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The latest Mac News
Thursday August 16, 2018. 07:07 PM
The first college or university in the nation is installing Alexa-enabled Amazon Echo Dots in every single dorm room...
John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to look at Verizon’s plans for 5G broadband in our homes and how that may work out.
With active noise cancellation, big bass and a comfortable design, the Beats Studio 3 Wireless are the ultimate Beats headphones. But are they for everyone? Here’s our full review
Gene Munster sees growth in China and India leading to a big future expansion, with Apple employing 80,000 customer service employees just at Apple Stores within five years.
Hi, I need to copy some files from my Mac to give to a PC user. They are not large files just a few letters etc. I plan to use a memory stick. How should I format the stick so that the PC and Mac can read and copy the files? Many thanks —– Gill
You could fly round the world before the Beats Solo 3 Wireless run out of power, but do you listen to the right kind of music to be suited? Find out in our full review.
Apple is a company that's well known for pushing the price envelope...
A refresh of the MacBook Air to celebrate a decade of sales could rejuvenate a MacBook model that has seemingly been left behind. Could Apple be planning to update the MacBook Air, and if so, what changes are on the cards?
Japan is investigating allegations that pressure from Apple forced Yahoo Japan to pull back...
The music world lost a pillar with the passing of Aretha Franklin. She was suffering from pancreatic cancer, as did Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. To commemorate her life Apple has several playlists on Apple Music celebrating her powerful contributions to soul, jazz, R&B,...
Twitter is turning off the APIs for key features on August 16th, essentially hobbling all client apps except its own.
After the passing Thursday morning of the legendary Queen of Soul, Apple's CEO says "her voice will keep lifting us, through the music she gave the world."
Apple authorized reseller Adorama has issued even greater markdowns on Apple's brand-new 2018 MacBook Pro with combined instant and coupon savings totaling up to $250 off with no tax outside NY and NJ. These deals, which offer shoppers the lowest prices anywhere, are...
Apple CEO Tim Cook shared a rare glimpse at Apple Park's inner workings on Wednesday...
A teenager from Melbourne, Australia, has been arrested for hacking in to Apple’s servers, making off with over 90 GB of files, and accessing customer accounts. Apparently the boy developed a system that “worked flawlessly” until he was caught. The Sydney Morning Herald...
Tapbots has released an update to its popular Tweetbot client for Twitter, removing features that will no longer be supported as of today’s Twitter API changes. Twitter announced changes to its APIs last year — a move that was met with protests by developers of...
Despite the size, the BeatsX earphones pack a punch and boast impressive battery life. Find out more in our review.
This year's 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED iPhones will support the Apple Pencil, an accessory originally designed exclusively for iPads, a report claimed on Thursday.
Another report claims the 2018 iPhone models will include Apple Pencil support.
Apple wants iPhone owners to be able to use their mobile devices as alternatives to a keyless entry system for their car, with a proposal that would let users unlock and start a vehicle simply by bringing their mobile device with them to the driving seat.
Aug, Sat 18 - 12:21 CEST


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News tagged ‘test’
During the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote last month, Apple teased new animated emojis for the Messages app in iOS 10. A couple of days ago, the company has finally released four stickers packs to be used on the first beta of the new mobile operating system.
According to the latest report from the Wall Street Journal reporters, Apple is reportedly planning to acquire the streaming music service called Tidal that is owned by Jay Z and focused on offering high-fidelity audio to its subscribers. Currently, the service has a little bit more than 4 million paying subscribers.
It is Sunday today, which means I should tell you about the most interesting posts of the last couple of days. Most of the articles this week deal with the next-generation iPhone, the specs of this device, new versions of iOS 9.3.3, OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan, tvOS 9.2.2 and, of course, iOS 10 beta jailbreak demonstrated by the Pangu team as well as the possible release of iOS 9.3.2 jailbreak.
Yesterday, at the Mobile Security Conference in Shanghai, the Pangu team teased the untethered jailbreak of iOS 10. Today, a new rumor appeared on the Internet suggesting that the hackers may soon release the jailbreak of iOS 9.3.2. According to people familiar with the matter, during the event, the developers were asked about privacy problems in iOS 9.3.2. Their answer hinted at possible release of the untethered jailbreak of this firmware version in the nearest future.
Apple has posted a new video celebrating the first Beats 1 anniversary. In case you don’t know, Beats 1 is Apple’s online radio launched in 2015 alongside the streaming music service called Apple Music. The short video is based on interviews with famous artists and highlights the most interesting things that happened in its studios over the last 12 months. Check out the video below or on Apple’s official YouTube channel.
A well-known designer Martin Hajek has recently created a new iPhone 7 concept that is based on the latest rumors about the upcoming device. In particular, the concept shows a new ‘Space Black’ color option, the rumored Force Touch Home button integrated in the front panel and new EarPods with a Lightning connector instead of the outdated headphone jack. You can take a look at the images below.
Apple’s new Campus 2 that is expected to be finished by the end of this year, continues to take shape at a high speed. As shown in the latest video posted to YouTube by Matthew Roberts, the main building now looks more complete. The construction workers continue the installation of glass and solar panels as well as fuel cells.
Other building within the site, for example, the auditorium and fitness center for employees, are also nearly finished.
Apple’s new headquarters will become the workplace for more than 13,000 employees.
Below you can take a look at the flyover video showing progress on the Apple’s Campus 2.
Apple has seeded the fourth beta of iOS 9.3.3, OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan and tvOS 9.2.2 to developers and public testers. The company encourages the developers to test the pre-release software as well as their applications on newer builds, which may mean that the debut of final versions is just around the corner.
According to the latest report from usually-reliable DigiTimes reporters, Samsung will supply Apple with 40 million AMOLED panels for the rumored all-new iPhone that is expected to be released in 2017. In 2018, the figure may rise to 80 million units and in 2019 to 120 million units. Currently, Samsung Display is the main supplier of AMOLED displays for the Galaxy lineup. The orders from Apple and other vendors worldwide will allow the company to remain the main AMOLED display manufacturer in the world.
According to the latest report from reliable insiders, the next-generation MacBook Pro that may be announced later this summer and that is expected to feature a new OLED panel instead of function keys could also get a power button with Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The new button then may be used for securing Apple Pay transactions on the web, purchasing content on the App Store, and unlocking the laptop.
Alongside the iPhone 7, Apple may also unveil the Apple Watch 2. According to the latest rumors, this device will be equipped with a separate GPS chip for better tracking of user’s activity and possibly some security enhancements. Apart from that, the new Watch may get an improved Workout app capable of tracking swimming activity. This gives us a hint about possible water resistance of the wearable device.
The widely-rumored iPhone 7 may get a brand new Home button, reliable insiders believe. According to the latest report from 9to5Mac reporters, Apple may replace the standard button with the one supporting Force Touch and providing haptic feedback. In addition to this, there will be no deep blue iPhone finish. It appears that this color was confused with a much darker gray option called presumably ‘Space Black’ that will debut this fall to match a similar Apple Watch colorway.
According to the latest report from The Telegraph, Google may be planning to launch its own smartphone by the end of this year. As noted by the reporters, the Google branding may allow the company to compete with Apple, Samsung and other vendors on equal terms. Currently, Google has a lineup of Nexus devices, however, aside from Google’s branding, these devices also have the name of the actual manufacturer on their bodies.
Apple has just released the first beta of Safari 10 for OS X Yosemite and OS X El Capitan. The pre-release version of Apple’s browser for desktops is compatible with the latest OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 beta and OS X Yosemite 10.10.5, so if you have a compatible Mac, you can download the latest software and test it on your own machine right now.
Apple has released the third beta of iOS 9.3.3 and OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 to registered developers and public testers. Both pre-release versions include bug fixes, security and stability improvements and lack new features. iOS 9.3.3 Beta 3 has a build number 13G29 and OS X 10.11.6 Beta 3 features an index 15G19a.

domain: news


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GE recently announced it is ramping up its efforts to enable global
electrification of transportation by investing in Norwegian electric
car manufacturer Think, which unveiled a five-seat crossover concept
car in Geneva. To power its vehicles, Think has signed a commercial
supply agreement with lithium-ion battery manufacturer A123Systems.
GE is in a unique position to help both companies commercialize
technology to make electric transportation practical and affordable.
Think presented its investment relationship with GE in Geneva at the
78th International Motor Show, where it unveiled a new platform
concept for larger electric vehicles: The crossover TH!NK Ox is an
electric five-seat car close to the size of a sport utility vehicle
but lighter and more aerodynamic. Also in Geneva, the company
launched to the market the TH!NK City, a plug-in electric car with
over 100 miles range.
GE announced its electric transportation investments at the
Washington International Renewable Energy Conference. The commercial
supply agreement with A123Systems provides Think with patented


