text:
Nutanix, a leader in enterprise cloud computing, announced a partnership with Udacity, the global online learning platform, resulting in a new Hybrid Cloud Nanodegree program.
Mindware, one of the leading Value Added Distributors (VADs) in the Middle East and Africa, has extensively strengthened its security capabilities and portfolio.
Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, has announced the hiring of a new Chief Marketi
Microsoft announced the evolution of its Office 365 offerings for consumers into Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions, with addition of new experiences.
Many organizations across the Middle East are dealing with the reality of needing to set up all their employees to work remotely, while still maintaining access to the same tools and applications they require to be productive.
D-Link Middle East, a leader in networking solutions, is catering to the market’s demand with its innovative Nuclias Connect and Nuclias Cloud Remote Network Management Solutions.
Coronavirus has caused havoc across the world, with hundreds of causalities and bringing normal life to a standstill.
Pure Storage, the IT pioneer that delivers storage-as-a-service, announced that it has achieved the platinum level in the SAP PartnerEdge program and is an SAP global technology partner.
Cybereason, creators of the leading Cyber Defense Platform, announced it has launched operations in the Middle East to help enterprises future proof their networks from the ever-evolving threat landscape.
Avaya commended the approach to public-private partnerships being taken by the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, following the confirmation that the cloud-based Avaya Spaces collaboration app has been approved for use in the country.
realme, the fastest growing smartphone brand in the world, unveils the latest in the UAE with realme 6 and realme 6i.
To mitigate a likely slump in car sales and to ensure employee and customer safety during the coronavirus pandemic, automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and car dealerships must transition to simple, end-to-end online selling and services, acco
Nexans, one of the worldwide leaders in cables and cabling systems, announced that it has signed a value-added distribution agreement with Ingram Micro for the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Yemen.
SANS Institute, the global leader in cyber security training and certifications, is providing a series of free online cybersecurity activities
AVEVA, a global leader in engineering and industrial software, announced that it has acquired production accounting software from South Korean based company MESEnter to complete AVEVA’s value chain optimization solution.
A five-phase strategic and systematic approach to strengthen the resilience of organizations’ current business models is key to business continuity during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Gartner, Inc.
Mindware, the prominent Value Added Distributor in the Middle East and Africa, announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Mitel, a global leader in business communications.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, many companies are suggesting employees to work from home. Schools are also providing remote learning via various online platforms. For those who don’t have an organized workstation or stable Wi-Fi network, distractions can disrupt your productivity.
With more than one-third (37 percent) of UAE firms planning to shift to remote work due to the COVID-19 coronavirus public health issue, organizations need to enable a mobile workforce that has constant access to business applications and data.
BeyondTrust, the worldwide technology leader in Privileged Access Management, announced the release of its Microsoft Vulnerabilities Report.
SANS Institute, the global leader in cyber security training and certifications, has announced SANS Middle East April 2020 CyberCast, a hands-on, virtual event to be held from April 11 to April 16, 2020.
Qualys, a pioneer and leading provider of cloud-based security and compliance solutions, announced a cloud-based remote endpoint protection solution at no charge to its custome
In the wake of COVID-19 coronavirus, Middle Eastern organizations are being called on by industry experts to adopt real-time solutions to re-design core business processes to secure employees’ and citizens’ welfare and subsequently maintain business continuity.
Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, announced that it has been recognized as a “leader” in The Forrester Wave: Enterprise Detection and Response, Q1 2020.


text:
Phone exlusives don’t make cell phone company brands
Tom Dougherty, CEO – Stealing Share
2 April 2010
Watch Out AT&T – iPhone is Coming to Verizon , probably
First off, with Apple rumors, you never know if they are actually going to really happen. But AT&T may have to share the iPhone.
It is sad really to think about how far out of touch cell phone companies are from their target audience. People choose AT&T because of the iPhone. Consumers wanted the iPhone in spite of the fact that it was on AT&T. Consumers switched companies, canceled contracts and iPhone users put up with dropped calls, poor customer service, and poor local coverage for the privilege of having an iPhone. Guess what, it looks as though Apple is extending that privilege to Verizon.
Cell phone companies have traditionally held on to their biggest phones and used them to attract customers.. The problem is, that thinking works some customer do switch (a lot did for the iPhone. But with the iPhone, the product became more than a product it became bigger and more important to the consumer than the cell companies and now everyone wants one.
If the WSJ report is true, and there is good reason to believe it is, this is a game changer. If this works for Apple (barring any network problems), more companies will follow suit. Consumers will pay a higher initial cost for a device and think of the service as secondary.
So what does this mean for the service providers, particularly AT&T? Unless they want to become nothing more than a means to end for the consumer (like a power company, for example) they need to start taking a real hard look at their brands. They need to quickly figure out how to position themselves to resonate with their target audience that goes beyond a product they are selling. They must give a reason WHY they are the right choice and this does not mean using the table stake claims of “fastest network, biggest network, or most subscribers.”
Can you hear me now, AT&T?
TV ads Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 17 September 2018 TV ads using the same exact song Watching TV over the weekend (while ignoring Florence), the following two TV ads played back to back. Notice the similarities? (Hint: Turn up your volume.) ...
September 11 Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 11 September 2018 It’s September 11. And I forgot. Shame on me. It’s easy to get caught up in the mundanity of life. If you’re anything like me, the constant hubbub of the daily grind keeps a hold of you. Work,...
Twitter brand Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 10 September 2018 The Twitter brand only succeeds by banning abusers I have to admit that, originally, the thought of Twitter banning anyone seemed ridiculous. Even Alex Jones. The Twitter brand lives on banter, no...

domain: news


text:
Apple Sold 27 Million Pairs of Newest AirPods Over the Holidays Says Kuo
According to a report by veteran Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TFI Asset Management Limited, Apple sold 27 million pairs of its newest version of the AirPods, for a total of 90 million sold during the holiday quarter of 2021 (via CNBC News).
The analyst continued that he expects these sales to translate to 20% year-over-year revenue growth in the iPhone maker’s wearable gadget business. He also noted that the next version of the AirPods Pro coming in the fall will include a new design, a case that can beep if you lose it, and improved audio for streaming music.
Kuo expects Apple to sell up to 20 million units of the new AirPods Pro model this year.
Apple doesn’t break out its wearables revenue, but it does make up a significant portion of its “Other Products” line item, which includes other accessories such as iPhone cases and charging cables. Apple booked nearly $13 billion in Other Products revenue in the holiday quarter of 2020.
Apple’s revenue in the ‘Other Products’ category will be the one to watch when the company reports earnings for the last quarter in the coming weeks.


