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Tesla Starts Sending Out Semi Delivery Event Invitations [Update]
Image via Luca Atalla
Tesla’s Semi delivery event is slated to take place on Thursday, December 1, 2022, and now the company has started sending out event invites.
According to a screenshot of the invite shared by Luca Atalla (@lucaatalla), it asks for those that received it to RSVP by 11:59 on November 28, 2022.
The Tesla Semi delivery event will take place at Giga Nevada.
Less than a week ago, Martin Viecha, Head of Investor Relations at Tesla said, “If you want to attend the Semi delivery event as a retail shareholder, please make sure you have a verified shareholder status on our IR website (unverified manual submissions are eligible if the paperwork is correct).”
He added, “We’ll be doing a random draw where 1 share = 1 entry.”
Update Nov. 17, 9:14pm PT: According to information obtained by Tesla North, the Semi Delivery Event will take place at 3pm PDT. Tesla’s invitation says “you’ll hear the latest Semi updates from Tesla executives, tour our manufacturing facility and witness our first customer vehicles.”

domain: news


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When will smart home no longer be just a gadget? It could happen perhaps pretty soon. At least this is what smart speakers’ sales results indicate.
Smart speakers influence smart home idea as a whole because of their convenience. All you have to do is speak to it. You will receive pretty much in response. More and more over time.
How intelligent home works
Amazon has pioneered smart speakers. It built Amazon Echo. Today several other companies sell smart speakers: Google – Google Home Max and Mini, Microsoft – Invoke, Apple – Apple HomePod. This kind of speaker is waiting for commands to which it responds thanks to a virtual voice assistant “closed inside” the speaker. Currently, it can be Alexa (Amazon), Siri (Apple), Google Assistant, Cortana (Microsoft).
Google said that since it had introduced smaller model Google Home Mini to the market, it had sold its one Home device every second. These solutions make impressive progress because it is Artificial Intelligence that, thanks to machine learning, are more responsive to questions and commands. Google, for instance, trains its Assistant on an ongoing basis, adding a new set of instructions every once in a while. Voice assistant gains more and more skills over time, today already, it is pretty much. Google, for example, has extended capabilities within all its services like calendars and notes. Amazon, in turn, is doing great in home automation.
In addition to adding a task to the app, an assistant can control home. It can turn on and off the light, change its color, set the temperature in a given room, turn on and off heating, open and close door, and more. Voice assistant makes easier what has been available on the market for a few years now, which is smart home systems, provided by companies like such as Google, Apple, Microsoft. Tech giants built the Internet of Things platforms allowing, through the bridge, connecting devices that automate home (Google Smart Home Platform, Apple HomeKit, Microsoft Home Hub). External companies manufacturing light bulbs, thermostats, cameras, door locks, hoovers, smart sockets can build products compatible with those platforms. Selection of products is increasingly wide what causes prices to be more affordable.
Is smart home useful at all? Those who benefited from one solution, don’t want to stop at it. So it appears that voice assistant has opened the doors to the smart home in every home.


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From: The Netherlands
Fine makers of strategy games to continue evolution of portable wargaming.
The Slitherine Group announces that it is partnering with Shenandoah Studio to ensure that their innovative titles have the benefit of multi-channel distribution, backed by the development resources needed to achieve their full potential. Shenandoah Studio, the development house behind iPad successes such as Battle of the Bulge and Drive on Moscow, is the winner of many awards. The US-based developer was a breath of fresh air, bringing innovation to the strategy genre on iOS thanks to a clever, streamlined game design and a state-of-the-art game engine.
“As Shenandoah has grown, the needs of supporting, upgrading, and distributing our current titles imposed ever-increasing burdens on our ability to move ahead with the new material our customers want“, said Eric Lee Smith, founder and CEO of Shenandoah. “Slitherine has the scale and reach to ensure that Shenandoah moves ahead productively and delivers exciting new games for our audience to enjoy”.
The Slitherine Group adds a key player to its already impressive roster of brands, to focus especially on bringing strategy games to a wider audience.
“Our continued efforts to expand the wargames and strategy games audience and to attract new players through innovative game play and new platforms, external licenses and internal franchises are testament to the consistency of our mission statement that we started with fifteen years ago”, said JD McNeil Chairman of the Slitherine Group. “We are looking forward to partnering with Shenandoah’s founders to amplify this vision to conquer new ground and expand the boundaries of strategy gaming even further”.
All Shenandoah’s previously released games will be added to the Slitherine Group’s stores across the web. New projects that were already under development will also be joining the group’s production schedule, with special attention given to Gettysburg: The Tide Turns, a project designed by Eric Lee Smith that was successfully funded on Kickstarter in August last year.
“We are looking forward to working with Eric to bring this game to completion and releasing it as a key part of our future lineup”, said Iain McNeil, Development Director at Slitherine. “Eric’s design vision is a key asset we want to leverage on in order to make sure Gettysburg is the game that all Kickstarter backers were looking for”.


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Social Media Roundup: Rethink PowerPoint Presentations With Sway
Microsoft releases a preview of its new presentation app. Plus: a refreshing spin on your Instagram photos.
Tired of years and years of PowerPoint presentations? Microsoft’s latest app takes a new, mobile-friendly approach to digital presentations, and you can get a first look at it in today’s Social Media Roundup.
Introducing Microsoft’s Sway
"Now anyone can take a crack at creating a Sway" #Neowin http://t.co/HpgOoH2nsP pic.twitter.com/tBNwIZ0Egz— Office Sway (@sway) December 17, 2014
We all deal with PowerPoint, and let’s face it, Microsoft’s presentation-building standby feels a little dusty these days.
Sure, there are plenty of alternatives to the ubiquitous program, and we’ve even speculated about whether meetings would be better without PowerPoint altogether. But the program and the presentations that come out of it remain relatively unchanged, despite the changing tech landscape.
But now, Microsoft has introduced Sway, a new app to revamp what PowerPoint does with a particular focus on mobile devices.
“Docs and PowerPoint were originally designed with an eye toward emulating an analog form of content: A piece of paper for a document. A flip chart for a presentation,” David Alexander, Sway’s senior product manager, told Time. “We wanted to create a new, digital-oriented output that doesn’t try to emulate a paper-based environment.”
Sway is now available to the general public in a preview form, which can be downloaded right here. And for some examples of Sway presentations in action, explore the universe or animal migrations. Check out the debut video for the app below. (ht @sway)
Fresh Filters for Instagram
What kinds of photos to use the new Instagram filters with, a guide http://t.co/vaphs8P8kU— Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) December 17, 2014
Instagram faithful, rejoice! There are five new filters for the wildly popular photo-sharing site, which means brand-new ways to make your personal or branded moments look way more artistic. Take a look at each of them below:
Instagram has rolled out the new filters and a new filters interface for both iOS and Android users. And for those who may be rolling their eyes at the social network, consider its sheer number of users (300 million and counting) and new metrics that show just how huge its engagement potential is for organizations. (ht @hunterschwarz)


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Once more, workers at the digital store provided information regarding the plans of a major publishing house. This time around, the focus is on compatibility for the PlayStation Store and the highly anticipated Japanese role-playing video game Valkyrie Elysium.
The workers at the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Network hastened to update the tab about the impending spin-off game Valkyrie Elysium, which is based on Valkyrie Profile, which is considered to be one of the best Japanese role-playing video games from the PS1 and PS2 generations.
The information that the Valkyrie Elysium will be available for purchase on September 29, 2022, was obtained by us as a result of this leak. Not only did such a date briefly appear on the official Sony website, but it also showed up in a new teaser before being removed as quickly as it was added.
More information about the Valkyrie Elysium is waiting for you here in the first game news article, so be sure to check it out! It was announced at the State of Play event in March 2022 as a “console exclusive” for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This project brings Valkyrie Profile 2’s tactical combat system, which was formerly turn-based, into the realm of real-time action.


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It’s official — Meruelo Media is now programming and selling advertising on KPWR (Power 106)/Los Angeles, effective July 1, 2017 under the terms of an LMA with the current owner, Emmis Communications Corporation. The move comes less than two months after Meruelo dropped a cool $82.75 million to acquire the station from Emmis.
The company also announced that KPWR would continue to super-serve its listeners, fans and clients to complement Meruelo’s existing formats on Classic Hip Hop 93.5 KDAY/Los Angeles and the company’s newly launched Riverside station, Wild 93.5. “Combining our three radio brands in one location is our first phase in optimizing our business,” said Otto Padron, President and COO of Meruelo Media. “Bringing these powerful Los Angeles brands together is a perfect harmony: Power 106, #1 for Hip Hop for today’s hottest beats and KDAY as the Classic Hip Hop leader for ‘Back in the Day Hits.'”
In order to synergize content maximization, operations and sales, Meruelo will move its entire radio operation into Power 106’s state-of-the-art facilities in Burbank. Current Power 106 Market Manager Val Maki will remain with the company in her newly enhanced role as Meruelo Radio Market Manager, overseeing Power 106 while taking on the new responsibility of integrating Meruelo’s existing portfolio of radio stations and maximizing the new, three-station cluster. Padron remarked, “Val is a proven and talented broadcast veteran and the force behind the success of Power 106. We know that under Val’s vision and leadership these very iconic Los Angeles radio stations will continue to grow benefiting our listeners, advertisers, and partners.”


