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The American manufacturer of Pebble has started a countdown on his own Web site, which will end tomorrow at 4 o’clock our time. Plan the presentation of a new Smartwatch?
Over a year it’s been already, that Pebble launched the kick start campaign for the Time of Pebble, now a new model could be presented soon already. At least a freshly started countdown provides evidence on the Publisher’s Web site, which will be titled with the words “Wait for it…”.
New Smartwatch likely
Although we are already experienced tomorrow at 4: 00 what is behind the countdown, is a little speculating, but of course still allowed. So it is most likely that Pebble will present a new Smartwatch, whose functions, but so far no information were gel Act in our opinion. New colours for the so far available models or a major software update could, personally, however, I trust my intuition and count on a completely new wearable.
Because the different versions of the Pebble time arrived not too good and have a hard time in the market due to the high competition, a high pressure to succeed on Pebble weighs heavily lately. We hope that the presentation can convince tomorrow.


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1. 15 years of Gonz and Adidas
It may come as a surprise that the most celebrated character in
skateboarding has spent the last 15 years skating for Adidas. To
celebrate the mutual commitment between Mark Gonzales and Adidas
Skateboarding, the sportswear giant compiled a short film full of
archival footage, storytelling and interviews with some of the
industry’s top photographers. Just a few seconds in and it’s obvious: there’s nobody out there quite like The Gonz.
2. Fuseproject’s XO Tablet Hits Stores
Boasting a newly updated, colorful interface, Fuseproject’s XO Tablet hit stores around the US this week. The Android-powered tablet, designed by Yves Behar in collaboration with the One Laptop Per Child Association, creates new ways for kids to learn using the power of a touchscreen. Everything about the tablet has been developed for children, from its protective outer-case to its innovative software, which comes pre-loaded with 100 free, education apps, books and games. The interactive learning tool now sells from Walmart for $150.
3. The Hyperloop System
If Tesla CEO Elon Musk has his way, the Hyperloop system will become a reality and make transcontinental trips across the US astoundingly short. Developed with Colorado-based ET3, Musks’s elevated Hyperloop system works with magnetic levitation—similar to those of bullet trains—which would see passengers travel in a nearly frictionless enclosed tube. Possibly the biggest kicker is the projected cost per ride: A trip from LA to New York would be just $100.
4. Linguist Finds A New Language
University of Michigan linguistics professor Carmel O’Shannessy has discovered a new language called Light Warlpiri that’s spoken by aboriginal people under the age of 35 in a remote village in northern Australia. Completely unique to them, it’s uncertain why this entirely new language developed in this group at this point in history.
5. Foldable Energy
A recent design contest by Volvo Italy has inspired an unexpected, and frankly necessary, redesign of the solar panel. LA-based Synthesis Design + Architecture dubbed its futuristic renewable folding design the “Pure-Tension Pavilion.” While aesthetically stunning, the design is actually fully functional. Using high-density polyethylene as a base skin, solar panels are integrated while a carbon fiber rod structure gives the form integrity and allows it to fold. Fittingly, the design contest centered around Volvo’s V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the first diesel plug-in hybrid in production.
6. Antiquing at Brimfield
The Brimfield Antique Show in central Massachusetts, held triennially, is heralded for its eclectic finds. The show draws a wide crowd; from NYC art directors to collectors from around the East Coast looking for a score, to students outfitting their new dorm digs. Our friends at Sight Unseen braved the heat last weekend while capturing some of the best finds of the show. From vintage children’s toys worthy of a gallery to German-made brass pitchers, Brimfield has something for every taste, with enough surprises to keep collectors coming back show after show.
7. Inside Sunspel
Known for their commitment to quality, England’s Sunspel offers a
look inside their production studio to see the process behind their handcrafted T-shirts. Void of narration, the brief
video shows a traditional environment and family-like atmosphere
in the Long Eaton factory and that, when done right, simple design doesn’t come easy.
8. 108 Years of Herman Miller in 108 Seconds
To celebrate the launch of their new video series Why Design, a digital platform exploring the world through the eyes of designers, Herman Miller created a charming video showcasing their rich legacy and abundant success in the company’s 108-year history. The Michigan manufacturer tapped Dutch animators Part of a Bigger Plan to produce the 108-second video, which takes viewers through an animated look at milestone moments, from Gilbert Rhode’s lasting influence to George Nelson’s creative direction, and Eames’ loungers to the Time Magazine cover-worthy molded plywood chair and more.
9. Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013
The 20th anniversary of the Goodwood Festival of Speed lived up to its reputation this past week in West Sussex, England. To celebrate the special year, the festival featured some of “the biggest, best, fastest, loudest and most outrageous vehicles of all time”—just take a look for yourself. New and old and incredibly rare, the cars at this year’s show were more than a thrill to all the fans, and even the biggest racing teams in attendance.
10. Stryker on Weed
It’s not everyday that you come across a medical marijuana growing guide written by an adult film star. After leaving his mark on the porn industry, Jeff Stryker began researching and testing various home-growing operations in light of California’s recent medical marijuana legislation, making it legal for those with a prescription to grow certain amounts at home. One might not expect Stryker to be an expert on in-house ganja—with his Ken Doll meets San Bernardino vibe—but his unique notoriety may draw in a new audience to the DIY medical marijuana movement.
11. Rubik’s Cube Traveling Exhibition
Google is collaborating with Liberty Science Center for the ultimate nerd-friendly traveling exhibit called “Beyond the Rubik’s Cube.” The show will feature a 35-foot illuminated “Groovik’s Cube,” a high-speed cube solving station, mountains of brain teasers and many more fun activities involving the timeless toy. The exhibition will begin in April 2014.
12. OCD Office Space
Filmmaker Casey Neistat has possibly the most compulsively organized workspace we’ve ever seen. With so much gear, he really doesn’t have much choice, but Neistat has completely customized his space into a work of art itself. Wires run along the walls in geometric patterns, everything is labeled—even said wires—and every digital moment is backed up and saved in stacks of hard-drives. He certainly makes the rest of us look bad, but not without making us look slightly more sane at the same time. Check out photos of his unconventional studio on Wired.
13. Zaha Hadid in NYC
World-renowned architect Zaha Hadid is well overdue to make her mark in New York City, and her new building on the High Line is set to do just that. Hadid’s 11-story residential building will add her to the already impressive list of architects to build on this westside park, alongside industry greats like Renzo Piano and Frank Geary. We’re sure that the structure, made of stacked glass and wrap-around volumes nestled together along a zigzag spine, is not as outlandish as it sounds and will undoubtedly win the admiration of its High Line passersby.
14. Momofuku Beats
David Chang took a break from cooking at his much-adored chain of Momofuku restaurants to riff on a track from of hip-hop supergroup Deltron 3030’s upcoming concept album, Event II. In this candid, exclusive
interview with Complex Magazine’s food website First We Feast, the chef recalls how he came to meet Dan the Automator and tries to remember what got recorded. Besides collaborating with well-known artists such as Damon Albarn, Mike Patton and the Lonely Island, Deltron 3030 worked with other notable non-musicians including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David Cross, Amber Tambyln and more for the album.
The world’s last remaining telegraph service, located in India, sent out its last telegram on 15 July 2013. The state-owned BSNL telecommunications company chose to discontinue its service after 160 years, as demand and revenue sharply declined and email and SMS texting became more available. To take a historical look back, 20 million telegram messages were dispatched from India in 1947 and in its peak in the 1980s, more than 600,000 telegrams were sent per day.
16. Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait
The recently-opened exhibition at the Jewish Museum London, curated by Amy Winehouse’s brother Alex and his wife Riva, offers an intimate glimpse into the private life of the British singer, who passed away in 2011. By displaying this collection of her clothing and never-before-seen photographs, as well as items such as her Jewish cookbook and records, their intent was not to create a “shrine,” but to illustrate the portrait of an ordinary Jewish girl growing up in London.

domain: news


text: On September 16, 2015, the District Court of Minnesota granted certification of a class of entities that had issued payment cards that were compromised in the breach of Target’s computer network during the 2013 holiday shopping season. The certification order was issued in the financial institutions “track” of the litigation; Target previously reached a settlement in the consumer track of the litigation, which is pending final approval. In granting class certification, the court noted that the cost to card-issuing entities to replace payment cards was “borne at the time of the breach” and was therefore distinguishable from the future harm alleged in the consumer track of the litigation. The court also ruled that plaintiffs’ expert had sufficiently demonstrated that it would be possible to prove classwide common injury and to compute classwide damages, but noted that if classwide damages became unworkable, a damages class could be decertified after the liability phase concludes. Separately, in mid-August, Target announced that it had reached a settlement with Visa and certain Visa card issuers as part of Visa’s assessment process. As part of that settlement, Target agreed to pay expenses that the financial institutions incurred during the breach, including costs to reissue cards, up to approximately US$67 million.


