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Google shuts down shopping service for China
In September, Google also closed its free music service in the country
IDG News Service - Google has shut down its online shopping service in China, further slimming down its product portfolio for the country after it pulled the plug on its free music service back in September.
The Internet giant said it closed the site on Wednesday, and it no longer appears as a link on the company's Google.cn website.
"Shopping in China was not providing businesses with the level of impact we had hoped, so we will be sunsetting it in order to focus on the products that do," the company said in a statement. Google will instead devote more resources to its advertising services for apps and search, and connecting Chinese suppliers with overseas customers with tools including its Global Market Finder.
The company's Internet presence in the country has steadily declined since 2010 when it shut down its China-based search engine after clashing with local authorities over online censorship. Since then, access to Google's sites has been increasingly undermined and slowed by China's Internet censors, which try and filter out sensitive or anti-government sites. Last month, all of Google sites were briefly blocked in the country.
"Talking with Internet and mobile Internet users, we didn't run into many who were particularly familiar with Google's shopping service," said Mark Natkin, managing director for Beijing-based Marbridge Consulting. "In many cases, many people were not even aware it existed."
In September, Google shut down its free music service in China as it was not very popular. The popularity of Google search has also fallen, and the service currently has a 5% share of the Chinese market, according to data analytics site CNZZ.com.
Outside of China, Google has also been closing down other services in order to shift resources to more popular products. In August, the company said it made changes to around 50 products in the past year.
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At the height of iPhone rumor season, Japanese site Mac Otokara (which has a relatively good track record with rumors like this) reports that there will only be two iPhones unveiled this fall, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus.
Mac Otokara claims that reliable sources confirmed these names.
Throughout the summer, rumors have swirled that Apple would unveil three new iPhones: a standard iPhone 7, an iPhone 7 Plus, and a dual-lens-equipped iPhone 7 Pro.
However, this latest report states that what we thought was the iPhone 7 Plus, with the same single-lens camera enclosure on the current-generation iPhones, is actually a fall-back in case the dual-lens technology didn’t work out.
But according to this latest report, Apple has the dual-lens system under control, and that it will come as a part of the iPhone 7 Plus.
Of course, if Apple unveils a dual-lens iPhone 7 Plus, it could dramatically improve the iPhone, bringing multi-aperture cameras to the hardware and ultimately improving image quality and low-light performance. Which would be a much greater improvement (and reason to upgrade) than Live Photos.
Of course, this is just as much of a rumor as anything else that’s been said about the unannounced next-gen iPhones, so take everything with a grain of salt.

domain: news


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American State Bank and Trust Company will sponsor its seventh-annual Mitten Tree Project at its six locations through Dec. 15. The Mitten Tree gives bank customers and the community a chance to donate new hats, gloves, scarves, coats and mittens to children and families in need as a way to brighten their holiday season.
Each American State Bank location will have a tree in the bank lobby that the community can help decorate with clothing items through Dec. 15. Only new items are being sought as well as cash donations. All gifts will then be taken to the United Way of Central Kansas for distribution prior to Christmas.
For additional information call American State Bank at 620-793-5900.


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UPDATE: Feb. 24, 2020: Verizon withdrew Friday from RSA Conference 2020, joining AT&T Cybersecurity and 12 other sponsors or exhibitors which canceled, RSA Conference said in a statement. In total, 1.2% of attendees have canceled their registration, which is about 500 people. The conference historically draws more than 40,000 people each year.
Six companies from China withdrew because of travel restrictions and three exhibitors from China are staffing booths with people based in the U.S.
IBM is withdrawing from the RSA Conference 2020 in San Francisco next week because of concern about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), IBM Security said on Twitter Friday. The company was a platinum sponsor, the second-highest sponsorship level at the show.
IBM is one of eight organizations — six from China, one from the U.S. and one from Canada — that has canceled participation as a sponsor or exhibitor, RSA Conference said in a statement Friday.
The conference will proceed as planned even though 0.79% of attended canceled their registration, organizers said. Historically, the event draws more than 40,000 attendees, which correlates to approximately 316 attendees canceling registration this year.
The health of IBMers is our primary concern as we continue to monitor upcoming events and travel relative to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are cancelling our participation in this year's RSA conference.— IBM Security (@IBMSecurity) February 14, 2020
RSA Conference is one of the largest cybersecurity conferences, drawing attendees and exhibitors from around the world. Last year, the conference had 42,000 attendees, ahead of other major cybersecurity conferences such as Black Hat USA, which drew more than 20,000 attendees to Las Vegas last year.
While the conference said 82% of attendees and exhibitors are from the U.S., the outbreak has had a chilling effect on international technology gatherings. On Wednesday, GSMA canceled Mobile World Congress in Barcelona because of concern about COVID-19.
Uncertainty persists about how many individuals COVID-19 is impacting and where. The virus has infected more than 73,000 people worldwide, though the outbreak is centered in China, according to CBS News. There are 29 reported cases in the U.S., including 14 infected while on a cruise ship in Japan. As of Tuesday, the outbreak had killed 1,874 people.
The lingering question is what happens next. Forecasts say the outbreak will have a significant impact on the economy and was readily mentioned in Q4 earnings calls, reports Axios. Apple lowered its revenue guidance Monday because of COVID-19, which has constrained the iPhone supply chain.
RSA Conference is one of the earliest major technology conferences in the U.S. Other large business technology conferences, such as Google Cloud Next and the Red Hat Summit, don't take place until April. It's too soon to know how the infection will impact upcoming events.
Organizers say they're closely monitoring health risk related to the outbreak and are in talks with San Francisco to monitor new developments. As a precaution, the conference is adding more disinfectant and sanitizing stations.


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BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan underscored that the local government will be unrelenting and uncompromising in the implementation of the city’s anti-plastic ordinance starting May 1 this year to contribute in efforts to significantly reduce the volume of non-biodegradable waste generated not only by residents but also businesses in the different parts of the city.
The local chief executive pointed out even customers of business establishments will not be spared from the implementation of the anti-plastic ordinance, thus, buyers of goods will be barred from bringing with them plastic bags in transacting purchasing goods from groceries or event in different stalls in the public market.
“We received requests from different establishments for possible exemption from the coverage of the anti-plastic ordinance because what they are currently using are biodegradable plastics but the owners of the said businesses must prove to the concerned offices of the local government that what they are using are biodegradable plastics,” Domogan stressed.
He explained what should be done by the business establishments requesting for exemption from the coverage of the anti-plastic ordinance is to seek the amendment of pertinent provisions of the measure with the local legislative body using as proof the studies that will show that what they are currently using are biodegradable plastics when wrapping goods being purchased by their clients.
According to him, concerned offices are now conducting a massive information and education campaign in the city to remind the residents and the businessmen on the upcoming implementation of the city’s anti-plastic ordinance by May 1 so that the volume of plastics being collected from the different barangays and the central business district area will be significantly reduced and for people to be empowered to embrace the use of biodegradable bags when buying goods in the different establishments around the city.
It can be recalled that the local government gave a one year grace period for business establishments in the city to dispose of the huge volume of non-biodegradable plastics being used in the wrapping of goods purchased by their customers.
Records show that the local government enacted the first no plastic ordinance in the city which gave businesses a 5-year transition period but the same measure was amended in 2017 without being implemented to conform with the prevailing situation in the local markets.
Domogan urged residents and businessmen to first abide by the city’s no plastic policy to test its limits and uncover its possible loopholes before seeking its possible amendments that will be filed before the local legislative body in the future.
He emphasized by contributing in the efforts of the local government to reduce the volume of plastics being dumped in the different staging points in the barangays, people who will no longer patronize the use of plastics will be doing justice to effectively and efficiently address the increasing volume of biodegradable waste being shipped out of the city through its temporary transfer staging area located within a portion of the Baguio Dairy Farm. Which was authorized by the agriculture department for a maximum period of one year for such purpose.
By Dexter A. See


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By: Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Homegrown food chain Binalot Fiesta Foods Inc. has agreed to an amicable settlement of cases it filed against the owner of Nid’s Express Binalot for allegedly using trademarks similar to those of the Binalot brand.
According to Binalot trademark owner Rommel Juan, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines’ (Ipophl) Bureau of Legal Affairs had already approved the settlement arrangement between Binalot and Rafael Chu, the owner of Nid’s Express Binalot.
Ipophl director general Ricardo Blancaflor would have to issue a separate approval to deem the case resolved.
Binalot in 2007 filed a trademark infringement case against Chu for allegedly using trademarks that were “confusingly similar to and infringing on the Binalot trademark.”
Ipophl ruled in Binalot’s favor and ordered Chu to pay the former for damages.


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A three-year-old Chicken McNugget from McDonald’s has just sold for more than $8,000 on eBay. Let me repeat that. The McWashington, a fried piece of pink slime chicken paste that slightly resembles George Washington, just sold for $8,100.
As ridiculous as that sounds, at least the money is going to a good cause. The Associated Press reports that Rebekah Speight of Dakota City, Nebraska, sold the McNugget in order to raise money for a Summer Church camp in Sioux City. Speight says that the sale of the McWashington will help about 50 kids go to Summer camp.
Speight discovered the McWashington Nugget after a visit to McDonald’s over three years ago. One of her children ordered McNuggets but apparently had too much respect for historic chicken to eat the McWashington Nugget. Speight then stashed the valuable piece of presidential chicken in her freezer.
She tried to sell the piece of chicken last year but eBay had the auction taken down because it violated food safety regulations. eBay later changed its mind since the money from the sale would be going to a good cause. eBay reinstated the auction after sending Speight an email saying that they were “willing to make exceptions to help your cause.”
No word on who the buyer is or what they plan to do with the three-year-old chicken McNugget.