text:
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) has already smashed seven Guinness World Records titles with its full release yet to take place in December. On Steam, PUBG has dethroned Valve's very own Dota 2 as the most simultaneously played video game in history.
Designer Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene takes home seven record-breaking titles under his belt for PUBG, a multiplayer battle royale game published by Bluehole, Inc. The game was launched back in March on Steam's Early Access, which allows players to lay their hands on the game as they are still under works.
Since its initial launch on March 23, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds became the fastest selling video game as it only took 16 days to ship one million units for a Steam Early Access game, according to a Superdata Research report. By June 10, 79 days after, PUBG was able to snag about US$100m, shaking AAA games in the industry.
In October, the game recorded 2,279,084 gamers playing it simultaneously, overthrowing Valve's Dota 2 (1,291,328) and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (850,485). And on November 16, PUBG had beaten its own record to have 2,617,400 concurrent players, making it the most actively played game on Steam.
Here are seven awards received by PUBG from Guinness World Records:
- Fastest time to sell 1 million units for a Steam Early Access game
- Fastest Steam Early Access game to gross $100 million
- First videogame to reach 2 million concurrent players on Steam
- Most actively played game on Steam
- Most concurrent players for a Steam Early Access game
- Most concurrent players on Steam for a non-Valve videogame
- First non-Valve videogame to be the most played game on Steam
Guinness World Records awarded Greene with certificates for the seven records during the live stream of 35th Golden Joystick Awards in London on Friday, November 17. PUGB was also nominated by the award-giving body in five categories, including the best multiplayer game and ultimate game of the year.
PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds is set for full release on PC in December and on Xbox One on December 12.


text:
Motorola’s first Android Wear smart watch, the Motorola Moto 360 was announced recently, and now we have some more information about the device.
The Motorola Moto 360 will come with a choice of 7 different watch bands at launch, this was revealed on Motorola’s website recently, although the information has now been removed.
As yet we do not have any actual hardware specifications on the Moto 360, what we do know is that the device will come with a round display, like a traditional wrist watch.
We also heard recently that the Moto 360 will be equipped with an OLED touchscreen display, and that the display will be covered by sapphire glass.
Sapphire glass is much tougher than glass used in smartphones at the moment, it is currently used by a wide range of watch manufacturers like Rolex, Omega, Breitling and many more in their watches, and Apple are rumored to use it in the next iPhone.
We also know that the Moto 360 will be the first smart watch to launch with Google’s wearable version of Android, which is called Android Wear.
Motorola have not given a specific launch date for the Motorola Moto 360, all we know is that it will launch some time this summer.
As soon as we get some more information on the new Moto 360, including full hardware specifications and a more detailed look at the Android Wear software, we will let you guys know.
Source Android Police
Have a look at our Best Smartwatch 2014 guide for more information on the best smart watches available at the moment.
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.


text:
Tesco Bank Freezes Online Transactions.
Britain’s Tesco Bank has completely frozen online banking transactions after 20,000 of its customers had money stolen over the weekend.
The ‘precautionary measure‘ was taken after around 40,000 customers of the supermarket’s retail finance arm reported suspicious activity on their current account. Of that, 20,000 are known to have said money was taken from their accounts without their consent.
One customer told the BBC that he had lost £500 (A$803), and another person’s account was emptied of £600 (A$964), leaving him unable to pay for food and bills.


text:
We know Audi is not against an all-electric R8 supercar, though it’s too early to say whether it will ever happen. Earlier this year, the brand’s CEO admitted an electric R8 “could make sense” but that’s far from being a confirmation of any sort. Simply put, we knew what a new R8 could be, and now we also know what it won’t be.
Audi’s global chief of sales and marketing, Hildegard Wortmann, gave an interview for TopGear about the company’s future model lineup. She confirmed this year Audi will launch more new electric vehicles than combustion models, though a new R8 is apparently not in the cards for 2021.
“The R8 is an icon of our brand. But icons of the past aren’t necessarily icons of the future. A successor to the R8 won’t just be an R8 with an electric motor. It needs to be an R8 but different,” she told the British publication.
If we try to read between the lines, we have bad news and good news. First, it seems that Wortmann suggests there might not be a successor to the supercar at all. But if Audi decides to build one - and that’s not impossible - it could be electric and very different in its nature compared to the current model.
Gallery: 2020 Audi R8 Performance: Review
It’s basically the same story with the TT, another sports car of the brand that could be reinvented for the future. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem highly likely given the change of customer tastes towards higher, more practical, and larger vehicles.
“The same holds true. The TT is authentic and highly emotional but customers have changed and the world has gone away from roadsters,” Wortmann added. This doesn’t sound quite optimistic, though “Audi has always done emotional models” and there’s no reason to believe this will change in the future.


text:
SiriusXM Canada the country’s leading audio entertainment company, today announced that Go Auto Group has joined its pre-owned vehicle program. The program helps participating dealerships better market their inventory by offering a complimentary three-month SiriusXM subscription with any purchase of a pre-owned vehicle equipped with a satellite radio.
Based in Edmonton with 16 locations, Go Auto Group is one of the leading dealer groups in Western Canada. With a vast inventory and considerable purchasing power, the company sells, services and insures vehicles at 30 locations across British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
“We are pleased to welcome Go Auto Group to our pre-owned vehicle program,” said James Byun, vice president, OEM, SiriusXM Canada. “The program will offer an easier way for dealerships to add value to their pre-owned vehicles and provides more Canadians an opportunity to experience SiriusXM’s unrivaled content and programming.”
“We are excited to participate in the program and offer Go Auto’s pre-owned customers a complimentary three-month subscription to SiriusXM,” said Ben Cochrane, vice president, Marketing and Technology, Go Auto Group. “Most pre-owned vehicles now feature a satellite radio so this partnership allows us to provide extra value to everyone who purchases a vehicle at a Go Auto dealership.”
The program enables SiriusXM Canada to better target Canada’s large pre-owned vehicle market. The company estimates that by the end of fiscal 2013, there will be more than four million satellite radio equipped vehicles across Canada.
Automotive dealers interested in participating in SiriusXM’s pre-owned vehicle program can obtain additional information at: www.siriusxmpreowned.ca.
For more information about SiriusXM Canada visit www.siriusxm.ca.
For more information about Go Auto visit www.goauto.ca.