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The world famous Jungle Jim’s International Market will be opening its second store in the former location of Bigg’s in Eastgate as early as 2012.
The Union Township Trustees appointed township administrator Ken Geis to work with Jungle Jim’s as they negotiate the purchase of the former grocery and the smaller stores within the building. Union Township will be the land holders in the agreement and will lease the property to Jungle Jim’s.
Jungle Jim’s director of development Phill Adams describes the unique store which has been a Fairfield landmark since 1974 as a multi-pronged grocery store centered around a typical American grocery with wings featuring a staggering array of international foods, fresh seafood, produce, meats, cheeses, wine, beer, and more.
The entertainment includes everything from an in-store cooking school to hand built motorized displays such as the cereal box mascot band, to "Jungle" Jim Bonaminio himself roller skating through the aisles interacting with customers.
Adams said Jungle Jim's has been looking to open a new store in the Greater Cincinnati area for 10 years and the company has been waiting for the right opportunity to come along. He said the Eastgate location offers immediate access to a highway, a large footprint, and a 30 to 35 minute drive time to the Fairfield store for managers. But what sealed the deal was the Union Township administration's willingness to work with the company.
"Union Township really stepped up to make this happen," Adams said. "Ken Geis was the right person for that job and we wouldn't be there without him."
In addition to the courting Jungle Jim's received from the trustees, Adams said the efforts of Batavia resident Greg Traynor also influenced their decision. The local realty agent created a Facebook page called "Bring Jungle Jim's to Bigg's Plaza" which quickly gained more than 2,000 members.
Geis said this is the largest purchase and lease agreement the township has ever made with a business and he credited the trustees for their efforts in encouraging growth in the township.
"The trustees have a very aggressive attitude towards attracting new business," Geis said. "This is another tool that is making us as competitive as we can be."
The Eastgate building will be larger than the Fairfield location and Geis said the store is expected to offer between 300 and 400 jobs.
"It is our understanding that Bigg's employed less than 100 people," Geis said.
Adams said the store is not hiring at currently as the store undergoes remodeling, but he encouraged job seekers to visit the company's website at www.junglejims.com or its facebook page.
The larger store will offer many of the same products found at the current Fairfield location, but Adams said it may look a little different.
"It's going to be a cool store, no worries there," Adams said. "We haven't really determined a layout yet, but we're aiming to make everyone happy."
Geis said he and the trustees are glad to see the Bigg's building will once again be open for business.
"We're thrilled to have them there," Geis said.
He said the final purchase agreement is expected to be complete in the next 60 to 75 days and Jungle Jim's will begin their remodeling soon after.


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Meta Connect 2023 livestream presentation set for late September
Facebook and Meta are set to show off their latest efforts in VR hardware and applications when the Meta Connect presentation returns this month.TJ Denzer
For years, Oculus, Facebook, and now Meta have utilized the Connect event to showcase their latest efforts in VR technology and applications. That will continue to be the case in 2023. Meta has announced the Meta Connect 2023 livestream event in which it will share the latest details on things like the Meta Quest 3, upcoming software, and further innovations and product announcements. It will be going down at the end of September 2023.
Meta announced the Meta Connect 2023 livestream presentation in a press release on September 13, 2023, opening up the Meta Connect website for viewers to register to watch the event. The event is set to take place across September 27 and 28, with Facebook and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivering a keynote address to kick things off on September 27 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. You’ll be able to watch directly on the Meta Connect website, as well as through the Horizon Worlds app.
The announcement also shared a number of key updates and reveals that will take place during Meta Connect 2023, as shared below:
The Quest 3 mixed reality headset and the experiences it enablesThe latest developments in AI-powered experiences across our platformsHow the metaverse is coming to lifeInsights from the community of devs, builders, and creators
The Meta Quest 3 is likely going to be the marquee section of Meta Connect 2023, with the device having been originally revealed earlier this year ahead of the Meta Quest Gaming Showcase. We still don’t have an actual release date on the Meta Quest 3 despite knowing its coming before the end of 2023, so it’s possible we could get that information at Meta Connect as well.
Whatever is shown at Meta Connect 2023, stay tuned to Shacknews for more updates as they drop. We’ll share the details and coverage here as it comes out.


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Kate Hudson: Cup Of Joe To Go!
Kate Hudson pops into the Corner Cafe with a group of pals to grab some coffee on Tuesday (December 21) in Aspen, Colo.
The 31-year-old actress is in town for the holidays. Her mom, Goldie Hawn, was spotted doing some shopping at an antique store the same day.
Tabloid reports surfaced last week claiming Kate‘s boyfriend Matthew Bellamy and his band Muse received a five-year ban from Australian venues after the group’s bassist smoked during their Melbourne concert.
But a spokesman for the Aussie venue clarified the reports and said Muse has not been banned and didn’t receive a fine.
10+ pictures inside of Kate Hudson grabbing coffee in Aspen…


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At this year’s Labelexpo India, Monotech had two stands – one displaying the various products of the companies that Monotech represents and the other showing Monotech’s own range of products. At the stand dedicated for its partners, Monotech displayed a 6-color Focus label press as well as a Labelmen. “Labelmen is a recent association for us; they are one of the market leaders in intermittent offset and CI letterpress segments,” says TP Jain, managing director of Monotech Systems.
At the event, Monotech launched three new solutions. “The first and foremost is our 4-color label press. In addition to that we have launched a high-speed industrial inkjet press, which can run at 300 m per minute and is targeted at the newspaper and packaging segments. Finally, we have also launched a monochrome plastic card printing solution. Going forward, we would be releasing a color version of the monochrome press,” says Jain. Monotech also displayed a new variant of its highly successful Jetsci VRI, which can print two colors with
security inks. In addition to that, the company displayed samples of its Scodix and Highcon. Jain informs that Scodix is now entering into the offset and packaging market.
“Although we are a relatively new player in the label industry, we are finding it quite good in terms of response to our products. We just completed the first installation of Focus label press in Mumbai and currently we are working on several projects for label presses. Labelmen is, of course, a recent launch and we are seeing a good response and interest for Labelmen,” he shares. “As far as our industrial inkjet solution is concerned, we are gaining strength in terms of increased installations. I am pretty sure that we will be able to have a good placement for this product range. In any case the future is inkjet, where we have very strong domain knowledge as far as technology is concerned and we are constantly working on new products.”


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Bologna (pta041/07.08.2020/15:30) - Bologna, August 7, 2020. Creactives Group S.p.A. ("Creactives Group") (ISIN IT0005408593 - ticker: CREG), an international company that develops Artificial Intelligence technologies to address real-life business problems in the Supply Chain, analyzed the results of Creactives S.p.A., the fully owned operating company. In the last quarter, which is historically the strongest of the whole year, the impact of Covid-19 on the business has been significant. While in the period "June 2019 - March 2020" the company recorded a sound double-digit growth, in line with the expectations and with the business plan shared with the market, starting from April 2020 the company started decreasing significantly its business performances and now expects to end the year with a slight decrease in the net sales - if compared to 2019/2020 - and with a loss, due to the fact that the company didn't stop investing during the whole pandemic period.
Creactives is a software company that develops Artificial Intelligence solutions for real-time procurement insights and assures data quality at the source of purchasing processes in any ERP or Source to Pay platform. It sells internationally (more than 70% of its turnover is from outside Italy) mostly to enterprise clients such as Acciona, Airbus, AVL, BASF, Buzzi Unicem, CAF, Dubai Pretroleum, Enel, Gestamp, Grupo CAF, Heraeus, Lenzing, Siemens, Tetra Pak, Unicredit.
During the pandemic, several clients - mostly the ones in the oil and gas and air transportation industries - temporarily froze their technology investments and this impacted negatively the business of Creactives.
On the other hand, it is important to note that Creactives didn't lose any customer during this period.
Paolo Gamberoni, CEO of Creactives and Executive President of Creactives Group, declares: "Our company has been impacted by Covid-19, which happened in what is usually the strongest quarter of the year for us. Since we have several clients in the oil and gas and in the air transportation industries, we felt the impact of the pandemic more than other tech groups. Furthermore, all commercial events in our industry have been converted from physical to digital and consequently we had to adapt our lead generation process to this new normal. Nevertheless, we are aware that we are in a growing market, offering software solutions that match the needs of our enterprise customers, especially in the current times, where technologies like ours aimed at supporting cost reduction are playing a crucial role in the daily life of corporations".(end)


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Since the beginning of the year, the US economy has been cooling off. After several years of strong growth, rising inflation and energy costs are affecting US households in ways not seen since the 1970s. For those who are actively involved in the buying or selling of real estate, there is confusion and fear about how the economic slowdown will affect their options.
George Ratiu is a senior economist for research with Realtor.com and in arecent article, he outlined his predictions for the second half of 2022 USHousing Market.
While inflation and rising interest rates are affecting the US economy, home buyers and sellers should still expect the second half of 2022 to be a good market to make a move. The slower pace should also allow them to carefully consider offers, and make good decisions for their future
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.