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Freeview’s Guy North Watches Out For ‘The Mass Market’
The managing director of the Freeview free-to-air digital terrestrial TV service aims to provide an “honest and easy-to-understand way for people to get the content they love.”
Demystifying tech and delivering content to the mass market present some unique challenges for U.K. broadcast service Freeview.
Launched in 2002, the Freeview free-to-air digital terrestrial television service counts BBC, Sky, Channel 4, Arqiva, and ITV among its shareholders. In October 2015 the organisation launched its connected product, Freeview Play, offering on-demand and catch-up services.
Guy North, formerly head of marketing at the BBC, joined Freeview in 2011 as a marketing director. He took over as managing director in June 2014. When CMO.com caught up with him, we began by asking what his role entails.
North: I’m responsible for running what is a £20 million business. We are predominantly a marketing and communications-based organisation, responsible for marketing, promoting, and licensing the Freeview brand. A key part of my remit is to manage and maximise shareholder investment within Freeview, as we are a not-for-profit organisation funded entirely by our five shareholders.
A lot of my time is taken up with managing shareholders and stakeholders across the business. I also have direct contact with broadcasters and content providers and, from a regulatory point of view, Ofcom and The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). I work closely with consumer electronics companies too, because we license the brand out to manufacturers of TVs and set top boxes. It is a very varied role.
For a brand that is so big—Freeview is in about 19.5 million homes in the U.K.—we are a small team of 12 people, and we share back-office staff and office space with Digital U.K.
CMO.com: What are the biggest challenges of marketing the Freeview brand?
**North:**The broadcast market is now more complicated than ever before, with all sorts of new entrants and content providers, including mobile operators. It means there are so many different ways that consumers can get content today, and it can be quite baffling. One of the pillars of Freeview is that we aim to provide a really simple, honest, and easy-to-understand way for people to get the content they love—that has always been at the heart of the brand and I think people appreciate that.
We have recently launched Freeview Play, our connected offering. The same challenge applies, and we are trying to keep things as simple and straightforward as possible so people know exactly what they are getting. At the heart is the fact that there are no monthly subscriptions—the Freeview service is free once consumers have bought the TV or set top box—but educating consumers and demystifying the technology is a massive challenge for us.
Despite the innovative nature of the broadcast market, we do not seek to lead or innovate—we are much more about bringing new technology to the mass market in an affordable and accessible way. In the same way as Freeview helped the population move from analogue to digital, with Freeview Play we are looking to help take people from digital into the connected world, in a way that is easy to understand.
CMO.com: Does being a free service present challenges as well as opportunities?
**North:**Yes. Unlike Pay TV providers, we don’t communicate with our customers daily on a one-to-one basis, because there is no subscription, which means we don’t have that customer data. We are increasingly putting more emphasis on our owned channels such as our website, which attracts up to two million views a month, and we are looking to capture data from social media channels, so that we can start to build up a database of people who we can communicate with, one to one.
CMO.com:Who is your target audience and how has this changed?
North: Over the last year or so, we have redefined our key target audience. Within the U.K, there are about seven million homes who are totally committed to Pay TV because they want sport or movies, for example, and they pay a considerable amount of money on a monthly basis. At the other extreme there are seven million homes who will always stick with Freeview. The people we need to target are the middle ground of about 11.2 million homes who are much more flexible—they may want more content than they can get on a free basis, and they certainly want new technology when it is available, but they are not looking to be cutting edge.
This big group in the middle tend to be existing Freeview homes who want more, or low-end Pay TV homes who aren’t getting as much value out of their subscriptions as they could. That is the audience we are looking at now. They are likely to be 25-to-45 year-olds with young children—that is the sweet spot.
CMO.com:What is the best way to reach this “middle-ground” audience?
**North:**We are heavily biased towards TV advertising because of our shareholders and the way we are funded. We get a lot of air time from both ITV and Channel 4, which is fantastic, but it does mean our media plan is a little too heavily skewed towards TV. If I was producing the perfect media plan to reach that target audience, I would like a little bit more digital work to support what we do on TV. We do some digital, but maybe not as much as I would like.
The Freeview brand is not as visible as some of the Pay TV brands. When we run TV ads, awareness rises nicely, but as soon as we come off air, there is a danger that awareness slips a little bit, which has implications for our media strategy. We are trying to make sure we sustain that awareness.
To drive traffic to our website we have set up a newsletter that people can subscribe to, and we have over 100,000 people signed up, which is a good start. We also run regular competitions through the website and through Facebook and Twitter, and these are effective ways of capturing data.
CMO.com: What role does mobile play at Freeview?
**North:**For us, mobile is more interesting from a content distribution point of view than a marketing perspective. We have a TV guide app, which launched five years ago and proved very popular, but the world has moved on very quickly and when people go to the app now, they expect to touch the screen and access that programme instantly. They can’t do that yet with our app.
My ambition is, therefore, to be able to replicate the Freeview TV experience on mobile devices. We are some way off being able to do that at the moment because our shareholders have their own mobile strategies with their own apps—for example, BBC iPlayer, All 4, ITV Hub—delivering content on mobile devices. We have to work with the shareholders to identify exactly how Freeview as an aggregated service would work. I think there is real value in it for consumers and for the Freeview brands, so that is the aim.
CMO.com: How strong is the current demand for mobile content from your audience?
**North:**There are often headlines about the death of linear TV, but all of our experience shows that people use mobile devices to supplement their TV viewing, not to replace it. That is how we view it—any sort of mobile experience would be complementary to how people watch TV.
With the younger generation—16-to-24 year-olds—there is more shift in terms of watching short and long-form content on mobiles and tablets. I think one of the interesting questions facing us and the broadcast industry is around how the behaviour of this first “mobile” generation will change as they get older. Will they continue to consume lots of content on mobile devices or will they revert to watching more on TV? It will be fascinating to see.
CMO.com: How is your marketing team set up?
North: I have a marketing director who has a head of brand strategy and insight, and a senior brand manager, and marketing executive working for him. I also have a head of digital and a head of communications, as well as one technology specialist who looks after licensing the brand to manufacturers. We are fairly traditionally structured by function, but, at a more junior level, I am looking to get people in who can work across communications, marketing, or digital, because there is so much blurring of lines between the areas now. For example, where does social media sit? Frankly, it doesn’t really matter to me—it is all about getting the right people in who are able to do good things across all of those areas. So while we are structured by function, I am encouraging people to work much more closely together and that is starting to take shape.
We are also in the process of setting up our own Freeview community that we can dip into for quick and easy research—whether creative work or propositions—so we have a pool of people we can access at very short notice. Our head of brand strategy and insight works with a research executive on this area, and that is increasingly critical in a fast-paced industry. We need to keep across where consumers are at and be able to react quickly.
CMO.com: Can you share an example of a recent Freeview marketing campaign?
**North:**The Freeview Play campaign on TV is still running. The soundtrack is “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables.” Prior to launching it, we ran a teaser ad, which showed our cat and a budgie ad being interrupted by interference. That created a lot of buzz on social media and we allowed that to roll. It got a lot of traffic on Twitter in particular, with nearly a thousand mentions and a potential reach of 1,773,631, and it built anticipation. One person even called ITV to check they hadn’t been hacked. A week later the campaign launched, first with a two-minute version to set up the story, then a shorter version, which focused much more on the Freeview product and how it works.
We don’t have any stats yet, but key measurements will be brand awareness and understanding of the new product, as well as calls to action such as website traffic. The ultimate test will then be sales of Freeview Play products, which are going well so far.
CMO.com: How do you see Freeview staying relevant going forward?
**North:**More of the same. If we don’t evolve and keep up with people’s expectations and needs, we become irrelevant and that is why we have launched Freeview Play. What will be really important now is ensuring that we keep updating the functionality within Freeview Play and keep adding new content providers. We have a road map for the future and I would love for mobile devices to be part of that. We are not a Sky or a Virgin when it comes to leading innovation, but we must keep up with consumer expectations and keep making technology available in an affordable and accessible way for that mass market audience.


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Check receipts during sales tax holiday
Residents should catch a huge break thanks to the parish’s sales tax holiday.
The amounts of the taxes that will be waved include 2 percent from the parish, 3 percent from the School Board and 4 percent from the state, for a total of 9 percent.
But don't worry, Paula Jeansonne, director of the sales tax collection office in St. Charles Parish, says residents can get a refund if they hold on to their receipts.
"If you go to a store and are still charged the parish tax rate, come to the parish sales tax office in Hahnville with your receipt and we'll refund your money," Jeansonne said. "We sent out flyers letting the corporate headquarters at Wal-Mart know to waive the parish and state taxes, so no one should be charged either tax for those two days."
Jeansonne says her office will only refund the parish tax.
During the tax-free weekend, residents will not be charged either parish or state taxes for up to $2,500 in purchases. That's because the parish’s sales tax holiday coincides with the state's tax holiday.
Jeansonne says St. Charles is the only parish in Louisiana where that will occur.
"This is great," she said. "We're encouraging everyone in the surrounding parishes to come shopping with us."
Last year, some residents complained that they still got charged taxes at Wal-Mart even though the tax holiday was taking place.
Eddie Ferguson, store manager at Wal-Mart Shopping Center in Boutte, says that customers pay three separate taxes when they shop at the store and both state and parish taxes will be waived.
"I know there's a parish tax, a state tax and a food tax," he said. "The only tax that will have to be paid is the food tax.”
Ferguson says the corporate office makes sure the tax that's waived isn't charged when customers purchase items during the tax free holiday.
Residents should go to the parish’s sales tax office on 13855 River Road in Hahnville with receipt in hand if they are not given a tax credit during the sales tax holiday.
The tax holiday in St. Charles Parish waives both the local and state taxes to make shopping more affordable for parish residents. Those out of town shoppers seeking back to school bargains from surrounding parishes are encouraged to visit.
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Recognized as an educator who inspires students toward conservation and the environment, Harry Hurst Middle School teacher Barry Guillot has received the Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s Educator of the Year award.


