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Hard to believe that Ford's CEO would actually deploy the word "migrate" to describe his company's on-going commitment to the destruction of manufacturing in America.
Yup, Ford factories don't move because ruthless greedbags make cut-throat decisions to further plump up their already record profits. No, it's much more organic than that... they migrate, like a migrating caribou herd, or migrant workers or something.
Mr. Fields is gonna have to have a serious chat with Mr. Trump about that wall Trump wants to build. It's gonna prevent Mexican migrants from heading back to Mexico to take all those jobs Ford is shipping out of the USA.
And what a timely story to rebut all those revisionists who claim that American manufacturing jobs are being destroyed by automation, not by "free trade" agreements. If, per Barry Lando and many others, it was really automation and robotics that was killing American jobs, Ford would have been more than happy to build a new automated plant in... Detroit?
But no. CEO Fields is migrating Ford production to Mexico. Lando et al want us to believe that's got nothing to do with Mexico's exponentially lower manufacturing wages and everything to do with robotics.


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The retail drug store Walgreen’s has been working with a company called aisle411 to develop an in-store navigation system customers can use on their smart phones. Their mobile retail navigation app is currently being rolled out for smart phones in all 7,907 Walgreen’s Drugstores nationwide.
By providing an in-store mapping platform, the app, which will work on all smart phones, will provide a more convenient shopping experience for customers. Essentially, customers will be able to use their smart phones to see a type of birds-eye view of the store and the aisles to see where they are and easily zoom in and find what they’re looking for.
Looking ahead, as I tend to do, it’s easy to see that a future refinement to the app will allow customers to see where employees are located in the store. So if you need help, you can look at the app and see that an employee is just a couple of aisles away, or that there’s a shorter line at the cash register on the other end of the store.
This is a great beginning to in-store navigation, which has not been possible before because satellite GPS is not accurate enough for in-store use. Plus, depending on how big the store is and how many stories of cement are above you, GPS typically doesn’t work well. But with in-store navigation, you’re bypassing satellite GPS and using an in-store navigation system that is extremely accurate.
Walgreen’s is the first to roll this technology out nationally. But it’s easy to see that other large retail outlets will be using this soon, like Costco, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, and others, as they all try to create a better customer experience using technology.

domain: news


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Without a doubt, the most impressive thing that BMW showed at CES this year was a driverless M235i drifting flawlessly around a wet track at Las Vegas Speedway. However, that bit of robotic helmsmanship wasn't the only trick the German company had up its sleeve. Or, more to the point, on its wrist.
Samsung Galaxy Gear
- 2018 Honda Accord is sleeker, more efficient
- Mercedes X-Class pickup truck revealed
- Find and compare 2017 Models
Samsung Galaxy Gear Questions
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Taking note of the matter, the American giant responded to the series of complaints and said that the phenomenon is quite common on the LCD displays and there is nothing wrong with the device that it can fix.
In a number of complaints put before the public, several users of iPad mini 2021 have flagged the issue of uneven scrolling when they use the device in portrait mode. The problem has resulted more often when users were scrolling up and down with lots of text on their screen in the portrait mode. A section of users have also informally given a name to the recurring problem by calling it ‘jelly scroll.’ Taking note of the matter, the American giant responded to the series of complaints and said that the phenomenon is quite common on the LCD displays and there is nothing wrong with the device that it can fix.
Apple has said (via Ars Technica) the jelly scroll issue is normal behaviour for the LCD screens. Explaining its finding, the company said that since the LCD display is refreshed line by line, there is a small lag that occurs due to the time taken by the upper and the lower part lines to refresh. The company has said that the uneven scrolling issue is only because of the usual phenomenon on the LCD screens and there is no additional error or an issue causing the problem.
With the company formally acknowledging that there is not anything that needs to be done to fix the issue, the users who have already bought the tablet or are thinking of doing it in future must take their call keeping in mind the jelly scroll issue. While several users have encountered the problem on the device, most have noted that the phenomenon is very subtle and oftentimes unnoticeable. Technical analysts who have also attested the finding of users have maintained that most users do not even notice the phenomenon in their normal usage and it is rare for the time lag to manifest it in a substantial manner. Above all, the problem is encountered only when the tablet is being used in the portrait mode and vanishes organically when the phone is used in the landscape mode.
The iPad Mini 2021 was launched by the company in September alongside the iPhone 13 series. The price of the iPad Mini 2021 in India begins from Rs 46,900 for the WiFi only variant. Its price increases to Rs 60,900 in case of the WiFi+Cellular variant.


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Today, MarketForce, the Nairobi-headquartered B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announces the closing of a $40 million Series A round, the largest Series A round of it’s kind in East and Central Africa. The raise comes 7 months after concluding a pre-Series A round.
The round was led by V8 Capital Partners – a London and Lagos based African-focused investment vehicle – with participation from Ten13 VC, SOSV Select Fund, Vu Ventures, Vastly Valuable Ventures and Uncovered Fund, along a number of existing investors; Reflect Ventures, Greenhouse Capital, Century Oak Capital and Remapped Ventures. Ken Njoroge, Cofounder and former CEO of Cellulant also participated in the round and joins the board as Chairman. The oversubscribed round was made up of equity and debt.
In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 90% of household retail transactions are in cash, and delivered through a network of about 100 million MSMEs. Retail payments on the continent are expected to top $2.1 trillion by 2025, and MarketForce aims to digitize a large portion of these offline transactions.
Co-founded in 2018 by Tesh Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti, MarketForce is a leading B2B Commerce and Fintech marketplace that empowers informal merchants in Africa to order, pay and receive inventory digitally and conveniently, access financing, collect digital payments and make extra money by reselling digital financial services such as airtime, electricity tokens and bill payments.
MarketForce runs an asset-light operating model and is currently operational in 5 markets (Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda) with the merchant super app, RejaReja – which offers informal merchants next-day delivery for hundreds of SKUs from the leading FMCG brands. One year ago, MarketForce served about 5,000 customers: now, that figure has grown more than twenty-fold to 100,000 merchants, with the average transaction size tripling and revenue growing 27x over the same period.
On the supplier side, MarketForce monetizes through availing real-time market intelligence dashboards to FMCGs. MarketForce counts top consumer brands and financial service providers such as Nestle, Pepsi, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Bidco Africa, Chandaria Industries, Kapa Oil, Safaricom, Cellulant, Lami and Pezesha, to mention a few, as its partners.
With this round of funding, MarketForce plans to scale merchant inventory financing through a BNPL offering, grow deeper in existing markets and avail more digital financial and banking services through its extensive merchant network. MarketForce has a team of 400 and intends to double the team before the end of the year.
Building the “Operating System” for retail distribution in Africa
“Our goal is be the ultimate partner for informal merchants, empowering them to maximize their profits and grow in a digital age by getting better service, assortment, and access to new revenue opportunities, outfitting them with the technology and support they need to transform themselves from simple FMCG outlets to comprehensive financial service hubs for the continent’s last-mile communities,” said Tesh Mbaabu, Cofounder and CEO of MarketForce. “We are targeting to serve over 1 million active merchants on our platform in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2025.”
“The MarketForce team has demonstrated their ability to build a differentiated, powerful and all-inclusive digital commerce platform for merchants in Africa. We are proud to partner and build the future of retail in Africa by helping to optimize supply chains and catalyze the digitization of the African retail ecosystem, which holds a lot of untapped potential to improve incomes and enable millions of African merchants to grow their businesses,” said Tobi Oke, General Partner at V8 Capital and member of the MarketForce board.
London Fintech Owner Faces Extradition to Belgium Over Alleged Money Laundering for Drug Traffickers
A London-based fintech owner accused of aiding drug traffickers in laundering hundreds of millions of euros through a cryptocurrency exchange platform must be extradited to Belgium to face criminal charges, a London judge ruled.
Caio Marchesani, the owner of Trans-Fast Remittance, a payments business regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, is alleged to have facilitated the hoarding of significant amounts of cash for Sergio Roberto De Carvalho, a Brazilian previously described by Interpol as one of the world’s most wanted kingpins before his arrest in 2022.
Marchesani is also accused by prosecutors of managing cryptocurrency accounts for Flor Bressers, a Belgian national known as the “finger cutter.”
Marchesani, who was apprehended at Heathrow Airport in May, has seven days to appeal against the extradition order, according to the London judge’s decision on Tuesday.
Following the ruling, both Marchesani’s lawyer and the prosecution declined to comment.
In a statement filed in court last month, Marchesani maintained his innocence, stating, “I have not been involved in money laundering the proceeds of drug sales for the alleged organized criminal group.”
His legal representatives at Mishcon de Reya had previously argued that the prosecution’s case contained “false, vague, ambiguous, or inaccurate particulars.” They emphasized that none of the allegations against Marchesani were related to his business interests in the UK.
The efforts to extradite Marchesani are part of a broader investigation that began three years ago after the Dutch government seized more than 12 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over €260 million ($278 million), at Europe’s busiest port, Rotterdam. Authorities traced the seized drugs back to Bressers and De Carvalho, eventually focusing on Marchesani after a breakthrough in decoding encrypted communications.
Prosecutors acting on behalf of Belgian authorities alleged, “He is a shadow banker who receives money, either in cash, cryptocurrency, or both, and moves it around at the will of the criminal organization to disguise its origins,” during an earlier hearing.
A trial involving 30 defendants in the case, including Bressers, commenced in Belgium earlier this month but was immediately postponed, as reported by local press outlets.
A pre-recorded message from Trans-Fast Remittance stated that their payment service is currently offline but aims to resume services soon. Companies House filings from August indicate that another owner has been added to the registry.
Flutterwave, Africa’s Leading Payments Technology Company, Celebrates the Success of its Graduate Trainee Program
Flutterwave, the foremost payments technology company in Africa, proudly announced yesterday that it has successfully onboarded nearly 85 percent of its 200 Graduate Trainees following a year of intensive training.
In a recent statement, the company emphasized its unwavering commitment to nurturing young talent while maintaining its reputation as an exceptional workplace that fosters career growth opportunities in the technology sector.
Launched in August 2022, the Flutterwave Graduate Trainee Program was a 12-month-long paid initiative tailored for recent graduates with limited or no prior work experience but boundless aspirations.
The program’s primary objective was to establish a network of emerging talent, equipping them with both technical and soft skills, along with practical experience, through engagement with a global organization boasting over 750 employees worldwide.
The program’s adaptability, including accommodating the unique needs of recent graduates, such as aligning with their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) obligations, underscores Flutterwave’s commitment to its customers, young talent, and the community.
Speaking on the successful culmination of the program and the abundant growth opportunities available to employees at Flutterwave, Mansi Babyloni, Flutterwave’s Global Chief People Officer, said, “We are excited to have fulfilled our mission of providing 200 exceptionally bright young graduates with the opportunity to learn on the job and kick-start their careers in the tech industry early in life. As 170 of them transition from Graduate Trainees to full-time employees after completing 12 months of on-the-job training and shadowing, a world of opportunities awaits them. I am thrilled that they can now navigate their career paths within our newly launched career progress framework, which epitomizes boundless potential. Today, they hold roles as Analysts and Engineer 1s; tomorrow, they could be VPs and CXOs. At Flutterwave, anything is possible. I extend my best wishes to all 200 Graduate Trainees, even those who have pursued other opportunities; the world is your oyster!”
Bode Abifarin, Chief Operating Officer at Flutterwave, said, “We’re thankful for the successful completion of the Flutterwave Graduate Trainee Program. We thank the People Team and all the Graduate Trainee Managers that helped coach, mentor and train our GTs to propel their growth into Analysts and Engineer 1s. This is in line with our mission to create endless possibilities for all; truly, their careers have taken off and there’s no limit to what they can achieve going forward.”
MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank Offers 8.0% Annual Interest Rate to G-Kala Savers
MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank (MMPSB), established by Globacom, is set to elevate the experience of its G-Kala savings account holders by introducing an enticing 8.0 percent annual interest rate on their savings accounts with the bank.
This innovative initiative is aimed at cultivating a culture of saving among both new and existing customers of the bank, thereby promoting financial inclusion across the nation.
In a statement released by the bank in Lagos, it was disclosed that “both new and existing G-Kala savings account holders will benefit from an 8.0 percent interest rate per annum on all deposits made into their G-Kala savings account.”
However, customers are advised that “no more than three withdrawals are allowed per month to qualify for the interest, which will be calculated and credited monthly,” the statement emphasized.
This bold move is intended to encourage the adoption of cashless banking, making it accessible to potential customers who can effortlessly open an account via the bank’s website for a seamless and convenient experience.
“This presents an exciting opportunity for everyone to open a G-Kala account with MoneyMaster PSB, deposit funds into the wallet, and enjoy an 8.0 percent interest rate per annum,” the statement continued.
The bank underscored that G-Kala is a tailor-made product designed to cater to customers who may not have easy access to traditional banks or who belong to the unbanked population.
“G-Kala brings the benefits of banking directly to their mobile phones through USSD, eliminating the need for an internet connection. It empowers them to deposit, withdraw money, transfer funds to other banks, purchase airtime, and pay bills such as electricity, water, DSTV, and more.
“This innovative service offers a convenient and secure alternative for banking transactions, available anytime and anywhere, operating in real time. It’s not only safer and faster but also more convenient and cost-effective compared to traditional money transfer services.”
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SimpleSignal, TurboBridge Partner on Adding HD Audio Conferencing
With this agreement, SimpleSignal customers are equipped to add the "Simple Conferencing" feature to their service plan and immediately experience the benefit of enjoying HD audio conferencing.
Both Simple Conferencing and TurboBridge access numbers are now routed directly to the TurboBridge service allowing a TurboBridge customer, also a customer of Simple Conferencing to connect directly to TurboBridge via the Internet. This way the traditional public switched telephone network is completely bypassed and thus a direct connection virtually eliminates the risk of dropped or low call quality calls, as well as allow for HD audio using the G.722 CODEC.
Dave Giblert, president at SimpleSignal, commented in a press release that peering with TurboBridge has eliminated a major obstacle in enabling end-to-end HD audio. Giblert noted that TurboBridge is another component of its strategy of partnering with key Internet-based services and offering them to its customers.
"SimpleSignal is a leader in shaping the future of telecommunications, delivering such innovations as cloud-based services, HD audio and unified communications", said Chris Koehncke, president of TurboBridge. "We are proud to partner with them," Koehncke added.
Anuradha Shukla is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Jaclyn Allard