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Late last week, mobile-device giant Nokia filed a new lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the Cupertino company's iPad 3G device infringes upon five of its patents. Nokia had previously sued Apple for patent violations in its iPhone smartphone, and Apple countersued Nokia shortly thereafter.
"Nokia has been the leading developer of many key technologies in mobile devices" said Nokia General Manager Paul Melin. "We have taken this step to protect the results of our pioneering development and to put an end to continued unlawful use of Nokia's innovation."
Nokia originally sued Apple in October 2009, alleging that the iPhone infringes upon 11 of its patents. Apple countersued in December 2009, claiming that Nokia, in turn, is infringing on 13 Apple patents. "Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours," Apple General Counsel Bruce Sewell said at the time. The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) agreed to investigate Apple's patent claims against Nokia in February 2010.
Interestingly, the new Nokia suit applies only to the recently released 3G versions of the iPad, which utilize a broadband wireless connection similar to those used in smartphones. The Wi-Fi-based versions of the iPad, which don't include the 3G antenna, aren't included in the suit.
Nokia says that it has invested over $50 billion in research and development costs over the past 20 years, building one of the wireless industry's strongest intellectual property portfolios along the way. The company owns more than 11,000 patent families.
Nokia has also dominated the smartphone market for years. But growth has slowed dramatically recently, and Nokia is facing a lot of pressure from BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM), as well as Apple. In the most recent quarter, Nokia controlled 39.3 percent of the smartphone market, according to IDC, compared with 19.4 percent for RIM and 16.1 percent for Apple. But Nokia experienced no year-over-year growth at all, while RIM grew slightly and Apple grew about 50 percent.
Apple also recently sued smartphone handset maker HTC, which makes devices based on Google Android and Microsoft's Windows Mobile. That suit is seen as a proxy attack on Google, whose Android system is also growing very quickly—even faster than the iPhone, in fact.


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WAVERLY, Tenn., May 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the oldest e cigarette companies in the US is now offering a free and very large bottle of e liquid with the purchase of their most popular e cigarette starter kits, making it one of the best deals on the web for Memorial Day.
The company is already known industry wide as a low price leader and has now raised the bar to new heights with a spectacular offer for the long weekend celebration that honors our veterans and fallen.
"We figured that Memorial Day stands for Freedom, so we decided to add as much 'free' as we could to help smokers, their family and friends the chance to discover the absolute best alternative on the market in hopes of taking another bite out of the sting of big tobacco and it's destructive power on millions of lives across the country," states Tiffany Ellis of E Cigarettes National.
They have announced the sale and offer on their blog and hope to show smokers across the us that they do have alternatives to tobacco and the second rate cessation products for the ones looking to change their lifestyle for the better.
Even top health officials are praising the e cigarette and the many benefits it brings to long term smokers looking for other options.
This sale makes making the switch much more affordable and would be a great gift to smokers from caring friends and loved ones.
E Cigarettes National is one of the top e cigarette retailers in the United States. Visit their website at http://www.ecigarettesnational.com/.
This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.
SOURCE E Cigarettes National


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The verdict is out -- Sears' (NAS: SHLD) old stores are so boring and uninviting that customers are heading elsewhere. Sales at Sears have been sliding for the last four years, with third-quarter losses nearly doubling, as demand for consumer electronics and clothes fell at its Kmart stores and also as a result of the less-than-inspiring performance in its Canadian operations. Let's dig in.
Movement in Sears' top line was negligible this quarter, with revenues declining by 1% to $9.5 billion. The decline in revenues was the 19th straight quarter the top line has shrunk. Same-store sales fell by 0.7% and Kmart stores declined 0.9%.
Sears Canada, which has been contributing consistent numbers, saw same-store sales decline 7.8%. The loss, according to the company, would have been greater had it not been for exchange rate gains. Things are going to get even tougher in Canada as competition heats up. Target (NYS: TGT) is looking to roll out nearly 200 stores there in the next decade and expects to generate nearly $6 billion in revenue.
Since 2005, when hedge-fund billionaire Edward S. Lampert combined Sears and Kmart, Sears has not remodeled its old and aging stores. No wonder customers have shied away and chosen to visit more modern and comfortable stores. As a result, rivals such as Macy's (NYS: M) and Target have in a way stolen Sears' customers away. Retailers are finding it tough to attract customers with consumer confidence in the U.S. at a two-year low. An uncertain economic environment has also resulted in middle-income shoppers tightening their purse strings.
Coming back to Sears, rising apparel sales, thanks to the Kardashian Kollection, were offset by a drop in the sales of appliances and consumer electronics. New York-based retail consultant Walter Loeb has said that Sears found it difficult to attract store traffic since its apparel isn't attractive enough. Loeb called the stores "antiseptic." Another problem was that the one line (i.e., the Kardashian) that did do well wasn't efficiently promoted. Thus, an all-round uninspiring performance saw the retailer widen its quarterly losses.
The dreaded ax
We all know what a company does when it looks to cut costs. The answer is simple. Job cuts. Last quarter, Sears, in an effort to reduce costs, announced it would lay off 250 workers. Earlier in the year, the company axed 700 Kmart employees. Sears once again is planning cuts. In an attempt to see profits again, Sears is cutting jobs and also plans to shut down a number of its underperforming stores rather than revamp them.
What lies ahead
Sears has been focusing more on online commerce rather than investing in stores. In fact, online was one shining light in an otherwise downbeat quarter, with sales from it rising 19%.
Sears needs to understand that it has to reinvent itself and make its stores more attractive to lure customers. For the time being, the retailer is going to find it tough to compete with their low traffic count. And it isn't getting better -- in the fourth quarter, the company is going to face fiercer price competition as peers Home Depot (NYS: HD) and Lowe's (NYS: LOW) up the ante by promoting their appliance products ever more aggressively.
To follow the price wars and see what Sears has up its sleeve as it looks to attract customers, click here to add the stock to your free watchlist.
At the time thisarticle was published Fool contributor Shubh Datta doesn't own any shares in the companies mentioned above. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Lowe's Companies and The Home Depot. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended writing covered calls in Lowe's Companies. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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The Future of Money, a new study from OMD and News UK shows that people’s growing uncertainty over Brexit, particularly the spectre of No Deal, is starting to change spending patterns.
The difficulty for marketers is that no clear new patterns are yet emerging. It’s not just a case of a general tightening of budgets or focusing on necessities rather than treats or luxuries.
The study reports that concern over Brexit has escalated from 31%, in June 2018, to 50% in December. Concern over the economy has seen a similar jump, from 29% last June to 41% at the end of 2018.
People are getting on with everyday life in the short-term but increasingly worried about the long-term future for their families. Coupled with high levels of debt, poor financial knowledge and declining saving rates, the forecast is for increasing volatility in markets. Some brands and categories will benefit from the boost in short-termism, fuelled by low interest rates, increases in credit card debt and the desire to have treats to maintain a sense of well-being. Others will suffer from consumer caution as uncertainty about the long-term outlook for family finances prevails.
The housing and car markets have already witnessed the impact of caution about longer-term investments, with house prices forecast to stagnate and the new car market down 5.5% in 2018. However, the short-term desire to enjoy life in the moment has seen increased spending on travel and home entertainment. The research shows that, since Christmas 2018, nearly a quarter of people have put off booking a holiday and 9% have delayed moving home – however, the overall proportion of people planning to go away or move house is stable.
People have no problem in justifying spending on little treats and bigger luxuries to make them feel good, to contribute to the happiness of family or to facilitate socialising with friends. This is despite a drastic decline in savings rates compared to income since 2014. Most people say that they save, but it’s mostly “piggy bank” saving for a “rainy day” rather than long-term investment in the future. Just 28% of people surveyed said they were saving for retirement.
At the same time, austerity and low interest rates have contributed to a new peak in borrowing, with 82% having credit card debt. Though the nature of the debt changes – people start paying off credit card debt more when they have a mortgage, for example – almost everyone is in some form of debt throughout their lives. The problem is that many people are not well equipped to manage debt. A third of people in the study said they had “little or no financial knowledge”, rising to 50% among 25-34s.
This combination of Brexit anxiety, an unknown post-Brexit reality, high debt, low savings and high levels of financial illiteracy is a perfect recipe for instability and unpredictability.
The report concludes that brands will need to foster a greater sense of togetherness and trust, offering reassurance and rewards to counter anxiety and uncertainty. It suggests that an understanding of the context in which consumers move, and their changing concerns at different lifestages will help brands to be as “responsive and agile as possible during turbulent times”.


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The International Solid-State Circuits Conference began this morning in San Francisco, and Intel has taken the opportunity to share some of what its Intel Labs skunkworks division has been working on. One of the Intel Labs projects is a low-power graphics execution core built on a 22-nm fab process. Take a look:
This is presumably a device aimed at mobile and handheld systems, and the quoted power-efficiency gains are rather substantial. Intel claims a 2.7x gigaflops-per-watt increase at near-threshold voltage operation and a 1.4x increase in peak gigaflops per watt, which is presumably a best-case scenario at low voltage.
Compared to competing mobile solutions, those gains may be further compounded by Intel's manufacturing advantage. Intel builds chips on a 22-nm process, while the rest of the industry is stuck at 28 nm—and unlike the competition, Intel has already moved to FinFETs, or tri-gate transistors, which can further improve energy efficiency.
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Update: Electric vehicle charging station OK'd by planning board
Staff reports 10:02 a.m.
ROCHESTER - A Nashua wireless corporation has been granted approval to install an electric vehicle charging station at the North Main Street Hannaford's.
Kenneth J Kozyra, the administrator for KJK Wireless, said he was unable to comment on any aspect of the installation, which would include four Tesla charging units that could accommodate up to eight vehicles.
An email requesting further information from Tesla has not been returned.


