While thousands of Nigerians lost hard-earned money trying to get a few Satoshi if not Bitcoin, the scam helped people understand how crypto-currencies work, the significance of the Blockchain, and pros and cons of investing. There are other reasons too why Bitcoin popularity continues to soar in Nigeria.
Non-Government Organizations & Groups
One of the reasons for Bitcoin’s popularity to soar in Nigeria is the presence of several NGOs and groups in the country. For example, NGOs like Cryptographic Development Initiative in Nigeria (CDIN), among others, continue to educate ordinary Nigerians about the benefits of Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies. Simultaneously, several Blockchain groups have emerged in Nigeria after the Bitcoin scam, called MMM or Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox impoverished thousands of citizens. These groups maintain vigil over cryptocurrency trading in the country. They serve as vigilantes and alert people about potential fraud. Nigeria is a great example where Blockchain users, Bitcoin investors, and law enforcement authorities work jointly to prevent scams involving cryptocurrency.
Oil Based Economy
In recent years, Nigeria’s otherwise strong oil-based economy has run into severe doldrums. The slide was triggered in 2008–2009 when the global recession set in. Unfortunately, Nigeria continues to experience this recession to date, despite some recovery in 2012- 2013. Today, US$1 trades for nearly 360 Nigerian Naira, which is causing concern among a lot of wealthy Nigerians. Unable to trade Naira in the open market, Nigerians are forced to sell them at lower rates to willing foreigners in exchange for US Dollar, Euro, Japanese Yen, and other currencies. For such Nigerians, Bitcoin presents an ideal way to trade Naira for something that will be accepted worldwide. Bitcoin is independent of any government regulations. It is a borderless currency. Hence, buying and selling in Bitcoin is easy for Nigerians. It protects them from future vagaries the Naira may face.
Given the size and population of the country, Nigeria perhaps has the highest number of Bitcoin exchanges anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa. A majority of these offer state-of-the-art services for selling or buying Bitcoin: they are connected to the Blockchain and can conduct transactions fairly quickly. These brick-and-mortar establishments have instilled confidence among Nigerians that Bitcoin is here to stay and flourish. Nigerians view these Bitcoin exchanges as avenues for investment. They are eager to invest in anything that ensures financial stability for their family and self. And Bitcoin serves this purpose.
Though Nigeria’s national economy shows excellent signs of recovery, highly qualified and skilled professionals from the country, especially from the oil sector, are working elsewhere. These professionals remit money home for the family to meet daily expenses. However, fears over the future of the economy linger. Consequently, a large number of expatriate Nigerians are prompting their families back home to invest in Bitcoin rather than Naira-based savings schemes. Despite the prevailing high price of Bitcoin, they find saving in this crypto-currency is safer. It can be traded from anywhere in the world. Despite occasional downslides, Bitcoin has a remarkable history of recovery.
The Craze for High Returns
Similar to citizens of any developing country of the age, size, and demographics of Nigeria, people here too look for investment options that provide high returns. They are not attracted by conventional savings products for two reasons: low returns and the economic doldrums that Nigeria is currently witnessing. Given this scenario, Bitcoin serves as an ideal option. Investments in Bitcoin are found to pay off sooner or later. Since launch in 2009–2010, Bitcoin rates have never slid down for long periods. As mentioned earlier, Bitcoin exhibits an amazing record of recovery. Thus, returns on investments in Bitcoin range between 30 percent and 100 percent, depending upon the price at which Nigerians bought the crypto-currency.
Most Nigerians view Bitcoin as a safe investment capable of providing large returns. With the possibility to earn free Bitcoin and its fraction, Satoshi, millennial Nigerians are exhibiting growing interest in this lucrative crypto-currency of the future. Understandably, Nigeria has been hit occasionally by Bitcoin scams. Despite vigilance by NGOs, Blockchain groups, Bitcoin exchanges, and citizens have ensured the cryptocurrency is left largely unscathed by illegitimate activities. In the coming years, Nigeria has the potential to grow as a major Bitcoin market.
Originally published at https://www.nigeriabitcoincommunity.com on May 21, 2018.

domain: news


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Microsoft is playing all its cards just right—first with the much-awaited Windows 10 release and then, a planned follow up release for Lumia 940 and Lumia 940 XL. One bit of news that has got fans salivating is that the OS version will be made available for free for the … Read the rest
Leaked screen-shot of Xperia Z working on the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop already created an uproar on the internet earlier and now the reports indicate that necessary certifications for the mobile firmware has been finally obtained from PTCRB. Thus, it is expected to be out in the market anytime soon, reported … Read the rest
The much-hyped Samsung Galaxy Tab S is scheduled to be released in June, reports SamMobile. The premium metal materials, which are already used in some of the latest devices of the company are also expected to be found in the upcoming tablet. Well, the company is expected to have some … Read the rest
Ever since we have sniffed the Lumia 640, Microsoft has made it to our fave list. Especially when we could get it at about 130 dollars sans contract, it is more than worthy when pitted against the up market Lumia 735 and 830.
While the plasticy body of the Lumia … Read the rest
As soon as the Lumia 640 XL got on the block, reviewers and gadget freaks have gone ahead to dissect it. On first look, we love the plane jane neat look Microsoft has rendered on the Lumia 640 XL. However, the candy matte orange and cyan impressed us more than … Read the rest
Asus could take on the likes of Apple and thanks to its newest kid– ZenBook UX305– limited edition we can almost vouch for this. In case you need a brain jerker, remember that the original ZenBook UX305 had plucked raving reviews. To begin with, the limited edition has a sexy … Read the rest


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Sponsors act as crowds flock to retail IPOs
03 Feb 2014
For the first time in years retail assets are being lined up for initial public offerings in Europe, and private equity firms look set to benefit. Several private equity-backed businesses have been mooted as flotation candidates this year.
Spanish banks have been compensating for a lack of capital by feeding investors an unhealthy diet of sweet-tasting scrip dividends


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Why Embedded Finance is Fuelling the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) Trend in FinTech
Embedded finance is seeing a swathe of innovation with legacy providers like PayPal giving way to a host of new embedded finance players.
It is estimated that the embedded finance market is expected to increase from $241bn in 2022 to $777bn in 2029, growing at a CAGR of 24% over the next 7 years. However, the explosion in new financial products and services offered to consumers through non-regulated entities is driving greater levels of regulatory scrutiny and intervention, as regulators look to protect consumers.
In this article, we look at the rise of embedded finance and the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) trend, while also reviewing the latest M&A activity and transactions in this space.
The Rise of Embedded Finance and BaaS
The rise of interest in BaaS is undoubtedly the result of the growing embedded finance trend, where many start-ups are being presented with the opportunity of providing other businesses with embedded services, such as buy now, pay later (BNPL) and trade credit insurance.
With a significant rise in the number of end users adopting embedded finance, banks are now being encouraged to launch BaaS business lines. They are doing so by undergoing their own digital transformations necessary to be competitive in BaaS.
There is no shortage of big players introducing embedded finance solutions. JP Morgan, for example, is looking to dedicate a $12 billion tech budget to embedded banking services, while their rival Goldman Sachs recently announced their own banking-as-a-service portal for developers.
Embedded Finance M&A
This year saw a huge surge in M&A activity in the banking software industry, with (to name a few) The Sage Group acquiring Mateo Cloud, a savings and loan software provider, Gupshup acquiring conversational AI BaaS platform Active Intelligence, and Trustly Group acquiring financial data and payments platform, Ecospend Technologies.
In the last two years, we have seen many technology-enabled financial services firms continue to grow their market shares and product offerings through embedded finance M&A. Embedded finance startup Rupifi, is the latest example of a growing interest by investors in the space, having just completed a $25 Mn Series A funding round.
The first quarter of 2022 saw over 142 M&A transactions take place in the Financial Technology sector, with banking software accounting for the most deals (20%) followed by payments (17%). There were many transactions in the embedded finance and payments sector, including PSCU’s acquisition of Juniper Payments, a provider of SaaS-based interbank transaction and reporting systems for financial institutions, and TokenEx’s acquisition of electronic payment software solutions provider Auric Systems International.
We have also seen the consolidation of domestic payment service providers, including Worldline’s acquisition of Ingenico for $7.8 billion, in a bid to become Europe’s new world class leader in payment services.
The Future of Embedded Finance
With the global market for payment gateways projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 16.43% to reach a total of $42.9Bn by 2026, embedded finance is set to revolutionise payments and broaden the horizons of innovation within the financial services sector.
New and innovative payment solutions are revolutionising the payment landscape for consumers and businesses alike. In banking, embedded finance is becoming an integral part of many non-traditional financial services, while for many it will soon become the new norm.
Embedded finance represents a massive new opportunity enabling companies to offer digital financial services. M&A will prove critical to Financial Technology businesses’ ability to become undisputed market leaders in the embedded finance space.
Want to find out more about recent M&A activity in the Financial Technology sector? View and download our latest Q2 FinTech M&A Review here.
Author: Chris Brooke
Highly-experienced M&A advisor with a particular emphasis in the Fintech sector, market data and analytics including ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) software and data globally; assignments include working with leading privately held and listed businesses covering the Fintech, market data and ESG spectrum. In my career spanning more than 25 years, I have advised on Fintech M&A transactions in over 17 countries throughout the world. I work with both buyers and sellers of businesses in Fintech.
I held senior positions in business and corporate development, marketing, and product management in several Fintech companies prior to Goldenhill.
If you are an owner or senior executive of a Fintech business interested to discuss how M&A could help you accomplish your objectives – please get in touch.