text:
LAST UPDATED : Dec 12, 2018, 07:16 PM IST
- Retail inflation accelerates to 2.86% in March; factory output slows to 0.1% in February
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) data showed that inflation in food basket rose to 0.3 per cent in March from (-) 0.66 per cent in the previous month. The inflation in 'fuel and light' segment rose to 2.42 per cent as against 1.24 per cent in February.
- Retail inflation cools to 2.33% in November; October factory output at 8.1%
Retail inflation in November eased to 2.33% from 3.31% in October. "Encouragingly, after the spike was seen last month, core inflation has moderated to 5.7%, its lowest in FY19 so far," said Vivek Kumar, senior economist, Yes Bank. The inflation stood below RBI's medium-term target of 4% for the fourth straight month.
- Industrial output falls to 0.5% in November, slowest since June 2017
Industrial output in November grew 0.5 per cent from a year earlier, the slowest since June 2017, government data showed on Friday. A Reuters poll of economists had forecast a growth of 4.1 per cent for November. November's growth was much slower than an upwardly revised 8.4 per cent year-on-year increase in October, the data showed.
- Retail inflation cools to 3.31% in October; September factory output at 4.5%
October marked the third straight month in which the retail inflation has been below the Reserve Bank of India's medium-term target of 4 per cent, supporting the central bank's surprise decision to hold interest rates at its meeting last month.
- Rupee strengthens by 50 paise against dollar in early trade
The rupee Friday strengthened by 50 paise to 71.68 against the dollar in early trade in the forex market. Dollar selling by exporters and banks, the greenback's weakness against other currencies overseas, helped the domestic currency recover, forex dealers said.


text:
The adoption of Web-to-TV viewing is in its early stages but is slowly gaining market traction: 24% of US households have a television connected to the Internet, and the most popular types of connections are via videogame consoles, Blue-Ray systems, and Internet TVs, according to a survey from Leichtman Research Group.
But traditional television is still a mainstay of most households—contrary to speculation that alternative (e.g., Internet TV) viewing will soon displace cable or satellite TV.
Among households with a TV connected to the Internet, 20% are using a videogame system, 8% have a Web-connected TV set, and 6% use a Blu-Ray player with Internet capabilities (some households are connected to one or more of such devices).
Although Internet connectivity is becoming a common built-in feature in electronics devices, consumers are just beginning to use the capability to watch video online: Just 1% of all online adults watch video from the Internet via TV on a daily basis, and 5% watch it weekly.
Such use is skewed toward a young and male demographic: 16% of men age 18-34 watch online video via TV on a weekly basis.
Looking for great digital marketing data? MarketingProfs reviewed more than 200 research sources and selected 64 of the best to create the Digital Marketing Factbook a 144-page compilation of data and 110 charts, covering email marketing, search engine marketing, and social media. Also check out The State of Social Media Marketing, a 240-page original research report from MarketingProfs.
Over one-half (55%) of consumers surveyed who subscribe to Netflix say they used the "Watch Instantly" feature during the previous month. Among those consumers, 9% used the feature daily, 18% used it weekly, and 28% who used it less than once a week.
However, among all adults, just 1% use the Netflix "Watch Instantly" feature daily, and 4% use it weekly.
Overall, 3% of all adults watch a full-length TV show online daily, and 11% do so weekly.
Cable TV Still Strong
Only 4% of all online adults would consider disconnecting their TV service to just watch video online—compared with 3% who said so last year.
In addition, just 5% of online adults strongly agree they would be willing to pay $9.95 per month to watch TV shows online from a service like Hulu, while 81% strongly disagree.
About the data: The findings are from the Emerging Video Services IV, LRG's fourth annual nationwide study investigating non-TV-based video services (including online, iPods/portable media players, mobile phones, and devices connected to the Internet). The survey, conducted in December 2009, is based on a telephone survey of 1,250 adults age 18+ from throughout the continental US in households that have a TV set.
Enter your email address to keep reading ...
Customer Behavior Articles
You may like these other MarketingProfs articles related to Customer Behavior:
- What B2B Buyers Want From Vendor Chatbots
- The Tech Habits of Americans Age 50+
- The Factors That Most Influence Buyers of B2B Services
- How to Build Marketing Automation Campaigns That Prompt Desired Behaviors From Your Leads
- How to Use the Awareness Stages to Nurture Leads From MQL to SQL
- Do People Trust Brands to Protect Their Personal Data?


text:
- Articles tagged "s40"
Besides the attention grabbing 808 PureView, Nokia also unveiled four other new handsets which are the Lumia 610, Asha 202, 203 and 302. The DC-HSPA variant of Nokia Lumia 900 will also be shipped to more countries in Q2 2012.
- POSB’s AI chatbot will now answer your queries on Facebook Messenger
- ASUSTOR's ADM 2.7 Beta now available
- Windows 10’s new My People experience will not make it in time for the Creators Update
- These Samsung Galaxy devices are getting the Android 7.0 update
- All Nokia 6 units for its first flash sale sold out in one minute
- Samsung's new AI assistant can use the Galaxy S8 to search and analyze text
- You can pay for rides on public transport with EZ-Link Wearables
- Super Mario Run is coming to Android in March