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Microsoft is finally letting users send text message to others using the Windows 10 PCs. This feature has been there on Apple and ChromeOS platforms and now the Redmond-based tech firm is joining the bandwagon. The feature is not widely present for now but will likely be reaching soon. The update comes to the Your Phone app, using which you can now sync their messages with Windows 10 PCs.
As mentioned by Thurrot.com website, besides reading and sending text messages, you can even send emojis and messages. The app is said to support group conversations and will let users type using the stylus as well.
Unfortunately, the feature available in the Your Phone app is limited to Android users only. There is no word if this will be coming to Apple users as well.
Last month, Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 17728 (RS5) to Windows Insiders, which came along with the first iteration of ‘Your Phone’ app that enabled easy syncing of phone’s content with PCs.
The app was rolled out to Windows Insider users with Android for Windows 10.
With ‘Your Phone’ app, recent photos on Android smartphone gets automatically synced with user's PC. Currently, devices running Android 7.0 and above operating system are compatible with the ‘Your Phone’ app. It will be extended to iOS users in the coming future.
On Windows 10 PCs, users will be notice a desktop pin that will take them directly to the ‘Your Phone' app for swift and easy access to images and other content in their smartphone.
“For iPhone users, Your Phone app helps you to link your phone to your PC. Surf the web on your phone, then send the webpage instantly to your computer to pick up where you left off to continue what you’re doing–read, watch, or browse with all the benefits of a bigger screen. With a linked phone, continuing on your PC is one share away,” the company said in a statement.


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Ford and Volkswagen, two of the world’s largest automakers, are shutting down their joint effort to develop self-driving cars, the startup Argo AI.
Ford said Wednesday that it had concluded that the large-scale profitable commercialization of self-driving cars was further out then expected.
The company is still “optimistic” about a future for fully self-driving cars, “but profitable, fully autonomous vehicles at scale are a long way off and we won’t necessarily have to create that technology ourselves,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement as part of the company’s larger report on its third quarter earnings.
The automaker will instead focus on simpler driver-assist technologies that have proven easier to develop and bring to market. Some Argo AI employees will join Ford for that work, Farley said. Ford offers a driver-assist technology called BlueCruise that is positioned as a rival to Tesla’s Autopilot software.
VW described similar plans in a statement.
“Our goal is to offer our customers the most powerful functions at the earliest possible time and to set up our development as cost-effectively as possible,” VW CEO Oliver Blume said in a statement.
Argo AI confirmed in a statement that it would be shutting down.
“Many of the employees will receive an opportunity to continue work on automated driving technology with either Ford or Volkswagen, while employment for others will unfortunately come to an end,” Argo AI said in a statement.
Argo was founded in 2016 and had fewer than 200 employees in 2017. It grew to more than 1,000 employees in 2020 following investments from Ford and VW, and to about 2,000 in 2022.
Ford and VW had first said in July 2019 that they would invest together in Argo AI. The company was developing robotaxis, self-driving vehicles that can operate in a ridehail service that does not require human drivers. Argo AI was also developing self-driving delivery vehicles and had worked on related programs in US cities.
The team effort allowed Ford and VW to share the hefty costs of developing self-driving cars.
Then-Ford CEO Jim Hackett said at the time that Argo AI would allow the company to “showcase the power of our global alliance in this era of smart vehicles for a smart world.”
Argo AI CEO Bryan Salesky had spent three years working on Google’s self-driving car program, now known as Waymo, which kicked off the industry in 2009. His co-founder Peter Rander had previously worked on Uber’s now defunct self-driving car program.
Companies have found that developing self-driving cars is incredibly expensive. Ford said Wednesday that it would take a $2.7 billion loss on its investment in Argo AI, leading to a $827 million net loss for the third quarter.


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British fashion house Ralph & Russo is a red carpet-ready brand to watch. Just ask Kristen Stewart’s stylist, Tara Swennen, who last month took to her personal Instagram to praise the luxury label’s fall 2017 runway show. “If you don’t know them… I suggest you start paying attention now… the takeover is about to begin,” captioned Swennen.
That “takeover” will start with the debut of Ralph & Russo’s ready-to-wear collection, which its founder, creative director Tamara Ralph and CEO Michael Russo, will present during London Fashion Week in September.
The house was first established in 2007, focusing on haute couture. It became the first British brand in nearly 100 years to be welcomed into the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, a governing body of the French fashion industry that dictates who’s allowed to present during Paris Couture Week. Having done couture from the beginning, Ralph & Russo is now expanding into RTW following requests from customers asking for more affordable options.
Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Rihanna, Lily Collins and Zendaya, who attended Ralph & Russo’s fall 2017 couture show with stylist Law Roach, are just a few of the bold-facers to have stepped out in one of the house’s elaborate and elegant designs. (Who could forget that show-stopping bridal gown worn by Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor for the label’s recent couture show?)
Ralph & Russo opened its first showroom and atelier in 2013, before setting up shop inside Harrods in 2015. The label, which currently has 300 employees at its atelier in London, has no intentions of slowing down, either; it plans to open four stores in the U.S. this year.
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As the holiday rush intensifies, Greenwich Police are again cautioning residents to take care of the gifts they are ordering for home delivery.
Lt. Kraig Gray said the department is seeing an “uptick” in reports of thefts of gifts delivered at unoccupied homes. Residents have verified with online tracking that the packages were delivered, however, thieves swipe the boxes — as well as mail from mailboxes — before residents can come home and retrieve them.
“People need to take precautions because there is a serious uptick in thefts, given the season of packages being delivered,” Gray said.
“The best way to combat thefts is to always arrange for delivery to the back door, not the front door, or to a neighbor or have someone sign for it,” Gray added. If possible, have packages delivered to your office.
On Dec. 12, another Greenwich resident reported all of their mail was stolen from their mailbox and a holiday package was swiped.
Gray said the thefts are throughout town, not confined to any specific neighborhood.
They also are prevalent in business and apartment/condominium buildings where packages may be left in a easily accessible, common area, such as a lobby. “With mail thefts, these people just walk in anywhere and take items,” Gray added.


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Lakewood Shopping Center in Margate sold for $31.5M
- Staff South Florida Business Journal
North American Development Group has purchased the Lakewood Shopping Center in Margate for $31.5 million, CBRE announced.
Marshalls, Ross and Staples anchor the 236,679-square-foot center on West Atlantic Boulevard and State Road 7, according to a news release. The sale also included outparcels occupied by Applebee’s, Bank of America, Burger King and Walgreens.
“NADG was interested in high quality in-fill real estate and a property with the potential for value creation,” said Casey Rosen, a CBRE Miami senior VP, in a statement. “This transaction was a win for both parties. The sale will enable Inland American to diversify their holdings in the region and re-cycle proceeds into investments with higher growth profiles than retail such as hotels.”
CBRE’s National Retail Investment Group represented the seller Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc.
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It’s now official, Kleenmaid appliances will be back on the shelves this Saturday 20 February 2010. The new Kleenmaid brand has no direct association with the disgraced company in liquidation, but is offering disgruntled customers a chance to get their items at a discounted price.
Late last year Compass Capital Partners acquired the Kleenmaid brand and it will now open a Kleenmaid Direct Clearance Centre at Banksmeadow in Sydney’s south this Saturday 20 February 2010.
The new centre will give consumers access to $2 million worth of Kleenmaid appliances.
“We are delighted that people can purchase the high quality products that are manufactured under the Kleenmaid brand. Our immediate aim is to try and help consumers that have been affected by the collapse of the Kleenmaid group,” said Compass CEO, Danny Hamilton.
“Although we have no direct association with the Kleenmaid company that is in liquidation, we are prepared to assist people who lost their deposits or warranties, or are waiting for orders that were placed before Kleenmaid went into liquidation.”
Hamilton encourages consumers to take advantage of the company’s discount offer on Kleenmaid branded products.
“We would encourage anyone who has been affected by the collapse to contact us directly to discuss how they can purchase Kleenmaid products,” he said. “In particular, before February 20, I encourage people who have outstanding orders with the old group to register on our website and provide details of their prior transaction so we can streamline our efforts to try and provide replacement products at a discounted price.”
“Our discount offer is simply a good will gesture. The deposit that has been made with the former Kleenmaid will be offset by Compass in the form of a discount. There is more information about the discount on the website.”
In addition to this, Compass will also offer a two year warranty on selected products purchased from the former Kleenmaid Group. Any new products purchased will also be covered by a two year warranty.
Compass is currently negotiating with major national retailers to sell Kleenmaid appliances. The company said that it plans to have product in store by mid-year.
Hamilton emphasised that the company is keen to restore the well known brand name to its former glory.
“Our plan is based around restoring the brand. More than 1.2 million products have been sold in Australia over the past 25 years and we believe that we can successfully re-launch a quality brand which has a very loyal following across the country.”
For more information on the rejuvenation of the Kleenmaid brand, visit www.kleenmaid-appliances.com.au.


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CES 2016 GoPro to release consumer ready 360 degree camera
The action camera company GoPro looks set to move even more into the 360 degree camera space with a new product aimed at consumers
GoPro has put out a good range of products over the last two years and they're set to expand that lineup even more in 2016 and beyond.
Company CEO Nick Woodman has confirmed at CES 2016 that GoPro is working on a new 360 degree camera. That's not new information in itself, they have a few such rigs available right now, the difference is that this will be aimed at consumers.
That means a much lower price point and, hopefully, real ease of use and this is a pretty significant milestone for the burgeoning industry of interactive video. With the rise of virtual reality, there is going to be a real market for this kind of content and GoPros past experience means they have a huge advantage in this field. Not to mention the fact that they're a trusted brand and the leading player in the action camera field.
There was no further information on availability of this product but with the two major VR headsets - the Rift and HTC Vive - set for release before the middle of 2016 expect more news soon.