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Thomas Cook cuts staff and pay
THOMAS Cook is axing 1,500 UK staff and imposing pay cuts of up to 15% on nearly all of its 12,500 employees, the Evening Standard has learned.
The tour operator and travel agent has told employee representatives that, as a result of the sharp fall in tourists since 11 September, all remaining workers earning more than £10,000 a year will have 3% to 15% lopped off their salaries. The cuts will hit staff of all levels.
Last week Thomas Cook, jointowned by Germany's Lufthansa airline and department stores group KarstadtQuelle, announced 2,600 job cuts across its 30,000-strong European workforce. But Jo Twite, of the Transport and Salaried Staffs' Association, was angry at the scale of the impact on UK workers. 'Not only are they faced with the threat of redundancy but they are asked to take less in their pay packets. Most people in the retail shops do not earn much in the first place.' And there was no guarantee that remaining jobs were safe, she added.
Thomas Cook, which hopes the cuts across Europe will keep profits at around the previous year's level of £100m, expects only 600 of the British redundancies to be voluntary.
The cuts are the latest blow for the tourism industry. First Choice Holidays is axing 1,100, while Airtours plans to axe 2,000 jobs, at least 350 in the UK. British Airways wants to axe 5,200 staff, while Virgin Atlantic and BMI British Midland are cutting 1,200 and 600.
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A quarter of business leaders want training in how to deal with Brexit, according to new research from Hitachi Capital Business Finance. Anna Tobin reports
A study of leaders of SMEs across the UK by Hitachi Capital Business Finance has found 69% are planning on going back to ‘school’ next year to improve their skills. Leaders in the manufacturing (82%), legal (85%) and transport (73%) sectors were particularly keen on more training.
Digital skills was the top area those canvassed by Hitachi Capital Business Finance wanted to develop; 38% said they were after more skills to improve their knowledge of software, the internet and social media.This figure rose to 51% of leaders in the retail sector, as shops move increasingly online. Marketing and PR was a big consideration for 28% of business leaders.
Brexit business training
A quarter of business leaders are after more professional guidance on the likely impact of Brexit on their business. This was most keenly felt by leaders in the agriculture (27%), real estate (24%), and hospitality (24%) sectors.
“Standing still in a business world as competitive as today for most leaders is simply not an option,” said Gavin Wraith-Carter, managing director of Hitachi Capital Business Finance. “Businesses will all have specific challenges to address as the market shifts and technology evolves. The best way of staying a step ahead of competitors is to invest in skills across the business.
“Set against a period of unprecedented Brexit uncertainty, the fact that four in five businesses are planning to put money in to grow their business in the New Year, is a further indication of their resilience and determination to succeed.”
Top 5 areas of training being sought by SME leaders
|Digital skills (e.g. social media, software skills etc.)||38%|
|Marketing and PR||28%|
|The likely impact of Brexit on my business||25%|
|Tax and legal issues||23%|
|GDPR/ data privacy||15%|


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Almost a month ago on August 19, Samsung Electronics released its highly-anticipated successor to the Galaxy Note 5: the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The Galaxy Note 7 is a huge improvement upon the Galaxy Note 5, which was released in 2015. The Note 7 has a dual-curved screen (so that you can do more, better and faster), a rounded back (so that you can hold the 5.7 inch phone comfortably in your hand while also using the S Pen), and to continue the legacy of previous Galaxy phones, was made water-resistant.
When it was first released, the Note 7 was given relatively good reviews, praising its new features, design, 64GB storage, and its impressive battery life. In spite of its positive reviews, however, the Note 7 has been recalled after multiple reports that the Note 7 can ignite and explode while charging due to a battery cell issue in some units. It has been difficult for Samsung to work out which phones were affected by this issue among the 2.5 million Note 7s sold.
In one report, a Note 7 owner in South Korea told CNNMoney that he had been awoken in the middle of the night when he “smelled something burning.” He had seen small flames on the phone where it had melted. There was also a recent reported incident in the United States on September 7, posted by Reddit user ‘brodesto.’ According to brodesto, his friend had been using the phone when it had started on fire. The phone burned his hand, and he dropped it on a table as it finished burning. Luckily, the user’s injuries were not too intense. Before this incident, there was a similar report from Australia, where an exploding Note 7 caused significant damage in a hotel. In South Carolina, fire officials are inspecting the cause of a house fire that started in a garage, where the owner had a Note 7 charging. There were no injuries and no one was home at the time of the fire.
Samsung claims there have been 35 reported cases, worldwide, of the Note 7 exploding. “There was a tiny problem in the manufacturing process, so it was very difficult to figure out,” said president of Samsung’s mobile business Koh Dong-jin to reporters. “It will cost us so much it makes my heart ache. Nevertheless, the reason we made this decision is because what is most important is customer safety.” Shares in Samsung Electronics have dropped 7% since Monday, September 12.
It will take about two weeks to prepare replacement devices. According to Samsung, the Note 7 has been launched in 10 countries, but with different companies supplying the batteries. Samsung’s recall of the Note 7 comes just a week before the presentation of the new iPhone model from Samsung’s main rival, Apple.
This is how the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt began on September 9: “Tonight’s new warning from the Consumer Products Safety Commission: Power them down, stop charging or using them. ‘When these batteries overheat and burst, the results can be serious.’ The new alert coming less than 24 hours after the FAA warned anyone who flies, keep the phone turned off in flight, don’t charge the batteries on board, and don’t put it in a checked bag.”
“The fear is that this thing may catch fire. And trying to put out lithium battery fire on an aircraft is very, very difficult.” said Greg Feith, a former senior NTSB investigator.
The takeaway from this report: return your Galaxy Note 7 as soon as possible and replace it. Please do not risk keeping your Note 7; the dangers of keeping it outweigh the flashy new features.


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internet regulation against online casinos and others
Due to recent attempts by United States’
politicians aiming to curb the online casinos industry, shares
of online casinos are entering a dangerous period on various
The bill against online casinos is designed to hit online
casinos in the pocket, to “cut the money flow from gamblers to
internet sites by prohibiting the use of credit cards, checks
and fund transfers to be used to settle wagers.”
All of the major online casinos are based in offshore tax
nations where they are able to offer online casinos and online
sports betting sites over the internet to American Internet
Under the Wire Act, the United States Justice Department
considers online casinos to be illegal. The act also does not
allow wagers on “sporting events,” which online casinos allow.
Nevertheless, the act has failed to strictly enforce the
regulation of online casinos. The threat to online casinos still
looms however, but some online casinos executives are taking it
In a recent development, however, the global internet giant Ebay
has invited regulation of online casinos and is backing the
online casinos ban.
Rep. Bob Goodlatte is in the process of pushing through Congress
a bill that would "ban" Internet gambling.
Online auction firm EBay has thrown its support behind
Goodlatte's efforts. Why would an Internet company open its arms
to congressional regulation of the Internet, some have asked?
Some believe that eBay is attempting to win favor with Goodlatte,
who also happens to sit on the Congressional Internet Caucus.
There's probably some truth to that. But there's another, more
likely explanation for eBay selling out the e-commerce world:
Good, old-fashioned protectionism.
First, a brief history lesson from the article:
eBay owns PayPal, the popular, online payment system favored by
millions of auction sites, membership-based, sites, and bloggers.
This wasn't always the case. PayPal was actually founded in the
late 1990s by Peter Thiel and Max Levchin, two
libertarian-minded Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with a
revolutionary vision. Thiel and Levchin saw the potential for
PayPal to grow into a kind of private currency.
The young start-up never materialized. In the end, complying
with the regulators, appeasing the politicians and fighting off
the civil and criminal litigation was too much to bear. Thiel
and Levchin abandoned their vision, and sold PayPal to eBay, a
company with an established Internet presence, an experienced
legal team on staff, and -- to the detriment of PayPal's loyal
customers -- a conciliatory corporate culture.
One of the first things eBay did after acquiring PayPal was to
announce an even more restrictive policy, forbidding customers
from using PayPal for adult-oriented products and services, as
well as "non-adult services whose Web site marketing can be
reasonably misconstrued as allowing adult material or services
to be purchased using PayPal," a move that coincided with the
Bush administration's war on Internet pornography.
So, it seems as if Ebay is looking to protect its own interests,
which go against online casinos.


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September 14, 2012
Ocean Spray is calling both New England and New York fans nationwide to see who would win a tailgating throw down! Now through Sept. 30, fans of these red-zone rivals can submit their cranberry-inspired creations through Ocean Spray’s Facebook page for a chance to win tickets to the Oct. 21 Patriots game.
This is the fourth year the Massachusetts-based cranberry cooperative has hosted the Ultimate Cranberry Tailgating Recipe Contest. This year, fans can pledge allegiance to their native New England or New York team by submitting cranberry-inspired recipes through Sept. 30. Entries will be judged on creativity, use of Ocean Spray product, taste and ease of preparation.
"With an MVP like cranberry it doesn’t matter if you bleed New York green or Patriots blue," said Larry Martin, vice president of marketing at Ocean Spray. "The big, bold taste of cranberry can transform any tailgate dish into something bold and full of flavor."
The recipe contest precedes Ocean Spray’s Fall Harvest Festival at Patriot Place, Saturday, Oct. 13. Festival activities are open to all ages and include a cranberry harvest demonstration at Foxborough's last active cranberry bog, hayrides, pumpkin carving and a farmers' market. Patriot Place's restaurants will also offer a Taste of Patriot Place, with free samples of menu items highlighting New England’s favorite fall fruit, the cranberry.
The grand prize winner will receive two tickets to the Oct. 21 New England Patriots game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., and the winning recipe will be featured in Ocean Spray’s Community Kitchen at www.oceanspray.com.