text:
As we have told you, there are indications of a new Nintendo Direct that are already circulating on the net. Here we bring you a compilation with everything we have been able to learn about it today.
Nintendo Direct Rumor
Specifically, we have been able to learn that another source has backed up the rumor that there will be a Nintendo Direct next week. Is about Nintendo universefrom where they affirm that their own sources also indicate that there will be a new presentation in the week that begins the day after tomorrow.
We heard something similar before of Jeff Grub of Venture Beat, which has been successful in anticipating Nintendo announcements in the past. However, the original rumor came from a user who posted the information in a verified post on Reddit and was later deleted. In that message, it was stated that the presentation was going to take place on February 7th.
For his part, Nate Drakeanother Nintendo leaker, has also spoken about it, supporting this information:
All I hear, and it’s just kind of a reiteration, is still the week of February 6th.
I think it’s probably at the end of the week, so if February 6th comes around and we don’t find out, and people freak out like nothing’s happening, I don’t guarantee that week in the first place, although I have to say it’s a what it all points to now.
I don’t think it’s too surprising because they always have one in February or March at the latest. I think it’s going to happen, I think it’s going to happen very soon, and I wouldn’t be surprised if all of these indicators are exactly right, especially with these things being unleashed with Advance Wars 1+2.
We will have to be attentive to see if there is finally a Nintendo Direct presentation that day or that week, although these latest movements suggest that it could be so. Do not forget that we already received some similar rumors a few days ago. In that case, no specific date had been mentioned.
What do you think of the Nintendo Direct news? You can share it in the comments. We will be attentive to any news.
Leave a Reply


text:
As I highlighted last week in “Negotiating With A Chatbot: A Walmart Procurement Case Study,” despite all the hype surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI), relatively few companies are using AI in their supply chain or logistics operations today.
Simply put, we’re still in the very early adopter stage.
When it comes to adopting AI in supply chain management, are there lessons learned from the past to help guide companies today?
With this question in mind, I searched through our Talking Logistics archives and came across a post from November 2012 that offers some applicable advice.
At the time, most companies were still in the “early observer” stage when it came to using social networking tools for business processes other than marketing and customer service. GE, however, was an early adopter. In November 2012, MIT Sloan Management Review published an informative interview with Ron Utterbeck, who at the time was the CIO for GE Corporate and the Advanced Manufacturing Software Technology Center in Michigan (Ron is now the CIO at Eversource Energy). The article was about GE’s implementation of GE Colab, a social networking platform the company had launched in January 2012 and was being used by 115,000 employees worldwide at the time.
I encourage you to read the article for all the details, but below are some of my key takeaways that I believe also apply to getting started with AI in supply chain management.
(Note: I shared these same takeaways in my November 2012 post, but I edited some of the text to reference AI instead of social networking).
Focus on power users, not business functions.
Investments in technology are often driven by the needs of a specific business function. A big obstacle many companies face with AI, however, is that they don’t know where to begin, where within the company to conduct the first pilot test. GE took a different perspective with social networking. Instead of looking for WHERE to begin, the company looked for WHO to begin with. “We rolled it out to our power users,” Utterbeck explained. “We didn’t focus on a function – the functionality [in the platform] is needed by every function. We really sought out the most experimental people in the different functions, and seeded [the network] with them and then got their feedback.”
Don’t wait for the “perfect” solution to get started.
First, the perfect solution doesn’t exist, and won’t ever exist, so stop waiting for it. And second, you don’t know what you don’t know — in other words, since AI in supply chain management is a new frontier, the only way to truly know what you need and want is to start the journey and see where it takes you. In GE’s case with social networking, the company started with a base product and “extended the heck out of it” based on feedback from power users. According to Utterbeck, “We launched [the platform] knowing that it was good enough to get people to start moving on it, and then we started to get feedback…and we incorporated that feedback into quick releases.”
In short, implementing an AI solution is not enough; you also need to have an easy process for users to provide feedback and ideas for new capabilities, and a process and resources to turn that feedback into new functionality quickly and frequently.
Don’t waste time coming up with an ROI.
One of the main reasons why companies aren’t using AI in supply chain management is the difficulty in quantifying its business value. The same was true a decade ago with social networking. However, that didn’t stop GE from getting started. “We haven’t tried to come up with an ROI,” said Utterbeck. “Haven’t wasted a moment’s notice even thinking about it.” The company tracked usage, adoption, how people were using the system, and what their connections were. Utterbeck goes on to say:
“The biggest thing about usage is that no one in this corporation has to use this platform to get their job done. It’s not a system that people have to go to, but people still come back every single day. They come back because it makes their job easier, because they’re getting value out of it. Going and spending money on ROI would be, honestly, in my opinion, just a waste of money because the true value of this is that people are coming back.”
Do you agree with these recommendations for getting started with Artificial Intelligence in supply chain management? What other lessons learned from the past would you include? Post a comment and share your perspective!


text:
Apple to Pay Licensing Fees to 'Shot on iPhone' Contest Winners After Artist Complaints
Apple clarified its position on payment for the photographs following multiple complaints from artists that were highlighted earlier today by The Verge.
The "Shot on iPhone" contest was first announced on Tuesday, and at the time, Apple appeared to be offering no compensation to the photographers. Winners would be paid in exposure, with Apple planning to display winning photographs on social media and on billboards.
Photographers were understandably upset at a company the size of Apple asking for artistic work sans compensation.
"By submitting your photo, you grant Apple a royalty-free, world-wide, irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use, modify, publish, display, distribute, create derivative works from and reproduce the photo (everywhere) Apple." Tim Cook net worth $625M
Apple market cap $730B https://t.co/Esyd1MBXf1 — Timothy J. Reynolds (@turnislefthome) January 23, 2019
Apple now says that all photographers who win the contest will receive an unspecified licensing fee for the use of their photos on billboards and other marketing channels. It was not previously clear if Apple had intended to pay licensing fees, as the prior language released by the company did not mention it.
Apple believes strongly that artists should be compensated for their work. Photographers who shoot the final 10 winning photos will receive a licensing fee for use of such photos on billboards and other Apple marketing channels.
The updated information is available in the press release announcing the contest and the PDF with the official rules.
Apple's "Shot on iPhone" contest kicked off on January 22 and will run through February 7 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The contest will be judged by both professional photographers and a selection of Apple employees with photography expertise.


