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Samsung Networks, Samsung’s networking infrastructure arm, has announced that it has been selected by NTT East to jointly build a private 5G network in Japan. Both firms will begin offering commercial private 5G networks in the country to enterprise customers sometime in Q2 2022.
Both firms had conducted a series of tests last year to make sure that Samsung’s network infrastructure holds up to the requirements and specifications required to build optimized private 5G networks. The companies successfully completed a 5G SA (Standalone) technological verification earlier this month. The test showed improved uplink and downlink speeds, and it will help NTT East and Samsung Networks offer enough bandwidth that’s required by advanced services.
For this test, the companies had used SamsungNetworks” end-to-end 5G solution that includes the 5G core, a baseband unit, and an outdoor unit. HP’s software was also a part of the test to increase network security. The test was conducted on NTTEast’ss 4.8—4.9GHz spectrum, which is dedicated to local 5G networks in Japan.
Woojune Kim, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Sales & Marketing, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “Private 5G networks, powered by Samsung’s comprehensive portfolio of 5G solutions, will create a new wave of opportunities for enterprises, driven by improved productivity and superior connectivity. We’re proud to support NTT East in the expansion of Local 5G, which will impact a range of industries including agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation.”
Samsung has been working with various brands across the globe to build private 4G and 5G networks. Enterprises and businesses can use these networks to offer secure data access to its employees in the field.
JoinSamMobile’ss Telegram group and subscribe to our YouTube channel to get instant news updates and in-depth reviews of Samsung devices. You can also subscribe to get updates from us on Google News and follow us on Twitter.


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Windows Phone Mango update now available to all first-gen WP handsets
Windows Phone Mango brings more than 500 new features, but up until now it only brought it to some first-gen WP devices. That’s no longer the case - Microsoft has fulfilled its promise and now the Windows Phone 7.5 update is available to all previous WP7 handsets:
“We’re now delivering Mango to 100 percent of eligible phones around the world, regardless of carrier. (In other words, to everything that’s not listed as “scheduling” or “testing” on Where’s My Phone Update?),” Microsoft’s Eric Hautala, General Manager of Customer Experience Engineering said in a post on the Windows Phone blog.
In the meanwhile, you can also see a firmware update pending. That’s a separate deal, but it’s pushed at the same time and will bring improved performance, fixed bugs and new features if your phone supports them.
“We’re also sending out “firmware” updates to some phones around the world, so don’t be surprised if you see another update notification pop up on your phone in the coming days. … Not everybody will receive or require a firmware update: It all depends on your country, carrier, and phone model,” Hautala added.
Have you already updated and how do you like the Windows Phone in its Mango flavor?
source: Windows Phone blog

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BEACHWOOD, Ohio — The North Union Farmers Market is serving up fresh produce and food on Wednesdays outside the Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center.
With stands like Schultz Fruit Farm, Ohio City pasta, Pierogies of Cleveland, and Woolf farms, the Beachwood farmers market has become a popular destination for foodies looking to get local fruits, vegetables, and other delectable treats.
"It's great just to hang out with people who are passionate about their food and where it comes from," said fruit-juice vendor David Gin.
The North Union Farmers Market is a nonprofit organization that coordinates farmers markets around Cleveland during the peak of Ohio's growing season.
In 1995, North Union ran its first farmers market in Shaker Square. Nineteen years later, the organization has expanded to over eight different locations around Greater Cleveland.
"We are dedicated to bringing local food to the area," said Cheryl Evans, a Shaker Heights local who works at North Union.
The market in Beachwood is now in its third year and many of its vendors have been here since the start.
Buster Woolf, owner of Woolf Farms, has been a vendor at North Union's Beachwood location since the market first opened up in 2012. For him, the appeal of selling produce at a market as opposed to a grocery chain is in customer service.
"Know your customer, know your farmer," explained Woolf. "Big business is all about volume, volume, volume. I want flavor."
The farmers market will take place every Wednesday, until September 17, 2014, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. outside the Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center.


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When it comes to dangers on the internet, we are our own worst enemies
Today’s biggest threat to the normal consumer is the consumer themselves.
This bold statement was made by Avast CEO Vincent Steckler in an interview with German technology website Valuetech in Munich last week. That's a daring position to take after this year’s revelations about NSA spying, the theft of tens of millions of customer passwords from major retailers like Target and Home Depot, the recent Sony Pictures hack, and the normal parade of Trojan horses, worms and viruses, but it’s one that Steckler stands behind.
Watch the interview here (04:00),
Mr. Steckler has good reason for his conclusion. Here's a few of the main points he made during the interview.
“A lot of attacks are still using social engineering techniques; phishing emails – ways of convincing the user to give up valuable information,” said Steckler.
An example of phishing emails just occurred after Black Friday, when cybercrooks sent millions of fake purchase confirmation emails to customers of major retailers. You can read about that, as well as what to do if you are a victim, in our blog, Fake confirmation emails from Walmart, Home Depot, others in circulation.
Mac users are well-known for proudly touting that they don’t use antivirus protection because they never have a problem with viruses. But, it’s really a numbers game.
“There is no fundamental difference,” Steckler says of the security of PCs and Macs. “Mac is not inherently any safer, as a technology, than Windows is. What makes a difference there is what is more opportune for a bad guy to attack.”
He explains that malware written for Windows can attack up to 93% of the world’s PCs. Mac malware only reaches 7-8% of the world’s PCs. The safety then lies in the lower numbers of Mac devices rather than a technical safety advantage.
With the interconnectivity of household devices from household computers, mobile phones, TVs and even refrigerators, Steckler compares the typical household network to that of a small business.
“The central weakness in this ‘Internet of Things’ will be that home router – the thing that connects everything together,” says Steckler, “and basically doesn’t have any security on it.”
Avast 2015 seeks to address this lack in security by including the new Home Network Security scanner.


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YDreams Global signs with Launch Trampoline Park to open second Arkave VR Arena in the U.S.
YDX Innovation Corp (TSX-V
The change was necessary due to an increased interest in creating new ventures that have the potential of working as independent business units such as
YDreams Global will continue to operate as per usual as one of the most innovative digital agencies in the world and will be a sister company to
The Company would also like to announce the creation of a third initiative in its organization. Game On Festival is a new event, conceptualized and designed by the Company to appeal to the growing demand for eSports and gaming events.
Game On Festival combines the expertise of digital storytelling that made the YDreams brand famous with a new format of eSports tournaments for North America. An Interactive Exhibition about the history of
“With the immense interest in professional gaming and eSports, we see an opportunity to create something relevant for this large demographic group, those who play regularly and always wondered how they would do in a professional competition.” – stated Daniel Japiassu, CEO of the now YDX.
Karina Israel, COO of YDX stated: “It was amazing to see how passionate the players are about not only the
About the change to YDX, Daniel Japiassu commented: “The name YDreams Global is known as an industry leader for creating highly innovative virtual and augmented reality marketing solutions for big brands. This recognition took years to accomplish and came from delivering unique solutions to clients such as Coca-Cola, Cisco
Daniel Japiassu, CEO of YDX will attend the AlphaNorth Capital Events in Nassau this weekend and would like to invite those present to stop by the booth and hear more about the plans for 2019.


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The Financial Times reported on Thursday that executives at Meta Platforms Inc are discussing a potential company-wide ban on political advertising in Europe.
This is due to concerns that Facebook and Instagram may not be able to comply with upcoming EU regulations aimed at online campaigns.
In February, EU lawmakers agreed to implement tougher rules on targeted political advertising in order to combat misinformation during elections.
The proposed rules would require U.S. tech giants to provide more data on their targeted political ads. Also they could face fines up to 4% of their global turnover for breaches.
The Financial Times reports that Metaverse executives are concerned that the EU’s definition of political ads could be overly broad, potentially resulting in the rejection of all paid-for political campaigns on the company’s sites.
Last December, the European Commission warned Meta’s parent company, Facebook, that it was breaching EU antitrust laws by distorting competition in markets for online classified advertising and abusing its dominant position.


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As part of their Summer 2017 collection, Jordan Brand’s bringing out a pair of Air Jordan VIIs. They get the “University Blue” treatment, as a nod to the reign of the University of North Carolina, the Jumpman’s alma mater.
With UNC cutting down the nets at this year’s NCAA Tournament, Tar Heel pride’s flowing at the moment, making this the perfect time to bring back this colorway for the first time since 2010.
These release on April 29, for $190 on Nike.com.
Photos courtesy of Nike


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Carnival MPV is the second product offered by Kia in India. The carmkaer has sold sold around 3,000 units of the premium MPV since its launch.
Kia Motors made its debut in India last year with the Seltos SUV. The Hyundai Creta-rival became quite popular among the SUV buyers within a very short period of time. After the success of their first product, the carmaker launched its second model, the Carnival MPV. Kia officially launched the premium MPV at the 2020 Auto Expo. Just like Seltos SUV, Carnival has been warmly welcomed by the buyers. The MPV is on sale in India from past few months and is doing pretty well in terms of sales. The automaker has recently announced that they have retailed around 3,000 units of this premium MPV in our market since its official launch.
The Kia MPV is not a cheap car, and clocking these sales numbers in such a short period of time is actually a big achievement for the Korean carmaker. The MPV has no direct rivals as it sits above the Toyota Innova Crysta, but is positioned below the Toyota Vellfire and Mercedes-Benz V-Class. Through this product placement strategy, the carmaker could be trying to create a niche for itself.
The MPV is being offered in 7, 8, and 9 seating configuration. Kia Motors retails the premium MPV in three different trim levels namely- Premium, Prestige and Limousine. The top-of-the-line variant comes loaded with features like dual sunroof, VIP seats, rear-seat entertainment systems, tri-zone climate control and power sliding doors.
Kia Carnival was officially launched at the 2020 Auto Expo
Mechanically, Kia Carnival derives power from a 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel mill that produces 200 PS of maximum power and 440 Nm of peak torque. The transmission duties are courtesy an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The premium MPV is priced between Rs 24.95 lakh to Rs 33.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Kia Motor India will next launch an all-new compact SUV, named Sonet, around August this year. It’ll compete with the likes of Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza and Mahindra XUV300.