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New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government Wednesday banned the use, sale, manufacture, distribution and advertisement of e-cigarettes in India. The decision, announced by Union ministers Prakash Javadekar and Nirmala Sitharaman at a press conference, was taken due to an alarming rise in vaping among the young population.
“The Union cabinet has taken a decision to ban e-cigarettes. It means the production, manufacturing, import/export, sale, storage and advertising of e-cigarettes are banned. This is keeping in mind the impact it is having on the youth today,” Sitharaman said.
Javadekar also said government measures have led to a reduction in public smoking too.
Referring to the recent deaths linked to vaping in the US, Finance Minister Sitharaman said, “There have been seven deaths that are directly linked to e-cigarettes. There has been a 78 per cent increase in the use of e-cigarettes by high school students and a 900 per cent rise among others in the US alone. Currently, 300 million US citizens use e-cigarettes.”
According to a data by TRENDS — the trade representatives of ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) in India — there are around 2.6 lakh vapers in India while the overall population of smokers (including tobacco-based and beedi) exceed 12 crore.
What led to the ban
The government’s decision is based on a white paper released in May this year by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country’s apex medical research body, which had advocated for a ban while explaining the potential hazard of e-cigarettes.
“Use of ENDS or e-cigarettes has documented adverse effects on humans, which include DNA damage; carcinogenic, cellular, molecular and immunological toxicity; respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disorders; and adverse impact on fetal development and pregnancy,” the ICMR had said in its study.
In the same month, over 1,000 students and teachers along with several public health organisations had appealed to PM Modi to enforce a complete ban on e-cigarettes and other ENDS which include e-hookahs and vaping too. “There is gross misinformation about the harmful effects of these products among adolescents as they perceive these as ‘fun devices’ that are safe,” they had said, in a letter addressed to the prime minister.
There are over 460 brands of e-cigarettes available in India, with over 7,700 vaping flavours. Some of the popular vaping devices include JUUL, KarmaX, Smok Nord and E-leaf – costing anywhere between Rs 2,000 and Rs 15,000.
In March, over 1,000 doctors across the country had also written to the prime minister to prohibit manufacture and sale of ENDS. The physicians had said that victims of tobacco were being influenced by the “ENDS lobby” who promote e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation device.
Lack of regulation
An unregulated e-cigarette market and easy availability has been blamed by medical practitioners for the rising number of health complications among young Indians. Several physicians had earlier told ThePrint that there has been a spurt in illnesses linked to vaping.
“Patients have doubled in the last year alone. In 2018, there were around two patients a month who suffered from vaping-related complications. This year, I have already seen around four patients in one month,” Dr Navneet Sood, consultant, Pulmonology, at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital in Delhi had said.
Draconian move, say vapers
Slamming the government for approving an ordinance prohibiting manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes, the Association of Vapers India (AVI), an organisation that represents e-cigarette users across the country, said it was a “black day” for 11 crore smokers in India who have been deprived of safer options.
The TRENDS data also showed that e-cigarettes, which are priced anywhere between Rs 2,500 and Rs 4,000, is restricted to the affluent class. “Healthcare cost of beedi smoking to nation is Rs 80,550 crore as per the Centre for Public Policy Research (Kerala) whereas e-cigarette impact is unknown since it is a new category,” the study noted.
“The government’s decision to ban e-cigarettes is ironic and erratic. It proposes that a safer alternative to smoking is sought to be banned while the more dangerous product will continue to be sold,” said Praveen Rikhy, convener of TRENDS in India.
The promoters also blamed the influence of powerful tobacco and anti-tobacco lobbies behind the government’s decision. “We are convinced of the merits of e-cigarettes and will initiate a formal campaign to help legislators understand the issue, clarify misinformation spread by lobby groups and support farmers who see growth in the e-cigarette sector as a global market opportunity to export nicotine,” added Rikhy.


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iPhone 7 Sales May Hit 100 Million in 2016, Thanks to Note 7 Recall
Analysts believe Apple's better-than-expected initial sales of the iPhone 7 may be due to Galaxy Note 7 recall.
Foxconn’s Profits Fall Amid Declining iPhone Sales
The iPhone assembler's quarterly profit slumped amid declining iPhone sales.
Apple Estimated to Have Sold 40M iPhones in Q3: Analysts
Apple estimated to have sold 40 million iPhones in the June quarter.
iPhone Market Share Down to 10.8% in China [Report]
Apple has lost market share in one of its most important markets, China, according to the latest report from Counterpoint Research, as reported by Bloomberg. The iPhone maker has lost ground to local players and now accounts for only 10.8% of smartphones sold in China, down from 12% a year ago. The iPhone accounted for...
Analytics Show Fun Facts About iPhone SE Buyers
Apple’s new 4-inch iPhone SE is attracting a surprising number of men, seniors, and Android users.
TSMC Expects Q1 Revenue to Drop Due to Slowing iPhone Sales
Apple's supply partners are warning of lower first-half revenue this year.
iPhone Sales Predicted to Drop in 2016 for the First Time: Morgan Stanley
iPhone sales will drop in 2016, says Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty.
iPhone 6 Helping Drive Record Demand for Larger Screened Devices: IDC
iPhone sales predicted to grow 7% over the next five years.
June-Quarter iPhone Sales Predicted as High as 50 Million
Analyst expect high iPhone sales for June quarter.
Apple to Sell 50 Million iPhones in June Quarter, Claim Analysts
Morgan Stanley’s survey indicates demand for 53 million iPhones, while UBS estimates 50.3 million iPhone demand.
Apple Q2 2015: 61.1 Million iPhones Sold, $58 Billion in Revenue [u]
Apple sold 61.1 million iPhones, 12.6 million iPads and 4.5 million Mac computers in Q2 of 2015, to company announced today.
Apple May Reveal it is Selling More iPhones in China than US
Apple may announce later this week that it has sold more iPhones in China than on its home turf.


