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South Australian brewery highlights its craft brewing roots with new direction.
As COVID stops them hosting brewers at their Tasmanian and Victorian farms.
Canberra brewery has been inundated with enquiries since Crankshaft’s success.
As the 2021 Craft Beer Marketing Awards now accept entries from Down Under.
Relaxed rules regarding the likes of takeaway alcohol sales to end on February 1.
SA brewery backs new festival and an initiative to bring people back to the pub.
As Fermentum also announce plans for a major expansion to its brewing capabilities.
After six and a half years Sam Reid steps down, Warwick Billings takes his place.
B2B beverages marketplace caps off year of huge growth with addition of BrewDog.
How do you stand out in 2021 when e-commerce will be more important than ever?
The 2020 Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers could be the most hotly contested ever.
Treasury Brisbane and RQFWS launch best new Queensland craft brewer award.
Adelaide Hills’ Lobethal Bierhaus the big winner in the events 10th anniversary.
The news comes as flights to and from the nation’s capital rise as restrictions ease.
From best brewer to best new brewery, find out who won the gongs this year.
Pete Meddings is one of the trans-Tasman beer industry’s most influential people.
Mountain Culture have had a meteoric rise since launching in October 2019.
Deeds’ head brewer caps a massive year of output with winning the Best Brewer award.
This year has been the toughest yet for Small Acres Cyder’s James Kendell.
Despite fierce competition Beer Cartel win this award for the fourth year in a row.
Thornbury bottleshop rides out COVID lockdowns and builds on their success.
Moon Dog World Preston was made to win an award called Best Brewery Experience.
For the fourth year running Yarraville’s Grain and Grape take out this award.
Green Beacon, Wildflower and Mountain Culture win the three awards.


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Jan 24, 2020
Details have emerged for the latest addition to Glenwood Place with plans for a new high-end multifamily building plus retail space.
Raleigh-based Grubb Ventures along with Ascentris Real Estate of Denver have announced plans for the Residences at Glenwood Place, an upscale, 278-unit apartment community with luxury amenities, conference rooms and around 10,000 square feet of retail space.
The project is situated in Glenwood Place off Glenwood Avenue just inside the beltline.
“We are so excited to be partnering with Ascentris again by adding luxury multifamily to our office and retail offerings at Glenwood Place,” says Grubb Ventures CEO, Gordon Grubb. “Our objective for Glenwood Place is for it to become the most sought after mixed-used community throughout the Triangle. With its high-quality walkable retail, dining and beverage options, boutique fitness, personal services, outstanding architecture, extensive landscaping and pervasive local art, Glenwood Place will distinguish itself as the very best community in the region.”
Construction is expected to begin later this year with the first units to be completed by the end of 2021. Amenities will include: package rooms with cold storage; a pet park and spa; a two-level fitness center; a saltwater pool; a wine lounge; an art workshop; a 2,000-square-foot tenant lounge; conference rooms and fully-covered garage parking, according to Grubb Ventures.
The retail space is expected to feature restaurants, boutique retailers, fitness offerings and personal service uses.
Grubb Ventures acts as the developer and property manager for all the properties in Glenwood Place. Cline Design Associates will serve as the architect of The Residences, and Harold K. Jordan, and Co. will serve as the general contractor for the development. PNC provided construction financing, and JLL served as the mortgage broker.
This project is the latest step in the growing relationship between Grubb Ventures and Ascentris.
The Denver firm first connected with Grubb when it acquired 3700 Glenwood – where Grubb's offices are located – and the development of 3800 Glenwood – which is expected to be finished this year.
“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Grubb Ventures. The early successes at 3700 and 3800 Glenwood Place and Sojourn speak to the demand for high-quality, well-located suburban real estate from office tenants and multifamily residents alike,” says Ascentris Managing Director and Partner Tricia Noble, in a release. “We have been very impressed with Grubb’s long-term vision of creating one of the very best mixed-use communities throughout all of Raleigh and we look forward to participating in that vision going forward.”
In addition the Residences, Grubb says there's an additional 14 acres of undeveloped land at Glenwood Place, though plans have yet to be finalized. It's currently zoned for five stories of multifamily development, but Grubb says he is considering pursuing a taller entitlement for the property.

domain: news


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5@5 is a food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.
Editor's note: Brothers Matt Lee and Ted Lee recently both hosted and cooked at the James Beard Book, Broadcast, and Journalism Awards ceremony. Their latest book, "The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen" won an International Association of Culinary Professionals award in the American cookbooks category, and the duo are about to launch Cookbook Boot Camp, a two-day intensive workshop for professional chefs and others eager to publish cookbooks of quality.
Like many regions of the country, South Carolina's Lowcountry experienced a cold, hard winter that seemed like it would never end. And it wreaked more than a bit of havoc on the ingredients we forage for - and typically find abundant - come Spring. Something about their being less plentiful made us realize how much we love them and wish they had a bigger platform, a more prominent venue, leagues more supporters.
It’s exciting to have farmers in the South digging deep into seed banks, finding heirloom grains and legumes that haven’t been tasted for decades. But we’d also like to shine a light on these five naturalized plant ingredients that already grow in abundance and are often overlooked. So this is a call to action to chefs in the South - and elsewhere - to get hip to the brilliance of FREE FOOD.
5 practically free ingredients we wish more Southern chefs would use: Matt Lee and Ted Lee
Your mom probably never gave you better advice than when she said, "Eat your fruits and veggies."
But eating healthy may seem harder come fall, when favorite produce options dwindle and less familiar ones appear.
Never fear. Now that warm months are gone - and with them the berries, corn and other produce we find easier to incorporate into our diets - a new menu of foods is available to keep you healthy and happy.
Here in the cold, dark, horrible nub end months of the year, I jam clementines into my mouth like it's my job. Two, four, six at a sitting, I'll dig the edge of my least-ragged nail into the rind and claw away the loose skin to reveal the dewy, seedless segments inside. Rinds pile up in pungent heaps on every flat surface around me - exoskeletons shed by sweet-blooded alien insects that have come to Earth to lift me from my seasonal funk.
I'd stop and take them to a trash bin, but that would mean precious seconds not spent stuffing oranges into my face in the manner of a crazed bonobo. I will set upon a cheap, plywood crate or red net sack full of clementines and dispatch quarters, thirds, halves at a time until there is nothing left but a fine mist of citrus oil coating all nearby surfaces like a cheery arterial spray.
I am certain it is horrifying to watch, and it is in the best interest of all my personal and professional relationships that these little fruits are only available for a brief period each winter.
The Wall Street Journal labeled it a “Halloween horror story.” The Internet called it something else: a “pumpkin panic.”
During the first week of October, the Journal reported that Starbucks stores around the country were running out of the syrup used to make its Pumpkin Spice Latte — one of several fall drinks the chain releases seasonally, for a limited time.
Customers, like those who frequent StarbucksGossip.com, were shocked.
“WHAT IS HAPPENING?” wrote one user.
The answer is simple.


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Opera Software released a final version of its new browser for wireless handsets, known as Mini, and said it hopes to spur increased use of the mobile Internet by distributing the application free of charge.
The browser was designed as a simplified version of the Norwegian software makers previous wireless offering, Opera Mobile Browser, which is meant to run on so-called smart phones, or sophisticated wireless devices that offer the memory to store and run such applications.
Mini claims to deliver a better Web experience to more low-end devices, or any handset capable of running Java-based mobile applications, which includes many popular phones already in the hands of consumers.
Built on the same technology used in Opera Mobile, Mini uses a remote server system to compress Web site content and beam it back to peoples handsets.
In theory, that design allows the browser to run on the memory-starved devices that are currently ubiquitous among U.S. wireless subscribers.
Company officials maintain that the browser could run on hundreds of millions of existing phones that use WAP (Wireless Access Protocol) to access the Web, giving it a huge potential audience worldwide versus the smaller numbers of customers using smart phones.
Opera said that during the course of its trials in Germany and Europes Nordic countries, it was able to convince more than 1 million people to download Mini.
The browser is now available for download directly from the companys Web site via SMS.
By giving the browser away at no cost and trying to lure people who may not have been willing to access the mobile Web before, Opera officials said they believe they can spark a new wave of wireless Internet adoption.
With limited real estate on the displays of most of todays handsets, only a minority of wireless subscribers currently use their phones to access the Internet.
"We want to kick-start the mobile Internet revolution, as we feel that Mini is a great alternative for people who dont have smart phones, which is a vast majority of the wireless subscribers worldwide," said Eskil Sivertsen, an Opera spokesperson.
"Distribution of Mini wont happen overnight, but we think that people will pick it up and be encouraged to use the wireless Web more over time."
According to Opera, people who downloaded the beta version of the software viewed an average of between 20 and 30 Web pages per session, which Sivertsen believes proves that the browser delivers a friendlier interface than traditional WAP applications.
If more people begin using the application, the company also contends that more Web site owners will be convinced to create customized versions of their pages specifically for mobile visitors.