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Next gives High Street cheer as sales defy gloom
Next delivered some rare good news from the high street today after lifting profits and sales forecasts following better than expected trading.
Like-for-like store sales in the 14 weeks to May 2 were 2.3 per cent lower - much better than the 6 per cent to 9 per cent decline predicted by Next for the first half of the year.
Next said the figures should be treated with caution due to factors such as the effect of warmer weather and a later Easter break.
But it raised its sales guidance for the first half for like-for-like declines of between 4 per cent and 7 per cent at its stores, and added £15million to its profit forecast.
Analysts said Next was well placed to benefit from the woes of rivals such as Woolworths, which closed in January, and Adams - which also fell into administration, but was rescued in February
The more optimistic view could be offset by the effect of a possible swine flu pandemic, but Next added that 'at this stage it is hard to predict the impact on consumer behaviour'.
Total sales at its Directory catalogue and online business were also 1.6 per cent higher over the period.
Next had predicted sales declines of up to 2 per cent in the first half, but now forecasts a 'broadly flat' performance from the key profits driver.
In March, Next posted profits of £428.8million, but these were expected to drop to around £360million for the current year. City analysts are likely to mark up their forecasts following the update.
But the company, which has 510 stores, said it also faced tougher comparisons over the coming months with last year's much stronger second quarter.
Next's management have kept a tight rein on costs to steer the business through recession, and protected margins last year by refusing to slash prices in the run-up to Christmas to protect the brand.
'Generally, we are happy with the positioning and composition of our ranges. Stock levels are in line with our expectations and below last year's levels,' the firm added.
Despite the tough climate, analysts said Next was well placed to benefit from the woes of rivals such as Woolworths, which closed in January, and Adams - which also fell into administration, but was rescued in February.
Investec's Katharine Wynne said: 'Next - as childrenswear market leader - has enjoyed some share gains from the space contraction on the high street following Woolies' closure and Adams' downsizing.'
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Concert Wristbands Link to MasterCard PayPass for Food and Beverage
For the second year in a row, payment platform companies used European music festivals as proving grounds for contactless credit card technology. Last year, Isle of Wight Festival organizers encouraged VIP ticketholders to pay for food and drink with wristbands linked to prepaid debit card accounts. This year, the festival issued wristbands to over 10,000 concertgoers.
Instead of requiring patrons to load their wristbands in advance, the Festival partnered with MasterCard to link each device with a concertgoer's own debit or credit card. An "auto top-up" feature reloaded each wristband's stored cash value every time a patron's balance dropped below a specified amount. Attendees could also convert cash into wristband credit with cashiers present near main vending areas. Festival organizers then refunded unused balances to patrons' linked accounts at the end of the event.
Wristband manufacturer ID&C deployed MasterCard's PayPass specification when building the devices, enabling festival concession operators to use standard point-of-sale terminals to process food, beverage, and souvenir attractions at the event. 100% of concertgoers surveyed by MasterCard researchers said that they would prefer to use the wristbands at future concert, sports, and entertainment events.
Streamlining payments, restricting ticket touts
Music industry veterans have examined contactless credit card technology as potential a deterrent to ticket scalping. Live Nation has already tested some of ID&C's products at its own festivals and company-owned venues in both the United Kingdom and the United States. The concert promotion and ticketing company has floated the idea of selling wristbands to VIP club members for reuse at multiple events.
Concert promoters must still convince the general public that wristbands can offer convenience and security while still protecting consumer privacy. At this year's Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee, organizers required concertgoers to have their identities verified by security agents who affixed official wristbands at check-in gates. ID&C and other wristband vendors responded to safety and comfort concerns by replacing previous years' plastic wristbands with devices made from lightweight fabric.
The original article can be found at CardRatings.com:Concert wristbands link to MasterCard PayPass for food and beverage


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Russia: price increase for wheat flour
In the current week in Russia there is observed some increasing of wheat flour offer prices, due to significant costs rise for milling wheat purchasing prices for further processing. The average price growth totaled 200-600 RUR/t compared with the previous week.
According to APK-Inform data, in the Central Black Earth Region the offer prices for top- and 1-grade milling flour varied within the range of 12300-12800 RUR/t and 11200-11800 RUR/t EXW, respectively.
In Volgo-Vyatsk region the top- and 1-grade milling flour offer prices totaled 12700-13500 RUR/t and 12200-13700 RUR/t EXW, respectively.
In the North-West region the offer prices for top- and 1-grade flour were declared within the range of 13800-15000 RUR/t and 12800-13700 RUR/t EXW, respectively.
In the West-Siberia region flour millers fixed the prices for top- and 1-grade final products at the level of 13000-14500 RUR/t and 11000-12500 RUR/t EXW, respectively.
It is worth noting that representatives of flour milling companies informed that the consumers started actively purchasing flour volumes, worrying on the further price increase.
You should be authorized to post comment
In 2014 Crimean agrarians took on lease 270 units of Russian agricultural machinery
As of November 1, Russia harvested 105.7 mln tonnes of grains – Rosstat
Russia: as of November 1, grain carry-over stocks totaled 42.9 mln tonnes – Rosstat
In January-October Russia decreased wheat flour production
November 19, 16:50
On November 19, Russia purchased 7.15 thsd tonnes of grains to the intervention fund
November 19, 13:20
Russia harvested 110 mln tonnes of grains
November 19, 11:10
Russia decreased grain shipment volumes from the seaports
November 19, 10:20


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Newsweek’s first-ever Blockchain Impression Awards acknowledge entrepreneurs and builders who’re making use of blockchain tech for social good.
“Our mission is to highlight the promise of their disruptive concepts, drawing on Newsweek’s practically century-long heritage of protecting the world and the forces and actions that form it.”
Blockchain is the underlying know-how of Bitcoin and its 1000+ crypto offspring.
Recipients of the 2019 Newsweek Blockchain Impression Awards
SimplyVital Well being – main the cost to revamp the healthcare trade
BitLumens – constructing a decentralized, blockchain-based micro power-grid for the 1.2 billion individuals with out entry to electrical energy and banking
Chronicled – recording all the transactions that happen as prescription drugs journey from manufacturing facility to container to shelf
Prescrypto – offering a blockchain-based infrastructure that may create, ship and monitor digital prescriptions for docs, clinics and pharmacies
Grassroots Economics – difficult the concept banks ought to have a monopoly on forex.
One among 5 recipients, Kenya-based nonprofit Grassroots Economics helps individuals in East Africa create blockchain-based group currencies as an alternative choice to unstable nationwide forex.
Writes blockchain entrepreneur and choice panelist Amber Baldet in Newsweek,
“Transactions in Grassroots currencies bear no resemblance to the speculative nature of cryptocurrency buying and selling. Round 40 % of the exercise comes from individuals shopping for meals – giving their households three meals a day, typically for the primary time. As a result of there are not any charges and transaction prices, purchases might be as small as a single tomato. Faculties settle for group currencies as charges, in flip permitting them to enroll extra kids and pay lecturers. Well being clinics settle for these currencies for all sorts of care.”
Congratulations to @grassEcon for successful the @Newsweek Blockchain Social Impression Awards! They create web-of-trust primarily based native cash that decouples communities all through Africa from unstable nationwide forex; now transferring to @Bancor. https://t.co/vJdsNAAE1G
— Amber ☘ (@AmberBaldet) February 21, 2019
Kenya’s community-backed currencies present stability and a hedge in opposition to money amidst political uncertainty and sharp worth fluctuations.
In Zimbabwe, hyperinflation has decimated the nationwide forex. In line with native information outlet Sunday Occasions,
“Zimbabwe’s central financial institution started buying and selling a sharply discounted substitute forex on Friday, making an attempt to ease a money crunch that has hobbled the economic system and plunged tens of millions deeper into poverty.”
Whereas Kenya’s forex has not suffered as a lot as Zimbabwe’s, issuance of recent currencies by the federal government have affected the worth of its nationwide forex.
Along with manipulated fiat, there are experiences of pretend international forex rackets value billions of Kenyan shillings.
The area not often shies away from innovating within the face of necessity. M-Pesa, operated by African telecommunications firm Safaricom, created a system that enables telephone minutes for use as a proxy for money. The area’s constructive reception to M-Pesa helps a wider push towards a digital economic system and cell funds constructed on blockchain know-how that supply better transparency, extra stability and diminished manipulation.
Grassroots Economics is getting ready to develop into different African areas akin to Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The use instances for blockchain-based group currencies and cryptocurrencies in these areas are pushed primarily by the necessity for monetary inclusion and the discount of forex dangers.
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Ah, June. Brightest month of the year. First month of summer vacation. To you and me, it may seem that the year's not even half over, but not so for La-Z-Boy
La-Z-Boy reported its Q4 and full fiscal year numbers on Monday, and the news was not good. The company sold 10% less stuff last year than the year before, and lost $0.26 per share in the process ($0.15 from continuing operations).
In the fourth quarter alone, sales were down 10%, and the company booked a $0.09 loss. The company's upholstery business saw sales decline 9%, its retail unit dropped 10%, and the casegoods (translation: "wood furniture") unit experienced a total meltdown with sales plummeting 24% year over year in the fourth quarter.
And yet, the stock is up more than 15% since the earnings announcement. What gives?
La-Z-Boy gets busy
Basically, investors are buying into the turnaround story, because turnaround, and restructuring, is the big theme at La-Z-Boy today. Over the course of last year, the company announced a raft of plant closures and consolidations stretching from Tremonton, Utah, to Taylorsville, N.C.; confirmed that some operations are moving to lower-cost Mexico; and shuttered numerous outlet stores, exiting the Pittsburgh outlet market entirely. Q4 was particularly active as La-Z-Boy got busy getting rid of slow-moving inventory. While it had to discount the wares to get them out the door, hurting profitability, management boasted that inventories were down 15% against the 10% drop in sales that quarter.
Liquidating inventory has had the beneficial effect of releasing previously tied-up cash as well. GAAP accounting rules may have forced the company to report a $13.5 million loss for the year, but from a free cash flow perspective, La-Z-Boy generated about $21 million worth of greenbacks in fiscal 2008.
Is now the time to buy?
Not so fast, Tex. La-Z-Boy may not be as unprofitable as it seems, but that doesn't necessarily make it a good deal. At today's price, the stock still sells for 18 times its free cash flow. With analysts predicting the company will grow at only about 4% per year going forward, that seems a bit rich to me. Unless and until you see the housing downturn show signs of ending, I wouldn't recommend taking a seat on this one.