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As it faces a spate of probes and inquiries regarding the App Store and app distribution on its devices, Apple has told Australia’s consumer watchdog that developers have “more” ways to reach iOS users, claiming they are “far from limited” to just using theApp Store.
In a new archive (via ZDnet) in response to concerns from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that it is exploiting “alleged market power in its role as an app distributor”, Apple highlights several opportunities that developers can take to reach customers.
In particular, Apple points out that “the whole web” exists as an alternative means of distribution, and claims that the web has become a platform for itself. Apple supports this claim by noting that iOS devices have “unlimited and uncontrolled” access to the web, allowing users to download web apps.
Even if a user only owns iOS-based devices, distribution is far from limited to the Apple App Store because developers have several alternative channels to reach that user. The entire web is available to them, and iOS devices have unlimited and uncontrolled access to it. A common approach is for users to purchase and use digital content or services on a website.
Browsers are used not only as a distribution portal, but also as platforms themselves, and host “progressive web applications” (PWA) that eliminate the need to download a developer app through the App Store (or otherwise) in its entirety taken. PWA is increasingly available for and through mobile-based browsers and devices, including on iOS.
Apple says that alternative distribution methods, such as web apps and developers’ websites, pose a competitive threat to the App Store. Apple goes on to discuss other platforms, such as the Google Play Store, and notes that they are fighting “vigorously” to attract developers to create apps for their platform instead of others.
As explained below, Apple faces competition restrictions from distribution options within the iOS ecosystem (including developer sites and other outlets where consumers can obtain third-party apps and use them on their iOS devices) and outside of iOS.
In fact, Apple is competing fiercely to attract the best developers because a reduction in the quality of apps, or limited availability of popular apps in the App Store, will reduce the user experience. Any action that undermines the popularity of the App Store – including preventing developers from succeeding in the App Store – would be financially irrational, as this would destroy the value of the ecosystem to the detriment of consumers, app developers and Apple itself.
Apple’s new comments are unlikely to benefit any developers, especially Epic Games, which is pursuing a massive legal battle against Apple for being an alleged monopoly. Some developers claim that Apple has a dominant position in its devices due to the App Store, and exploits its power to limit innovation and competition.
Just this week, in a separate filing with the ACCC, Apple said it was “surprised” to hear that some developers have concerns about the review process and guidelines that apps must follow before appearing in the “App Store”. The ACCC launched the App Store survey last year and is expected to release an interim report on 31 March.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion on this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News Forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posts are limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.


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"I don't think we or anybody will have a MySpace anytime soon. It's a unique phenomenon to a large degree.
Between the Lines
Larry Dignan and other IT industry experts, blogging at the intersection of business and technology, deliver daily news and analysis on vital enterprise trends.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic.
Rachel King is a staff writer for ZDNet based in San Francisco.
Zack Whittaker writes for ZDNet, CNET, and CBS News. He is based in New York City.
Worth reading: John Markoff and Saul Hansell of the New York Times published one of those big picture stories, "Hiding in Plain Sight, Google Seeks More Power," about how the Internet's epicenter is shaping up. Most of us have been focusing on the software battles--portals, Web applications, instant messengers, social networks.
HP is taking a page from Steve Jobs. The company was able to keep the wraps on a major product announcement that Ann Livermore, executive vice president of technology solutions, called "adaptive infrastructure in a 17-inch box.
In response to a patent infringement suit file against the video and game rental giant by snail-mail rental Cinderella Netflix, Blockbuster is now claiming that Netflix's patents are baseless. According to Reuters: Blockbuster on Tuesday said the lawsuit is based on patents that Netflix obtained deceptively in a bid to monopolize online rentals.....
If hackers were able to exploit a vulnerability in a kernel mode driver for any operating system, they'd essentially end up with control of the entire system. But, according to a story by News.
Rumors have been swirling the HP or EMC would acquire Mercury Interactive, but for now the company is continuing on its own buying binge. "It's further evidence that we want to be the acquiring company as opposed to the acquired company," Christopher Lochhead, Mercury chief marketing officer, told me today after the acquistions were announced.
Tomorrow, I'll be recording my interview (for podcast) of AMD's director of commercial software marketing Margaret Lewis. Lewis is AMD's chief strategist on the software side but probably has enough awareness of what's going on elswhere in the company that just about anything can be asked of her.
By way of an entry on Bob Sutor's blog, I found CNET editor Rafe Needleman talking about the various entries in the marketplace that could eventually serve as Web-based replacements for PowerPoint. Microsoft is already getting some pressure on the word processing and spreadsheet fronts (particularly now that Socialtext has taken on Dan Bricklin and his WikiCalc innovation under its open source wing).
Dan Bricklin, the co-inventor of the electronic spreadsheet and now the inventor of WikiCalc, and Ross Mayfield, the CEO of wiki solutions provider SocialText, have gotten together in a unique partnership that could be more disruptive to the status quo than most people may realize. Whether it is or not remains to be seen.
An unofficial poll of state CIOs conducted at this month's NASCIO showed that 69% either disagreed or strongly disagreed that states are better prepared to face a disaster than they were before Katrina. 79% disagree or strongly disagree with the same question about the Federal government.


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Mobile telco VHA has released its iPhone 4 pricing for its Vodafone and 3 brands. The news follows a raft of similar announcements on how and at what price Apple’s latest handset will launch in Australia late on Thursday night.
Apple's iPhone 4 boasts 512MB of system memory, double the amount in last year's iPhone 3GS and the newer iPad tablet, Computerworld has confirmed.
The Apple iPhone 4 was unveiled this morning by Steve Jobs at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference. The iPhone 4 will be 24 per cent thinner than its predecessor at 9.3mm thick, contain a front-facing camera, and offer greatly improved battery perf...
While the fourth-generation iPhone could come out this week at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), it's not too early to peer into the future and speculate what 2011 could mean for iPhone fans.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs used the D8 Conference on Tuesday to air his views on a variety of issues, including Adobe Flash, Google, ATT, and the next-gen iPhone controversy.
The latest leaked next-generation iPhone, which includes the same processor that powers the iPad, is probably a production or near-production unit, a hardware expert said today.
Apple's leak control has apparently failed again, with photos and video of yet another alleged iPhone 4G prototype appearing on a Vietnamese Internet forum and on YouTube.
New rumors are flying about the latest additions to iPhone OS 4.0, the latest iteration of the iPhone operating system scheduled for public release this summer. Based on the latest developer release, the upcoming OS will supposedly offer new features...
Apple on Tuesday released the third beta version of iPhone OS 4, only to temporarily rescind it due to an apparent problem with the installation process for the accompanying software development kit.
The iPhone-Gate saga just gets more intriguing: According to reports from Wired and CNet, two of the major players involved in the sale of the iPhone prototype to tech blog Gizmodo have now been identified.
The Daily Show's Jon Stewart on Wednesday night weighed in on the lost iPhone debacle skewering Apple over the police raid on Gizmodo Editor Jason Chen's house.
The high drama of Gizmodo and the iPhone prototype it acquired could be heading to the courtroom, as prosecutors try to determine who should face charges. Police raided editor Jason Chen's home last Friday and confiscated his computers and related eq...
Gawker Media's Gizmodo knew it had a hot story when it gained access to a prototype of Apple's upcoming fourth-generation iPhone. But it seems likely that even the folks at the gadget blog could not have predicted just how much attention its series o...
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak wrote a guest post for Gizmodo recently claiming that Apple engineer Gray Powell was not fired for losing an iPhone prototype in March.
Acting on a warrant issued Friday, California police seized personal computers belonging to the Gizmodo editor who broke the iPhone prototype story last week, a district attorney for San Mateo County confirmed today.
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Brainstorming, innovation, problem solving, and negotiation have all become much more productive and valuable if people can easily collaborate in real time with minimal friction.
The print quality also does not disappoint, it’s clear, bold, doesn’t smudge and the text is perfectly sized.
The Huddle Board’s built in program; Sharp Touch Viewing software allows us to easily manipulate and edit our documents (jpegs and PDFs) all at the same time on the dashboard.
The biggest perks for me would be that it comes with easy to use and comprehensive programs that make the collaboration process a whole lot more intuitive and organic
I rate the printer as a 5 out of 5 stars as it has been able to fit seamlessly into my busy and mobile lifestyle.
It’s perfect for mobile workers. Just take it out — it’s small enough to sit anywhere — turn it on, load a sheet of paper, and start printing.
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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 8 (ANI): BSE Limited (earlier known as Bombay Stock Exchange) plans to buy back its fully paid up equity shares of Rs 2 each at Rs 680 per equity share through tender offer route.
The total amount of buyback size will be a maximum of Rs 460 crore. The company proposes to buy back 67.64 lakh equity shares an offer price, representing 13.06 per cent of the total paid-up equity capital.
The buyback offer size represents 24.73 per cent of aggregate of the total paid up capital and free reserves.
Meanwhile, BSE reported standalone net profit of Rs 201.05 crore during 2018-19. The operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) was Rs 25.32 crore as per standalone results.
The board recommended payment of dividend of Rs 25 per equity share of face value of Rs 2 each. After taking into account the interim dividend of Rs 5 per share paid in the month of December 2018, the total dividend for the financial year stands at Rs 30 per equity share of face value of Rs 2 each.
The dividend payout ratio is 97 per cent. The record date for determining eligibility for the final dividend is June 28 and the payment will be made on or before August 13.
In the fourth quarter of FY 19, BSE's operational revenue went up 11 per cent to Rs 115.69 crore from Rs 104.68 crore in the previous quarter.
The operating EBITDA turned positive to Rs 2.38 crore from negative Rs 4.55 crore. The Q4 FY19 net profit was up 4 per cent to Rs 51.86 crore from Rs 50.07 crore in the previous quarter.
"BSE continues to grow from traditional stock exchange platform to an agile, high-tech e-commerce platform for distribution of financial products with ability to integrate many more services as well as products," said Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ashishkumar Chauhan.
"Currency derivatives, commodity derivatives, India International Exchange, bond distribution, SME, OFS, and IPO have emerged as important market where BSE has acquired a good market share on the back of better technology, excellent services and lower pricing," he said in a statement on Tuesday after market closing hours.