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Today started possibly one of the most exciting weeks for any mobile enthusiast thanks to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The yearly mobile device expo is where manufacturers unveil some of their most impressive work and this year is no different. Sony Ericsson’s rather lackluster line-up for the past couple years has finally improved. This year they present the world with a vast array of unique devices. It seems like there is something for everyone.
Probably one of the more unique handsets to be announced is the Xperia PLAY. This handset combines a great phone with console quality gaming controls. The gaming platform will be supported by some of the biggest companies (Sony Computer Entertainment, Digital Chocolate, Digital Legends, Electronic Arts, Fishlabs, Gamehouse, Gameloft, Glu Mobile, Handy Games, Namco Bandai Networks, Polarbit, PopCap, Trendy Entertainment,Unity Tecnologies) which will help the Xperia PLAY become a competitive mobile gaming device. While this type of hybrid device is not new (N-Gage) it is the first that will be backed by a company that is no stranger to gaming. That and the fact that they have an extensive library courtesy of Sony Playstation titles. Even without major support the thought of playing games through an emulator is enticing enough. The Xperia PLAY is powered by a 1GHz processor, Android 2.3, and will have 5MP camera.
While the Xperia PLAY is all about gaming, the Xperia Pro is focused on business. Similar in design the gaming controls are replaced with a full qwerty keyboard. The main attraction for this device will be the physical keyboard and the ability to edit office documents on the go via the Office Suite. The Xperia Pro has a 1GHz processor, Android 2.3, and a 8.1MP camera. It has a front facing camera and HDMI out. It will be available at the end of Q1 / 2011.
The Xperia neo shares similar designs traits with the Xperia Pro sans keyboard. The Xperia Neo is powered by a 1GHz processor, Android 2.3, and has a 8MP camera. It has a front facing camera and HDMI out. It will be available at the end of Q2 / 2011.


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FreeviewPlus for Australia unveiledMonday, March 3rd, 2014
FreeviewPlus is coming soon – a new TV experience for Australian viewers
Freeview Australia today unveiled the key features for FreeviewPlus, the new service that provides access to content and services from the free-to air networks.
At the core of FreeviewPlus is a free-to-air TV electronic program guide incorporating broadband-delivered services that will offer Australian consumers an unrivalled viewing experience.
As first announced in November last year, FreeviewPlus will deliver the most advanced, user-friendly free-to-air EPG experience, with catch-up services accessed from one place
on TV screens for the first time.
“FreeviewPlus is one of the most important advances in free-to-air television in Australia since the introduction of digital TV,” Liz Ross, General Manager of Freeview, said.
In a world first, free-to-air networks in Australia have joined forces to offer viewers an enhanced television experience.
“In just a few months, Australian TV viewers will be able to access and enjoy a very sophisticated and yet easy-to-use free-to-air TV service.”
The FreeviewPlus service uses hybrid TV technology, which seamlessly combines broadband and broadcast TV. The technology will also enable the free-to-air networks to introduce a range of new broadband services.
FreeviewPlus will offer a range of new features including:
- A 7-day, easy-to-use EPG
- All available FTA catch-up TV through the TV screen and one EPG
- Highlights of the big shows today, on catch-up and in the future
- Ability to browse and search programs for the next 7 days
- A “Favourites” function with reminders
Retailers and manufacturers are working closely with Freeview in the lead up to launch in one of the biggest developments in FTA TV since the introduction of digital multichannels.
Freeview is planning an extensive marketing campaign which will support retailers and manufacturers and drive consumer awareness of FreeviewPlus.
FreeviewPlus will be available through new connected receivers carrying the FreeviewPlus logo including panel TVs, set top boxes and recording devices.
Manufacturers will release a range of FreeviewPlus receivers to coincide with the launch of FreeviewPlus and these will be available from all major appliance and electronics retailers.
FreeviewPlus will provide easy access to catch-up TV and many other services via the coloured buttons on the remote.
“Last year, live free-to-air TV reached an audience of 15.2 million Australians daily, and a quarter of all internet-connected consumers watched catch-up TV,” Ms Ross said.
“We expect that with the launch of FreeviewPlus, Australians will continue their love of FTA TV as more and more viewers watch their favourite shows when they want to watch them
on their TV with the simple press of a button.”


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Landlords Defer Rent to Keep Tenants Open
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, during which many businesses saw marked declines in business or were closed altogether, landlords had to negotiate rent relief for some of their tenants or risk them closing permanently.
For companies that manage several multitenant properties across the United States, that’s easier said than done. Deals had to be worked out case-by-base, landlords say, to ensure they were helping the ones who needed it and not being taken advantage of.
In the last month or two, Carnegie Companies LLC has negotiated more than 300 amendments with its tenants, says Cole Pesses, director of acquisitions and dispositions. The process has taken a lot of time from its property managers and leasing team, he says.
“I think we’ve done a good job trying to be proactive and help those who need it,” Pesses says. “The main goal is what’s good for your tenant long term is what’s good for you. You want to see them stay in business long term.”
Typically, the Solon-based real estate firm offered one to three months of a 50% reduction in base rent plus the tenant’s share of operating expenses, he says. Some tenants agreed to extend their leases for two years for three months of rent forgiveness.
“Those were the two routes that we tried to go as far as structuring deals that would help our tenants but would also allow us to receive some benefit if at all possible,” Pesses says.
In January, Carnegie purchased Tiffany Plaza for nearly $8 million. Thus far, tenants there have been fine with paying their rent, with only a few needing temporary relief, he says.
The plaza features a Marc’s grocery store anchor, which helped keep revenues coming in for Carnegie, Pesses says. Many of the 45 properties in 14 states that Carnegie operates have grocery anchors, which fared better than those without.
“We saw grocery sales skyrocket. Especially in March and April and carrying into May,” Pesses says. Pre-pandemic, there was a shift in consumer spending that saw restaurants overtake grocery, but “that trend actually reversed throughout the pandemic as people shifted back to grocery.”
In April, Carnegie collected above 90% of its budgeted income across all of its properties. And collections were just shy of 90% in May, he says. June is in “the solid 80 percentile,” he said at mid-month. That puts Carnegie ahead of the national trend.
Nationally, grocery-anchored plazas collected 60% to 70% in rent collections from March to May, on average seeing a drop of about 40% despite essential tenants remaining open, reports National Real Estate Investor. Plazas without grocery anchors averaged 50% or less in collections, the trade journal reports.
“Many, if not most tenants, sought some form of rent relief or lease modification in response to COVID-19,” Phil Voorhees, vice chairman at real estate services firm CBRE told the publication. “It varies tenant to tenant as to whether these are short-term or long-term modifications,” he notes.
America’s Realty, which operates Boardman Plaza, saw collections closer to the national average. South of the Mason-Dixon line, the Pikesville, Md.-based company saw 75% of rent collections from March to May, and 60% in northern states, says its vice president and chief operating officer, Bob Waugh.
Like Carnegie, America’s Realty took assistance case-by-case. Any forbearances it received from its lenders were passed on to tenants, Waugh says. If a tenant wasn’t open, America’s Realty offered 60 to 90 days of forbearance, then would work out a repayment for the next six months to a year, he says.
Most of the company’s 170 shopping centers are anchored with a grocery store and include a pharmacy and dollar store, which were deemed essential businesses during shutdowns. “We’re not heavy in restaurants, which is good for us,” Waugh says.
Not all tenants were candidates for assistance, however. If a tenant remained open and bringing in sufficient revenue not to be affected by the pandemic, they were likely denied.
Carnegie’s Pesses recalls a situation with a national pizza chain that was being unreasonable in demanding a rent deferral, he says.
“If anything, they were busier than they normally were because everyone was home ordering pizzas,” Pesses says. “That was one situation where we felt we were being taken advantage of, as compared to a nail salon or barber. Those were the types of tenants we were trying to work with and help out.”
Generally, locally owned mom-and-pop businesses were given more leeway, as were small businesses that regularly pay their rent on time, the landlords say. Restaurants and nonessential service-oriented businesses that closed were approached first with assistance options.
Favorable consideration was also given to businesses that made efforts to apply for assistance through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, or other local or state grants and loans. Both property companies ensured they kept their tenants in the loop on those opportunities.
America’s Realty has also temporarily reduced some of its services to manage overhead costs, Waugh says. Weekly mowing was reduced to once every 10 days, trash cans are removed from parking lots where tenants were closed to save those fees, and the company is delaying painting projects.
Still, most of the tenants that were given a forbearance were willing to help pay for security, lighting and utilities, and mowing.
“It’s a new world. We’re writing this playbook as we go,” Waugh says. “The ones who are going to survive are the ones who are communicating and willing to work with their tenants.”
That’s not to say landlords will walk away unscathed. Waugh expects it could take a minimum of 18 months to two years to make up for the losses and get rent collection back to normal – even up to three years “depending on how the virus goes,” he says. Some states are already seeing increases again in positive diagnoses.
“This is like being in a hurricane. We’re kind of in the eye of the hurricane right now,” he says. “The backside of the hurricane is always the worst.”
The positive news is that the pandemic hasn’t halted business. Landlords and tenants alike are eyeing property.
Recently, America’s Realty purchased Field Club Commons and Westgate plazas in New Castle, Pa. It’s also in talks with a prospective tenant about a vacant 50,000-square-foot space in Boardman Plaza.
“There are still some opportunities out there,” Waugh says.
Carnegie Companies signed a few leases during the pandemic and, now that the economy is reopening, negotiations are picking back up on conversations that were put on hold, Pesses says. The pandemic has certainly informed the negotiations, he notes.
As certain lease language may have been ambiguous before the pandemic, “now you might start to see more tenants push more heavily on language that would protect them,” he says.
From the landlord’s perspective, more consideration will be given to what type of business is brought into a plaza, particularly if the available space allows the business to abide by health-related guidelines during a pandemic and still provide their services.
Landlords are also likely to be more strategic about the type of tenant they sign and ensuring some tenants complement each other.
“As a landlord you want to make your property successful for the long term,” Pesses says. “You have to be conscientious of who the tenants are and how they jibe with each other, And you want it to be a situation where they enhance each other.”
Pictured at top: In January, Carnegie Companies purchased Tiffany Plaza for nearly $8 million.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.