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The lights are on
We’ve got a slew of news from Crystal Dynamics today relating to their
soon-to-be-released Summer of Arcade title Lara Croft and the Guardian
of the Light.
If you’ve played Popcap’s critical and commercial masterpiece Plants vs
Zombies, you’re probably itching for the HD Remix to hit XBLA.
The Japanese publisher/developer says that it wants to boost its games with more DLC.
Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford says that the people who found the content hidden in the 1.31 patch were on to something.
Three Ministry tracks – from arguably their most successful period – are hitting the Rock Band store.
A great downloadable game is coming your way this week, whether you're on PS3 or 360.
This indie puzzle platformer from developer Broken Rules has already
made waves on PC and Mac and now it's coming soon to Wii with new levels
and motions controls.
It's only been just over a month since Sony launched their new PSN
subscription service, PlayStation Plus, and already they're playing
with how it works.The service will now be receiving updates every other
week instead of weekly.
We've got the details on claiming your reward if you've been buying this year's Summer of Arcade games.
Beginning Monday, you'll be able to get DLC from the hit BioWare RPG at a significantly discounted price.


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In line with the report, it is the most important price of inflation in a 12-month interval since 2008.
COLORADO, USA — A report that was launched Thursday morning from the U.S. Bureau and Labor Statistics confirmed that during the last 12 months (Could 2020 – Could 2021), the ‘all objects index’ beneath the Consumer Price Index (CPI) elevated 5%, which the bureau says is the most important 12-month enhance for the reason that interval ending August 2008.
Again then, it was a 5.4% enhance over 12 months.
The rise leaves a rise on client costs in a number of industries, together with the auto business, touring and tourism and gasoline costs.
“This isn’t fully unsurprising, provided that what fueled the rise was used automotive costs, which we knew have been growing during the last six months,” stated Professor Jack Strauss, the Miller Chair of Applied Economics at the University of Denver. “We all know when demand soars; costs soar,” he stated.
The place costs are up
According to the report, the index for used vehicles and vehicles has continued to rise, growing by 7.3% in Could.
However in complete, from Could of 2020 to Could of 2021, the CPI for used vehicles and vehicles elevated 29.7%.
Airline charges additionally noticed an identical 12-month enhance, at 24.1%.
The ‘meals away from residence’ index elevated by .4% in Could.
However in complete for the stayed considerably smaller than different industries for a 12-month interval at 4%.
The gasoline index (every kind) confirmed a 56.2% enhance from Could of final 12 months to Could of this 12 months.
Total, when excluding meals and vitality, the inflation price is at 3.8%.
The numbers trickle all the way down to customers
Professor Strauss with DU stated that the quickly reopening financial system is inflicting a hike in demand, which is one cause for the rise in inflation.
“So 12 months on 12 months, what’s been occurring, notably during the last six months because the financial system has expanded, is customers now have cash of their pockets from the stimulus and likewise from financial savings,” he stated. “They didn’t exit to the eating places and bars during the last 12 months, or so now summer time comes, masks off, and the youngsters out of faculty and … we’re able to spend go on trip. And so the holiday stuff is approach up. Pump costs, airline costs, inns up.”
One other inflation issue is wage will increase.
“That is good and dangerous as a result of greater wages imply the employees lastly getting paid extra for his or her output. On the identical time, that might be an vital enter or driver to greater costs,” he stated.
Nevertheless, the excellent news is that the rise in demand means the financial system is opening up as a complete, Strauss stated.
He additionally stated that medical costs are reasonable, which in keeping with the report, the medical care index rose .9% during the last 12 months, which is the smallest enhance for the reason that interval ending March 1941.
Strauss stated that the report additionally displays the continuing provide chain points for areas like used vehicles.
“The rental companies have been hit dramatically,” he stated. “They offered off their fleets. And so now there is a scarcity of used vehicles, and notably additionally for the rental fleets. And so now they’re charging greater costs, however they’re additionally rebuilding their fleet. So in just a few extra months, however after the summer time, sadly, used automotive costs will fall,”
On the subject of latest gasoline costs growing, Strauss compares it to 2008, including that the lower within the variety of individuals driving performed a task this time round relating to inflation.
“Final 12 months gasoline costs have been half 2008,” he stated.
Total, Strauss believes that many areas will see stabilization by the top of the summer time, so long as the provision shortages get well.
“Definitely used vehicles and airways will stabilize by the top of summer time as demand for that sort of goes again to extra regular ranges,” he stated.
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Valet Ticket: The Smart Way To Target High-End Audiences
While the global ad spend is forecast to expand by 3.8% in 2019, traditional advertising mediums are on the decline. In particular, TV and print media are forecast to account for a smaller pie of the global advertising market share going forward. Instead, digital media and other nontraditional media like valet ticket will dominate the industry.
Recently the Interactive Advertising Bureau surveyed nearly 400 media buyers and brands. The results were surprising: 74% think the coronavirus pandemic will have a larger impact on their advertising spend than the 2008 financial crisis. According to the President of Interactive Advertising Bureau, David Cohen, “Typically marketers will press pause for a moment, take a breath, assess the situation, replay and reevaluate.”
The use of mobile OOH methods will most likely experience more decline in the coming months, given the fact when the economy re-opens, people will still be cautious and stay more at home. Mobile advertising using trucks, buses and others will be fast replaced by in-home advertising. The impact of COVID-19 has kept normally mobile citizens inside their homes. Hence, the best ways to reach your audience and maintain brand visibility will be to take your products and services to them indoors, as it will be clearly unprofitable to place adverts on advertising vehicles that no one is seeing.
Digital and nontraditional are on an upward trend
For a long time, TV and newspapers dominated the advertising landscape. However, the internet broke the dominance when it availed new advertising platforms like Google, Amazon, and Facebook. EMarketer anticipates digital ad spending in the US to expand to 54.2% of the total US ad spending for 2019. Further, a majority of the traditional media in the US will experience negative ad spending growth by yearend 2019. Ad spending for out of home (OOH) advertising is the only one among traditional media that will grow at a positive rate of 1%, according to eMarketer.
Nontraditional media is part of the new media wave that is undercutting traditional media. For instance, digital media, like social media, is appealing because of the number of users worldwide. According to figures by Statista, there were 2.65 billion social media users worldwide as of January 2019. As such, more advertisers are likely to create their ad campaigns around the platform.
Agencies are becoming more creative and levering more Ambient Media tactics. This concept is applied by niche advertising agencies that aim to overcome the boring traditional ads to get the attention of consumers. Traditional OOH as billboards has been witnessing a decline in the effectiveness so there is a greater demand for unusual communication vehicles. Another factor that contribute to the success of agencies using ambient media is the smart way to retrain the attention of the audience by inserting the element of surprise.
As example, advertisers can place ads using as innovative method leveraging the ad space of daily consumables. Such consumables can be: door hangers, pizza box toppers, prescription bags, drink coasters, Custom Coffee Sleeves, hotel key cards, valet tickets, restaurant placemats and dry cleaner hangers.
Think of this as small moving billboard that your target audience will grab in their hands.


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The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is asking consumers to limit their electricity usage on Monday morning.
In a statement, ERCOT sighted the cold weather as the reason for the request.
"The cold weather and accompanying wind that has spread across the region today (Sunday) is expected to result in high electric demand for tomorrow's peak," said Dan Woodfin, ERCOT director of System Operations. "Based on the level of generation supplies that we expect to be available, we are asking consumers throughout the ERCOT region to reduce their electricity use as much as possible Monday morning."
In order to ensure the system is able to continue functioning properly, ERCOT recommends consumers keep their thermostat as low as comfortable, ideally no higher than 68 degrees. Other suggestions include turning off and unplugging non-essential lights and appliances, avoid running large appliances and closing shades and blinds.
Large electricity consumers are encouraged to consider shutting down non-essential production.
"We have asked all available generation units to be prepared for tomorrow morning's demand, but we believe conservation by consumers also will be necessary to help maintain overall reliability during this extreme winter weather," said Woodfin.