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More and more users are getting an improved camera experience and the ability to trigger the Cortana personal assistant without touching their phone this week. The update that contains both features, referred to as Lumia Denim, has arrived for owners of the T-Mobile Lumia 925 and the AT&T Lumia 1520.
The AT&T Lumia 1520 became one of the few Windows Phones available in the United States to get the Lumia Denim update this morning. Microsoft’s update tracker page says that the update is now available to users who purchased the device.
Often considered Nokia’s first direct competitor with Samsung’s Galaxy Note line, the Lumia 1520 launched in the fall of 2013 with a massive 6-inch display, a 20 megapixel rear-facing camera and quad-core processor. The camera should see big improvements thanks to Lumia Denim, and that processor will enable a feature not available on almost every other Windows Phone.
The Lumia Camera 5 upgrade inside the update allows users to take pictures faster. There’s also support for automatic HDR something that adds some style and color contrasts to pictures. Other flagship smartphones like the Moto X 2014 include automatic HDR already. Dynamic Flash is also included with the update, letting the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 925 snap pictures with or without flash just in case one looks better than the other. 4k video recording is enabled by the update too. That’s another feature only coming to devices that can support it like the Lumia 1520.
Cortana, the voice and text enabled personal assistant that’s coming to Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system, gets always listening options in this update. Unfortunately, it’s that feature that almost no other Windows Phones can take advantage of. Only the Lumia 1520, Lumia 930 and Lumia Icon are powerful enough to support it.
T-Mobile Lumia 925 users won’t get the always listening Cortana feature, but will pick up the Lumia Camera update. The improvements in processing should allow the Lumia 925 to take pictures faster than it can today. That’s a key improvement since updates to Windows Phone have made the T-Mobile Lumia 925 a bit slow.
Windows Phone 8.1 should automatically prompt owners of the T-Mobile Lumia 925 and AT&T Lumia 1520 to perform the Lumia Denim upgrade. Users can manually trigger the update by going into their device’s Settings app and selecting Phone Update from the System menu. It’s important to be connected to a Wi-Fi network before beginning the update.
Presumably, this will be the last major firmware update for the T-Mobile Lumia 925 and AT&T Lumia 1520 before Microsoft rolls out a new version of Windows entirely. Earlier this month, Microsoft released the Windows 10 for Phones Technical Preview. The operating system upgrade is a taste of what the company plans on releasing later this year. Already the upgrade includes a redesigned Settings app and the ability to choose a background for the Start Screen.
Microsoft has a slate of upgrades planned for Windows 10 for Phones that should help them better fit in with its entire Windows ecosystem. Today, Windows Phones only have access to a Store full of games and apps made specifically for them. That’ll change with Windows 10, all versions of Windows and even the Xbox One will use the same Apps store. Every major app included with versions of Windows Phone 8.1 will have an updated app in this new version of Windows 10 for Phones.
Microsoft has said that it plans to upgrade Windows Phone 8.1 devices to Windows 10 for free. It’s also committed to releasing new iPhone rivals with Windows 10 built-in for the best experience.
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All About the Data
Every year at this time CRM magazine takes a look back and a look forward at the industry to give readers a sense of where it's going as it matures. Senior Editor Marshall Lager observed last year in "The Year in (P)review" (December 2005) that "data mining, data quality, information management and delivery, and related topics are beginning to cross our desks more often, and this suggests a possibly explosive trend toward expansion into that arena." He backed this suggestion up with a shrewd quote from John Nicoli, general manager of the Trillium Software division of Harte-Hanks: "Information is currency in today's global economy, and just as different denominations carry value tied to the strength of the issuing government's economic stability, data's value is tied directly to its quality."
Not only were last year's forecasts correct, they were right on the mark. Forrester Research released a report in January 2006 stating that the data quality market will grow at a rate of 15 to 20 percent per year and will break the $1 billion sales threshold in 2008. And in late April Gartner followed with its report "Magic Quadrant for Data Quality Tools, 2006," the first of its kind from the research firm.
Clearly, Gartner's report was in response to the increasing customer and vendor investments in the data quality market. It stands to reason that companies are investing heavily in data quality applications, as a CRM system is only as good as its data--and data is much more valuable when it's clean and organized. Moving forward, there will be lots of potential for data quality applications in customer data, but financial (thanks to Sarbanes-Oxley) and product data also stand to benefit from these applications. The leaders driving these efforts, according to Gartner and CRM magazine's October 2006 Market Awards issue, include DataFlux, FirstLogic, IBM, and Trillium Software.
So what's on tap for next year? In our cover story, "The New World of Sophistication," Lager takes his now yearly look at where the industry is heading in 2007. Companies will pay more attention to improving the customer experience in 2007--more specifically, Sheryl Kingstone, a CRM program manager for Yankee Group, says, "The top projects that fall under this [customer experience] umbrella include the unified agent desktop, customer self-service, enterprise mobility, and predictive analytics." Read the story to see why these are just some of the top CRM projects for next year.
Due to limited space here, I can only comment on one of these areas, so I'm picking predictive analytics--there are a lot of compelling uses for these applications. Marketers have done a very good job of culling demographic and behavioral data from various sources, but they've been struggling to gain accurate attitudinal data. However, thanks to predictive analytics, that's changed. Predictive analytics can not only determine a customer's propensity to buy or churn, it can also forecast whether or not a customer will respond to a specific campaign within a certain time frame. With these capabilities and others marketers can identify and respond to hot button items that they may have previously missed and can also create more effective marketing campaigns, drawing higher response rates than before. For this reason--and those mentioned in the cover story--we will see much more refined CRM projects in 2007.
Jacada Looks to Expand Its Workspace in Key Industries
The unified agent desktop provider targets financial services, insurance, and retail with its latest release, Workspace 5.0.
Fonality Gift-Wraps CRM Integration for SMBs
The vendor's new PBXtra Unified Agent solution fulfills the promise of unified communications, according to one analyst.
Data Quality Best Practices Boost Revenue by 66 Percent
Research by SiriusDecisions also shows that faulty marketing intelligence has a comparably huge negative effect.


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Australia Retail Sales and Economic Outlook
In the context of covid, the world’s attention seems to be in Australia, specifically on tennis star Djokovic’s inability to enter the country.
Famously, Australia had managed to keep the virus from spreading locally for an extended period of time. But, the arrival of omicron has definitely put that to an end. In fact, covid cases are pushing above 1 million in the last couple of days.
Also, Australia was famous for its draconian measures to combat the spread of the delta variant throughout their most recent winter season.
At the time, Australia had a relatively low vaccination rate. Nonetheless, at the latest count, up to 77% of Australians have received a double dose of the vaccine. Despite the massive increase in cases, and hospitalizations returning to the levels seen in the middle of the delta outbreak, government officials aren’t eager to reimpose covid restrictions.
That said, a few days ago, PM Morrison said that it’s necessary to restructure policy.
The data is still relevant
In a fast-evolving situation due to omicron, November retail sales data might not have as much impact on the markets. However, should state premiers, in particular, decide to not return to lockdowns, then the trajectory of the services sector recovery would likely be much more relevant.
Australia had recorded three consecutive months of improving retail sales. This suggests that Australian consumers were lining up with the expectation of a fast recovery. Nevertheless, a slow down in growth at the end of the year was predictable, as the comparable data is better.
What to look out for
Analysts project that Australia’s November Retail Sales will come in at 3.9%, below the 4.9% recorded in October. The pace is well above pre-pandemic levels. In turn, this implies that the retail sector was still in recovery mode as they approached the normally more active summer months.
On the one hand, a significant miss in projections from data even before the latest outbreak could concern traders. And this opens the possibility of a downside risk in the data. On the other hand, traders could dismiss a significant beat in the data. That is because the data is from before the latest covid outbreak.
Where things are going
Previously, some of the harshest measures were applied at Vicotria state during the last surge. So far though, Victoria state has not announced any major changes to their covid response policy beyond technical measures such as cancelling elective surgeries. Perhaps that’s because cases haven’t peaked yet. Therefore, there still is a possibility of new lockdown measures being implemented.
Foreign investment in the country and travel are likely to remain muted until case numbers peak. This suggests increased pressure on the AUD. Australia’s exports have increased lately, but at lower prices. And this could potentially imply less demand for the local currency.