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Global organizations stand on a cyber-security precipice. Emerging technologies, such as blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), along with the explosive volume of...
Jan 02, 2018
Despite massive corporate investments in artificial intelligence (AI), nearly three-quarters of consumers are concerned about AI infringing on their privacy, according to a new study from Genpact, a...
Dec 08, 2017
With the rise of automation, we’ve reached a point where we are questioning the role people play in the workplace. PwC’s 20th CEO Survey highlights that 52% of CEOs are exploring the benefits of...
Feb 28, 2017


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The federal government’s knives are out for one of America’s beloved online retailers. If it succeeds, Amazon may get carved up in ways that will leave shoppers and business owners feeling the pain.
Yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Amazon claiming that engages in unfair anti-competitive business practices.
According to the FTC’s press statement:
The complaint sets forth detailed allegations noting how Amazon is now exploiting its monopoly power to enrich itself while raising prices and degrading service for the tens of millions of American families who shop on its platform and the hundreds of thousands of businesses that rely on Amazon to reach them. Today’s lawsuit seeks to hold Amazon to account for these monopolistic practices and restore the lost promise of free and fair competition.
According to the complaint, Amazon violates antitrust laws by engaging in pricing, product selection, and quality assurance practices that make it difficult for sellers on the platform to offer lower prices. Additionally, Amazon allegedly requires sellers to use its fulfillment service to have their products included in Amazon Prime so that consumers can get them within one-to-two days for free. The FTC also claims that Amazon charges sellers costly fees, biases its search results toward its products, and inserts paid ads into search results.
The problem for the FTC will be proving everything it alleges and proving it using the framework that guides antitrust law today, the consumer welfare standard, which measures anticompetitive behavior based on increased prices and reduced production. Evidence points to the opposite of what the FTC claims.
Here are three points that refute the FTC’s claims:
- Amazon is not pushing online prices higher. Adobe Analytics found last month that e-commerce prices tumbled by 3.2% year over year in August, the biggest annual drop in 40 months, or just over three years. This is good news in the fight against inflation.
- Retail commerce is growing more competitive and innovative not less. First, Amazon is not the biggest retail player. Walmart topped the chart of the top 10 U.S. retailers as measured by sales beating Amazon by double. Amazon’s e-commerce market share in the U.S. is around 38%.
Even more, the retail landscape is growing more dynamic and innovative as brick-and-mortar stores are evolving to compete with online retailers in ways that deliver more choices and shopping experiences for consumers as well as more competitive prices. A recent industry report concluded, “findings suggest that competition among retailers and across retail channels is intense, that they respond quickly to each other’s prices and that, as a consequence, regulation affecting online commerce is expected to affect prices in brick-and-mortar stores, and vice versa. The increasing popularity of omnichannel shopping, whereby consumers mix and match online and offline components of their shopping journey, also may encourage convergence between online and offline prices.”
- Independent sellers who do not use Amazon’s fulfillment services regularly beat out sellers who do in high-ranked search results. This discredits the argument that Amazon manipulates consumer search results to harm marketplace sellers who do not use its fulfillment services. Independent sellers say they are not disadvantaged by Amazon. According to Evans Richards who owns reVend, an online-only seller of collectibles and toys, his company hasn’t used Amazon’s fulfillment service since 2016 and they do not advertise on Amazon, but reVend’s listings still win the Buy Box. “Amazon’s algorithms are secret, but it’s well known among sellers that everything at Amazon is based on only one metric – what will best serve the consumer. We win the Buy Box consistently because our products are priced fairly, get terrific reviews, are delivered on time, and our customers are happy with their shopping experience.”
What This Means for Me
Regular people care about how government policies will impact them. Most simply, this FTC complaint and recommendations could lead to at least three outcomes:
- Breaking Amazon Prime – Amazon Prime is a popular and beloved service that is enjoyed by many. Free and fast delivery are its most favored benefits. A whopping 84.6% of users polled pointed to the free and fast delivery as the platform’s best feature. This lawsuit could force the end of the fulfillment service that makes it possible and break Amazon Prime.
- Higher prices – It could become more difficult to get a wide variety of affordable products.
- Chinese companies benefit while U.S. companies lose – Chinese companies like Temu and Shein compete by offering low prices on goods but at slower shipping rates. They don’t have the same regulatory rules that American companies do. If companies like Amazon can’t offer fast and free shipping (see point #1), they lose their competitive edge and their Chinese competitors win.
Suing Amazon on faulty premises is not an issue that Americans expect or want the federal government to focus on, especially if its actions will lead to higher prices amidst high inflation, slower shipping of goods, and fewer options.
The motivation behind this lawsuit by the FTC’s chairwoman, Lina Khan, is to replace the agency’s current approach to its work—less government intervention in private business—with a more active approach to breaking up companies the federal government deems to be too big. Amazon has been in Khan’s crosshairs since her law school days in an infamous 2017 paper.
The bottom line is if Khan’s FTC wins this case, consumers and sellers will lose big.


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- FDA is concerned that some people "wrongly" think CBD "can't hurt."
- Consumers should be aware that the FDA still has questions about the safety and quality of CBD products, the agency says.
- CBD has been widely touted as a harmless treatment — without much evidence to back it up.
CBD might not be as safe as the companies selling it say it is, the Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers.
The cannabis compound has been widely touted as a harmless way to treat a slew of ailments, such as anxiety, pain and possibly even cancer — without much evidence to back it up. CBD products flooded the market this year after Congress legalized hemp last December.
"We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD 'can't hurt,'" FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy said in a statement Monday.
Abernethy leads a working group at the FDA tasked with crafting regulations to bring legal CBD products to market. The FDA is under intense pressure from the public, as well as lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to come up with a solution.
There are still "a number of question regarding CBD's safety — including reports of products containing contaminants, such as pesticides and heavy metals — and there are real risks that need to be considered," Abernethy said.
Companies are adding CBD to creams, oils, food and beverages. However, it's currently illegal for companies to sell CBD-infused food and beverages across state lines and to market any CBD products with health claims the FDA has not evaluated.
The FDA said it "has seen only limited data about CBD safety and these data point to real risks that need to be considered before taking CBD for any reason." The agency lays out possible risks of using CBD, such as liver injury, drug interactions and possibly even negative effects on male reproductive health.
"This week, FDA provided an update for consumers about CBD," Abernethy said in a tweet Tuesday. "Importantly, consumers should know there is limited available information about CBD, including about its effects on the body."
In addition to the health risks CBD itself may pose, the FDA cautioned consumers to be aware of product quality. The industry is largely unregulated. The FDA said it has tested the chemical content of CBD in some products and found "many" did not contain the amount of CBD they said they did. The agency is also investigating reports of CBD containing "unsafe" levels of contaminants, such as pesticides, heavy metals and THC.
The FDA on Monday also issued warning letters to 15 privately owned CBD companies for illegally advertising their products as treating diseases, selling products as dietary supplements and adding CBD to human and animal foods.


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Save-A-Lot launches road trip marketing campaign
ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot, a hard-discount, limited-assortment grocery chain and a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu, kicked off its 2012 Fuel Your Family Road Trip in Orlando to raise awareness of Save-A-Lot stores as the go-to destination for affordable food.
Hitting the road for the 18-city, 30-day, 2,000-mile journey will be two Save-A-Lot brand ambassadors, Molly Stankovsky and Alex Frecon, both of Minneapolis, who won a national competition to serve as this year’s Fuel Your Family “Road Scholars.” They will travel through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York in a 2012 Subaru Outback to bring the brand to consumers as the summer road trip season winds down and the new school year gets underway.
Along the route, the Road Scholars will attend community events, conduct random acts of kindness, host customer appreciation events at Save-A-Lot stores, visit local Boys & Girls Clubs, and share recipes and tips for quick, easy and affordable meals. In addition, they will present donations from Save-A-Lot totaling $33,500 to local Feeding America affiliates, which will provide 268,000 meals to families in need. Save-A-Lot also will donate nearly 164,000 school supplies to benefit more than 18,000 students in Miami, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and will donate $2,500 to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Charlotte, N.C.
McKesson highlights Health Mart annual meeting during first-quarter conference call
SAN FRANCISCO — With the Supreme Court maintaining a status quo of sorts with regard to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act last month, retail pharmacy operators are going to need to continually drive efficiencies into their businesses, McKesson chairman and CEO John Hammergren noted during the wholesaler’s first-quarter conference call.
McKesson recently held its annual meeting for its independent pharmacy customers where more than just supply chain solutions were on display. "At the conference we highlighted solutions that helped independent pharmacists enhance patient loyalty and outcomes and broaden the range of services they provide," Hammergren said. "Solutions like McKesson’s sponsored clinical services network, which enables independent pharmacists to play a greater role in providing patient care and services, in addition to growing their revenues." Sponsored clinical services is a network of 13,000 community pharmacies delivering a suite of patient-centered programs, including education, support and behavioral coaching, he added. "The network streamlines the relationship between pharmacies, manufacturers and payer-sponsored programs focused on increasing adherence and improving patient care. Participating pharmacies benefit from the opportunity to increase customer loyalty, earn service fees and build their relationships with patients as a partner in their health care."
McKesson also is making available new social, Web and mobile technologies to help independents connect with their patients. "A significant number of attendees were Heath Mart pharmacy owners and pharmacists. With nearly 3,000 stores across the country, Health Mart has become the franchise model of choice for independent pharmacy owners looking to complement their local identity with a national brand," he said. "Health Mart continues to invest in new solutions to help these stores grow their business, including private label over-the-counter healthcare products and new consumer-facing web and mobile platforms."
McKesson on Thursday reported revenues of $30.8 billion, up 3%, for its first quarter ended June 30.
Distribution Solutions revenues were up 3% for the first quarter. U.S. pharmaceutical distribution revenues were up 4% for the first quarter, primarily reflecting market growth and new business with existing customers.
Medical-Surgical distribution and services revenues were up 9% for the first quarter.
WaterField Designs launches Google Nexus 7 Android tablet cases
SAN FRANCISCO — WaterField Designs has introduced new cases for the Google Nexus 7 Android tablet.
Custom-fitted Google Nexus 7 cases include the ultimate sleeve case, the smart case, the slip case, the suede jacket and the travel express. Each Nexus 7 Case offers unique functionality, protection and style.
"With the Google Nexus 7 flying off shelves and the 16GB version delayed, many eager early adopters are in search of a way to protect the tablet that meets their individual needs," WaterField Designs owner Gary Waterfield said. "We offer our customers choices so that they can find a unique case that feels just right for their use and style."
The cases carry a suggested retail price range from $19 to $59, depending on style. For more information, click here.