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Why does Apple stock continue to rally to new all-time highs in the midst of a global pandemic? Jim Cramer explains.
Apple, with a stock that’s up 12.38%. What happened here? I hate to say I told you so, but once again, in the middle of March, analysts fretted that Apple’s best years were behind it and you would be buying at a time when China would be off limits, because of the president and the U.S. would be disappointing because of the recession. Plus, the gap to 5G is considered too far.
So how did it rally? Simple: the service revenue. When people stay at home and have nothing to do they tend to go to Amazon (AMZN) and the Apple store. We found out recently from the most seer-like of the Apple analysts, Morgan Stanley’s Katy Huberty, that the Apple services revenue has had a dramatic spike. I also like that Apple Pay’s contactless technology has become a necessity in an era when you don’t want to touch cash, when you can’t stand that anyone takes your card, and when the keypad has to be the least sanitary area you could ever touch.
Perhaps best of all, the work at home movement forced a lot of I.T. professionals to accept Apple, which tends to be what people use at their home even as Hewlett Packard (HPE) has some nifty models. But Apple has a phone and the Apple laptop is good for zooming. The bias that IT has shown, make that the tyranny against Apple is over; the pandemic ended it.
MacDailyNews Take: We’d offer a moment of silence for the remaining IT doofuses’ moment of clarity, but they don’t deserve it.
By the way, long, long, long before Jim Cramer, we told ya so — 10 days before Apple sold their first iPhone:
The IT guys are in for a rude awakening and the iPhone is only the beginning. They will have to accommodate the iPhone. Too many important employees will demand it and IT won’t be able to stem the tide. The fact is that business people will decide which device they want to carry and their businesses will adapt to it. Just as they did with “Microsoft-incompatible” Research In Motion’s Blackberry. Apple’s iPhone will be a success with business users whether the IT guy wants it or even whether AT&T and Apple tailor marketing to businesses or not.
Note to CEOs: Who runs the company, you or the IT guy? It’s your job to make the decisions and it’s the IT guy’s job to implement your decisions that relate to technology. Just as with Macs, you need to educate yourself instead of relying on someone with their own, possibly hidden, agendas to make extremely important technology decisions for your company. Most of you could be saving a LOT of money right now, but you aren’t because you’ve delegated an important part of your company’s decision-making to people who, frankly, in our experience, aren’t capable of making good, sound, strategic, long-term decisions. Most IT guys (and we know many) are not open-minded enough to be able to consider new, better, more efficient, more effective options that would benefit your company. In fact, most IT guys we’ve met will throw up road blocks and repeat myths until they’re blue in the face in order to avoid change. Especially change that might make their department less critical or smaller. Bottom line: most of you CEOs have given the IT guy way, way, way too much power. It’s time to take it back. — MacDailyNews, June 19, 2007


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HP’s bombshell news - that it was walking away from WebOS and spinning off its PC division - is another big move that will undoubtedly have long-term ripple effects across the tech industry. What will the impact of this news be for Microsoft, specifically Windows and Office? What about Dell, HP’s long-time PC nemesis? Does this impact what other players - from RIM or Acer to Oracle or IBM - are doing in their respective businesses?
And then there’s Google.
No one was talking much about Google in the flood of posts that overtook the tech blogosphere as the news unraveled. That’s because, initially, there are others who will feel the impact of HP's news in a bigger way. HP and Google aren't largely viewed as having the same business goals and strategies.
Google, for example, isn’t a hardware company, though its bid for Motorola Mobility could change that. Google isn't the big player in the enterprise, though it clearly has such aspirations. Like pretty much everyone else, Google's tablet efforts aren't even causing Apple to so much as blink. Its push into the PC game, via Chromebooks, is still very early - no where near the level that HP's PC business was. Finally, Google was leaps and bounds ahead of HP in the mobile phone software game.
So what's the Google factor in the HP news?
When you think about where each of the companies were heading - trying to gain some ground in tablets, the mobile phone market, enterprise and cloud - there are more similarities than you might first think. Granted, the two companies weren't exactly in each other's faces today - but their roadmaps would have eventually put them into the same arenas.
Yet, now that HP has thrown a wrench into the game, will it impact Google's roadmap for the future - either by creating new opportunities or by waving red flags about possible market pitfalls?
Let's look at the PC as an example. There’s plenty of chatter about this so-called post-PC era and a shift to tablets - but I'm not ready to start reading any eulogies to the traditional personal computer just yet. Consider the growth of Macbooks in Apple's most recent quarter - a 41 percent year-over-year jump - at a time when Dell is putting less emphasis on consumer PCs and HP is bowing out completely.
Maybe this isn't a case of post-PC - but rather a turning point in the PC industry where Windows loses some major relevance points and alternative OS's step in to provide a better user experience. Apple has already proven that experience matters - and Google is betting on a cloud-only, browser-only type of experience. It's still early for Chromebooks - but maybe HP's exit from the business is more of an opportunity. After all, Chromebooks still have plenty of potential to lure in more buyers - if Google can make more refinements.
On the other hand, HP’s wasted attempt to break into the tablet game with Palm’s WebOS should be a lesson for Google.
Yes, one of the players trying to gnaw away at the non-iPad market is out of the way. But Google is going to have to up its game - and quick - if it wants to gain any traction in tablets. James Kendrick explains “Why consumers won’t buy tablets (unless they’re iPads)” and a lot of the reasoning comes down to marketing and simplicity. Apple does an amazing job on both fronts. Others - Google included - still have a few things to learn. And that makes HP's exit from the tablet game a red flag warning for Google - gaining traction against Apple in the tablet space is going to be really tough so long as Apple has raised the bar so high.
With all things considered, is this HP bombshell good news or bad news for a company like Google? Overall, I think it provides Google with more opportunities because it's early in the game for many of these 21st century business models, such as cloud computing and tablets, and that still leaves some time (and valuable lessons from others) for Google to innovate, tweak, re-innovate and re-tweak to make the experiences that much better.
That's what I think. But I'd like to know what you think? What's the Google factor here? And should the HP news be viewed as a good thing or a bad thing for Google?


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News publishers are fed up with verification firms intervening in their ability to earn programmatic advertising revenue.
While media buyers recognize the situation is imperfect, buying programmatically without the assurance of a third-party verification firm isn’t plausible, particularly in the open marketplace.
Even in private marketplace and programmatic guaranteed deals, buyers are hesitant to rely solely on what publishers say regarding their content’s brand safety.
For other media buyers, the news category “requires special attention” and having a strong relationship with a specific publisher can make PMP and PG deals based on in-house verification data more appealing.
“With the news, it’s more about credibility and transparency of the news publisher. We know exactly where we’re going to be [and because of that] maybe we [will] adjust our brand safety and suitability settings,” said Molly Schultz, svp and group partner of digital investment and innovation at UM Worldwide. “If you have the ability and the resources within your team and the publisher is willing to have that conversation, I do think there’s a scenario where you can potentially even get away from using brand safety tags and rely on your direct work with those partners.”
Read more on Digiday.


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Also according to the survey, online influentials are most likely to notice a company's new products/services (72 percent), brands and slogans (44 percent), values (39 percent) and vision (38 percent) in corporate advertising
The "Shared Mission" corporate advertising
campaign complements, supports and draws upon Raytheon's strategic business areas: missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; precision engagement; and homeland security.
In addition to well-known titles such as Business Week, Newsweek, and National Geographic, the advertising is scheduled to run in non-traditional vehicles for corporate advertising
General Motors Corporation(NYSE: GM) today announced that McCann-Erickson Detroit has been named the agency of record for GM's Corporate Advertising
and Marketing activities.
Louis, a supplier of design, prepress and graphic arts services to the packaging, publishing, catalog and corporate advertising
27 /PRNewswire/ -- ABB, the global technology and engineering group, has awarded its corporate advertising
business to Young and Rubicam New York, an assignment with annual billings estimated at $20 million.
as a development specialist and was promoted to senior specialist of corporate Advertising
and Sports Marketing where she managed the production of all broadcast and print advertising.
20 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer Corporation announced yesterday that it has awarded its corporate advertising
account to DDB Needham New York.
Acacia Media Technologies Corporation has now entered into 318 license agreements for its DMT technology with companies that provide online entertainment, movies, music, news, and sports, e-learning, cable television services, hotel on-demand television services, and corporate advertising
In addition, Shorebreak will pay 2% of net sales to a corporate advertising
She has also served as Manager of International Marketing at KPMG Consulting (now BearingPoint), where she developed the corporate advertising
and internal communications programs for their international business.
Effective immediately, Olivo will oversee the worldwide corporate advertising
strategy development and creative execution for Apple in the United States, Europe and its Pacific region.