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2021 has ended on a high with stock markets around the world in recovery mode.
The Straits Times Index (SGX: ^STI) posted a good return of close to 10% for the year while the bellwether US index S&P 500 (INDEXSP: .INX) was up nearly 30%.
Many stocks enjoyed a strong recovery as demand returned and economic conditions improved.
As 2022 rolls in, it’s time once again to hunt for winning stocks that can lift your portfolio’s value higher in this year and beyond.
Some notable winners in 2021 included fintech company iFAST Corporation Limited (SGX: AIY), whose share price soared by 158%.
Others, such as PropNex Limited (SGX: OYY) and The Hour Glass Limited (SGX: AGS), saw their stocks surge by 119% and 152%, respectively.
So, how should investors go about identifying a potential winning stock for 2022?
Here are five attributes that you should look closely at before you deploy your money into a stock.
It’s prudent to quickly assess the dynamics of the industry in which the company is.
As vaccines roll out globally and borders start reopening, there may be structural changes that affect the demand and supply of certain goods and services.
For example, glove companies such as Top Glove Corporation Berhad (SGX: BVA) have seen demand plunge as countries had stockpiled nitrile gloves in 2020.
And as 2021 saw a major vaccine roll-out, earnings also fell off a cliff as demand normalised.
By assessing the strength of a company’s moat, you can determine if it will continue to do well moving forward.
The gross profit margin is calculated by taking the gross profit of a business divided by its revenue.
A higher gross margin indicates that the business has strong pricing power, allowing it to survive better during tough times.
A high gross margin alone is not indicative of a strong business.
Investors also need to observe how consistent the gross margin is.
Procter and Gamble (NYSE: PG), a manufacturer of consumer products such as shampoo, diapers and detergent, has reported rising gross margins in the last three years.
The gross margin for its fiscal year ended 30 June 2019 (FY2019) stood at 48.6%, but have risen to 51.2% at the end of FY2021.
Free cash flow
Another sign of a great business is its ability to churn out large amounts of free cash flow (FCF).
FCF is what’s left after you deduct a company’s capital expenditure from its operating cash flow.
Businesses that generate consistent levels of FCF are more resilient when faced with adversity.
High levels of FCF provides management with more options as to how to deploy the money.
It could be used for share buybacks, an increase in dividends, or for opportunistic acquisitions to enhance shareholder value.
The fourth attribute that investors should look for are businesses that have a long track record of paying dividends.
As mentioned earlier, companies that can produce consistent FCF usually are also able to maintain their dividend payments.
Dividend-paying companies usually possess a sturdy balance sheet and a robust business model.
These two attributes should allow you to have a restful night’s sleep even during economic downturns.
Some companies, such as Nike (NYSE: NKE) and Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), have even managed to raise their dividends amid the pandemic.
Procter and Gamble has increased its dividend without fail for 65 consecutive years, well regarded as one of the most consistent dividend payers.
Businesses that can raise their dividends through thick and thin make great investments for the long term.
With such an impressive track record, investors can rest assured that the company has the potential to continue increasing its dividend.
The final attribute to look out for are the risks associated with the business.
As we transition to a new normal, there could be new risks emerging that could threaten business performance.
These risks may not immediately manifest themselves but may gradually show up over time.
It’s important to remain vigilant and to continue monitoring the business to ensure it can manage these risks well.
If you study how a company handled prior crises, you may also get a better idea of whether it can survive the next one.
By weighing the risks against the rewards, you can then arrive at a more informed investment decision.
This is your chance to tap into David Kuo’s decades-long experience in one sitting! We have released a Special Free Report that outlines his strategies for 2022 and beyond. If you’re looking into dividend stocks next year, then this FREE report will be invaluable to your success. Click here to download now.
Disclaimer: Royston Yang owns shares of Nike, Tractor Supply Company and iFAST Corporation Limited.


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There are reports that one of Kent's biggest tourist attractions is set to close.
Kent Online is reporting that the The Hop Farm in Paddock could close shortly. It claims it has been hit by huge debts from a music festival held there last year.
More top news
Philippa has Sunday's weather for the west
The beloved British high street chain will disappear from Britain's towns on Sunday as the last stores close down.
Sunday's weather for the east


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CLEVELAND — Twitter is an ideal fit for businesses to use for customer service because it is a place people share information and allows for a quick and timely response, according to Small Business Trends.
WICHITA FALLS, Texas — The manager of All American Car Wash is not happy about closing two days a week, but understands that businesses need to do their part during the drought, according to Texomashomepage.com.
CHICAGO — Brian Campbell has dealt with many health problems in his lifetime, and his passion for life and carwashes has inspired those in the industry to create an award in his honor, according to an ICA blog.
WHITTIER, Calif. — Googie architecture is a style that originated after WWII and represents optimism, and a carwash in that style is preventing a development group from moving forward with a project, according to the Whittier Daily News.
Picture for a moment the exact day that your business staring going up...or downhill. Here is a snapshot of four potential customers that are pulling into your carwash today is your wash ready for them?


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NBC Local Media is launching new “Locals Only” Websites in several U.S. cities that will provide news and information drawn from various sources, including NBC’s owned-and-operated stations.
Part of an industry-wide focus on hyper-localism, the new sites, which launch Monday in Chicago before rolling out other major cities in the coming weeks, are designed to standalone rather than exist as part of a local station Website. They will replace the current station marketing sites under new Web address (see list below)
"These sites are a departure from what we've done in the past and the next step in our mission to provide truly relevant local content to consumers on the media platform of their choice," said NBC Local Media president John Wallace in a statement. "Our goal was to create a new type of user experience that's less an extension of our TV stations and more of an online destination for the latest local news, information and entertainment. These sites are about putting consumers first and giving them the content they're looking for from the best available sources."
After today’s Chicago launch, new sites go live in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco on October 16; in Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. on October 20; and in New York and Hartford on October 27.
The launch marks the latest effort by NBC Local Media—which comprises 10 NBC O&Os; the out-of-home focused NBC Everywhere; lifestyle programmer LX.TV; and entertainment marketer Skycastle Entertainment—to expand its multiplatform content and distribution. That strategy includes the launch of a 24-hour news channel on the digital tier of flagship station WNBC.
The television industry's top news stories, analysis and blogs of the day.
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The US American motorcycle company Curtiss Motorcycles (previously known as Confederate Motorcycles) has revealed their second electric motorcycle concept after the Zeus, aptly named Hera. Technical details have not been revealed, but we do know that Hera will also feature two electric motors.
Curtiss CEO Matt Chambers did not hold back any praise when speaking about their new motorcycle: “With Hera, we set out to create the world’s most luxurious motorcycle. Featuring the world’s first V8 battery architecture, an ultra-powerful, yet refined, E-Twin motor, and a 66-inch wheelbase, Hera will occupy a class all her own.”
The architecture is further explained by head of design Jordan Cornille. Hera’s layout was inspired by Glenn Curtiss’ V8 motorcycle, with which he earned the record of “fastest man on earth” in 1907. At the time, he managed to accelerate his bike to 219.4 km/h. The design of Hera takes a few liberties, replacing the 8 traditional cylinders with lithium ion batteries. The whole thing has been named a “V8 battery architecture”. Regarding the top speed of the new bike, the company has only stated that it would leave it’s historical counterpart in the dust.
Similarly to the Zeus, Hera also benefits from the twin e-motor concept from Curtiss, that uses Zero Motorcycles electric motor technology. The technical details from the Zeus can provide some insight into what we can expect from Hera at this point: With 127 kW motor performance and a 14.4 kWh battery capacity, the Zeus will be one of the most powerful electric bikes on the planet when it hits the market in 2020.
The renaming from Confederate Motorcycles to Curtiss took place last September. The manufacturer has also refocused their business towards electric mobility since. The name Curtiss is an homage to motorcycle and pilot pioneer Glenn Curtiss. Zeus and Hera are to be joined by more electrified motorcycles that would make Glenn proud. They plan to offer bikes for all financial segments.
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Hersheypark made good on their promise to keep the teases coming when they launched a new mini-site on Tuesday, aimed at giving clues (or confusing) readers about the park's 2015 attraction.
Last week we speculated that the new for 2015 addition would go up on the spot of the current Midway Tent, and this week's clue seems to confirm that. The red, white, and blue tent appears to soon be a part of Hersheypark history.
But what is replacing it? The vivid colors used in the tease do seem to give further credit to the dark ride theory, but the exact theme eludes me. The background for Clue #1 also features a brightly colored hippo suspended from a hot air balloon - your guess is as good as mine on that one!
Along with the first official clue Hersheypark is also holding a sweepstakes for a lucky follower to win a 2015 season pass. That's a pretty nice way to get to check out the 2015 addition... all season long!