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Coronavirus: LaRosa's cuts hours
[ All of The Enquirer's coverage of the new coronavirus is being provided for free to our readers. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to The Enquirer at cincinnati.com/subscribe ]
LaRosa’s Family Pizzerias announced Monday it was cutting back hours to step up cleaning efforts amid the new coronavirus outbreak.
New hours as of today at all LaRosa’s Family Pizzerias are:
• Sundays through Thursdays, stores open until 9 p.m.
• Fridays and Saturdays, stores open until 11 pm
Opening times vary by pizzeria. They can be checked at LaRosa's locations web site. Store officials said the earlier closing time will allow LaRosa’s to consistently and thoroughly clean and disinfect all contact surfaces at each pizzeria.
“We are completely committed to guest safety and to providing the level of service our guests are accustomed, so we appreciate everyone’s patience as we adjust our hours and service accordingly,” said Michael LaRosa, CEO of LaRosa’s Inc.
Gov. Mike DeWine banned eat-in service at all Ohio restaurants to combat the outbreak (He ordered bars and restaurants to close March 15, except for take-out, drive-thru and curbside orders). Kentucky and Indiana officials have followed suit.
LaRosa’s customers can still order their favorite pizza and other menu items for pick-up and delivery at all locations.
As a reminder, LaRosa’s has made several service changes that Guests should be aware of:
• Pick-up service now starts at the front door. Per health officials, guests in the pick-up lobby will be limited to 10 or less.
• When ordering, customers will be asked to consider paying with a credit card or gift card to help streamline both pick-up and delivery service.
• Guests ordering for delivery who prefer not to meet the LaRosa’s driver at their door, can pay with a credit card or gift card, add a tip and give specific delivery directions, such as leave food on a porch chair.
LaRosa’s was founded in 1954 on Cincinnati’s West Side by Buddy LaRosa. It is now a $167 million restaurant company with 66 pizzerias serving neighborhoods in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
A local icon, LaRosa’s commands roughly a 25 percent share of Cincinnati’s pizza market and considered by loyal fans as part of the city, like hills and baseball.
For the latest on Cincinnati business, P&G, Kroger and Fifth Third Bank, follow @alexcoolidge on Twitter.


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Top 50 Most Influential Projects of the Last 50 Yearsby Fintech News Hong Kong December 30, 2019
Alibaba’s Singles Day, M-Pesa, Alexa, the Belt and Road Initiative, Bitcoin and E-Estonia are amongst the most impactful projects of the last 50 years, according to a new ranking from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
The list, called Most Influential Projects, recognizes the top 50 notable and influential projects that have transformed their respective sectors and the entire business landscape over the past 50 years. The list aims to provide an inspirational reflection on how these projects have created our present.
Noteworthy projects that made the list
At the 6th position, PMI names Alibaba’s annual Singles Day, recognizing it for creating the largest e-commerce day in the world and fundamentally shifting how people shop.
Singles Day is a shopping holiday popular among young Chinese people that celebrate their price in being single. The date, November 11 (11/11), was chosen because the number “1” resembles an individual who is alone.
To boost sales, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has adopted a strategy consisting in combining online shopping discounts with offline entertainment. This includes hosting extravagant annual galas and hiring international celebrities such as Pharrell Williams and Jessie J to perform during events.
Each year, these televised events draw in an audience of hundreds of millions viewers who tune in to catch product launches, win prizes, and watch A-list celebrities perform.
On Singles Day 2017, sales in Alibaba’s sites Tmall and Taobao reached over US$25.4 billion and the firm set a world record for most payment transactions during the festival. Its mobile wallet app Alipay processed 256,000 payment transactions per second, for a total of 1.48 billion transactions in the entire 24 hours.
Today, Singles Day is the largest offline and online shopping day in the world and is now nearly four times the size of America’s biggest shopping days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
At the 9th position, PMI names the M-Pesa mobile microfinancing platform, recognizing the solution for leveraging cutting-edge mobile technology to allow Kenya to “leapfrog past more advanced economies and start a banking revolution.”
Launched in 2007, M-Pesa allows customers to use simple text messages to send money, make deposits and withdrawals, and purchase airtime minutes. Today, M-Pesa has 31.8 million active users in Kenya, and processes 1,200 transactions every second.
The platform has since evolved into a full financial services solution, and is now active in markets including Albania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, India, Lesotho, Mozambique, Romania and Tanzania.
At the 13th position, PMI names Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa, which runs within the firm’s smart speakers, recognizing the technology for making voice-activated computer interface a part of everyday life.
Alexa is a virtual, computer-generated intelligent personal assistant that’s capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic, sports, and other real-time information, such as news. Alexa can also control several smart devices using itself as a home automation system.
Amazon has sold over 100 million Alexa-enabled devices, and there are now some 70,000 so-called “skills,” or apps developed by third-party vendors, available through the devices.
US-based Numerica Credit Union was amongst the first financial institutions to embrace Alexa, rolling out its voice banking assistant in March 2018.
At the 18th position, PMI names the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global development strategy adopted by the Chinese government. It recognizes it for being “the largest infrastructure program ever” that includes 1,814 projects and counting.
BPI involves infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and international organizations in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.
The Chinese government calls the initiative “a bid to enhance regional connectivity and embrace a brighter future.” The project has a targeted completion date of 2049, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
At the 19th position, the list names Bitcoin, recognizing it for putting cryptocurrencies on the map and giving birth to the burgeoning blockchain industry.
Over the years, the use and value of bitcoin has skyrocketed and a horde of cryptocurrencies have emerged. Startups and corporates have embraced blockchain, a technology that’s been praised for its many potentials, including improved efficiency and cost savings.
At the 42nd position, the ranking names the E-Estonia program, recognizing it for building “the world’s first digital country.”
E-Estonia is a movement by the government of Estonia aimed to facilitate citizen interactions with the state through the use of electronic solutions. E-services created under this initiative include i-Voting, e-Tax Board, e-Business, e-Banking, e-Ticket, e-School, University via internet, the e-Governance Academy, as well as the release of several mobile applications.
With E-Estonia came along E-Residency, a program launched in December 2014 to allow anyone to apply for government-issued digital identity as well as services such as company formation, banking, payment processing, and taxation.
The program, aimed towards location-independent entrepreneurs such as software developers and writers, gives e-residents a smart card which they can use to sign documents. Since the E-Residency program’s launch, Estonia has welcomed 70,000 e-residents.
Besides the general top 50 projects list, PMI has also established a ranking of what it believes to be the top 10 finance projects that have transformed the industry over the past 50 years, among which several of the general list are also present, such as Bitcoin (3rd position) and M-Pesa (5th position).
Others that made the top 10 finance projects list include the euro (1st), the Nasdaq stock market (2nd), the Shanghai Stock Exchange (4th), Alibaba’s mobile payments platform Alipay (6th), peer-to-peer mobile payments app Venmo (7th), index funds (8th), the E-Trade online trading app (9th), and the EMV payment method (10th).


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Cassper Teases The New “V2” Root Of Fame Sneaker. Cassper has received so much love from his fans after the launch of his Root Of Fame Sneaker. The “Siyathandana” hitmaker collaborated with Lekau Sehoana’s local footwear business on what they dubbed the “Legacy Deal.”
Following the business partnership between Drip and Root Of Fame, the two seem to be complementing each other well as their business keeps moving towards greater stride. Taking to Twitter, Cassper gave a heads up to his fans about the launch of the new Root Of Fame Sneaker which he labelled V2. “Heating things up in a few. V2 #RF990.” Tweeted Cassper.
Cassper‘s tweet sparked a tremendous response from his fans, with some pleading with the rapper to expose the footwear so they could see what it looks like. The rapper went on and revealed that they have been working very hard on the new sneaker.
The Tito Mboweni hitmaker made it known that its launch must be done right hence its not yet the right time to show off what the sneaker looks like. “Haha nah, they must wait!!!! We beeeeeen working on this product. The launch needs to be right… This is the Roof Of Fame baby, the V2s dropping soon!!! #RF990.” Tweeted Cassper Nyovest.
It’s only a matter of time before we see the new V2 Root Of Fame, and the release of the new Root Of Fame footwear will most certainly be epic.


