text:
LA Times: Retail Chains Discriminating With
Noticing lots of security locks at drugstores? These L.A. stores lock up the
While shopping for decongestant at Walmart in Burbank, Michelle Krider ran into
a frustrating sign of the times: The nasal spray was on a shelf, locked beyond
It’s a common problem as
store managers add more and
more security measures.
once only expensive booze and electronics were locked up, now basic household
items such as allergy medicine, shaving razors, infant formula and batteries are
ending up in plexiglass cases or behind security devices. More merchandise also
has been moved to displays behind cashier counters.
Getting those products requires the help of increasingly scarce retail workers.
Industry experts and retail companies say the
security measures are a
response to rising retail crime.
“More people are stealing and stealing more,” said Read Hayes, a criminologist
at the University of Florida and director of the Loss Prevention Research
Council, an industry research group studying retail theft.
But a Times survey — albeit unscientific — of Los Angeles area drugstores
suggests it’s not a straightforward equation, with stores in higher-income areas
locking up fewer of the types of items that are most often stolen, even where
the property crime rate is higher.
In so doing, critics say,
chains discriminate against
where most of the residents are people of color, creating an additional burden
for shoppers there.
The problem has been particularly acute in Los Angeles, which for the last four
years has been identified by the National Retail Federation as the city with the
worst organized retail crime problem, ahead of San Francisco/Oakland, New York
To get a sense of which
stores are adopting the greatest number of security measures, The Times surveyed
Southern California locations for the nation’s four largest pharmacies and
drugstores: CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Walmart. The four companies
combined account for about 70% of the nation’s pharmacy and drug sales,
according to the market research company IBIS World.
The Times visited 15 stores throughout Santa Monica, South Gate, Burbank,
Glendale, Pasadena and Monrovia to compare the security measures in upper-income
and middle- and working-class neighborhoods. We checked to see whether security
measures were put on 15 individual items that were included in a list by the
National Retail Federation of the top targets of organized retail crime. We
added to the list a few that are often locked up in Southern California stores,
such as Tide detergent pods and teeth whitening strips.
Walgreens put security devices
on more of the products we surveyed than the other three retail chains, an
average of ten out of 15 items. Rite Aid had the least number of security
measures, an average of seven out of 15 store items.
Although the number of items with added security measures varied very little
among the Walmart stores we surveyed, we noted that all the outlets had
partitioned off a portion of their pharmacy departments where high-priced health
and beauty products are sold. If shoppers want to buy expensive cosmetics or
shampoos they must enter the partitioned area and pay a cashier before leaving
through a narrow exit back to the rest of the store.
But community activists say
the extra security measures adopted by retailers in some low-income
neighborhoods are frustrating and often not justified by crime rates.
“Latino and African American neighborhoods have been racially profiled to have
extra security measures in the stores that I believe aren’t even warranted,”
said Najee Ali, a social and political activist in South Los Angeles.
The problem has become so severe that Rite Aid executives recently groused that
the “shrink” at Rite Aid stores was $5 million higher than in the previous three
months and had forced the company to consider extreme measures.
The company is in the midst of
closing 145 stores in 17 states as part of a larger cost-cutting move.
“We’re looking at literally putting everything behind showcases to ensure the
products [are] there for customers who want to buy it,” Andre Persaud, the
company’s chief retail officer, said during a conference call with investors and
analysts to discuss earnings. “And then lastly, we’ve even had to go to the
extent of using off-duty police officers in some of our stores.”
In a statement, Rite Aid said, “we are seeing a higher level of brazen
shoplifting and organized retail crime, and we are taking an active role in
helping the police in their pursuit of shoplifters.”


text:
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Swedish retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB HMB, +0.59% was upgraded to buy from neutral on Tuesday by Citigroup, which said it sees 15% upside in share prices. The analysts said it sees the recent earnings downgrade cycle at an end, and sees strong 2011 like-for-likes in H&M's more competitive markets, and also sees a 70 basis-point improvement in gross margin forecast, helped by recent movements in the U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate. Citigroup sees a return to mid-teen earnings growth for H&M in 2012, helped by encouraging comparative trends in demanding retail markets and modest gross margin progress.
Have breaking news sent to your inbox. Subscribe to MarketWatch's free Bulletin emails. Sign up here.

domain: news


text:
After having participated for 30 years in the Watch and Jewellery trade show, Maurice Lacroix has announced that it will be pulling out of Baselworld 2019. Yet another blow for Baselworld that is facing great challenges following the withdrawal of numerous exhibitors over the past years. Late July, Nick Hayek caught the industry by surprise announcing that Swiss watch giant Swatch Group would not attend in 2019. More recently it was the turn of Raymond Weil and Corum to follow suit.
Maurice Lacroix leaves the door open for its attendance at the 2020 edition of Baselworld, when the management team of Baselworld will unveil its new concept. In the meantime, the brand will present its new collections in Geneva during the Watch Week, which occurs as a sideshow to the SIHH. In 2019, Maurice Lacroix will be exhibiting its novelties on the “Ile Rousseau” in the heart of the city, next to the Mont-Blanc bridge.
Founded in 1975, Maurice Lacroix is a watch manufacturer headquartered in Saignelégier, in the Swiss Jura. The brand operates in the accessible luxury segment with collections such as Aikon or Masterpiece, aiming at delivering high perceived value at affordable prices. It is controlled by DKSH, a company based in Zurich specialized in providing Market Expansion Services in Asia.
For more information, please visit www.mauricelacroix.com.


text:
Friday, February 20, 2004
I don't get this. If it's legal to make personal use copies of CD's, or videotapes, or goodness knows what else... how the heck can DVD's be exempted?
After eight months of deliberation, a San Francisco federal judge has ruled that software company 321 Studios' popular DVD-copying products are illegal.
I'm sorry, but this is just messed up. How can I make a personal use copy of my DVD's to preserve my investment? Is outlawing technological innovation going to do anyone any good? I doubt it. All it means is that this type of R&D work will flow outside the United States... companies will arise in those countries to feed the demand... and consumers will purchase products from those companies that can supply it.
This decision is short-sighted. It's silly. And it's certainly not the American way. America is innovation. It's not putting the kibosh on software technologies because they could potentially be used to violate laws. If that were the case, no one would have a video-casette recorder or a Xerox copier. Dumb. And, it seems to me, un-American.
In a ruling released Friday, Judge Susan Illston granted Hollywood studios' request for an injunction against 321 Studios, saying the small software company has seven days to stop distributing its DVD-copying products.
The case was widely viewed as a test of how far commercial software could go in helping consumers make backup copies of their own legally purchased digital entertainment products, such as DVDs or video games. Illston wrote that federal law made it illegal to sell products that--like 321 Studios' software--break through DVDs' antipiracy technology, even if consumers do have a legal right to make personal copies of their movies.
"It is the technology itself at issue, not the uses to which the copyrighted material may be put," Illston wrote. "Legal downstream use of the copyrighted material by customers is not a defense to the software manufacturer's violation of the provisions (of copyright law)."
Judge: DVD-copying software is illegal
PHP everywhere has a good blurb on XML parsing in PHP. A bunch of different methods for parsing XML are benchmarked and you would think SAX or XPath would reign supreme. Surprise!
Now here's the dirty secret; most of it is machine-generated XML, and in most cases, I use the perl regexp engine to read and process it.
High-speed XML parsing
at 11:59 PM


text:
Consumer prices in the euro zone were flat in March year-on-year after having fallen by 0.2% in February, the European Union's statistics agency said today.
This marked an upward revision of its previous estimate of slight deflation last month.
Eurostat said that the annual rate of inflation was 0% in March, compared with a previous flash estimate of -0.1%. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the latter.
On a monthly basis, inflation rose 1.2%, in line with market expectations.
The mildly positive news for the European Central Bank was compounded by a slight upward revision of what the ECB defines as core inflation, excluding energy and unprocessed food.
Without these two volatile components, consumer prices rose in March 1% year-on-year. This was more than the 0.9% initially estimated by Eurostat, and an acceleration from 0.8% in February.
The ECB is struggling to counter ultra-low inflation in the euro zone.
Eurostat said that headline inflation was flat because the collapse of energy prices (-8.7% year-on-year) was offset by an increase of prices in all other components.
Prices in the services sector, the largest in the euro zone, went up 1.4%, more than the 1.3% increase previously estimated by Eurostat.
Prices of food, alcohol and tobacco also rose by 0.8% year-on-year, while inflation for non-energy industrial goods increased 0.5%.
Eurostat detailed in a note that the largest upward impacts to euro area annual inflation in March came from restaurants and bars, package holidays and rent.


text:
2017 4R Advocates Dedicated To Sustainable Crop Nutrition
A farmer-agronomist team from CHS in Shipman, IL, has been recognized as one of five pairs of 2017 4R Advocates.
Kyle Brase of Brase Farms, Edwardsville, IL, and Joe Huebener, an agronomist from CHS in Shipman, IL, have been named as 2017 4R Advocates by The Fertilizer Institute (TFI). 4R Advocates are agriculture retailers and farmers dedicated to sustainable crop nutrition. This year’s five pairs of advocates farm 13,200 acres of land using 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices. Find a list of all the 2017 4R Advocates here.
The 4R Advocate program was developed by The Fertilizer Institute in 2012 to recognize agricultural producers and retailers who are leading the way to improve agriculture productivity by protecting the environment while boosting profitability. The 4R Advocate program is one of many facets of a high-priority campaign to raise awareness and adoption of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices, which offers an innovative and science-based approach to enhanced environmental protection, increased production, increased farmer profitability, and improved sustainability.
So far, the program has recognized 30 ag producers and retailers farming 144,425 acres in 17 states. As a 4R partner, CHS embraces the 4R framework, creates awareness, provides outreach and implements the practices consistent with the 4R scientific principles.
TFI is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms.