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There’s a plant-based pet food company in Britain that is looking for a dog poop sniffer, that will pay a dog owner more than $6000 to switch their canine’s diet for two months.
Part of the gig is that you have to keep track of how your pet’s poop smells.
OMNI, a company that specializes in plant-based dog food, said it is seeking “a dedicated dog owner to sniff their dog’s poop, to test the effect a plant-based diet has on their dog’s digestion, stool odour and general health.”
RELATED: Things dogs eat but shouldn’t …
The winning applicant will be paid $6,685.82 to use OMNI’s dog food for two months and report on the effects the food has on the animal’s frequency of bowel movements, poop odour, energy levels, behaviour, sleep patterns, weight and fur condition.
The dog will be examined by a veterinarian at the start and end of the two months, OMNI explained.
Applications are being accepted on the company’s website through March 31.


text: After years of anticipation and speculation, the release date for Starfield, the highly anticipated game from Bethesda Game Studios, has finally been confirmed. Fans of the acclaimed studio can now mark their calendars for the long-awaited launch of this ambitious space-themed role-playing game. With its immersive worlds and captivating storyline, Starfield promises to redefine the gaming industry and take players on an unforgettable journey through the cosmos.\nThe moment that gamers around the world have been eagerly waiting for has arrived. Bethesda Game Studios has officially announced the release date for Starfield. After years of secrecy and anticipation, the game is set to hit the shelves on August 17, 2023.\nBethesda, known for creating iconic game franchises such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, has been discreetly working on Starfield for quite some time. The studio has been tight-lipped about the project, only giving fans glimpses of what’s to come through cryptic trailers and teasers. However, with the release date now confirmed, excitement levels are soaring among gamers everywhere.\nThe announcement of the release date for Starfield has sent shockwaves through the gaming community. Bethesda Game Studios has built a reputation for delivering groundbreaking and immersive gaming experiences, and it seems that Starfield will be no exception. With its innovative gameplay mechanics and vast open-world setting, this long-awaited game is sure to captivate players and leave a lasting impact on the industry. As the countdown begins, gamers can finally start counting the days until they can embark on their own interstellar adventure in Starfield.


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Like fashion, decorating trends for upcoming seasons are divined at least half a year in advance to give stores time to order and stock up. And just as fashion has the runways of Paris, holiday décor has Christmasworld, the ultimate Christmas consumer goods trade show held annually in - where else? - Germany, the birthplace of the Christmas tree.
Ornaments new and old
Metallic ornaments have always been around, but with the popularity of everything metallic (gold, silver, copper) in home décor, they're chic.
You can buy some future heirlooms from a company known for its great design like Nambé. A maker of heavy metal alloy bowls and home accessories, Nambé just launched an ornament line ($25; available at Macy's, Bed, Bath & Beyond and major retailers).
Vintage ornaments, with their soft metallic patina, look good all over the house, not just on the tree, says P.J. Acosta of AG Design Center in Chicago, which specializes in luxury floral and decor design. "Fill a bowl with them on the coffee table, or on an accent table in the foyer. Or use an oversized glass vase to fill with things you've gathered up over the years, mixing textures."
The most modern of ornaments are digital. You simply upload photos to the ornament, and it plays a slide show on a tiny screen ($19.99, American Sale). American Sale CEO Bob Jones Sr., who does most of the holiday purchasing, expects these to be hot items this year because they are fun, eye-catching and versatile. "As your kids grow up you can add new holiday photos," he says. "After Christmas, some styles come with a frame so you can put them on your desk."
It Still Takes a Village
The collectible Christmas village trend is still huge, and Lemax makes an affordable alternative to the pricier Dept. 56 brand, "plus they come with starter sets," says Jones. Some villages are now lit with LED lights.
Nativity sets and religious themed décor is making a comeback these days, and it's not just because Christmasworld decreed it so. Jones says his company has been selling more and more nativity sets lately. And Nambé recently launched a nativity set alongside its new ornament collection. You may need some gold to buy it: the 12-piece set retails for $500.
One of the predictions to come out of this show is that in 2009, the two worlds of fashion and holiday décor will collide on Christmas trees everywhere. That means popular fashion colors such as purple in every shade. Turquoise, which is paired with brown in fashion and interior design everywhere, is also big. Display it with white and silver, which work together well, says Acosta. "Also, chartreuse is still around, which looks good with the traditional red and makes it pop."
The alternative color scheme to these trendy colors is not good ol' red and green, but white. Natural colors and materials combined with shades of white, champagne gold, silver and glitter evoke nature and a snowy landscape.
Speaking of fashion, anyone who has been in a clothing store this year knows the '80s are back. The Christmasworld folks have given us permission to decorate with "brightly-colored baubles, garish plastic trees and disco balls in all sizes for a funky Christmas." Inspired by glam rock, these décor items include red and black candles with sparkly skulls, roses and silver ornaments. You can trust Christmasworld on this trend-or not.
Get the LED out
LED lights are the future of holiday lighting. They're brighter, longer lasting, and way more durable than traditional lights. Plus, they're green, using about 80 to 90 percent less power. They're cool to the touch, so they won't light the house on fire when the cat knocks over the tree while you're at the mall. Expect to pay more than you would for traditional lights, but prices will likely drop as this technology takes root.
Pre-lit trees also come with LED lights now ($99 and up; American Sale). It's a good idea to look at different models in the store because there are variations in light color, Jones says. "They come in multicolored, warm white and cool white. Warm looks better inside because it looks like incandescent light."
Jones says LED lights and lighted trees pay for themselves quickly because the LEDs last 25,000 to 100,000 hours. "You can buy an LED set and it will last 20 years," he says. He should know. "We keep ours on in the store from September to January. That's the equivalent of 30 years."


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I’ve been in a period of self-imposed exile from Google’s phones for a number of years now, but I’ll admit that the Google Pixel 4a has caught my eye – despite my initial reservations.
I’ve always loved the pure Android experience that only Google’s range of smartphones can provide. Having access to the latest OS
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Apple spits out Android option from Chomp app navigator
It’s taken a bit longer than we expected, but following Apple’s acquisition of app search engine Chomp, the Android option has now been cut out from its homepage. We’re now left with the choice between iPhone and iPad categories, alongside existing shortcuts for popular freebies and apps on sale, in a few efforts to cut through Cupertino’s 600,000-strong app selection. Hit up the source to give it a run for yourself.
Pubblicato il 30/04/2012, in Hi-Tech con tag android, app search, apple, apps, AppSearch, chomp, google, iOS, ipad, iphone, ipod, mobilepostcross, seachange. Aggiungi il permalink ai segnalibri. Lascia un commento.


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Three men and one woman have pleaded guilty after they stole £1900 worth of good from a supermarket and trying to get away in an uninsured car. Police were called to London Road in Downham Market on the afternoon of January 28 following reports of a theft from a shop on the road.
Three men and a woman in her 20s were arrested on suspicion of theft offences and questioned at King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre. Ion-Marius Ioan, 25, of Garton End Road, Peterborough, Cambs, has been charged with theft from a shop and driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance.
Mirica Mircea, 21, of Thistlemoor Road, Peterborough, Cambs, Nadia Ioan, 22, of Thistlemoor Road, Peterborough, Cambs, Ionelia Cristina Ioan , 23, of Garton End Road, Peterborough, have all been charged with theft from a shop.
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All four have appeared at King’s Lynn Magistrates Court on 31 January 2023 pleading guilty to the offences and have been bailed to appear at (KL Mags) on Thursday March 2 2023 for sentencing.
In a tweet about the incident, Norfolk Police said: "Having a good working relationship with our retail stores paid off today as we managed to recover £1900 worth of goods from a group of 4 that had travelled into the County to commit theft. The vehicle involved was also seized as no insurance was in place for the driver."


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Obama’s Plea Persuades GE to Shoot Down Gun Financing
While gun lobbyists exchange high-fives over victories in Washington, General Electric (NYSE:GE) is showing it has more integrity than the U.S. Senate. GE’s Capital Finance, which has offered loans to gun buyers in the past, announced it would stop helping shoppers who cannot afford to pay for assault weapons, rifles or handguns out of pocket.
Industry Changes, New Legislation and Tragic Events
The GE initiative targeted shops that sold guns as their main store focus, according to a company spokesperson. The move will affect about 75 retailers in all, a small figure (less than 1 percent) in the grand scheme of gun retailers, yet the company went out of its way to cite recent events as motivation behind the changes.
GE’s Russell Wilkerson said the company cut the financing following “a more rigorous audit process in our sporting goods segment in light of industry changes, new legislation and tragic events that have caused widespread reexamination of policies on firearms.” The stance marks a departure from the hard line taken by gun manufacturers and their lobbyists in Washington’s back rooms. The NRA, for example, has seen an opening in the tragedies, calling for the issuance of guns to school security guards everywhere. The rise in rifle sales following Sandy Hook reflected a trend welcomed by gun stock investors as well…
GE, however, might be showing it is too close for comfort to the events at Sandy Hook, which claimed the lives of 20 schoolchildren and 27 people in all. The Fairfield company’s main office are located a short distance from Sandy Hook and according to the Wall Street Journal, the father of mass murderer Adam Lanza works for GE Capital.
In essence, the company is making a move designed to create moves at a time when public support for gun law reform is limited to outraged citizens (an overwhelming majority) and politicians not running for reelection in their districts and states. Following the defeat of legislation in the Senate in the past weeks, President Obama called the day a “shameful” one for America. GE is showing that, though its money might not be where its mouth is, its heart is in the right place.
Don’t Miss: Congress Hustles To End Flight Delays.