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Mayank Saksena Quits JLL, Joins ANAROCK As MD – Land & Head Of South India
Will leverage immense land demand, address South India’s pent-up housing inventory
Bangalore, 1 August 2018: India’s leading real estate services provider ANAROCK Property Consultants have announced that industry veteran Mayank Saksena has joined the Firm as Managing Director – Land & Head – South India Residential Services.
Prior to this appointment, Mayank Saksena was Managing Director of Land Services international property consultants JLL India, where he was also part of the India Leadership Council (ILC).
During his tenure of over a decade there, he closed several high-ticket land deals and acquisition mandates. These include some of the largest land transactions on record across large cities in the country.
In his career spanning over 16 years, he has crafted transactions and acquisitions on behalf of prominent real estate developers, corporates and Government agencies. He is an acknowledged expert on land-related transactions knowledge leader for Pan India real estate markets.
Read more »
ANAROCK Launches ANAROCK Retail To Tap Into India’s $700 Bn. Retail Market
- Partners with Faithlane PC to create India’s most focused retail advisory firm
Mumbai, 6 June 2018: India’s leading independent real estate services firm ANAROCK Property Consultants today announced the official launch of ANAROCK Retail, a new firm dedicated to tapping into India’s $700 bn. retail market via its expert retail consultancy services.
The new firm is the result of a partnership between ANAROCK and Faithlane Property Consultants, headed by retail realty veteran Anuj Kejriwal who joins as CEO & MD – ANAROCK Retail.
ANAROCK’s entry into the retail real estate domain was really only a matter of time,” says Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Property Consultants. Mr Puri is himself an acknowledged retail real estate expert who, in addition to his previous role as Chairman of a leading IPC in India, was also Chairman of its Global Retail Leasing Board.
“We have a deep market reach in this domain,
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HVS And ANAROCK Join Forces To Tap Into India’s $210 Billion Hospitality Market
- Partnership to boost HVS India’s annual turnover by up to 75%
- Multiple big-ticket hotel funding, divestments & acquisitions already underway
Mumbai, 17 May 2018: India’s leading real estate services firm, ANAROCK Property Consultants, today announced its partnership with HVS, the global hospitality sector leader.
As a new business vertical under the ANAROCK Group, HVS ANAROCK will focus on brokerage, feasibility studies, operator searches, appraisals, executive search and other hospitality sector consulting and advisory services throughout South Asia.
Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Property Consultants takes on the added role of Chairman – Hospitality at HVS ANAROCK and the Firm’s soon-to-be-appointed CEO will report to him. Shobhit Agarwal, MD & CEO – ANAROCK Capital will head the transactions vertical at HVS ANAROCK.
Stephen Rushmore Jr, President and CEO – HVS, commented, “We are very excited to partner with ANAROCK as we share a strong professional and cultural fit.
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To cut your grocery bill, it may pay to think outside the supermarket. Specifically, consider the dollar store.
Dollar stores have been offering a wider variety of fresh produce, meats and other groceries in recent years.
True to the name, most items are priced at $1 or less and plenty also take manufacturer coupons. Most recently, the Dollar Tree chain started accepting them.
Grocery offerings at dollar stores vary, which means the quality does, too. Even at a dollar, some products might not be worth your cash.
We asked grocery experts and frequent dollar store shoppers for their take on which are worth testing.
Prices are low and selection can be varied. It’s easy to find onions, celery, bananas and other staple fruits and veggies — sometimes even organics.
“At my local 99 Cents Only store, they had the 1-pound tubs of Earthbound Organics greens. The same ones were being sold next door at a large organic grocer for $4 to $5 – not 99 cents,” Erika Penzer Kerekes of InErikasKitchen.com.
But the selection gets picked over fast, so make sure you ask when the shipments regularly arrive.
Verdict: Buy — with caution
Amy Reiley, creator of EatSomethingSexy.com, says she’s seen yogurt as cheap as 4/$1 at dollar stores, as well as inexpensive milk, buttermilk and other dairy products.
“Just make sure not to buy more than you can eat before the items expire,” she says. “Dollar store dairy is often close to its expiration date.”
“Frozen fruit at a dollar store seems to be the best price of anywhere, including supermarkets, drugstores, club stores and other alternatives,” says Teri Gault, chief executive of TheGroceryGame.com.
Other name-brand frozen foods can also be a good value, although supermarket prices come close and may even beat them — especially when there’s a sale or a coupon.
Some spices lose their potency within months, even if they aren’t technically expired. “Some dollar store items are those that didn’t sell well at another store, so you could end up with old spice,” Reiley says.
“The per-unit price is often more than what you pay buying in bulk,” says Kendal Perez, a deals expert with CouponSherpa.com. “It’s better to buy these items in larger quantities.”
There are potential quality issues, too. Many dry goods at dollar stores come from grocery freight auctions and often aren’t in great condition.
“Staples like baking mix and cake mix may not have been stored at 70 degrees or lower, making their contents rancid or less than fresh, even though the date on the package is still current,” Gault says.
“Dollar store pasta is usually a lousy buy,” Reiley says. “It’s often smaller [package sizes] than the pasta you’ll find at a grocery store sale for a dollar or even less.”
Verdict: Buy — with caution
“Many are off brands and tend to have sub-standard vegetables and fruit, more stems, and less quality food,” Gault says.
But Kerekes says she’s found success with canned dollar stores goods including canned organic pumpkin, canned organic tomatoes and coconut milk.
Frugal Foodie tip: Try one can before stocking up.
“Candy, trail mix and mixed nuts are great buys at the dollar store, especially if you have the moral flexibility to smuggle them into your local movie theater,” Perez says.
She continues, “A regular-size box of Junior Mints will cost up to $4 at the cinema, whereas the big box is only a dollar at your local Dollar General or Dollar Tree.”
Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.


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The following story has been updated from an earlier version to reflect the J.C. Penney statement.
TheStreet reporter Brian Sozzi is visiting a dozen key retailers on Thanksgiving and Black Friday to assess their performance during one of the biggest shopping events of the year.
At four J.C. Penney stores in the New York area, visited from 6:00 p.m. to midnight on Thanksgiving, shoppers were snapping up non-door-buster apparel and blitzing the ladies' shoe department.
"It just feels busier," said a J.C. Penney employee, comparing this year's Black Friday experience to last year's. The employee preferred to remain anonymous.
And this employee could be on to something. The company issued a statement about Black Friday sales, suggesting the department store retailer is doing better than expected this year.
"We saw a strong surge of customers visit J.C. Penney beginning at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving," said CEO Mike Ullman in the statement, adding, "I'm encouraged by our results thus far."
J.C. Penney expects fourth-quarter same-store sales to increase by 2% to 4%, following a 2% gain last year. The statement did not update guidance.
And unlike last year, J.C. Penney's home department was attracting shoppers, likely reflecting better-arranged sections and lower prices on private-label housewares. In the fourth quarter of 2013, J.C. Penney's CEO Mike Ullman said that gross margins in the home department were down "materially" as the company aggressively discounted slow-moving merchandise bought by former CEO Ron Johnson. J.C. Penney's home department accounts for about 11% of its annual sales.
J.C. Penney has 1,060 stores in operation, most of which are "cash-flow positive," said to CEO Mike Ullman on the third-quarter earnings call.
The first day of the holiday shopping season is a big day, but it's just one day. But all signs so far point to J.C. Penney having a strong fourth quarter.
J.C. Penney's Black Friday Scorecard
Number of stores visited: Four
Location: Long Island, N.Y.
Times visited: 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Thanksgiving Day
Bag size (Big bags means big items which mean more money for the retailer) Large and included items other than door-busters in apparel and home
Crowd size (How big are the crowds): Consistently large, with the home department and Sephora makeup sections as bright spots.
Staff size (Is there enough staff to handle the crowds): Checkout lines moved well, with appropriate number of staff on the sales floor offering assistance
Too much stock (Overstocked on key items): Levi's denim, athletic wear, men's suits and dress shirts
Desperate promotions (Discounts too big compared to competitors): Nothing too irrational for the start of the holiday season.
Crowds line up to buy at a Long Island J.C. Penney.


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Surf Expo continues its tradition of moving and shaking in the Beach and Watersports categories. In 2015, the Trade Show News Network recognized Surf Expo as one of the twenty-five trade shows with fastest-growing attendance in the industry. With over 2,300 exhibitor booths and counting, Surf Expo is known as the top destination for watersport, beach, resort, coastal, and gift retail industries. As of November 7th, over 6,000 retailers have already registered for their upcoming January 2017 show. Senior vice president and show director Roy Turner says, “Our January show is eleven markets rolled into one. That broad range of merchandise is one of the things that our buyers really like about this show. If your retail business has any type of connection to the water in any way, whether it’s coastal, lake, river, stream, fresh or salt water, we’ve done the curating. All of the brands at our show have a connection to the central water theme.”
The next show, to be held January 26th – 28th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, is expected to have over 200 new exhibitors, many return exhibitors and legacy exhibitors who have been with Surf Expo for decades. “There’s such a variety of tradeshows right now. Our show is a great option because you can spend fewer days and get exactly what you’re looking for,” says Turner. The many categories featured in January include surf, skate, swim, resort, coastal, gift, souvenir, boutique, footwear, performance, and apparel. “Retailers attend tradeshows to find new products. At Surf Expo, we curate our exhibitors to bring you the best and the newest products across all of our categories,” continues Turner. Surf Expo is a trade-only event free to all qualified retail buyers. Online registration is available, as are a limited quality of discounted hotel blocks. For more information, please visit www.surfexpo.com.