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NuAns has unveiled the Neo Reloaded, a new version of its Windows 10 Mobile handset, which ditches Microsoft's OS in favor of Android 7.1, with a larger, high-res screen and a newer processor.
Windows 11 Beta Channel gets Taskbar, File Explorer improvements, and ISOs
windows 11 22h2
One of AMD's new Trinity A10-5800K APUs has been overclocked to 7.3 GHz on two cores thanks to some liquid nitrogen cooling, with a 5.1 GHz overclock also achieved on just air cooling
Following the launch of Trinity on mobile platforms four months ago, AMD is finally ready to offer a desktop version, which brings a new socket and a new high-end chipset.
AMD reported that its revenues for the second quarter of 2012 came in at $1.41 billion, 10 percent lower compared to a year ago. It generated a $37 million profit, compared to $61 million a year ago.
Today AMD launched its Trinity accelerated processing units, which combine CPU and GPU cores on a single chip, will see the company battling Intel's Ivy Bridge platform in the ultrabook market.
AMD is planning to launch its own thin-and-light notebook design as a competitor to Intel's Ultrabook and Apple's MacBook Air sometime in 2012, according to reports.
IBM is scheduled to release a new blade server on Tuesday that is the first to run the Power6 processor. Big Blue aims for the new blade to help it grow its market share in...


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With just days after the arrival of the X-S1 in the US, Fujifilm has announced at CES 2012 another X-Series news: the released of limited edition black X100s. Fujifilm is going to sell only 10,000 units of this premium compact camera.
The special X100 comes in a new black body bundled with accessories like a lens hood, protective filter, adapter ring and a genuine leather case.
The X100 features the world’s first Hybrid Viewfinder–a fusion of an Optical Viewfinder and Electronic Viewfinder. It also has a 12MP APS-C CMOS sensor, Fujinon 23mm F2 lens, and a 2.8-inch 460K LCD monitor.
It will cost you $1,699.99 to be one of the 10,000 owners of the Fujifilm X100 Black Premium Edition camera, which is going to be available in March.


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Lamborghini has cried foul over Globe Telecom's use of Tonino Lamborghini to brand its high-speed broadband stick.
"Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l., an Italy-based company which is the sole lawful owner worldwide of the trademark "Tonino Lamborghini" wishes to inform its customers that unauthorized people are currently trading online and through Globe stores a '4G Tatto Tonino Lamborghini' broadband stick which is a counterfeited product," the company said in a statement. "Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. has never manufactured or authorized anyone to manufacture such a product which constitutes therefore a serious trademark infringement."
Tonino Lamborghini even pointed out that Globe Telecom's marketing campaign, which features Fil-Swiss race car driver Marlon Stockinger, is "deceitful and unlawful" since it confuses two different and separate brands and businesses between the Italian fashion and lifestyle brand "Tonino Lamborghini" and the Italian carmaker "Automobili Lamborghini."
With the alleged trademark infringement, Lamborghini warned "Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. will take any legal action to protect the brand."
In response, Globe Telecom announced through its Facebook page that it obtained the authorization to use the Tonino Lamborghini name and logo through an agreement with Primo Mobile, a Singapore-based company that has a master license agreement with Tonino Lamborghini s.r.l. and is duly authorized to sub-license the use of the Lamborghini logo.
"Globe Telecom assures the public of its strong adherence and commitment to the highest ethical standards in business and good corporate governance. The company will not engage in any activity that will mislead the public in the course of doing business and serving its customers," the company said in its statement.


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September 2017 marks the beginning of the end for online poker in Australia. The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 starts coming into effect and if you have any type of overseas betting account as an Australian resident, you’ll likely be told you’re unable to place real money bets or you’ll be asked to withdraw your funds completely.
Australian regulators are doing their best to continue the crackdown on wagering with overseas operators, which is making it incredibly difficult to place bets with decent bookmakers. What is interesting though, is that we are at a time where there is a rise in a new type of betting account, or more correctly a new type of currency in which to fund those accounts.
One of the appeals of digital currencies is that they are relatively anonymous. Users are able to have multiple bitcoin addresses and they aren’t linked to names that can easily identify you. However bitcoin does store records of all transactions in what’s known as the blockchain. The blockchain is a distributed public ledger which records all bitcoin transactions and ownership. You just can’t tell who owns them.
With the level of gambling regulation around the world, digital currencies seem like an obvious fit. You might feel like a second class citizen when trying to place a bet in Australia and being shut down, but spare a thought for the US, where online gambling laws are incredibly restrictive.
As bitcoin and other digital currencies grow, we’re going to start seeing more and more online sportsbooks that accept only digital currencies. The US market in particular is massive, so as you can imagine there are going to be new players entering this space in the near future.
A number of major sportsbooks already accept bitcoin as a method of payment, however we are increasingly likely to see bitcoin-only style sportsbooks that are largely anonymous.
The Rise of Bitcoin
Digital currencies have slowly been making their way into the mainstream for the last couple of years and there’s a lot of hype around some of the major players like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Digital currencies are held and created electronically. Unlike a traditional currency, they are not printed, centralized or unlimited. They’re a combination of cryptography, computer science and mathematics. People all over the world can use open-source software that follows a mathematical formula to produce a currency like bitcoin. However only 21 million are able to be produced. The success of Bitcoin has seen literally hundreds of other cryptocurrencies enter the market.
While the concept is good, there are still a few hurdles to betting online with digital currencies.
The first is that obviously you need to purchase them to begin with. To do this you need a digital wallet and from that point you can buy bitcoins and use them for transactions.
The other thing to consider is the level of volatility. At this point in time bitcoin is trading around $5750 AUD. However only a month ago it was around half that price. Bitcoin is incredibly volatile and that makes it difficult to use for transactions – although speculators will be happy with those kinds of moves.
There are also security concerns for punters wanting to use new betting sites that are popping up and are largely anonymous. They may well take your bets but you need to consider just how secure your funds might be.
Some new entrants are attempting to get around the requirement for a trusted third party by offering peer-to-peer betting, similar to an exchange like Betfair, but built on the blockchain.
Herosphere have a launch scheduled for September and claim to ‘allow users to interact directly with each other and keep the process, and money flow secure, transparent and immutable. In other words only community controls all the operations.’
Cash Poker Pro are claiming to be in the ‘final development stage for a modern poker room with a network structure and a mechanism for fast and confidential money transfers based on the blockchain technology.’
Monster Byte is a technology company which owns a suite of long-standing and profitable Cryptocurrency Gambling websites. They recently raised funds for their Inital Coin Offering – crowdfunding via cryptocurrency.
Those are just a couple of many new players and by no means are we endorsing any of them at this stage.
The Government is Coming for your Taxes
As most punters know there are a fair few hurdles to deal with when betting online. None greater than the Government. The motivation of most Governments is to generate revenue through taxes. So when something like bitcoin comes along that is sidestepping regulation while growing in popularity then you can be sure that they are thinking of grabbing their slice of the pie.
This week it was suggested that Vietnam will be looking to legalise digital currencies joining Japan and a handful of other countries that have specifically legalised bitcoin and digital currency transactions. The US is also taking steps toward regulating digital currencies, however to date that has been through the regulators.
As getting a bet on in Australia becomes more difficult than actually finding winners, it might be worth looking into the rise of bitcoin and finding new ways to bet. At this point a number of the key sportsbooks already accept bitcoin however it will be interesting to see how the landscape changes for Australians in the coming months as The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016, amongst other regulation starts to bite.


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NEW ORLEANS (NOLA WEEKEND) - This holiday season, the inaugural Children’s Hospital New Orleans Holiday Parade will roll through the streets of New Orleans on Dec. 3.
Organizers call the new parade the “first-of-its-kind for New Orleans.” Kicking off the holiday season, the parade features more than 20 floats, including custom-designed holiday-themed floats that include animatronic props, intelligent lighting systems, special effects and audio systems, along with traditional rider floats.
The parade will also feature high-flying helium balloons displayed for the first time in New Orleans, along with the beloved marching groups and bands that the citizens of New Orleans have come to love – and of course, Santa himself with his cast of holiday characters.
Float builder and parade producer Kern Studios shared renderings that reveal a sneak peek of this year’s float designs, including one that pays homage to the historic department store Maison Blanche and its iconic holiday mascot Mister Bingle.
Copyright 2022 WVUE. All rights reserved.


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The to start with blockchain association in Mexico has formed, its founding customers including industry players like blockchain application firm ConsenSys, Forbes Mexico noted Nov. 28.
The Blockchain Association of Mexico was set up corporations Bitso, Volabit, BIVA, GBM, Lvna Money, ConsenSys and Exponent Capital. The organization’s aim is to educate citizens in the technology’s deployment and its probable apps.
The association reportedly intends to acquire standards and techniques right before the technological know-how becomes mainstream. Felipe Vallejo, provisional president of the Blockchain Association claimed that “[blockchain] technologies has the goal of making more clear, protected and productive treatments.”
The association is purportedly open up for new associates. BIVA director María Ariza mentioned “we want to produce a room for dialogue and general public plan. We want all people to be ready to current their tips.”
Cryptocurrency and blockchain market leaders have released numerous associations in buy to facilitate the technologies’ adoption and function with regulators to produce thorough requirements. On Nov. 27, ten money and tech corporations proven the Affiliation for Digital Asset Marketplaces (ADAM) to develop a “code of conduct” for the cryptocurrency sector.
In September, a group of U.S.-primarily based blockchain and crypto organizations, which includes crypto trade Coinbase, introduced institution of the Blockchain Association based mostly in Washington D.C. The affiliation is set to signify mainstream businesses that glance to run in just the political procedure, primarily addressing coverage problems and the treatment method of cryptocurrency by U.S. tax regulation.
In the meantime in September, the Mexican point out-backed Lender of Mexico (Banxico), announced that all crypto exchanges and banking institutions delivering crypto companies in Mexico will be obliged to obtain a allow from the lender. To get just one, a business dealing in electronic currencies will have to provide a detailed enterprise plan total with a description of their functions, the commissions they strategy to charge, and the mechanism they will use to verify customer identity.