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This May Be The Reason Whole Foods Foot Traffic Is Tanking – The List
When it comes to buying groceries, you get what you pay for. Making the swap to organic foods is a great way to fuel your body, but it often comes with a hefty price tag. You may need to make a little more room in your grocery budget if you shop at places like Whole Foods, a supermarket chain that provides all-natural, organic groceries.
According to their website, Whole Foods began as one grocery store in Austin, Texas, dedicated to bringing fresh foods into a “supermarket format.” Today, Whole Foods has over 500 locations worldwide. Investopedia reports that prior to being acquired by Amazon in 2017, shopping at Whole Foods cost approximately 10 to 20% more than other grocery stores. Once Amazon stepped in, prices became slightly more reasonable but still higher than rival grocery stores. Still, the premium prices did not seem to bother people who value fresh, high quality products that are ethically sourced and free of chemicals and preservatives (Via The Grocery Store Guy).
There are plenty of reasons you should start shopping at Whole Foods, but according to foot traffic, people have been spending significantly less time at the high-priced grocer this past summer. The List created a graph via Data Herald that tracked foot traffic trends over a period of two years, and the results show bad news for Whole Foods.
According to The List’s graph, Whole Foods saw an average of 85,000 visitors each month, with a spike in visitors each January, presumably as people stock up on fresh veggies and healthy foods to kick off their New Year’s resolutions. But when the pandemic hit in March 2020, foot traffic dropped below 50,000, as Whole Foods continued to see significantly less visitor averages each month while people navigated their safety and comfort levels.In May 2022, the grocery store took another hit as foot traffic plummeted below pandemic era averages, steadily declining throughout the summer. COVID-19 is most likely not the cause of Whole Foods’ recent struggles; rising prices may be to blame.
Grocery shopping could change forever due to inflation — prices of groceries and essentials continue to climb as hard decisions are made about what stays on people’s grocery lists. “A price increase is like a loss, and we feel pain when we experience that loss,” professor of behavioral marketing Deborah Small told Vox, reflecting on how inflation has caused many to rethink how and where they spend their money.
According to Insider, a Numerator survey reported that 31% of shoppers are “switching to less expensive brands” as they navigate the rising prices. Shoppers are frequenting discount stores and wholesale clubs, prioritizing price over quality for their grocery essentials.


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Hello, Apple. Welcome to a reality where people are finding your products extremely expensive.
And because of that, the tech giant plans to cut the prices of some of its flagship iPhones outside of America for only the second time in the company's 12-year history, Economic Times says. The last time Apple slashed iPhones prices happened more than a decade ago in 2007.
"We've decided to go back to (iPhone prices) more commensurate with what our local prices were a year ago, in hopes of helping the sales in those areas," Cook told Reuters in an interview.
The tech company did not disclose which countries it would adjust iPhone prices and what models would be affected. This rare occurrence is possibly to counter weak sales of the smartphone in overseas markets struggling to match the rising U.S dollar.
In a note to investors earlier this month, Cook explained the reasons for the poor performance –– including pinning the blame on the battery replacement program.
However, the company's chief financial officer Luca Maestri said Apple may not extend the discount to its services like Apple Music and App Store.
Regardless, we are all for this. Maybe in time we will see a future where it's possible for everyone to afford an iPhone. Maybe.


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Continuing its approach to share creativity
Jazeera Paints, the leading company in the world of paints, colors, and construction solutions in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and North Africa, is continuing its "All in One" seminar series by moving to Kuwait. It will be held in the Al Mirqab Hall at the Four Seasons Hotel and it will be attended by a select group of top consulting firms, elite engineers from construction companies, specialists, and those interested in architecture and construction.
Jazeera Paints chose the phrase "All in One" to reflect its philosophy and vision in the world of paints, colors, and construction solutions. This is achieved by highlighting the integration of its products, the ease of the customers’ experience and their ability to obtain what they desire, using the modern technologies that bridge the gap between the customer and the product. Through these services, the company helps its customers achieve their goals of obtaining a fully-integrated building and an ideal home.
Throughout its "All in One" seminar, Jazeera Paints has showcased its products and experiences, which have different landmarks and applications. It has also presented its latest paint and color products, highlighting their features and applications. Moreover, the company has shared its vision and aspirations for the future.
About Jazeera Paints
Jazeera Paints was founded in 1979 in Riyadh as a company specializing in manufacturing, producing, and exporting high-quality paints, according to the highest standards of sustainability and environmental safety. Over the past decades, the company has succeeded in establishing itself as one of the leading manufacturers of paints and pigments in the Middle East and North Africa region, with a production capacity exceeding 400,000 tons per year, and more than 650 showrooms inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.


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- Gwyneth Paltrow said in an interview with Wall Street Journal Magazine that she hs emailed Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for advice, but he has never responded.
- A spokesperson for Bezos declined to comment when contacted by the Journal.
- Bezos has been known to read customer emails and forward them on to the relevant department.
Gwyneth Paltrow told the Wall Street Journal Magazine that she has emailed Jeff Bezos for advice, but the world's richest man has never responded.
The actress and entrepreneur told the Journal that she keeps a close-knit circle of advisors including Oprah Winfrey and Disney CEO Bob Iger. However, she said her emails to Jeff Bezos appear to have gone unnoticed. "I've emailed him," she told the Journal. "He won't email back."
A spokesperson for Bezos declined to comment when contacted by the Journal. Amazon was not immediately available to comment when contacted by Business Insider.
Although it is not incumbent upon Bezos to act as mentor to Paltrow, he has been known to act on emails out of the blue. He once forwarded on an email that was sent directly to him in desperation by a man whose dog was stolen by contractor delivering packages for Amazon. The dog was later returned to her owner.
In April Bezos said that he still reads customer complaints, and will sometimes forward them on to the relevant department. He has a company email address, firstname.lastname@example.org, where customers can reach out. It is not clear at this stage whether this is address to which Paltrow sent her emails.


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In reaction to the complicated and contrived digital marketing campaigns often concocted by agencies, M&C Saatchi NY has decided to reinforce its “brutal simplicity of thought” mantra. Based on the founding principle of Maurice and Charles Saatchi when they formed the agency in London 18 years ago, it mocks the range of media and tech platforms now available to brands but urges them instead to keep things simple and to choose their digital platforms wisely.
It’s better to do a few things brilliantly than many things adequately, the shop believes.
“It seems with the proliferation of options in the platform world that the lack of really good ideas out there gets obfuscated,” said Pierre Lipton, M&C Saatchi NY’s chief creative officer. “Agencies are often more concerned with how ideas spread than what they actually are.”
As consumers’ media consumption habits continue to fragment and social and digital channels play a more prominent role in marketers’ arsenals, some argue the concept of a “big idea” is outdated for the digital world. Digiday has recently pondered the future of advertising’s “big idea” in the light of the fact that brands can now reach consumers through hundreds of channels beyond traditional ones like TV and print.
But just because they can, it doesn’t mean they should, Lipton believes. “With all these different channels it’s impossible to do a ‘360’ campaign now. It’s not only expensive; it’s wasteful,” he said. “That’s not to say that brands shouldn’t be in these places, because they should, but they need to choose the places that best suit them as opposed to jumping into everything. That approach can be risky for a brand now.”
M&C re-opened a New York office a year ago and now employs more than 40 staffers working for brands including Reebok, UGG, and Reckitt Benckiser. Lipton himself joined from AKQA’s San Francisco office in August.
More in Marketing
TikTok has officially launched its new e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, earlier this month on August 1. Using the new e-commerce platform, brands and creators can sell products directly on the platform, potentially creating new revenue streams, and tap into the short-form video platform’s growing popularity.
‘The influencer industry can be really vile’: Confessions of an influencer marketer on the industry’s unfair hiring practices
While the influencer industry might sound exciting and like it’s full of opportunities, one marketer can vouch for the horrific scenarios that still take place behind the scenes.
After a tumultuous 12 months, marketers are getting a clear picture of how they really did during a time of true uncertainty. And, as it turns out, it wasn’t all that bad.
Ad position: web_bfu


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Posted on Reddit by an account titled u/PeterDragon50
, this fortunate, fortunate man had pre-ordered his pill when reservations started on April 30rd. For the reason that embargo for evaluations has but to be lifted, Reddit members requested questions principally concerning the new mini-LED show that’s included with this variant of the slate. The machine proprietor stated that the brand new mini-LED, Liquid Retina XDR show is “…like an OLED that is been colour calibrated by Apple, seems nice.”
He additionally stated that, “The colours look higher…They’re each attractive screens. I actually simply wished the bigger side ratio and the (supposed) longevity of a non-OLED display screen.” He additionally took a few movies which we have now embedded inside this story.
Powered by the 5nm Apple M1 chip sporting 16 billion transistors, the iPad Professional (2021) runs as a lot as 50% sooner than the earlier technology’s fashions in line with Antutu and Geekbench benchmark assessments. You won’t have been excited a couple of pill in years, however the 12.9-inch iPad Professional with the mini-LED show (the 11-inch unit carries an OLED panel) might need you drooling over such a tool for the primary time since November 2015 when the OG iPad Professional was launched.
In fact, Apple has to thank the pandemic for the elevated demand for iPads that the corporate noticed final yr. With staff and kids working and studying from house respectively, after-hours each used their iPads to stream video games, music, films, sports activities, and extra. Whether or not this resurgence continues because the U.S. and different developed international locations recuperate from the COVID-19 outbreak is not clear, however it does give pill producers a cause to proceed engaged on high-end tablets for the longer term.
And we should not overlook that the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Professional Wi-Fi + Mobile model of the tablets each function assist for 5G. That’s the first time than one among Apple’s tablets will join with a 5G sign.
One other video that the Reddit member posted (keep in mind, the machine proper now continues to be coated by a media embargo) exhibits off his model new 12.9-inch iPad Professional (2021) alongside together with his 4th technology Magic Keyboard.