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In Thomas Cook: The Rise and Fall of Britain’s Oldest Travel Agent we discover how the oldest and one of the most respected names in travel suddenly went bust
Thomas Cook: The Rise and Fall of Britain’s Oldest Travel Agent aims to get behind the headlines dominating news bulletins a couple of weeks ago.
Now that the dust has settled, and thanks to the ATOL scheme, which protects travellers against just such a calamity, it's time for questions to be asked about the collapse of this once-mighty company.
In fact it was so integral to life in the UK that it used to be nationalised – older readers will remember buying Thomas Cook Travellers Cheques and knowing that they could travel secure in the knowledge that their money was safe.
Because when Thomas Cook went into compulsory liquidation last month, it brought to an end an illustrious history stretching all the way back to 1841.
This timely programme looks at how a company started by a strict Baptist cabinet-maker to transport Leiciester teetotallers to a temperance meeting in Loughborough (cost: one shilling each) went on to become a fixture on almost every high street.
But, some suggest, it was staying on the high street as the world went online that had a hand in the downfall of the world’s oldest travel brand.
TV Times rating: ****
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The answer is a brand new Samsung Sydney store that will sell goods direct to consumers despite being metres away from a JB Hi Fi and Telstra store.
The store, which is set to open today, has a big window front onto George Street, is right next door to a flagship Myer store and has been modelled to give consumers the latest lowdown on Samsung portable devices spanning smartphones, tablets and notebooks.
Samsung’s Experience Store, one of its first worldwide, is smaller than the three-storey Apple emporium, and lacks the resident concierges and bookable support “geniuses” – not to mention the glass stairway – that have distinguished Apple stores worldwide.
But it has a similar clean white look, with “move in and try it” benches crammed with Galaxy tablets and smartphones, including the intriguing Note, with a 5.3-inch screen and stylus, falling somewhere between a smartphone and tablet.
The store, in an area under the major Sydney Myer retail hacienda previously occupied by the FCUK apparel outlet opens for biz at 8am today, helping (along with the Apple glass shack) to establish a new style of smart, one-brand retailing.
Customers will be able to purchase Galaxy smartphones, laptops and tablets, as well as the Note, and a new S-stylus version of the Galaxy 10.2-in. Tab – to the surprise of some the stylus, commonly used for scribbled notes and artwork is proving a huge hit with the Australian market according to marketing director Arno Lenior.
Samsung’s telecoms VP Tyler McGee – before hacking into a giant metre high Zumbo-style cake in the shape of a Galaxy S III smartphone – told the media the store was well named, and would allow Australian customers to explore and experience what Samsung gadgets could do, especially when working together
The Aussie journos all left happily clutching a media pack that included a nicely chilled bottle of Moet ImpÃ©rial. Chucbae, as they say in Seoul.


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A decade in production is considered pretty good for most cars; seldom few hit the 20 year mark by comparison. The Lada Niva, on the other hand, is close to racking up its Golden Jubilee of 50 years in production. As it nears the mark, it's getting a few new upgrades to boot.
As reported by Drive.com.au, the first Niva rolled off the line on April 5, 1977. AutoVAZ, the company behind the no-frills off-roader, has now confirmed that the model will be in production for some time yet. Speaking to Russian outlet Kommersant, AutoVAZ CEO Maxim Sokolov said the “Niva will definitely reach its half-century anniversary,” due to occur in 2027.
The Niva still sells in healthy numbers in Russia, with 3135 examples sold in June 2023 alone. Just don't confuse the classic Niva Legend model with the Niva Travel, a more modern design that Lada sells in similar numbers.
The Niva will get some welcome upgrades as it chalks up the half-century. "We are not only doing external restyling, but next year we will put a new, modern engine, more powerful, high-torque," said Sokolov. Don't expect major changes or modern creature comforts, though, as the Niva will remain true to its bare-bones 1970s ethos. “It is clear that we will not produce Niva Legend with an automatic transmission,” the AutoVAZ CEO noted.
Presently, the Niva is available with a 1.7-liter gasoline engine good for 81 horsepower and 95 lb-ft of torque. Reports are that a more powerful 1.6-liter engine is on the way. The most likely candidate is the engine from the Lada Vesta city car, good for 104 horsepower and 109 lb-ft of torque. That lines up with reports stating the Niva's engine will be "turned around" from its previous application, with the Vesta having a transversely-mounted engine for its front-wheel-drive application.
There's even talk of a sports model coming down the line. Details are scant, but Sokolov made mention of a potential 16-valve engine with 122 horsepower. It's not much by modern standards, but a major gain compared to the 75 horsepower engine that first graced the Niva back in 1977. It's a near-enough 50 percent gain compared to present models, too, and should make all the difference both on- and off-road.
Like much of Russian industry, Niva production has been rocked by stoppages in the wake of sanctions due to the invasion of Ukraine. The Russian automotive industry was never exactly sophisticated, but AutoVAZ is leaning on simple, classic models more than ever as it tries to keep lines moving amidst supply chain issues.
If anything, the turmoil has perhaps made a stronger case than ever to keep the Niva in production until its fiftieth birthday and beyond. It's still got a long way to go to match the Volkswagen Beetle's legendary 65-year-run, but who knows what the future has in store?
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Amazon is holding a launch event on 18 June for a new product, expected to be its first smartphone. Leaks suggest the new phone will run a customized, Kindle version of Android, include an innovative 3D display and support a range of gesture-based inputs. A teaser video released by Amazon appears to back up the rumours of a new type of display.
- Mastercard planning to become a PSP in China
- PBOC working to regulate QR code mobile payments in China
- Scotiabank gives Apple Pay users 10% cashback
- PayPal to roll out NFC mobile payments across the US through Visa deal
- White paper advises banks on launching Android-based mobile payment services


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The Restaurant Relief America campaign was created to support U.S. restaurant workers financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. 100 percent of the profits from the Guy Fieri Playmates sold on the Igloo website will directly support U.S. restaurant workers financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
“When we get through this crazy time, you’re gonna want to get back out into the sunshine and a great American-made Igloo cooler should be the first thing you grab,” says Fieri. “With all profits going to support America’s restaurant workers, there couldn’t be a better time to stay cool in Flavortown."
Impacted restaurant workers can apply online for a one-time, $500 check to use towards housing, transportation, utilities, childcare, groceries, medical bills or student loans.
“The restaurant industry and its workers have already felt a tremendous impact due to COVID-19,” states Brian Garofalow, vice president marketing, Igloo. “We’re honored to support Guy Fieri’s movement and do our small part to help American restaurant workers.”
To support the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund and secure your limited-edition cooler, visit
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Beginning in May, Cornbred in Ames introduced, “Patio Picnics,” a new feature for the business that abides by social distancing guidelines, all while allowing customers to dine outside and enjoy the weather.
Just outside the restaurant at the ‘Railyard,’ rows of picnic tables are available for customers in groups of up to six to claim.
“If there are no open tables, please be kind to your neighbors and wait patiently with social distance or take your food to go,” Cornbred wrote in a Facebook post about the new initiative. “The tables have been spaced out, and many of them removed to allow for proper social distance.”
To dine at the tables, customers are encouraged or order meals online through curbside pick-up, and then let the business know where to find them.
“You could even let us know if it is on the patio or within the beer garden, so it’s easier to find you,” the business wrote in a news release. “We will deliver your order to your table when it’s ready.”
It’s just one example of how restaurants are adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a State of Emergency on March 17, in part closing dine-in service for restaurants across the state, Cornbred owner Ryan Newstrom stayed optimistic, he previously told the Tribune.
“Its a very big challenge for everybody,” he said back in March. “The way I like to look at it as a business owner is all changes – and I tell this to my team all the time – are really opportunities in disguise.”
A positive reception
Mike Rulli, owner of Ames’ Boulder Taphouse on South Duff, said reopening his family’s business was an easy decision to make, but not one made lightly. Now that it has been open for a couple of weeks, he’s grateful for the support he’s seen from the community.
“The city of Ames has had a great reception,” Rulli said. “It’s been really, really good … I think people are just really excited to get out and have a taste of normal.”
Rulli said there are many who are still concerned about dining in restaurants during the pandemic, but recalled a conversation he had with a customer which exemplified “a real healthy attitude.”
“A gentleman and his wife said to me, ‘We just don’t feel comfortable going out yet, but it’s good to see you open, and when things level out we are going to be back here all the time.’ I just thought, what a great response to have,” Rulli said.
“Regardless of what their comfort level is, they’re still choosing to come to us and they still respect everyone’s opinion and option of going out every so often.”
Rulli said there are plenty of options available for community members who do not feel safe dining in the restaurant, including third-party delivery or carry out — which he said is being used “much more than it normally is.”
For those who do want to dine in, Rulli said, they can be sure the staff is taking sanitation and the governors’ guidelines seriously.
“We follow the guidelines to the extreme, and we’ve always been real sticklers on cleanliness,” Rulli said. “Like anything else, you have to stick to the standards and I’m really following that tight. We’re doing that, and it’s been a better reception than we could have ever hoped for.”
An emphasis on sanitation
While restaurants already adhere to strict sanitation standards, Iowa Restaurant Association President Jessica Dunker said she envisions a bigger display of businesses’ practices.
Masks on servers and bartenders will likely stick around for a while. So will gloves on any employee who handles food.
Reminders will probably be placed around the restaurants for guests to wash their hands. And many in the state will display the Iowa Hospitality Promise — a two-way agreement between restaurant employees and their guests promising strict sanitation guidelines on both ends to keep everyone safe, healthy and well-fed.
“It used to be: ‘No shirt. No shoes. No service,’” Dunker said. “Now it’s, ‘If you’re exhibiting any signs of illness, then we have other ways to serve you.’”
A look at the Iowa Hospitality Promise
Courtesy of the Iowa Restaurant Association.
OUR PROMISE TO YOUWe will continue to be a leader in safe sanitation practices ensuring every location has a Certified Food Protection Manager who has put protocols in place emphasizing your safety and well-being.Ensure all staff members are feeling healthy and symptom free prior to every shift.All indoor and outdoor seating options will comply with the appropriate social distancing guidelines.Hand sanitizer is available upon entry and exit.We will clean and sanitize all common areas regularly.All tables and chairs will be cleaned and sanitized after every use.Place settings, utensils, menus, and condiments will either be single-use or will be cleaned and sanitized after every use.We will post the Iowa Hospitality Promise at our entrances so everyone understands the steps we must all take to keep our communities safe.
YOUR PROMISE TO USIf you have been exposed to COVID-19 recently or have symptoms of COVID-19 (including a fever, cough, or shortness of breath), please help us keep everyone safe by staying home.If you have underlying health conditions or are otherwise concerned about contracting COVID-19, please use our contactless delivery options.If you have any questions about the Iowa Hospitality Promise, please ask for a manager who will be happy to assist you.