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A US judge has ruled that a lawsuit against Apple and AT&T can go ahead, despite Apple's request to have the suit dismissed.
The $1.2m suit alleges that Apple and AT&T knowingly sabotaged unlocked iPhone handsets with the release of the iPhone 1.1.1 software update.
The suit claims that the companies violated US trade and copyright laws which had allowed users to alter their phones. The plaintiffs are suing both companies for violating federal antitrust laws.
Apple has long claimed that it would not deliberately harm unlocked phones, but that the company could not guarantee that updates would not harm modified handsets.
The company had warned users about possible complications with unlocked phones prior to the release of the update.
District Judge James Ware denied Apple's request to dismiss the claims, thus allowing the case to move forward. He did, however, grant motions to limit the claims to the states of California, Washington and New York.
Moon's dark side is mountainous, rugged and never visible from the Earth
The groundwater basins in some areas of Tehran have been damaged irreversibly
This is the first time that any spacecraft on Mars has recorded air vibrations on the planet
Arctic sea ice is thickening at a faster rate during winter, thus slowing down long-term decline: NASA
But, the seasonal ice growth could only delay the demise of the Arctic ice cap for a few more decades


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The retail leasing team has hit the ground running at the new Rhodes Central shopping centre with 7 leases issued in the first few weeks of launch.
The Billbergia developed project currently under construction opposite Rhodes train station will house a new Woolworths supermarket and up to 70 retail, service and food and beverage tenancies.
Adam Sheumack, Managing Director at Rook Partners said, “We have had a tremendous amount of interest in this project since we launched the leasing campaign. The vision for the centre, its quality and location are proving extremely popular.”
Due to open in October 2020, the centre will provide a convenient and vibrant hub for the local community as well as a destination for surrounding suburbs.
Click here to contact the leasing team.


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Lakefront Brewery expands, adds beers
- Rich Rovito
Business continues to boom at Lakefront Brewery Inc., leading to major investments in its plant near downtown Milwaukee, the introduction of new products and the purchase of much-needed additional warehouse space in the city’s Riverwest neighborhood.
Bolstered in part by new brews and packaging options, Lakefront’s production rose to 17,600 barrels of beer in 2010, a 35 percent jump over the prior year, according to Russ Klisch, the company’s president. The major boost in production last year followed an 18 percent jump in 2009 and has transformed Lakefront into one of the state’s largest craft brewers.
Lakefront’s growth has remained strong this year, with production on pace to reach as much as 23,000 barrels, which would represent an increase of 30 percent over last year’s record level of production, he said.
“We’ve had some good years,” Klisch said.
Craft beer brewers nationwide have enjoyed an extended run of growth, even during the prolonged economic downturn. The trend has contributed to Lakefront’s success, as has a variety of product innovations, Klisch said.
Klisch had confidence that Lakefront would grow but he shook his head in disbelief when discussing the jump in business in recent years for the brewery that got its start in 1987 in a tiny building on East Chambers Street in Riverwest.
“I wouldn’t have suspected it,” Klisch said. “I think people want to drink less but drink better.”
The brewery has introduced several beers over the past year or so, including its newest brew, India Black Ale. Other newer offerings include Bridge Burner, Fixed Gear, Rendezvous and Local Acre, which is made entirely with ingredients produced in Wisconsin.
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Most Effective Weight-loss Strategy, Takes just 15 Minutes a Day, Says Study
The Singapore Chinese health research study, carried out by scientists at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Duke-NUS Medical School, concluded that the method to decrease the threat of diabetes is to have more of plant foods, such as veggies, fruits and entire grains, and less of animal foods, such as red meat, and sweetened drinks.
Diet has actually been understood to be a crucial threat element for type-2 diabetes thus, researchers have actually progressively turned attention to studying the total dietary patterns, to catch the combined result of a range of food groups.
Among the numerous fixed dietary patterns of the Western populations are: the option Mediterranean diet plan (aMED, a global adjustment of the eponymous diet plan), the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010), the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet plan, the plant-based diet plan index (PDI) and the healthy plant-based diet plan index (hPDI); these are, by and big, comparable. Each is abundant in plant-based foods, consisting of entire grains, veggies and fruits, nuts and beans, and low in red meat and sugar-sweetened drinks. All these dietary patterns have actually been revealed to decrease the threat of diabetes and heart diseases. They are called top quality dietary patterns.
Researchers utilized information from 45,511 middle-aged and senior individuals who did not have diabetes in between 1993 and 1998. From the reported consumption of 165 food products, the individuals were scored on how comparable their diet plan patterns were to the 5 top quality diet plans in regards to consumption of particular foods and nutrients consisted of in these patterns. The individuals were followed up over approximately 11 years; 5,207 cases of diabetes were reported in such follow-up interviews.
The research study discovered that all 5 top quality dietary patterns were inversely related to the threat of diabetes. Study individuals closest to these healthy dietary patterns had a decrease of 16%-29% in the threat of diabetes. However, this decrease in threat was not there in cigarette smokers.
“Our results are consistent with studies in other populations that a high-quality diet defined by an abundance of minimally processed plant foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts and legumes, but restricted intake of red and processed meat, and sweetened beverages were significantly associated with lower risk of diabetes,” stated Professor Rob van Dam, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, and senior author of the research study.
In an associated research study in Singapore, detectives discovered that changing one everyday serving of rice with red meat or poultry might increase the threat of diabetes by as much as 40%. In contrast, the replacement of rice with wholemeal bread might decrease the threat by 18%. Although greater rice consumption was not related to a greater threat of diabetes, consuming more rice had the result of minimizing the consumption of entire grains (wholemeal bread and wild rice) which might decrease the threat rather.
The Health Promotion Board (HPB) of Singapore motivates Singaporeans to consume a healthy, healthy and quality diet plan by consuming foods from all food groups, like vegetables and fruits, entire grains, such as wild rice and wholemeal bread, in addition to meat. As part of a healthy diet plan, HPB likewise suggests that Singaporeans restrict their usage of salt and sugars from foods in addition to drinks. While Singaporeans typically have more of top quality foods, high sugar and salt consumption stays a cause for issue.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Harley-Davidson Inc. shares skidded 12% Monday as analysts grew more skittish about motorcycle purchases in a downbeat economy.
Goldman Sachs chopped Harley's shares to sell, slashing its price target to $11, and whacking its 2009 profit outlook in half. RBC Capital Markets also took a more bearish stance, dropping its share-price target to $16 and cutting its profit outlook for this year.
Analysts at both brokerage houses used to have a price target of $30. Shares of the Milwaukee-based "hog" maker closed at $14.13.
Goldman analyst Patrick Archambault said he expects Harley's retail bike sales to fall by 30% this year, making it the worst year for new registrations since 1982.
In a research note, he said losses on stocks and real-estate investments will hurt the "higher-income demographic that accounts for a large part of the Harley-Davidson customer base."
Recent executive departures -- one planned, another immediate -- aren't helping to boost the morale of Harley shareholders.
Chief Executive Officer James Ziemer said Dec. 15 that he plans to retire this year, capping a 40-year run with the company. On Thursday, Sy Naqvi quit as interim president of the motorcycle maker's finance unit, which helps consumers fund purchases of bikes.
Analysts had been flagging Harley-Davidson Financial Services as an area of concern. The unit is expected to make much less money, take on more delinquent loans, and be forced to find new sources of funding as the secondary market to sell its loans is dried up.
"Within several months, we think it's entirely possible that the company will have promising new leadership and lower expectations," wrote RBC analyst Edward Aaron. "In the interim, however, investors could have to take some pretty tough medicine, including meaningful production cuts, possible restructuring and maybe even a cut to the dividend."
Harley-Davidson just paid a quarterly dividend of 33 cents a share.
Shares are down 65% over the past year.


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TEXT OF STORY
Kai Ryssdal: We are, as of this Monday, just four short days away from Black Friday. That once-a-year, day-after-Thanksgiving spectacle where the American consumer really gets down to it. Only this year, though, like never before, retailers are fighting to position themselves as your allies in saving money.
Few national chains have been at that game longer than Wal-Mart has. And Marketplace’s Steve Henn reports the world’s biggest retailer is now claiming to save consumers cash, even if they don’t shop there.
STEVE HENN: If you watch TV, you’ve probably seen this ad.
TV AD: The family budget. In today’s economy nobody is more committed to helping family budgets go further than Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart saves the average family about $3,100 a year, no matter where they shop.
What?! OK, how can Wal-Mart save you money if you don’t shop there? Well, they say, other stores cut their prices to compete.
CHRIS HOLLINGS: The overall level of consumer prices are lower essentially anywhere you shop.
Chris Hollings is at IHS Global Insight.
HOLLINGS: So you do not actually have to shop at Wal-Mart to get these savings.
Hollings led the research Wal-Mart uses in its ad. He says by tracking Wal-Mart’s expansion, his team was able to isolate an economic Wal-Mart effect. Today he says prices for retail goods are 3.6 percent lower across the board because of the chain. But to save more than $3,000 a year a, quote, “average family” would have to spend more than $83,000 shopping.
CHARLES FISHMAN: This headline number is technically accurate but misleading.
Charles Fishman is author of the book, “The Wal-Mart Effect.” He points out that the median household income is less than $51,000.
FISHMAN: A family earning $51,000 a year saves about $640 a year compared to what they would otherwise have had to spend.
That’s a far cry from Wal-Mart’s claim. But…
FISHMAN: Six-hundred-forty dollars for a typical family still adds up to a TV, a big-screen TV that you wouldn’t otherwise get to buy, or two weeks at camp for a kid who wouldn’t otherwise get to go to camp. And so that’s not trivial. It’s a question of keeping it in perspective.
On the other side, the study showed Wal-Mart’s price cutting also held down wages.
In Washington, I’m Steve Henn for Marketplace.
If you’re a member of your local public radio station, we thank you — because your support helps those stations keep programs like Marketplace on the air. But for Marketplace to continue to grow, we need additional investment from those who care most about what we do: superfans like you.
Your donation — as little as $5 — helps us create more content that matters to you and your community, and to reach more people where they are – whether that’s radio, podcasts or online.
When you contribute directly to Marketplace, you become a partner in that mission: someone who understands that when we all get smarter, everybody wins.