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- Apple may be forced to change iPhone charging cables from a lightning port to a USB-C port
- The change in charging cables will happen if lawmakers in the European Union force tech companies to adopt a commonly used charger for all mobile phones
- This has been a topic of discussion in the EU in the recent past and may likely take place
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!
In their quest for harmonisation of chargers for mobile phones, lawmakers in the European Union (EU) may force Apple to change iPhone charging cables.
The plan is to have them go from lightning port to a USB-C port, Briefly.co.za gathered.
The lightning port was introduced by Apple in 2012 with the making of iPhone 5 and the company ditched the 30-pin connector that iPhone 4 and older models of iPhone use.
Metro reports that lawmakers in the EU are considering whether or not to force tech companies to adopt a commonly used charger for all mobile phones.
READ ALSO: Americans mock US Space Force for unveiling camouflage uniforms
The matter is set to be voted on at a future session and, if passed, could compel Apple to switch to a USB-C port.
Apple only needs to comply with the law in the EU, but the cost of implementation would likely mean the change to the iPhone would be a global one.
The EU explained: "To reduce electronic waste and make consumers’ life easier, MEPs want binding measures for chargers to fit all mobile phones and other portable devices.
"A common charger should fit all mobile phones, tablets, e-book readers and other portable devices, MEPs will insist. According to estimates, old chargers generate more than 51,000 tonnes of electronic waste per year."
In 2019, Apple had said: "We want to ensure that any new legislation will not result in the shipment of any unnecessary cables or external adapters with every device, or render obsolete the devices and accessories used by many millions of Europeans and hundreds of millions of Apple customers worldwide."
Apple said if the EU votes in favour of forcing tech companies to adopt a commonly used charger for all mobile phones, it will result in electronic waste and inconvenience users.
Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!


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At the North American Auto Show in Detroit GM not only revealed the next generation of their full size pickups, but they also announced that they are planning to launch two midsize pickup trucks as early as late next year for each of its truck brands.
The Chevy version of the midsize pickup will be marketed towards the "lifestyle" pickup truck buyer. The GMC midsize pickup will be aimed at fleet buyers and small business owners. The two GM midsize trucks will be timed to coincide with Ford's launch of its redesigned full-size F-150. For an idea of size, GM's midsize pickups are expected to be larger than a Toyota Tacoma, which is classified as a compact pickup.
According to the truck experts we spoke to at Pitre GMC in NM the automaker has produced smaller trucks in the past, but they phased out their compact Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups last year. Compact pickups are a small segment in North America. They accounted for only 264,197 sales in the U.S. last year compared with 1.94 million full-size pickups.
The decision to get back into the compact pickup market was partly driven by the desire of some pickup buyers to be able to haul goods while at the same time get better fuel economy than you could with a larger, full-size pickups.


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With Fruitful Results in the International Market, MINISO Reached Cooperation Agreement with Ireland Successfully
On July 27, 2017, MINISO, a famous Japanese designer brand successfully signed strategic cooperation agreement with Ireland. On that very day, MINISO’s global co-founder and CEO Mr. Ye Guofu, the representatives and executives of Ireland group attended and witnessed the signing ceremony.
Mr. Ye Guofu addressed the signing ceremony centering on the cooperation between MINISO and Ireland. He believed that as Ireland is a developed country whose people are honest and friendly, and its national spending power is strong, the demands of the Irish for high quality but low-price products are increasing year by year. In the future, MINISO will devote itself to providing "high-quality, creative and low-price" products to consumers, bringing more high quality but low-price products to local consumers. Mr. Ye also indicated that the first MINISO store will be established in Ireland soon. MINISO will open more and more stores in Ireland, covering the whole country in the future.
(Illustration: MINISO signed strategic cooperation agreement with Ireland successfully.)
Since its establishment, MINISO has been actively following the government's policy, taking “going out” as its development direction. It can be easily found that MINISO has reached strategic cooperation agreements with 56 countries and regions in merely three years after its establishment, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Hong Kong (China) and Macao (China). It means that not only is MINISO popular in the developing countries in Asia, but it also develops well in many developed countries, the people of which are particular about quality life. This can also show that MINISO’s "high-quality, creative and low-price" products do win the love and recognition of global consumers.
(Illustration: MINISO reached strategic cooperation agreement with Ireland, developing bilateral retail trade.)
MINISO has its unique views and modes to create the “high-quality, creative and low-price” products. It focuses on the essential value of the products and all the products and raw materials will be undergone rigorous tests to ensure the quality. In addition, MINISO has developed the buyer system at the very beginning. Through large-scale procurement, it selects suitable and high-quality raw materials as well as originalities around the world, striving to delivering products that are safer, more appropriate and cheaper to every consumer. It is worth mentioning that, MINISO has also brought together a number of designers from Japan and northern Europe, including a team that has won the “German Red Dot Design Award”. These designers will design products that meet the demands and aesthetic values of Irish consumers according to their needs and interests.
In the future, MINISO will cooperate with Ireland and bring the brand to a new level. One is a retail dark horse with strong brand influence and design development ability; the other one is a powerful country with rich natural resources and huge market potential. Both of them will be able to achieve great success by deep cooperation.


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The Hindu|April 28, 2020
India does not stand to lose a single rupee, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday in response to a clarification sought on the alleged profiteering by distributors, exposed through a legal dispute between an importer and a distributor, in the delivery of rapid antibody testing kits to it.
According to details provided in the Delhi High Court, the kits procured from China, whose delivered cost was ₹245 a test, were sold to ICMR for ₹600 a test — a mark up of 145%.
The matter came to light when Rare Metabolics Life Sciences Pvt Ltd and Aark Pharmaceuticals, distributors of Chinese Wondfo Biotech’s kits imported by Matrix Labs, approached the High Court recently to get delivery/payment disputes cleared. The Council, in a one-page clarification, noted that it had not made any payment whatsoever in respect of the supplies — “because of the due process followed (not going in for procurement with 100% advance amount)”.
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April 28, 2020


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The words open and standards can be loaded terms in the world of business-to-business e-commerce, but IBM this week promised to remake its middleware products around what it hopes will be open Internet standards that can nudge corporate users closer to achieving a free flow of information between companies.
Even so, some users and analysts questioned whether technology vendors will ultimately be able to curb their proprietary tendencies and make the standards that IBM has embraced capable of being used in mission-critical business-to-business transactions. And IBM itself acknowledged that more work remains to be done.
"It's a big animal to move," said Dave Kulakowski, a South Bend, Ind.-based development and technology manager at the aircraft landing systems division of Honeywell International Inc. "I don't know that any one company can get you there by itself . . . My guess is it's going to take a long time to build those connections."
By the end of next month, under a Web services architecture plan announced earlier this week, IBM is due to release updated versions of its WebSphere application server, DB2 relational database, Tivoli Web management tools and Lotus Domino messaging software.
All the new releases will support the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) delivery mechanism; the Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) B2B directory; and Web Services Description Language (WSDL), which defines what services a business offers and how trading partners can electronically access those services (see story).
But Rod Smith, IBM's vice president for emerging technology, cautioned in an interview this week that airtight messaging security, transactional protocols and business process schema are all critical and still-unavailable pieces of the e-commerce puzzle. "I compare this to a 10-mile race, and we're still at the half- to three-quarter-mile [mark]," he said.
The finish line is a world in which corporations can freely exchange information both internally and externally, when and how they please. To date, most companies have been challenged to put their own IT houses in order and are attempting to share only limited amounts of information over the Web with customers and business partners.
Smith claimed that IBM's upcoming new releases will provide off-the-shelf tools that can at least get a lot of users into the race. But, he added, IBM and other technology vendors face the challenge of convincing skeptical IT managers that they can collaborate with one another to build products that will work together.
"Integration is not going to happen quickly," Smith said. "[Vendors] have always made it real difficult to do business, because we haven't built to standards. These new Web services are an attempt to change that."
Martin Marshall, an analyst at Zona Research Inc. in Redwood City, Calif., said IBM is breaking some new ground by making its existing middleware products suitable for business-to-business usage. "Wrappering legacy tools has huge potential," he said. "Why? Because [they've] already been debugged."
However, Marshall argued that giving companies a method to exchange information doesn't solve the major business-to-business challenges. "It's business process and workflow that is the real nub of this stuff," he said. "That's the level at which things get done. And right now, we don't know if it will be transferable or if that's where the proprietization takes place."
Microsoft Corp., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Oracle Corp. are also scheduled to release enabling technology and product suites that support Web services and business-to-business applications this year. Marshall said he expects few of the rival products to interoperate beyond the messaging and directory levels at first.
But Sun spokesman David Harrah said his company plans to support the same Internet standards as those in IBM's plan as "a cross-platform, vendor-neutral way of dishing up your data." And Microsoft was the original proponent of SOAP and has worked jointly with IBM on the development of the UDDI directory, which was launched earlier this month (see story).
Ted Schadler, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc. in Cambridge, Mass., said he expects users to demand that vendors adhere to certain standards like SOAP, UDDI and WSDL. But ultimately, he added, vendors will offer products before many of their customers have defined exactly what it is they want.
On the upside, Kulakowski said, the new WebSphere release promised by IBM will let Honeywell start pushing out to its suppliers and customers the Java-based objects it has been building internally for the past three years. Honeywell now has Java components on everything from safety reports on its shop floor to tool design needs and tracking.