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The plan is to drive interoperability among maritime platforms globally by developing and adopting common data standards and Application Programming Interface (API) specifications.
The partners are CargoSmart, GTD Solutions representing TradeLens, GeTS and PSA International jointly representing CALISTA, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
“The maritime sector is a global business. Different players in the maritime ecosystem are pursuing digitalisation at varying paces. To truly reap the benefits of effective information exchange, we need to move beyond digitising single nodes in the maritime supply chain. MPA and our partners have taken the first step with this MOU. We hope that more will join us in linking up ships, port authorities and platform providers into a seamless digitalOCEANSTM to facilitate port-to-ship connectivity and efficient trade transactions across the globe,” said Niam Chiang Meng, chairman of MPA.
The MPA’s digitalOCEANSTM initiative is where individual data platforms of port authorities, port operators, shipping lines, logistics companies and platform providers can exchange data and interoperate through a common set of APIs.
MPA believes that the MOU to drive interoperability is timely as port authorities have developed or are developing maritime single windows to implement IMO’s Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic to facilitate the electronic exchange of information for port clearance.
“Covid-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains on a scale never seen before. As the backbone of global trade, the maritime sector has to evolve to meet the challenges of a new normal economy. Digitalisation, decarbonisation and adaptation to new global trade order are issues that have to be addressed by the industry,” Niam said.


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US-based fast food restaurant McDonald’s has reopened two restaurant locations in war-hit Ukraine, according to an Interfax-Ukraine report.
On 16 May 2023, the fast food chain started operations at its restaurants in Kremenchuk and Poltava.
The two restaurants will resume operations amid expanded security rules that will allow restaurant staff to swiftly complete all processes and shut the stores to get to the shelter in the event of an air alert.
Initially, the two restaurants will only serve their main dishes and permit a limited number of visitors to allow staff to better practice evacuation procedures.
In September 2022, McDonald’s reopened its Kyiv location, its first reopening since the Russian invasion, which started in February 2022.
In December of the same year, McDonald’s reopened its restaurant in Bucha, Ukraine, which was damaged in March 2022.
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The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has also impacted McDonald’s Russian operations.
As a result, the fast food restaurant company divested its business to Alexander Govor, who has been its licensee since 2015.
Govor agreed to purchase the entire McDonald’s restaurant portfolio and operate them under a new brand.


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Honor 5X headed to Europe February 4
The latest affordable mid-range smartphone from Huawei’s Honor spin-off brand, the Honor 5X, is on its way to Europe in just over a week.
We recently reviewed the Huawei Mate 8, Huawei’s upper-mid-range phablet, but this latest phone belongs to the Chinese company’s younger and funkier Honor brand.
The Honor 5X has a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a quad-core Snapdragon 615 CPU, a 13-megapixel camera, and a fingerprint sensor. All of this is wrapped up in a slick metal design.
Of course, you’ll also have to put up with Huawei’s usual muddled UI, which is a bit of a shame. But hey, there are plenty of decent launchers out there (including Google’s own).
Our friends in the US recently received news of a local release for the 5X, but now we know that it’s coming to Europe too.
Over on Huawei’s official European website, the Honor 5X takes pride of place on the front page. Overlaying it is a countdown time counting down to the afternoon of February 4.
Related: Best cheap phones
There’s no pricing yet, but over in the US the Honor 5X costs just $199 (£140). It’s a bit of a bargain, by all accounts.
Also featured on the VMall website is a promotional offer that gives you a £20 sign-up bonus and £10 off your next Huawei purchase.
For another classy smartphone bargain from China, check out our OnePlus 2 review video:


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A little over a year ago, the hacker group Anonymous hit the Internet with a message from the group that they had cracked the Apple password cracking software.
The group’s message said the password was not meant to be sent by a person but rather by a system called a phishing website.
In a letter to Apple, Anonymous claimed it was sending the password to the hacker in order to provide a way to trick Apple into letting the company decrypt encrypted data.
“As you can imagine, Apple was very upset with us,” a member of Anonymous told Apple in February, according to an email released by Apple on Monday.
“We had sent our security team a message in the hope that they would not believe us.
We never believed that they could crack our code and would never let us do it.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.”
They also said that we would not be able to get into their servers and that we were going on a massive campaign to damage the company.”
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Apple’s security team, meanwhile, said the group was “not going to get their hands on our code” and that Apple’s systems “were not compromised” and had “not been compromised.”
The hack prompted a flurry of security updates from Apple, including the release of a fix for the problem.
Apple also patched the phishing site that made the password-cracking script, but it took until May of this year for a second, unrelated fix to appear.
Apple updated its iCloud, a feature that allows users to sync all of their iPhone and iPad data across devices, in August, and introduced new security features in November that make it easier to unlock your iPhone and unlock your iPad.


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Latest Thermographic camera Stories
According to the new report from BCC Research, the global infrared sensor/detector market has grown to $804 million in 2014 from $732 million in 2013.
DALLAS, May 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report, "Thermal Imaging Market by Solutions (Hardware, Software, Services), by Applications (Surveillance
The US Environmental Protection Agency requires Flare Stack operators to monitor pilot flame activity 24//7/365 and keep records.
Accuracii XRU Long Range Multi-Sensor Camera Systems Provide Cost Effective Border Surveillance KARMIEL, Israel, May 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Opgal Optronic Industries
LONDON, April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Middle East & Africa (MEA) IR detector market is estimated to achieve revenues of $20.9 million by 2019.
LONDON, April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The South American Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) market is estimated to register a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period.
ARLINGTON, Va., April, 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DRS Technologies, Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced today that its highly anticipated 10-micron pixel pitch infrared detector has been successfully
SARASOTA, Fla, April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Maxtech International, Inc.
PITTSBURGH, April 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- ChemImage Sensor Systems (CISS(TM)) announced the launch of their newest product the VeroVision(TM) Mail Screener, which utilizes real-time
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The global short wave IR market report defines and segments the concerned market in the region with analysis and forecast
- To befool; deceive; balk; jilt.
- An illusion; a trick; a cheat.


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Several products containing Soda-Lo - which Tate & Lyle has just launched on a global basis - are now on sale in the US, said a spokesman.
However, he could not name names owing to confidentiality agreements.
It is not ideal for broths, drinks or cured meats
While Soda-Lo is particularly well-suited to topical applications such as potato chips, tests show it can help firms cut salt by 25-50% in a wide range of applications, he added.
He added: “Soda-Lo is ideally suited for food application systems in which water is immobilized by inherent solids, added starches or other hydrocolloids. It is not ideal for broths, drinks or cured meats.
“Tate & Lyle’s global network of application centers has been working with Soda-Lo to better understand how it functions in various food products in order to assist manufacturers.
“Tate & Lyle has been developing several ready-to-use recipes made with Soda-Lo including bread, peanuts and microwave popcorn and has conducted sensory testing on these products.”
Asked about price, he said: “Soda-Lo is cost competitive with other sodium replacement ingredients.”
Soda-Lo can be listed as ‘salt’ on food labels
Soda-Lo is engineered using a patent-pending process that re-crystallizes standard table salt to create free-flowing, microscopic hollow balls, which deliver an intense salty hit on the taste buds.
It also offers formulators a distinct advantage over other sodium reduction strategies as it can be listed as ‘salt’ on food labels, said Tate & Lyle, which will be showcasing the product at the Supply Side West show in Las Vegas next month.
Andy Hoffman, Director of Health and Wellness Innovation, Tate & Lyle, said: "Having a salt reduction alternative that’s made from real salt and delivers on that taste expectation could be the first step towards breaking that link in people’s minds that a low-salt product is a bland one."
Why small is beautiful
It is well-known that the smaller the crystals, the higher the salt perception. However, simply grinding salt to make the particles smaller does not deliver as the tiny particles quickly lose their free-flowing properties and stick together.
By contrast, Soda-Lo has been engineered using a patented process by its inventor Dr Stephen Minter that re-crystallizes salt to create free-flowing, microscopic hollow balls that at 5-10 microns are a fraction of the size of standard salt (c.200-500 microns).
Exclusive global tie up
In the UK, where Soda Lo was first introduced, the biggest successes have been in the bread and bakery sector, but extensive trials have also been conducted with cheese, vegetarian sausages, crisps, sauces, soups, breakfast cereals, muffins, pizza bases, rice snacks and bakery premixes.
The results in bread have been particularly encouraging, enabling plant bakers to cut salt by more than 80% without impacting volume, texture or weight and increase shelf-life as the tiny salt crystals cross-link gluten in dough more effectively, helping to lock in moisture.
Tate & Lyle licensed Soda-Lo from Eminate Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of The University of Nottingham, UK, to commercialize it globally. Under the license agreement, Tate & Lyle assumes responsibility for commercializing the technology on a global basis including manufacturing, product development, sales and marketing.