text:
Is Amazon Too Late to Join the Smartphone Market?
June 17 (Bloomberg) -- Mashable's Pete Pachal, Hain Celestial CEO Irwin Simon, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey's Robert Peck and Bloomberg's Cory Johnson preview Amazon's smartphone scheduled to be unveiled tomorrow. They speak with Trish Regan on Bloomberg Television's "Street Smart." (Source: Bloomberg)
Most Recent Videos
Full Show: What'd You Miss? (04/28)
32:33 - Guests include: Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, Cuemacro founder Saeed Amen, Ballard Spahr's Dee Spagnuolo and Meghan Duggan, captain of the U.S. Women's National Hockey team. (Source: Bloomberg)


text:
Results from a study of 600 U.S. consumers shows that consumers value sales associate expertise above all else, but finds that consumers often find such expertise lacking.
“The Retail Buying Experience survey shows that consumers still fundamentally want helpful expertise from retail sales associates to guide buying decisions while many of today’s retailers have opted for low-cost employees, forcing buyers to turn elsewhere for information,” said Tom Stockham, CEO of Experticity, which sponsored the survey. ReRez Research in Dallas conducted the survey in September 2013 among 600 consumers who were surveyed in five affinity areas: outdoor, sporting goods, hunting or fishing, health and nutrition and prestige beauty. “This research clearly shows that consumers are not happy having to do all the research themselves and crave retail to play a hands-on role with their buying decisions.”
Some key findings from the survey include:
• Sales associates fall short of consumer expectations: Many of the consumers found retail sales associates less than useful when it comes to getting educated on products, with 43% finding alternatives to salespeople for product information.
• Consumers struggle with alternative sources for expertise: Without smart, knowledgeable sales associates, consumers are left to fend for themselves with a variety of sources, with 72% looking to someone they know as an expert for product advice, 71% turning to the Internet and 66% looking to online reviews.
Experticity also provided interesting industry research on the impact of helpful expertise including:
• 30% more engagement leads to 50% more conversion
• Top three drivers of customer loyalty are:
1. Customer service (57 percent)
2. Product availability (52 percent)
3. Store experience (45 percent)
For more data on the retail Buying Experience Survey please


text:
We have seen that most of the companies right now have been focusing on one and only thing that is hope they can get online during this pandemic where everyone is shopping online for things that they had never imagined would be sold online. Now, we know that coffee is something that was already being sold online through various different channels. But now that the pandemic is here, we are seeing that people prefer to exclusively buy their coffee online instead of going to the stores.
For that reason, it is important to note that coffee retailers that were already online and selling their products will have some great investments coming in for themselves. However, it is also important for them to stay afloat during this period so that they can cash in later. One such e-commerce company is White Tale Coffee which was a firm already selling their own handmade coffee online. Now, we have reported that the e-commerce firm has been acquired by a coffee holdings company which is named as SCB Global Java Holdings.
As far as White Tale Coffee is concerned, it is situated in Colorado, United States, offers premium single-origin coffee primarily through an e-commerce subscription platform. Now, we believe that the SCB Global Java holdings company would have found something very interesting in how White Tale Coffee is doing their business which is why they decided to acquire rather than let them run and make an investment.
We have also checked that the WhiteTaleCoffee website is down right now which also suggests that the company took it down and we don’t know if it will be back online. WhiteTaleCoffee founders said that “premium coffee platform that they are building appealed to us, as they respect the individuality of each brand” referring to a platform being built by SCB Global Java Holdings.


text:
Normally, when the holiday season approaches, you expect retail companies to do well. This time, however, you might also want to take a look at Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), the parent company of Google. Why? Because Google just gave a major redesign to its “Google Shopping” service, aiming to take some serious market share from its rival companies such as Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), and is also getting into the mortgage business. These new sources of growth could bring the former Google stock’s price even higher.
Google Shopping in the Holiday Season
With the holidays coming up, online shopping platforms are getting ready. In the past, Amazon.com has been the dominant player in the e-commerce business. This time, however, Google could give Amazon a serious run for its money.
Given that mobile search has been trending upward, Google Shopping is receiving a major update to cater to the growing interest in mobile shopping. According to Google, the share of smartphone online shopping purchases increased 64% over the last year. Right now, nearly 30% of all online purchases are occurring on mobile phones.
One of the features in Google’s redesign is a new interface that looks more like a mobile app than a web page. When browsing through search results, users can view multiple products without having to reload new web pages.
The updated Google Shopping tool can also help shoppers narrow down their options, because “shoppers often don’t know the exact product they’re interested in.” According to Google data, 40% of online shopping searches are made on broad terms, rather than specific products. The redesigned Google Shopping site helps to narrow down relevant search options and groups the results by attributes, such as brand, price, and features, for better browsing. (Source: “Google Helps You Shop Between Holiday Cooking and Tree Trimming,” Google AdWords, November 19, 2015.)
To give another incentive for consumers to head to Google Shopping for their holiday gift purchases, the company is launching next-day delivery for shoppers located throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and other areas. In the past, the service was only available in Northern California, West Los Angeles, Manhattan, Boston, Chicago, Washington, and several states in the Midwest. Some of the participating merchants include Costco, Target, and Walgreens.
Speaking of online shopping, why not get your mortgage online too? As it turns out, Google is also trying to help you find the best mortgage. In a blog post on Monday, Google announced the addition of mortgages to “Google Compare.” The service is now available in California with more states to follow. (Source: “Introducing Google Compare for U.S. Mortgages,” Google AdWords, November 23, 2015.)
The search engine giant said that “Buying a home is a major financial decision—so when it comes to getting a mortgage, people want an easy way to understand and compare their options online.” The company believed that there is still a lot to be done, because “nearly one-in-two borrowers still don’t shop around for their mortgage and often feel like they don’t have enough information to make an educated choice.” (Source: Ibid.)
Google’s new mortgage comparison service would help lenders connect with the tech-savvy generation who enjoy shopping online. Moreover, Google Compare allows lenders to participate on a flexible cost-per-lead (CPL) model, which could bring more revenue for the search engine behemoth.
The Bottom Line on GOOG Stock
Mind you, putting aside the prospects of Google Shopping and the company’s new mortgage comparison business, GOOG stock is still a solid option with great growth prospects. In the third quarter of 2015, Google’s total advertising revenue grew by 13% year-over-year. Top-line success also translated to the bottom line, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) at $7.35, beating analyst estimates of $7.21. (Source: “Alphabet Announces Third Quarter 2015 Results of Google,” Alphabet Inc, last accessed November 24, 2015.)
Add this all up and you get quite a bullish picture on GOOG stock’s price.
Stay in the loop. Follow Jing on Facebook and Twitter.


text:
Apple extends MacBook line-up
Upgraded black and white models
Updated Apple has begun shipping a pair of new MacBook configurations through its retail chain, bumping up the specification and upping the price accordingly, it has been claimed. The two new models sit, respectively, above the current white and black 2GHz MacBooks.
According to an AppleInsider report, the new white MacBook has 1GB of RAM and an 80GB hard drive, both higher than the launch model's 512MB and 60GB specs. The new black notebook likewise doubles the current black model's memory to 1GB.
The new models are said to be retailing in the US for $1,449 and $1,599, respectively - $150 and $100 more than the previous top-of-the-line white and black MacBooks, which are still available in Apple's retail outlets and online. The higher price matches precisely what a consumer would pay if they upgraded a MacBook using the online AppleStore's build-to-order facility. However, the upgraded specification is not offered yet as a standard configuration online.
The new machines are also available in the UK, prices at £1,009 and £1,099, respectively. ®


text:
The fast food chain giant has seen its fair share of rough time but better days lie ahead.
On December 29, 2015 McDonald’s Corporation hit its all-time high during the trading hours at $120 per share. Since mid-October the stock of the multinational corporation has rallied. In a year-to-date estimate, despite of the increased competition in the market, the stock has managed to increase by as much as 28%.
Many give the credit to Steve Easterbrook, the new chief executive officer who was appointed the position back in March, for the positive momentum of the corporation. After he took charge, in order to increase the sales, he introduced the all-day breakfast menu. This strategy turned out to be quite positive as the sales succeeded to increase in many restaurants all across the globe. NPD Checkout Tracking Study indicates that by making this move the orders for breakfast rose to 47% from an initial percentage of 39%, throughout the day.
Another change that occurred after the appointment of the CEO was that, he started to sell off underperforming restaurants of the company to franchisees mainly to increase the sales. This move would earn $300 million for the fast food chain giant through which it would establish better performing business elsewhere. This has proved to be the major reason for the stock to rise. For the upcoming year, it plans to be 95% franchised; with a global franchising target to reach 4000 from 3500 by the year 2018.
According to Zack’s Research, McDonald’s Corporation will be posting its latest earnings on January 25, 2016. As per the estimations of analysts, it will be posting earnings per share of $1.22. Brokerage and research firms anticipate a target price of the stock somewhere between $130 on the high end and $100 on the lower end, along with a standard deviation of $10.079.
Recommendations of the stock experts suggest a ranking of 2.18 for McDonald’s stock, putting it close to a rating of Buy. This recommendation has been given by over 15 analysts. The analysts at bidnessetc.com believe that the stock is likely to perform well in 2016 as well. The shares are up by 26.5% in 2015.
The hamburger chain reported net income of $1.31 billion indicating an increase of 22.5% in comparison to the figures a year prior, which were $1.07 billion. Investors of the giant fast food corporation were informed in a meeting that the business intends to give back $30 billion back in cash to its shareholders via dividends. It is expecting a sales growth of 3 to 5% for the next year.