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Some insights on the Union Budget and revised fiscal deficit target for FY20 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam.
Our Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam in her Union Budget speech has stressed on the start-ups and how they have emerged as a growth engine of the current Indian Economy.
This year’s budget had a slew of announcements that supports and promotes start-ups.
In the budget 2020, any start-up with an estimated turnover of up to Rs 100 crore will be able to claim 100 percent deduction on their profit. This will be liable for computing tax liability for three consecutive years out of 10 years of its incorporation.
This is a liberating move by the Union Government.
A digital platform will be encouraged, according to Union Budget. Digitization leads to innovation and also it is the need for an hour. Further, Sitharam states in her 2.5 hours long speech that she has proposed providing initial funding, including seed funds, to promote the emergence and development of the first phase of start-ups.
The budget surely is a game-changer for start-ups and MSMEs. There will be no audit if MSME turnover is less than Rs 5 crore.
In the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, there has been a proposal to increase turnover limit 5 times.
These measures are welcomes with an open arm by entrepreneurs and start-ups alike.
Several Start-ups are pumped up. However, it completely depends on how the budget will be executed in the system. As an industry, everyone has been jaded by the past- there have been several issues when it comes to implementation. There is a hope that this year will be different and there will be no friction whilst implementing and executing the proposed policies.


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The Starbucks on 34th and Chestnut streets is scheduled to close in the first week of December. A group of Penn Law School students, however, is determined not to let that happen.
To try and save the coffee shop that provides many members of the Penn Law community their daily coffee dosage, Penn Law student Mike Machado created a petition.
As of Nov. 14, the petition had 116 signatures, with signees ranging from Penn Law and undergraduate students to residents of Domus Apartments, which is located on the 3400 block of Chestnut Street. Machado said he has frequented the Starbucks on 34th and Chestnut every morning of the week since August 2017.
Starbucks spokesperson Reggie Borges said he is aware of the petition, but that the decision to close the store was the result of a number of different factors. He especially noted the close proximity of three other Starbucks stores near the 34th and Chestnut location, including those located at 34th and Walnut, 32nd and Market, and 34th and Lancaster. Another popular Starbucks for undergraduate students is located on 39th and Walnut.
“We by no means are leaving the University of Pennsylvania neighborhood,” Borges said in an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian. “At this moment, we feel really good about the stores that are in that location now and that general area.”
According to the petition and a Starbucks employee, the Starbucks plans to close Dec. 2, but a flyer passed around the store said the store would close Dec. 3. An official spokesperson for Starbucks did not respond to request for clarification.
The petition argues that nearby Starbucks stores are already overburdened, and it emphasizes the significance of the employee-customer relationships that have been created at the 34th and Chestnut location.
“Morning or night, none of us are particularly eager to wait very long for drinks, nor do we wish to do so while packed tightly together like sardines,” Machado wrote in the petition description. “[The partners] provide an escape from daily law school life and give us a chance to connect with real people who work in our community.”
Machado said he heard about the closing from a Starbucks employee. For many signees, the employees are what make the location unique.
“The 34th and Chestnut Starbucks is my favorite Starbucks in the area because the staff cares about its customers,” Penn Law Facilities and Sustainability Coordinator Jake Mattera said. “Other area Starbucks can feel like your order is an imposition, and they rush you out like a disgruntled assembly line.”
Penn Law Assistant Director Natalie Green, who picks up her afternoon Starbucks at the 34th and Chestnut location with colleagues every day, agreed, adding that it would be unfortunate if the location closes.
“The Starbucks team at the 34th and Chestnut location are efficient, friendly, and welcoming,” Green said.
Borges, however, said he is confident customers who currently visit the 34th and Chestnut store will have just as good an experience, if not better, at the other Starbucks locations on campus. He added that all 34th and Chestnut "partners" will be relocated to other store locations.
Although Machado said the petition will probably not accomplish anything, he said he hopes the signatures show the employees, whom he calls his “morning team,” that they are a valued part of the community.
“One of the Chestnut employees noted that her favorite customers and coworkers are the only real family she’s ever had,” Machado wrote in the petition description. “Our impact evidently is greater than simply paying for a pumpkin spiced latte.”
All comments eligible for publication in Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc. publications.


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Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Spirit. (photo via Norwegian Cruise Line Media)
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has announced changes to its SailSAFE healthy and safety program, revealing that it will no longer require guests to complete pre-cruise COVID-19 testing unless required by local regulations starting next month.
The updated policy is scheduled to go into effect across the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands beginning August 1, 2022.
According to NCLH, the pre-embarkation testing requirement will remain in place for guests currently traveling on voyages departing from destinations with local testing regulations, including the U.S., Canada, Greece and Bermuda.
“The relaxation of the testing policy is in line with the rest of the travel, leisure and hospitality industry worldwide as society continues to adapt and return to a state of normalcy,” NCLH stated. “All voyages across the Company’s three brands continue to operate under its robust science-backed SailSAFE health and safety program which will evolve along with the public health environment.”
NCLH’s announcement comes amid easing COVID-related requirements for cruise passengers.
For example, Holland America Line recently announced that its eliminating pre-cruise COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers boarding select sailings in Europe this summer. Many cruise lines have also celebrated the return of their entire fleet as the industry makes a return to normal.
The recent simplification of boarding protocols combined with falling cruise fares and extra perks make right now a great time to book a cruise.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here.