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ITB Berlin, billed as a reliable indicator of global travel industry sentiment, registered 5% year-on-year increase in business volume, reflecting that the international travel industry is in good health and upbeat, and may see a record year this year.
The buoyant mood in the industry was said to be a result of having the most positive economic climate in the Eurozone since the turn of the millennium. “The consistent forecasts of sustained global economic growth for the next two years contributed to the positive mood among exhibitors and visitors these past few days,” said Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH. “Against the backdrop of a booming economy, record low employment and good wage settlements, more and more consumers are willing to spend money,” he said, adding that the strong euro will make holidaying outside the eurozone noticeably cheaper.
He cautioned there would still be challenges ahead. “The digital transformation of the entire industry continues to affect every company and provider. Other issues such as the need for greater security on travel, the increasingly controversial phenomenon of overtourism, and the globally changing face of travel brought about by companies such as Airbnb are decisively influencing the social discourse on the future of tourism.” The issues were explored in the concurrent ITB Berlin Convention this year.
The five-day exhibition from March 7-11, 2018 on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds was attended by around 110,000 trade visitors from Germany and abroad. More than 10,000 companies and organisations from 186 countries and regions exhibited their products to visitors in 26 halls in the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.
The contingent of Chinese exhibitors had expanded noticeably. Ctrip, Asia’s largest OTA with the second biggest global market value, displayed its products at ITB Berlin for the first time. Among traditional DMOs, hotels, airlines and destinations and attractions, emerging travel technology companies like Ctrip, iGola, Mioji, PKFARE, HaoQiao, Dida Travel, Shiji Information, DerbySoft, Flightroutes24 and Qyer also participated in the exhibition, indicating the innovative capabilities of Chinese enterprises.
Two new formats celebrated their debut in Berlin, reflecting strong growth in the Luxury Travel segment. With the new Loop Lounge @ ITB, organised in collaboration with Loop, the trade show for luxury products, ITB Berlin had created a new platform for networking in an exclusive atmosphere with a select group of exhibitors. The first ITB Luxury Late Night show provided an opportunity for visitors to network.
Currently, luxury travel accounts for 7% of the market and annual growth is in double-digit figures. David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin, said: “Luxury travel is booming. With our innovative formats, we are responding to this welcome development. With this initiative, we are also establishing ourselves in a role that devotes even more attention to this growth market and are showcasing this trend on the exhibition grounds.”
For the third year running, ITB Berlin organised the ITB Chinese Night, where visitors were able to find out more about the Chinese travel market, exchange views and establish new contacts. The event was held in collaboration with Jin Jiang International and Ctrip, and was attended by around 300 representatives of the travel industry.
Potential exhibitors also received information about ITB CHINA 2018 through the Chinese-focused trade show’s preview event at ITB Berlin. ITB CHINA is scheduled to take place on May 16-18 for the second time in Shanghai.
For the ITB Berlin Convention, the global travel industry’s leading think tank which hosted around 150 sessions featuring over 300 outstanding speakers, the event was also a success. Messe Berlin had been able to secure Zambia as the Convention & Culture Partner. Other partners of the ITB Berlin Convention included the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) in the role of co-host, Ctrip.com International, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Ministry for Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.
Ctrip CEO Jane Sun delivered a keynote speech at ITB Berlin titled “Travel: A Gateway to Global Peace and Prosperity”. She talked about the social responsibilities of tourism companies in promoting economic development, environmental protection and cultural exchange, and had an interview with Philip Wolf, founder of Phocuswright.
As a joint-venture partner of ITB CHINA, TravelDaily China was invited to host two conference sessions at ITB Berlin. Senior executives from Ctrip, Louvre Hotels, Maritim Hotels Group, iGola, Mioji, Shiji Information, Tujia.com, Klook and Ocean Link shared their insights on topics such as China's tourism marketing, tourism investment and entrepreneurship with ITB visitors. The two sessions had attracted about 500 participants in the industry.
Meet us at ITB CHINA on May 16 -18 in Shanghai!
For more information, please visit www.itb-china.com.


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One of Microsoft‘s not-so-secret dirty little secrets is that, as a software company, it’s been in the hardware business for over a quarter century, making mice and other input devices long before the company ventured into digital media territory with the Xbox and Zune. And some of the Redmond giant’s hardware products have garnered a fair bit of respect, including the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000, which is currently the top-selling notebook mouse in the United States.
Now, Microsoft is looking to capitalize on that popularity, offering the new Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 Special Edition, which essentially just like the original 3000 except on the outside, where users will now be able to choose between five new colors: "dragon fruit" (dark pink), "pomegranate" (red), "milk chocolate" (brown), "aloe" (green), and "creme brulee" (khaki).
(No, we have no idea why Microsoft keeps thinking brown is a good idea either.)
"Buying a tech product these days is a declaration of personal style, and these special edition mice allow consumers to make the ultimate statement," said Microsoft Hardware’s product marketing manager Sean Butterworth, in a statement."The Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 has always been a fan favorite, and these color updates will keep it in the forefront for years to come."
(But, seriously: brown?)
The Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 300 offers 1,000 dpi optical tracking, rubber side grips, and a USB wireless receiver that snaps into the bottom of the mouse for on-the-go storage. The devices will operate for up to six months on a single battery.
The new colored mice—minus "creme brulee"—will be available in Best Buy in May, with the full line widely available in June. The mice carry a suggested retail price of $29.95.


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BEIJING, March 25 (Xinhua) --China and Russia, two great powers in the world, have long been tied up by mutual trust.
The two countries have extended close exchanges and cooperationfrom politics to economic, technological and cultural sectors. Deepening bilateral trade cooperation has become an inevitable trend for the benefits of both countries and their peoples.
Good diplomatic relations have laid a good foundation for trade cooperation. From 2000 to 2014, the two countries saw bilateral trades thriving and growing. By 2018, China had been Russia's largest trade partner for eight consecutive years.
In terms of trade structure, China and Russia complement each other with respective resource strengths. Russia is stronger in petroleum, coal, aviation and military industries.
China is stronger in home appliances, agricultural products, garments and other primary processing industries. The complementary advantages in product structure have helped the two countries develop and deepen the bilateral trade.
China and Russia hailed a great leap forward in the bilateral trade in 2018, with trade volume topping USD100 billion.
On the 70th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations in 2019, the two countries' economic cooperation entered a new stage featuring all-directional, multi-layered and wide-ranging bilateral trade pattern thanks to their favorable strategies. The trade between the two countries kept improving in quality and structure and increasing in quantity.
2020-2021 is defined as the “Year of China-Russia Technological Innovation”.
Aiming to reach USD200 billion trade volume, both governments will push ahead pragmatic cooperation in all sectors, build higher-level closer economic and trade relationship, and add more contents to China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era.
(Edited by Bao Nuomin with Xinhua Silk Road, email@example.com)


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The latest ‘can you spot’ photo challenges puzzle solvers to try and locate the solitary black cab hidden among a traffic jam of brightly covered vehicles. Scroll down for the answer.
It was created by digital illustrator Charlotte Bailey for insureTAXI, who recently found 50 per cent of cabbies use the internet to play games or browse social media when waiting for a fare, so decided to combine the two.
Did you see it?
Tim Crighton, the company’s marketing director, said: “We’re always working to get a better understanding of our customers and our recent survey of taxi drivers has helped us understand more about their behaviours, habits and opinions.
“With taxi drivers waiting nearly half an hour between fares on average, and many of them turning to their smartphones for entertainment, we thought we’d give them an online brainteaser to entertain them. The feedback we’ve had from the puzzle so far is great – it’s something everyone can give it a go!”
Can you answer the simple maths question confusing adults? A new brainteaser that many adults are getting wrong has been sweeping the web.
It's not the first exam question to divide the internet. Here's why 5+5+5 doesn’t always make 15.
And here's what happened when a professor tested students’ ethics with a cruel exam question.


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The biggest trend in gaming has nothing to do with actual gameplay.
Already, 2022 has seen the most money spent on mergers and acquisitions in the history of gaming. In the first half of the year:
- Take-Two Interactive acquired Zynga for $12.7B.
- Sony acquired Bungie for $3.6B.
- Microsoft moved to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7B, which, if approved, would be the biggest gaming acquisition of all time.
Last week, another deal was added to the mix — Unity confirmed a $4.4B merger with ironSource.
Unity is one of the world’s largest gaming engines. Paired with ironSource, which monetizes apps through ads and transactions, the combined entity could offer an end-to-end platform to build and monetize like never before.
But there’s another reason for the move
Analysts speculate shareholders are desperate for newfound profits, given Unity’s stock is down ~70% year-to-date.
- Importantly, ironSource is profitable, and on track to grow revenue by 36%+ in 2022. Unity believes the combined entity will reach a $1B run rate by the end of 2024.
Unity’s move suggests gaming’s latest trend won’t slow down any time soon.
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Business and tech news in 5 minutes or less


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Called Sparklean, the innovation has rolled exclusively into 1,400 of the retailer’s stores in two variants: Tropical and Strawberry & Lime (rsp: £2.50/330ml & £8.99/4x330ml).
A third Orange variant is set to hit shelves in September.
Each 330ml can provides 15g protein with no artificial flavours or colours.
The liquid inside was “completely clear” and avoided the “subpar taste and gritty textures” of other protein drinks on the market, Vow Sports claimed.
It targeted “a wide range of consumers, including those following keto and low-carb diets, individuals focused on weight loss, fitness enthusiasts aiming to build muscle, and those embracing plant-based and vegan lifestyles”, the manufacturer added.
It comes as the trend for added-protein innovation shows no sign of waning. Take snack bar brand Nakd, which added a dedicated Protein range earlier this year; or sports nutrition brand Myprotein, which last month debuted a line of protein-packed ice cream into Iceland.