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Book Revue, the independent bookstore in downtown Huntington that has been a staple in the community for four decades, is being evicted, according to the building owner.
Emerson Dobbs III, director of 263-265 Main Corner LLC, owner of the building at 313 New York Ave., said the company had to bring its tenant to Huntington Station Third District Court this spring for non-payment of the rent.
According to court documents, Book Revue Inc. reached a settlement agreement with Dobbs’ company on August 4, which included a judgment of $ 420,159.75 and the issuance of a deportation warrant beginning on August 30. September.
“The Book Revue is leaving at the end of September because they haven’t paid rent for over a year,” Dobbs said.
To help them stay in business, Dobbs has said every year since his company bought the building 10 years ago that he would negotiate a lease extension with a reduction in rent with Richard Klein, owner of Book Revue.
Klein said the store had been closed for three months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that once it reopened the business was slow and just return to normal. He said as the pandemic progressed he had had discussions with a member of the owner’s team about his negative financial impact on his business. So he said he was surprised to learn through his lawyer that the landlord was taking him to court.
“I thought we understood that when the virus subsided we would find some sort of agreement or at least try to come to an agreement, there was always a possibility that we would not come to an agreement but I thought we would do so at the try less. ”
Dobbs said Klein’s proposed deal was for a one-year extension, paying $ 10,000 a month but with no provision to pay past due rents. Klein said he was paying “nearly” $ 19,000 a month in rent.
“He was a non-runner because he wouldn’t even consider paying the rent he owed,” Dobbs said.
According to the court settlement document and Dobbs, 263-265 Main Corner LLC received on August 4 a bank check for $ 30,000 for use and occupancy covering the months of July to September.
The Small Business Administration database shows the Book Revue received four payments from the COVID-19 Pandemic Paycheck Protection Program for a total of $ 267,378.
Klein said he used most of the money to pay the roughly 28 employees and pay a month’s rent.
The document also states that 263-265 Main Corner LLC agrees not to execute the eviction warrant until noon on September 30.
The Book Revue has placed $ 20,000 in receivership, guaranteeing that it will leave the site by September 30, otherwise it will lose the money, Dobbs said.
Klein said he was really disappointed with this turn of events as he has always been a good tenant.
Dobbs agreed it was a sad situation.
“To leave like this is just sad for Book Revue and Huntington,” he said.
Fixed: The location of the Book Review was incorrect in an earlier version.


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The organization has launched several charity photo books over the years that highlight endangered species and act to raise funds for the protection of the animals featured with the help of famous supporters and talented photographers around the world. Remembering Elephants, Remembering Rhinos, Remembering Great Apes, Remembering Lions, Remembering Cheetahs, and Remembering African Wild Dogs have already been produced, and Remembering Bears was funded and delivered last year. Remembering Leopards will follow and is currently seeking funding through April 28 on Kickstarter.
The campaign launched on April 1 and smashed its minimum target of £20,000 in just four minutes when it launched on 1 April. Remembering Wildlife says that within the first day, supporters had pledged more than £100,000, making Remembering Leopards the fastest funded of all the books in the series so far.
The Kickstarter runs until the end of the month and the organization’s coordinator Margot Raggett says that the more money is raised, the more books that can be produced and the more conservation projects that can be supported.
Remembering Leopards will feature all nine sub-species of leopards: African, Amur, Arabian, Indian, Indochinese, North Chinese, Javan, Sri Lankan, and Persian, as well as snow and clouded leopards, too. It is set to be the largest in the series as well, with 180 total pages when it launches this fall.
Images for the book have once again been donated by many of the world’s best wildlife photographers who Raggett says worked under the banner of “Wildlife Photographers United” and include Marsel van Oosten, Jonathan and Angela Scott, Art Wolfe, Frans Lanting, and Greg du Toit. This year’s cover image is by Mark Dumbleton.
“Despite their adaptability, the global population and distribution of leopards is sadly in decline,” Raggett says. “They are now believed to be extinct in 23 of their 85 original range countries. I’m blown away by the support our Kickstarter has had already and I promise everyone who has pledged their support that this will be the most beautiful book on leopards the world has ever seen.”
Kickstarter backers have access to unique rewards such as first-edition copies of the book, limited edition prints, bespoke artwork and jewelry, camera equipment, and safari stays, depending on the amount of money pledged. Details of all rewards and associated costs can be found on the Remembering Leopards Kickstarter page.
Disclaimer: Make sure you do your own research into any crowdfunding project you’re considering backing. While we aim to only share legitimate and trustworthy campaigns, there’s always a real chance that you can lose your money when backing any crowdfunded project.
Image credits: All photos individually credited and provided courtesy of Remembering Wildlife


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Report claims new component suppliers for the Apple iPhone 5
Changing suppliers for such a small part of the phone might sound trivial, but with the Japanese Yen rising against other currencies in foreign exchange markets, switching to firms located in Taiwan and China can significantly reduce Apple's cost of parts.
While Apple is "selling everything we can make," COO Tim Cook says in reference to the iPhone 4, rumors have started about what new features might be found on the next version of the device. Some of the speculation includes a FaceTime that would work over 3G and a dual-core processor.
With Verizon about to launch its version of the Apple iPhone on February 10th, there are questions about how Apple will work Big Red into the usual summer release of the latest iPhone model. Many analysts believe that when the Apple iPhone 5 launches-most likely this June or July-it will be a GSM version only for AT&T with a CDMA variant ready for Verizon next January. Some feel that this is being done by Apple to lessen the sting to AT&T of the carrier's loss of exclusivity for the device. Another possible reason to stagger the release of the next iPhone would be to give Verizon customers more than just 6 months with the Apple iPhone 4 before a new model is available.


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Meridian Energy is to list on the share market on October 29 - earlier than previously signalled.
Finance minister Bill English and state-owned energy minister Tony Ryall have today announced the timeline for the float in which the Government hopes to raise around $2.3 billion for selling up to 49 per cent of state-owned power company.
Full details of the share offer are to be made available on Friday when the prospectus is officially lodged with the Financial Markets Authority.
The document will be available online from then with the regulator expected to take five working days to check it off.
The retail offer period will officially open on September 30 and run until October 18. The Government had previously said Meridian would list in November.
Investors will be asked to come up with 60 per cent of the share price upfront with the remaining 40 per cent due 18 months after its listing.
The deal gives investors the full benefit of the dividend payment and voting rights while essentially providing them with an interest-free loan until the remainder of the money is due.
Retail investors will also have the share price capped.
An institutional book build will then be held after the retail offer closes to set the price they will pay.
Ryall said the offer process put New Zealanders at the front of the queue for shares and would ensure they have easy access to information.
"To help achieve this, a retail syndicate will be marketing the offer to New Zealanders, and they will offer information and advice to their clients.
"In addition, we have included what is called a 'broker firm' aspect to the Meridian offer. Under this arrangement, brokers assess demand from their clients and submit bids, and the Government then chooses how much to allocate them.
"Just like the retail offer, this process is open only to New Zealanders and is consistent with our commitment to ensuring 85-90 per cent New Zealand ownership of the shares," he said.
Prime Minister John Key said the Genesis Energy partial float was likely to occur first half of next year, and work was already underway towards that.
The Government and officials were also currently working to decide the best way to sell down the Government's stake in Air NZ, but that was likely to be a much shorter process than that for the power companies given it was already listed.
He would not rule out selling Air NZ shares before Christmas this year.
Asked whether the performance of Mighty River Power had been disappointing since the shares went on the market, Key said it was important to think of the shares as a long term investment.
"Let's see how it performs over time."
Asked if the Government was considering selling a lesser amount of Meridian shares, Key said his Government remained "absolutely committed to selling 49 per cent of Meridian".
He stood by the Government's aim of raising $5 billion to $7 billion through its assets sales program but acknowledged the amount was now likely to be closer to the lower end of that range given the difficulties around Solid Energy.


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Facebook's announcement on Monday that it plans to buy photo-sharing app Instagram rocked the web and ruffled feathers on Twitter. The deal, which will close later this quarter will be worth about $1 billion.
Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom posted on the company blog that he and his team are "psyched" about the deal.
He went on to reassure users that Facebook would not wipe out the Instagram app and fold its features into the social network, as it has done with past acquisitions. Instead, Systrom reiterated Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's promise that the app and its core features will continue to exist independently of Facebook.
Read Systrom's full blog post below:
When Mike and I started Instagram nearly two years ago, we set out to change and improve the way the world communicates and shares. We’ve had an amazing time watching Instagram grow into a vibrant community of people from all around the globe. Today, we couldn’t be happier to announce that Instagram has agreed to be acquired by Facebook.
Every day that passes, we see more experiences being shared through Instagram in ways that we never thought possible. It’s because of our dedicated and talented team that we’ve gotten this far, and with the support and cross-pollination of ideas and talent at a place like Facebook, we hope to create an even more exciting future for Instagram and Facebook alike.
It’s important to be clear that Instagram is not going away. We’ll be working with Facebook to evolve Instagram and build the network. We’ll continue to add new features to the product and find new ways to create a better mobile photos experience.
The Instagram app will still be the same one you know and love. You’ll still have all the same people you follow and that follow you.You’ll still be able to share to other social networks. And you’ll still have all the other features that make the app so fun and unique.
We’re psyched to be joining Facebook and are excited to build a better Instagram for everyone.