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August 3rd, 2023
Barbie's marketing success redefines brand awareness
The Barbie movie was set up for success even before it launched in theatres, but how? It all comes down to a little something called creating mob hysteria.
Very few names hold as much power and recognition as Barbie. For decades, the iconic doll has captured the hearts of children and adults alike, establishing a strong emotional connection with its target audience. Mattel, the company behind Barbie, has consistently demonstrated an innovative approach to marketing this household name, and the hype created around the recent Barbie movie is definitely no exception.
Let’s explore how the Barbie marketing team has redefined brand marketing through strategic techniques that helped the film exceed all projections, grossing an impressive $155 million during its opening weekend in domestic markets and an additional $182 million internationally.
Strong brand recognition and emotional connection
With an instantly recognisable silhouette and timeless charm, Barbie enjoys unmatched brand recognition across the globe. Generations of individuals have grown up playing with Barbie dolls, and as a result, many parents are now eagerly passing the nostalgia and fond memories associated with the brand on to their children. Capitalising on this emotional connection has proven to be a strategic masterstroke. By evoking childhood memories and incorporating them into their marketing efforts, Mattel succeeded in engaging not only the new generation but also the parents who, in turn, have become active advocates of the newly released movie.
What stands out for brand strategist Moshe Isaacian is how much of the promo around the film has savvily drawn on “what makes Barbie and the movie iconic,” he tells Vox. “It’s been appealing to the gamers, it’s been appealing for people who like collecting stuff for their home, people who love skating, and shoes.”
The true allure lies in the hyper-surreal fantasy that surrounds the world of Barbie. In this perfect realm, a doll effortlessly transitions between various careers, surrounded by countless friends, and seemingly defying gravity with her feet never quite touching the ground. Each new piece of Barbie promotion invites us to ponder: What if this extraordinary world were real and attainable?
Strategic partnerships and collaborations
In the past couple of months, the world as we know it has turned pink. Recognising the potential of strategic partnerships, we’ve seen Mattel joining forces with an endless list of popular brands and media to extend the Barbie movie's reach.
From collaborations with Gap, luggage brand Beis, and a capsule collection with trainer brand Superga, to an extensive collection of makeup and skincare sets, the pink-wave seems never-ending. Furniture brand Joybird offers Barbie Dreamhouse-inspired seating for your home, and even in Brazil, there's a limited-edition Barbie cheeseburger from Burger King with a strikingly pink sauce.
Integrated marketing strategies
To reach the widest audience possible, Mattel employed a multi-channel approach that included TV ads, online ads, and social media campaigns. This synergy between different marketing platforms ensured that the Barbie movie garnered significant exposure, generating buzz and anticipation among the target audience wherever they are online. One key example of this is a Progressive Insurance Commericial set in the Barbieverse. Take a look below.
In addition to traditional advertising methods, Mattel tapped into the power of influencers and content creators to amplify its marketing efforts. By partnering with individuals who held significant influence over their followers, the brand harnessed the power of social proof, thereby reaching even more potential viewers.
You can also Google any keywords related to the film, and watch the search engine’s typically staid colours turn pink, with pink sparkles raining down the screen. Another key standout moment in the ongoing campaign includes Barbie and Ken on their neon rollerblades, which went viral shortly after the set photos got leaked. Afterwards, an army of rollerbladers wearing those exact skates promoted the movie at New York City Pride this year.
Embracing inclusivity and diversity
We all know that movies have a huge impact on shaping young minds and how they perceive the world. Well, Mattel recognised this need for evolution and took decisive steps to modernise the Barbie brand. One of the most impactful moves was promoting messages of inclusivity and diversity. In doing so, Mattel challenged outdated stereotypes and presented a more inclusive vision of beauty and empowerment.
In the past, Barbie has faced criticism for promoting unrealistic beauty standards, but the Barbie movie shows the iconic doll evolving to become more inclusive and diverse than ever before, by featuring diverse characters and embracing a wide range of backgrounds and identities. This shift in messaging not only attracts new viewers but also earns admiration and loyalty from those who feel represented and empowered.
Speaking to Time magazine, Barbie actress, Margot Robbie, said: "If (Mattel) hadn’t made that change to have a multiplicity of Barbies, I don’t think I would have wanted to attempt to make a Barbie film. I don’t think you should say, ‘This is the one version of what Barbie is, and that’s what women should aspire to be and look like and act like’"
Leveraging social media
In the era of social media, brands have a unique opportunity to directly engage with their audience, and Mattel seized this chance to create anticipation and excitement for the Barbie movie. Through active interactions on various social platforms, the brand fostered a sense of community and encouraged organic content, including memes.
One significant catalyst for the online buzz is the coincidental release of Christopher Nolan's gritty biopic, "Oppenheimer," about the creator of the atomic bomb, on the same day as Barbie. This unexpected pairing has led to a flurry of jokes and playful rivalry discussions on social media. People have playfully debated the ideal itinerary for the ultimate moviegoing experience this summer: the Barbie-Oppenheimer Double Feature. It prompts us to ponder whether Barbie's current online popularity and meme-worthy status would be as prevalent without this situational irony.
The beauty of Barbenheimer is the juxtaposition of our nostalgia for both sides of the American 1950s aesthetic. — Sam ⏳ (@futurenomics) July 17, 2023
Conspicuous consumption and nuclear annihilation. pic.twitter.com/YNj2lkzVVj
Utilising User-Generated Content (UGC)
A few months ago, a Barbie selfie generator took the internet by storm. Powered by AI, this innovative tool allows users to insert themselves into marketing posters alongside a suggested Barbie-like catchphrase, such as "This Barbie is a boss." Moreover, users can customise the catchphrase to suit their preferences, adding a personal touch to their Barbie-inspired creations.
For brands, user-generated content (UGC) has become an invaluable resource in establishing a stronger connection with their target audience. Mattel successfully leveraged UGC to foster a more authentic relationship with consumers, crafting compelling stories that resonated with them both organically, and on multiple levels.
The Barbie campaign was particularly well-suited for UGC due to the iconic Barbie brand itself. The association with the colour pink and the allure of Barbieland easily captured the imagination of social media users. With the added ease of AI image generation tools, people eagerly embraced the opportunity to join in on the excitement.
At a glance
The success of the Barbie movie, along with the pre-launch excitement it generated, undoubtedly demonstrates Mattel's innovative and adaptable approach to brand marketing. While not all brands may have an endless budget, it is essential to delve into the core elements that made Barbie's marketing so exceptional. By embracing nostalgia, promoting inclusivity, utilising social media, and forging strategic partnerships, Mattel tapped into the essence of human attention.
The Barbie movie stands as a shining illustration of the potency of compelling storytelling and well-rounded marketing strategies in captivating global audiences—even before the movie's release—and achieving brand success in an increasingly digital era.


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Divesting its stake in the MLC Centre would see GPT’s exposure to the Sydney office market initially reduce to 60 percent from 65 percent. It would increase its weighting to Melbourne from 30 percent to 34 percent.
Dexus, which owns the other half share, has pre-emptive rights to buy GPT’s stake, making them a likely purchaser.
The value of GPT’s stake in the Martin Place property grew by 5.2 per cent to about $763 million in the second half of 2018, the group announced in December.
Built in 1978, the MLC Centre, designed by Harry Seidler, is one of the most well-known commercial buildings in Sydney.
The A-grade office and retail complex is made up of more than 66,829 sqm of office space and 6000 sqm of retail across 67 levels.
It also houses one of Sydney’s oldest theatrical institutions Theatre Royal, as well as 308 car spaces.
The building’s significantly upgraded food court, coupled with extensive re-leasing activity in the past five years, has boosted the asset’s income profile for future owners.
The property has a vacancy rate of about 8 per cent.
GPT’s chief executive officer Bob Johnston said the group plans to reinvest funds from the sales into its new office tower at 32 Smith Street, Parramatta, and a planned new office development at its Melbourne Central shopping centre.
“The Sydney CBD office market has experienced significant rental growth and cap rate compression over the past five years, and the group’s successful repositioning of the asset has generated exceptional returns for GPT,” he said.
“The group will also continue to seek new logistics development opportunities following the completion of a number of successful developments over the past two years.”
The divestment of the MLC Centre is expected to be broadly neutral to earnings for the group in 2019 before any reinvestment of the sale proceeds.
The property has 71 tenants - the largest being Sparke Helmore and the GPT Group - with a weighted average lease of 4.3 years by income.
Cover Photo: The 67-storey MLC Centre is an iconic office tower in Sydney’s Martin Place. (Photo: Dexus)


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India’s millennial generation is bigger than China’s or the U.S., which will boost the nation’s labor force to the world’s largest by 2027, according to a Bloomberg News analysis of United Nations population-projection data. India’s working-age population is expected to expand to 18.6 percent of the global labor force by 2027, up from 18 percent this year, while China’s is forecast to fall to 18.3 percent from 20.5 percent, the data show. The number of people in China aged 15 to 64 will drop by 21 million to 989.4 million. In India, this number is expected to exceed 1 billion. Millennials are “the key demographic segment in India’s population and labor force,” according to a research report by Morgan Stanley. “India’s strikingly young population is in sharp contrast to that of other large economies such as China, the U.S., and Europe.” India’s millennial population is larger than China’s or the U.S.’, according to Morgan Stanley, which defines the group as between the ages 18 and 35 years. The population in that youngest worker age bracket will continue to rise in India, the researchers note, even as it contracts in the U.S. and China.
In fact, China’s overall labor force will decline by 21 million people, followed by an 8.2 million-worker drop in Russia and a decrease of 5 million in Japan over the next decade, the new data show. The U.S. will hold onto the distant No. 3 spot, shrinking to 4 percent of the world’s labor force from 4.3 percent over the next 10 years. Indonesia is projected to come in at No. 4, and Brazil will round out the top five with 2.8 percent. Today, half of the world’s labor force lives in India, China, the U.S., Indonesia and Brazil, but in 30 years, the global labor force will become less concentrated as India, Pakistan and African nations make up a growing share of the pie. Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to account for more than one-in-five workers globally by 2047.