text:
For the past several years, bitcoin has been a way to keep financial transactions discreet. It is incredibly difficult to trace, because it does not pass through a financial institution, and it is secure because it requires a two factor identification that uses a public key and a PIN combined with a mathematical function to allow a transaction.
This has made it easy for ransomware hackers to extort money by decrypting the victim's files. These types of attackers typically demand payment in bitcoin to keep from being traced. But for the past two years, Chainalysis, a bitcoin-tracing tech startup, has been selling its product to law enforcement agencies around the world.
The emergence of blockchain compliance startups is coming at just the right time, as Europol says in a 2015 report that bitcoin accounts for 40 percent of criminal-to criminal payments online. Europol noted that while there is no single common currency used by cyber criminals, it is apparent that bitcoin may gradually be taking on that role.
Regulation of cyber currency is difficult to do because of its anonymous nature. The inability to attribute transactions to end users makes it tough to imagine how any sort of effective regulation among everyday users would be possible.
But rather than regulating cyber currency, Chainalysis aims to monitor its use and trace its origin. Michael Gronager, CEO and co-founder, is confident in his product's ability to shut down criminal operations. "Expect to see some arrests soon as law enforcement agencies wrap up their investigations into several ransomware operations."
Every CIO should be aware of the risks related to ransomware attacks, and understand that data security is a key component of any business. But there is only so much that can be done to prevent these attacks. Chainalysis offers another solution to the problem of ransomware.
Apparently, their software has the ability to link the source and recipient. In effect, "bitcoin has become less anonymous than cash," says Gronager. His company was founded as a tool to assess the risks associated with bitcoin transactions, and now it is helping to bring cyber criminals to justice.
Police have already made one arrest and gathered evidence in searches of properties in an international police operation aimed at taking down cyber extortion gang DD4BC. Since 2014, the group of cyber criminals has been using distributed denial of service attacks to extort money from a range of organizations. In December of 2015, police forces from the UK, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria and Germany teamed up with Europol to identify and arrest key members of DD4BC using Chainalysis' software.
In February 2016, Chainalysis signed a memorandum of understanding with Europol's European Cybercrime Centre that will ensure future collaboration between the organizations. Gronager said in a statement, "This new collaboration is an important next step in the endeavor to move digital currencies out of the hands of the criminals and into the hands of consumers."
If their software is successful, Chainalysis hopes to see the number of ransomware attacks decrease in the coming years. This should warrant a sigh of relief for CIOs and IT professionals whose job it is to keep company documents and customer information safe.


text:
iRobot's programmable Create 2 gives tech enthusiasts the chance to experiment with robotics.
Two years on from its unveiling, Amazon Prime Air now features a sleeker, smarter unmanned aircraft. When it will be cleared for takeoff remains anyone's guess.
Aiming to keep khakis clean of urine droplets, a team of researchers turn to moss to develop an insert that will grab more pee.
You don't need to be a bounty hunter to track down and acquire valuable merchandise like this highly detailed Ralph McQuarrie Boba Fett Star Wars statue from Sideshow Collectibles.
Without altering its genomic sequence, biologists have created hybrid flatworms with heads and bodies from two different species.
Pixar's upcoming new film imagines what it would have been like if dinosaurs never became extinct. CNET.com's Lexy Savvides reports on how real-world data helped make the movie's prehistoric landscapes look incredibly authentic.
The automaker will use the suit as part of its new-driver education program, in the hopes that motorists will think twice before making a bad decision.
Hidetaka Miyazaki on moving on from the Souls series, new horizons, and a secret obsession.
With a little help from the online automation service, you can teach Alexa all sorts of new tricks. Here's how.
The electronics conglomerate wants to turn its smartphones into digital wallets, just like its competitors have.


text:
The new CoinJar Swipe card can be charged in Bitcoin and will allow users to purchase goods at EFTPOS terminals. The EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) payment network is widespread in Australia and New Zealand.
“We created Swipe because we simply wanted to make it easier for our customers to spend their bitcoin,”
“Swipe demystifies bitcoin and makes it accessible to everyone through a secure platform. Our team is really excited about Swipe, and we look forward to receiving feedback from our customers.”
Tan told Mashable that Bitcoin is for people who want ultimate control over their money:
“It is not controlled by a bank or other other third parties, but by a network of computers worldwide backed by strong encryption that verify transactions multiple times to ensure that no fraudulent transactions occur. This means nobody has total control over your money but you.”
CoinJar, which raised around AU$500,000 from Blackbird Ventures late last year, estimates that Bitcoin is being used by around 500,000 Australians, with that number growing rapidly, ZDNET reports. CoinJar alone has processed more than 50 million AUD worth of bitcoin transactions in the past 12 months for more than 30,000 individual and business customers, according to the company, which expects a wider rollout of the technology in the “near future.”
The CoinJar card will be issued to 100 CoinJar users for initial testing. The company said that customers taking part in the trial will be able to withdraw from their bitcoin accounts, converted to Australian dollars, at any ATM, or purchase items at any retail outlet accepting EFTPOS cards.
Participation in the trial will be offered to select early adopters, everyday consumers, and a wide variety of demographic characteristics. Customers are set to receive their cards from next week. If you are a CoinJar user, you can apply to get early access to the Swipe card and related apps.
“Owning bitcoin is great, but spending it is better. While lots of businesses are starting to take bitcoin, not all do. That’s why we’ve created CoinJar Swipe, an EFTPOS card that lets you spend your bitcoin anywhere, anytime. While the bitcoin network offers instant, frictionless transactions, turning bitcoin into cash can be slow and painful (we’re looking at you banks). CoinJar Swipe lets you take your card to any ATM or store that accepts cash-out and turn your bitcoin into cash instantly.” (CoinJar)
There are other Bitcoin debit cards, such as the Xapo card, but the new CoinJar product seems especially consumer-friendly. It is fully integrated with Australia’s leading electronic payment network, and its relatively low fees will permit avoiding the wave of protest that followed the launch of the Xapo card.
After the trial period, the CoinJar Swipe card will only available to Australian consumers, which doesn’t help much those of us who live elsewhere, but I hope that other operators will offer similar products in their home markets.
Images from CoinJar and Shutterstock.
Last modified (UTC): September 18, 2014 12:37


text:
Bloomberg reported that officials at the U.S. Department of Justice want T-Mobile and Sprint to spin out a fourth wireless carrier as a condition for approving the proposed merger between the two.
Citing unnamed officials within the DOJ, Bloomberg reported the DOJ is concerned about the competitive effects the merger will have on the wireless market in the U.S. If approved, the merger would reduce the number of nationwide wireless carriers from four to three: (new) T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T.
Executives at T-Mobile and Sprint, which represent the two smallest nationwide carriers in the U.S., have argued that the combined company would pose a more substantial competitive threat to market leaders AT&T and Verizon.
The two companies have also made a series of promises about pricing and network coverage if the deal were approved, in hopes of proving to regulators that the merger would not harm consumers in the long run. The two companies have also pledged to spin off Sprint’s Boost Mobile prepaid brand if the merger is approved.
T-Mobile also has said it would enter the home broadband market with a 5G fixed wireless offering if allowed to merge with Sprint. T-Mobile has said its planned home broadband service would present a new competitive challenge to telecom companies providing wireline broadband and pay TV services—including Verizon and AT&T.
Setting up a fourth competitor in the wireless market through a spin-out would be a tall challenge for Sprint and T-Mobile, though a New Street Research analyst told Bloomberg it was possible.
The Justice Department has not been particularly supportive of past attempts at mergers within the wireless market. It opposed a 2014 attempt by Sprint and T-Mobile to merge, and it also moved to block AT&T’s attempted merger with T-Mobile in 2011, citing the need for a fourth nationwide wireless carrier.
According to media reports, the DOJ’s antitrust chief Makan Delrahim is leaning toward rejecting Sprint and T-Mobile’s proposal, as opponents of the merger, including Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) and the 4Competition Coalition, continue to publicly denounce it.


text:
Mango Tree Imports, a fair trade retail shop in Ballston Spa, will mark World Fair Trade Day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Kids Need Fair Trade.”
Mango Tree offers handmade products and organic coffee, tea and chocolate from 40 countries.
Fair trade ensures that artisans or farmers in the Third World are paid a fair wage for their work and that children are not involved in the production of the goods. The idea is that the artisans can improve their living conditions and their children can go to school rather than work.


text:
Shaktikanta Das, Chairman of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), reiterated that Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies should be banned, arguing that they interfere with central banks’ monetary policies and harm national sovereignty.
a local news agency January 14 According to the news of RBI President Shaktikanta Das, The Business Today in his speech at the event, one of the cryptocurrencies gambling tool and certainly financial instrument aspect not being regulated reiterated his call. President, cryptocurrencies openly unsubstantiated and the market to dollarization He noted that he was forced. Das is famous for describing cryptocurrencies “To Tulip Madness” also referred.
It May Shake Economic Balances
Most of the cryptocurrencies US Dollar Das pointed out that the transactions in an economy are in 20% of In the case of cryptocurrencies issued by private companies, the relevant central banks 20% control over you will lose suggested. Das central bank losing control of the nation’s sovereignty threatening implied that. In addition, these markets to dollarization President, who stated that he will push global economic balances He said it could cause him to be shaken.
If it is to be regulated, it should be gambled.
On the other hand, cryptocurrencies are an investment tool. not claiming that if cryptocurrencies need to be regulated, Das gambling category argued that it should be regulated under Das stated that every financial instrument should have a basis, and that even in the tulip craze, future tulip contracts are based on real tulips. With these words of the President 1630 in the Netherlands happening and soon its value thousands of floors above after a big sale collapse live to the tulip market referred to.
A year ago, the entire cryptocurrency market that you might collapse their statements about reminding das, FTX bankruptcy pointing out that this event is one of the bigger scandals to come. forerunner claimed to be.
CBDCs Are a Useful Technology
on the other hand Digital Central Bank Currency (CBDC) Commenting on technology, the president said that CBDCs ease of payment and cost quite in terms of beneficial and logical He claimed it was a system. RBI last year October per month of nine banks a CBDC test attended that you started had announced.