text:
Twitter announced today that it was going to make life easier for alcohol brands and the people who want to follow them.
On the web, Android and iOS versions of Twitter, users who attempt to follow an alcohol brand will be met with a new method for ensuring they are the legal drinking age.
As the Twitter blog explains, this new change allows a user to prove they are of-age right within Twitter itself, simply by selecting their date of birth after choosing to follow a participating alcohol brand. The user’s age will be checked against the legal drinking age for their country, and – if they are of-age – they will be allowed to follow that brand.
As the Twitter blog explains, they will not store your birth date, but will simply remember that you are of-age.
Prior to this updated experience, users had to jump through a few more hoops. When someone chose to follow an alcohol brand, they were instantly sent a DM from that brand. They had to click over to a website, enter their date of birth, and could click back over to Twitter to follow the brand, assuming they were of-age.
The new process simplifies things, by keeping the age-verification process within Twitter itself.
Twitter is partnering with a few brands to start the slow roll-out of this new feature, including Bud Light, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Heineken and Bacardi. The company notes that brands are not just using the new age verification feature to attract followers – many are using it as part of a promoted tweet or account advertising strategy as well.


text:
Video is one of the search marketing trends to look forward to so now would be the perfect time to add video to your marketing strategy. But what’s the best platform to publish videos? Look no further because we’ve got answers from our #SEJSurveySays poll!
The post 85% of Digital Marketers Publish Videos on YouTube [DATA] by @rinadianewrites appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
Source:: SEO News


text:
Ice cream remains a highly profitable category in the petrol and convenience channel (P&C).
According to Theo Foukkare, CEO of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), the ice cream category backed up a strong performance in 2019 growing 5.6 per cent and adding more than $17 million of value over the last two years*.
Harry Hayward, Assistant Category Manager – Ice Cream, Unilever, says shifts in consumer behaviour during the pandemic have led to new shopper missions emerging within the convenience store channel, as well as the ice cream category within P&C.
“If we have learnt anything from COVID -19, it is that consumers are living more flexible lives resulting in the merging of once strict occasions such as working, leisure and consumption. Consequently, consumers are driven even more by convenience and fulfilling their ‘need state’.
“The ‘needs for today’ mission is the most prolific shopper mission for ice cream and as such consumers are favouring quicker shopping trips in nearby convenience channels to instantly satisfy their hunger or craving.”
According to Foukkare, the increase in ice cream spend was driven by single serve, which increased 32 per cent to $10. Take home ice cream share increased from five per cent in 2019 to eight per cent in 2020, while the snacking mission being the main mission for ice cream shoppers increased six points to 40 per cent in 2020*.
According to Hayward, many other customer trends have emerged and have been accelerated due to changes in the macro environment over the last 12 months.
“Firstly, we have seen ‘fluid living’ become a major trend where homes get upgraded to fluid hubs for work, rest, and play. Secondly, as we experience a K Shaped recovery coming out of COVID -19, we are seeing diverging consumer behaviour between trading up and trading down with their purchasing.
“We have also seen considerate consumption take priority when it comes to consumers buying less but buying better. Lastly, consumers are now prioritising mindfulness and self-care as they look to move to a new way of living through the emerging expectation of permissible treats.”
Market opportunities and challenges
Romalie Cascini, Category Manager, Peters, says the company has also witnessed new consumer trends, including accelerated growth in the digital space.
“Driven by the physical separation caused by the pandemic, this has steered consumers towards digital experiences, gaming and increasing usage of delivery and online platforms.”
Cascini says there is increased local and domestic travel; motivated by a heightened sense of giving back, supporting local and Australian made products.
“The events of last year forced people to explore their own local surroundings which also created a real sense of belonging and community spirit.”
Consumers are also seeking more depth and meaning in their consumption choices.
“There’s been a major movement towards plant-based and better for you, better for the environment solutions, products that are ethically sourced.”
The major opportunity to shift the dial for the P&C market moving forward is to increase the ice cream penetration rate.
“Currently, ice cream in P&C has about a seven per cent penetration rate in comparison to grocery where the penetration rate exceeds 93 per cent,” explains Hayward.
“The keys to capturing this opportunity depend on the proper and effective execution of availability, visibility, and ranging.”
Another opportunity is the shift in shopper snacking tendencies through the uptake in take home ice cream through delivery services.
“The online food delivery platforms industry has grown 81.1 per cent between 2015 and 2020 and is expected to grow +12.1 per cent 2020-21. Therefore, we see this is a major opportunity for the P&C market to capture moving forward.”
According to Hayward, one of the challenges for the P&C market is the decline in foot traffic in-store due to the decrease in fuel consumption (14 per cent decline in 2020 or 3.5bn litres).
“It is expected this decrease in fuel consumption will continue due to the increase in the prevalence of fuel-efficient cars as well as the evolution of electric cars. However, this can be seen as both a challenge and an opportunity for the channel as it will increase the competitive landscape of those who install charging stations but also create a food consumption opportunity while the consumer is waiting for their car to charge.
“The retailers that will benefit from this increase in dwelling time in-store will be the ones that can increase the shopper’s basket size. We see this as an opportunity moving forward for ice cream and other snacking categories through bundling deals.”
Innovation and category growth
Innovation is integral to the growth of the category.
“The P&C channel is a growth engine for Peters and we have shown our commitment to supporting the channel and our retail partners through tailored strategies that meet the needs of our retailers as well as fulfilling our loyalist base that shop our category,” says Cascini
She says Peters has been focussed on creating a core offering coupled with a solid innovation platform designed to encourage shoppers to keep coming back.
“The core offering represents 76 per cent of total category sales. Peters has three of the top five brands in the category and pleasingly, these brands are delivering both value and unit growth in the latest YTD read.
“Interestingly, the category has experienced increase in average price over the last two years, as price continues to creep in the category, the category will be dependent on genuine consumption growth,” says Cascini.
Hayward says Unilever has consistently seen its iconic Golden Gaytime Original be the number one impulse product in Australian convenience, with the latest quarter no different.
“We are also really excited to see it is growing at over 23 per cent in this same period.”
According to the company, the Magnum brand is the number one impulse brand in Australian convenience with the Classic, Almond and Double Caramel Ego being the top three indulgent products in the market.
“Further, due to the highly seasonal nature of the ice cream market, we see the refreshment segment within ice cream greatly over index in summer where our Calippo Raspberry Pineapple is the number one product and growing by over 40 per cent.
“In saying this, through Ben & Jerry’s, the number one take home brand, we are trying to de-seasonalise the ice cream market by driving sales in the winter months largely driven through our popular Half Baked, Choc Fudge Brownie and Choc Chip Cookie Dough products.”
New flavours and formats
Cascini says shoppers are constantly seeking ‘new news’ and are excited by genuine format and flavour innovation.
“We have some exciting NPD coming to freezers that will tap into the strength of confectionery as well as leveraging the strength of pop culture.”
Unilever also has an exciting line up of new products hitting the market in 2021.
“Ice cream is currently experiencing great growth in the P&C channel, growing over eight per cent year to date and we expect this to continue. It is due to this growth, driven by changing consumer behaviours, that we consider the channel to be strategically important,” explains Hayward.
Building on from the recent success of its Golden Gaytime collaborations, Unilever will be releasing Golden Gaytime Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut.
In addition, the company will be tapping into Aussie’s pent up travel desire by inviting them on a taste bud adventure through its new Magnum Las Vegas Caramel Choc Cookie. This will be a P&C exclusive product with an “exciting consumer prize promotion to go with it”.
Unilever will also be delivering exclusively to market a Cornetto Dragon which will deliver a “multi-sensorial snacking experience through its highly differentiated flavours, textures and aesthetic”.
Last but not least, two Disney products will also be released this summer with its Paddle Pop Spiderman in a soft ice texture design as well as a Calippo Star Wars in an exciting lightsaber format.
When it comes to the placement of ice cream products in stores, Cascini says point of sale is crucial.
“Point of sale is used as a vehicle to engage with shoppers and a means of driving shoppers to the freezer. Once the shopper gets to the freezer, conversion is high, with ice cream being purchased more than 66 per cent of that time.
“Therefore, the key to conversion is getting shoppers to the ice cream freezer, and Peters continues to invest in a broad suite of POS and off location freezer solutions that help engage the consumer in-store across the entire path to purchase.”
For Unilever, it is critical that the company work in collaboration with retailers to ensure they have availability, visibility, and the most efficient freezer ranging in order to cater to the P&C shopper.
“It is vital for retailers to have available stock and space allocated for their core products as core accounts for around 80 per cent of ice cream sales in P&C. Consequently, retailers must ensure core products are ranged, double faced, and have high stock weight under basket.
“Further, it is also critical for retailers to drive disruption at store level through effective POS to bring people to the freezer and target the ‘need state’ of the shopper. This can be further maximised by ensuring the freezer is in the impulse zone to capture the attention of the shopper.”
*Source: 2020 AACS State of the Industry Report
This article was written by Claire Hibbit and originally appeared in the August/September issue of Convenience & Impulse Retailing magazine.