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Jean Paul Gaultier to wind up ready-to-wear fashion
By AFP - Sep 16,2014 - Last updated at Sep 16,2014
PARIS — Jean Paul Gaultier, showman of Paris fashion, is to bow out of ready-to-wear later this month after nearly 40 years of over-the-top, sometimes provocative collections.
The 62-year-old former “enfant terrible” of fashion, who famously designed Madonna’s cone bras, will devote himself to couture, the brand’s perfume business and other projects, the fashion house said in a statement.
Gaultier’s last ready-to-wear collection will be shown on September 27 during the spring/summer 2015 fashion shows in Paris.
The designer told industry journal Women’s Wear Daily the decision had been taken after an “in-depth assessment” of the future of the fashion house in which Spanish fragrance and fashion group Puig has a majority stake.
“We looked at various possibilities considering the present state of the company and we have reached the same conclusion,” he said.
“For some time, I have found true fulfilment in working on the haute couture, and it allows me to express my creativity and my taste for research and experimentation,” he added.
The designer, who still creates stage costumes for performers such as Kylie Minogue, said the decision came as the world of ready-to-wear had “evolved considerably”.
“Commercial constraints as well as the frenetic pace of collections don’t leave any freedom, nor the necessary time to find fresh ideas and to innovate,” he said.
“I will be able again to express my creativity without constraints,” he added.
Gaultier, who launched his own company in 1976, started his beauty business in 1991 and an accessories division in 2000.
He moved into haute couture in 1997, and his high-fashion collections are always a highlight of the Paris fashion calendar.
For the finale of his last couture show in July, Gaultier got the bearded Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst to parade down the catwalk resplendent in a black and red vampire-themed gown.
“She is bringing in a new genre — a man with a beard with... virility, but a great femininity,” he said afterwards.
In recent years, Gaultier, considered one of France’s most talented designers, has been the subject of a major retrospective by the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal.
Since 2011, the exhibition has been seen by a million visitors worldwide and is due to arrive in Paris in 2015.
One room in the exhibition is devoted to “Eurotrash”, the outlandish adult television show hosted by Gaultier and Antoine de Caunes on Britain’s Channel 4 during the 1990s.
The eccentric designer is still popular in Britain for the show and has said that he continues to be inspired by London where he went “to party” in the 1970s.
Their creations are usually reserved for a few wealthy clients, but European museums are currently allowing the public to admire up close the works of star fashion designers Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen and Karl Lagerfeld.
PARIS — It is a humdrum secondhand clothing store in one of the most down-at-heel districts of the French capital.But for designer Francisco
His hand is steady and sure as it delicately traces the contours of the biggest names in the world of style: the celebrities, the magazine editors, the clients.
Apr 29, 2017
Apr 29, 2017
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Co-op Advertising becomes Labour
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Co-op Advertising has rebranded as Labour. According to the company, the new name better reflects its planning, creative and public relations services. The branding is also intended to covey the agency’s increased use of in-house staff as well as freelancers.
In related news, Pete Ross, has joined the firm as creative director. He has previously worked at Grey Canada, Taxi, DDB Canada and TBWA. In addition, Mara Vezeau has been hired as director of the agency’s recently-opened Montreal office.
“As the global advertising, PR and marketing services industry has evolved in recent years, so has our agency, and we wanted a brand that reflects the very real shift we've made to address those changes,” said James Loftus, president of Labour. “What led to this brand transformation was our recognition that what has made us unique as an agency goes well beyond our staffing model. It's about our team's commitment to collaboration, craft and storytelling, coupled with our ability to develop performance-driven creative campaigns that work seamlessly across both paid and earned media channels that really sets us apart.”


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Getting a toy with your food was the height of childhood and kids still greatly enjoy it but the tons of little plastic toys are a problem from the environment. They’re ending up in waste disposal facilities around the world. Two girls have started a campaign to stop plastic toys from coming in kid’s meals.
To be clear, the girls still want toys. I mean, who wouldn’t? Just not the little plastic ones as these end up in the garbage after a couple of weeks. And although, yes, some of them may become valuable collector’s items in the future due to their movie tie ins and what not, the vast majority won’t survive that long.
In response McDonald’s has said they will include books, board games, and soft toys over the next few months which will go into helping to reduce the waste of the toys. Great news all around. Check out the video on the link to hear the girls’ campaign.


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The Witcher 3 villains confirmed in the Netflix series! Know all about them.
Warning: Spoiler Alert!
The Witcher book series, written by Andrzej Sapkowski, introduced the world to a vast fantasy universe that has inspired adaptations in other media, reaching video games via the CD Projekt Red trilogy and streaming with the Netflix series.
The series, which adapts events from the books and not the games, gradually introduces iconic characters and creatures, leaving younger fans excited for what’s to come and older fans curious to see how the new releases will be.
One well-known group that was recently revealed as part of the series’ upcoming season is the Wild Hunt, which even gave the title to the third and most famous game in The Witcher franchise. Those more familiar with the books, however, have also heard of the Red Knights and have a sense of what their arrival means.
But for those of you who don’t remember much, or don’t know the band so well, we’ve put together this list with everything you need to know about The Witcher’s Wild Hunt! Ready to venture into the elven world of Aen Elle? Beware of spoilers for books and games in the franchise!


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CANPACK has announced that it is to extend its 20 year partnership with with Specjal, the largest regional beer brand in the north of Poland, by helping to launch its new “We Support Our Region” campaign, which includes a refreshed can design created specially to celebrate the brand’s local roots. The new can design indicates…
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Amazon Delivery Drones
Yes, It's Real: Amazon Wants To Deliver By DroneFive years from now, you just might be able to get your Cyber Monday purchases delivered right to your doorstep like a pizza — in 30 minutes or less.
In the latest jaw-dropping peek into our future, CBS’s 60 Minutes unveiled the Amazon Prime Air drone — an electric-powered “octacopter” that CEO Jeff Bezos said could be ready to drop off your freshly ordered packages as soon as 2018.
As part of the plan, these octacopters would be flying in from Amazon's massive “fulfillment centers”— apparently the size of 20 football fields — located in every metropolitan area. Once the octacopters are loaded up with their cargo, GPS coordinates are punched in and the copter can go on its way. Presently, the fulfillment centers load up trucks to deliver the products to where they need to go, but Bezos says drones would be a lot quicker and more environmentally friendly.
The project’s success will hinge on a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ruling set to take place in 2015 that would allow or prohibit the use of commercial drones like the Amazon Prime Air. Bezos and company will have to prove to the FAA that the drones won’t crash into high skyscrapers in a city like New York — and that they also won’t plop on your neighbor’s head before landing on your doorstep.
While drones are infamous for their use in modern warfare, their use is being experimented with in all aspects of our society, from agricultural to security to delivery. In China, a UFO sighting turned heads this July until it was proven that the InCake Bakery was experimenting with a drone to deliver a fresh “pie in the sky,” as the Telegraph called it. This summer, Domino's Pizza also featured a video of a “DomiCopter” to deliver pies of their own, but that was just a stunt and not legal in the US — yet.
Of course, since current drone technology is only built to carry the load of a camera — not two large meat-lover's pizzas — Bezos' proposal would limit drone deliveries to purchases under 5 pounds made by buyers within 10 miles of a fulfillment center.
Still, while five years from now might be overly optimistic for commercial deliveries, with the way interest in drones is advancing, it’s likely we’ll be seeing tiny delivery-copters fly around our neighborhoods sooner than later.
And judging by the way things seem to be going with technological innovation lately, our fridges and kitchen tables will be giant tablets, our watches will double as smartphones and all our food will be either 3D-printed or in liquid form.


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TCV has taken a minority stake but has not disclosed any figures. TCV general partners John Doran and David Yuan have joined The Pracuj Group’s supervisory board. Prucaj “shows incredible potential for further growth and international development,” said Doran.
The Pracuj Group operates a number of online job recruitment portals such as Pracuj.pl, eRecruiter; Rabota.ua, and emplo.com. According to the company, 40,000 businesses use its sites annually.
The investment from TCV will aid the company’s development of SaaS solutions in the future, said Pracuj president Przemysław Gacek.
“TCV is a perfect fit since they invest in and establish long-term partnerships with technology-driven companies such as ours,” he said.
TCV is an investment firm founded in 1995 that counts Airbnb, Facebook and Vice Media, amongst its portfolio.


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Peloton is reversing course and raising pricing on the Bike Plus and Tread treadmill after lowering costs on some of its fitness equipment in April. This past Friday, Peloton announced on its website that it will be raising the price of the Bike Plus in the United States by 500, bringing it back up to its pre-April pricing of 2,495. After the April price decreases, the Tread will cost 3,495 (an rise of 800).
This comes at a difficult time for the fitness equipment manufacturer, which has seen sales drop as fear about the COVID-19 epidemic subsides, prompting the company to make some adjustments in an effort to reinvigorate its business. The business announced over 2,800 layoffs throughout the world in February and installed Barry McCarthy, a former executive at Spotify and Netflix, as CEO. At the end of last month, Peloton said it will outsource the production of its workout bikes to a third party.
Bloomberg first reported on Friday that Peloton will be laying off another 800 workers and liquidating several of its retail showrooms in North America. McCarthy informed staff in a message that the company will be relying on outside firms for most of its last-mile deliveries and customer support.
In an email to investors, Peloton stated, “Today, we took multiple actions to further advance our transformation plan, better setting the firm for long-term success as the biggest, worldwide Connected Fitness company.” There will be a loss of 784 jobs as a direct consequence of these changes in the workforce.