text:
Over 11,500 companies apply for Year of Entrepreneurship programs – Significant state support for improving operations
The Year of Entrepreneurship, through which the state institutions are aiming to support the economic development, especially that of small and medium enterprises, through various programs, has entered its second half, and the Ministry of Economy says that entrepreneurs can currently apply for 21 competitions. The state has so far allocated RSD 9 billion of the planned RSD 16 billion in 2016.
Entrepreneurs often point out that the improvement of the business environment means more to them than monetary incentives. Nevertheless, more than 11,500 companies have applied for the various programs so far.
The Development Agency of Serbia has established five programs within the Year of Entrepreneurship with a total budget of RSD 460 million, of which RSD 390 million as direct financial support through four current programs.
– We have received a total of 857 applications, which are now undergoing different stages of the approval process, and the largest interest seems to be for the Program of support for further development of MSME, with 473 applications sent, which is over 50% of the total number. This means that those who went through the startup phase, the founding and the first year in the earlier years are aware of the usefulness of this type of aid and are now applying for certain quality standards, for example, certification or recertification, trademarks and such. This shows that the companies are expanding their operations, entering new markets, offering new products and growing – says Aleksandar Miloradovic, adviser at the Development Agency of Serbia, for eKapija.
He points out that it's hard to project what the results of the program will be at this point, since there is no adequate way to estimate this. Nevertheless, he adds that MSME make up 99% of registered companies in the European Union and generate more than 60% of the total GDP of the EU. They also produce more than 50% of the total added value created by the companies.
– Through these programs, we are preparing the local economy for the demanding European market game which we should join in a few years – Miloradovic says.
The total available funds for startups amounted to RSD 100 million, and the public invitation was open from April 20 till June 20, 2016. A total of 198 applications in the amount of RSD 118,296,377 were sent, of which 156 were approved for the first phase of the project, i.e. the training program.
The budget of the support program for the business-institutional infrastructure amounts to RSD 130 million, and the public invitation was opened on April 25 and lasts until all the funds have been spent, with October 31 being the latest date. The users of the support program for the internationalization of business entities, entrepreneurs and clusters stand to receive a total of RSD 90 million, whereas RSD 70 million has been set aside for the realization of the support program for the further development of MSME and entrepreneurs.
Increasing export and implementing product “passports”
The Belgrade-based company Esensa, which produces dietary supplements, pharmaceutical products and consumer goods, has taken part in two public invitations within the Year of Entrepreneurship program. They received RSD 800,000 from the Development Agency of Serbia for the project of internationalization of business entities, entrepreneurs and clusters with the aim of participating in the Vitafoods Europe 2016 international fair. The company was also supported by the DAS with RSD 270,000 through the support program for the further development of MSME and entrepreneurs (recertification of established management system).
– The support of institutions and incentives envisioned by the programs are very important to improving operations and the general business environment. The state offered a wide array of financial and non-financial aids to all forms of legal entities within the Year of Entrepreneurship, which is encouraging and a good starting point for us, practically an initiation for the “years of entrepreneurship” ahead of us, in which we expect key systematic support through synergy and a dialogue between the commercial sector and state institutions – explains Ivana Milinkovic of Esens.
She estimates in her interview for eKapija that active support by the institutions speeds up the development of export-oriented local companies and believes that this is just the beginning of a successful cooperation between entrepreneurs and the competent state authorities.
– In the period ahead, we expect a more active role of state institutions in defining regulations which essentially bring us closer to trends impacting identical or similar products in the EU. It is necessary that each our product gets its “passport”, based on which it becomes recognized by foreign importers as a product which meets their demands, criteria and standards – Milinkovic points out.
Our interviewee says that Esensa will realize the project for which it has received funds from the Year of Entrepreneurship program by focusing on strengthening its international market presence, following global trends and creating new ideas.
Follow the news, tenders, grants, legal regulations and reports on our portal.
Register for our daily business bulletin, which is sent to your email address at the end of each work day.
Full information is available only to commercial users-subscribers and it is necessary to log in.
Test for free!
Full information is available to commercial users-subscribers only.
Log in to view complete information:
Forgot your password? Click here
test use, click


text:
Actress Neha Dhupia, busy with her upcoming film "Moh Maya Money", said she would like to move to Australia.
"I travel a lot. I think best thing about being part of the movie industry and being an actor is that you get to travel abroad a lot," said Neha, who was present at the Lonely Planet Travel Awards on Tuesday here.
"I really like Europe a lot. Apart from Europe, I like South America because it is warm throughout the year. But if I get a chance to move to one part of the world, I would like to move to Australia for sure," added the former beauty queen.
Neha is currently tied up with the dubbing of "Moh Maya Money", which is slated to release by end of this year.
'Look' how the Sheena Bora case has taken a toll on Indrani Mukerjea
Photos: Katrina Kaif, Parineeti Chopra, Shilpa Shetty's movie outing in Juhu
Birthday special: 14 Bollywood actors who made it big on TV
Photos: Vaani Kapoor, Poonam Pandey, Sana Khan at fashion event
Photos: Rishi Kapoor, wife Neetu, daughter Riddhima at book launch


text:
Latin America-focused operator group Millicom suffered a double-digit decline in net profit during Q1, though executives remained bullish about the company’s underlying performance, noting the bulk of the declines related to higher expenses.
In its earnings statement, the operator noted net financial expenses totalled $137 million, compared with $81 million in Q1 2018. The bulk of the figure comprised higher gross debt incurred as part of its acquisition of Cable Onda, which closed in December 2018. Millicom also took a $16 million hit relating to changes in accounting standards, along with a one-off charge of $24 million in connection with financing activities.
Despite the higher expenses, CEO Mauricio Ramos, hailed the positives: “We delivered solid KPIs and organic growth, in line with our full year targets. In particular, I am pleased to report that the significant investments we have made in Colombia and Bolivia over the past several years are now beginning to produce faster revenue growth and rising levels of profitability.”
While net income during Q1 fell 16 per cent year-on-year to $14 million, revenue was up 5.1 per cent to $1.1 billion. Millicom stated the revenue growth “largely reflects the impact from a full quarter of Cable Onda’s revenue in Panama”, along with strong organic growth.
Combined these “more than offset the translation impact of weaker currencies in a majority of our markets,” it added.
In Latin America the operator added 269,000 4G smartphone data users to reach 10.8 million, an increase of 36.3 per cent year-on-year. It also expanded its post-paid customer base, adding 68,000 to end Q1 with 4.5 million, an increase of 6.4 per cent.
Last month Millicom struck an agreement to sell its operations in Chad to Morocco-based Maroc Telecom, as part of an ongoing strategy to exit Africa and focus on its Latin American operations.
During Q1, mobile subscribers declined 146,000 in Africa, with an increase in Chad partially offsetting declines in Tanzania, Millicom said.Subscribe to our daily newsletter Back


text:
- Extra time: Port strike still looms
- VOLT Lighting gets a new West Coast DC
- RILA has a word on union contract negotiations
- A retail veteran sees changes ahead
- WOLF inks new deal with Capital Lumber
- MoistureShield makes significant additions to its distribution network
- KB Home recovers from past-year loss in Q1
The distribution partnership expands Roswell, Ga.-based Boral’s poly-ash category exterior trim product to the West Coast.
Boral TruExterior Trim, a building product in the poly-ash category of trim, has announced a new distribution agreement with Capital Lumber, a distributor of specialty building materials serving the western United States.
The newly forged relationship will expand the availability of Boral TruExterior Trim across the West Coast states of California, Oregon and Washington, the company said. Capital Lumber’s Michael Darby, VP business development, said the product will generate response for its performance, sustainability and price point.


text:
A recent survey found that consumers will travel almost 500 miles for a car.
Buyers in Alaska are prepared to travel nearly 725 miles.
New and used car buyers have been somewhat desperate for the last year and a half or so. Part supply issues have crushed new vehicle outputs, reducing inventories and forcing many to shop for pre-owned cars. This has created its own shortage where used-car buyers are having to travel hundreds of miles to find the right one.
Occasionally unpleasant dealership experiences aside, some US buyers have covered more than 1,000 miles to pick up their winner. This distance is excessive but even so, a survey commissioned last March by a Subaru dealership found that the average person was willing to travel up to 469 miles for their car. Alaskans were ready to go the distance, up to 722 miles.
According to Automotive News, big city centers are where inventories are. Large metro areas offer the most options if you live in a smaller town or rural area.
Jennifer Newman, editor-in-chief of Cars.com, said: “In our findings last year, we were seeing the most inventory in New York, L.A., Chicago, Philly, and Dallas-Fort Worth. That’s great guidance even today. If you are out in a smaller city, look to that bigger city that’s close to you. You’re going to have more dealerships and possibly more supply.”