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Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 Plus chip is built for gaming and VR
It's a rare mid-cycle speed boost to a flagship phone processor.
Mediatek's 5G chipsets are ready for cheaper next-gen phones
It should pop up in lots of low-end smartphones.
Qualcomm launches its first platform made for robots
RB3 is built for always-connected bots and drones.
NVIDIA's $1,100 AI brain for robots goes on sale
You aren't about to buy one, but it could be influential.
Huawei's 7nm Kirin 980 chip could give Qualcomm reason to worry
Alongside that architecture, there's new Cortex-A76 cores, new GPUs, dual neural processors and more.
Qualcomm's 7nm Snapdragon chip will be ready for 5G phones
It will work nicely with the company's next-gen modems.
Qualcomm invites us to see its new Wear OS chip on September 10th
The platform has gone two years without an upgrade.
New Snapdragon chips bring dual cameras to more mid-tier phones
The Snapdragon 632, 439 and 429 promise more power on a budget.
Intel's all-in-one Xeon chip will speed up car connectivity
It brings heavy-duty computing closer to where it's needed.


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From Wall Street Journal:
A Chinese arbitration commission ruled in favor of a Chinese beverage maker on a trademark disagreement with joint-venture partner Groupe Danone SA, the latest legal twist in a closely watched case but one that is unlikely to end the dispute.
The Hangzhou Arbitration Commission said the period had lapsed during which Danone was eligible to file its case against Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co. The case was aimed at forcing Hangzhou-based Wahaha to honor
December 10, 2007 6:11 AM


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The final whistle has been blown and the referee’s decision is final, the Tiger FC’s ‘Ultimate Fan’ has ascended the throne! Tiger FC has again embarked on a nationwide hunt to identify 70 football gurus, through quizzes, at various clubhouse activations during the 2016/17 season. 30of these strong and wise footie contenders have made it to join Tiger FC’s Big Away Game at The Beer Factory, Sunway Giza to battle it out to earn the coveted title, ‘The Ultimate Fan’. Continue reading
Here’s some good news for all football enthusiasts in Malaysia. Tiger FC is back yet again to reward 70 walking football encyclopaedias with Samsung 40” LED TV throughout this 2016/17 season. If you are known amongst your friends as a pundit of everything football and have a burning passion for the sport, then take up Tiger FC’s challenge and compete against other footie whizzes in Malaysia to win the coveted crown, Tiger FC’s Ultimate Fan. Continue reading
Carlsberg has always been everyone’s favorite football mate. Nothing makes a game more exciting than having an ice-cold Carlsberg sitting next to you on your favorite sports bar as you scream at the top of your lungs to cheer your team on, right?
10 fans to Play on the Pitch with great football legends at Stade de Lyon in France
Carlsberg is heating up the local football scene through a number of exciting activities leading to the UEFA EURO 2016™. As the official beer of the tournament, Carlsberg is offering fans a chance to watch the semi-final live in France and experience what it’s like to be a football star and ‘Play on Pitch’ at Stade de Lyon, the official stadium of the UEFA EURO 2016™ where football heroes will be scoring goals – giving fans probably the best football adventure ever! Access to this event is exclusively held by Carlsberg and only 100 winners from around the world will have the chance to participate. Continue reading
After a nationwide hunt, 86 Tiger FC fans have proven to be the strongest and wisest footie contenders in the club’s search for ‘The Ultimate Fan’. These 86 showed the most potential when they outdid the other hopefuls through football quizzes at various clubhouse activations and a collaboration with an English daily, and will battle it out for the glorious title during Tiger FC’s Big Away Game on May 1 at Laundry Bar, The Curve. Continue reading
In a showdown of footie whizzes on September 19 held at Laundry (The Curve), Souled Out (Bangsar South), Home and Away (Bangsar) and TBF (Penang), Ng Mei Ling, Dan Mitchell Pereira, Vincent Ng Chee Wai, and Rekkesh Sinnaya took home a Sony PlayStation 4 each.
The four are now automatic finalists to a grand showdown happening in May 2016, where all 80 winners will compete for ‘The Ultimate Fan’ title. The ultimate prize? A trip to Europe for two to THE football match of 2016. Continue reading
It was mere weeks ago when Carlsberg hosted the getaway of a lifetime for its consumers at the Ultimate Football Retreat in Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort. The weekend was a one-of-its-kind football fans’ fantasy come to life, as they got up close and personal with four living legends of Barclays Premier League – Dennis Wise, Gianfranco Zola, Steve Mcmanaman and Sol Campbell! Continue reading
Tiger FC did not disappoint when it said it had something epic to reveal to its fans at their second Big Away Game yesterday. Prior to the event, the footie fan club hinted that the news will present “something epic and something football aficionados will definitely cheer for”. Well, cheer they did. Continue reading
Tiger FC is brewing something epic and something football aficionados will definitely cheer for. So trust us when we say, you would want to be there at Tiger FC’s next Big Away Game this Sunday (Dec 14) when the footie fan club reveals the surprise it has been developing especially for its fans. Discover what the big news is at Tiger FC’s second football screening for the season at Laundry Bar, The Curve at 7pm. Continue reading
Carlsberg, as the official beer of Barclays Premier League (BPL), fulfilled the dreams of more than 300 football diehards to meet their football heroes in the flesh, as it kicked-off the Ultimate Football Retreat recently at AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience rewarded Carlsberg consumers from Malaysia and Hong Kong to a football weekend getaway of watching big matches live on big HD screens, meeting four BPL legends, Dennis Wise, Steve McManaman, Gianfranco Zola and Sol Campbell as well as the chance for four luckiest consumers to win an all-expense paid trip to the UK to watch a BPL match live. Continue reading


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France-headquartered Solabia Group has acquired Algatech Ltd., an Israel-based biotech company specialising in the development, cultivation and commercialisation of ingredients delivered from microalgae for the food supplement, food and cosmetic markets around the world.
Founded in 1998 and located in the Arava desert in southern Israel, Algatech is one of the very few companies in the world to have perfected commercial-scale production of microalgae and their derivatives. Over the past two decades, the company has grown to become one of the biotech business in the nutraceuticals sector, owning one of the world’s largest photobioreactor facilities. Located in Israel’s Arava Desert, the eco-friendly facility benefits from a stable climate, high year-round light intensity and clean, unpolluted air, allowing to cultivate algae in over 600 km of greenhouse-like glass tubes according to a process operated entirely on renewable energy.
Algatech has complete oversight and control of its value and supply chains - from research, science, IP and cultivation to product development, testing and marketing - and can deliver tailored end-to-end solutions to its customers. Algatech currently exports to more than 35 countries worldwide, serving leading brands across the nutrition, cosmetic and food and beverage industries. The company has achieved a high double-digit top line growth over the last several years.
“Algatech’s pioneering R&D, impressive manufacturing facilities, market leading product portfolio and established customer base brings the opportunity for Solabia to be present in both fields of macroalgae and microalgae whose futures are very promising. Following our acquisition of Algues & Mer in 2016, this investment will allow us to further strengthen our position in the nutrition and food supplement markets. We are looking forward to working with Algatech and its accomplished team to accelerate the growth of its current product portfolio, as well as to develop new algae-based products for the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries,” commented Gérard Josset, Chief Executive Officer of Solabia Group.


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Back in September last year, Xiaomi introduced the Redmi Note 8 and Redmi Note 8 Pro. Both devices sit as the company’s most successful smartphones in the Note family. The former is like an incremental upgrade for the already successful Redmi Note 7, while the Redmi Note 8 Pro took everything to a level beyond. The chipset marked the debut of Helio G90T, a powerful chipset from MediaTek that also marked the return of the Taiwanese chipmaker to relevancy. The gaming chipset was quite powerful, but customers received it with a bit of doubt. After all, MediaTek-powered phones were plagued with the lack of updates in the past.
Xiaomi in the past didn’t care about updating the Android version running underneath MIUI. Well, things have changed. Shortly after its release, the Redmi Note 8 Pro received an update to Android 10. Now, it seems to be eligible for the company’s upcoming Android 11 release. Well, today the phone is getting an update that probably will be the last one based on Android 10.
Gizchina News of the week
The new update is rolling out to devices with a firmware version V22.214.171.124.QGGRUXM and currently is reaching devices in Russia, Indonesia, and the India region. The new firmware is rolling out via OTA and may take a few days to reach your smartphone. The next firmware update should be based on Android 11 and may also introduce MIUI 12.5 version. Talking about the new MIUI software, a couple of days ago, Xiaomi discontinued the development of MIUI 12. The company now is focusing in the upcoming MIUI 12.5. The new update will introduce incremental changes and enhancements. In fact, it seems like an early development of MIUI 13.
Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro rumored to receive Android 11 update
According to rumors, the Redmi Note 8 and the Note 8 Pro can be the next set of Redmi devices to receive the Android 11 update. This seems to be a little unusual, after all, Xiaomi already released a set of devices after the Note 8 series. It’s not every day that we see old devices getting the update first. Moreover, the Redmi Note 8 has just received its Android 10-based MIUI 12 update in global markets after more than one year of waiting. We’re not holding our breath to see it getting an Android 11 update too soon. While Android 11 availability still is uncertain, the phones are expected to receive MIUI 12.5 betas in China in the coming days.