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At this point, it seems like everyone is working on their own variation of smart mirrors. From DIY setups, to even major companies. Getting started with your own isn’t terribly difficult, but a new project on Kickstarter hopes to make use of those old tablets you have lying around. Firefly, yet another smart mirror, has launched on the crowdfunding site with one major difference: it relies on an iOS or Android tablet to power it.
Kickstarter Stories March 14, 2017
Kickstarter Stories July 27, 2016
Kickstarter Stories July 19, 2016
What’s new for the bicycle? We’ve already explored a variety of electric options that use old-school designs and fresh techniques. I guess it’s time to think ahead. The Cyclotron does just that. Aside from its futuristic name, it has next-gen looks, too. It recently hit Kickstarter with eyes on raising around $56,000. With just four days remaining, backers have committed over double that amount…
Kickstarter Stories June 20, 2016
Everyone likes to talk about coffee makers, whether AeroPress or Chemex is better or if Keurig has ruined our society for good java. Truth is, your coffee grinder is just as important to the process as your brewer. You have to start with a Burr-style grinder. It’s the best way to prep your beans for maximum flavor extraction. But evidently, there is a way to make it even better…
A new Kickstarter campaign brings us a Wi-Fi-connected coffee grinder that “measures bean freshness” and automatically replenishes your supply when it runs low. Sort of like Amazon’s Dash Replenishment Service meets an elite nose for coffee…
Kickstarter Stories June 15, 2016
Working in an office or even sitting next to someone at home can prove to be an annoying experience when sound from one activity leaks into another. Let’s just say my wife isn’t always fond of my evening Battlefield missions. The same can be said for that coworker that loves 80’s Euro disco when you like more of an acoustic vibe. Headphones are a natural answer but it cuts you off from the rest of your environment and those ear cups can get hot.
A new product called Soundlazer has taken to Kickstarter with its “virtual sound cloud” speaker system. It promises “immersive” listening experiences that don’t bug your neighbor. Early interest is strong but will it stand the test of time?
Kickstarter Stories June 6, 2016
We’re not just talking about electric bikes as a “one day” or “down-the-road” solution any more. With smaller batteries and greater range, what once was a dream is now a feasible reality. The latest alternative fuel creation comes way of Lithium Cycles, a group out of South California that has eyes on bringing a retro-style battery-powered bike to the masses. So far, interest is heavy. The Super 73 Electric Bicycle has already raised over $165,000 in just a few days on Kickstarter…
Kickstarter Stories May 9, 2016
Raspberry Pi is capable of carrying out so many different tasks. It truly is amazing how the tiny microcomputer system can be transformed into a robot, smart home hub, and a variety of other projects. It’s easy to get started with any of these cost-effective kits that provide everything needed.
Today, a new project has launched on Kickstarter that allows the tiny computer to power some of the most expensive consumer headphones on the market. The Hybrid Tube Amp for the Raspberry Pi brings an old school HiFi setup to today’s modern microcomputer. You’ll be able to utilize headphones that range from 32 – 300 ohm with this kit. As far as add-on accessories go, this one is pretty easy to install, according to the creators.
Kickstarter Stories April 25, 2016
Apple has continually done a top-notch job of improving the iPhone’s internal camera system with each release. That said, third-party manufacturers have made a mark with accessories focused on upgrading optics in a variety of ways. Olloclip has made a name for itself with add-on lenses while other brands like Aukey are now pushing low-cost alternatives.
When it comes to replicating a true camera experience, the options have been much more limited. DXO released a Lightning-attached add-on last year, but the price tag and form-factor have remained a deterrent for many. That’s where PICTAR comes in. This retro-inspired accessory add physical controls and functionality via a companion app. The best news is that the price isn’t going to break the bank.
Kickstarter Stories March 29, 2016
Bluetooth keyboards are commonplace now for most desktop computer and tablet setups. You can find hundreds of options for around $20 on Amazon. The problem is, these wireless input devices don’t exactly inspire. Most are made from plastic and and come in basic designs.
If you prefer a little more style in your setup, the QWERKYWRITER may be for you. This vintage typewriter-inspired device brings back the feel of old school mechanical keyboards with style to match. It even has the return bar that functions as an enter key. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014, the QWERKYWRITER is available for all to purchase. More below.
Kickstarter Stories March 25, 2016
Bluetooth audio and whole home music systems have been one of the hottest consumer electronic trends over the last year. We’re seeing budget and high-end options pop-up at all price points. Interest from consumers is at an all-time high as they look to cut the cord.
A new Kickstarter project is aiming to jump in to this crowded market with a new wireless streaming product. The ekko Hub allows up to 10 people to wirelessly stream music at once from a single source. It uses a series of small discs that connect to headphones or speakers as a means for communicating between the input and output. More below.
Kickstarter Stories March 23, 2016
Tovala is the oven you’ve always dreamed of. Or is it a microwave? Let’s call it a robotic smartphone-connected conventional oven. Tovala is counter-top appliance for your kitchen that aims to make cooking easier than ever before. When bundled with its subscription meal plan, users will be able to “cook chef-prepared meal perfectly.” Sounds pretty good huh? Kickstarter backers agree, already pledging nearly $250,000 to get this service off the ground…
Kickstarter Stories March 2, 2016
We first told you about What? Watch back in November as it released a new take on smartphone-connected timepieces. Now, four months later, What? has jumped on Kickstarter with its Calendar Watch in hopes of raising $100,000. That goal was easily surpassed within a few days.
Why so much interest? The Calendar Watch has a built-in display behind the face that visually blocks out busy sections of your day. For example, have a business lunch at noon? That piece of the pie on your display will be color coordinated to reflect your unavailability. Add an event later this evening? It will update automatically and show those changes. On top of it all, it’s a pretty good looking watch…
Kickstarter Stories February 24, 2016
Spotify and the gym go hand-in-hand. Full access to nearly every artist (except Yeezy) and curated playlists make for a perfect pair. That said, getting “swole” isn’t exactly conducive to having an iPhone 6s Plus in your pocket. Sure there are some handy armbands designed for workouts but even those can leave your device exposed.
Funny thing is, Apple solved this issue a few years back with the iPod shuffle. Problem is, you’re limited to the songs within your iTunes library. A new Kickstarter campaign seems to have solved this issue. The Mighty Streaming Music Device combines your favorite Spotify playlists with an iPod Shuffle-like design. How does it work? Is it legal? All that and more below.
Kickstarter Stories February 16, 2016
Retro gaming has seen a spike in interest over the last few years with popular titles like Mario Maker and Rare Replay enjoying recent success. It’s not a surprise that many projects are attempting to cash in on this trend. Just this weekend at Toy Fair 2016, the Coleco Chameleon retro gaming console made its debut. After a failed IndieGoGo campaign last year, the guys behind this project are back with a new licensing deal and eyes on a new round of crowdfunding. The question is, will its cartridge-style games spark enough interest? More below.
Kickstarter Stories February 12, 2016
Immersit has a plan to bring an IMAX-like experience to your home theater for a fraction of the cost. The company just launched a new Kickstarter project in an attempt to sell its new 4D motion motion sim for couches. While the idea seems a little crazy, the execution appears to be on point.
By adding four motorized lifts to each corner of your couch, a brain can augment your seat in accordance with the movie or game on the screen. You have to see it action to really appreciate what’s happening here. Head below for a full demo video.
Kickstarter Stories February 9, 2016
3Doodler has enjoyed massive success with its crowdfunding projects, raising over $1.5 million last time around. The second generation improved on the original with a slimmer design and stronger build. From the start, it always seemed like 3Doodler’s destiny to create a kid-friendly version of its pen. Now, it’s coming to fruition.
The new 3Doodler Start is clearly focused on a younger user with its colorful design. Looking further, the latest rendition offers a safe way for kids to experiment with 3D printing. Head below for more plus pre-order details.
Kickstarter Stories January 29, 2016
The NYC souvenir market is about to get shook up by an impressive Kickstarter campaign. Two design firms out of New York, AJSNY and TO+WN design, have launched an intriguing project that promises to deliver incredibly detailed 1:5000-scale replica models of New York City. Virtually every building, skyscraper, landmark and outdoor space is represented across across 200 tiles. Just wait until you see the entire metropolis put together…
Kickstarter Stories January 18, 2016
We’ve seen streaming media players that leverage your own personal headphones for private listening before. Roku uses a 3.5mm headphone jack that is built-in to its enhanced remote. The new Apple TV uses Bluetooth connectivity to get the job done. There are adapters on the market that can add wireless audio to nearly any setup. But beaming audio to multiple pairs of headphones for private listening is largely an untapped feature.
That’s where Blipcast is hoping to find its niche. This tiny add-on connects to any 3.5mm or optical audio source and streams sound to your iOS and Android devices via Wi-Fi connection. The idea isn’t new, but the execution is noteworthy. More below.