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Yesterday was the last day marketers could trade Facebook likes for content or contest entries.
Facebook has ended the practice known as “like-gating” to make sure people “like pages because they want to connect and hear from the businesses, not because of artificial incentives,” Harshdeep Singh, a software engineer at Facebook, wrote in an August blog post. As of today, content previously hidden to those who haven’t liked a specific page is now visible to everyone.
“[Likes] once represented organically addressable audiences and brands did everything they could to capture them,” says Marko Muellner, digital vice president and group director at Edelman. “That’s all ancient history. As most brands have seen their organic reach fall below 5 percent a post, and the reality that the quality of that audience is suspect, they’ve been forced to completely rethink the importance of likes in their Facebook marketing strategy.”
For Jasmine Sandler, founder and chief executive (CEO) of Agent-cy, the end of like-gating puts the onus on brands to engage consumers in a less superficial way.
“Agencies will need to think in a way that is organic to drive engagement,” she says. “This is about being real to your audience.
“Social media is meant for real relationship development,” Sandler continues. “It is analogous to the over-sale at retail not working, whereas educating the consumer, even providing free trials or test drives, has a much higher percentage of making the cut.”
Muellner agrees that working to earn likes naturally, by publishing great content and amplifying the posts that generate traction, is the way to go.
“Even if you can aggregate a significant amount of quality likes, you’ll need to pay to reach them. Save yourself time and pay to reach them from the beginning,” Muellner says. “The end of like-gate isn’t surprising, nor should marketers be upset. Facebook is the world’s most targeted mobile advertising platform first, and a great place to gain earned lift second.”
Many companies use SMS, email and push notifications to deliver updates to customers and stakeholders, and such notifications are especially important to publishers ... read more
Every year, the average business spends thousands of dollars on Facebook ads but has little or nothing to show for it. If this is true for your business, what can you do about it?
Twitter's own statistics say that videos are six times more likely to be retweeted than photos, and three times more likely than GIFs. But what is it that makes video on Twitter so effective?
Snapchat started as a simple messaging app that made the idea of ephemeral messages into a trend among social platforms.


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India market mix
I've blogged before about my excitement for the Indian auto market and wanted to give you a little closer look at the vehicle mix. India's light vehicle forecast for 2011 is just under 3 million vehicles. This 3 million includes passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles. But passenger and commercial vehicles make up only 20% of the 2009-2010 vehicle market mix for 2009/2010 according to the Society of Indian Automotive Manufactures. Two wheelers are the top selling vehicle segment in India representing 76 percent of the Indian vehicle market in 2009/2010.
However, two wheelers have lost 3% share to passenger vehicles between 2003 and 2010. This is in part due to the global and local passenger vehicle manufacturers expanding their dealer networks further into rural Indian areas where two wheeler manufacturers have been the only players for years.
Don't worry two wheeler manufacturers. There appears to be enough growth for everyone in the Indian market. Between 2009 and 2010 there was 26% growth from both passenger vehicles and two wheelers. And 2011 looks promising as well with Polk's automotive forecast predicting a 14 percent increase in light vehicles for India.
These are exciting times for the Indian automotive market and I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Posted by Margaret Zewatsky, Product Strategist, Polk (02.28.2011)
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- Uber, Waymo, Starsky Robotics confirm self-driving truck tests – reports
- Light-vehicle sales surge 24.7% in Russia during February as recovery accelerates
- Mexican light-vehicle sales decrease 7.2% y/y in February – preliminary data
- German passenger car sales rise by a strong 7.4% in February


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E3 2020’s Cancellation Could Mean the End of Gaming’s Biggest Event
E3 2020 is cancelled. We're left to wonder whether we've seen the last true E3 show.
E3 2020 has been canceled due to concerns related to coronavirus. The cancellation of that event will not only seriously impact the nature of the video game industry through 2020, but it could have a long-lasting effect on the industry as a whole. While we’re all hoping for the end of this pandemic and a return to normalcy, E3 may never be the same again after canceling this year’s event. In fact, this could be the death knell for the annual trade show.
One of the best arguments for why this might be the case can be found in the lyrics of a song that was released when the world was still battling the Spanish flu. Yes, I’m making a timely reference to 1919 banger “How Ya Gonna Keep ’em Down on the Farm (After They’ve Seen Paree)?” by Walter Donaldson, Joe Young, and Sam M. Lewis. This catchy number featured fascinating commentary on how difficult it was for some World War I soldiers to adapt to life in rural areas after fighting in the war in Europe and seeing cities like Paris. It spoke of the waning appeal of tradition at a time when more and more people were becoming aware of (and infatuated with) a changing world.
That situation very much applies to the state of E3 in 2020. There was a time when E3 was the main event of the video game industry. It was not only the best way for publishers and studios to showcase their products to millions of potential customers but attending E3 was once considered to be something of a pilgrimage for members of the games press and game development industry.
In recent years, we’ve seen several companies challenge the notion that E3 is an essential industry event. Nintendo was arguably the first major player to voluntarily “drop out of E3” when it stopped hosting live, on-stage press conferences in 2013 in order to focus on digital Nintendo Direct live stream presentations instead. (That said, Nintendo still hosts one of the biggest booths on the show floor.) Sony and Electronic Arts followed in more recent years, abandoning or greatly reducing their E3 presence. In fact, Sony wasn’t even planning to attend E3 2020, a move made all the more shocking by the fact that the PlayStation 5 will be out in just a few months.
Prior to its cancellation, E3 2020 was already shaping up to be the most contentious E3 yet. The Game Awards creator and host of the annual E3 Coliseum live stream Geoff Keighley dropped out of the show, questioning the creative direction of this year’s show, which involved a fan-oriented focus on influencers and celebrities, an emphasis on interactive experiences, and “queuetainment” designed to advertise to attendees while they waited in line for demos.
While this new format does constitute an “evolution” of the event, it’s clear these potential changes didn’t address the concerns of people like former SIE Worldwide Studios chairman Shawn Layden, who commented in 2019 that “The world has changed, but E3 hasn’t necessarily changed with it.”
Recent years have already seen major companies adopt other channels to make announcements and promote projects that would have previously been reserved for E3. While digital events like Nintendo’s Direct streams are the most obvious example of alternate channels, the last couple of Game Awards shows (which are hosted and produced by Keighley) have been as eventful as recent E3s in terms of announcements and reveals. Even the Game Developers Conference (GDC) feels more like an “industry trade show” these days, which is what E3 billed itself as in its earliest days. That’s not really the reality anymore, as the expo seems to be evolving into a more fan-oriented show.
There are still advantages to attending the expo. E3 is still a big name, and the event is a great way for studios to get their games in the hands of potential customers. It’s also still a fantastic networking venue that allows industry members to meet, shake hands, and make deals. In fact, many indie game developers and tech startups still depend on these face-to-face meetings with the bigger fish.
And you can’t ignore the fact that E3 still attracts over 60,000 people, even if attendance is down from previous years. That’s a sizable portion of the games industry and community that’s still attends the event.
But what about the E3 that commanded the attention of the industry and offered companies the biggest stage (and marketing vehicle) in gaming? It was always going to be difficult for E3 to compete against live streaming platforms where companies can promote products directly to their fans. The E3 2020 cancellation brings that weakness to the forefront. Without a show floor in which to physically display products, what really is the value of the expo as a marketing tool for companies?
With AAA publishers like Microsoft and Ubisoft already planning their live stream events to replace their E3 pressers, more of the industry may conclude that they don’t need the trade show at all. Meanwhile, an E3-less June will be business as usual for Sony, which went into the year not relying on the expo at all to promote the PS5.
The circumstances which primarily contributed to the cancellation of E3 2020 are extraordinary, and they don’t necessarily mean there won’t be a 2021 edition of the event, but in the short term, the closure exposes issues with E3’s format that existed long before we knew what coronavirus was. Is it unreasonable to suggest that digital reveals and an even spread of announcements throughout the year across multiple events are more practical in 2020?
Sony seemed to think so when it announced it would not bring the PS5 to E3, choosing instead to “build upon our global events strategy in 2020 by participating in hundreds of consumer events across the globe” for “a year of celebration with our fans.”
People have speculated for years that E3 as we know it is dying, but perhaps it’s no longer a matter of speculation. As a contingency measure, E3’s organizers have expressed an interest in producing an online version of the show this year, but where do companies like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and Devolver Digital fall into those plans when they’re already organizing their own dedicated digital events? If these publishers opt out of E3 completely as Sony did, for at least one year, E3 is effectively over.
How is E3 going to attract these companies back once they realize they can effectively market to consumers with all the hype of a traditional E3 press conference at a fraction of the cost and without the middle man? How is E3 going to convince them that it’s still worthwhile to spend thousands of dollars on a live showcase in an increasingly digital world? How long can E3 continue to draw attendees based on the allure of tradition?
I guess what I’m asking is “How ya gonna keep ’em down on the E3 showroom floor (after they’ve seen the future)?”