text:
Gente… les dejo un quote y un link… me parecio una nota de color.. para el que lo sabia bien, y para el que no.. ya lo sabe!
"Intel's latest generation of chips comes solely from new ideas coming from its Israeli development sites. According to Bloomberg News, the bright ideas coming from Haifa might have been the reason that Intel is not in quite so much trouble as it should be and even stole the march on AMD.
In Haifa, Rony Friedman worked on a chip for low-cost computers that was slower, but it put out less heat which was how the Centrino was born.
Since then Intel has introduced 40 new processors most based on design's coming from Israel"


text:
OSAKA, Japan — President Donald Trump on Saturday stepped back from an escalation of his trade war with China that threatened to damage his 2020 reelection chances.
During a 80-minute meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump agreed not to proceed with plans to impose a 25 percent duty on another $300 billion worth of Chinese goods.
“Were holding on tariffs, and theyre going to buy farm product,” Trump told reporters during a press conference after his meeting with Xi at the annual G-20 leaders summit here in Osaka.
American farm exports to China have plummeted as a result of the trade war. Total sales this budget year are forecast at $6 billion, down from a high of nearly $26 billion when Barack Obama was president.
The decision to halt additional tariffs will also be welcome news to retailers and consumers, especially lower-income voters who rely on cheap imports, going into the 2020 election.
The United States will keep in place a 25 percent duty on $250 billion of Chinese goods that Trump imposed earlier. It will also give China a list of U.S. products to buy, Trump said.
In what appears to be a concession to Xi, Trump said he would loosen a trade ban that his administration recently imposed on Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.
The president indicated he thought the restrictions were too tight because Huawei is a major customer for many U.S. technology products.
“We send and we sell to Huawei a tremendous amount of product that goes into the various things they make,” Trump said. “These are American companies that make product. Its very complex. Highly scientific. And in some cases were the ones that do it and the only ones that do it.”
However, Trump said the ultimate resolution of the Huawei issue would be left until the end of negotiations with China.
Trump also said he did not discuss the case of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested in Canada last December at the request of the United States over allegations of breaching a U.S.-imposed ban on dealing with Iran.
But in response to a reporters question, he said the administration would discuss the telecommunications companys continued presence on the Commerce Departments “entity list” in the coming days. Later, he said Huawei was “very much in play,” but repeated that the U.S.and China plan to resolve the issue at the end of the talks.
In another area, he indicated his desire to reform U.S. visa policy to allow Chinese students remain and work in the United States after they finish their education. He called it a “smart persons waiver.”
“Well make it so they cannot only stay, but maybe they have access to green cards. We want to keep them here,” Trump said.
Trump did not specify any deadline for concluding the negotiations and was cautious about predicting success. “This doesnt mean there will be a deal. They would like to make a deal. I can tell you that. If we can make a deal it would be historic,” Trump said.
Trumps decision to put tariffs on hold should please financial markets worried about the effects of an escalating trade war on U.S. and global growth. But heading into the 2020 presidential campaign he has little to show so far on the China trade front, except lost sales.
Five months of negotiations between the two countries abruptly halted in May after Trump accused China of backtracking on commitments in a nearly 150-page draft agreement to changRead More – Source


text:
High-Resolution Audio Has Become The Norm
Throughout 2021, Hi-Res streaming became a key component of DSP offerings. Spotify announced in February that they were launching a Hi-Res tier called Spotify HiFi in late 2021. Apple Music not only launched lossless audio but further improved on their audio quality offerings by putting forth Spacial Audio mixes using Dolby Atmos technology. Deezer as well launched their Hi-Res service called Deezer HiFi, which gives listeners access to CD quality streaming, as well as access to Deezer’s unique 360 listening experience.
Tidal, one of the first services to offer Hi-Res streaming, lowered its prices last year in a bid to appeal to more listeners. Qobuz, another streaming service that almost exclusively streams at 24-bit Hi-Res quality, launched in the US in 2019. Even Amazon Music made their Hi-Res streaming tier Amazon Music HD free for all Amazon Music Users. There’s a new battleground in the world of streaming, and quite obviously it’s high-definition audio.
Where’s Spotify HiFi?
Despite this, one company is conspicuously out of the picture as we enter 2022, and it happens to be the biggest. As it stands, Spotify HiFi has yet to launch. As The Verge reported last week, “There have been occasional signs of Spotify HiFi throughout the year; a “HiFi” button could (very briefly) be spotted in the app back in May — complete with explainers on using the feature. And an onboarding video for HiFi was leaked in August.”
The reason as to why the service hasn’t launched can only be speculated on as of right now. With a large expansion into Podcasts, as well as adding synced lyrics, the streaming giant still had a big year in terms of tech improvements.
With Apple’s addition of lossless streaming at no additional cost to customers, the financial incentive to offer CD-quality streaming (16-bit/44.1kHz) may simply no longer be there. That being said, at a time when Amazon and Apple are offering ultra high definition tracks at 24-bit/44.1-192 kHz rates, it’s surprising that Spotify hasn’t followed suit.


text:
Tate Stock, 26, didn’t bother with putting his economics degree to use after school. Or maybe he did, depending on how you look at it.
Stock is the founder and CEO of Plexus Yoga, LLC., DBA Chirp, which he founded before his graduation from Brigham Young University. Even more unusually, as a college student, he self-funded the Plexus Wheel, a lightweight wheel designed to stretch one’s back and shoulders. He spent about $100,000 on business development, all of which he earned during the summer between his junior and senior years of college by selling pest control services door-to-door. “It’s a Utah thing to do,” he says. “I’m Mormon and went on a three-year mission, so I’m used to knocking on doors and talking to people.”
In August 2015, Stock was visiting with his aunt when he noticed she had a product called the yoga wheel, designed to aid with balance, positioning, and form during a yoga practice. “It looked cool,” Stock says, “but we looked for it on Amazon and it was unavailable online even though it was ranking in its algorithm.” Stock studied the concept and decided to build a new product based on the general idea, but with upgrades he thought would make it more durable and comfortable, like a thicker foam. With an investment of around $400, he bought large PVC pipes, smoothed their edges, and attached trimmed yoga mats to their outside — and sold more than 100 in the first two weeks. “I threw them up on Amazon and made like $12,000 off $400,” says Stock. That was enough to convince him the idea was economically viable, and he officially registered the company with one semester left in his senior year of college.
By the end of 2015, the Plexus Wheel was available for sale on Amazon and on the Plexus Yoga website. Stock and his team were producing them in a friend’s barn until he sourced a manufacturer via Alibaba, an Amazon-like marketplace for finding producers, importers, and manufacturers. They found a factory in China to make a custom mold and start producing the wheel, which worked for a short time. “But the China thing went south,” Stock says. “We paid for a mold and then all of a sudden, the manufacturer sent us pictures of all these competitor products they used our mold to build.” At that point, he brought manufacturing back to Utah, where they're made today. In 2016, the first full year of business for Chirp, Stock’s revenue was at $180,000, almost all of which he put back into marketing and product development.
By summer 2017, Chirp was selling 500 Plexus Wheels a day thanks to effective influencer marketing and a rebrand from “yoga device” to “back pain relief device” — and Stock was spending nearly a million annually in shipping and fulfillment costs. That’s when Stock started his own fulfillment company called ShipStud, effectively bringing all steps of the manufacturing and distribution process in-house. Now, ShipStud fulfills all Chirp's orders, as well as those for several other crowdfunding and startup campaigns.
Two years into the company, Stock decided to upgrade the wheel, and began development on the Plexus Wheel+, marketed exclusively to those who suffer from back pain and travelers who need pain relief on-the-go rather than yogis looking to enhance their practices. “I don’t know how to talk the yoga language. I’m not a yogi,” says Stock. “But we got feedback that the Plexus Wheel was great for back pain. Yoga is a pleasure, but back pain is a real pain. So we want to sell a painkiller, not a vitamin.” Chirp’s revenue in 2017 was nearly $4 million, and Stock felt that targeting back pain would broaden the consumer market.
For the Plexus Wheel+, Stock worked health with professionals like chiropractors and physical therapists to get advice and ideas for upgrades and product design changes. “A lot of doctors have great ideas, but they just don’t have time to develop them,” Stock says. “Some are just happy to see their ideas come to life, so they give feedback and tips." He estimates that more than 3,000 health professionals and doctors bought the first Plexus Wheel and were recommending them to patients as a stretching device rather than a yoga device.
By summer 2018, the Plexus Wheel+ was ready to hit the market, but rather than self-funding once again, Stock took the product to Kickstarter for crowdfunding. Their $10,000 goal was funded almost immediately, and their second goal of $750,000 was funded about 30 days into the campaign. In total, the Plexus Wheel+ campaign raised $1,500,975, making it one of 79 out of 33,431 design projects introduced on Kickstarter to break the $1 million mark. Because they offered three wheels at different costs or a pack of all three, their average price per wheel came out to approximately $83, despite the smallest six-inch wheel being priced at $39 during the campaign. It became the 4th highest funded project ever out of Utah, and a second campaign on IndiegogoGogo has raised more than $1.8 million and will be open for pre-buying through the end of October.
Stock says that Facebook and social media influencer marketing has been extremely effective and credits their growth — they expect to exceed $8 million in sales in 2018 — to their social media marketing strategies with high returns on investment. Unlike many back products targeted to older consumers, the Plexus Wheel and Plexus Wheel+ are targeted to consumers as young as 25, especially those who sit at a desk for most of the day at work. “Most of us [at Chirp] are young and coming across as some 50-year-old doctor that knows it all isn’t us. That works, but it’s not us.” Instead, Chirp aims to create humorous social media videos that take a lighthearted approach to back pain. “Back pain overall is boring,” says Stock. “And the old-school way of marketing it is a stock photo of someone hunching over their desk with their back flowing red. Our marketing is more entertaining.”


text:
Allaying fears of foreign electronics manufacturers, India has said it will not pursue protectionism policy and will give level-playing field to all participants.
"Look at the policies of world around, we are far less protectionist than any other country in the world. There is no question of India becoming protectionist," Indian Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said here on Monday.
The government is in the process of finalising an electronics manufacturing policy that would encourage the use of indigenous equipment and curtail India's import bill.
"There has to be a level playing (field) among players. (Does) India have level playing when foreign companies enter? They need to see that," Sibal said.
Recently, it approved a proposal that electronic products with minimum 25 per cent content from India should be given preference in government procurement in the first year.
He said the government is looking to ensure that dependency of India on imports is reduced over a period to cut trade deficit.
"We must make sure that in ultimate analysis, India does not have to import everything. Like other countries have done ... they have revved (revamped) their manufacturing capacities. That's exactly what we want," he said.
If India does not build manufacturing capacity, the import bill in this area alone will swell to USD 300 billion by 2020, he added.
The local value addition should be increased five per cent every year with maximum of 45 per cent over period of five years.
During his week-long trip, Sibal will meet telecom industry leaders and senior government officials of different countries.
"We are here to build confidence among investors...fact that India is market with enormous depth. Market itself is unsaturated, the investors should have confidence that India market has enormous potential and we will ensure that there is clarity of policy, so that they can make there long term plan and be in market for both, the good of their consumers and their own good," he said.
During the course of his visit, the minister is scheduled to meet officials from Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Telenor and telecom equipment and product vendors makers including Ericsson, Shyam Telecom, Alcatel Lucent and Nokia Siemens Network.