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Sprint Looks Ahead at 2019 to Broaden Its Managed SD-WAN Service
Ali Longwell | January 14, 2019
Since launching its managed SD-WAN offering in May 2017, Sprint has updated the service and expanded its footprint. But in 2019, the provider is looking to make its biggest updates yet in order to offer a more flexible and diverse SD-WAN service. When Sprint first launched the service it focused on the U.S. However, throughout 2018 the provider expanded the footprint and reach into Canada, Mexica, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Originally Sprint also selected VeloCloud, which has since been acquired by VMware, as its technology vendor for the managed SD-WAN. At the time, the provider said it selected VeloCloud based on its ability to take services to market quickly, as well as its orchestration, monitoring, and ability to onboard cloud applications. VeloCloud remained Sprint’s primary vendor throughout the global rollout of its SD-WAN services. As Sprint looks ahead to 2019, however, it plans to expand its managed SD-WAN to include other vendors. “We felt that we went to market with what was a market-leading vendor with VeloCloud,” said Sean Chavis, product marketing manager at Sprint. “Velocloud is very good for purpose-built, best-in-class SD-WAN.” However, moving forward Chavis said it makes sense to launch with additional vendors that bring different capabilities and benefits to Sprint’s customers. Sprint is looking at SD-WAN services including Fortinet, Cisco Meraki and Cisco-Viptela, and Silver Peak. Each of these vendors can bring something different to Sprint’s managed offering, Chavis said.


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Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC announced on Monday that its consortium bought US$500 million stake in one of the subsidiaries of Viet Nam’s largest conglomerate Vingroup JSC.
The consortium signed agreements with Vingroup for a collective investment of $500 million for a minority stake in VCM Services and Trading Development Joint Stock Company (VCM), which was established last month to manage the chains of 121 Vinmart supermarkets and more than 1,900 Vinmart+ convenient stores.
GIC said after the transaction, Vingroup continues to be the controlling shareholder of VCM.
GIC said Vingroup and VCM have established themselves as reputable retail companies with attractive brands in Viet Nam’s fast-growing consumer market, adding that as a long-term investor, GIC is confident in the growth outlook for disposable incomes and household consumption in Viet Nam.
GIC is one of the three reserves management entities of the Government of Singapore and is now one of the largest financial investors in the Vietnamese capital market.
At present, GIC’s main investments in Viet Nam include Masan Group (some 5 per cent of the shares), Vietjet Air (5 per cent), Vinamilk (0.7 per cent), FPT (3.5 per cent) as well as PAN Group and Vinasun, with a total value of some VND15 trillion ($657.9 million).
In April, GIC invested $1.3 billion another subsidiary of Vingroup which is VinHome realty.
Beginning as a realty developer, Vingroup has grown to become the local largest listed firm with a market capitalisation of more than $16 billion. Most recently, it sets a footprint in hi tech industry launching smartphones, cars, and also aims to invest in the artificial intelligence sector. Last month, Vingroup applied for a licence to launch an airline next year. — VNS


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With the buildup to Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony at a fever pitch, In Demand has teamed with MVPD distributors and marketing companies to tout Oscar-nominated movies currently running on the service’s Movies On Demand (MOD) platform.
Along with promoting nearly 20 Oscar-nominated movies currently available on demand -- including such Best Picture-nominated titles as Hell or High Water, Arrival and Hacksaw Ridge -- In Demand will offer affiliated distributors original, short form interviews with nominated directors and actors as part of its fourth annual “Contender Conversations,” In Demand chief creative officer Stacie Gray told Multichannel News.
“We have an opportunity to create an immersive experience for customers through the movies as well as all of the added-value content we provide through interviews and free on demand," she said. "It gives people a chance to get closer to the movies, the filmmakers and the stars."
In Demand’s Oscar-targeted campaigns in the past have led to strong on demand performances, according to Gray, adding that typically the first quarter of each year the company has promoted Ocscar-nominated movies has been the most prolific in terms of on demand movies buys.
“The nominated titles are always high among the top performing titles for the quarter,” Gray said.
This year In Demand has partnered with its parent companies including Comcast, Charter Communications and Cox Communications to place MOD ads on 20 targeted networks which tout the nominated titles, said the company. In Demand has also built customized microsites for the Cox and Charter websites where subscribers can see the “Contender Conversations” episodes as well as Oscar-nominated movie listings and trailers.
In addition, In Demand has teamed with high-profile movie websites Indiewire and ScreenCrush to develop marketing campaigns that are expected to reach a total of six million monthly unique impressions and over 1 million social media interactions combined.
In Demand has even set up a national Movies On Demand Pool for the Academy Awards in which consumers can pit their Oscar picks against other participants. Viewers can sign up individually to participate in the national pool, host or join a private pool, or join with other subscribers within their cable systems. The results of the pool will be automatically tabulated as the show progresses, said In Demand officials.
Gray said that the campaign allows viewers to learn more about the movies that have been nominated, particularly since many were not big box office draws and did not receive alot of media attention.
“There’s so much conversation and focus around movies across all media, so we felt this was the perfect time to bring our owners and the industry together and create a bigger message around movies on demand on our platform,” Gray said. “We always have nominated titles, so it’s a great time to promote because people are naturally looking to catch up on these movies and see them before the Oscars and/or following up once the winners are announced.”


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By Patrick Avenell
SYDNEY: AURA Interactive, who currently have 250 Bluetooth booths throughout Australia, is looking to expand both domestically and internationally. The booths, known as BlueZones, allow mobile phone users to interact with specifically designed content at specific locations.
At is stands, AURA has a lucrative partnership with the Hoyts cinema chain, allowing film buffs to download trailers, news and vouchers whilst standing in the cinema foyer. According to AURA sales and marketing director Adam Dunne, this is very popular with cinema-goers. “When we started, we had a response rate of around 25%, now it is 60% – it’s been very exciting to watch it grow,” said Dunne.
BlueZones a dedicated stands placed in strategic locations, chosen by their proximity people experience “dwell time”. This is the time we spend standing in queues, waiting for a movie to start or on the train to work. A person looking to kill some time will accept the BlueZones invitation and then gain access to a range of content related to where they are.
Originally based primarily in shopping centres and cinemas, AURA has expanded into more inventive locales, such as Randwick Racecourse, allowing punters to access race information, the latest tips and fashions in the field news.
The next step nationally for AURA will be transport, although Dunne admits the logistics of such a step are daunting.
“We have to decide whether to set up on the bus or train, or at the station. If it’s the first, we need to establish live networking connections on the bus or train, so that we can remain connected even while travelling,” said Dunne.
As for establishing BlueZones beyond these shores, Dunne announced that AURA was currently exploring and experimenting in two international markets, with more planned. AURA hope to have BlueZones up and interacting in Singapore by the end of 2008, while a move into selected US cities is also well under way.


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By Jamie Goodwin
Dubai’s mega theme park will open on August 31, says CEO Lennard Otto
Nothing will delay the dawn of Dubai’s theme park era this time, according to IMG Worlds of Adventure's CEO Lennard Otto.
The $1 billion mega project, which will be the world’s largest indoor theme park, will open on August 31 – two weeks later than its scheduled 2016 launch date.
It opened for members of IMG’s partner companies and Dubai media on Sunday when guests were invited to tour the fully functioning four zones – Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley Dinosaur Adventure and IMG Boulevard – and ride the attractions within.
But while park facilities within the dome looked set for the launch, work including some landscaping and service road construction remains incomplete. However, Otto says this will not prevent the gates from opening to the general public on August 31.
When asked if he expected the outstanding work to cause any more delays to the opening of the park, which can host 30,000 visitors a day, Otto said: “Absolutely not.”
“We are all ready to go,” he said on Sunday. “All the attractions are running. All the restaurants are in operation. All the retail stores are done and the merchandise is going onto the counters. We are doing the final training over the next ten days, doing the last bit of cleaning, beautification, adding some more landscaping to the car park, but other than that, the park is good to go whenever we want to.
“The road itself is finished to get into the car park and the only thing left for us is the service roads which is not critical to park opening and then adding the landscaping to the front, which will happen in the next ten days and maybe even the next month after that to make it as beautiful as possible.
“[We will finish] all cleaning, final touches of paintwork and training of the staff. When we open on the 31st, we want the experience to be perfect. We don't want to disappoint. Every day for the next ten days, we have a very similar environment. We are inviting groups whether it's the media or other groups from the internal companies to test the staff as much as possible.”
IMG Worlds is the first in a wave of theme parks planned in Dubai and the Middle East over the coming years. Its August 15 launch was postponed after a “last-minute call” to ensure the park opening went according to plan, said Otto.
“We were all go to get to the 15th and from an approval standpoint and from a completion standpoint we had no issues, but we believed we needed another 15 days to make sure the experience is perfect on the day of launch,” he said.
“We didn't want to jeopardise the experience for [the sake of] a two-week delay, so the two weeks was a logical move for us to make sure that the experience will not be hampered on the day of opening. We felt that if we had opened on the 15th, the experience might not have been what we wanted on the first day. It was a last-minute call. We left it as long as possible to see if we could get it to where we wanted it to be, but we just didn't feel that it was worth the risk.
“You have got one chance to open the park and we wanted that experience to be perfect because the expectation is very high, the market is very competitive and we want the day of opening to put us on the global map as a theme park operator.”


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The UK Ministry of Defence has ordered nearly 200 new Jackal and Coyote armoured vehicles to support troops in Afghanistan.
The £74m order for around 110 enhanced Jackal 2 vehicles and more than 70 Coyote tactical support vehicles (TSVs) was awarded to vehicle manufacturer Supacat, who has formed an alliance with Babcock to help delivery.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies said that the vehicles would give troops increased protection on frontline operations.
“This contract comes as our newest armoured vehicles, Mastiff 2 and Ridgback, go to Afghanistan for the first time, underlining our ability to deliver kit quickly to where it is needed,” Davies said.
The enhanced Jackal 2 features improved manoeuvrability, improved reliability and will be able to carry an extra crew member.
The Coyote tactical support vehicle TSV (Light) is based on a 6×6 derivative of the Jackal.
Both vehicles have been bought as part of the £700m protected patrol vehicles package unveiled by the MoD last October.
Supacat will be the prime contractor and will be responsible for design, development, prototyping, integration and overall programme management. Babcock will be responsible for detailed production planning, purchasing and manufacture.
The MoD expects to take delivery of the vehicles in summer 2009.