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Break the chain of Aspen business closures
September 18, 2017
I thought in Aspen we were trying to keep out chain restaurants and retailers, and encourage local businesses. Now it's reported that the Hillstone Restaurant Group has purchased the building that houses Over Easy and Aspen Brewery Co., and has terminated their leases. Hillstone owns and operates almost 50 restaurants under 15 different names throughout the country, including the White House. This is exactly the type of corporate chain that should not be operating in Aspen. On the other hand, Over Easy and Aspen Brewing Co. are owned and operated by locals who are exactly the kind of people that we want operating businesses in Aspen.
I hope our City Council does something to dissuade or prohibit Hillstone and other chains from operating more businesses in Aspen. And I think that multi-millionaire Mark Hunt, who sold the building that includes these tenants, should take it upon himself to secure another central Aspen location for them.
Aspen needs locals who operate casual restaurants like Over Easy, Poppycock's and Peaches. Little Annie's, Boogies, the Wienerstube and Main Street Bakery are gone. Let's not lose any more.
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Published 2 months ago.
About a 5 minute read.
Many companies have embarked on their sustainability journey. In 2024, the
challenge will be to prioritize the innovations that add the most impact.
Sustainable technology is a rapidly advancing movement that is proving
beneficial to the bottom line, as well as the environment. Gartner, which
recently identified sustainable technology as one of its top strategic
predicts that a quarter of CIO compensation will soon be linked to their
sustainable technology impact. In the race to increase sustainability, however,
businesses are increasingly faced with a dizzying array of options.
Here are some of the sustainable technology trends — and challenges — that will
have the greatest impact in 2024.
The growing convergence of products, software, and data across sectors has
created valuable opportunities for enterprises to lower their carbon footprint
in both product design and the manufacturing process. Automation, in all its
forms, plays a critical part in delivering these sustainability benefits at
Many businesses have already begun to leverage automation strategies, such as
robotic process automation (RPA) and digital process automation
(DPA) — but they can go further. Hyperautomation is the next frontier,
promising greater efficiencies across a range of metrics — including power
consumption and reduced waste.
For example, one leading FMCG supplier has developed an AI-based system to
detect and prevent anomalies and malfunctions in the manufacturing process. This
system is being rolled out in more than 800 production lines worldwide —
shortening cycle times by up to 15 percent while massively reducing the
company’s carbon footprint. In addition to accelerating productivity, this
application of automation can also reduce downtime and waste because the
automated system detects anomalies in real-time and then identifies, isolates
and troubleshoots the affected element in the assembly line. Because this system
does not require direct intervention and can respond in real-time, it prevents
the damage of products that would ordinarily occur during a production glitch
lasting just a few minutes.
Automation doesn’t just improve sustainable production; it’s a key element in
advancing sustainable design goals. When combined with other game-changing
technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud, automation technologies can help enterprises
meet their sustainability goals much earlier in the product lifecycle — right at
the start of the design process.
There are several examples of how AI and automation can embed sustainability
across the product lifecycle, including:
Monitoring and modeling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with embedded IoT
Automating power consumption at the component level to ensure sustainable
improvements can be achieved without compromising safety
Utilizing advanced AI and automation to design lighter-weight products,
which in turn reduce the carbon footprint at every future stage of the
Specifically, when used in conjunction with
automation technologies extend sustainability efforts into the supply chain —
providing visibility and assurance that partner organizations are adhering to
the same standards.
The value of the metaverse for
is too significant to be ignored. Sustainability is emerging as one of the major
benefits of increased adoption of digital twin
virtual training programs and
in the metaverse. For example, virtual training in high-risk industries
streamlines the use of resources and equipment, as well as improving safety and
In 2024, decarbonization is expected to be a growing driver for digital twin
For example, the aerospace and defense
— traditionally a carbon-intensive sector — has increased investment in digital
twin technology by 40 percent in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint.
Echoing efforts are underway in the automotive industry, where many
organizations are evaluating hydrogen
and electric battery usage to decarbonize.
However, with digital twin technology, engineers must assess several scenarios
in the early stages of development. Three-quarters of aerospace and defense
firms see immediate value in using digital twins from the very beginning of
product development and operations. They allow engineers to virtually validate
each step of the design process — cutting down prototyping as well as testing
time and costs. Beyond this, the technology can advance the efficiency of
existing engines and improve utilization to save substantial amounts of carbon
from being emitted.
Every business wants to improve margins, increase productivity, reduce waste and
lower energy consumption. Yet, sustainability efforts are facing a backlash from
several different corners — including a tide of anti-ESG
among businesses and legislators in some states. Across carbon-intensive
industries such as
sustainable technologies offer a new path — but one that comes with increased
costs, at least initially.
Price sensitivity is another significant challenge for sustainability efforts.
Variability in the cost of raw materials is squeezing the supply chain at a time
of global economic uncertainty. In some cases, such as the use of
the solutions themselves are attracting controversy as their carbon impact
Another key threat to sustainable technology comes from cybersecurity. As
previously manual processes become digitized and systems grow more
interconnected, the risk from cyberattacks grows. For example, the manufacturing
sector experienced a 53 percent increase in
in H1 2023 compared to the previous period. In order for digital manufacturing
to continue to drive sustainable innovation, businesses need to invest in
becoming more resilient to the shifting digital-risk landscape.
Despite challenges, the public is becoming increasingly aware — and supportive
of — technology as a force for climate
As the pace of innovation in sustainable tech accelerates, sustainability will
remain a major driver for establishing new business processes as well as
enhancing traditional ones. With so many options in a rapidly evolving tech
landscape, businesses must remain vigilant about the real value they’re adding
and what competitive advantage sustainability offers.
Published Dec 27, 2023 8am EST / 5am PST / 1pm GMT / 2pm CET
Naveen Saini is VP and Head of Industry for Consumer Products, Retail & Services at Capgemini Engineering.


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Liberum Capital Initiates Coverage on Diageo plc (DGE)
Analysts at Liberum Capital began coverage on shares of Diageo plc (LON:DGE) in a research note issued on Monday. The brokerage set a “hold” rating and a GBX 2,182 ($28.48) price target on the stock. Liberum Capital’s price objective suggests a potential downside of 3.79% from the company’s current price.
Several other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Beaufort Securities reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Diageo plc in a research note on Thursday, September 22nd. Societe Generale reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a GBX 2,308 ($30.13) price objective on shares of Diageo plc in a research note on Wednesday, September 21st. Jefferies Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 2,500 ($32.63) price objective on shares of Diageo plc in a research note on Wednesday, September 21st. Barclays PLC reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a GBX 2,150 ($28.06) price objective on shares of Diageo plc in a research note on Wednesday, September 21st. Finally, BNP Paribas reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a GBX 2,300 ($30.02) price objective on shares of Diageo plc in a research note on Thursday, September 15th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of GBX 2,164.96 ($28.26).
Diageo plc (LON:DGE) opened at 2244.00 on Monday. The firm’s market capitalization is GBX 56.33 billion. The company has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 2,156.49 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 2,005.81. Diageo plc has a one year low of GBX 1,724.50 and a one year high of GBX 2,286.50.
The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 6th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 11th will be paid a dividend of GBX 36.60 ($0.48) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.67%. This is an increase from Diageo plc’s previous dividend of $22.60. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 11th.
In other Diageo plc news, insider Javier Ferran acquired 18,500 shares of Diageo plc stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 29th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 2,221 ($28.99) per share, for a total transaction of £410,885 ($536,333.38).
About Diageo plc
Diageo plc (Diageo) is a drinks business company. The Company is a provider of beverage alcohol of various brands in spirits, beer and wine. The Company produces its brands from more than 200 sites in over 30 countries. Diageo owns manufacturing production facilities across the globe, including maltings, distilleries, breweries, packaging plants, maturation warehouses, cooperages, vineyards, wineries and distribution warehouses.
Receive News & Ratings for Diageo plc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Diageo plc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.


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"I think this is a product that can make three or four times the money that self-storage operators are seeing now through any other ancillary product or service, and that is without any increase in human time or effort,” said Phil French, CEO of Add it. “Onsite eBay sales could exceed all ancillary revenue combined."
Add it, which provides a turnkey solution for storage facilities to add eBay drop-off as an ancillary service, has already signed up more than 30 facilities and looks to exceed 75 by the end of 2007. Storage operators interested in learning how to become an agent can visit www.additonline.com.
Online Sales Strategies' provides resources for managing online sales and software-related businesses. AuctionSound is certified eBay-compatible application for online asset management. It was created for eBay Trading Assistants to manage online sales and consignment products, including customer management, listing tools, auction templates, image hosting, shipping and financial reporting. It supports various business models in several countries. For more information, e-mail email@example.com or visit www.onlinesalesstrategies.com.