text:
In an interview with Gulf Business, Emmanuel Fromont, president of Acer – EMEA, shares how the PC has returned to being a vital device in people’s lives
The dual-screen ThinkPad X1 Fold unfolds to form a 13.3-inch OLED display PC
Outsourcing manufacturing would mark a major shift in Intel’s business model
© 2021 MOTIVATE MEDIA GROUP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


text:
With the new year, the main smartphone manufacturers already have almost ready those who will be the new members of their catalogs for this 2021. OPPO, which has had a great growth in Spain during the past year, has almost ready the OPPO A93 5G, the new version of its mid-range that has been almost completely leaked.
5G connectivity is here and for many users it will be one of the points to look at when acquiring the next mobile. The next OPPO A53 5G will be compatible with the new generation of mobile networks to take advantage of the speed and lower latency of the 5G NSA and SA.
The 5G of MásMovil reaches these 19 cities in SpainMásMovil has announced the launch of its 5G in tests in a total of 19 cities in Spain available from today.
OPPO A93 5G leaked: features
To make it compatible with these networks, OPPO will choose to mount the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 processor in the A93 5G. This would be one of the main changes with respect to the Oppo A93 that we already know, in which they use the Helio P95 processor.
In addition, as leaked, this “mid-range” model will be accompanied by 8GB of RAM and a configuration with 256GB internal storage. Figures that we could associate with higher-end models and that will surely allow the terminal to perform very well in demanding tasks and, above all, store all kinds of content and downloads even for the most intensive users in multimedia consumption.
Google’s new trick to make your mobile games take up less spaceGoogle has presented a new tool through which games can take up less space on your mobile. This is how they have succeeded.
The OPPO A93 5G will integrate a large battery of 5,000 mAh capacity and fast charging technology. Oppo has developed a lot its technology for charges in record time, but at the moment we do not know what it will be like to put in this model.
All this will be accompanied by a large panel 6.5-inch FullHD + and, on its front, the camera with an 8 megapixel sensor will be embedded as a hole in the screen. For its part, the rear camera would have a rectangular design in which the main sensor will be 48 megapixels, but two more 2MP sensors will accompany it.
The OPPO A93 5G is expected to be launched this week in China at a price, at the exchange rate, of about $ 340. We still do not know details of when it will be presented in the rest of the world. For its part, the previous Oppo A93 model is one of those confirmed by the company to update to Android 11 with Color OS 11, among other devices.
The entry The leaked OPPO A93 5G: more power and connectivity appears first in The Free Android.


text:
Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus will welcome Bill Oliver, co-founder at Oliver Winery, as the keynote speaker for its 11th annual Cook Institute for Entrepreneurship luncheon on April 19 at 11:30 a.m. in Shreve Hall. Prior year’s events were postponed due to pandemic-related closures and gathering requirements.
“Ivy Tech Bloomington’s Gayle & Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship is so glad to be hosting this event again. The Cook Institute is a direct expression of the Cook Center’s mission to engage our local community and foster entrepreneurship in the communities we serve,” said executive director of the Ivy Tech Cook Center, Steve Bryant. “Bill has an inspirational story to share about starting and running a successful business, especially over the past couple of years.”
Bill Oliver, winemaker and businessman, focuses on new product development and strategic planning at Oliver Winery, which grew to become one of the largest wineries in the eastern United States under he and his wife Kathleen’s direction. In 2006, it became a 100% employee-owned company and in 2021, was purchased by NexPhase Capital, a New York-based private equity firm specializing in buying and scaling up small to medium sized businesses. Oliver holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University Kelley School of Business, where he met his wife.
Sponsorships are available at $3,500 for signature, $2,000 for presenting, $1,000 for table. Individual tickets are $100 each. Proceeds support programming at Ivy Tech’s Cook Center for Entrepreneurship for the benefit of Ivy Tech students and the community in which they work and live. Portions of tickets and sponsorships are tax deductible.
To purchase sponsorships, tables, and individual seats, visit www.ivytech.edu/cookinstitute.
Share your news with us!
Submit your news to the Chamber by the 12th or 28th of each month to be included in the bi-weekly Membership Matters emails.


text:
The financial technology (fintech) sector in Singapore made significant strides in 2021 by hitting $3.94 billion, with crypto and blockchain funding contributing nearly half at $1.48 billion, according to KPMG’s Pulse of FinTech report.
Per the announcement:
“Investments in Singapore’s fintech sector grew 47% year-on-year to hit $3.94 billion in 2021. Blockchain and crypto raked in almost half of the funds, raising $1.48 billion across 82 deals.”
Therefore, the fintech industry reached a five-year high with 191 deals, representing a 37% increase from 139 deals in 2020.
Some of the factors that fueled this growth entail the rollout of local measures to revamp the capital market. They included creating a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) listing framework meant to make Singapore an ideal choice for unicorns and fast-growing companies.
As a result, crypto and blockchain funding took the lion’s share in the funded fintech category because it saw exponential growth from $109.75 million pooled in 2020 to $1.48 billion last year.
The report added:
“Blockchain and crypto drew a record $30.2 billion in investments last year, up from $5.5 billion in 2020 and more than three times the previous record of $8.2 billion in 2018.”
Anton Ruddenklau, KPMG International’s Singapore-based global fintech leader, acknowledged that 2021 was a good year for the fintech industry because worldwide funding soared to $210 billion.
“We’re seeing an incredible amount of interest in all manner of fintech companies, with record funding in areas like blockchain and crypto, cybersecurity, and wealth tech. While payments remain a significant driver of fintech activity, the sector is broadening every day.”
Image source: Shutterstock


text:
Regulations come into force at midnight tonight, which allow the British Library to begin archiving the entire UK web domain.
Billions of webpages, blogs and e-books will also be preserved in order to document the digital age.
The library could eventually collect copies of every public Tweet or Facebook page in the British web domain.
More top news
Londoners who have received new electronic gadgets for Christmas are being advised to take simple steps to protect them from thieves.
The Boxing Day sales got off to a flying start with shops reporting a surge in business during the first hour of trading.
Bus strikes are planned for Monday 29 December and Monday 5 January.


text:
Just days after the noted Google Place error of “We Currently Do Not Support The Location”, the New York Times article has reported another rather important issue of Google Places spitting out the “Permanently Closed” error.
The Times article highlights upon:
“ In recent months, plenty of perfectly healthy businesses across the country have expired — sometimes for hours, other times for weeks — though only in the online realm cataloged and curated by Google. The reason is that it is surprisingly easy to report a business as closed in Google Places, the search giant’s version of the local Yellow Pages.
On Google Places, a typical listing has the address of a business, a description provided by the owner and links to photos, reviews and Google Maps. It also has a section titled “Report a problem” and one of the problems to report is “this place is permanently closed.” If enough users click it, the business is labeled “reportedly closed” and later, pending a review by Google, “permanently closed.” Google was tight-lipped about its review methods and would not discuss them.”
This suggests just how easy it for anyone to manipulate Google Places listing to announce a business being “Permanently Closed”. Also it highlights the simple lack of caring on Google's part about the issue as the remedy that is offered by Google is incompetent and fails to resolve the issue:
“The owner of a closed business, and customers who know better, can click on a button marked “not true,” which appears by all “reportedly closed” and “permanently closed” listings. In some instances, owners say, a business will “open” shortly thereafter. But other owners, like Ms. Cowan, say that the button doesn’t work, or that it takes a week to have any effect. Still others say that immediately after clicking the “not true” button, their business is immediately “closed” again.”
In mid-August, to demonstrate how annoying it when a fully functioning business is tagged as “permanently closed” a search consultant and blogger named Mike Blumenthal deliberately “closed” Google’s offices in Mountain View, California. As a result for a little while, Google itself was “reportedly closed,” as per Places. Mike justifies his actions by saying “I did it to point out how annoying this is when it happens,”.
Here's what the screen shot looks like:
Thanks to his courageous act at least one change has been made to the Places wherein a business that is recently tagged as “permanently closed,” now receives an alert via e-mail from Google to inform them about the change.
Google's responds via Lat Long blog to the NY Times article:
Whilst these words are comforting, no substantial action has been taken for resolving the issue. Guess we will just have to wait and see what exactly is done in the “the coming days”. Also it makes you question as to why did it take an article from the New York Times to bring about this reaction on a topic they knew about long back?