text:
If Browns, Browns Focus and Brownfashion.com weren’t exciting enough a new shoe boutique is opening this week! On 23rd January, the designer emporium will open its first footwear store on […]
Post Tagged with: "Ladies Shoes"
Shoes have been stealing the spotlight for a while but now they’re literally lighting up the runway. These goat skin sandals equipped with a light bulb heel made their debut […]


text:
By Hope Ngo/Aug. 24, 2021 12:22 pm EDT
It wasn’t too long ago when trips to the supermarket meant crossing your fingers and hoping you weren’t going to leave empty-handed, because a combination of fear and uncertainty had triggered a run on basic goods, from toilet paper and cleaning products to bottled water and meats. So we don’t blame you if the arrival of COVID-19’s Delta variant has raised your anxiety levels over the availability of items you’d just started getting used to seeing in supermarkets and groceries again.
And while its likely that consumers like you and me will once again be making a beeline for items that don’t spoil, like toilet paper and household cleaning products, there’s a chance we won’t be seeing meat shortages of the kind that we saw in early-to mid-2020. Much of it has to do with the reason the meat shortages happened to begin with.
During the early days of the pandemic, many meat workers — who were unable to practice any form of social distancing — were falling ill with COVID-19. And even though they were sick, these workers soldiered on side by side while infecting others, decimating their ranks within the meatpacking industry as a result. This meant leaving livestock that couldn’t get slaughtered, because there weren’t enough meatpackers working in plants (via Time). The labor slowdown also meant that it took a considerable amount of time for meat products to get to restaurants or supermarket shoppers (via CNBC).
Groceries are prepared for the Delta variant, making shortages unlikely
Today, the meat industry is facing a different set of circumstances from the ones it had to deal with for most of 2020, even though its outcomes might look the same. The industry is still facing some kind of labor crunch because while half of these workers are vaccinated, a great number are also vaccine-hesitant. “It’s hard to find employees to work and to show up in this in this economy and so it’s already an issue,” meat owner John Federspiel tells WANE.
The already-fragile meat supply chain also received another shock when the industry’s largest supplier, JBS foods, fell victim to a ransomware attack in June, which affected operations in the U.S., Canada, and Australia (via Vox).
But will all this be enough to send meat inventories plummeting like they did last year? Likely not, since groceries have gotten more savvy. David Smith of Associated Wholesale Grocers said in early-July, “We’re buying a lot of everything. Our inventories are up significantly over the same period last year,” he said (via The Wall Street Journal).
This combination of pandemic preparedness, along with the rising cost of food (Forbes says meat prices are up 6% from what they were last year — which means people may be less inclined to consume meat), could be a sign that our meat supplies might not end up being as they were last year. And this is good news that many of us probably need right now.
Source: Read Full Article