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2017 Mazda MX-5 Cup Race Car Adds Race-Ready Equipment at a Cost
Mazda has announced the next production run of MX-5 Cup race cars, which will be more expensive and feature numerous mechanical advances compared to today’s car.
The MX-5 Cup Car will now cost $58,900, an 11.1-percent increase compared to the car’s launch price of $53,000. The extra money is justified thanks to new features that should make the MX-5 Cup faster around a race track including a motorsports-specific transmission, motorsports-specific engine mounts, differential bushing inserts, a fuel pump-out kit and updated ECU hardware and software.
Mazda will make a special exemption for the original 108 buyers, allowing them to purchase the updated car at the original price as long as it is ordered before September 16, 2016.
Each one of these cars starts as a fully built MX-5 that comes from Mazda’s Hiroshima, Japan factory. They are then sent to Long Road Racing in Statesville, North Carolina where a full roll cage is installed, 250 motorsports-specific parts are added and unnecessary weight is stripped away.
“When we launched the new MX-5 Cup racecar, our goal was to provide the best value in sports car racing. We believe we have done that,” said John Doonan, director of motorsports, Mazda North American Operations. ” Mazda says that from the time its ordered it takes between four and six weeks to take delivery of an MX-5 Cup.
“An old adage is that racing improves the breed, and in just the first few months of racing, we have made a few significant upgrades to ensure that the car remains a great value for many years to come. To minimize the need for mid-season rebuilds, we have switched to a motorsports-specific gearbox,” said Doonan. “While it uses many of the stock components, it is a track-only part. Likewise we have redesigned the engine brackets to better withstand the constant high-speed pounding that is beyond anything seen on the road. The bottom line, is that this car is even better than it was just a few months earlier and we expect to see even more of them on tracks around the world in the years to come.”
Discuss this story at our Mazda MX-5 Forum
Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on Twitter and Google+
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The arrival of the Fiat Group to the US market after the trade agreements with Chrysler led to its entry into the US market Many models are appreciated by stars and stripes. They are black sheep instead.
Not all cakes with a hole succeed and nothing strange yet, every brand has models More or less unforgettable which were sometime published in the market with mixed results. Sometimes the car sucks in all respects and not much can be said. However, other times, a good car with more than interesting features only fails in some markets that don’t appreciate it.
North American market Notorious for being toughThe European cars that delighted everyone on the old continent, such as the Smart Fortwo and Renault 5, were literally crucified by the specialized American press when they hit the mass market in the world’s largest country. Each case is different, of course, but today’s case leaves us in awe as the respective brands have an excellent reputation.
Alfa Romeo and deaths appeared On the list of the worst cars Manufactured or imported in the USA from 2000 onwards. The Maxi Plank of 50+ cars has real bugs and some of the vehicles are so bad that they are hard to remember even at home. In short, we were surprised to find these cars in the first two places because they were so popular in Italy.
A list of the 50 worst cars of the new millennium has been compiled by the specialized site Engine Genki Who got on the podium? Fiat 500 liters and Alfa Romeo Giulia! But why on earth? According to the editorial team of the online newspaper, 500L “It has questionable reliability and poor build quality which makes it a poor choice for potential buyers.”
The house is not spared even the Fiat 500X, fourth on the list and overshadowed “A real nail in the model’s coffin.” But the car most under attack is the Giulia, who was judged to be “Anything not impressive” And the “One of the worst cars sold out in the new millennium”. Exaggerated accusations are not reflected in the European reviews of the model. but also car and driver They said something like this…
According to the site, the Giulia is a fun car to drive but it turns out “Anything but perfect.” The online magazine criticizes the habitability and considers the car a second choice compared to the competition made up of BMW, Audi, Genesis and Mercedes-Benz while recognizing its advantages. Do we really need to give weight to these reviews? Frankly, the arguments against Julia They didn’t convince us That much. Everyone has their own thoughts and ours is that there are dozens of cars that deserve to be on this shuffle list instead of the Giulia or the 500L!
“Unable to type with boxing gloves on. Freelance organizer. Avid analyst. Friendly troublemaker. Bacon junkie.”
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320 euros discount bomb on eBay
Ancient Minerals for a 100% Environmental Line


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Locked-down Portland levels up
The Portland City Council voted Wednesday, March 3, to expedite permits for businesses who want to protect their storefronts with security lighting and gates.
City preservationists, however, objected to the change, saying it would put tourists off.
The Apple store reopened recently with a fearsome steel fence protecting its floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The glass was cracked multiple times in a riot on May 29, 2020, and remained a hazard until recently.
Commissioner Dan Ryan and Mayor Ted Wheeler were behind the new rule. Currently, design review of such changes can take months. BDS is operating remotely because of COVID-19 and short staffing, and the architectural lobby is strong.
The rule would only apply during the city's current COVID-19 state of emergency.
Mayor Wheeler, who is widely blamed for allowing vandals and homeless people to scare away visitors from downtown, said, "We need to have our major employers and our major retailers and those that make the wheels turn have confidence that this is still a place to do business."
According to Willamette Week Pioneer Place wanted new security gates, but owners were told approval would take three months.
Commissioner Ryan said before the vote, "This ordinance will support all businesses in commercial districts with design overlay zones as they seek to expediently secure their buildings and fully reopen for business."
The ordinance has limits. Floodlights will still have to down at the ground, not outward, and fences and gates should be close to transparent. Historic landmarks will still have to go through the formal review.
Shops such as the Apple store have become crucial to downtown. It has become a place of pilgrimage for out-of-state tourists. They load up on electronics there, saving the usual 6-10% sales tax they would pay at home. The steps and light-filled design have made it something of a meeting place.
Members of the city's historic landmark commission and design review commission and spoke out against the ordinance, saying it would encourage bad design, and the fences might stay up long after the pandemic emergency is over.
Kristen Minor, the Historic Landmarks Commission chair, said, "We ask that you abandon this ill-conceived strategy."
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Vion’s Welsh Country Foods lamb processing plant in north Wales is under threat of closure because its key customer plans to use another supplier.
Asda accounts for 50% of the site’s business and the decision to serve notice on its supply relationship with the Anglesey plant is a major blow to the business. Throughput at the Gaerwen factory is about 640,000 lambs a year.
Welsh Country Foods confirmed it was in discussion with potential alternative customers in a bid to save the plant.
About 350 people are employed at the site and a 90-day consultation exercise is now under way.
But the managing director of Vion’s red meat business, Jose Peralta, admitted if the consultation exercise does not reveal a viable way forward, the company would have no option but to close the site. This comes as Vion is looking for a buyer for its red meat and poultry businesses in the UK. A management buyout has been approved for the pork business.
Asda’s decision to switch supplier follows what it terms as a strategic review of the supermarket’s lamb business to meet the changing needs of customers. “We have built a strong relationship with Welsh lamb farmers and we remain committed to sourcing lamb from the country,” said an Asda spokesperson.
If the plant closure is confirmed, Welsh Country Foods said it would take all practical steps to work with the relevant agencies to minimise what will be a significant impact on jobs and the local economy.
“This is an extremely difficult day for everyone at Welsh Country Foods following the decision by its key customer to de-list Welsh Country Foods as a supplier,” said Mr Peralta.
“We recognise the impact which this decision will have on the local economy and the community in Anglesey and we are in discussions with the retailer to establish if their decision can be overturned and if any steps can be taken to mitigate their decision.
“This is an extremely difficult day for everyone at Welsh Country Foods following the decision by its key customer to de-list Welsh Country Foods as a supplier.”
“Throughout the consultation process we will explore every opportunity to limit any potential job losses which will include attracting new customers to the site or the sale of the business to any interested parties. We will also work with our farmer supply base to minimise any impact that this may have on their activities.”
Wales’ red meat levy body, Hybu Cig Cymru, hopes a solution can be found.
Chairman, Dai Davies, said the business was the last remaining major abattoir in North Wales and, as such, played a vital strategic role in serving farmers in the region.
“Should Welsh Country Foods close following the consultation period, it will be a hammer blow for the entire food and farming industry in Wales,” said Mr Davies.
“We will not only lose hundreds of jobs but we will also lose the facilities provided by the plant itself – which include slaughtering, boning and retail packaging which all add value to the final product. Closure will cause long term damage to the economy of Wales.”
NFU Cymru president Ed Bailey described the news as “devastating”, but said he had been assured by Vion that Welsh Country Foods suppliers will be paid for sheep supplied during the 90-day consultation.
“I hope that the deputy minister for agriculture is prepared to consider all options to secure the future of the plants operating in Wales, given that levy collection and therefore the marketing and promotion of the sector are intrinsically linked to the location of abattoirs. We will raise the matter when we meet with the deputy minister on Monday,” he said.
Join our forum debate on Vion