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Google Glass really freaks some people out. Those people are understandably concerned that those wearing Glass could be secretly recording their every move. There are some obstacles programmed into Glass to prevent this, but it might not be for long.
ZDNet reports that a hacker by the name of Jay Freeman has already jailbroken Glass. The jailbroken Glass can be used to bypass a number of obstacles that prevent Glass from becoming the surveillance tool of the future.
The big thing is that hackers can remove all indication that Glass is recording video. In the vanilla OS, Glass will show the video as it’s recording on the glass prism above the eye. If a person was close enough, they could tell that Glass was recording video. Freeman says that Glass’ OS can be modified to remove this so that you can record video while everybody is none the wiser.
Of course, you couldn’t record minutes of footage as the current Glass only allows video recordings of up to 10 seconds. Oh wait, that’s controlled by the OS as well so you could bypass that limitation to allow unlimited video recording. Glass only has 12.5GB of embedded flash memory though so there’s not much space for video.
That’s where Freeman starts to get creative. He says you can modify Glass to take a picture every 30 seconds while recording low bit rate audio. It takes up much less storage than HD video, but provides what is essentially the same information. Freeman speculates such tactics could be used for corporate espionage or for planning robberies.
Should you be afraid of Google Glass, especially after all of this has come to light? The short answer is no. The long answer is that Google Glass is just a tool, and like any other tool can be used for good or evil. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be cautious though. Bars, strip clubs and other establishments that make it a priority to protect customer privacy have an obligation to prevent Glass and other recording equipment from being used on their premises.
It should be noted that we’re still in the infancy of Google Glass. Google may lock down the consumer versions of Glass to prevent unwarranted surveillance on a massive scale. We’ll find out in about a year when Google Glass finally launches.[Image: Stop the Cyborgs]


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3 remote sensing satellites are expected to be launched from now till 2020
Information and communications sector will see a successful year thanks to a tech-savvy population and new trade pacts
Mobile, multimedia, retail and television services will play an important role in MobiFone's plan
A Government Inspectorate official admitted there is corruption in ODA and public projects in Vietnam.
More than 700 delegates from all over Asia will attend the information and communication technology (ICT) summit of Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization ...


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Netflix will very soon roll out new Mobile Previews for its Android and iOS app, which will show users a short 30-second video teaser of shows and movies. Also, the suggested previews will be personalised based on the shows a user watches. The new feature will be rolled out for the Netflix iOS app first and later to the Android app. The company says that the new “Stories” like design on mobile phones is an evolution of TV previews which were rolled out previously. The new mobile previews have been optimised by design and will be displayed vertically. This is quite similar to Snapchat stories. The rows in Mobile Previews will be based on what the user, and added members, have previously watched.
- Compare Mobile Phones NewsIn DepthPress ReleaseHow to'sReviews
- Digit SquadVideosPhotos Contest Hot Deals


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Crashed $200,000 Lamborghini Diablo SV Becomes an Expensive Nightmare
Whether your dream car is a Mazda Miata or a Lamborghini Diablo SV, we’re all suckers for a good deal. However, even with an ultra-expensive Lamborghini, going the cheaper route can produce some serious problems.
That is exactly what happened to John Temerian, owner of Curated, a vintage supercar dealership in Miami. After sinking his live savings into a crashed Diablo SV, Temerian quickly found himself in a nightmare scenario.
Why would anyone buy a crashed Lamborghini Diablo SV?
This crashed Lamborghini Diablo SV story begins with a dream. That’s because Temerian had reportedly been looking to purchase his SV dream car for quite some time. After selling a very rare Ferrari Enzo, Temerian reportedly took home a sizable profit.
At this point, Temerian spotted a Lamborghini Diablo SV coming up for sale at a local auction. What made this particular example interesting was the fact it was previously involved in an accident. Thanks to the bad CarFax report, Temerian expected this $200,000 supercar to sell with a massive discount. Unfortunately, Temerian couldn’t snag it at the auction and had to pay a little money on top to the winning bidder to secure the car.
To buy this Lamborghini Diablo SV, Temerian reportedly emptied his life savings. All in, Temerian reports spending around $145,000, marking a considerable saving over the current market price. Eventually, the supercar made its way to Miami via an enclosed trailer. Upon arriving, Temerian reportedly took it for a drive, running into a major problem almost immediately.
A bad clutch was just the beginning
After taking his Lamborghini Diablo SV off of the trailer, Temerian reports that he quickly spotted a problem. During the first drive, the revolutions would shoot up once you put your foot down. Upon realizing that his clutch was bad, Temerian quickly began noticing other problems.
While on the highway, the engine immediately lost a significant amount of power and began surging. From there, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree, and the car seemingly began to freak out. Since the previous crash occurred on the driver’s side of the Lamborghini Diablo SV, the mirror wasn’t working either.
The cherry on top of these supercar problems was that the A/C system stopped working. At this point, Temerian realized that his cheap dream car needed a significant amount of money invested. The worst part of this realization is that Temerian was reportedly out of extra cash at the time.
It took about $15,000 to get this Lamborghini back up to speed
Since these Lamborghini Diablo SV problems were quite severe, it took some time for Temerian to gather the necessary funds to fix them. The first fix involved taking the naturally-aspirated V12 engine out of the car. Temerian reports that this service cost him around $8,000.
From there, Temerian tackled all of the electrical issues with the car to get it up to speed. All in all, Temerian reports spending around $15,000 fixing this crashed supercar over a period of six months.
Eventually, Temerian realized that he could’ve bought a nice Lamborghini Diablo SV for what he had to spend to fix his crashed example. Regardless, Temerian eventually sold the car to another collector who reportedly now drives it daily.


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Yuma police say the death of a woman whose body was found in a parked car outside a grocery store is suspicious.
The body was found Tuesday evening.
Police are not releasing the woman's identity and say detectives are still trying to determine how she died.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved.


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Samsung put out an infographic highlighting all the features and the evolution of the Samsung Galaxy S series.
The S5 has hit the headlines once again thanks to two new anti-theft features that have been announced by the company. The two features are called“Find My Mobile” and “Reactivation Lock”.
Samsung Electronics will add two safeguards to its latest smartphone in an effort to deter rampant theft of the mobile devices nationwide, the company said Friday.
We got a chance to play with the Samsung device and here’s our quick take on the device.
Samsung has confirmed that it will be holding an event in Delhi to launch the latest flagship Galaxy S5 in India.
South Korea's three mobile carriers have brought forward the launch of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone to Thursday
Samsung said in a statement that it is "very puzzled" by SK Telecom's decision and is deciding how to respond.


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If McAfee's latest cyber-security report is to be believed, a whopping 50,000 devices have been infected by Android apps that are designed for performing billing frauds. New tools are being developed by hackers and online fraudsters, developers to steal money from unsuspecting users.
A group of hackers by the name “AsiaHitGroup Gang” are being tracked by the cyber-security experts of McAfee, known to be active since 2016.
In its report, McAfee claims that the team has returned with a repackaged version of one of its installer apps named “Sonvpay.C”. The app delivers fake update notifications and tricks consumers into subscribing to premium services. Cyber-security team estimates the hackers to have earned between $60,500 and $1,45,000 since restarting their scam in January of this year. The news was flashed in Andriod Headlines that Google has proactively removed most of the app detailed by McAfee in the first half of April.
The report says that people from Malaysia and Thailand contributed to the major amount of the hackers target. Unsuspecting victims of the app would think they’re only confirming an app update when presented with one of Sonvpay.C’s update dialogues, with the original version of the app attempting to scam at least 20,000 people out of their money.
The scam is based on Wireless Application Protocol billing (WAP billing) - a mechanism for consumers to buy content WAP sites that is charged directly to their mobile phone bill.


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Take this with a grain of salt, but Cubed3 is reporting that one of its readers received an email from Nintendo’s technical staff stating that a firmware update would solve a problem the user was inquiring about. According to the member, he was seeking a resolution to the browser issue that causes it to freeze while watching a YouTube video.
The email reply stated, “tomorrow there will be a big system update for the Wii U and this should solve all problems concerning YouTube”.
This is an interesting development if true, but we’re treating it as a rumor for now as there has been no official confirmation that an update will be available tomorrow. We do know that a major system update is on the way, however.
- Source claims the NX will have a “Share
- Indie exploration game “Koi” comi
- New Nintendo Selects Wii U games get a trail
- Twilight Princess HD developer is “very
TAGS: Nintendo, nintendo direct, wii u, Wii U update