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A new department was launched by E4Impact Foundation at the beginning of 2021: it’s the Business Development Africa (BDA), aimed at supporting the development of partnership between Italian and African companies. Its creation is a great opportunity for Italian companies, as Africa has a big potential that many Italian entrepreneurs don’t know or don’t consider.
Africa is, in fact, the second largest continent, encompassing 54 countries and boasting 15 years of sustained GDP growth. Its population is currently 1,3 billion and is set to double by 2050. The average age is very young, 19,5 year, and the urbanization trend is the fastest in the world but, despite the large investments already done, there is still a huge need for infrastructures of any kind. The middle class is growing rapidly and really appreciates Italian style and quality. Moreover, the African Continental Free Trade Area started on January 1st 2021, is the largest free trade area in the world.
Being the African economy, as well as the Italian one, led by SMEs, doing business together is much easier. This is the point from which the activities of the Business Development Africa department will start. The BDA, as a team of senior professionals with long experience in international business, leverages E4Impact’s networks of entrepreneurs and contacts in 17 African countries to help Italian SMEs approach the African markets and vice-versa, minimizing the risk and increasing the success rate from both sides.
- feasibility studies, market analyses, check of export readiness of the company;
- business model analysis, definition of the most suitable partnership model, business plan;
- consultancies for process optimization, social impact analysis;
- search of possible partners mainly within the E4Impact networks of companies, selection and training of local staff;
- support for legal / fiscal / contractual aspects in African countries;
- search of funding sources.
The new service will work as a bridge between Italy and Africa, expanding in this way the range of activities offered by E4Impact Foundation.


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White-box server and motherboard maker Super Micro is champing at the bit for Intel and Advanced Micro Devices to get their next generation of server processors out of the fabs and into its hands.
Australian ICT and digital media companies seeking to expand to the UK are being targeted via a new drive from UK Trade & Investment. The body has launched Go UK a business plan competition open to Australian and New Zealand businesses with an interest in crossing the pond.
Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court has given Los Angeles city council members an impassioned speech about the failings of its Google Apps contract, even though the meeting to discuss the issue has been moved to next week.
RIM has been sued in its home country following the series of outages that hit customers throughout much of the world.
Unexplained “technical difficulties” have frozen the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) since shortly after 10am this morning, 27 October.
ReviewThe popular Orbitsound T12 soundbar has reached its third version. Retailing for the same price as version two, the new edition looks the same externally but there are various improvements inside, including a better subwoofer speaker, higher quality components for the main speaker drivers and an extended volume range.
In a hack fitting of a James Bond movie, a security researcher has devised an attack that hijacks nearby insulin pumps, enabling him to surreptitiously deliver fatal doses to diabetic patients who rely on them.
The government department charged with running the Civil Service is looking for developers to transform the public sector – and they're prepared to pay £2m to get the best.
This week is remarkable for two 10-year computing anniversaries: that of the Apple iPod and of Microsoft's Windows XP.
Visa Inc and Mastercard Inc are working on a system for delivering online behavioural adverts to consumers based on what they buy in shops, according to media reports.
Sony is paying €1.05bn in cash to buy out its partner in mobile telephony, though it gets ongoing patent rights and ownership of some key intellectual property as security.
iOS App of the WeekOne of the standout features of the new iPhone 4S is the Siri voice-recognition assistant.
There is an eerie calm inside Western Digital's flooded hard disk drive plant near Bangkok. It has been transformed into a silent lake.
Samsung Electronics has won court approval to fast-track its appeal against the ban on its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia.
ITU Telecom WorldITU Telecom World is the UN's chance to push out the message that broadband internet is a human right, but the now-annual event is also pitching itself as a grown-up version of the increasingly infantile Mobile World Congress.
Security researchers have unearthed a flaw in Amazon Web Services that created a possible mechanism for hackers to take over control of cloud-based systems and run administrative tasks.
Despite eschewing NFC payments in the rest of the world, Nokia will be testing a handset capable of paying for subway tickets in New York, and before the end of 2011.
ReviewThe KDL-40HX723 is a feature-heavy 40in Freeview HD TV from the posh end of Sony’s 2011 catalogue. While it sells for a tad more than a looky-likey from the brand’s bread and butter EX range, the premium is worth paying if you want to see what Sony’s picture boffins are really capable of.
Virgin Media claims half a million people now subscribe to its high speed 30 Mbit/s cable service, with 178,000 on the 50 Mbit/s or 100 Mbit/s plans. The company clawed back 6,300 broadband punters in the third quarter of 2011.
Mozilla has released a customised version of Firefox that defaults to Microsoft's Bing.
RIM's little-loved fondleslab is failing to get the tills ringing, even after significant price cuts, channel partners have claimed.
The Oracle v Google patent punch-up definitely won't be heard this year, according to a court filing.
China Central Television is coming to Freeview HD, but not as a broadcast television channel. It will have its own channel number, but it won't be broadcast in the UK or subject to UK broadcast rules.
Groupon CEO Andrew Mason has told potential IPO investors that the company will be replacing 10 per cent of its sales staff in a push to get better deals from merchants and continue to grow.
Apps and websites that use the Google Maps API will soon have to pay $4 per 1,000 visitors Google announced today.
NASA has released another statement on Comet Elenin, the totally insignificant comet it keeps giving out statements about, to say that it has broken up into "smaller, even less significant, chunks of dust and ice".
Google has managed to spend around $1.5bn on acquisitions in the last nine months, including $265m in the month of September alone, according to a regulatory filing.
Internet policy experts have warned about possible threats to privacy and an increased risk of police domain name seizures after domain firms were pressured into overhauling how they do business.
E-tailer Crescent Electronics is putting together a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) with business advisory ChannelMoney.
Acer is shuffling the chairs on its exec deck with EMEA president Walter Deppeler moving to become chief marketing officer, and head of the China operations Oliver Ahrens replacing him.
Police have discovered the existence of a mobile phone known as "the Hub" which was used by News of The World journalists to hack over 1,000 voicemails between 2004 and 2006, according to The Independent.
RIM gave BlackBerry a lap of honour this week, announcing the speedy arrival of a smartphone crafted collaboratively with Porsche Design.
Statistical translation techniques have been successfully applied to decode an 18th century document written using an encryption scheme that has baffled scholars for decades.
ITU Telecom WorldThe lack of radio spectrum is probably the most debated subject amongst the delegates at the ITU's annual talking shop, with the military, emergency services and broadcast TV all in the firing line as punters want more data.
Google's cameras on sticks will be peering inside buildings starting from now as they start to incorporate the inside of shops and commercial properties onto Google Streetview.
Small and medium manufacturing businesses that don't put IT high up in their strategy decisions are scuppering their chances of success, according to a new study.
Avnet's top line growth stalled in Q1 largely due to the testing macroeconomic landscape in the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) after seven consecutive quarters of increases.
OpenLogic has launched a platform-as-a-service dubbed CloudSwing, which it is touting as the most flexible yet for the enterprise developer.
Ever since the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 were released earlier this month, early adopters have flooded the web with complaints about reduced battery life and overheating handsets. But now a few solutions have emerged from multiple sources – but not from Apple, unfortunately.
UpdatedIf you want a solar-powered iPad 2 with a pico projector, get a job as a school teacher in Zimbabwe, where Apple has entered into a joint venture with the Mugabe government to supply such setups to rural schools.
At least four web authentication authorities have reported being compromised in as many months, according to research from the Electronic Frontier Foundation that renews serious questions about a technology millions of websites rely on to remain secure.
The first commercial flight of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner passenger jet has touched down safely and on time at Hong Kong, a little over three years after it was due to arrive.
AMD beat the Street when reporting its financial results for the third quarter of 2011, with earnings per share of 13¢ on revenues of $1.69bn.
Datacom is to build a new data centre after sharing a New Zealand government contract with IBM and Revera.
Open Compute SummitBack in April, when Facebook opened up its Prineville, Oregon data center, it really opened it up.
New Zealand cable outfit Southern Cross Cable Networks has secured vendor Ciena for the expansion of its subsea cable network infrastructure.
Meg Whitman, who in September replaced the deposed Leo Apotheker as president and CEO of HP, has decided that “exploring options” for the company’s PC business will not, after all, involve selling the division.
Microsoft has announced that it’s dropped dotFREE from its ongoing lawsuit over the Kelihos botnet.
Open Compute SummitIn concert with the launch of the Open Compute Foundation on Thursday in New York, social media giant Facebook announced it is building a data center in Sweden close to the Arctic Circle, its first outside of the United States.
Australian ISP iiNet has pulled a TV advertising campaign after its two-frame “Easter egg” fell foul of this country’s advertising rules.
AMD's newish president and CEO fairly flaggelated himself for his company's failure in execution during its last quarter, a failure that caused Intel's only real competition to do the unthinkable: leave money on the table.
As promised at last week’s Web 2.0 Summit, Google has opened its social networking site to enterprises, via integration with Google Apps.


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LAST UPDATED : Sep 25, 2020, 06:25 AM IST
- Easy homemade chocolate recipe for Rakshabandhan
With COVID-19, severely impacting celebrations, it is time to try something new at home this Rakshabandhan. As most of the people are wary of stepping out to shop, this is perhaps the best time to make some homemade treats and what can be better than homemade chocolates?
- Wear homemade masks to keep coronavirus at bay, says govt
Amid rising scare about Covid-19, the health ministry on Saturday issued an advisory on the use of homemade protective cover for the face and mouth, asking people to wear such homemade masks particularly when they step out of their houses. "Such homemade face cover is a good method for maintaining personal hygiene," the advisory said.
- How to clean and sanitize your homemade masks every day
As per the WHO, homemade masks are effective only when they are used in combination with other hygienic routines. Maintaining cleanliness of the masks is crucial for its effectiveness in dealing with the coronavirus. The cleanliness includes washing the mask in warm water. Only a handmade mask can be cleaned and reused, not a disposable mask.