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Software sells systems, after all.
It’s a strange time in gaming, especially if your main platforms of choice are PlayStation or Xbox. Both systems do — despite often hysterical takes found on social media — have plenty of games to play. What PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S don’t have is an overabundance of new ‘next gen’ exclusives.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com


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The upcoming Intel Developer Forum is expected to focus on chips for both traditional notebooks and emerging mobile devices, and not so much on desktop PC processors, according to Intel officials and analysts.
The event's expected focus is consistent with Intel's rising interest in mobile processors, whose demand is growing much faster than demand for desktop PC processors, a stagnant market Intel has dominated for many years.
The show, to be held in San Jose, California from Sept. 9 to Sept. 12, will highlight Intel's developments in chips for embedded and wireless handheld devices, Intel officials have said. Intel will reveal new capabilities of chips based on its XScale technology, a chip architecture for mobile devices based on core technology from ARM Ltd., they have said.
Intel has been focusing much of its attention on the mobile market, although processors for digital cameras, cell phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) represent a small portion of Intel's current sales, with revenues of US$532 million in the second quarter of 2002, out of total revenues of $6.32 billion.
Intel announced Tuesday a partnership with Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV to develop a new generation of consumer electronics devices that use Intel's XScale processors. Also, Intel's PXA250 processors will be used in a combination cell phone/PDA device with a retractable keyboard from Bsquare Corp. Other announcements of handheld and consumer electronics devices with XScale processors are expected at the show, according to Intel officials.
"Mobile data access is going to be a key trend for this decade, and Intel wants to be a big part of it," said Kevin Krewell, senior editor of the Microprocessor Report and general manager of market research company MDR in San Jose.
Hopes for sustained growth in Intel's main business, its microprocessors, chipsets, and motherboards for desktop PCs, are falling as the world economy continues to stagnate, and the desktop PC market matures. Several financial analyst firms have reduced their revenue and earnings expectations for the final two quarters of Intel's 2002 fiscal year, and for the entire 2002 fiscal year as well, pointing to a weaker-than-expected back-to-school market. Some details of Intel's new chip for notebook computers, Banias, have already been released, but the company is expected to provide further technical details, according to Intel, and will probably demonstrate a prototype of the chip to the convention attendees, sources said. Further information on the forthcoming 3.0GHz Pentium 4 processor for desktop PCs is also expected at the show, according to Intel.
Banias is Intel's project to develop a processor optimized for a mobile environment "from the ground up," said Frank Spindler, vice president of the Intel corporate technology group in an interview last week.
Rather than just tweak existing desktop processors to perform in a mobile environment, as was done for the Pentium 4-M, Banias represents a "total systems approach" to a mobile processor, said Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst for Insight 64 in Saratoga, California.
Banias will contain 802.11b technology that cuts the amount of power consumed by a processor during wireless transactions, said Brookwood. This lengthens battery life, and also allows Banias to be used in extremely thin and light notebook form factors, he said.
Intel did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the 802.11b technology mentioned by Brookwood.
Designers of mobile processors have always been concerned with keeping power consumption and heat dissipation low, to avoid the types of problems experienced recently by some notebooks from Toshiba Corp. A group of users recently filed a class-action suit against Toshiba alleging the notebook manufacturer did not adequately address the design needs of desktop processors in mobile environments, which led to their Satellite 5005 series notebooks overheating and shutting down without warning.
Initial clock speeds for Banias are expected to be around 1.6GHz or 1.7GHz, which will require a different marketing strategy from Intel that focuses on overall performance instead of exclusively on speed, Brookwood said. Intel generally touts its clock speed advantage in comparison tests, but the Banias chip will have better overall performance than higher clock-speed Pentium 4-Ms, he said.
Rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. has tried for years to make the argument that clock speed is not the primary determinant of processor performance, and Intel will have to acknowledge that with Banias, he said.
Still, Intel has a huge advantage in the market for desktop and notebook processors over AMD. According to research from Mercury Research Inc., Intel shipped 82.8 percent of desktop and notebook PC processor shipments worldwide, compared to AMD's 15.6 percent.


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2018 Park City Ski and Snowboard Swap set for Nov. 2 through 4
2018 PCSS Ski Swap Dates: Friday, 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Basin Recreation Fieldhouse, 1388 Center Dr. Costs: $10 Friday, $5 Saturday, $2 Sunday. Kids 11 and under free.
Park City Ski and Snowboard is hosting its 46th annual ski swap from Friday to Sunday, Nov. 2-4. The event serves both as a place for ski and snowboard enthusiasts to sell newer used equipment, and for buyers to find steeply discounted gear.
The best deals will go to the early birds, who wait in line hours before the doors open at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. Friday.
“It’s a big party,” said John Buchar, alpine program director at PCSS. “Some (customers) show up as early as we do to set up, and wait in line all day.”
Thousands of items are amassed over the previous week, with sellers dropping off their equipment during regular business hours from Monday to Thursday at the Jans and Colesport stores on Park Avenue. There is also day-of drop off at the Fieldhouse, running from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday.
Those who bring equipment suitable for sale – skis, snowboards, helmets, boots and poles generally newer than five years – receive a ticket, like a coat check. However, small used items like goggles and gloves won’t be accepted.
Buchar added that people can sell related items like ice skates, but PCSS is not accepting ski racks or cargo boxes.
Ten vendors including Shred Optics are set to sell unused technical clothing and goggles.
“Pretty much, as a family, you will be able to pick up everything you need for skiing and snowboarding,” Buchar said.
Those who brought items in for sale will be able to trade their tickets for either their earnings – of which 70 percent of sale price goes to the individual seller, 30 percent is collected to fund PCSS programs – or their unsold items, at the Fieldhouse on Sunday from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
On Friday evening, doors will open to the large line that typically grows for hours outside the Fieldhouse, ushering in a rush of deal-seekers. Doors will close for the night at 1 a.m.
No backpacks or coats are allowed inside, so there is an actual coat check. Buchar said it fills up quickly and advises people to leave such items in their cars if possible. The weather forecast for the night is predicted to be dry, with temperatures across the 30s.
“Friday night is the busiest,” Buchar said. “That’s when we have people waiting outside to come in early and maybe grab some of the bigger deals. So if you are looking for something specific, Friday night is your night.”
PCSS volunteers will be available to help with fitting skis and boots and to answer general questions. Buchar said customer service will be best on Saturday and Sunday, when there are fewer shoppers, and said beginning skiers would be best served shopping on those days.
Saturday’s sale will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. while Sunday’s will run four fewer hours, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Friday’s price of admission is $10 for customers 12 and older, while Saturday costs $5 and Sunday costs $2. Anyone under 11 will be admitted free.
All sales are final.
For more information, go to parkcityskiswap.com
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Marks & Spencer has appointed a new chief digital and data officer.
Jeremy Pee, who is currently a senior vice-president of Canadian retailer Loblaw Companies, will take up the newly created role in December.
Pee’s remit is to lead the retailer’s digital business strategy. M&S said he will be responsible for “leveraging data and digital operations for the benefit of M&S’s customers, colleagues and shareholders, as well as developing and embedding a modern digital mindset and culture across the business”.
M&S chief executive Steve Rowe said: “Jeremy has first-class experience of leading and executing retail digital transformation, and growing a portfolio of ecommerce businesses.
”As we seek to become a digital-first retailer, grow market share, and change our digital behaviours, mindsets and culture, he is the right leader to deliver these changes and make M&S fit for the digital age.”
Pee said: “M&S is going through a critical transformation and there’s no better time to be joining the business.”