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ALAMEDA — The city may create a fund of up to $600,000 to provide grants or zero-interest loans to small businesses to help keep them afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic.
City Manager Eric Levitt told an online town hall meeting for local merchants and business owners Thursday that he planned to recommend the City Council approve launching a fund when it meets on Tuesday.
Businesses with 25 or fewer employees could apply, Levitt said.
“This is about how do we come out of this as a strong community,” said Alameda Vice Mayor John Knox White, who chaired the town hall, which attracted nearly 100 viewers.
The grant program would use money from the city’s general fund and other money currently earmarked to assist businesses at Alameda Point or to support businesses with façade improvements. It would provide up to 80 grants at a maximum of $7,500 each to local small businesses to help them with emergency working capital, according to city officials.
The announcement of the possible program came the same day that a similar program was announced in San Leandro, where grants of up to $5,000 are available to help small businesses struggling with an economic hit because of the health crisis.
Grants of up to $5,000 are also now available in Oakland.
In addition, on Thursday Hayward announced two start-up grants have been pledged to the city’s community relief fund to support and help sustain the coronavirus response initiatives.
East Bay Community Energy, a nonprofit of Alameda County cities and Alameda County to supply residents and businesses with electricity from cleaner sources, pledged $126,500 to the fund. The Stupski Foundation, a San Francisco foundation that primarily funds organizations in the Bay Area and Hawaii that address food security, early brain development and serious-illness care, pledged $300,000.
Along with small businesses, money from Hayward’s community fund will go toward helping those experiencing loss of earnings without paid sick leave or access to unemployment benefits, as well as to continue community-based coronavirus testing services.
Levitt said other possibilities to help Alameda business owners might include delaying collection of the city’s annual business license fee for 60 days, which in the city is 40 cents per $1,000 of gross receipt or gross payroll, as well as the collection of the transit occupancy tax, which is added to the bill of hotel visitors. Currently, the tax’s rate is 10 percent and it generated about $1.6 million annually before the shelter in place began.
Another possibility would be to establish temporary zoning rules for businesses providing essential goods to Alameda residents,including allowing restaurants to sell to-go alcoholic beverages and food-related businesses to stay open until 2 a.m., Levitt said.
During the town hall, visitors posted questions or comments in a chat format, which Knox White scanned, reading some aloud and offering answers with Levitt.
Jennifer Ong said she liked that Alameda was about to consider a grant program for small businesses, while Sandy Russell asked if the city would support a marketing plan to help businesses when they reopened.
Knox White said he was open to the idea and suggested owners contact the city, which already has set up a webpage listing Alameda restaurants that are serving take-out during the health crisis.
“I am worried about short-term strategies to work with the long-term survival of businesses like the Alameda Theatre & Cineplex,” wrote Barbara Mooney. “I can survive short term with lower sales but the loss of something like the movie theater would have a huge long-term effect on Park Street.”
Elie Zgheib asked if Alameda was going to make wearing masks or face covers mandatory when in public places.
On Thursday, Fremont announced that all employees and customers of many essential businesses are now required to wear masks or face coverings, making it the first Bay Area city to take such a step.
Levitt said there were no immediate plans for a similar action in Alameda. “But I would not be surprised if we go in that direction,” he said.
A second Alameda town hall to update merchants and business owners is set for 2 p.m. April 21. A link to join the meeting will be posted on the city’s website, www.alamedaca.gov.
Deadline to apply for grants in San Leandro is 5 p.m. on April 27. Email email@example.com for information.
For questions about Oakland’s grant program, contact firstname.lastname@example.org or call 415-780-1217.
Information on receiving assistance in Hayward is available at www.hayward-ca.gov/Covid19resources. People can also call the city’s coronavirus hotline at 510-583-4949.
“The City Council, myself and city staff are very concerned about the well-being of our residents and businesses and the impact on their health and finances,” Knox White said Thursday at the launch of the Alameda town hall.


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The Gossies 2021 are back with a bang, and this year we’re going virtual!
Sponsored by Ireland’s largest sports retailer Life Style Sports, the glitzy awards show will be hosted by TV presenter Lucy Kennedy.
The event will be hosted live on March 6th with our nominees virtually, before the awards is broadcast to the public online on March 7th.
So you can catch the winner’s speeches, the laughs in between, and all the glitz and glam from the comfort of your own home.
We’ve watched more TV than ever before over the past 12 months, so it’s no surprise we have a long list of nominees in this category.
From our favourite talk shows, to Irish dramas that brought us to tears, we were truly spoiled for choice with TV programmes this year.
Voting for the Gossies 2021 is now closed.


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OUYA likely won't be the only Android-based game console in town this spring. PlayJam is going beyond its smart TV roots to build the GameStick, a TV-based system that fits into a shell not much bigger than a typical flash drive -- it's small enough that the finished version should stow inside its own Bluetooth gamepad and draw power from the HDMI port, like Roku's Streaming Stick. The Jelly Bean system's dual-core Amlogic processor isn't as powerful as the Tegra 3 in the OUYA, but it should also lead to a slightly more tempting $79 price. PlayJam's remaining challenge is the familiar one of reaching a crowdfunding target: the company says it needs $100,000 to go through its last development hurdles and ship the production GameStick in April. If the firm makes its goal, however, the low-cost gaming world will be delightfully crowded this year.
Show full PR text
GAMESTICK, THE WORLDS MOST PORTABLE TV GAMES CONSOLE CAMPAIGNS FOR CONSUMER SUPPORT ON KICKSTARTER
Portable Games Console To Bring Affordable Gaming Directly To Your TV Screen
London & San Francisco;January 2nd, 2013; PlayJam,the global platform for casual and social games on Smart TV, launched its Kickstarter campaign today in a bid to bring its dedicated games console - GameStick - to life.
The team behind GameStick hope to accelerate the race to change the face of big screen gaming with the launch of the most portable, affordable, dedicated TV gaming device on the market priced at just $79.
GameStick is a small yet powerful, dedicated games console that plugs directly into a TV's HDMI slot and comes with a fully featured Bluetooth controller - ready to go right out of the box. When on the move, the two combine into a single unit, putting big screen gaming right into the pocket. The device will be compatible with other Bluetooth controllers enabling true multi-player functionality.
"We wanted to create a games console that helped further our overriding mission to bring affordable gaming to the big screen". Says Jasper Smith, CEO PlayJam. "Not only that, we wanted to push the boundaries of what has been achieved up to now bypacking sufficient power into the most portable of devices, enabling users to carry that experience with them wherever they go."
The 30 day Kickstarter campaign launched today with the team at PlayJam looking to raise a minimum of $100,000 to help make GameStick a reality. Supporters of the project can get involved by pledging as little as $10.
"We are currently in a closed Beta phase of development with a working prototype that our guys are using to test some great games. Next comes the final design stage and live testing of both the controller and the games," continues Smith. "We are fortunate to have been able to utilize our existing technology to get us to this point and have preferred manufacturers in place and an existing developer network ready to go. However, to get this project over the line and into full production, we need the support of the backers on Kickstarter."
GameStick will feature a purpose-built game store through which users will be able to browse and download content. The proposition will be powered by PlayJam's existing Games Network for Smart TV which currently supports developers such as Relentless Software, First Star Software, and Disney.
To date, the team has been focused on bringing GameStick to its pre-production phase by finalising hardware design and integrating the back end technology to power the service. They have worked with a small beta group of developers to announce the following initial line-up.
Shadowgun and Dead Trigger
Boulder Dash XL
Hungry Shark, Grabatron and Pool Bar
Quiz Climber and Blue Toad Murder Files
Now that the project is public, the team hopes to work with all Android developers looking to get their games onto the big screen. GameStick's Bluetooth controller uses different modes to allow the gamer to access and play 100's of compatible games directly onto their TV.
"To date, the most accessible route to TV gaming for the consumer has been the traditional games console – this is changing. GameStick gives the thousands of Android developers out there an additional route to bring an affordable big-screen gaming experience direct to their fans. What's more, we wanted to do this via a unique, highly portable device that will enable pure social gaming – by that we mean people sharing great experiences in the same room!" Smith concluded.
To visit the Kickstarter page and pledge your support, please visit: http://kck.st/12SSvMO


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Westfield Registration Campaign, Thursday 20th – Saturday 22nd May 2010
Ten Westfield shopping centres, three days and 5,500 pledges to end Indigenous disparity in Australia through education and training. Continuing their successful approach of personal engagement, Inspire delivered a national Westfield registration drive as part of the launch of not for profit organisation, GenerationOne. – READ MORE
An influx of positive support for the movement was generated by young GenerationOne ambassadors as they helped build momentum for the organisation and the issues they address. The GenerationOne ambassadors were able to engage the public by drawing upon the success stories of everyday Australians captured throughout the Roadshow tour; effectively converting shoppers into supporters of the national movement.
Passersby were asked to pledge their support by completing a hand shaped card, “putting their hands up” for the cause. Inspire designed this brand engagement to give GenerationOne the opportunity to communicate all of the elements of their campaign so far, successfully generating a burst of interest in their brand in the final days of its launch campaign in May 2010.


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by Jharonne Martis.
With 95% of the 204 companies in our Retail/Restaurant Index now having reported their EPS results for Q1 2022 (a total of 189), so far two-thirds, or 68%, announced profits that beat analysts’ expectations. Another 3% of these companies delivered on-target result, while 29% reported earnings that fell below estimates. The Q1 2022 blended earnings growth estimate now stands at -17.0%.
The blended revenue growth estimate for the 204 companies in this index now stands at 10.9% for Q1 2022. Of those companies that have reported their quarterly results so far, 73% announced revenue that exceeded analysts’ expectations and the remaining 27% reported that their revenue fell below analysts’ forecasts.
Source: I/B/E/S data from Refinitiv
This week: Q1 2022 earnings
Affluent consumers seem prepared to continue to spend freely, undeterred by higher prices. The upscale leisurewear chain Lululemon offered more evidence of this. Earlier this year, the retailer announced price increases to help the company blunt the impact of rising raw materials prices. Consumers shrugged this off, and strong demand for new merchandise boosted Lululemon’s sales both in stores and online. The retailer reported a 28.0% SSS increase, higher than the original estimate of a 21.7% SSS gain. While analysts had expected a 15.0% increase in online SSS, Lululemon blew those forecasts out of the water by reporting a 40.0% rise in e-commerce. The firm’s international sales results also were robust, despite the fact that Covid-19 related lockdowns have left as many as a third of its 71 stores in China closed in recent months. The company told analysts that this has had a “modest” impact both on those stores and on vendors.
Even Lululemon’s robust demand couldn’t shield the company completely from the impact of inflation and supply chain issues that are affecting retailers as a group. the strength in demand, the retailer is not immune to inflation and supply chain issues. Lululemon cautioned investors that “ocean lead times are not improving and air freight costs remain high” during the retailer’s earnings call. (Source: Lululemon Earnings Call, June 2, 2022). It’s essential for the retailer to be able to satisfy the demand for new merchandise on the part of its loyal shoppers. That means that they must, however reluctantly, accept the burden of those high air freight expenses. The impact of these expenses is included in their forward guidance, although the company raised expectations for revenue and earnings as a result of strong consumer demand.
Other retailers continue to deliver similar warnings about the impact of rising prices as they reported their earnings for Q1 2022, warning that inflation will serve as a headwind going forward. Of the 189 retailers that already have reported Q1 earnings, 170 referred to inflation concerns and 173 flagged supply chain issues.
Exhibit 2: Same Store Sales and Earnings Estimates–Q1 2022
Last year, retailers faced many supply chain issues. Their inventory was constrained at ...
U.S. Halloween retailing in 2020 and 2021 was spooked by the pandemic. Last year, supply ...
The StarMine team has selected five Russell 1000 companies, using Refinitiv Workspace, ...
The British economy has been rattled by a cost-of-living crisis fuelled by higher energy ...