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If you ever take time to look at Sony’s Xperia XZ3 released earlier this year, you’ll notice that Sony is putting in huge efforts to completely redesign her smartphones, at least, in the premium segments. But with the upcoming Sony Xperia XA3, the new design from Sony will now make it to it affordable smartphone segments. The Sony Xperia XA3 is believed to be announced before November, so let see how much we can gather before then.
About Sony Xperia XA3
If the current rumors and leaked design is to be believed, then the Sony Xperia XA3 will be a big step up over the older Sony Xperia XA2 in terms of design and of course, specifications. The Xperia XA3 is expected to come in a rectanglar shaped with overall thinner bezels. As per the report, the display size measures 5.9-inches diagonally and offers an 18:9 aspect ratio. While the resolution isn’t known, we can expect it to be the Full-HD+ resolution.
The render in the video below are actually CAD-based renders created by @OnLeaks. The video shows the device will come with an 18:9 aspect ratio display. The device will also have a dimension of 155.7 x 68.3 x 8.4mm but there will be a bump at the camera aspect which will have a thickness of 8.9mm.
The Xperia XA3 is also tipped to pack a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor as can be seen on the render. The fingerprint sensor will be located on the right side in between the volume rocker and power button. It also features a USB Type-C port. The device comes with a dual rear camera setup aligned horizontally and centrally located. At the top of the camera will be the LED flash.
As far as the specs go, Sony Xperia XA3 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE octa-core processor which is an upgrade over the SD 630 chipset on the Xperia XA2. The device will have 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage on it top variant.


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It’s been a hot year in the trade secrets field, with some huge verdicts and settlements, a renewed spotlight on cyberattacks, and an unusual flurry of trade secrets legislation. Trade Secrets Watch’s 2013 Year-in-Review highlights the notable trade secrets activity from the past year. READ MORE
Just before the Thanksgiving holiday last week, Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced the Future of American Innovation and Research Act, a new trade secrets bill that would allow American trade secrets owners to sue entities who misappropriate trade secrets outside the United States, or who misappropriate trade secrets on behalf of foreign entities. The bill tracks the Uniform Trade Secret Act’s definitions of “trade secret” and “misappropriation,” and includes standard remedies of damages and injunctive relief. One interesting addition is that it would READ MORE
The U.S. Department of Defense issued final rulemaking on November 18, 2013 that will require DOD contractors to protect from attack confidential technical information on their computer systems, and to report and cooperate with DOD in the event that this information is compromised through a cyberattack. The rules come nearly two years after draft rules were first announced and in the midst of continuing public concern about the threat of state-sponsored trade secrets theft. READ MORE
On February 28, 2008, Hanjuan Jin, a Chinese-born former software engineer for Motorola, arrived at Chicago O’Hare Airport en route to Beijing. During a random customs check, officials discovered that she had a one-way ticket to China, $31,252 in cash, thousands of confidential documents regarding Motorola’s iDEN cell phone technology, and ties to the Chinese military. Her excuse for travelling with thousands of confidential and proprietary Motorola documents in her suitcase? Jin said that she planned to refresh her knowledge of the work she had done over the past years with Motorola, “so that I can prepare myself for further career going [sic].” READ MORE
With Chinese cyber attacks, data security, and industrial espionage occupying more and more space in the headlines, companies are re-evaluating their strategies for guarding sensitive information. There is certain to be more coverage of these issues in the weeks and months ahead — and as usual, we’ll bring you the news and our take on it as it breaks. But as regular Trade Secrets Watch readers know, we also sometimes like to look back at how we got to where we are today. This post examines the historical roots of industrial espionage to offer context on a hot and ever-changing area of concern for trade secrets owners.
Interestingly, the first reported case of industrial espionage involved trade secrets stolen from China, when in 1712 a Jesuit priest discovered the Chinese secret for manufacturing porcelain. He promptly sent the manufacturing details and materials samples to Europe, where they were shared with European merchants.
Another early example of industrial espionage came about in the late eighteenth century, when France found itself attempting to compete with the emerging industrial strength of Great Britain. The French government surreptitiously placed apprentices in English iron and steel yards to abscond with production formulas. To maintain its market dominance, Britain became the first country to pass legislation aimed at preventing industrial espionage.
In the United States, READ MORE
The recent arrest and likely prosecution of three executives at Taiwanese smartphone giant HTC Corporation may foreshadow an era of tougher prosecutions under Taiwan’s newly amended Trade Secrets Act. Although the arrests allegedly target the leaking of Taiwanese trade secrets to China, the case could also signal changes for U.S. companies seeking to recruit talent from Taiwan.
On August 31, 2013, three top HTC product designers were arrested in Taiwan on suspicion of stealing trade secrets and submitting fraudulent expense claims after HTC filed a complaint with the Taiwan Investigation Bureau. The trio allegedly planned to set up a competing design company and stole trade secrets related to HTC’s upcoming “Sense 6.0 UI” design. In addition, they allegedly submitted false commission fees from an external design firm, although the design work was performed in-house.
Companies victimized by intellectual property theft may have a new weapon: asking state attorneys general for civil prosecution under unfair competition laws. Three states have used this tactic already—each time directed at foreign entities.
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley brought the first action in 2012. The case alleged that Narong Seafood, a Thai seafood-processing company operating worldwide, was using unlicensed software programs, giving Narong an unfair advantage over local businesses. In response to this action, Narong signed an “Assurance of Discontinuance,” paid a $10,000 penalty to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and agreed to comply with the Massachusetts unfair competition statute.
California joined Massachusetts in early 2013, when Attorney General Kamala Harris sued two foreign apparel manufacturers — one Indian and one Chinese — under the state’s unfair competition statute. The complaints allege that the companies use pirated computer software programs as part of their manufacturing process, and that this piracy allows the foreign companies to save costs and gain a substantial and unfair advantage over competitors in California who pay for the software they use. READ MORE
Trade secret theft knows no borders in an age of cybertheft and global corporate espionage. But U.S. district courts are often too slow and procedurally ill-equipped to help in cases of international misappropriation, with several recent cases never getting off the ground because of problems serving foreign defendants. Increasingly, victims of foreign misappropriation are turning to the U.S. International Trade Commission — a body armed to hit back at trade secret thieves anywhere in the world.
For companies seeking to remedy the theft of trade secrets by overseas perpetrators, the options have been limited, especially if the thief or the products the thief produces are outside of the United States. Procedural hurdles like obtaining jurisdiction over a foreign company, or the perpetrator’s resident country being inhospitable to claims by an American victim, can thwart an American corporation’s ability to prosecute the foreign theft of its own trade secrets.
An ITC action doesn’t present these obstacles. READ MORE
There’s been a lot of news lately about the Chinese military allegedly launching cyber attacks to steal U.S. trade secrets. This has gotten people riled up, including the President of the United States, who issued a 5-point plan for protecting American trade secrets. The White House called on the public to make suggestions for new federal legislation to combat this growing threat. (Submissions were due April 22, 2013.)
This is a time of great opportunity to do something big to protect U.S. trade secrets. Unfortunately, some proposed solutions aren’t taking advantage of this opportunity. Some industry groups, for example, have suggested adopting new federal trade secret legislation that would not preempt state laws and only cover cases of “international misappropriation,” or only cover misappropriation by or for the benefit of foreign governments, companies, or individuals.
Respectfully, measures of this type don’t address the real issue and aren’t seizing the moment. The real lesson of Chinese cyberhacking is not that China has hackers targeting America, but that U.S. companies’ trade secrets are READ MORE


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Rail Strike Temporarily Delayed
On July 15, 2022, a rail strike threatening the supply chain was temporarily delayed. The union
employees continue to be deadlocked with the rail carriers. President Biden named a three-member
team, who created an emergency board tasked with helping to resolve disputes between freight rail
carriers and the unions. The Presidential action temporarily halted a strike, while they work to resolve
the dispute. Union workers have been working without a contract since 2020 and are demanding higher
pay and better working conditions. The potential rail strike is on hold for a 30-day cooling period;
however, the threat continues to loom if the two sides cannot reach a deal. Approximately 30% of U.S.
cargo is moved by rail and a strike could bring the supply chain to a grinding halt as thousands of
containers move off the docks by rail. On dock congestion at the twin ports of LA/LB would increase
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA)
On July 26, 2022, a tentative health benefit agreement was reached while other issues remain in
negotiations. Both parties have agreed not to discuss the terms of the tentative agreement as
negotiations continue. Continuing health benefits is an important part of the contract being negotiated
between employers represented by the PMA and workers represented by the ILWU. The contract
expired on July 1, 2022, and the labor workforce continues to move the cargo without interruption.
Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach Postpone On-Dock Dwell Fee Until August 26, 2022
Since November 1, 2021, the ports have been extending the Container Dwell Fee collection of on-dock
dwell fee on a weekly basis; however, on July 29, 2022, the twin ports announced that they would delay
implementing the fee by four weeks on ocean carriers whose import containers linger too long at
marine terminals. The plan, when implemented, would charge ocean carriers $100 per container,
increasing in $100 increments per container per day until the container leaves the terminal. Since the
program was announced on October 25, 2021, the ports have seen a continued decline of 26% in aging
cargo on the docks and have yet to assess fees.
Port of Savannah
Shippers avoided the West Coast because of uncertainty amid contract negotiations. Cargo ships
diverted from the west coast to the east coast ports resulted in the Port of Savannah currently
experiencing 40 cargo vessels waiting at the mouth of the river as the port berths are full and ships
continue to wait for over a week in anchorage.
Port of Oakland
Owner Operator Truckers protesting the AB-5 California law closed the Port of Oakland for 3 days which
created a backlog of on dock containers.
Please contact your Western Overseas representative with any questions.