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Putting the spotlight on used car sales
Exploring how dealers are capitalising on growth in the used car market
According to the latest Auto Trader Market Report, 2018 represents a strong opportunity for the used car market, which will be welcome news for dealers facing the challenges of declining new car sales, consumer uncertainty over diesel and a growing shift towards electrification.
Several factors have influenced the opportunity to sell more pre-owned vehicles, the most significant being the substantial expansion of younger and ‘late plate’ cars in the vehicle parc. This has been fuelled in the main by an equally substantial uptake in PCP-based finance products, based typically on a three-year ownership cycle. Auto Trader’s data supports this view with around 69,000 cars between two and four years old advertised in January 2013, compared to 93,000 cars of the same age listed in January 2018.
Growth in the second-hand market is also being influenced by changes in consumer attitudes. Auto Trader’s survey found that three quarters of people were considering buying new or used at the start of their car purchase journey. It also revealed that consumers were likely to opt for nearly new cars over brand-new, thanks to a wide selection of good condition, well-equipped cars available. For franchised dealers, this opportunity is further strengthened by offering manufacturer ‘approved’ used car schemes that include warranties and comprehensive vehicle checks. These have become increasingly attractive to consumers as they offer similar levels of protection to buying a new car.
As with new car sales, motor finance is the key factor that allows dealers to capitalise on the used market, particularly on the most recent stock. Last year, the Finance & Leasing Association reported that almost 90% of new cars were funded by their members, which lent nearly £19 billion to private buyers. A Personal Contract Purchase or PCP with its low upfront cost, convenience and flexibility, is the enabler when it comes to used cars. According to Auto Trader, over half of car buyers now consider the cost as a monthly figure, as opposed to its ‘on the road’ price.
LifeShine’s paint protection formulation now features colour enhancement technology to provide superior depth of colour, helping to return even used cars closer to their former, ‘as new’ paint finish.
As well as embracing the used car market by making finance products more accessible and transparent, dealers are also placing a greater emphasis on digital marketing channels to strengthen their pre-owned offering. For example, Bristol Street Motors has introduced what it claims to be the UK’s first purely web-based used car sales platform. The new ‘Buy Online’ system allows customers to choose from group stock of 6,500 used vehicles and complete a purchase in as little as five minutes if they have money in place, or they can arrange finance online.
In terms of digital marketing for the broader market, Facebook has an agreement with motors.co.uk which enables used car listings to appear in its Marketplace channel, allowing dealers to sell used vehicles on Facebook for the first time. Location settings in Marketplace enable buyers to find cars and communicate with local dealers direct, via its Messenger app.
Growth in the used car market also helps dealers to secure incremental revenue from finance and insurance products, accessories and paint protection. Autoglym’s market-leading LifeShine Vehicle Protection System (VPS) is ahead of the curve when it comes to paint protection, by employing the latest technology. LifeShine’s paint protection formulation now features colour enhancement technology to provide superior depth of colour, helping to return even used cars closer to their former, ‘as new’ paint finish. Tests carried out with four competitor products showed that the improved LifeShine product had a superior depth of colour difference of up to 31%.
To find out more about how LifeShine can benefit your business, call us on 01462 677766 or email firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Huawei, Toshiba, ZTE Unleash Hot Smartphones, Tablets At CES 2016
New smartphones and convertible tablets from Toshiba, Acer, ZTE, and Huawei were on display at CES. Here is a roundup of the devices that caught our eye.
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(Image: Kelly Sheridan/InformationWeek)
LAS VEGAS -- At CES 2016, we kept a close eye on new tech trends and devices as they make their way into the spotlight. Home automation, connected cars, and wearable healthcare technology were core themes of show -- an indication that auto innovation and smart appliances will be key for the consumer space in the coming year.
But while these trends certainly had a major presence on the show floor, we would be remiss to ignore the PCs, tablets, hybrids, and smartphones that consumers continue to use daily as the technologies of the future take shape. There was certainly a bounty of mobile devices on display at the show.
Venerable tech companies and newcomers to the mobile space have unveiled several new devices set to release later this year. Among the offerings are new smartphones and thinner, more portable tablets.
Windows 10 Mobile has taken a step forward as part of the announcements at CES. Two smartphone makers -- Acer and Alcatel -- other than Microsoft have decided to adopt the OS as part of this year's smartphone offerings.
Read on to learn more about the smartphones and tablets that will be released in 2016. Do any of them spark your interest?
**Elite 100 2016: DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JAN. 15, 2016** There's still time to be a part of the prestigious InformationWeek Elite 100! Submit your company's application by Jan. 15, 2016. You'll find instructions and a submission form here: InformationWeek's Elite 100 2016.
Kelly is an associate editor for InformationWeek. She most recently reported on financial tech for Insurance & Technology, before which she was a staff writer for InformationWeek and InformationWeek Education. When she's not catching up on the latest in tech, Kelly enjoys ... View Full Bio
InformationWeek Elite 100Our data shows these innovators using digital technology in two key areas: providing better products and cutting costs. Almost half of them expect to introduce a new IT-led product this year, and 46% are using technology to make business processes more efficient.
The UC Infrastructure TrapWorries about subpar networks tanking unified communications programs could be valid: Thirty-one percent of respondents have rolled capabilities out to less than 10% of users vs. 21% delivering UC to 76% or more. Is low uptake a result of strained infrastructures delivering poor performance?
Top IT Trends to Watch in Financial ServicesIT pros at banks, investment houses, insurance companies, and other financial services organizations are focused on a range of issues, from peer-to-peer lending to cybersecurity to performance, agility, and compliance. It all matters.
Join us for a roundup of the top stories on InformationWeek.com for the week of September 18, 2016. We'll be talking with the InformationWeek.com editors and correspondents who brought you the top stories of the week to get the "story behind the story."


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The Omega Seamaser XXIX Limited Edition numbered 88 will be released August 8th to August 24th as the official timekeepers of this years Olympic games in Beijing. This is a great collectible for the Olympics and for Beijing 2008 TV Commercials.
I will post the retail price and where you can purchase the watch tomorrow when it is released! In the meantime here are the watches from the Omega Olympic Watch Collection click here
The OMEGA Seamaster XXIX Limited Edition promises to be among the most desired of all the exclusive timepieces on offer at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing 2008.
This remarkable watch will only be available in Beijing and only during the Olympic Games. The initial limited release of 88 numbered Seamaster XXIX watches will take place on the 8th of August 2008 – 08/08/2008 – the day of the Opening Ceremony. Only 88 of these unique Seamasters will be sold each day between the 8th and 24th of August.
The Seamaster XXIX has been inspired by its ancestor, the Seamaster XVI, which was specially produced to honour the Games of the XVI Olympiad in Melbourne in 1956 and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of OMEGA’s role as Official Timekeeper in 1957.
This superb masterpiece will be available from 8th Aug, 2008 at selected stores in China.


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Normally, buying “defensive” stocks protects the portfolio against a potential recession, but it also usually means accepting what may be smaller gains. The good news is that Morgan Stanley equity strategists screened for defensive names that also offer fairly high growth—so they can still produce high returns.?
That’蝉 an important strategy because a recession, believe it or not, remains a risk for this market. Many on Wall street thought a recession was likely this year because the Federal Reserve had already implemented most of its interest-rate hikes, which are meant to reduce inflation by squelching economic demand. But demand has held up relatively well. Given the delayed impact of higher rates on the economy, economic growth could continue to slow down, and a recession could arrive next year.?
That’蝉 a reason some investors will seek protection. Defensive stocks are conventionally less volatile than the broader market. They may have ample cash on the balance sheet for ballast, or they may be in sectors less subject to spending pullbacks by consumer and businesses. Think about stable businesses such as groceries, small household products, healthcare insurance, drug makers or utilities. Many of these companies also pay dividends. The catch is that some of those businesses are on the mature side, and offer less upside in the face of an economy running full steam.
Enter Morgan Stanley’蝉 screen of companies with the 1,000-largest market capitalizations. In that universe, the analysts selected stocks with below average volatility in the past 252 days. The stocks that made the screen had to be classified as a “growth stock” by the bank’蝉 statistical model, and have Overweight ratings from the relevant Morgan Stanley analysts. Names on the list include Apple (AAPL), Boston Scientific (BSX), Costco Wholesale (COST), and Monster Beverage (MNST), which is a recent 叠补谤谤辞苍’蝉 stock pick.?
Another is UnitedHealth Group (UNH). Health insurance certainly isn’t something folks cut out of their budgets when money is tight. Plus, analysts are looking for annualized sales growth of about 8% for the next three years beyond 2023 to $463 billion in 2026, according to FactSet, as the company brings in close to a million new Medicare advantage members annually. Profit margins should rise a touch over the next few years as the company’蝉 medical-cost ratio—the percentage of revenue it has to pay out for patients—drops after this year’蝉 catch-up on elective procedures. That should spur earnings-per-share growth of about 12% annually for the next three years to about $35.71 by 2026.?
Growth on the bottom line could lift UnitedHealth stock, since it isn’t terribly expensive. Shares trade at about 18.7 times earnings-per-share estimates for the next year, only a touch over the S&P 500’蝉 18 times, while UnitedHealth’蝉 earnings should grow faster than aggregate earnings for the index.
There’蝉 also Colgate-Palmolive stock (CL). Consumers don’t neglect personal hygiene when they’re watching their budgets, and analysts expect sales to grow annually at just over 4% to $21.9 billion in 2026. The company recently announced small price increases in the near term, but expects revenue to ultimately grow from higher sales volumes. Management also mentioned moderating costs going forward, and analysts expect operating margins to rise back to near prepandemic levels. That should drive earnings-per-share growth of about 8% annually for the next three years to $3.99 by 2026. To be sure, the stock does trade at an expensive 21 times forward earnings, but it could remain at that valuation if a recession hits, and investors pile into consumer-staples names.?
Give these stocks a shot.?
Write to Jacob Sonenshine at [email protected]