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After a long time, the bad credit borrowers are seriously going to enjoy this situation as they are going to have the benefit of having a new car loan despite their poor credit scores. In the recent years, if you went to the dealer with a score of 500, the dealer will laugh out as they assume you to be non-viable in paying out the monthly bills.
As the Federal Reserve went out to keep their promise and have lowered the interest rates, it is turning easier for the bad credit people to borrow a loan.
More and more marketers are finding huge chances in lending out cheap car loan to subprime borrowers. They are taking advantage of this new thing and jumping on the trend to make the automobile market fertile.
Dealers and the online auto financing companies have realized that if a borrower defaults on the loan it is easier to repossess their car instead their home and, therefore, have opted to take a big loss as the cars have depreciating value.
If the owner defaults, then dealer can take the vehicles and can sell it at an auction, often time it is much less than the outstanding balance of the loan. This makes them easier to get number of customers as most maintain their payment.


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Marshall Motor Holdings has provided an update on its ongoing portfolio management.
It had completed the acquisition of the business and assets of Leeds Volvo from Harratts Group Ltd for £77,000.
"The transaction is not expected to have a material impact on the Group's earnings in the current financial year," said MMH.
"It is, however, expected to be earnings enhancing in future years following the planned investment to redevelop the site in line with new Volvo Retail Experience standards and the benefits of being part of a larger Group are realised."
In addition to the acquisition of Leeds Volvo, MMH had also recently completed the sale of a vacant freehold site in Totton, Southampton for £2m.
"This site was acquired as part of the acquisition of Ridgeway Garages (Newbury) Limited announced in May 2016."


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On March 22nd the UK Government won the vote on the Windsor Framework in the House of Commons. To be more precise, the Stormont Brake, a provision within the deal, received the backing of the majority of MPs by 515 votes to 29. The Brake introduces a democratic safeguard that will bestow Stormont with the power – under certain conditions – to block the application of EU rules on the trade of goods in Northern Ireland. This followed the formal acceptance of the key components of the Windsor Framework during a Council of the EU on March 21st. The Framework resolves trade issues between the UK and EU stemming from the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Now that we have set the scene, we will draw on our expertise in public affairs and understanding of the agri-food industry in the EU, UK and Ireland to outline how the Windsor Framework has resolved the issues arising from the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Northern Ireland Protocol
Post-Brexit, the protocol was designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland. It moved regulatory and customs checks to the Irish Sea which created barriers to the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As a result, the UK Government sought changes to the protocol and engaged in a lengthy negotiation with the EU, culminating in the Windsor Agreement which was announced in February.
The Windsor Framework in practice
The Framework paves the way for smoother trade within the UK by cutting red tape and reducing trade barriers. This new approach differentiates between goods that are at risk of moving to the EU Single Market, and goods that are destined for final consumption in Northern Ireland. In the parlance, green lanes now exist for goods which are destined for final consumers in Northern Ireland and these goods will not be subject to routine checks. Firms importing goods for final consumers can join a trusted trader scheme being administered by the UK authorities. On the other hand, goods destined for the Republic of Ireland or EU will have to undergo the standard third country checks on arrival in Northern Ireland.
Now let’s take a closer look at the implications for the agri-food sector.
#1 Plant and animal health
Specific guarantees have been provided for the movement of agri-goods, food products including labelling and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Checks. UK public health and safety standards will apply for all retail food and drink in the UK internal market. Under this dual regulatory solution, where relevant, these goods will still need to meet EU standards on animal and plant health diseases. If England, for example, changed food health standards in relation to a particular product, then that product could be sold in shops in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. And if the Northern Ireland Assembly chose to adopt a new EU regulation on food health standards – in line with the new democratic safeguards written into the treaty as set out below – then producers could still sell that good across the UK because of the unfettered access guarantees that UK law already secures.
The administrative burden has been reduced because a single document will be electronically and remotely processed. There is no need for official veterinarians or plant inspectors on site in supermarket distribution centres or costly ‘attestation’ supporting documentation for products. Plants, shrubs, trees and seeds will be able to move into Northern Ireland from Britain again. Goods at risk of entering the EU Single Market will remain subject to full EU customs and SPS procedures. Inputs into food production will continue to benefit from inclusion in the ‘not at risk’ definition.
A subset of high-risk products such as meat, dairy and other composite products will be labelled at a product-level on a phased basis through to 2025, in line with the proposals set out in the UK’s July 2021 Command Paper. Those labelling requirements will first be introduced on meat and fresh dairy from October 2023, with the Government providing transitional reimbursement funding during this first phase. From October 2024 these requirements will be extended to include all other dairy products, such as UHT milk and butter, and would be proposed to apply UK-wide from that point, in consultation with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. From July 2025, composite products, fruit, vegetables and fish will also be labelled on a UK-wide basis. Labelling will replace visual identification.
#3 Agricultural subsidies
Northern Ireland remains fully outside the EU Common Agricultural Policy, with the Northern Ireland Executive empowered to design schemes that work best for Northern Ireland subject only to basic underlying World Trade Organisation rules.
#4 Third country goods
Goods from across the globe can enter the trusted trader scheme, regardless of where they are processed, once they meet the UK public health and safety standards and pose no risk of disease. This also stands where there are potential risks of disease for products moved from the rest of the world, where the UK has chosen to take the same approach to protecting against the same pests and diseases.
#5 Animal feed
The threshold below which companies involved in processing can move goods under the trusted trader scheme has been quadrupled from £500,000 up to £2,000,000. Even if firms are above that threshold, they will be eligible to move goods under the scheme if those goods are for use in animal feed.
#6 Used machinery
The export of used agricultural and forestry machinery will only require a single, self-applied label to indicate the machinery will not move into the EU.
The UK government’s Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which was intended as a ‘backstop’ in case negotiations failed, will be dropped. The EU will halt the various legal actions currently underway against the UK.
In order to fully implement the wide range of joint solutions announced in Windsor, the Commission tabled on February 27th three legislative proposals on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules, medicines and Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs). The Commission is working closely with the European Parliament and the Council for their swift adoption over the coming months.
On March 24th the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, and Vice-President to the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, formally signed off the Windsor Framework at the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee in London.
The UK government will now look to begin implementing the framework and give it legal effect.
On April 5th, in the Council of the European Union, Coreper II meets where we can expect confirmation of the final compromise text with a view to agreement.
The new and expanded trusted trader scheme for freight will start applying on September 30th 2023, provided that the relevant safeguards are in place.