text:
Three times, Tesla has attempted to persuade the Texas legislature to allow it to sell its electric cars directly to consumers, bypassing the dealerships that current law protects. Three times, following the death of the latest bill last week, it has failed.
And again, at a time when the internet is squeezing out all forms of brokers and middlemen, the more than 16,000 auto dealers in America have proven astonishingly difficult to dislodge.
The way they've done it is no mystery, of course. Originally, car manufacturers operated through franchised dealers as a more convenient way to reach customers. Over time, those dealers started advocating for themselves, winning passage of laws in all 50 states that require automakers to sell through intermediaries — their dealerships.
Now, they're a powerful lobby, as both small business owners in every American city and as large public companies like Houston's own Group 1 Automotive. In the run-up to the 2013 legislative session, according to calculations by the advocacy group Texans for Public Justice, dealership interests spent $2.5 million on campaign contributions and $780,000 on lobbying. Tesla spent less than half that.
Money speaks volumes, even to Texas legislators supposedly committed to free markets and less regulation, as they've already demonstrated this session in requiring craft breweries to sell their product to a distributor and then buy it back before they can serve it in their own taprooms. And in the case of cars, as with beer, consumers lose out.
It would be easy for a lawmakers to convince themselves otherwise, because dealerships have mounted an aggressive defense of their public value. Their argument goes like this: Unlike manufacturers, dealers have an economic incentive to offer better services, in order to get referrals and repeat business. They don't make much money on car sales themselves, but rather on warranty maintenance and financing.
If automakers were allowed to sell direct to consumers, dealers and some analysts argue that they would revoke their franchise contracts, consolidate their points of sale, and then jack up prices. One study suggested that having many outlets selling the same brand in the same market can lower prices through competition.
Most economists, regulators, and consumer advocates beg to differ.
In 2009, the Department of Justice outlined how manufacturers could save money by making cars to order, rather than maintaining large inventories that are expensive to maintain, and lower prices for consumers. If you think about it, in the mandatory franchise system, the auto manufacturer still sets a floor on prices: Even competing fiercely against each other, dealers can't consistently sell below the price they pay for cars and stay in business for long.
Average profit margins for dealers are 2.2 percent, according to the National Association of Auto Dealers. So dealers would have to bring prices down a lot before consumers get a better deal than they would if the middleman and his markup didn't exist at all.
That's partly why the Federal Trade Commission under both Republicans and Democrats has pushed for state laws that ban direct manufacturer-to-consumer sales to be relaxed, saying that consumers should be free to choose the way they purchase products, rather than have sales channels be prescribed by government. Groups such as the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety agree.
Tesla's argument is a case in point. They say that no dealer would be equipped to communicate the special qualities of their cars, and that in order for electric vehicles to gain traction in an internal-combustion dominated market, they need to be able to sell in more innovative ways. The feud runs deeper than that: Auto dealers have long fought fuel economy requirements and other environmental measures that would advantage zero-emissions vehicles.
So far, the American auto manufacturers have stayed mostly quiet in dealers' legislative fights across the country. Even though the Detroit Three might benefit from selling direct to consumers, the current system works okay for them, and General Motors especially has been working to keep Tesla at a competitive disadvantage.
In fact, Michigan, the center of the U.S. auto industry, has tightened its dealership protections in recent years rather than loosened them.
International automakers, like Nissan and Honda, are a different story. As newer entrants to the American market, they designed their franchise networks after most of the protections for dealerships were established, meaning they're better adapted to modern population patterns. Nevertheless, their trade group filed a letter to the FTC last year in favor of allowing direct sales, saying that doing so would encourage flexibility and innovation.
Now, none of this means that dealerships don't have value, in that they operate in places that auto manufacturers might avoid, and provide services that manufacturers wouldn't bother with.
But allowing direct sales also doesn't mean franchises would disappear. The past century has been a long progression of companies outsourcing non-core functions, such as sales; Ford and GM may find that they're better served by allowing their dealers to continue to operate rather than trying to do it themselves.
If dealerships provide the value they say they do, they shouldn't need government to force car shoppers into their showrooms. House hunters aren't required to buy homes through realtors, and yet many of them hire one anyway, because of the knowledge that experts provide.
The next time this issue hits the legislature — which it surely will — lawmakers should consider voting to de-regulate auto sales, and then running on it. Campaign cash might speak loudly, but voters win elections.