text:
Following its huge success locally, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne’s ‘Hungerithm’ platform it conceptualised for SNICKERS is rolling out across US and European markets.
The US has been the first region to roll out the platform through a nationwide partnership with 7-Eleven’s plus-9,000 stores.
The launch of the Hungerithm in the US sees the platform pick up where it left off, rewarding consumers with cheaper SNICKERS bars the angrier the internet gets, albeit this time it’s leveraging data from Twitter’s larger user base of 69 million monthly active US users.
Clems Melbourne CEO Nick Garrett said the global roll-out of Hungerithm was a great example of creativity being used in a powerful way to deliver significant business results.
“As creatively powerful as Hungerithm was, the true beauty of it was in the simple and effective retail integration that enabled the creativity of the idea to impact sales and truly drive results, he said.
“We’re incredibly proud of the team and of the recognition by the global MARS business and its regional retail partners who have shown immense belief in the power of our idea and its potential for scale.”
The roll-out is being managed by the Clems Melbourne team alongside BBDO affiliates in each region.
Australian owned and operated email and SMS marketing software company, Vision6, announced the launch of its first-ever national brand campaign and new brand platform “Simply Reliable”. Founded in 2001, Vision6 was one of the first email marketing software providers in Australia and has since been relied upon by thousands of Aussie businesses and organisations for […]
Out-of-Home media company JCDecaux New Zealand has appointed business growth specialist Adam McGregor in preparation for its bid to win upcoming local government street furniture tenders across the country. With contracts for the provision of street furniture including bus shelters across New Zealand up for renewal from late 2022, they collectively represent the biggest advertising […]
Fetch TV has announced that ABC iview will soon be available as a dedicated Virtual Playlist Channel on the Fetch platform. Virtual Playlist Channels (VPCs) were developed by Fetch to promote content discovery, and to provide a clear bridge between the traditional world of linear TV and the growing availability of on demand content via […]
Jackie Gillies, businesswoman, psychic medium and cast member of The Real Housewives of Melbourne is bringing her sassy, inspirational and adventurous spirit to her new podcast Shine It Up, With Jackie Gillies, which launches today via Acast. Hosted and distributed by the creator-first podcast company Acast, the show will offer listeners inspiration and motivation to […]
Crowdsourcing platforms DesignCrowd and BrandCrowd are promoting vaccination efforts in a unique way, launching a logo redesign contest among their networks of designers. The initiative saw iconic Australian brands such as Hungry Jack’s, Jetstar, JB Hi-Fi, and Bunnings undergo a redesign. “We thought it would be fun to see some other iconic Australian brands back […]
Jillian Davison has been named editor-in-chief of the recently relaunched Harper’s BAZAAR Australia. She will oversee all content, development and creative direction across the iconic magazine’s digital and brand platforms. Davison (pictured) succeeds Eugenie Kelly, who recently stepped down to pursue other opportunities. The announcement was made by Maureen Jordan, publisher of Harper’s BAZAAR Australia […]
Freedom Foods and 72andSunny Sydney have launched the first advertising campaign for Australia’s Own range of plant-based beverages. The campaign introduces a new visual world and identity for the brand and captures the healthy, positive feeling you get when spending time in nature and when consuming Australia’s Own certified-organic, plant-based beverages. As well as featuring […]


text:
* FTSEurofirst 300 up 1.3 percent
* Good set of results lifts French retailer Casino
* Burberry slumps as China slowdown leads to sales miss
* Eyes on earnings and U.S. consumer prices data (Adds detail)
By Danilo Masoni and Alistair Smout
MILAN/LONDON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - European shares rose on Thursday, bouncing back after three days of losses, with retailer Casino and consumer goods maker Unilever lifted by positive results.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 1.3 percent at 1,423.68 points, while the euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX 50 index rose 1.4 percent.
Mining stocks were the top sectoral gainer in Europe, helped by London copper prices approaching a four-week high, with investors betting on a continued easy monetary policy environment.
U.S. consumer prices recorded their biggest drop in eight months in September as the cost of gasoline fell, confirming a low-inflation environment.
“With U.S. rates not likely to go up any time soon, China stabilising and markets having come off substantially from their highs over the past few months, some feel increasingly tempted to take advantage of generally lower valuations,” said Peregrine & Black trader Markus Huber in a note.
French retailer Casino rose 6.7 percent, after quarterly sales showed a marked improvement in its home market that beat some analyst expectations. However the decline in sales accelerated in the period, hit by weak consumer electronics demand in its top market of Brazil and by the August bombings in Thailand.
“This is a good set of sales results for Casino. The bad news in Latin America, mainly Brazil, and Thailand was known before,” Bernstein analysts, who rate the stock with an outperform rating, said.
Unilever rose 4.6 percent after the consumer goods maker reported better-than-expected third-quarter sales, although it added that sluggish global markets continued to weigh on its performance.
Burberry fell 8.2 percent after a sharp sales slowdown in China and Hong Kong led the British luxury goods company to miss forecasts for first-half sales growth and warn of an increasingly challenging environment.
A tumultuous summer for global markets has dampened expectations for this earnings season, with analysts expecting a 13.5 percent fall in year on year growth, according to Thomson Reuters Starmine data.
Strategists at JP Morgan said in a note that all the major European countries they track are seeing more earnings downgrades than upgrades, with Italy and Spain in particular experiencing a major reversal of their upward earnings trend.
TeliaSonera fell 4 percent after U.S. short-seller Muddy Waters revealed it had a short position in the Swedish firm, and made serious criticisms of it. TeliaSonera dismissed the criticism. (Editing by Andrew Roche)


text:
Mon, Dec 1st 2008 1:45am
An ad for the iPhone 3G has been banned in the UK, after the country's advertising regulator decided that calling the device "really fast" four times in an ad was making deceptive claims about the speed with which it could access the internet. Earlier in the year, Apple had another iPhone ad banned after it said it could access "all parts of the internet." The regulator's action was prompted by 17 complaints from consumers about the ad, though at least one of those who complained after he'd received some poor customer service from Apple says revenge was a factor, and wonders if others had similar motivation. While plenty of complaints about Apple in online forums get ignored or shouted down by the legions of Mac fanboys, at least one guy found a way to make his stick.
If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...
- UK Music Collection Society PRS Sues SoundCloud
- UK Orders Google To 'Forget' News Articles Discussing Previous Right To Be Forgotten Requests
- PRS To Increase Members' Fees To Fund Legal Expedition Against TV Station
- DailyDirt: No More Secrets...
- Insanity Rules: NSA Apologists Actually Think Apple Protecting You & Your Data Could Be 'Material Support' For ISIS


text:
Saving Pact: Australians plan to save a massive $170 billion in 2016!
- New finder.com.au survey: Savers nationwide aim to stash $170 billion cash in 2016
- Savings goal of $9,468 each, on average; a holiday the top savings target
- finder.com.au's tips for fast-tracking savings
February 9, 2016, Sydney, Australia – Australian households are headed towards a financial boom, with 2016 the year many tackle overspending and embrace a savings pact, according to finder.com.au, one of Australia’s biggest comparison websites.
New research from finder.com.au reveals Australians plan to save a massive $170 billion in 2016 – or, on average, $9,468 each.
A survey of more than 1,000 respondents has found that Aussies vow to slash expenses and increase savings by $182 per week for the coming year.
When asked about their savings goals, Australians revealed their most popular targets:
- A holiday (49 percent of respondents)
- A rainy day (36 percent)
- Home improvements (20 percent)
- Tech purchases (20 percent)
Bessie Hassan, Consumer Advocate at finder.com.au, says the healthy saving competition is a welcome change.
“The findings are very encouraging and indicate that Australians are shifting their money mindset from one of spending to that of saving. While women plan to save $160 per week, men plan to up the ante to $209 weekly,” she says.
In fact, Australians are saving almost three times (264 percent) as much as they were 10 years ago, according to an analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) byfinder.com.au.
Australia’s household savings ratio has risen by 6.6 percent in the past decade – it was 2.5 percent in September 2005 , increasing to 9.1 percent in September 2015, indicating that Australians are taking their savings more seriously.
Ms Hassan says debt had lost its lustre.
“Households are spending less than their disposable income which is vastly different to the early 2000s when it fell below zero; Australians are becoming savvier with their spending,” she says.
Across the country, New South Wales residents are out in the lead, intending to save $10,602 each. Victorians are almost as ambitious with savings goals of $10,202, followed by Queenslanders at $8,839.
Whether it’s paying off debt, or saving for a new car or holiday, have something to work towards and devise a realistic plan to keep you on track,” advises Hassan.
“Starting a savings plan is easier said than done, however willpower combined with guidance can see 2016 the year you obtain your financial goals. It comes down to budgeting and smart money management, which starts with comparing financial products online.
Tackling overspending is another strategy to supercharging savings, says Ms Hassan.
“Others include refinancing loans, consolidating debt and getting a better deal on utilities and insurances.
Finder.com.au’s top ways to fast-track savings
- Consider automatic transfers for online accounts for ease of mind. Have a portion of your income directly deposited into your online savings account – you’ll never miss what you can’t see and it’s simple to organise with your payroll officer.
- Check how your interest is calculated – some savings accounts compound their interest daily which means you will still earn interest even if you withdraw money before the end of the month.
- Look for ways to maintain high interest. Some savings accounts give you high bonus interest as long as you keep money in your account – don’t withdraw anything and make regular deposits.
- Others offer bonus interest for the first few months. Since it doesn’t cost anything to open up a high-interest savings account (HISA), you can port over your funds once the introductory period is over to make the most of the time when you’re earning maximum interest.
- There are opportunities for you to grow your money this year. According to thefinder.com.au database the highest maximum variable interest rate for high interest saving accounts is 3.60% p.a.
The top introductory savings rates on finder.com.au:
- RaboDirect High Interest Savings Account: 3.50%
- St.George Maxi Saver: 3.25%
- Bank of Melbourne Maxi Saver: 3.25%
The top bonus saver rates on finder.com.au:
- ME Bank Online Savings Account: 3.60%
- ING DIRECT Savings Maximiser: 3.50%
- Bankwest Hero Saver: 3.15%
The top six month term deposits on finder.com.au:
- Bankwest Online Term Deposit: 2.85%
- Westpac Term Deposit: 2.00%
- Bank of Melbourne Term Deposit: 2.00%
For further information
The information in this release is accurate as of the date published, but rates, fees and other product features may have changed. Please see updated product information on finder.com.au's review pages for the current correct values.
More than 3 million Australians turn to finder.com.au every month to save money, time and make important life choices. We compare virtually everything from credit cards, phone plans, health insurance, travel deals and much more.
Our free service is 100% independently-owned by two Australians: Fred Schebesta and Frank Restuccia. Since launching in 2006, we’ve helped our users make more than 17 million decisions.
We continue to expand and launch around the globe, and now operate in the United States and United Kingdom. For further information visit www.finder.com.au.