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Gymshark hires Carly O’Brien as vice president of marketing
Gymshark has named Carly O’Brien as vice president of marketing.
O’Brien previously worked as chief marketing officer at The Very Group and has also held senior marketing roles at Virgin Money and Bank of America.
At Gymshark, she will lead the marketing team for the UK, EMEA and APAC as the company looks to scale its brand, grow its customer base and introduce a new regional marketing model.
O’Brien said: “The opportunity to bring the marketing team together in the international group, explore all the opportunities to build more brand awareness and be part of the Gymshark journey to build an iconic brand is both bold and exciting. I’m thrilled I get to be part of that story and I can’t wait to get started.”
In her new role O’Brien will report to Gymshark international president Niran Chana.
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Self-employed truck drivers in Spain associated with the National Platform in Defence of the Transport Sector have decided to call a new indefinite strike from Sunday midnight, that is to say to be effect in the morning of Monday, November 14th, to protest the non-compliance with cost regulations by their customers, the freight management companies. If the industrial action goes ahead, it will be the second strike by Spanish road transport drivers this year, after supermarket shelves around Spain were emptied of some products in March, due to action over fuel prices by the self-employed truckers in the Platform.
Manuel Hernández, president of the platform, has announced this news following a vote carried out this weekend among provincial delegations on recovery of unemploment payments. Last Saturday, the Platform's provincial delegates held a meeting in which they analyzed the current situation of the sector, after measures approved by the Spanish government in consensus with the majority transporters organizations, which make up the National Road Transport Committee (CNTC) . Despite these measure, the Platform continues to denounce the "violation" by the freight firms of the law that prohibits working at a loss in the sector, and accuses the Spanish transport ministry, led by Raquel Sánchez, of disavowing the Civil Guard over the monitoring and reporting of these violations.
Self-employed drivers, at the limit
"The administration must react quickly and face what has to be done," Hernández said in a press conference this Monday, stressing that the self-employed who make up the sector do not currently have the capacity to face recent cost increases of 30%. "We are paying 40% less salary to our drivers, taking out insurance that covers the minimum essential because we can't pay the amounts they demand of us", he denounced. "Between 200 and 250 transport companies are forced to close each month. There are suicides occurring", he says.
For her part, transport minister Raquel Sánchez has launched a message of prudence. "We respect the announced mobilizations, but we call for responsibility. The majority of the transport sector has conveyed to us that it values all the improvements made in recent months very positively, an ambitious package of measures that fulfills its historical claims, as well as the progress that is still being worked on." A notice reminiscent of the protests in March, when the Pedro Sánchez government also accused the Platform of being politicized in the interests of the right and the far right, and underlined the understanding reached with the other associations.
On the other hand, ministerial sources assert that the current economic crisis is the cause of all the disagreements: "Transport charges have increased for all distances, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the measures adopted, such as the 'diesel review clause', and the impact of the measures to remove the truckers from a structural situation where they cannot cover costs is beginning to be reflected, since it is now possible to transfer the cost increases suffered by transporters to the price they are paid. We are working with the sector to raise awareness of the importance of reporting violations, when they occur."
Possible supply chain problems
These protests will be the continuation of those that took place last March. This self-employed transport drivers' platform is opposed by the Spanish Confederation of Goods Transport (CETM), the country's largest group of transport companies, which has asked the Spanish government for the state security forces to act "with the force and firmness necessary" to allow the sector to guarantee supply to the population. Business associations in the agricultural, food retail and restaurant sectors have demanded security and guarantees for the supply of products and raw materials in the face of the new stoppages called by the Platform. They ask that measures by taken to avoid the serious incidents and violent episodes that affected the proper functioning of the supply chain due to the last stoppage of the transport of goods in March this year.


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By Matthew Boyle, Bloomberg
Walmart Inc. is searching for its next big technology star.
The world’s largest retailer has posted an opening for a “CEO, Stealth Company” who would lead the latest startup housed inside its technology incubator, Store No. 8. The executive will be responsible for “building a business from scratch,” the job listing says, working closely with senior Walmart leaders and serving as the “public champion” for the as-yet-undefined business.
One key skill is the ability to handle competitive threats and possibly “pivot strategy” just in case, say, Amazon.com Inc. decides to try and crush the fledgling unit.
Walmart created its incubator Store No. 8 two years ago to identify and capitalize on changes in the way people shop, by using tools such as virtual reality and self-checkout. The unit already includes several endeavors, such as Jetblack, a concierge shopping service for upscale city dwellers; Spatialand, a virtual-reality software maker acquired in 2018; Project Kepler, a push to compete with Amazon’s cashierless Go stores; and Project Franklin, which is still in stealth mode after hiring a Google veteran as its CEO year ago.
Walmart representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Store No. 8 is a reference to a Walmart location where co-founder Sam Walton tried out new concepts. It’s the brainchild of Marc Lore, who joined Walmart in 2016 when he sold his own startup, Jet.com, to the Arkansas retailer for $3.3 billion. The goal is to have a fast-moving, separate entity based in the heart of Silicon Valley that pinpoints emerging technologies that can potentially be used across Walmart.
Many of those technologies were on display at the National Retail Federation’s annual confab in New York this week. There, executives spoke about the industry’s promising digital future, but the optimism has been shaken by the recent downbeat holiday sales results from big retailers like Macy’s Inc., Kohl’s Corp. and Nordstrom Inc.
“There’s a lot of great new cool technology,” Walmart’s Chief Technology Officer Jeremy King said in an interview last week. “The challenge at Walmart is how do I scale those things?”


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Last Saturday, July 11, 2015, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata died at the age of 55 due to a bile duct growth. Iwata had been having health problems for the past year. Iwata was well respected within the industry, and not just from within Nintendo.
Satoru Iwata began his career in 1983 as a programer for HAL Laboratory, best known for Nintendo’s Kirby and Earthbound games. After 10 years of working for HAL, he was promoted to president of the company in 1993. In 2000, Iwata was hired by Nintendo as their new head of corporate planning. During his time with Nintendo, Iwata lead the company to pioneer several new, important technologies, such as motion control, eventually becoming CEO of Nintendo and one of the industry’s most visible spokesmen. At the time of his death, Iwata was working on expanding Nintendo into mobile gaming.
We here at Reaxxion join the rest of the video game industry in giving our deepest condolences to Satoru Iwata’s family, friends and colleagues. May he rest in peace.


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Beef jerky is big business, and Hershey wants in.
On the surface, it's fairly easy to see why Hershey, let alone any company interested in a half decent investment, would want to acquire Krave. The high-end snack company, which prides itself on its lineup of beef jerky offerings with no artificial ingredients, closed 2014 with $36 million in sales after only five years in business. The jerky's colorful packaging, which encloses a variety of flavors, will soon be found at Starbucks restaurants across the country. And it is anticipated to continue growing—and fast. Jon Sebastiani, the company's founder, said he expects Krave to more than double its business next year.
"Krave jerky is a great fit to our portfolio," Michele Buck, president of Hershey's North America, said in a press release.
But acquiring Krave offers Hershey more than merely the opportunity to share in the company's success. It also, and perhaps more importantly, ushers the chocolate giant into one of the savory snack world's most promising foodstuffs: jerky.
The market for jerky has ballooned into a nearly $1.5 billion industry in the United States. Sales are up by 13 percent since 2013, and by 46 percent since 2009, according to data from market research firm IRI. Jack Link's, the largest jerky maker in America, now sells more than $1 billion in meat snacks each year.
The demand for dried meat has risen to such heights that it now dwarfs that of other once comparable snacks. A recent report by market research firm Euromonitor found that jerky outsells seeds, party mixes, and pita chips—combined.
The rise of dried meat is in part the result of a general uptick in snacking among Americans. The U.S. snacks business, which includes not only jerky, but also chips, bars, nuts, and other fare, is now a $120 billion behemoth. Pepsi now relies on snacks—not soda—for growth. And it's easy to see why. A recent survey by Nielsen found that one in ten people in this country say they eat snacks instead of meals, a number which the research company expects will increase.
But jerky's popularity also owes a great deal to this country's obsession with protein. More than half of Americans say they want more of it in their diet, and they have proven that the talk isn't cheap. The protein shake business has become a behemoth. So too has the protein bar market, which was already worth more than $500 million in 2013. Sales of health and wellness bars, which often dangle high protein content, are growing more than twice as fast as the overall food industry.
Beef jerky, which is high in protein, low in calories, highly portable, and can last for a long time, has benefited greatly from its ability to double as both a practical and healthy snack.
"A recent trend among consumers of viewing protein as an effective appetite suppressant and energy booster has further helped jerky to be perceived as a smart snacking option," Euromonitor notes in its report.
Hershey's acquisition of Krave is a vindication of both beef jerky's popularity and still nascent potential. The move creates a natural avenue into a coveted food space the company has yet to explore: salty snacks. It also allows Hershey to experiment with a brand that is recognized for eschewing price point for the quality, which, though the company might disagree, isn't exactly what people associated with its chocolate bars.
It's unclear what a fancy new beef jerky business will mean for Hershey's core offerings, but it's not too early to guess something a bit saltier, with a bit (or a lot) more protein, might find its way onto checkout shelves around the country with Hershey's emblem. The company, for its part, hasn't been shy about alluding to the possibility. "We know consumers have an interest in portable and protein-based nutrition," Michele Buck, president of Hershey North America, told the Associated Press.
And who knows? Maybe that's just what Hershey's needs. The maker of Kit Kat bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and York Peppermint Patties has had trouble getting people to impulse buy its candy as checkout processes grow more efficient and increasingly automated. Beef jerky, on the other hand, which is at the intersection of so many food trends, might convince a few more people to stop and notice.