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HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – XR Brands has announced promotions of four key staff members to top-level positions, including industry veteran Rebecca Weinberg as company President. This announcement coincides with XR Brands’ upcoming 20th anniversary — the team couldn’t be more excited for 2019.
In addition to Weinberg as President, XR Brands has also promoted Gerardo Ramos to Director of Product Development, Joanie Lee to Mass Market & Key Account Sales and Sarai Foster to Senior Account Executive.
Weinberg, Ramos, Lee and Foster have been key players in the ongoing growth and evolution of XR Brands and its vast catalog, and each has played an important role in the development, sale and promotion of new and mainstay product lines. These strategic promotions are timed perfectly for the company’s 20th anniversary.
“The staff and I have worked tirelessly to maximize the brand impact and customer relations of XR Brands and our product lines,” Weinberg said. “I am so proud of the work we have done, and I am thrilled to take on my new role, as well as watch Gerardo, Joanie and Sarai thrive in their new positions. The future is looking bright at XR!”
The XR Brands team are looking forward to celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary in July 2019. More details will be announced soon.
To learn more about XR Brands, please visit http://www.xrbrands.com/ or email email@example.com.


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Mozilla has finally responded to the speculation from various media outlets over the resignation of the company's new CEO, Brendan Eich, following the brief outcry on social media for choosing him.
...of fabulous flagships, Xbox excitement and Microsoft's mobile meltdown
Win a Microsoft Lumia 650 + a 200GB SanDisk microSDXC card!
Amazon Kindle Oasis 3G: the best Kindle that $360 can buy
Windows 10 for PCs build 14352 released to the Fast ring
Your handy guide to all of the phones and tablets running Windows 10 Mobile
windows 10 mobile
Dating site OkCupid has asked its users to boycott Firefox, calling Mozilla's chief executive "an opponent of equal rights for gay couples", as opposition to the CEO's appointment continues to grow.
Half of Mozilla's board resigned specifying concerns over whether or not Brendan Eich, the new Mozilla CEO, is able to push Firefox and Firefox OS into the mobile world.
Staff at the Mozilla Foundation have called upon their new CEO, Brendan Eich, to resign - just days after his appointment - amid controversy surrounding his donations to anti-gay marriage campaigners.


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Dubai-Based Operator to Develop New Ports, Terminals, Economic Zones
Dubai-based global port operator DP World has inked memoranda of understanding worth US$3 billion to develop maritime and logistics infrastructure in India’s western Gujarat state.
The planned investment covers the development of new multipurpose deep-draft ports in South Gujarat and around the state’s western coast towards Kutch, special economic zones in Jamnagar and Kutch, and cargo terminals and private freight stations at Dahej, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bedi and Morbi.
DP World also revealed it had signed an MoU with Gujarat Maritime Board to jointly identify opportunities to develop more ports along the coast of Gujarat.
“We are very committed to India, where we have been operating for nearly 20 years. In that time, we invested almost US$2.5 billion, and we are going to invest more in the next three years in these projects,” said DP World’s chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem.
“The policies of the government and our experience here is what gives us the confidence to do even more in India. We have also been present in Gujarat since 2003 and are proud to have been part of the state’s growth story. We are honored to continue our partnership in the state by committing to strengthening its logistics and maritime infrastructure to further enable trade in Gujarat.”
DP World’s existing assets in Gujarat include a container terminal at Mundra as well as rail-linked private freight terminals at Ahmedabad and Hazira, cold storage facilities in Surat and Bharuch, freight forwarding offices in Ahmedabad and Gandhidham, and express cargo services across the state.
More recently, DP World signed a concession agreement in August with the Deendayal Port Authority to develop, maintain, and operate a new 2.19 million TEU per year mega-container terminal at Kandla in Gujarat.
The Tuna-Tekra terminal, located close to the existing Deendayal Port, one of India’s busiest ports, will cost US$510 million to build, DP World said at the time.
DP World is the host port at Breakbulk Middle East 2024 on 12-13 February at the Dubai World Trade Center. The company will also be exhibiting in the main hall, Stand F10. Reserve your tickets to BBME2024.
TOP PHOTO: DP World’s Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem signs MoUs with Mr. M K Das, additional chief secretary, Government of Gujarat. CREDIT: DP World


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The weather had a huge impact on last week’s freight movements, including some unexpected developments.
Certain secondary markets were used as staging areas for freight that was sidelined by storms. For example, beginning two weeks ago, snow and ice impeded freight flows into the largest metro areas on the East Coast, and loads were diverted to and/or held over in Buffalo, NY.
Then last week, outbound rates skyrocketed from Buffalo, rising 44¢ (23%) per mile to $3.04, according to spot market rates in DAT RateView. The lane rate from Buffalo to Philadelphia added 61¢, and the return trip from Philly dropped 67¢, offsetting the increase in the headhaul rate. Outbound rates from Philadelphia lost 9¢ (4.3%) on average last week.Other lanes were affected as well, including a 21¢ (7.9%) boost on the route from Charlotte to Buffalo, to $2.86 per mile.
You would expect the adverse weather conditions to stop traffic into and out of Buffalo, and that happened too, but not until the beginning of this week. Snow accumulation led to closures of Interstate 90 between Western NY State and the Pennsylvania border on Tuesday, January 7, according to the Weather Channel. Indeed, today’s spot market rates from Buffalo to Philly dropped back to $2.61. This is still a fine rate, but the driving conditions are truly lousy, and pent-up demand may drive the rate back up to $3.04 or thereabouts when the roads are clear again.
Meanwhile, the rate from Philly to Buffalo rocketed up this week, from $2.04 to $2.50, including fuel. That’s because a trip to Buffalo is not all that attractive when your truck could be marooned there. The rate bump is an incentive, to encourage hardy carriers and drivers to take that chance.The rate from Charlotte to Buffalo dropped back to $2.51 this week, however, just below the average rate for December, and well below the $2.86 average that carriers were paid in that lane just last week.
My summary for this week’s rate trend: Tough conditions make for big rate swings. If you can postpone freight movements until the weather improves, you will usually find that “what goes up must come down.”
I was interviewed by DC Velocity last week, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to share some of the same insights with that magazine’s readers that I’ve been posting for you here on the DAT Freight Talk blog. I was also quoted in Forbes, along with David Schrader, DAT’s Senior Vice President of Operations. If you have been following this blog, most of the material in these articles will seem familiar, but it’s still nice to see this kind of validation in the press.
If you have an ongoing interest in truckload freight volume, capacity and rates, check out weekly updates at DAT Trendlines. For a more detailed, deeper dive into rate trends, as well as lane-by-lane rate comparisons and benchmarks, call our sales and support team for a demo of DAT RateView. We are offering a free lane look-up, to give you a better idea of how our data can support your pricing strategies. Call 800-551-8847 or fill out this online form to speak to someone about the product.
I’m enthusiastic about our tools. I wish something like RateView had existed when I was a pricing analyst for carriers, shippers and 3PLs, back in the day. RateView would have saved hours in estimating costs and improving the accuracy of price quotes.


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KID CUDI also enlisted many of today's hottest producers, including Jim Jonsin, Dot Da Genius, Blended Babies, Anthony Kilhoffer, Chuck Inglish, Dot& Cud, along with Dream On label co-principals Plain Pat and Emile Haynie.
KID CUDI celebrated the release of MAN ON THE MOON II-- which is available as a standard CD, a vinyl LP, and a deluxe CD/DVD--with a hugely successful outdoor performance at the Bape Store New York, the downtown clothing boutique where he once held a day job.
KID CUDI is currently connected with 3 million Facebook friends, an incredible 2.
Cleveland, Ohio native KID CUDI (pronounced CUT-ty, with short 'u'), now residing in Brooklyn, New York, is completing his debut album, Man on the Moon: The Guardian, for late summer 2009 release on Dream On/G.
KID CUDI released his first mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, in July, 2008 as a free download sponsored by New York streetwear company 10 Deep, leading to an introduction and signing to Kanye West's G.
In conjunction with the signing ceremony, Carlos Casasus, director general of CUDI and Thomas West, president of CENIC, hosted a joint planning meeting of representatives from their affiliates.
CUDI is a non-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of Mexico with members from the public and private sectors.