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Feds won't investigate Tesla electric car fire
U.S. auto safety regulators have decided not to open a formal investigation into the Oct. 2 fire that damaged a Tesla electric car near Seattle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there's no indication at this time that the fire was caused by a safety defect.
The agency says it reviewed all available data and will continue to check consumer complaints and other information.
The Tesla Model S hit road debris on a freeway in Kent, Washington. The debris punctured a shield on the battery, touching off a fire that engulfed the front of the car.
The driver escaped without injury and firefighters put out the flames.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


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Selling unused items on eBay is a useful way to earn a little extra pocket money. But if you’re using the online auction site to run a business and claiming benefits from Centrelink, you may be forced to declare this extra income.
The Department of Human Services is conducting a pilot project to identify those on welfare who may be trading as a business on eBay and not declaring the income. eBay has been forced to reveal the identities of about 15,000 people who have sold $20,000 worth of goods in one year.
Those who are selling possessions or using eBay as a genuine hobby will not be targeted.
While those who operate within legal guidelines should not be concerned, there is the issue of the Government accessing personal information and using this to data-match.
Read more at SkyNews.com.au


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According to Earth.org statistics, in just 15 years, the production of clothes has doubled, and the lifetime of a product has decreased by 40%. Consumers buy more and more new clothes, but wear them for a short period of time, if at all.
According to figures provided by the European Parliament in 2017, the production of new textile materials requires an enormous annual water consumption of 93 billion m³, which would be enough for the domestic needs of more than 1.7 billion people. Just the production of a single t-shirt requires 2700 litres of water, which a man would live on for 2 and a half years.
Also, according to a 2019 World Bank report, this industry is responsible for 10% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, more than the aviation and shipping industries combined. If the upward trend continues, the carbon emissions generated by the fashion industry will reach 26% by 2050.
About 60% of the materials used in the production of clothes are plastic-based and require about 48 million tons of oil per year. Also according to statistics, by washing clothes made of synthetic material, we generate 35% of the total microplastics spread in the environment, over 14 million tons of microplastics ending up in the planet's oceans.
Last but not least, more than 180 hazardous chemicals are used in this sector, and 16.5% of all pesticides in the world are used in cotton production alone.
"To reduce the climate crisis, it is necessary to dramatically reduce the global demand for new clothes. It is especially important to encourage consumers to choose clothes that have been worn before and not always opt for new products. The clothes available in sustainable fashion stores, such as the Humana stores, have been carefully collected and sorted, so that people can be sure that they are purchasing and wearing quality products, which they can buy at very convenient prices", says Rodica Bulăceanu, the representative of Humana People to People, an organization that gets involved in sorting and putting textile products back into the commercial circuit that can be reused, thus reducing the negative impact on the environment.
The increase in textile waste is caused by the fact that nowadays we buy more and more new clothes and wear them to few times until we throw them away and they become waste.
"Clothes are perceived more and more as fast consumption goods. The amount of clothing bought increases every year and on average consumers end up throwing it away after only 7 uses.
According to Earth.Org, it is estimated that 92 million tons of clothing and footwear are thrown away annually, but only 15% of them end up in a professional sorting circuit for reuse or recycling. Of the 14 million tons of clothes that still end up being collected, between 65-75% are suitable for reuse, and the rest of the textiles can be recycled and adapted for other purposes.
In 2022 alone, Humana People to People members in Europe and the United States managed to collect 127,000 tons of clothes, which they re-introduced into the commercial circuit as quality second-hand products, including in stores Humana from Romania. Thus, they no longer ended up as textile waste and we prevented the emission of 770,000 tons of CO2", declares Rodica Bulăceanu, Humana People to People representative
Clothes can get a new life if we collect them responsibly and they end up in professional sorting factories and are then reintroduced into the commercial circuit through specialized stores.
This whole process has a positive impact on the environment because it reduces the amount of textile waste, conserves natural resources that would be consumed by the production of new materials, lowers greenhouse carbon emissions from manufacturing and transportation processes, and saves millions of tons of meters water cubes.
"Humana People to People has been supporting the circular economy for decades, and is aligned with the European Green Deal, the European Union's directive to build a climate-neutral economy by 2050. Humana encourages the population to make sustainable decisions when purchasing textile products, to limit overconsumption and production of new clothes. We have been involved in Romania, for more than 15 years, in promoting and supporting sustainable fashion, through the 40 Humana stores, offering modern and very good quality second-hand clothes and accessories, which thus end up having a new duration of life. We can have a wardrobe made up of quality items that we can use for as long as possible, and that we can purchase, at low prices, from chains of second-hand stores, such as Humana, across the country. We offer an affordable option for everyone, as well as a responsible attitude towards the environment. This is a crucial step towards a more sustainable future. We have created a complex system through which we collect textile products from different sources, sort them in our factories, and re-introduce them into the commercial system through the more than 40 stores in Romania, thus extending their lifespan. By offering high-quality second-hand clothes at affordable prices, we promote a circular economy and limit the over-consumption and production of new clothes. We believe that sustainable fashion should be accessible to everyone. Moreover, through our activity, we generate over 300 green jobs in Romania, and the resulting profit is used to support humanitarian projects in less developed countries", says Rodica Bulăceanu, Humana People to People representative.
Humana People to People is a network of 29 member organizations with headquarters in Europe, the USA, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. They are involved in projects for the development of poor communities in disadvantaged countries, protecting the environment, and carrying out projects in the field of education and health.
Humana member organizations fund these projects by collecting, sorting, and re-introducing textile products into the commercial circuit, thereby reducing waste globally, lessening the harmful impact on the environment, and supporting global development.
Humana People to People SRL was established in Romania in 2006, with the aim of reintroducing used clothes into the commercial circuit. Humana collects and sorts the clothes in its specialized factories.


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NameRazor conjures up names for companies and brands using keywords.
As the enormous success of baby-naming books has proved, coming up with the perfect moniker can be a daunting task. A new program promises to make it easier for fledgling companies.
NameRazor generates a slew of possible names for brands or domains, so entrepreneurs don't have to. "Put in as many keywords as you want, and it will randomly attach them to buzzwords," says Florida-based creator Ben Prater.
So if you want to open a maternity store and you need a name, you could enter words such as "child" and "maternity" and come up with a long list drawing from a database of nearly 1,000 namelets.
So what's in a name (or, should we say, namelet)? Quite a bit, according to Russell Winer, deputy dean at New York University's Stern Business School. A good name is easily pronounceable and communicates something to the customer, Winer says.
Take NameRazor for example: "Razor is a good choice because it conjures images of something sharp and sleek," he says. In fact, the product actually generated its own name.
At $19 from www.name^]razor.com, the program may be a viable option for small companies that don't have the capital to pay large companies that do this kind of work -- some of which charge six figures, says Winer.
While consultants also make sure companies are protected from trademark infringement, Prater says it's up to customers to look into that; his product is simply a "pain alleviator." He says, "you'll think you have the perfect name, and then you ask someone else, and they'll say, 'Well, I don't know about that one.' This eases some of that pain." *