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With a five-year non-compete clause behind her, Leslie Hindman has returned to the auction world with a new 12,000-square-foot auction room in Chicago’s West Loop.
Known simply as Leslie Hindman, the firm opened their doors for business on June 30.
As a condition of selling her previous company, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, to Sotheby’s in 1997, Hindman was bound by a clause in the sale agreement that prohibited her from operating an auction business for five years.
Since that proviso took effect she has hosted two cable TV shows, launched and folded the an online antique evaluation website Eppraisals and most recently tried her hand at show promotion (Antiques Chicago, which debuted May 9-13), and jointly operated a Chicago art gallery that closed after eight months.
The auction scene in the Windy City has also changed radically since ’97. Sotheby’s have closed the saleroom they bought from Hindman, Butterfields bought and then closed another major auction house, Dunnings, while new rooms have been launched by Merle Klein, Sean Susanin and 20th century design specialist Richard Wright.
Hindman’s plan is to hold a minimum of six high-quality catalogued auctions a year, starting with a September 28-29 sale of paintings, furniture, jewellery and decorative art. Employees from Hindman’s art gallery business have been retained and brought into the new company, but the present staff of five is set to expand. “We’re looking for people right now,” she said.
Antiques Trade Gazette is the weekly bible of the fine art and antiques industry. Read articles like this every week in the Antiques Trade Gazette or ATG app. Click here to subscribe today.
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(This article originally appeared in the Mercury News on June 7, 2005.)
Apple confirmed Monday that it will take the once unimaginable step of putting “Intel inside” the Mac, in an audacious bid to move from its status as a niche player into the computing mainstream.
Starting next year, Apple will replace the IBM chips it now uses with Intel chips in every Macintosh. Its “Mactel” machines will start selling next summer, and all Macs would use Intel microprocessors by the end of 2007.
For consumers, it’s still not clear how much of today’s software will work on tomorrow’s “Mactels, ” although Apple has taken pains to create a converting program. But in the long run, consumers are likely to get faster laptops, a wider range of products and possibly lower prices, although that, too, is not clear.
For Apple, embracing the microprocessor that powers the enemy’s product — Microsoft Windows-based PCs — is an attempt to get on a level playing field and match performance chip for chip. Analysts say Windows users will now be able to switch effortlessly to the Mac operating system — attracting consumers who are considering a switch but want to cling to the familiar.
It’s a risky proposition: Apple could alienate developers who don’t want to deal with rewriting their software, and consumers may decide to hold off on buying new computers for now. But for Apple, the dream is worth the risk of losing market share, as it has with previous changes.
“It’s not so much about the CPUs at all, ” said respected chip analyst Peter N. Glaskowsky of the Envisioneering Group, using the acronym for a computer’s microprocessors. “It’s mostly about wanting to be able to take a real shot at the whole PC market — not just 4 or 5 percent of it.”
The new “Mactels” will be able to use the ubiquitous Windows operating system without special software, to make the Mac emulate a PC. However, if you’re thinking of just running Apple’s software on another computer, forget it, Apple says. Intel has a special technology that builds security into chips to prevent piracy.
Jobs used the opening address to 3,800 attendees of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco to confirm the change, the subject of fervent speculation for weeks. Among some Apple fans, putting Intel chips in Macs is the equivalent of snuggling up with the enemy — Intel and Microsoft made the Wintel duo against which Apple crusaded for years.
But now, it appears, marriage with the enemy is more than feasible — it’s a reality. Every upgrade of the Mac OS X operating system since 2001 was secretly written both for the PowerPC and the Pentium, “just in case, ” Jobs said.
“As a matter of fact, this system I’ve been using right here . . .” said Jobs, nodding with a sly grin, as he revealed, amid gasps, that his iMac was powered by an Intel Pentium chip.
“The main reason for doing this is we have dreams for products we want to make years down the road. We don’t see how it’s possible to make those on the PowerPC road map, ” said Philip W. Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of product marketing.
Intel President and Chief Executive Paul S. Otellini observed the momentous event with trademark humor, noting, “I suspect there are a whole bunch of you who never thought you’d see that logo on this stage.”
Otellini acknowledged the relationship has had its low points — playing a 1996 Apple ad known as “Toasted Bunnies, ” which portrayed clean-room-garbed Intel characters who promoted the Pentium II chips being flamed by the speedier PowerPC.
The switch was prompted in part by Apple’s disappointment that IBM couldn’t create a low-power chip for laptops so batteries last longer. Now Apple can use Intel’s low-power chips for its high-end PowerBook laptop, and the laptop market is clearly growing.
“This is one of the defining moments in Silicon Valley history, ” said Kevin Krewell, editor in chief of the Microprocessor Report. Krewell said Apple will probably use Intel’s upcoming mobile chips, code-named Yonah, available in 2006.
IBM and Freescale, meanwhile, say they are moving beyond the PC. FreescaleCEO Michel Mayer said to employees in a memo that it was hard to justify increasing investment in making chips for Apple at a time when its market share had slipped to less than 3 percent.
Jobs did his best Monday to portray the migration as painless. He said new programs will help do the necessary conversions for both developers and consumers.
But reaction from the development community was mixed. Software developers will have to rewrite the software so that it runs properly on Intel-based computers — hardly a trivial task because most software programs depend on libraries of code that would also have to be recompiled.
Matthew Wong, another developer from San Diego, predicted that Apple’s new tools will indeed help with the migration.
“All of the history says it’s possible, ” Wong said. “So when Steve Jobs says they’ve been doing this for five years, I believe it.”
But Ward Stanke, a San Diego-based software developer, said he lived through two other painful transitions — when Apple introduced the new from-the-ground-up Mac OS X, and when it moved in 1994 from Motorola’s chip to the PowerPC.
“It feels like somebody shot my dog, ” said Stanke. “We’ve been told for 10 years that the PowerPC was a better processor, faster. It’s going to take a while to adjust.”
Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at Insight 64, said the transition will cause a lot of problems for Apple’s business.
“By the time the dust settles on this, I think Apple’s market share will be south of 2 percent, ” he predicted.
Apple’s sales grew 42 percent last quarter, a rate higher than the overall PC market. But Apple’s share has been shrinking for years, from about 10 percent a decade ago to about 3 percent now.
Brookwood also predicted sales of current Apple machines are likely to hit the skids because consumers may decide to wait until the Intel machines are available next year.
“I absolutely would wait to buy a Mac, ” Brookwood said. “Customers could look at this and say it’s another wrenching transition for Apple. They just might make the wrenching transition to Windows.”
APPLE’S PATH TO INTEL CHIPS
The headquarters of Apple and Intel are just five miles away from each other, but the two companies have been rivals for much of their existence. Intel has been identified so closely with Apple’s rival Microsoft that the companies are referred to as Wintel. For years, Apple had been rumored to be considering using Intel chips. Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel, joked last week at a conference that the rumor popped up so often, it was the “Halley’s comet of rumors.” But on Monday, Otellini and Jobs briefly hugged and formally announced an alliance.
April 1976: Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs form Apple Computer on April Fool’s Day. Among the investors in Apple are Intel top executives Robert Noyce and Andrew Grove.
December 1980: Apple becomes a publicly traded company, with the most shares traded since Ford went public in 1956.
January 1984: Apple’s 1984 ad introduces the Macintosh, an underpowered one-drive computer with a $2,500 price tag.
September 1985: Jobs resigns as chairman of Apple Computer. John Sculley replaces him in January 1986.
October 1988: At his new company, Jobs unveils the Next computer, a black footlong cube. The Next machines use Intel chips.
October 1991: Apple, Motorola and IBM announce PowerPC alliance to compete with Intel and Microsoft.
February 1992: Apple engineers start a project code-named “Star Trek, ” so named for “boldly going where no Macintosh has gone before.” Their aim is to get Apple software to run on Intel-based PCs.
June 1993: Sculley resigns as CEO after being forced out by a disappointed board. Michael Spindler is promoted from chief operating officer to president and CEO.
October 1993: Sculley parts ways with Apple. Mike Markkula becomes chairman. David Nagel, head of R&D, cancels the Star Trek project.
February 1996: Gil Amelio replaces Michael Spindler as CEO.
December 1996: Plans are announced to buy Steve Jobs’ company, Next software. Jobs returns to Apple as an adviser.
July 1997: Apple ousts CEO Amelio; it is widely held that Jobs was responsible for his send-off. Jobs later takes over as interim CEO. Rumors surface that Apple will switch to Intel because Next’s software runs on Intel chips.
August 1997: At Macworld, Jobs announces Microsoft’s $150 million investment in Apple, saying “the era of competition between Microsoft and Apple is over.”
January 2000: At Macworld in San Francisco, Jobs drops “interim” from his title at Apple, reclaiming uncontested control of the company that had forced him out 15 years earlier.
January 2005: Apple unveils an inexpensive Mac computer and a bargain-priced iPod music player, embarking on a new path of targeting the cost-conscious buyers it has long ignored.
June 2005: Jobs announces that the Macintosh operating system will run on Intel chips.
Summer 2006: Apple plans to start selling machines with Intel chips.
End of 2007: The transition to Intel chips is expected to be complete.
Source: Apple Computer, Intel, Mercury News archives, “Apple” by Jim Carlton
The chips used by Apple Computer, made principally by IBM and Freescale, are falling behind in computing power and energy efficiency, making it increasingly hard to compete against machines that run Microsoft Windows.
The solution: Intel chips are fast, and the chip giant is especially good at making power-conserving chips for laptops. Apple will be able to take advantage of Intel’s vast investments in chip research and manufacturing technology.


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Chromebook Pixel on sale for £1,049 at Google Play
Google unveils high-end addition to Chromebook range.
Google has launched a 1,049 Chromebook, which the internet giant claims boasts the highest pixel density of any laptop screen on the market today.
The Chromebook Pixel was announced by Linus Upson, vice president of engineering at Google, via a blog post yesterday and looks set to be the first device of its kind the firm has made in-house.
"With the Pixel, we set out to rethink all elements of a computer in order to design the best laptop possible, especially for power users who have fully embraced the cloud," said Upson.
"The philosophy of Chrome has always been to minimize the chrome' of the browser. In much the same way, the goal of the Pixel is to make the pixels disappear, giving people the best web experience."
Previously, Google has partnered with PC makers Samsung, Acer, Lenovo and HP to make its Chromebooks, which it claims now account for more than 10 per cent of the notebooks sold at Currys and PC World in the UK.
The new touch-enabled device has a pixel density of 239 pixels per inch (or 4.3 million pixels in total), is made from anodized aluminium alloy and features an etched glass screen.
The Pixel is powered by an Intel Core i5 Processor, features solid state Flash memory, and users have a choice between buying a Wi-Fi only or a 4G-enabled model.
Buyers will also get access to one terabyte of Google Drive cloud storage, which should allow them to access business documents on the go.
The Wi-Fi only version of the device is available to buy in the UK now from the Google Play store, and is expected to start shipping next week.
"It's one of the most exciting times in the history of personal computing, thanks to the rapid pace of change, innovation and consumer adoption of devices," added Upson.
"Our goal is to continue to push the experience forward for everyone, working with the entire ecosystem to build the next generation of Chrome OS devices."
Google recently talked up the benefits of Chromebooks for business and education users, citing their relatively low price point and ease of management.
However, the 1,049 asking price, high pixel density and markedly slicker design of the Chromebook Pixel suggests Google is turning its attention to higher-end users, and potentially positioning it as a challenger to Apple's Mac Air range of devices.
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OnePlus is all set to launch its OnePlus TV 2020 ‘affordable’ smart TV in India today. Earlier rumors suggested that the company will launch an affordable one plus TV. But the new teaser released suggests a launch of three TV models. OnePlus YouTube channel and other social media channels will live to stream the launch of affordable oneplus TV.
In the teaser video released of one plus tv 2020 series on the twitter handle of OnePlus. The cheaper model will cost Rs 20,000. The second one plus TV will be priced under Rs 30,000. And the third model will be of Rs 50,000.
“It’s all that you need at a price that you want. Can you guess the price of the upcoming OnePlus TV Series? Oneplus mentioned in its tweet.
Amazon India has started taking pre-booking orders on its website. The company announced that if a consumer pre-books any one of the three models s/he will get two years of extended warranty for free.
Last year OnePlus launched two premium range smart TVs. Now the company is trying to enter in the ‘affordable’ range to compete with its rivals Xiaomi and Realme TV models available in the market.
The Oneplus company said that OnePlus TV will give the best experience despite the low price. One Plus TV will offer smart, vibrant, smoother display and cinematic experience with a 95 percent screen-to-body ratio.
One Plus Affordable TV features
The One Plus company has confirmed that they will offer customers both mid-range and entry-level options with a sleek design having thin bezels and a built slimmer than the OnePlus 8 series. The One plus TV will have 93 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut, Gamma Engine. It will come with pre-installed Netflix along with the support of Dolby Atmos sound and Dolby vision display technologies.
The teasers on Twitter revealed about the speakers that equipped with 90-degree rotation support and a 50 percent deeper base. The company is offering a carbon-fiber pattern on the TV’s back for a premium look.
Oneplus in a tweet gave a hint about the price tags of the new TVs, the starting price will begin at Rs 1X,999 and the next two models will be of Rs 2X,999, and Rs 4X,999. This price range suggests that the upcoming TVs will be under the price bracket of Rs 50,000.
Besides this, OnePlus also confirmed its plan to enter into the ‘affordable’ section of smartphones. At present, the brand is famous for its premium range smartphones which sell like hot cakes in the Indian market.
The company is gearing up to launch the OnePlus Nord or OnePlus Z in Indian and European markets. The launch date of the new OnePlus Nord is yet to be revealed by the company, but rumors suggest that it could be official on July 10.