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3D-enabled Killzone 3 confirmed
Following up on our earlier projection, Sony has confirmed the existence of Killzone 3 and its support for 3D.
Joystiq has confirmed with GamePro that the magazine's next issue features the third instalment of the gritty first-person shooter. Previously, Sony executive Jack Tretton has hinted at a sequel to GameTrailers TV.
According to GamePro's article, the game's 3D mode requires not only glasses, but a 3D television set too. It's optional, of course, and the game can be played in standard mode without the need for glasses or a 3D display.
Killzone 3 has not be given a release date, but will be exclusive to PlayStation 3. Expect more details next month during E3.
- Resident Evil HD remake gets its first trailer
- Capcom working with Dimps on a what is probably Street Fighter V
- New Titanfall update adds Titan-free combat gameplay mode
- OnLive coming to Philips' new range fo Android-powered smart TVs
- Explore the rest of the solar system with Google's Destiny Planet View
- Dead Or Alive 5: Last Round coming to next-gen consoles
- Voting opens up for GamesAid's charity of 2014
- Nintendo promising a good 2015 with Zelda, Star Fox and Splatoon coming to Wii U
- Warframe comes to Xbox One today


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Boulevard Brewing Company has hired former Zevia executive Natalie Gershon as the Kansas City brewery’s new vice president of marketing.
Gershon served as VP of marketing for Zevia, a brand of zero-calorie sodas sweetened with stevia, from October 2010 through July 2016. She replaces Jeremy Ragonese, who left the company in July after a decade as the director of marketing, to takeover as the chief marketing officer with Uinta Brewing in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Gershon will be tasked with leading the brewery’s marketing initiatives and defining its overall strategy while working with the sales team of Boulevard’s parent company, Duvel Moortgat USA, to push Boulevard’s beer in its 37-state distribution footprint.
“Natalie brings a wealth of experience, creativity, and an infectious energy,” Duvel Moortgat USA president Jeff Krum said in a press release. “We’re fortunate to have an excellent marketing team in place – with Natalie’s leadership and vision, I’m confident they will accomplish great things.”
Gershon, who moved to Kansas City in the summer, has been on the job for about two weeks, said Boulevard spokeswoman Julie Weeks.
“We’re super excited about her previous experience in the beverage world,” Weeks told Brewbound “She’s already been bringing great strategy and ideas in the short time she’s been here.”


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Dell Shares Hit New Year Low On Tech Spending Concerns
05/23/2012| 02:50pm US/Eastern
--Dell shares hit lowest point since Sept. 2010 on concerns about competition and spending on tech
--Dell's results also dragging down rival Hewlett-Packard, other big tech names
--Concerns about economy, sales growth seen lingering
(Updates with additional details throughout)
By John Kell and Ian Sherr
Dell Inc. (>> Dell Inc.) shares fell as much as 18% Wednesday to their lowest point in 20 months after the company's quarterly update raised questions about the strength of computer sales, overall spending on technology and the company's ability to make its business grow.
Dell, which in recent years has looked to move beyond its core personal-computer business and broaden its own portfolio of products for corporate customers, is facing stiff competition across its business lines. Executives conceded Tuesday that spending on desktops and notebooks has remained under pressure, and that it was struggling against its competition.
Brian Gladden, the company's chief financial officer, said that in response to the "challenging competitive environment," the company was reworking its sales force. "We have to execute better," he said.
Analysts agreed. "We still believe Dell needs to take bolder, more aggressive steps to reinvent itself," wrote Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu. Overall, Dell's profit in the latest quarter missed Wall Street's expectations and the company issued a downbeat top-line outlook for the current quarter.
Dell shares recently fell 18%, to $12.35 and are the biggest percentage decliner on the S&P 500. The stock's low Wednesday of $12.31 is its worst point since September 2010, and the percentage decline is its largest intraday drop since November 2000.
The results are also weighing on shares of Hewlett-Packard Co. (>> Hewlett-Packard Company), which is likely to outline plans to lay off as many as 30,000 workers when it reports earnings Wednesday. H-P shares recently fell 4.7%, to $20.76, after earlier setting a seven-year low at $20.57.
Wu noted that Dell is in a tough position with PCs as it is sandwiched between low-cost players, such as Lenovo Group Ltd. (0992.HK, LNVGY) and Acer Inc. (2353.TW, ACEIY).
In addition, Dell said that consumers were putting off computer purchases, and instead focusing their attention on mobile devices, such as Apple Inc.'s (>> Apple Inc.) iPhone and iPad touchscreen tablet. In the latest quarter, Dell's revenue from desktop PCs slipped 0.8%, after rising in the prior quarter.
Faced with soft PC sales, Dell has been attempting to boost both its revenue and profit by acquiring higher-margin businesses, including data-storage, security and networking technologies. Those acquisitions include Perot Systems, Force10 Networks and more recently Wyse and SonicWall. But despite efforts to grow beyond the PC business with multiple acquisitions in recent years, Sterne Agee estimates 70% to 75% of its business is still tied to PCs.
Dell's large enterprise revenue dropped 3%, driven by weakness in developed markets as some customers delayed their tech purchases. Dell hired sales specialists last year to help bolster the enterprise business, though Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Felice told analysts on Tuesday the company had more to do to improve execution. But, the company insisted that sales were being delayed, not lost.
The company's comments about customers delaying tech purchases, echo similar comments from network-equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc. (>> Cisco Systems, Inc.) earlier this month.
Cisco's shares slid about 1%, to $16.58 in recent trading, and the stock has dropped 17.8% in May. Other tech names seemingly affected by Dell's comments on tech spending and a slowdown in computer sales include Microsoft Corp. (>> Microsoft Corporation), off 3%, to $28.88; NetApp Inc. (NTAP), down 3.6%, to $32.10; and EMC Corp. (>> EMC Corporation), falling 1.9%, to $25.10.
For now, concerns about the economy and Dell's sales growth could weigh on Dell's performance for the next few quarters, said Mizuho Securities, which trimmed its stock rating on Dell to neutral and cut the price target to $15 from $20. The bank said it would remain on the sidelines "until we see consistent execution by the company."
-By John Kell and Ian Sherr, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2480; firstname.lastname@example.org


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A new Sydney business is allowing users to explore three-dimensional technology by blurring the lines between real and imaginary.
Soulvaria Virtual Reality and Gaming Entertainment is the brainchild of 30-year-old childhood friends, Joseph Gracie and Joshua Boutilier.
Gracie said he was teaching in Suwon, South Korea last year when he experienced the fun of virtual reality at that country’s Everland theme park.
“It wasn’t anything crazy special,” said Gracie. “It was more or less a simulated rollercoaster but to me it felt very real. I couldn’t shake the feeling of it.”
When he wasn’t teaching at night, Gracie would spend his time working on a virtual reality business proposal, before returning to Cape Breton last summer.
Soulvaria officially opened it doors Sept. 16 on the third floor of the New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation on Nepean Street in north end Sydney.
The business is comprised of Gracie, Boutilier and employee Greg Michalik.
“You lose yourself,” said Gracie. “A lot of people when they first put on the virtual reality glasses — they don’t know what to expect — and then all of a sudden they gasp. They’re just blown away that they literally feel like they’re in another world.
“A lot of people have told me that they didn’t think the technology was here yet but it is. It actually has a growth pattern similar to the colour TV.”
Inside the blacklighted studio are air-conditioned spaces complete with surround sound that allow up to six people to play at one time.
Due to the highly interactive nature of some of the games, Soulvaria uses HTC Vive headsets that caution users with a green grid if they’re approaching a wall.
Currently, there are more than 50 games available at the centre, including experiences that take users underwater, into a zombie apocalypse, plunging down a rollercoaster or into a frightful horror experience. There are also popular shooter games and co-operative multi-player gaming.
Virtual reality rental fees are based on a time limit, beginning with half-hour sessions.
“We have no business experience,” said Gracie. “I’ve never taken a business course and (Boutilier)’s not taken any university course. I do have sociology behind me at Cape Breton University but in regards to business, though, nothing. We had to literally learn everything via Google and it took a long time.”
Gracie and Boutilier had written out a detailed business plan, along with some market research analysis before approaching the bank with their proposal.
One of the hardest parts of getting the business off the ground, said Gracie, was trying to find an up-to-date space that was reasonable on rent.
The business partners are now hopeful that Soulvaria will be used by school groups as they believe virtual reality technology is the future of entertainment, education and social interaction.
For more information on the business, including its operating hours, visit https://www.soulvaria.ca/home.


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Hopoo Games and Gearbox Publishing showed off more additions coming to Risk Of Rain 2: Survivors Of The Void when it releases next week.
Risk Of Rain 2 Archives
Gearbox Publishing dropped some new details to the Risk Of Rain 2 DLC on the way called Survivors Of The Void, specifically on the Void Fiend.
Gearbox Publishing and Hopoo Games revealed more details about the latest expansion for Risk Of Rain 2 as Survivors Of The Void drops on March 1st.
Gearbox Publishing has revealed the next expansion for Risk Of Rain 2 as Survivors Of The Void is coming in Q1 2022.
Gearbox Publishing and Hopoo Games have released a new Anniversary Update for Risk of Rain 2 with a number of exciting additions.
Hopoo Games and Gearbox Publishing have released a free update for Risk Of Rain 2 to celebrate its Early Access anniversary.
Hopoo Games and Gearbox Publishing are bringing Risk of Rain 2 to Google Stadia so you can stream it at your leisure.
Black Screen Records revealed two new vinyl video game soundtrack releases this week with Othercide and Risk Of Rain 2.
Gearbox Publishing and Hopoo Games revealed today that Risk Of Rain 2 is leaving Early Access and will get a full release on August 11th.
Multiplayer roguelike Risk Of Rain 2 is aiming to exit Early Access this year so it can finally have a full release at long last.
Those of you playing Risk Of Rain 2 on console have a brand new update to check out as Hidden Realms has been added, with another on the way.
Gearbox Publishing just released a new update to Risk Of Rain 2, as the game enters a new set of circumstances with the Hidden Realms.
Gearbox Software dropped a new content update into Risk Of Rain 2 this week, giving players The Loader as well as other updates.
Hopoo Games and Gearbox Publishing have released details today about Risk Of Rain 2's next update, Scorched Acres, which is now live.
Gearbox Publishing and Hopoo Games are gearing up to release a brand new update for Risk Of Rain 2 this week with "Scorched Acers".