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China’s two unexpected explosions – the massive inferno at the Tianjin port and warehousing area and the sudden and unanticipated devaluation of the yuan or renminbi – caught the world by surprise. The Tianjin incident may have revealed yet another chink in a less than comprehensive environmental and pollution control regimen, but the sudden currency devaluation has roiled the waters of the global economy – and its ultimate impact is still unclear. J BROOKS SPECTOR takes a closer look.
This past week, a major explosion rocked China. Actually, there were two of them. The first, and the one that garnered most of the media attention was that massive blast in Tianjin, one of China’s major port cities. Tianjin’s vast warehouses and shipping storage areas contained huge quantities of a mix of extremely toxic, dangerous, poisonous chemicals. When the explosions ripped through those storage areas and warehouses, the resulting disaster sent a fireball hundreds of meters into the night sky recorded on many cellphones and video cameras – and those images quickly found their way into the global media stream.
Hundreds of people were killed or wounded, and many others remain missing. Fire fighters often battled the blazes using pressurised water that simply spread the burning chemicals further, rather than more sophisticated chemical fire suppressing agents. Days later, the damage and death toll continues to grow, a large exclusion zone has been declared, and the disaster has refocused world attention on weak Chinese pollution controls as well as the apparently lackadaisical handling of dangerous materials used in the country’s rush to riches.
Meanwhile, yet another, entirely different explosion also went off in China last week. This was a totally unexpected financial and monetary one as Chinese monetary authorities suddenly engineered a downward valuation of the yuan or renminbi by close to 4% against the dollar over a three-day period.
Explaining how the Chinese government actually makes such decision on the yuan’s value, rather than let it float freely as with other major currencies, the Economist explained: “Every morning, market makers such as the big state-owned banks submit yuan-dollar prices to the People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank). It then averages these to calculate a ‘central parity’ rate, or midpoint. Over the course of the day, the PBOC intervenes to keep the exchange rate from straying more than 2% above or below the midpoint. In theory, it is the market makers, not the central bank, that set the midpoint and thus the trading band. In practice, the PBOC gets market makers to submit rates that will yield its preferred midpoint, irrespective of market sentiment (state-owned banks are pliant, after all). Critics in America and elsewhere have long alleged that China has manipulated the market in this way to keep its exchange rate cheap. They had a point up until 2012 or so.
“For much of the past year, however, the central bank has in fact tipped the scales in the opposite direction, preventing a depreciation even as the Chinese economy weakened and the dollar surged. In recent months especially, trading of the yuan has regularly swung towards the weak end of the 2% band, but the central bank has nudged it back up by orchestrating stronger midpoints. The reform the PBOC announced on August 11 sought to change this. From now on, the central bank declared, the midpoint would simply be the previous day’s closing value. Given that traders had been selling and buying yuan at a big discount to the manipulated midpoint, the new market-determined midpoint immediately fell by 1.9%, the biggest single-day drop in the yuan’s modern history.
“That led to an even weaker market-determined midpoint on August 12, whereupon the yuan fell yet again, sparking fears that the currency might be on the brink of a rout. It was at this point that the central bank intervened. It ordered state-owned banks to sell dollars and buy yuan, propping up the exchange rate at the very time that it was being accused of devaluing it. This tug-of-war could play out for weeks, with traders repeatedly testing the limits of the PBOC’s tolerance for depreciation.
“This raises the question of what the central bank is hoping to achieve. The most popular explanation is that it wants to stimulate its sluggish economy by cheapening its currency. The depreciation, after all, came just a couple of days after a surprisingly big drop in exports. However, the scale of the yuan’s weakening belies such a motive. The initial 2% devaluation only undid the previous ten days’ worth of appreciation in trade-weighted terms. The yuan remains more than 10% stronger against the currencies of China’s trading partners than it was a year ago. Much bigger falls would be needed to make a difference. But Chinese officials have forsworn a large one-off devaluation, believing it would undermine faith in the yuan and would do little to help the economy, since it would just persuade others to let their currencies weaken too.”
Depending on which analysis by which experts one listens to or reads, there seem to have been several different reasons for this generally unanticipated move on the part of the Chinese government. Some argued it was all about generating that sense of integrity and inevitability in the currency’s movements to support a push for the Chinese currency’s inclusion in the International Monetary Fund’s basket of special drawing rights. Such a result would earn it more leverage and prestige in international finance.
A second rationale might well have been to gain a bit of an advantage against other newer manufacturing competitors with still lower costs of production (especially wages) among Asian nations like Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh – or still more productive economies such as South Korea. This would be especially true in the cutthroat export world of consumer goods as Chinese economic growth continues to slow from previously heroic rates of expansion. And a third and allied reason might also have been an interest in signalling to its domestic manufacturing sector that there is a growing need to increase international competitiveness through still greater efficiencies.
A further rationale might well be to take advantage of the decline in imported commodity prices (in dollar terms) to keep consumption costs relatively stable while increasing that competitive edge in exports through modestly lower prices.
Simultaneously, there was also the possibility that with the growing possibility that the US Federal Reserve was poised to raise its prime rate next month and thus increase the cost of borrowing for other nations, forcing other nations to match the rise in bond interest rates in the US. As a result, it has been argued by some that the Chinese government has been prepared to risk a currency war in order to gain a modest edge for its exports.
On the demand side for the Chinese and in understanding potential motives, as the Economist saw it: “The angst about the state of the world’s two biggest economies is understandable. China’s economy has slowed markedly: it is likely to grow by 7% this year, its most languid rate in a quarter-century. In addition, the government has been trying to reorient the economy from investment to consumption. For emerging markets that had been catering to China’s investment binge — those selling it coal and iron ore, copper and bauxite — the past few years have been little short of brutal. The economy’s slowing and rebalancing explain much of the 40% fall in commodity prices since their peak in 2011 and, by extension, the travails of countries which make their fortunes digging stuff out of the ground, from Peru to South Africa.”
Still, the Economist argued that China’s decision, while unexpected, is not likely to force that wild, unrestrained race to the exchange rates bottom. As that journal argued: “China can make itself felt in other ways, however. A slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy, for instance, is bound to have second-order effects on demand. Deflation in China puts pressure on firms in other emerging markets to cut prices. And some worry that the yuan’s fall may initiate a series of competitive devaluations, with other exporters racing to weaken their exchange rates or, perhaps, resorting to trade barriers as a last resort. Fortunately, the changes to China’s exchange-rate regime do not seem nearly big enough to set such a vicious cycle in motion. Even after its devaluation, the yuan remains stronger than it was a year ago in trade-weighted terms. Moreover, the authorities are now intervening to slow its decline. In other words, the depreciation is a small, belated step to keep the yuan’s value in line with those of its peers, not a dramatic shift in exchange-rate policy.” Still, other analysts warn that as soon as one nation triggers a decline in the value of its currency, it is not clear other nations will not respond more vigorously still, unwittingly setting off the very race this recent, modest Chinese devaluation was not aiming for in the first place.
In attempting to tease out motives, Peterson Institute for International Economics head Adam Posen argued: “There are two possible explanations: (The yuan is) becoming more market oriented so they’re in better position to be included in the SDR (special drawing rights currency basket of the International Monetary Fund) or, more likely, (the devaluation) is part of the panic set of attempts to keep the economy from declining faster. Somebody authorised the move and then the People’s Bank wanted to cast it as market liberalisation, and the bureaucrats compromised, which is why you ended up with this small move of 2%. If this is really about devaluation, 2% isn’t going to be enough to make any difference … They’ve eroded the credibility that the Chinese officials were going to stay out of the exchange rate or intervene against large movements. But, at the same time, it hasn’t moved enough to really help them. If you look at the history of exchange rate pegs, often what happens … is the first official move towards depreciation is too small because they’re scared to do it. And then once they do it, everyone starts worrying they are going to do more. This is particularly dangerous for China right now because the narrative starting last month, with all the huge interventions to try to stabilise the stock market, is that the Chinese economy is worse than we thought, the officials are panicking and we don’t know what they’re going to do next.”
The Economist adds that there is yet another complication in figuring out what happened in the conference rooms of Beijing’s monetary policy managers. “Some $250-billion of “hot money”, equivalent to roughly 2.5% of gross domestic product — an unprecedented amount — has left China over the past year as the economy has slowed. Strong inflows via the trade surplus have allowed the PBOC to absorb these losses so far, but it is wary of doing anything that might accelerate capital flight. A sustained devaluation would do just that, inviting speculators to short the yuan. Hence the central bank’s apparently contradictory actions, in letting the yuan fall and then trying to make it stop. As ever, China’s willingness to trust market forces extends only so far.”
Regardless of the precise, specific rationales and reasoning behind the Chinese decisions last week (and, importantly, there is no evidence this is the end of the currency movement), what are the likely consequences for other national economies? Here are some possible winners and losers.
While Chinese exports of manufactured goods could become cheaper, the actual cost of the product might well be offset if that manufacturer needs major amounts of imported raw materials that must be paid for in dollars or another hard currency. Still, lower prices in industries like clothing and basic toys (just in time for Santa Claus’s advance orders?) where international competition is already fierce and where producers in countries such as China don’t have much power to pass on their higher costs to shoppers would seem more than likely. But that presupposes that consumers in those countries are not also having to purchase things in their own devalued currency, of course.
Some market analysts have also been arguing that this (modest) devaluation could actually also give a boost to sales of inexpensive Chinese smartphones outside its borders. Chinese brands such as Xiaomi and Huawei already deliver competitively priced handsets with decent displays and performance. As the Chinese currency is weaker relative to others, this could make such phones even cheaper for consumers or allow Chinese makers to offer attractive discounts to would-be purchasers. Thinking more broadly, this devaluation may provide some Chinese companies with opportunities to push for bigger market share (rather than simply profits), thereby becoming a long-term threat to a company like South Korea’s Samsung, a market leader with high-quality equipment. Hi Investment & Securities analyst Song Eun-jeong told the media that in thinking about such a trend, Chinese budget handset makers might well enter developed country markets earlier than planned, especially if the yuan continues to fall.
Meanwhile, in China itself, imported foodstuffs like bananas are going to become a bit more of a luxury food item. As Stephen Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, explained, the yuan’s devaluation will definitely have an impact on Chinese consumers and Southeast Asian banana growers. For example, the Philippines exports around 60-million to 70-million boxes of bananas a year to China, with an average price of $5-$10 per box. Antig says: “With the devaluation of the yuan, they have to pay more for every dollar that they buy and chances are some importers will reduce their purchases of bananas. But it will depend on how big the devaluation is because they are also buying bananas from Ecuador which are more expensive than what they are buying from us.”
Of course one unanticipated outcome of this devaluation may be to tamp down some Chinese tourist travel and their spending abroad, if they have to buy increasingly expensive hard currency with their increasingly devalued yuan. Specifically, Thailand, Malaysia Hong Kong and Taiwan may be most vulnerable to such trends, especially since they have become highly reliant on China’s demand for their exports and services – even as they compete with China in other export markets.
Credit Suisse analysts Santitarn Sathirathai and Michael Wan recently commented in a research note that Thailand’s loss of market share of hard disk drive production to China over recent years could accelerate further, if the currency trends continue. Thailand is also at risk because of its reliance on the growing tide of Chinese tourists, as some decide it is now too costly to take a foreign trip. Because travel and tourism is expected to account for about two-thirds of Thai economic growth in 2015, “a slowdown in Chinese tourist arrivals is the risk to watch”, say Sathirathai and Wan.
While the weaker yuan could be assumed to be beneficial to China’s exporters because their goods become more affordable for overseas buyers, there are yet other factors in the mix. With the yuan’s modest fall against the dollar this past week; the decline has not yet been large enough to overcome sluggish global demand and the increasing costs of production within China itself. Or as AP reported: “The long-term impact may be muted because yuan weakness adds pressure on Asian countries, for many of which China is their biggest trading partner, to devalue their own currencies to stay competitive. However, there’s little sign yet of a ‘currency war’ in the making, though some Asian currencies have already responded by weakening on their own, most notably the Malaysian ringgit.”
Meanwhile, in other big manufacturing economies in East Asia, South Korea and Japan, companies competing head-to-head with a Chinese rival may end up the biggest losers. In the steel industry, for example, both South Korean and Japanese producers are already bracing themselves to take a hit from the suddenly weaker yuan – especially given the global glut of steel production. As the AP said on this score: “With demand weak at home because of the slowing economy, Chinese steel makers are keen on increasing exports. Yuan weakness would push down the price of Chinese steel, intensifying the supply glut in the global steel market, and driving down prices globally, Mirae Asset Securities said in a report. And Kobe Steel official Tatsuro Kanno argued that this cheaper yuan could even help China ramp up steel exports to Japan. As Kanno explained: ‘There is concern that weaker yuan could affect the Japanese market in terms of imports from China’, adding that he worries that, ‘cheaper steel could come in (though) this is probably at least a month away, but it is a concern for the future.’ ”
And for South Africa? Well, if someone still has a job, Christmas toys and new clothing made in China (and perhaps elsewhere as those manufacturers recalibrate their costs downward to compete or their national governments go on a devaluation war) will become a tad cheaper, once the holiday shopping season begins in earnest. On the other hand, the local steel industry, already on the ropes, will feel the pain even more than at present since their costs – especially labour and energy – cannot easily be squeezed further. With the higher cost of travel, this change in the yuan may also dampen the number of Chinese tourists to this country, at least those who can survive the gauntlet of South Africa’s new visa regimen.
Moreover, sadly, this change in the value of the yuan will not really help basic commodity exporters in South Africa because those payments are already largely calculated in dollars and their prices have been falling as global economic activity and demand remains in the doldrums. As a result, regardless of whether China’s decision was based on rational calculations of national interest, or stemmed from a desire to demonstrate more flexibility in exchange rate terms to qualify as a reserve currency, or from a sense of panic by Chinese monetary authorities, the results will not be beneficial to South Africa – or South Africans. Will any form of Brics solidarity help in these areas? That is a question South African government officials may want to focus on rather intently in the coming weeks and months. DM
Photo: A Chinese convenience store owner takes Chinese Yuan, or Renminbi, bills from his cash register in Beijing, China, 13 August 2015. China’s central bank on 13 August devalued the yuan for the third time in three days, to aid a slowing economy. The People’s Bank of China unexpectedly adjusted its daily reference exchange rate by a further 1.1 per cent, setting it at 6.4010 to the US dollar. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA
For more, read:
- China, the Fed and emerging markets Yuan thing after another at the Economist;
- The devaluation of the yuan – The battle of midpoint China initiates market reforms of its currency, then backtracks at the Economist;
- Peterson Perspectives Interviews on Current Issues Does China’s Currency Decline Portend an Economic Downturn? Nicholas R. Lardy says that economic indicators suggest that China’s growth rate remains stable at 7 percent despite the latest market pessimism at PIIE;
- US economist sees yuan devaluation as panic by China at the Nikkei website;
- China’s Latest Currency Actions Are Market Drive, a commentary by Nicholas Lardy at the PIIE website;
- From bananas to phones: How cheaper yuan could reverberate at the AP;
- Tea Leaf Nation – This Map Shows the Global Impact of China’s Dramatic Currency Devaluation at Foreign Policy;
- China goes all-in with currency devaluation at the Nikkei Asian Review.