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Advance your business through innovation
Newtownabbey businesses are being urged to make innovation happen by taking advantage of a unique new mentoring programme.
Designed specifically for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Newtownabbey, Antrim, Ballymena and Moyle council areas, the Business Advancement Programme offers expert help and guidance to enable businesses to develop and implement their innovation plans and unlock their business potential.
Speaking at the official launch, Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Fraser Agnew, said: “It is vital for businesses to invest in innovation, particularly during periods of difficult trading conditions so that they are in a better position to compete when conditions improve.”
Businesses taking part in the programme will receive three days specialist support and key benefits will include:
• A tailored action plan for developing innovation throughout the business;
• Three days of one-to-one specialist mentoring to help build innovation capability;
• Access to workshops and a step-by-step guide to help develop and implement innovation and creative thinking;
• Opportunities to collaborate with other businesses and come together to develop new, innovative products and services.
Invest NI Eastern Regional Manager, Moira Loughran commented: “We recognise the fundamental value of innovation to driving future growth.”
The programme is now open for applications. Early application is advised as spaces are limited.
Applications are particularly encouraged from businesses in the craft, food, transport and professional services sectors.


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CB Richard Ellis head of EMEA research and development Dr Nick Axford said: “It is the growth of these countries that make them so appealing. The BRIC countries are showing two or three times the growth of the developed countries.”
He added that while the GDP of these countries is relatively low, the populations are huge (approaching 1 billion in both India and China) and there is a rapidly growing middle class.
Mango deputy general manager Daniel Lopez agreed that demographically these markets represent very interesting opportunities. Tiffany & Co president and vice chairman James Quinn agreed: “Today’s emerging markets are tomorrow’s mature markets.”
Aldo Group International vice president Norman Jaskolka said: “For us we see emerging markets as markets where we can grow in a relatively short space of time and get market share that would take a long time in more mature markets.”
The opportunities may be huge, but entering emerging markets is not without risks.
Lopez warned: “Our opinion on emerging markets is that there is a wide variety so you have carefully analyse each opportunity.”
Quinn said: “We learn each time how to adapt and how to adapt quickly to local market conditions. You have to make move judiciously to make sure you don’t trip over.”
The panel agreed that franchising was the best way to grow rapidly in these markets, but finding the right partner is essential. Lopez said: “Local partners have been the drivers of our growth. Franchising for us is something that is very natural to us. It’s been in our DNA from the beginning.”
Jaskolka added: “If we did it on our own we would do it one market at a time. Local partners have the real estate contacts and the overall capacity to operate locally that we wouldn’t be able to do on our own.”
The panel agreed that being able to adapt your offer to the local market is fundamental and that is one area where retailers expanding internationally have tripped up before.
However, maintaining standards and brand management when operating via third parties remains a constant challenge.
Mango said: “We do 95 per cent of the systems and operations and present it very well, but at the end the last five per cent – the execution – that’s what makes the difference.”
When finding real estate in emerging markets there some unique challenges. RE said: “The majority of shopping centres are badly designed and poorly managed and they have a limited understanding of retailers’ requirements.”


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Did Apple really clone the P88? It kinda reminds us of a giant iPhone!
Since we broke the story of the “pre-emptive cloning” of the iPad (and here’s another story of the same device back in Oct 2009) by Chinese company Shenzhen Great Long Brother Industrial Co., Wu Xiaolong, the president of the company has been an angry man. Earlier today, he fumed to our friend Aritz Parra of El Mundo, charging that Apple has not only replicated the design of its multi-touch tablet, but also the device support and the sleeve. They’re identical, he says.
“I was very angry and flabbergasted when I saw the news of the iPad presentation two days ago… It is certainly our design. They’ve stolen because we present our P88 to everyone six months ago at the IFA (International Electronics Fair in Berlin).”
Sales of the P88 haven’t been too bad, but “if the iPad enters the Chinese market, we will definitely take a hit,” says Wu. He adds that he has already applied for a patent for the product last May — a process that can take up to a year in China. “We’ll have to follow the law,” says Wu, admitting that it will be difficult to take on Apple in the United States, but “if the iPad enters the Chinese market, we will sue them this spring.”
Apparently, the Great Long Brother isn’t the only company mulling legal action against Apple. Japan’s Fujitsu is also thinking of suing Apple. It claims that its its US subsidiary first launched the “iPad”, a sleek handheld multimedia device with a 3.5-inch screen, way back in 2002.
Expect to hear more of this in the days ahead. Meanwhile, all we really want to know is: When is Apple going to launch the iPad Nano? Oh wait a minute. We already have the iPhone!
Before we go, here’s one person’s forecast of what Lord Steve Jobs is going to launch later this year. Happy weekend everyone!


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testlio news search results
Developer news items we found relating to testlio
Speakers announced for DevOps Enterprise Summit London 2020
Tuesday, February 11, 2020 by Brittany Hainzinger
IT Revolution announced the first round of speakers for DevOps Enterprise Summit London. The event is hosted at the Intercontinental London - the O2 from 23-25 June. It is the premier conference for technology leaders at large, complex organizations that are implementing DevOps principles and practices in the UK and Continental Europe. Blind Bird registration is availab...
Escobar Fold 2 smartphone now in production
Monday, February 3, 2020 by Brittany Hainzinger
Pablo Escobar's biological brother, Roberto De Jesus Escobar Gaviria, has started production of a mainstream completely foldable smartphone which features a unique flexible screen allowing a user to easily fold their regular phone into a tablet size smartphone.
The Escobar Fold 2 smartphone was designed in the USA and is being assembled in Hong Kong. Some of the ...
Best mobile testing practices for 2020 from Testlio emerges
Monday, January 27, 2020 by Richard Harris
Today, users access mobile apps through devices that offer thousands of combinations of screen sizes and operating systems, leaving app QA managers with a challenging decision of how many and which devices to prioritize.
Recently, managed app testing company, Testlio released new mobile device testing data from a recent query of its client base, providing a unique lo...


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Walgreen (NYSE:WAG), the largest drugstore chain in the U.S., reported sales of $6.37 billion for October 2013, achieving 6.1% annual and 7.6% sequential growth. The company closed its fiscal 2013 on August 31 with $72.2 billion in sales, a 0.8% annual increase, and saw a 13.7% increase in operating income. After witnessing a significant decline in its 2012 revenue base, Walgreen regained its growth momentum following the resolution of its dispute with Express Scripts in September 2012. (See below.) Walgreen reported a 8% year-over-year rise in its September 2013 sales.
Walgreen opened 14 stores and closed two stores during October, which increases its store count to 8,597 locations across 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A large footprint places the company in a strong position to benefit, both from an aging U.S. population and from the extension to millions of new coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Quick Snap Shot Of October’13 Sales
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Accounting for 65.5% of total sales, pharmacy sales and comparable store pharmacy sales grew by 7.8% and 7.9% year over year, respectively. Total comparable sales climbed by 5.8% whereas prescriptions filled at comparable stores increased by 5.7% year over year. It was positively impacted by 1.1% higher flu shots. Total front-end sales increased by 3.5% compared to October 2012, as customer traffic and basket size in comparable stores increased by o.6% and 1.7%, respectively.
Calendar 2013 sales year to date stood at $60.47 billion, 4.3% higher compared to the same period last year. By comparison, CVS’s fiscal 2014 year-to-date sales (September and October 2013) are at $12.29 billion, up 7% from $11.49 billion in the comparable period in fiscal 2013.
Our price estimate of $50 for Walgreen is at a 15% discount to the current market price of $60.
Dispute Resolution With Express Scripts Aids Revenue Growth
Walgreen witnessed a notable decline in its market share of total prescriptions filled in the U.S. as the payment dispute with Express Scripts diverted as many as 90 million prescriptions for the first nine months of 2013. Handling prescriptions for millions of people, Express Scripts runs prescription drug plans for employers, insurers and other customers. As a result of the dispute between the two companies, many Walgreen customers switched over to its competitors.
However, Walgreen and Express Scripts entered into a new agreement in September 2013, which allows Express customers to fill prescriptions at Walgreen stores. Walgreen claims to be winning back old customers in the wake of the deal and stated that the proportion of Express Scripts prescriptions returning to its stores continues to rise. It filled a record 821 million retail prescriptions in fiscal 2013 which translates into a 19.1% market share.
Recently, Walgreen and Express Scipts launched a new option for clients that allow them to pick up 90-day supplies of prescription drugs at Walgreen’s retail stores. Known as Smart90 Walgreens, the program will offer plan members convenient access to in-person pharmacist consultations and a wide-range of health and wellness services that can improve medication adherence and lower overall healthcare costs. It provides customers the option to receive their maintenance medications through Walgreen’s retail pharmacy or Express Scripts home delivery service.
Lower Generic Substitution
Generic drugs are comparatively lower priced than branded drugs. The total generic dispensing rate, which factors the percentage of generic drugs in a consumer’s prescription, grew to 78.5% in 2012, from 74.1% and 71.5% in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Generic drugs continued to replace branded drugs in 2013, albeit at a slower pace.
Generic drug substitution in the last 12 months had a 0.7% negative impact on Walgreen’s comparable store sales, compared to a 2% and 9% negative impact on comparable prescription sales in Q4 2013 and Q1 2013 respectively. Walgreen anticipates a low rate of introduction of new generics in the first half of fiscal 2014, which should further lower the pressure of generic drugs on its top line.
Nevertheless, an estimated $15 billion worth of branded product will come off patent in the next three years, opening them to competition from generic drugs. Thus, we expect generics to continue to offset Walgreen’s top line growth in the future as well, albeit at a slower pace.