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If you thought HTC EVO 4G was a killer, how about this one? Folks at Engadget have just got hold of this new Windows Phone 7 device from Dell that seems to be a much more exciting device than EVO 4G. Here are some important features and tech specs
Dimensions : 64.4 x 121.6 x 14.9 mm
OS : Windows Mobile 7
Processor : 1 GHz QSD8250 Snapdragon
Display : 4.1″ WVGA Samsung OLED
Camera : 5 megapixel with auto-focus and video capture
Storage : 1GB Flash ROM with 512MB DDR SDRAM and 8GB microSD
Flash support : Yes
Launch : Q4 2010 with LTE in Q4 2011
HTC HD Mini may not be the uber-cool gizmo with all the latest features. It runs on a Windows mobile platform that is soon to be outed with Windows Phone 7. The CPU processing speed is not breathtaking. Nevertheless, the device itself is impressive and should be an ideal handset for a majority of us.
Dimensions : 2.27″ x 4.09″ x 0.46″
Display : 3.2″ 320 x 480 HVGA screen
Platform : Windows Mobile 6.5 with HTC Sense UI
Processor : 600 MHz
Internal Memory : 512MB ROM and 384MB RAM
Storage : Up to 32GB microSD
Camera : 5 megapixel with auto focus and widescreen photo capture
Connectivity : Tethering enabled, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Battery : Up to 435 minutes talk time and up to 500 hours of standby time
HTC has been churning out an impressive line of smartphones these days. More impressively, the Taiwan based handset manufacturer has also been diversifying its risks by partnering with more than one platform developer.
Speaking to Forbes in an interview, HTC CEO Peter Chou has revealed that his company shall unveil a Windows Phone 7 based handset in the latter half of this year. He said,
“They’re putting in tremendous effort to make Windows Phone 7 very appealing and competitive.”
However, this does not mean HTC will be terminating the manufacture of Windows Classic phones. Chou has insisted that his company sees both the versions of Microsoft’s mobile OS to co-exist in the times ahead.
Meanwhile, HTC is also optimistic on the Android front. While there have been doubts cast on the success of Google’s Nexus One phone, Chou sees the device as a success and feels Nexus One’s innovative design will help HTC garner new business despite how consumers perceive the device.
Apple has been ridiculed, abused and hated for the lack of critical features like multitasking on the iPhone. However, over the past two years, the company at least brought in copy-paste functionalities to the iPhone.
Now, it seems like a similar story is set to unfold – with Microsoft. Rumors are that Windows Phone 7 that is expected to roll out in the second half of this year will miss clipboard functionalities as well as complete multi-tasking. Charlie Kendell from the Microsoft Windows Phone app platform says,
“We do not allow third-party applications running on the phone to execute in the background. We’re poised to support it eventually, but in order to support great battery life and great end-user experience, we’re focusing on the integrated experiences first.”
Looks like Microsoft has got the script totally wrong. The iPhone clicked despite its shortcomings because the smartphone was still in its early stages back then. But today (or six months down the lane when WinMo 7 launches), there are a plethora of smartphones available; some with multitasking and clipboard features enabled. Even the iPhone is rumored to be getting its multitasking feature in a couple of months.
Isn’t Microsoft too late to the party?
With Windows Phone 7 handsets expected to launch post September, can we expect smartphones running on the older Windows phones to still be churned out in numbers in the mean while? Rumors say so.
According to unsubstantiated rumors, the third iteration in HTC’s Touch Pro series may be launching in the summer of this year and they are expected to launched in Europe by the third quarter of this year. A forum poster on the XDA Developer forum writes
“Just had a dinner with a friend of mine who is the main distributor for HTC in Europe, and he informed that they will receive the first shipment of Touch Pro3’s this summer and they will be on sale in Europe third quarter of this year. This is my main contact for HTC devices and he arranges a Touch Pro2 for me 4 months before it was officially released…He told me that the device will be much smaller and thinner, and soon he will provide me with the evidence including the full specifications. Do you guys think this would be something you would purchase or would you rather wait for the Windows Phone 7?”
What do you think? Is this likely?
Will we get to see Microsoft Xbox 360 games coming to the iPhone? Rumors are that we might actually get to see it happening soon; though Microsoft shall not be the protagonist in this story.
Novell, the Massachusetts based software services corporation is expected to unveil its technology that will make it possible for developers to port their Xbox 360 games to the iPhone and possibly, also the Android handsets.
If this happens, then it could be a major setback to Microsoft that has been known to be banking on portablity of Xbox 360 to its upcoming Windows Phone 7 platform as a viable selling proposition for this mobile OS that is expected to launch in smartphones later this year.
[via PC World
Ever since Microsoft unveiled their new generation mobile OS, there have been a lot of rumors about the Windows Phone 7 based handsets launching in the markets. Though a majority of them are not expected to launch until the holiday shopping season, the earliest to launch is likely to be in September.
It is now rumored that LG, the company expected to come out with the first Windows Phone 7 based handset is likely to name the device Panther. Pretty uninnovative and un-cutesy for a brand that is expected to take on the likes of iPhone and Droid.
How do you like the name? Will you be buying one Tell us in the comments.
[Best Mobile Contracts
Microsoft’s Project Pink is well and alive according to an inside source. Reuters cites the source as being informed of a Microsoft branded smartphone hitting the US market by “late spring or early summer“.
According to the claims, the phone shall run on Verizon Wireless and shall be targeted at the heavy social networkers. We are not sure of the OS though it is likely to be Windows Phone Classic considering that the newly unveiled Windows Phone 7 series phones are not expected to launch until late this year – earliest by September.
While Microsoft has all along denied these rumors, considering that the expected launch date is just over 10 weeks away, we expect the beans to be spilled sooner than later.
It is no longer news that Windows Phone 7 based handsets are launching by the end of the year during the holiday season. But the Chinese version of Engadget has cited claims by Hong Kong based LG Mobile that the first set of Windows Phone 7 handsets could launch as early as September and at max be launched by November.
Not only is this well ahead of the originally scheduled launch, but also comes as a surprise following our reports earlier this week that Windows Phone 7 handsets could actually be delayed owing to software issues.
As of now, we have no clue which side of the story is true. So we will just hope for a plain-Vanilla December launch.
There are rumors doing the rounds that Nokia might finally move away from Symbian and be launching an Android based handset soon. However, the speculation has gained fresh credibility after Greig Williams, Nokia’s General Manager for Alps and South East Europe hinted at the possibility.
In a recent conversation, Williams had indicated that Ovi Maps, Nokia’s free turn-by-turn GPS navigation system shall be available for free on Android and Windows Phone 7 handsets. This does not seem logical unless a Nokia branded Android or Windows handset too is in the making.
What do you think?


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Officials say Meituan abused its dominant market position to compel merchants to sign exclusive agreements with its platform.
Digital payment giant OVO confirmed the deal earlier this week.
China’s second-largest developer has been trying to stay afloat amid liabilities of over 1.97 trillion yuan (S$415 billion) since last year.
Home-grown audio-streaming app Noice has big plans for 2022 with users willing to spend up to two hours on podcasts.
Vinfast plans to launch two new models for France & Germany by 2022.
From April 1, she succeeds Mr S. Dhanabalan, who will remain on the board and be designated chairman emeritus.
The company looked set to miss its second bond interest payment in a week.
The Tatas bid was much anticipated although there will be other private sector bidders
With this, the online classifieds marketplace joins the list of local unicorns valued in excess of US$1 billion.
The platform will allow producers to create, edit and publish various forms of content including news, videos, music and texts.


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Virat Kohli news
The valuation of Vedant at Rs 4,000-4,500 crore is almost at par with that of Fabindia when it sold a stake to Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani last year.
Kohli has reservations about directly endorsing a cola, given the increasing health worries over sugary drinks, said an executive with knowledge of the development.
In a move to recover from poor Q4 show, Shoppers Stop plans to focus on private labels and invest the final Rs 15 cr of Rs 60-cr corpus for online expansion in FY18.
Puma India reported a loss of Rs 3.6 crore and sales of Rs 921.2 crore for January-December 2016. It reported profits of Rs 29 crore in 2014 and Rs 12 crore in 2015.
Kohli is undecided about renewing the Pepsi contract, given the health concerns associated with colas, according to two people aware of his plans.
Jabong will invest in expanding range of products to give consumers more options to buy, make mobile application more engaging and invest in marketing to create more awareness among consumers about the brand.
Jabong is known to have introduced a good number of fashion and sports brands in India in the past.
In 2016, Virat Kohli endorsed as many as 20 brands of 13 different companies, and these brands advertised for 1,190 hours across multiple TV channels.
Puma will launch signature products bearing the master-batsman's name -much like basketball legend Michael Jordan's engagement with Nike .
Puma is expected to work with Kohli in markets like UK, Australia, South Africa and the Middle East and 'wherever Cricket is relevant.'
Signs Indian cricket team captain Kohli as brand ambassador.
Virat will be seen in the new ad campaign ‘Aadha-Aadha’, which highlights that the essence of marriage all is about sharing, and should start right from expense of the wedding function.
Advertisers are looking for younger sports stars, but few actually sign them up before they get too big
“The advertisers don’t seem to have a consistent approach when engaging with new talent; most of the deals with the sports personalities are more like knee-jerk reactions,” says Dhruv Jha, general manager at IPG Mediabrands.
For Ananth, a trend is an idea that fundamentally changes how people, organisations, and society conduct themselves.
Dhoni's association with PepsiCo dates back to 2005. 'Oh Yes Abhi' and 'Change The Game' were among the company’s biggest campaigns that featured him.
Head of commerce Prasad Kompalli and Abhishek Verma, who was leading fashion brands are in the process of leaving the company, according to two people aware of the development.
He’s the darling of marketers, endorses around 15 brands — from Adidas & Audi to Tissot and Pepsi.