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M stock was up 9% as of Wednesday morning. The company reported $2.82 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.11. Macy's had a net margin of 6.23% and a return on equity of 24.93%.
Macy's Inc's revenue for the first quarter of 2018 was $5.54 billion. This is better than the earnings per share of 26 cents reported in the same time past year. (NYSE:M) hit a new 52-week high and low during trading on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The firm has a market cap of $9.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.73. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $29.10 per share, for a total transaction of $291,000.00. "We're getting better sell-throughs and more value for it". Apart From this, the company estimates that comparable sales were up 1.7 percent on an owned plus licensed basis. Institutional investors own 89.05% of the company's stock.
Macy's is riding high after pulling off a strong first quarter - keeping up its momentum following robust holiday sales. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 5,013,391 shares of the company's stock worth $109,392,000 after purchasing an additional 2,153,110 shares during the last quarter.
The company said in a call discussing its quarterly results that most of the benefits of its strategic initiatives will be seen in the second half of the year. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 599,936 shares of the company's stock valued at $15,112,000 after acquiring an additional 42,796 shares during the last quarter.
Mexico doubts that a NAFTA deal is possible by Thursday target date
Ildefonoso Guajardo told his country's Televisa network that he doesn't see a deal happening by Thursday, which the U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday and discussed the possibility of bringing NAFTA talks to a "prompt conclusion".
And this timing shift likely means second-quarter results are going to look relatively weak compared to a year earlier. American International Group Inc. now owns 23,923,612 shares of the company's stock valued at $602,636,000 after acquiring an additional 11,894,858 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Macy's by 13.6% in the 1st quarter. On an owned plus licensed basis, comparable sales were up 4.2 percent for the first quarter of 2018. Finally, Schwab Charles Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Macy's by 22.6% in the fourth quarter.
A number of equities analysts have recently commented on M shares.
Shares of Macy's opened at $29.63 on Tuesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. In recent weeks, the company acquired the retail concept Story, an acquisition that brought with it a much-talked-about innovator in founder Rachel Shechtman, and also announced it has broadened its loyalty program beyond credit card holders and expanded its off-price Backstage business. Also, Chairman Jeffrey Gennette acquired 10,000 shares of Macy's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 12th. Deutsche Bank boosted their target price on shares of Macy's from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, February 26th.
Just last week, Morgan Stanley downgraded Macy's shares, citing declining sales and profit "pressure" from online players for the ratings change. The stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $26.63.


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Nexus 6P is the smartphone that was introduced last year along with the Nexus 5X. The Nexus 6P was Huawei made while the Nexus 5X was LG made. Both the devices debuted with Android Marshmallow.
Now Sprint Network in USA has pushed a new update to the Huawei Nexus 6P. The latest update is nothing major but just a security patch. It brings security patches for the month of January 2017. So with this update, the Nexus 6P becomes a device with latest security patches on board.
The latest update brings build number as N4F261. It has a build date of January 5, 2017. The update also brings patches to Android Nougat 7.1.1 . The changelog includes security patches, performance improvements and some bug fixes as well.


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We are proud to be part of the Migros Group. The Federation of Migros Cooperatives (FMC) has acquired our start-up on 31 March 2022.
What does that mean for you?
bestsmile always strives for the highest quality and the best service for all customers. Our high-quality standard also convinced Migros, which fills us with pride and motivates us to continue to give our best – to make sure you get your most beautiful smile.
bestsmile has been growing with great success since it was founded in 2018. With 36 locations throughout Switzerland and a product range consisting of Aligners & Veneers, bestsmile has become the Swiss market leader for teeth straightening in a very short time.
Sparrow Ventures, the Growth Equity Investor of the Migros Group, already invested in bestsmile in 2019. Lorenz Lüchinger, CEO of Sparrow Ventures, joined the Board of Directors of bestsmile in 2019 and says he has always believed in the team and the potential of bestsmile. “The positive business development and the rapidly growing market have now prompted Migros to acquire the company.” Sparrow Ventures will now manage bestsmile on behalf of the FMC. With this acquisition, the three bestsmile founders, namely Ertan Wittwer, Marcel Kubli and Philip Magoulas (former CEO, COO and CFO respectively) are to withdraw from the operating business.
A new management team from bestsmile’s own ranks
Except for the changes in the management team, nothing else will change under the Migros ownership. The fact that the new management team could all be recruited internally makes bestsmile particularly proud. Michael Wendt, formerly Chief Revenue Officer, will step into the role of CEO. Christoph Kohler, previously Head of Finance and Marketing, will take over the position of CFO. And Dominic Schär is leaving his role of Head of Retail to become the new CRO.
“I’m proud to see bestsmile becoming part of the Migros Group, a Swiss institution. So far, we’ve already helped put a smile on the faces of more than 27,000 people in Switzerland. With this backing, bestsmile is bound to become a relevant player for an even larger part of the population. I’m particularly proud that the entire new management team was recruited internally and will continue to uphold our culture and our vision in the future”, commented Ertan Wittwer.
The three founders will continue to work with the company in an advisory capacity. Ertan Wittwer remains a member of the Board of Directors, joined by Lorenz Lüchinger (CEO of Sparrow Ventures), Michel Gruber (Head of Retail at Migros and Chairman of the Board of Sparrow Ventures) and Marcel Napierala (CEO of MedBase). bestsmile aims to grow even further with Migros as an institution at its side.
“This is a unique opportunity for our company. Our values match those of our new owner perfectly: we will be making our locally manufactured products accessible to and affordable for everyone in Switzerland. In the future, we will focus on solving even more complex cases with our combination of Aligners and Veneers.” comments Michael Wendt.
The whole bestsmile team would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the successful past 3.5 years, for the great achievements, the remarkable team spirit, the wonderful work culture and everything we were able to take away and learn along the way. We wish Ertan, Marcel and Philip continued success and all the best for the future!
We are looking to the future with enthusiasm and are very excited to drive our mission forward: to give everyone a flawless smile at a fair price.


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USA: Pepperidge Farm launches chocolate-dipped cookies
Pepperidge Farm, part of Campbell Soup Company, has announced the introduction of its new Chocolate Dipped cookies, tapping into the trend for indulgent products.
"New Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Dipped cookies are perfect for anyone who is looking for the ultimate, indulgent reward," said Michael Simon, vice president and general manager of snacks. "By adding extraordinary, rich chocolate to the unique and distinctive cookies consumers already love, these new Pepperidge Farm Chocolate Dipped cookies provide a treat for chocolate lovers everywhere."
The new line of cookies comes in three varieties: Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Chunk, Chocolate Dipped Chessmen and Chocolate Dipped Soft Baked Dark Chocolate Brownie. The new cookies will be available in grocery stores in October.
Pepperidge Farm's products include Chocolate Chunk and Milano cookies, and Goldfish crackers. The company was acquired by Campbell Soup Company in 1961.
Companies: Campbell Soup Co.
Food producers with small domestic markets could struggle to make their business viable, unless they can conquer the export market. But in Tasmania, producers are cashing in on demand for gourmet prod...
Campbell Soup Company has reported net earnings for the second quarter to 29 January of US$254m, against $235m in the same period the previous year. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter rose fro...
A Tennessee family has claimed that it found a dead mouse in a can of Campbell's soup. Phyllis Ingram said her 89-year-old grandmother had actually spooned the mouse from a bowl into her mouth....
Campbell Soup Co is preparing to launch its soups and other products in Russia in 2006, the Vedomosti newspaper reported yesterday (20 December)....
Campbell Soup Company today (Monday) reported net earnings increased to $302m in the first quarter ended 30 October 2005 versus $230m in the prior year....
A US district court has ruled in favour of US food company Campbell Soup in a lawsuit that was brought against Campbell and several of its subsidiaries in February 2002 by an entity representing the i...
US food company Campbell Soup has reported net earnings for the fourth quarter to 31 July of US$96m, or 23 cents per share, versus $59m, or 14 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter....
Dairy company Fonterra Co-operative Group has announced that Bonlac Supply Company shareholders today voted 94% cent in favour of Fonterra's offer to restructure Bonlac Foods Limited which, as a resul...
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CAPE TOWN – The country’s largest cement maker, PPC, which is struggling for financial survival, on Monday received a double dollop of good news after it was granted immunity from a long-standing competition case and announced strong cement sales.
The group reported a R2.39 billion loss versus a R162 million profit for the year to the end March compared with the prior year, due in part to tough competition from lower-priced imported cement, and it subsequently announced a number of material accounting restatements.
In its recent annual report, its auditor, Deloitte, also issued a critical report that highlighted “material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting” as one of several key audit matters that needed to be addressed by the cement and lime producer.
PPC’s shares, however, gained 3.45 percent yesterday afternoon to 60 cents, after falling steadily over the past 12 months from R3.30 a share.
PPC said the strong recovery in sales in South Africa and Botswana after the lockdown had continued, with cement sales volumes up by 20 to 25 percent year on year from July to September. This is in line with the relatively strong sales reported by other building materials producers, such as Raubex and Afrimat.
PPC’s strong sales continued last month, with sales up 15 to 20 percent over the same month last year, with the increase primarily driven by retail sales. Higher cement sales are being driven by consumers spending less on other discretionary products due to reduced movement, while also benefiting from low interest rates and various social relief grants.
The announcement came as the country graft authorities granted PPC immunity from prosecution in the long-standing cement cartel case that started in 2008 and had implicated the country’s major cement producers.
The Competition Tribunal confirmed a settlement agreement between PPC and the Competition Commission that granted the cement company immunity from prosecution. This after PPC was the first company to admit that it had been involved in collusive conduct that involved price-fixing and market-sharing.
Two other cement makers, AfriSam and Lafarge, also admitted to price fixing and market sharing between 1995 and 2009 following the commission’s probe. AfriSam paid a settlement fine of R124.88m in 2012, and Lafarge also paid a R148.72m fine. A case was dismissed against Natal Portland Cement (NPC).
In terms of the agreement with the commission, PPC has undertaken to not engage in price-fixing or any form of prohibited conduct in the future.
“In addition, it will have to develop a competition law compliance programme,” the commission said.
The commission launched an investigation into the cement industry in June 2008, and it probed alleged anti-competitive conduct between 1995 and 2009 by NPC, PPC, Lafarge Industries South Africa and AfriSam Consortium.
According to the investigation allegations, the cement cartel had agreed in 1995 to allocate each cement producer the market share it had held before 1996, when a lawful cement cartel existed under apartheid, and the cartel also agreed to collude and divide up cement markets in Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia.
The commission also alleged that, following a price war, cement companies held a series of meetings and concluded further collusive agreements to stabilise the industry.
PPC said yesterday it had started to experience the positive impact of increased infrastructure spending, which it hoped would continue to carry the strong demand once retail sales volumes returned to more normalised levels.
The government has made massive infrastructure investment a cornerstone of its post-pandemic economic recovery programme, and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, which is spearheading the planning of the projects, has indicated that the first projects were likely to be announced early next year.
The cement maker said its international operations were less affected by the Covid-19.
From July to September this year, sales volumes in PPC Zimbabwe and PPC Barnet increased by 35 to 40 percent and 20 to 25 percent respectively, compared with the same period in 2019.
Last month, however, saw moderate growth in cement volumes for PPC Zimbabwe of about 5 percent compared with October last year, while PPC Barnet continued to experience strong growth, with cement volumes up 25 to 30 percent compared with October last year.
Despite the continued positive sales momentum, however, the group remained cautious on the outlook for the rest of the 2021 financial year given the ongoing health crisis and its impact on economic activity.
PPC planned to also recapitalise its international operations before the end of this calendar year.
PPC shares rose 3.45 percent on the JSE on Wednesday to close at R0.60.