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Attorney General Phil Weiser continues his statewide tour about possible grocery store merger
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has been visiting communities around Colorado who could be impacted by the possible merger of two large grocery chains.
Kroger, which owns City Market and King Soopers, announced plans to acquire Albertsons, which owns Safeway, for nearly $25 billion last October.
Weiser was in Longmont Tuesday afternoon as part of his state-wide listening tour.
Previous stops on the tour include Gunnison, Denver, Cañon City, and a stop in Golden on Monday evening.
Weiser says rural communities are concerned about an increase in food deserts, but urban communities are also concerned about access to stores.
"One of the urban concerns is that there are a lot of people who have limits on their abilities to access supermarkets that are far away. They might go on foot or they might have limited public transit options. If a store closes and they can't access the store, that will threaten their food security, and that means for consumers, a huge, huge challenge," he said.
Several current and former employees of local Safeway and King Soopers stores attended Tuesday's meeting.
Trevor McCarthy who works at one of the two Safeway stores in Longmont says the union has a strong presence there and he's concerned about what would happen in a merger.
"We could potentially wind up losing lots of benefits, our wages could go down, assuming again that we're even able to keep our jobs. They might wind up shutting us entirely because they don't want to deal with a union," he said.
Several consumers attended the meeting in Longmont and told AG Weiser they were worried about the cost of groceries increasing if a merger were to go ahead.
Weiser said he's heard this concern all across Colorado.
"Food prices matter to people and they're feeling the effects and as they look at this merger they're asking 'is this going to mean higher prices?' We're asking that question too. If we believe that the answer is yes at the end of our analysis, that this merger would lead to higher food prices, we have the opportunity and the obligation to challenge the merger," said Weiser.
Kroger has said it won't close any stores if the merger goes ahead, but previous grocery chain mergers in Colorado have resulted in multiple store closures.
In 2015, shortly after Safeway merged with Albertsons, nine stores in the Denver area closed down.
Weiser says store closures can have a ripple effect on neighboring businesses in the community.
"I heard a different version of that concern from the local chamber of commerce in Cañon City where people said 'if you have this retraction of this business here, you may have people going elsewhere for their shopping. That's going to hollow out shopping in our county, in our community'," said Weiser.
The Attorney General will hold further meetings in Vail, Montrose and Cortez in the coming weeks.
Weiser says he wants to hear from as many Coloradans as possible, before deciding early next year whether to challenge the merger in court.
People can submit comments about the proposed merger online.
This story was shared with KSUT via Rocky Mountain Community Radio, a network of public media stations in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico including KSUT.
Copyright 2023 Aspen Public Radio . To see more, visit Aspen Public Radio .


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“There is a lot of talk about creating customer-centric organizations but not nearly enough action,” a recent Forrester report said.
Forrester described 2018 as “a year of reckoning” for many businesses:
“Unmet customer expectations are resulting in churn; the lack of digital transformation gains is translating to loss of market share; industry lines that protected some are crumbling; and longstanding, durable business models are failing.”
The sense of urgency for digital transformation is overwhelming and “customer-centricity” is often described as a key part of that strategy. And yet, there’s a lack of understanding about what being “customer-centric” actually means, or where to start.
The Forrester report called out that customer experience has flat-lined.
“CX quality plateaued or declined for most industries and companies. Why? CX initiatives tackled low-hanging fruit to put early points on the board, and most CX initiatives had too little clout to force meaningful operational change.
“Customers’ expectations will outpace companies’ ability to evolve or invent experiences, and the deferred transformation in 2017 means that companies can’t adjust fast enough or well enough.”
For all the hype, putting the customer at the core of the business is a challenge. It’s not just a technology focus. It’s an organizational and cultural effort.
Here are a few related cartoons I’ve drawn over the years.
“Customer-Centric” January 2017
“Tracking the Customer Journey” July 2016
“Customer Journey Mapping” April 2016
2 CommentsJoin the Discussion
Robert Dundon says
Great Post! Tried clicking the link and it didn’t work. Realized it’s linked to a local directory. Do you have the web link?
Sorry about that! I just corrected the post. The link to the Forrester report is here: https://go.forrester.com/wp-content/uploads/Forrester-2018-Predictions.pdf


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Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention. For more mobile game trailers, reviews and news be sure to Subscribe to IGNMobileGames on YouTube.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Kawaii Killer – (Pulled from Sale)
Most of the time these App Store Update articles exist to tell you what new games have recently debuted for sale in Apple’s virtual storefront – but today it looks like our lead story is a new release that has just been newly removed. I’d planned to feature Kawaii Killer as the top game of interest in today’s edition any way, but the story’s gotten more interesting since it’s now unavailable – the game design allows you to mercilessly murder some bright-eyed cartoon forest creatures in gruesome displays of blood, and while it was originally approved as first went on sale in the App Store last week, it’s now been pulled from the shelves. So, sorry that you can no longer buy this one, Apple fans. (Though it’s still on sale for Android users through Google Play and as a PC title through Humble Bundle.)
Kiwanuka – ($0.99, Down from $1.99)
Kiwanuka is a wild looking Lemmings-ish puzzler platformer that has you directing hordes of followers to build bridges with their bodies. It's nuts! And it’s on sale for the first time ever today. Definitely watch this trailer:
Out There – ($1.99, Down from $3.99)
Explore outer space in this sim that has some similarities to FTL:
Tengami – ($1.99, Down from $4.99)
Fans of the art styles of Nintendo's Paper Mario games and Media Molecule's Tearaway should take a look at the engaging paper-based style of Tengami, an adventure which plays out across the pages of a pop-up book:
Threes! – ($0.99, Down from $1.99)
Finally, the wildly popular number-combining puzzler Threes! is on sale for the first time ever as well.
That’s it for today! Email subscriptions to the App Store Update are still just one sign-up away, right here:


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Kim Kardashian’s Valentine’s Day Haul Is Insane and We Can’t Even Get a Text Back
Loads of people love her! Kim Kardashian took to her Instagram Stories on February 13 to show off her epic haul of Valentine’s Day presents — and needless to say, the KUWTK starlet really raked in the goods this year. It looks as though her little sister Khloé Kardashian came through to shower her and her kids with gifts. Too sweet!
In several videos posted to her Instagram Stories, the 39-year-old took her fans through her haul, showing off loads of sweet wrapped presents including decked out in Kanye West Valentine’s Day paper from KoKo — an obvious tribute to Kim’s rapper husband. There were animal-shaped wicker baskets filled with toys for Kim’s babies, North, Chicago, Saint and Psalm and tons of stuffed animals (definitely enough to go around). Plus, there were a bunch of Hermès bags, so you know someone got spoiled a bit for the holiday.
Possibly the best part of the haul was when she and her kids took to a breakable card with a heart-shaped box full of chocolates you have to smash open to retrieve. It was too cute seeing everyone take their turn bashing open the box.
Obviously, the litter of gifts looked like it was probably pretty pricey, but it’s no surprise to see the Kar-Jenner gals go all out for a holiday. That being said, an insider told Life & Style exclusively that the ladies have different styles of ~spoiling~ their babies when it comes to gifts.
“Kylie [Jenner] gets a lot of buzz for spoiling Stormi [Webster] — reportedly $100,000 recently — but Kim, Kourtney [Kardashian] and Khloé are no slouches when it comes to lavishing presents on their kids,” a source dished about the siblings in December 2019.
“Khloé has learned that less is more. She’s trying really hard to set a better example, but Khloé and Kim still go all out,” the insider added. “The designer clothes they buy for kids is in the $10,000 to $20,000 or more range — which is insane when you think how they’ll outgrow it so fast — but money is no object for them.”
No wonder why Kimmy’s spread was so epic. Happy Kardashian-West Valentine’s Day, y’all.


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Users can now speed up iPhone haptic feedback Thanks to a new tweak in iOS 17, and at its fastest, it's getting closer to how the old 3D Touch used to work.
Apple ditched the 3D Touch hardware feature with pressure-sensitive screens back in 2019. This was then thought to be due to the fact that few users discovered and used the feature, but those who used it liked it.
In comparison, the haptic feedback that Apple has implemented instead, — where the screen is not pressure sensitive, but the phone artificially responds as if it were — never been the same. This was mainly because 3D Touch worked so fast when you clicked on an app to bring up the popup menu.
Now that Apple is releasing the second developer beta of iOS 17, it looks like it's trying to recreate 3D Touch.
The new Fast Haptic Touch option in iOS 17 looks like 3D Touch! #ios17 pic.twitter.com/YDkViEVCpp
— Apple Intro (@AppleIntro), June 22, 2023
As Twitter user AppleIntro first noted, the updated Settings app now includes a section that's actually called “3D & Haptic Touch. In the first beta, searching for this name took you to the old Haptic Touch settings section, but it has now been renamed to display both.
This option under Accessibility, Haptic Touch also updates the available options. Earlier in this section, you could choose whether haptic touch should respond quickly or slowly to your touch.
There is now a 3D Touch option in the same section with a slider to select the amount of pressure required to activate this feature. The touch duration setting has also been slightly changed, and now has a Default option, as well as Fast and Slow.