text:
According to a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the global market for behavioural biometrics is anticipated to top US$9 billion by 2031, surging at a CAGR of 20% over the next 10 years.
Behavioural biometrics is a technology that analyses measurable patterns in human activities. These patterns include mouse activity, keystroke movement and device movement. Behavioural biometrics identifies interactive gestures, such as how individuals type on a keyboard, how they use the mouse, how they move the device and how they touch the screen.
Physical biometrics involves fingerprints or iris patterns, whereas behavioural biometrics continuously evaluates a user’s ongoing interaction with their devices. Behavioural biometrics discriminates between a legitimate user and a cybercriminal by identifying unique patterns in human activities.
Financial institutions, businesses and government facilities are using behavioural biometrics for payments, online banking and secure authentication. The behavioural biometrics market is expected to accelerate rapidly as products and services are moving into advanced digital security beyond simple passwords and PIN codes.
Wide acceptance of behavioural biometrics for fraud prevention and detection in financial services, consumer applications and government applications is set to drive market growth at a fast pace over the coming years.
Key takeaways from the study
• Global behavioural biometrics market to top US$9 Bn by 2031.
• Behavioural biometrics software projected to reach around US$5 billion valuation by 2031.
• Behavioural biometrics services projected to record above 15% CAGR over next 10 years.
• Market in North America holds share of more than 40%.
• Market in South Korea expected to reach valuation of US$1,1 Bn by 2031.
• Market in Australia to record 14% CAGR over forecast period of 2021-2031.
“Increasing adoption of Internet of Things and cloud computing by organisations is expected to create further opportunities for providers of behavioural biometrics over the coming years,” according to a senior research analyst at Fact.MR.
These insights are based on the report Behavioural Biometrics Market by Fact.MR, available at www.factmr.com/report/behavioural-biometrics-market or via the short link www.securitysa.com/*factmr1
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved


text:
Who's guilty of blowing their holiday budget every year? In a report released Monday, personal finance website WalletHub found more than one third of shoppers exceeded their holiday budgets last year.
According to the data, 2016 holiday spending is expected to increase 3.6 percent to nearly $656 billion.
The number-crunchers at WalletHub looked at five factors: income, age, debt-to-income ratio, monthly income-to-monthly expenses ratio and savings-to-monthly expenses ratio to estimate the maximum spending amounts for consumers in each of 570 U.S. cities, including 13 Arizona cities.
Gilbert came in with the highest average amount in the state with $1,188 while Glendale was towards the bottom of the list at $460.
Click on the map below to see the average amount people in your city should budget for holiday spending.


text:
Woman loses her luxury $19,000 alligator skin handbag for $51 permit
Having a Saint Laurent's luxury alligator bag is a dream for many but what if someone snatches it from you and destroys it? A heartbreak that can't be expressed in words! In one such incident, an Australian woman learnt her heartbreaking lesson when her alligator skin handbag worth $19,000 was destroyed by custom officials.
It is reported that the woman's expensive bag was destroyed because she failed to buy a $51 permit. She arranged a CITES export permit from France, but did not applied an application for an import permit from the Australian CITES Management Authority.
The luxurious bag was from a Saint Laurent boutique in France. The Australian Border Force (ABF) seized the bag over the suspicion it might have been involved in the illegal wildlife trade. It was seized at a cargo depot in Perth, Western Australia.
According to the Australian government, the shopper had spent 26,313 Australian dollars on the handbag.
However, alligator products are allowed into the country, their access is controlled under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to ensure they are not linked to the illegal wildlife trade.
The maximum penalty for wildlife trade offences in Australia is 10 years in prison and over $160,000 fine.
The Australian Environment Minister Sussan Ley said that it is a costly reminder to apply for the correct paperwork and the citizens of the country.
"We all need to be aware of what we're purchasing online as restricting the trade of animal products is crucial to the long-term survival of endangered species," she added.
"Aside from the rules themselves, it is important that people take the time to think about ethical fashion choices."
Posted By: Deeksha Sharma


text:
YEREVAN. – On Friday Armenia’s State Commission of Protection of Economic Competition published the results of the proceedings conducted in the water market.
As it comes out, the Makur Jur product of MGA Water Company is nothing else but usual tap water in the bottles, while in commercials it was presented that the water came from mountain springs in Garni.
The Commission considers that MGA Water Company has violated the rights of customers.
MGA Water will be fined 1 per cent of its annual income.


text:
Parents who travel on private-hire cars with toddlers in tow have an option to get vehicles equipped with a child seat.
The service, to be introduced on 100 Uber cars on Thursday (June 15) as part of a pilot phase, is meant for children aged between one and 10. They also should weigh between 10kg and 25kg, and are not taller than 1.45m.
It can be requested via the company’s app – users have to select the Uber Car Seat option when booking an UberX ride, and pay a $5 surcharge.
Uber launched the service in partnership with Taxi Baby, a company that offers car travel safety products and services for children, at an event on Wednesday (June 14).
There are plans to grow the fleet over the next couple of months, said Mr Warren Tseng, general manager of Uber Singapore. Each car seat costs over $400 but drivers can get it at a discounted rate.
“There is a need in the market for those within the ages of one and four, and we wanted to launch with the right product and right partner,” said Mr Tseng.
The move comes after reports earlier this year that vehicles under private hire car services like Uber and Grab are not allowed to carry passengers under 1.35m in height without a booster seat or child restraint, leading some drivers to turn away customers.
Unlike taxis, Uber and Grab cars are not exempt from the rule in the Road Traffic Act because private hire car services are pre-booked, which “allows passengers to indicate if they require booster seats or child restraints at the point of booking”, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in February.
Taxis are excluded from this ruling as they are considered “public service vehicles”, while private-hire car services are not.
Uber’s rival, Grab, has also been offering the GrabFamily service since last August, which are GrabCars equipped with car seat manufacturer Carfoldio’s mifold Grab-and-Go seats, meant for children aged between four and seven. Passengers will have to request for GrabFamily when booking their ride, and the service costs $2 more than a usual GrabCar.
Mr Andrew Chan, head of GrabCar Singapore, said the demand for GrabFamily has been increasing, with the number of requests for the service having “doubled” since the official launch in March this year. There are currently 3000 cars under the GrabFamily fleet.
Related story: Grab, Uber not exempt from child seat rules
Related story: 5 safety tips for parents travelling with children in cars


text:
New York, NY (PressExposure) February 26, 2009 -- FreeSportsBet.com offers U.S. residents chance to win cash by betting on sports legally
February 26, 2009, Golden, CO - A new service launched this month that allows sports enthusiasts to legally wager on sporting events without having to risk their own money. FreeSportsBet.com, the brainchild of a sports-betting industry veteran, allows players to win money by correctly predicting the outcome of U.S. sporting events using the Las Vegas line. And, unlike traditional Sports Betting [http://www.FreeSportsBet.com] in which participants risk their own money, FreeSportsBet.com is 100% legal in most of the United States, Canada and Europe.
FreeSportsBet.com can afford to pay winners actual cash for winning bets thanks to advertisers who put up the initial stake for participants. FreeSportsBet.com's founder, Geoff Kulesa, explains, "Our advertisers provide players $1 to start with. If they are successful enough with their wagers, we pay them dollar-for-dollar on their winnings. If they lose, we simply give them another $1 to continue play. Players can also compete against their friends for bragging rights and against the entire community in free contests."
FreeSportsBet.com taps into an extremely sizable, yet largely unheralded industry. "America is a nation of sports fanatics. We also love to gamble, whether it be on stocks, at the casino, or in starting a new business," says Mr. Kulesa. "So it's should come as no surprise that about half of all American adults bet on sports [http://www.FreeSportsBet.com] in some form or fashion each year." While popular forms of mainstream sports wagering such as fantasy football and office pools are extremely popular in the United States, they are dwarfed by real sports betting. "Hundreds of millions of Americans bet tens of billions of dollars on sports every year," notes Mr. Kulesa.
While not widely known, sports betting is actually one of the largest industries in the world. According to Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, $500 billion was bet worldwide on sports in 2005. "That's nearly $1.4 billion dollars bet on sports per day," notes Mr. Kulesa. A study done by the U.S. Congress in 1999 reported that over $380 billion is wagered on sports each year in the United States. "To put that into perspective, more money is spent annually in the US on gambling than on books, DVDs, music, games and videos combined," notes Mr. Kulesa.
FreeSportsBet.com [http://www.FreeSportsBet.com] offers this vast market a new way to participate in the financial upside of sports wagering, without the downside. Players can't lose money - they can only win. "This website is a dream come true for the millions of American sports fans who can now legally bet on sports every day without any financial or legal risk. It's all the upside without any downside," states Mr. Kulesa.
The idea to offer a legal and free form of online wagering came to Mr. Kulesa after the recent implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA). "The UIGEA took a lot of steam out of the online gambling industry, making it harder for Americans to wager on sports online," said Mr. Kulesa. "With the launch of FreeSportsBet.com, these folks now have an outlet to bet on sports again, this time legally and with the opportunity to make a profit without risking a dime."
FreeSportsBet.com offers free, legal sports betting with the opportunity to win real money. The service is completely free to players. Advertisers who want to reach a desirable demographic of young affluent males provide the initial stake for players. If players run out of money, they are given more to play with. If they are successful enough, players can cash out for real money - dollar for dollar. The website offers tools and statistics to help players make better wagering decisions. Participants can also refer friends, earning money based on their friends' play. They can track their friends play, participate in contests, and communicate through private messaging and message boards.
For more information, contact Geoff Kulesa at firstname.lastname@example.org or 800-707-9283.
Geoff Kulesa email@example.com 800-707-9283 [http://www.FreeSportsBet.com]