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The seminar, entitled "Traceability - Your Product in the Pipeline," will include results of a pilot project using radio frequency identification (RFID) to trace food from the field to the shelf.
"With recent outbreaks of food borne illnesses, the vegetable industry has been proactive in developing a plan to trace any fresh product to its origination," said FFVA's marketing & international trade division director Danny Raulerson.
The seminar, coordinated by Raulerson, will cover lessons learned in the traceability pilot project conducted by the Produce Marketing Association and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association that tested the feasibility of using RFID to track product starting at the distribution level.
"Many obstacles were overcome during the creation of this system. The seminar will show participants how this was accomplished," said Raulerson.
Guest speakers are Bruce Peterson, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of perishables for Wal-Mart, and Doug Grant, chief information officer for The Oppenheimer Group, a Canadian marketer of fresh produce from all over the world.
Peterson oversees all meat, produce, dairy, frozen, floral, bakery and commercial bread operations for Wal-Mart Stores, its domestic Supercenters and the new Neighborhood Markets. Grant serves on several industry committees; including co-chair of both Can-Trace and CPTTF Traceability committees. He received the 2003 Canadian Produce Man of the Year award. The convention is to be held 26 to 28 September 2004 in Florida, USA.
The ability to trace food to its origins has become an increasingly critical issue for biosecurity and food safety, and many food manufacturers are looking at how best to apply the concept to fresh produce. In a separate move, a partnership between Merit-Trax, Syscan and Sensor Wireless was recently formed for this specific purpose.
Merit-Trax Technologies has selected Syscan International as its exclusive supplier of RFID technology for its Trax-IT Fructus software application. The application is designed to record and report quality inspections and environmental conditions of fresh fruits and vegetables from harvest to retail.
"Merit-Trax has developed an innovative software/hardware offering for the fresh fruits and vegetables segment of the food industry supply chain that is a perfect fit for our RFID technology," said Syscan International president Axel Striefler.
"The immense potential of the fruit and vegetable marketplace is extremely exciting for our company and the sector is highly synergistic with our meat and seafood segment. We believe that Merit-Trax will play an important role in the deployment of our technology in the Americas."
Sensor Wireless has been selected to supply its sensor technology, which will provide environmental and physio-chemical information to complement the system.
The Merit-Trax solution provides traceability and automates the capture of the physio-chemical quality and environmental data of fresh produce. This, says the company, enables producers to measure the benefits of precision farming methods.
The technology also provides traceability to verify the quality of fresh produce as it moves through the supply chain by monitoring temperature and environmental conditions in real-time.
"Our Trax-IT Fructus software provides traceability, quality and inspection management in real-time from seed to the retailer's backdoor," said Merit-Trax director of sales and marketing Bob Aubertin.
"We strongly believe that Syscan's RFID technology will play a significant role in delivering an effective, efficient, value added application for our customers."
The application will be compliant with the EAN/UCC Global Standards for traceability and with international regulations for exporting produce to markets outside of Canada.


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Intellectual property laws exist to create a safe environment for innovators-once intellectual property rights are created, even without registration, it protects the creator’s product and gives them the right to various legal remedies in case of infringement.
New York residents may not know what haptic technology is, but they engage with it every time they use their latest version of many of their smartphones– it is technology that adds the sensation of touch to computers and devices. Since many tech companies have incorporated the technology into their devices, many users may not be aware that the original technology is patented by a company that is claiming their intellectual property rights have been violated.
Haptic feedback developer Immersion is exercising their right to protect their intellectual property by suing Apple for allegedly infringing three of their patents. According to the company, multiple versions of Apple iPhones violate the patent, as they use vibrations on their touch-screens to let users know their touch has been felt and even as they differentiate between a heavy touch and a light one. According to the company, they have already patented this technology. Not only is Immersion trying to recover damages from the company, but also cease and desist measures that would make it impossible to sell some of the products using the technology within America.
Protecting the investments one has made within a business is reasonable and many New York innovators should keep this in mind when developing new technology and products. An experienced intellectual property litigation lawyer may be able to help guide creators on how to protect themselves.
Source: RT, “‘Immersed in trouble’: Apple sued for touch screen intellectual property violations,” Feb. 13, 2016


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Last Friday, we jumped in Claire’s trusted Mini Cooper and headed up from London to the opening day of the British Shooting Show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Arriving promptly at 10am, we were greeted immediately by the friendly folks at the GWCT stand and couldn’t believe the scale of the hall ahead of us. With hundreds of exhibitors across all areas of fieldsports, the British Shooting show is the UK’s largest retail show – from shotguns and rifles to airguns, conservation to gamekeeping and clothing to gundogs, the show covers everything we love about fieldsports.
Upon entering the show, we were blown away by the amazing organisation and set-up of what is a very focused and professional show. Catching up with industry friends and organisations for most of the morning, we were lucky enough to be representing Zambuni client, the British Game Alliance.
The end of season summary report covers a Commercial Update from Commercial Director, Matt Tough, including progress and confirmed key stockists, plus plans for 2019 across new products, retail, exports and food services. Sam Adams, Shoot Account Manager, offers an update on key shoot achievements, challenges and services.
The report also summarises the 2018/19 Assurance Scheme and Standards that have successfully been launched, along with an update from Amy Lowe, Marketing Manager, on the in-house and external marketing strategy that has been put in place to promote the BGA and benefits of game meat to the industry and wider public.
British Game Alliance Chairman, Ivan Shenkman, said “This has been an astonishing inaugural year for the British Game Alliance. The BGA has achieved far more than the founding members believed was possible in the early stages. We are well on the way to achieving many of our initial objectives and planning many exciting developments for the future.”
Please contact the British Game Alliance to pick up a hardcopy of the end of season report or read it online here.
Thank you to the British Shooting Show for a fantastic day – we are looking forward to 2020 already.


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The next movement
There’s a new trend sweeping the streets of Los Angeles these days: Pizza bagels. Funny as it sounds, the simple childhood favorite is now popping up on more than a few menus, complete with big, wide slices of pepperoni. First up is Belle’s Bagels in Highland Park, which this week is offering the item as a weekday option for those who ask. But the bigger movement is coming from the Yeastie Boys, who are doing a monthlong tour around town, popping up with their bagels at shops like Uncle Paulie’s Deli (10/1 - 10/13), Prime Pizza in Little Tokyo (10/14 - 10/25), and Purgatory Pizza (10/26 - 11/2). Just get to the restaurants on the right day next month and ask.
Umami gives back
The Umami Burger team is partnering up with Meals on Wheels to bring awareness to the quarter-million aging Angelenos who may suffer from food scarcity. Stop in for a meal and be sure to let them know it’s to support St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, and the company will donate $2 to the organization.
Things are coming along nicely at Barcade on York in Highland Park. While the construction site is, well, a construction site for now, expect multiple bars, pinball machines galore, and a whole lot more fun stuff.
True, we are still digging in the dirt at the moment but it won’t be long now! Just squint real hard and you’ll see 60 video games, 12 pinball machines, 2 bars (yes, two!), and 25 craft beers! #Barcade #LA #LosAngeles #HighlandPark pic.twitter.com/oFq4FVFwIr— Barcade (@Barcade_LA) September 17, 2018
There’s a big harvest party going down at the end of the month at San Antonio Winery. The fun outdoor party features plenty to drink and eat, with confirmed vendors like Rutt’s Hawaiian BBQ, The Gumbo Boys, Pizzanista, and more.
LA Magazine has a great feature out on Rincon Chileno, the decades-old East Hollywood deli that, according to them, has acted as “second Chilean consulate” for customers for years.
Pasadena party time
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Tastes & Sounds on South Lake Avenue, a free outdoor music and food event going down on September 29 from noon to 5 p.m. Expect live cooking demos, music, and food from tons of local names like Mercado’s Jose Acevedo.
The noodle kings
The Woon team is popping up again, this time on Saturday at Resident in the Arts District. Expect some of LA’s best noodles, plus music of course.