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EASTLAKE, Ohio — Cars wrapped around the Eastlake Senior Center Building in Lake County Wednesday morning. One car after another pulled up and was filled up with food.
“It helps her out because she is retired and has a limited income,” said one driver who was there.
“It helps me out, plus I have a family member who has lingering COVID and hasn’t been able to work for months so I share what I get with them,” said another.
The food distribution drive-through is intended for senior citizens but no one is turned away. Since the program started the number of people being helped is up by roughly eight times.
“It’s steadily grown over the years. Last month I think there was over 400 individuals who came through the program. A lot of people are talking about inflation and their benefits being reduced. So a lot of them are just saying it’s a blessing,” said Michael Zuren, the Lake County treasurer.
Larry Bogenrief is a pastor at Willow Praise Church, the church that organizes the drive-through food distribution. He said the need is worse after the pandemic.
“It makes a difference because people are on a fixed income so they’re trying to pinch pennies, we’re just looking at ways to help them to extend their budget. Sometimes it’s between whether they’re going to get their prescriptions, or they’re going to get their groceries, or whether they’re going to feed their pet. These are simple choices but they’re painful when you don’t have finances to help,” Bogenrief said.
Officials said it’s not just humans who need help, the need for help taking care of pets has skyrocketed too.
Ohio Paws with Purpose is a pet food pantry that helps feed cats and dogs when their humans sometimes struggle to feed themselves.
Last month, the organization helped supply 150 cats and dogs with food, treats and toys, according to Elvira Bellegoni, the founder and executive director. First the problem was the pandemic.
“Now it’s mostly the inflation, some of the pet food has doubled in price,” Bellegoni said.
Allison and Ernie Edens have two cats. They’re on a fixed income and know all too well about paying the price to feed their cats. They’ve gone to the pet pantry for help.
“It makes it hard if we have to give up buying food for us to buy some food for them and getting the pet food at the pet pantry is such a blessing,” said Allison Edens.
For Bellegoni, it is a labor of love. “We have done a lot but we always hope we can do more,” said Bellegoni. ”It makes me feel good, I wish I could do more.
Like many non-profits the need is up while donations are down. There is a wish list on Ohio Paws with Purpose website.
Donations can also be dropped off.
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Australia’s Minister for Agriculture Bridget McKenzie has welcomed the finalisation of a new memorandum of understanding between the Australian and Chinese meat industries.
“This MoU is a demonstration of the depth of relationship between our meat industry and the Chinese industry and the mutually beneficial outcomes that can be achieved by working together,” Minister Mckenzie said.
“The Australian Meat Industry Council has signed the China Australia Red Meat Agreement (CARMA) with the China Meat Association today.
“It’s formalising a partnership that has been years in the making and will mature even further through this approach.
“The MoU sets out a way for our respective industries to work cooperatively to strengthen food safety processes. It also enables bilateral exchanges to improve our joint technical knowledge, marketing and research and development outcomes.
“Ultimately it’s about securing outcomes that are beneficial to all parties.
“Chinese consumers enjoy Australia’s safe, high quality, sustainable food and fibre and red meat is a critically important part of that.
“I commend the Chinese meat industry and the Australian meat industry for their foresight and cooperation in formalising this agreement that’s joint work program will focus on delivering mutual benefit.”
MOU reconfirms strong Australia-China trading relationship
The new memorandum of understanding between the Australian and Chinese meat sectors highlights the importance of China to Australian industry and underlines a commitment to collaboration on both sides, according to Australian Meat Industry Council CEO Patrick Hutchinson.
The MOU is the result of 18 months of preparations and discussions which kicked off at the China International Meat Industry Week in 2018.
AMIC CEO Mr Hutchinson signed The China Australia Red Meat Agreement (CARMA) MOU with the China Meat Association in Chengdu, China today on behalf of the Australian Meat Industry Council, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation.
“China is the biggest export market for Australian meat, and maintaining and enhancing our relationship with this critical partner is essential for the future of our industry. This MOU serves to reinforce the strong value our sector places on the relationship and our great respect for China as a very important trading partner,” he says.
In the year to August, Australia has sent more than 172,000 tonnes of beef, 45,000 tonnes of lamb and 39,000 tonnes of mutton to China, with a total market value of close to $2 billion.
“The aim of this MOU is to establish long-term and formal cooperative relations, strengthen effective and practical food safety processes and enable bilateral exchanges around technical know-how, marketing, and research and development investment. Ultimately, the MOU will help secure trade outcomes that are beneficial to all parties.”
The longer-term aims of the CARMA include development of both sides’ red meat industries, an enhanced supply chain for Australian meat into China, and working to streamline product specifications and labelling requirements.
“Demand for Australian meat products continues to grow in China and this MOU is another step towards securing and growing this important relationship. I extend my gratitude to the China Meat Association, Meat & Livestock Australia, the Australian Meat Processing Corporation and my own team at AMIC for all their hard work in creating this agreement, and I look forward to continuing to work towards the best outcomes for our industry.”
Under the terms of the MOU, a working group to help implement the goals of the CARMA will be formed to initiate the cooperative program.
The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) is the only industry association for Australia’s post-farm-gate meat sector. The sector adds more than $21 billion in value to the Australian economy.
Sources: Minister for Agriculture, AMIC
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The next generation iPhone is months away from release but it has started appearing in regulatory filing by Apple. It is necessary to gain certification from different regulatory bodies around the globe before releasing a product in the market. The same rules apply for the iPhone as well; the process usually begins a lot time before the actual release, to keep everything ready.
A new certification filed by Apple to the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) reveals new iPhone model numbers. In the document, the name of the product is “Smartphone” followed by various model numbers. It is then followed by the software version “iOS 14” which does not make sense.
iOS 15 unveiled at WWDC
Apple usually releases new iPhone models with the next generation iOS software. This year’s iPhone models are expected to ship with iOS 15 which was unveiled at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote. Nonetheless, it’s also possible that Apple is just using iOS 14 on the unreleased iPhone models for testing purposes.
The model numbers listed in the regulatory filing are A2628, A2630, A2634, A2635, A2640, A2643 and A2645. All of the devices are running iOS 14 – the current version of the iPhone software available for use. Apple is expected to launch at least four different models of the iPhone 13, similar to last year.
In 2020, Apple launched the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Also, all the phones were powered by the company’s first 5nm chip – the A14 Bionic. It was the iPad Air to first receive the A14 Bionic chip in September and it was followed by the iPhone receiving the same chip treatment.
The upcoming iPhone 13 Pro models are expected to feature 120Hz high refresh rate displays. The regular iPhone 13 models will reportedly continue to use standard 60Hz displays.


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At Glamour’s Women of the Year summit, Mattel announced the first hijab-wearing Barbie in their collection. The Barbie is part of Mattel’s Shero collection and is modelled on Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first American Muslim woman to wear a hijab while competing for the US Olympics team. She was also the first American Muslim woman to bring home a medal, winning a bronze in fencing at the 2016 Olympic Games.
When Mattel came to her with the proposal, Muhammad wept. “When I was a kid, I remember people commenting on the size of my thighs,” she told The New Yorker. “Then I got involved in sports, and I came to appreciate my body.” Muhammad was involved in the design process, requesting that the doll have strong legs and wear both dark eyeliner and a hijab – just like Muhammad herself.
Muhammad was involved in the design process, requesting that the doll have strong legs and wear both dark eyeliner and a hijab – just like Muhammad herself
The announcement is even more heartwarming given that, at a MAKERS conference earlier in the year, Muhammad spoke out about the discrimination that American Muslims face. She revealed that in December she had been held at US customs for two hours without explanation: “I don't know why. I can't tell you why it happened to me, but I know that I'm Muslim. I have an Arabic name. And even though I represent Team USA and I have that Olympic hardware, it doesn't change how you look and how people perceive you.”
Muhammad will join a host of other amazing women that make up the Shero collection, including Gabby Douglas, Ava DuVernay, Misty Copeland and Ashley Graham.
In a press release, Barbie’s vice president of global marketing highlighted exactly what made Muhammad qualify as a Shero. “Barbie is celebrating Ibtihaj not only for her accolades as an Olympian, but for embracing what makes her stand out,” said Sejal Shah Miller. “Ibtihaj is an inspiration to countless girls who never saw themselves represented, and by honoring her story, we hope this doll reminds them that they can be, and do, anything.”
The doll will be available for purchase in 2018.


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SAN FRANCISCO -- With its massive beat Thursday,
made another convincing showing that it's more than a mere cost-cutting story.
The company surpassed Wall Street revenue
estimates by a whopping $1.4 billion, notching its strongest growth since the boom days of 2000.
CEO Mark Hurd said the company was poised to collect even more of the world's spending on information technology, which he said would reach $1.1 trillion by 2009.
"We've got a lot more market to get after," said Hurd.
But the call to arms and the giant upside elicited a more tempered reaction on the Street, where, despite Friday's rally, fear and uncertainty about the economy and the capital markets continue to linger.
H-P's stock was up just 2.4%, or $1.10, to $47.15 in recent trading Friday.
Analysts noted that H-P's strong quarter was already priced into the stock. And while H-P has benefited from its presence in the world's fast-growing markets, the company also has a good deal of exposure to sectors that could be at risk of weakening.
Financial services companies -- big buyers of technology -- look increasingly shaky as their investments in mortgage-backed securities blow up.
More worrisome for H-P is the potential of a consumer slowdown.
"I'm bullish on H-P as a company," says David Schamens, of Invictus Funds. "Unfortunately, the macro environment as a whole is probably not going to favor H-P's stock."
With the housing market losing steam and consumers stepping back from home-equity loan-financed shopping sprees, Schamens believes the economy is due for a recession by the middle of next year.
While Schamens has no position in H-P, he says his firm is heavily short the consumer in general.
On the PC side of the business, H-P acknowledged Thursday that sales are slowing. As a result, H-P said it expects that revenue in the current quarter will grow slower than normal for this time of year.
But the company framed the PC slowdown as more of a natural cooling-off after several quarters of outsize sales growth, rather than an indication of weakening demand.
During the quarter, H-P grew its notebook revenue 54% and increased its sales of corporate PCs by 19% year over year, putting more pressure on rival
"They can't grow three times the market forever," says T. Rowe Price hardware analyst Chirag Vasavada, which has a position in H-P. "If they do, they'll become the market."
While Vasavada is mindful of H-P's exposure, he believes the stock will fare well in the long run so long as the company maintains the solid business execution that it has displayed.
And he notes there's even a case to be made that H-P's stock has some of the defensive qualities that investors look for in a down economy.
Given that PCs are increasingly becoming a nondiscretionary item for segments of the population such as students, H-P's lineup of low-cost machines could do well in a downturn, taking sales from companies that make high-end consumer PCs.
H-P's printer ink business, the company's most profitable group, could also see sales hold up even as consumers cut back on spending.
H-P may not be as defensive as downturn stalwarts such as
, says Vasavada, but the stock stands out within the technology sector.
Analysts reacted to H-P's strong fiscal third quarter by raising their estimates Friday.
While some analysts took note of the 10% sequential growth in H-P's inventory level, few seemed overly concerned by it.
"Like last year, H-P's inventory build is a direct result of upcoming seasonal demand," Goldman Sachs analyst Laura Conigliaro wrote in a note to investors.
Goldman Sachs makes a market in shares of H-P and has received compensation from H-P for investment banking and non-investment banking in the past 12 months.
And while H-P benefited from cheap component costs during the quarter, Conigliaro said that H-P's profit margin trends are favorable notwithstanding the low costs, pointing to big improvements in groups such as software and services, where component costs are not an issue.
"We think bears are missing the point," Conigliaro said.