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JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee says that more than three years after Tim Cook started highlighting Services revenue investors are starting to appreciate that aspect of the company — and Apple TV+ plus the potential of dramatic advertising revenue growth will lead the charge.
In a note seen by AppleInsider, Samik Chatterjee from JP Morgan is predicting a big future for Apple TV+ and Apple's services, driven not just by subscription volume, but by the potential to grow advertising dollars flowing into Apple's coffers. As a result of this strength, Chatterjee sees only upsides for Apple, reflected by his growing his stock price estimate by $10 to $290.
Chaterjee sees a big advertising opportunity within Apple's services, given larger market trends. The user base of about one billion iPhones, and Apple's "successful exploration of advertising to-date" may entice Apple to do so, predicts the analyst.
Apple Search Ads in the App Store
If Apple amped up advertising in Apple TV+ and the App Store, Chatterjee says that revenues could increase 33% per year to $11 billion in fiscal year 2025, growing from an estimated $2 billion now.
It's not at all clear if Apple will do any of what Chatterjee thinks it will, however. At present, other than trailers for other Apple TV+ programming and product placement for its own line of hardware, Apple isn't running ads in Apple TV+. However, in the last fiscal quarter, Apple reported its highest-ever revenue from Apple Search ads in the App Store.
To further grow this line of business, Chatterjee says that Apple will have to expand the one ad per keyword search limit that it presently has on the App Store.
Apple Search ads have been controversial. The primary argument against them, is that they confuse discovery in the App Store for all, with some reports that they aren't generating adequate revenue from sale conversions versus what they cost.
Another avenue of possible growth is by charging Google more to be the primary search engine on iOS. Apple accounts for about $14 billion of Google's $30 billion in traffic acquisition cost annually. Chatterjee predicts that this equates to about 17% of global advertising revenue, which Apple could theoretically claim more of, if it expands its own efforts.
Introduced in 2016, Search Ads added promotional listings for apps at the top of searches within the App Store, targetable by keyword, device type, location, schedules, and other metrics. In 2017, Apple added a basic tier that catered towards smaller developers and teams, including a streamlined sign-up process, simplified developer payments, and fees based on installations rather than ad interactions.
Apple TV+ is only in the early days
Chatterjee isn't basing his stock price valuation hike on imminent revenues from Apple TV+. He predicts that paid subscribers will be limited, because of Apple's wide-ranging 12-month trial for purchasers of new devices.
However, given the $4.99 cost, he sees a "slow ramp" of paid subscribers for the next year, and a "healthy percentage" of the early adopters to renew in the fall of 2020.
In September 2020, Chatterjee predicts only 2 million Apple TV+ paid subscribers. Assuming there are no other free offers, he expects that to dramatically expand to 101 million paid subscribers with a growth curve very similar to Apple Music, all of whom will contribute $4.99 a month to Apple's bottom line.
Apple CEO Tim Cook took to the stage at the March 25 event to deliver what he ultimately called a "sneak peek" at the new streaming video service called Apple TV+. In a presentation that was replete with star names, Apple would only say at the time that the service is coming in the fall and be available via the Apple TV app.


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Finding a little Harley-Davidson in everyone
The motorcycle brand has come out with Ontario-specific TV spots to change consumer perceptions of the brand.
Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, and its 17 Ontario Harley-Davidson retailers, recently launched an Ontario-specific campaign and promotion with the hopes of being able to knock down some of the misconceptions associated with the iconic motorcycle brand, Lynn Ridley, VP creative, JAN Kelley Marketing (the agency that handled the media plan and campaign creative), tells MiC.
“The cult of the brand is quite big here,” she says. “[But] they’ve done such a good job of [creating] it, that it almost works against them a bit.”
Ridley explains that there is a flawed belief of Harley being an untouchable brand, with issues of “approachability and affordability” preventing consumers from visiting a retailer and making a purchase. So the brand decided to launch the “Live the Dream” promotion, in which Ontario residents are invited to visit the campaign website and enter a contest to win their dream Harley, to change perceptions and find “a little Harley in everyone.”
The campaign aims to reach “competitive riders,” skewing male and ranging from those in their mid-20s to mid-50s, says Ridley, adding that the media buy will be focused on the playoffs with TV spots airing online and on-air on Sportsnet, CBC, Shaw, CTV and TSN platforms.
The Ontario-specific TV focus is very new for the brand, she notes. “Typically, they would only go on TV for brand advertising, but they would usually just adapt the US spots and do their own original creative for the Quebec retailers as they feel that the market’s a little bit different.”
“But this is the Ontario retailers and they have a specific promotion they wanted to launch here. They felt that they wanted to reach a fairly wide audience and that TV would be a very strong medium to get a response for the promotion,” she adds.