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The last time Jaguar launched a really important new coupe, it launched its "Gorgeous" campaign to help sell it. The marquee television spot had a spare musical arrangement and actor Willem Dafoe narrating a montage of obscenely chic lifestyle scenes washed in cool tones. As a luxury proposition, it was certainly a gorgeous commercial.
Our post on China's "Tiger mom" phenomenon was illustrated with that above picture; it's the Jeep Wrangler Dragon Design Concept at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, accompanied by a booth professional. The model – her, not the Jeep – made a fair few friends in the Autoblog Comments section, but it turns out she and her kind attracted the ire of the Chinese authorities.


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Nets of coverage for new salmon plant
Thursday, November 1st, 2012
on behalf of Meridian Salmon Group
New salmon plant in Rosyth creates over 300 jobs
A new salmon processing plant has begun operation on the doorstep of Rosyth. Even before opening in November, Meridian Salmon Group announced that they intend to expand the ultra-modern processing plant, creating in excess of 300 new jobs.
Praise of the new plant came from Helen Eadie MSP, which caught the attention of the local and surrounding press, making huge headlines in The Courier, The Orcadion, Argyllshire Advertiser and Dunfermline Press.
Can your business get headlines like this?
Our Edinburgh PR Agency believes that every business has a story that, with a firm hand and creative mindset, has the potential to get business boosting coverage.
Contact us below to find out how this scottish PR agency can help you.
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Eggland’s Best and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) marked a historic occasion as they commemorated the 30 billionth USDA-certified Eggland’s Best egg during a private event in Washington D.C on Tuesday, September 18, attended by key personnel from the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Eggland’s Best. To help put the immensity of this notable milestone into perspective, 30 billion eggs would circle Earth 38 times!
It’s no surprise that EB has reached the 30 billionth milestone. As the country’s #1 egg, Eggland’s Best eggs are produced by approved, licensed farms located throughout the United States, and are delivered fresh to local supermarkets. Independent testing published in the Journal of Applied Poultry Research has also confirmed that Eggland’s Best eggs stay fresher longer than ordinary eggs.
“At Eggland’s Best, we hold our eggs to the strictest production and safety standards,” said Charlie Lanktree, President and CEO of Eggland’s Best. “Our 30 billionth USDA-approved egg is a testament to our commitment to providing the highest quality egg possible with superior nutrition, taste, and freshness.”
The egg grading requirements for Eggland’s Best eggs are actually more stringent than the USDA’s standards. Compared to USDA grading of regular eggs, Eggland’s Best eggs require a higher level of quality and fewer cracks. In fact, Grade A specifications for Eggland’s Best eggs are more stringent than standard Grade AA specifications for regular eggs.
As part of the EB 27-point quality and freshness program, we conduct more than 45,000 tests every year to ensure that the freshness, nutrition and quality standards of EB eggs are not only met, but exceeded.
“This is such an incredible achievement and I am proud to partner with Eggland’s Best,” said Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner. “Eggland’s Best eggs are delicious and have higher levels of essential vitamins and nutrients when compared to ordinary eggs, which is why they are the only eggs I recommend to my clients and serve my family.”
Compared to ordinary eggs, EB eggs contain six times more vitamin D, 25% less saturated fat, more than double the Omega-3s, ten times more vitamin E and more than double the vitamin B12. EB eggs are also an excellent source of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B5. Our superior nutritional profile is due to the high-quality feed that contains superior levels of vitamins and minerals compared to ordinary hen feed and has no animal by-products or fat.


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Audi Q2 SUV launched in India, live updates: Highlights
Will Audi Q2 manage to attract dedicated admirers of Audi and bring in new members?
Here are the highlights from the launch of Audi Q2 right here:
That's all from us for the day. Stories and features keep flowing in on HT Auto
Thank you for joining us.
How exactly does Audi plan on wooing new buyers?
Click here to know of Audi's plans to expand customer base courtesy Q2.
Here's our quickfire take on why Q2 deserves to be bought. And why it merits a re-think:
Also check these Cars
Read our in-depth launch report of Audi Q2 here:
For full report, click here.
...and the Q2 has been officially launched!
Q2 SUV from Audi starts at ₹34.99 lakh (ex showroom, India). Audi assures an affordable cost of ownership courtesy its 'Peace of Mind' package.
Five trims available on Q2
Q2 hopes to replicate the success of Q products in India.
Did you know? 46% of vehicles sold by Audi here are SUVs.
What excites Virat Kohli?
Audi brand ambassador and India cricket captain Virat Kohli says Q2 will open the luxury car brand to more fans.
Dhillon highlights the advantage Audi has had in being the first luxury car brand in India to move into digital space in a big way.
Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon says while 2020 has caused hiccups, it has also underlined the resolve to push forward with product launches and back pre-owned car business.
Launch event for Q2 about to begin
All searching eyes would be on how Audi decides to price its smallest SUV here.
Q2's biggest strength lies in the way it drives. A peppy engine, a favourable power-to-weight ratio and Quattro technology make it an absolute driver's delight.
Did you know? Q2 claims to hit 100 kmph in just a little less than seven seconds.
All you need to know about Audi Q2 SUV
Just in case you missed it, here's our first-drive review of Q2:
Not your usual menacing SUV this
The design and proportions of the Q2 are a step away from the SUVs in the Audi family with this offering sporting more of a crossover profile, especially on the side.
The swooping roofline towards the blackened C-pillar whispers of a coupe-ish appeal hitherto unseen in any Q product.
Audi's wide SUV portfolio
Q2 will sit at the entry point of Audi's SUV portfolio in India which is capped by the RS Q8 priced at ₹2.07 crore (ex showroom).
Q2 is being brought to India via the completely built unit (CBU) route. Audi India is utilising the government's provision of allowing a total of 2,500 cars to be imported and be sold here without the need for undergoing the process to meet local regulatory requirements as long as the model has certification from the EU or Japan.
It is not just about buying
Audi has already announced an introductory ‘Peace of Mind’ benefit that comes bundled with a 5 year Service Package with 2+3 years Extended Warranty and 2+3 years Road Side Assistance.
Why is the Q2 so important for Audi?
In a press statement last week, Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon had explained the significance of Q2 for the company here. " The Audi Q2 is an extremely important product for India as it opens up a new segment of buyers for the brand," he had said. " It is a Luxury All-Rounder that is big on features and extends the successful Q-family.
Audi has recently opened the bookings for Q2 SUV. Interested customers can make bookings by paying a deposit of ₹2 lakh.
Product offensive from Audi
Q2 SUV will be the fifth launch from the company in India this year as it looks to match up to the flurry of launches in rival camps, especially Mercedes-Benz.


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Samsung is the world's largest memory manufacturer, so when the industry takes a nosedive, it can hit the company like a ton of bricks. Said bricks are about to land thanks to its first-quarter profits, with the company projecting a steep 95.8% decline year-over-year (YoY). Samsung's plummeting revenue will cause the company to join its bigger rivals—SK Hynix and Micron—in cutting back production to balance the supply and demand equation. If Samsung's projection comes true, it will mark the worst quarter for the company in 14 years.
The pandemic seems to be the main driver for the memory industry's woes. Every company made record profits and produced as many semiconductors as possible. When that eased up in 2022, people held off on computer purchases as they returned to work. This seemingly led companies to hold too much inventory because they figured they'd sell it all eventually. As inflation circled the globe, it worsened the situation. This continues even today, with everything aside from DRAM costing more than it used to.
Samsung blames its dismal earnings on a weaker world economy and excess inventory held by its customers. In response, the company said it would begin "lowering the production of memory chips by a meaningful level," according to The Guardian. This was a challenging quarter for Samsung, but it followed a tough year that saw memory prices fall by 70%.
The news means Samsung is a bit late to the production reduction party, as its biggest competitors announced they were taking action to correct prices just a few weeks ago. One analyst in The Guardian piece said that Samsung was notably missing from that party, so its arrival has been expected. Prices are expected to fall through the second quarter, so these memory makers aren't out of the woods yet.
However, most analysts expect the industry to rebound later this year, or possibly in 2024 when the PC upgrade cycle starts anew. Microsoft is expected to launch Windows 12 around that time, which will spur people to buy new computers. Also, all computer hardware purchased during the pandemic will be due for an upgrade. In the meantime, if you've been eyeballing a memory upgrade, now would be the time to seriously consider it before prices rise.


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Simply Amazinc’s first product, the SoundBenderTM amplifier, has successfully met its funding goal of $4,500 as it continues to gain momentum on the popular crowdfunding website Kickstarter.
Creator Rabbi Moshe Weiss put the product on Kickstarter on June 19 this year. The funding campaign does not officially end until August 18, but it has already reached its goal. With 19 days left, Weiss hope to reach at least $10,000 in total funding.
“I am very happy that my product has funded, I am glad the people are backing my project,” said Weiss. “I am looking towards my stretch goal now, and I believe we can get there.”
Founded in 2010, the industry website, Crowdsourcing.org, is a neutral organization dedicated solely
to crowdsourcing and crowdfunding. As one of the most influential and credible authorities in the crowdsourcing space,
Crowdsourcing.org is recognized worldwide for its intellectual capital, crowdsourcing and crowdfunding
practice expertise and unbiased thought leadership.