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Verizon posts improved Q4 earnings; 1M BlackBerry Storms sold
Reports strong sales in broadband, wireless, business services
Computerworld - In contrast to recent dreary economic news, Verizon Communications Inc. today posted improved fourth-quarter earnings compared to a year earlier, and said it finished fiscal 2008 more than 7% ahead of earnings compared to 2007.
The BlackBerry Storm smart phone, put on sale Nov. 21 exclusively by Verizon in the U.S., has sold 1 million units through January, company officials said today.
"That's not a bumpy start," a spokeswoman said today, in reaction to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal that characterized the rollout and a quick software update as "bumpy." By comparison, sales last summer of the iPhone 3G by AT&T Inc. were 2.4 million in their first full quarter.
In all, Verizon Communications Inc.'s revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $24.6 billion, up 3% over the same quarter a year ago. Revenues for all of 2008 were $97.4 billion, up 4.2% from all of 2007, the company said. Earnings were 43 cents per share for the quarter, up from 37 cents from the fourth quarter of 2007. Total year earnings were $2.54 a share, up 7.6% from 2007 earnings of $2.36 a share.
Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg said in a statement that the company has shown "it is able to compete effectively in this economic environment." He said the fourth quarter included strong sales for all its major categories, which include broadband, wireless and business services.
The results were a stark contrast to yesterday's news from third-ranked Sprint Nextel Corp., which announced layoffs of 8,000 workers, about 14% of its workforce.
The success in the wireless segment included sales of the Storm, which was built by Research In Motion Ltd. Today's earnings statement included a few short references to how "customers across the country lined up to purchase the new BlackBerry Storm," when it went on sale Nov. 21. However, there were also early complaints about the smart phone, and a quick software December update was issued that helped some users who had noticed a performance lag.
In all, the wireless division had 72 million customers at the end of the quarter, and added 5.8 million new wireless customers during 2008. With the acquisition of Alltel Corp., however, the company was able to cover nearly the entire U.S. population and now serves about 80 million customers, the company said. Wireless revenues were $49.3 billion for all of 2008, up 12.4% over the prior year.
Verizon also had record growth in its FiOS TV and Internet offerings, with revenues in the fourth quarter of $1.2 billion for consumers (an increase of 42%) and $1.5 billion for strategic business services (an increase of 8%). Full-year totals were not immediately available.
Overall wired revenues were nearly $12 billion for the quarter, which represents a 2% increase for Verizon Business accounts. Full-year totals were not immediately available.
"The Verizon results are good overall considering the economic climate," said Phillip Redman, an analyst at Gartner Inc. He said the continued economic downturn could mean that Verizon will slow down investment in LTE (Long Term Evolution), a fourth-generation wireless technology. But he said he expects at least one U.S. city will be launched on LTE in 2009, although Verizon will not sell a phone to run on it.
In general, Redman said he hopes that carriers like Verizon will "rationalize spending" on such next-generation technology and instead "focus on continued improvement of current infrastructure to improve the current network and customer service experience." One area where he said Verizon needs to improve upon is technology that integrates wired and wireless networks.
Read more about Mobile/Wireless in Computerworld's Mobile/Wireless Topic Center.
- Software Asset Management: Ensuring Today's Assets Today's trends like BYOD and SaaS are new and exciting in terms of how they will help make our jobs more productive but...
- Stop Guessing, Start Measuring: How to Use Mobile Analytics to Deliver the Best App ROI This interactive e-book investigates how mobile is driving the need for app and portfolio measures unlike any we saw in the days of...
- APIs & MBaaS: How to Extend Your Enterprise Architecture for a Mobile World "Mobile," as Forrester Research observes, "is pushing aging web architectures to the brink." Download this whitepaper and learn how each of these requirements...
- Three Principles of the Mobile Era or Mastering the Mobile Shift: Three Keys to the New Enterprise In this whitepaper, you will learn the tools, technologies and strategies that are necessary for a mobile-ready IT to master the 3 keys...
- It's not too late...Get Your Mobile Questions Answered Live! How can IT provide seamless and secure mobile communications and collaboration for all? Join this live Webcast as IDG asks an expert panel...
- Why do you need an enterprise mobile platform? Today companies must offer great apps that run on a range of devices, and connect to an exploding set of backend data. Appcelerator... All Mobile/Wireless White Papers | Webcasts


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A U.S. District Court hearing in downtown New York today could determine the eventual fate of several organic farmers from across the country, including some in upstate New York.
The hearing centered on a "pre-emptive" suit led by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGTA), against agricultural giant Monsanto. In it, OSGTA says it brought "this action to protect [farmers] from ever being accused of infringing patents on transgenic seed." Monsanto filed to dismiss the case, and today lawyers for both sides made their arguments in front of U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald.
Read more in today's Village Voice
And at OSGATA Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association
And Occupy Big Food


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By: Greg Baxley, Marketing Coordinator
Criminals profiting from the online sale of unapproved prescriptions are targeted
The Internet is a little safer today than it was last week, thanks to Operation Pangea an international law enforcement effort in cooperation with more than 190 police officers, customs and health regulatory authorities from 103 different countries and payments industry partners including G2 Web Services. Operation Pangea IX resulted in 393 arrests worldwide, the seizure of more than $53M worth of potentially dangerous medicines and the suspension of 4,932 websites selling illicit pharmaceuticals. G2 has participated and supported this coordinated effort since 2012.
Announced in a press release published June, 9, 2016, the effort was part of the Ninth Annual International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), a global cooperative operation to combat the unlawful sale and distribution of illegal and potentially counterfeit medical products on the internet. This category is one of the largest headaches for compliance executives in the merchant acquiring space, threatening both consumers and businesses alike. In addition to health risks, illegal online pharmacies pose other threats as well, including credit card fraud, identity theft and the spread of computer viruses.
E-Commerce is a breeding ground for counterfeit medications and medical devices
Among the 12.2 million fake and illicit medicines seized during the operation were fake cancer and anti-malarial medications, substandard HIV and diabetes testing kits, and dangerous steroids. Also recovered were more than 270,000 unapproved dental and surgical devices worth an estimated $1.1M.
Up to 1% of medicines available in the developed world are likely to be counterfeit, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). On a global scale, this figure rises to 10%. Counterfeit goods can form up to 30% of the market in certain areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America. This is an issue that reaches across borders without discrimination.
“Preventing illegal internet sales of dangerous unapproved drugs is critical to protecting consumers’ health. Operation Pangea IX demonstrates the FDA’s continuing commitment to stand united with our international partners to protect consumers in the United States and throughout the world from criminals who put profit above the health and safety of consumers.”
– George Karavetsos, Director of FDA Office of Criminal Investigations
Acquiring banks are at risk of regulatory scrutiny and penalties
Substandard, spurious, falsely labelled, falsified and counterfeit medical products are by their very nature difficult to detect. They are often designed to appear identical to the genuine product and may not cause an obvious adverse reaction, however they often will fail to properly treat the disease or condition for which they were intended. In many cases death is the outcome. In 2013, INTERPOL determined that more than one million people die each year from counterfeit drugs, highlighting one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative income sources for global organized crime networks. Operation Pangea IX launched 700 investigations by national authorities worldwide with at least 40 cases directly linked to organized crime.
“Whilst the seizures on the ground prevent these potentially lethal drugs and products from reaching unsuspecting consumers, equally as important is shutting down the websites through which these criminals operate. Raising public awareness about the dangers of buying medicines online is essential if we are to choke off this source of funding for organized crime which is making significant profits at the cost of people’s health and safety.”
– Tim Morris, INTERPOL Executive Director of Police Services
Counterfeit medical and dental devices are clear restrictions outlined in monitoring program requirements from card schemes. But beyond the scope of brand damaging activities and the breach of merchant agreements, the sale and use of these items can cause catastrophic harm to consumers. This is of major concern for acquirers whose portfolios could contain merchants peddling these goods.
Without proper merchant monitoring solutions, acquiring banks are exposing themselves to regulatory scrutiny and penalties, card scheme fines, and the loss of sponsor banks for downstream partners. Due diligence has never been more paramount.
Learn more about G2 Boarding Solutions and Portfolio Protection services to eliminate risk and ensure profitable commerce.
Sources: INTERPOL, WHO, Forbes


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Dollar General Stores - Attn: Senior Citizens
Posted by Sleuth
on March 17, 2020, 7:01 am
Dollar General announced that starting on Tuesday, the first hour of shopping will only be open to seniors. The company also announced that locations will begin closing an hour earlier to give employees a chance to clean and restock.


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A company that began life in the pharmaceutical sector is venturing forth into devices in its quest to become more of a diversified health care company.
Pennsylvania-based Endo Pharmaceuticals announced today that the company is buying Minnetonka-based American Medical Systems, a manufacturer of new innovative medical devices focusing on male and female pelvic health for $30 a share or $2.9 billion in cash. This includes Endo assuming and repaying $312 million of AMS’ debt.
Endo projected that 2011 revenue for the combined company would be $3 billion with $1 billion in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). The acquisition would add about 60 cents per share to Endo’s 2012 adjusted diluted earnings per share once it closes, the company estimated. Endo also expects to get at least $50 million in cost synergies by 2013. The combined company would also have a total of 4,000 employees. AMS employs 1,200 people in nine countries, according to its website. Its first product — an artificial urinary sphincter implant — came out in 1972 and the company went public in 2000.
“Through the acquisition of AMS, we will gain scale in devices and services, and will be positioned as a leading provider of health care solutions in the field of pelvic health, with a full spectrum of product offerings ranging from pharmaceuticals to medical devices,” said Dave Holveck, president and CEO of Endo, in a statement. In 2010, Endo bought HealthTronics, which among other things makes a full line of urology equipment and products, including lithotripters and surgical lasers for treatment of BPH.
The transaction needs to be approved by AMS shareholders and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011.
“I believe that the two will be a great strategic fit, with AMS building on Endo’s existing devices & services segment and allowing our management and employees to accelerate the growth of our business to improve the quality of life for a growing number of men and women,” said Anthony Bihl, president and CEO of AMS, in a statement.