text:
1 day ago West Midlands Police recovered more than 1,000 stolen cars in 2021 a lot of money to be made by criminals in thestolen car market. 2 days ago Buying drugs biggest darknet market 2021 from the dark web point to signs of drug addiction. Where once this marketplace was entirely criminal. Deep Web Sites 2021, Deep Web Links 2021, Hidden Wiki, DarkNet. The AlphaBay Dark Web Market Has Come Back to Life After It Was Relaunched Over. Oct 03, 2020 Jan 27, 2021 Discord has banned the r/WallStreetBets server, A series of sting operations shuttered large darknet markets like Hansa and. Documentaries 2021 The Dark Web - Black Market Boom - Full Documentary We provide fresh new full documentary 2021 every other day and most. We will discuss the dark web drugs in this article so let's start with 14 Darknet Drug Markets. Friday 23 Jul 2021 9:00 am But drug campaigners.
7 days ago Following the DarkMarket takedown in January 2021, darknet markets 2021. and Criminal darknet markets exist so drug dealers can profit at the. Vious investigations by analysing 194 DWMs until July 2021, including the Keywords: Vaccine, COVID-19, Dark markets, Illicit products. Koblenz and Oldenburg said 12 January 2021 that they had shut down what was "probably the largest illegal marketplace on the Darknet" called DarkMarket. Dark web Markets. DarkWebLink June 29, 2021. Darknet Markets Links 2021 White House Market has been seen as a most-secure marketplace to date offering only. Russian Darknet Market Hydra Records 624 Growth in Three Years, Accounts for 75 Of Illegal Transactions. Alicia Hope June 7, 2021. Dark web servers are hard to. But drug campaigners say dark web markets darknet market list 2021 have some measures to protect as Niamh warns that despite a long list of good.
And there are even more specialized products such as DDoS attacks, email databases, and malware. The illegal market in the Dark Web has grown. According to asap market an excerpt from the firm's upcoming 2021 Crypto Crime Report, 75 of the entire global dark market revenue, Chainalysis said. The publisher has been monitoring the dark fiber market and it is poised to grow by dark market 2021 billion during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of over 10. Over dark market 2021 Billion was made by Russia's dark-net market Hydra in according to a report by Chainalysis published in February 2021. By: Deutsche Welle January 12, 2021 6:19:33 pm. DarkMarket, Dark web The detained man, believed to be DarkMarket's operator, is a 34-year-old. Documentaries 2021 The Dark Web - Black Market Boom - Full Documentary We provide fresh new full documentary 2021 every other day and most.
Darknet market list, Popular darknet markets with up to date market status, onion links, descripton. Find best dark web marketplaces on the. 3 hours ago Overall the asap market url equity capital markets raised dark market 2021 billion in 2021, down dark market 2021 per cent in proceeds from 2020, despite a dark market 2021 per cent growth in. Russian Darknet Market Hydra Records 624 Growth in Three Years, Accounts for 75 Of Illegal Transactions. Alicia Hope June 7, 2021. Dark web servers are hard to. February 11, 2021 @ 10:00 AM DarkMarket was a hub for threat actors to buy and sell counterfeit products. Dark Market Operator Arrested. The dark analytics market is anticipated to register a CAGR dark market 2021 of over during the forecast period (2021 - 2026). As data security is becoming a more. Hydra became the top Russian darknet market in 2017, June 28, dark market 2021 Barragan Analysis, dark markets, Ransomware.
14 hours ago Ben Davis looks at the movements that defined 2021 asap market link in the art world, of dark market 2021.'s dark side at the Prospect New Orleans triennial) to the. Southern comfort food is the name of the game for the Santa Barbara Public Market's latest pop-up, Matty's Hot Chicken. Every Friday and Saturday. Best Darknet Market Coronavirus face masks: Dark web drug dealers rush to Best darknet market 2021 8 Most Popular Darknet Markets in 2019-. Catalin Cimpanu October 4, 2021 The operators of White House Market, a dark web underground marketplace for the trade of illegal goods, have shut down. Empire Market the best darknet market Rank #1 (Defunct) Jul 12, 2020 Curtis J. Best darknet market 2021 8 Most Popular Darknet Markets in 2019-. Dublin, Dec. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Dark Analytics Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026" report has been added to.
Police claim "Juan" agreed to facilitate the order, but the defendant provided only about $6032 worth of dark market 2021 Bitcoin and failed to respond to messages asking for the balance. In May 2019, CG&M Cooperative shut down the market allowing users to withdraw their dark market 2021 funds from their wallets. Varlığını uzun süredir sürdüren ve adını duyuran Dream Market'in bu kararı almasının arkasında ciddi sebepler yatıyor. Ich möchte gerne Nachrichten und redaktionelle Artikel von der n-tv Nachrichtenfernsehen GmbH per E-Mail erhalten. Hyper is a newly established dark net market that was launched on April 1st, 2020 on the Tor network and is presently operating from the 1st to the 6th of June, 2020. As a result, 179 vendors who engaged in tens of thousands of sales of illicit good were arrested across Europe and the United States.
It enables the users to create a vendor account and sell stuff on their marketplace and implements a rigid security system to lessen asap market darknet scams. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Grant Seaver, left, and Ryan Ainsworth, both 13, who died after taking a synthetic opioid they had received from another teenager, who bought the drugs on the dark web using Bitcoin, according to police. Luettelon vasemmassa yläkulmassa olevan tuotekuvan alla huomaat kolme värillistä ruutua, joissa on numerot, vihreä, musta ja punainen.


text:
Commercial Real Estate Show RECon Continues to Climb Out of Recession
Focused and busy would be one way to describe the vibe at RECon 2014, a trade show and conference for retail real estate that took place May 18-20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Spanning approximately 1 million square feet, it featured about 1,100 exhibitors and brought together 33,500 industry professionals who were ready to capitalize on the improving real estate market. While square footage remained the same as last year, attendance and exhibitor count saw a slight uptick.
“During the recession, the bottom fell out, and since then, it’s been a steady climb for us that mirrors the U.S. economy,” said Jesse Tron, communications and public relations manager at International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), which runs the show.
Tron noted the growth of outlet malls and smaller properties, as well as a strong trend of reinvesting in current retail real estate assets and maximizing their effectiveness.
“Retailers are expanding again and looking for more space,” he said. “Soon, there will be new builds coming into the pipeline.”
How was that reflected on the showfloor? Lenders are back in en masse. “We sold out the finance pavilion and had a waiting list,” Tron said.
To help landlords reinvest in their properties, the show created the new Marketplace Mall area that featured product and service providers to commercial properties. It also was sold out.
Lots of activity was happening on the showfloor. From dancing fountains to bungee jump towers to wind tunnels, the only thing missing was artificial snow for ski slopes in malls, Dubai-style.
Food retailers remained the favorites, giving out samples and driving traffic to the very back of the halls.
“We gave away over 175 gallons of frozen yoghurt, which is double of last year,” said exhibitor Jamie Erickson with Menchie’s Group Inc.
While the line was always there, the company relied mostly on pre-set appointments for business meetings and is hoping to move to the South Pavilion next year.
First-time attendee Steven Tulgan with Ferrara Jerum Intl. also had a full schedule. “I am blown away by the sheer size of the show and also by how helpful and accessible exhibitors are,” he said. “Here, I can connect with all our tenants quickly and efficiently.”
His one wish about the show? He wanted more dynamic navigation functionality with the show’s app that would help him find his way around in real time.
When not racing around the floor, attendees could relax and learn at the ICSC Coca-Cola Happiness Lounge.
Along with cold Coke, it featured 20-minute workshops on the latest tech tools, social media trends, as well as health and wellness tips. Free Wi-Fi and charging stations also invited lingering.
Planning for 2015, ICSC is considering the addition of the recently acquired Spree Show (Specialty Retail Leasing Show) to RECon.
“It has a great synergy with our show because many big developers also have specialty leasing teams and they’re all exhibiting at the show anyway,” Tron said. The details of the collocation should be finalized in the coming months.


text:
This example guide is written for the
Every now and then you may have a situation that arises where your client does not require a large recorder (NVR/DVR).There is now a variety of Hikvision IP Cameras that can operate as a stan
Mast Digital (UK) Limited are proud to be one of the Hikvision Authorised Wholesalers.
This year we were unable to attend CES2018 ourselves but it's always exciting to see the products that are to be released in the near future.
Tech Advisor recently wrote an article titled "The best security cameras for home 2018". It's good to see that of the 12 featured cameras two of them were EZVIZ products.
After the long wait our new website is online.


text:
COVID-19 is not any longer a new word for anyone and will be remembered for many years to come. In the very beginning of this year, the news began to spread that a deadly virus had hit China. Yet, by that time, the rest of the world was still developing and in full motion. Businesses, not to mention supply chains, continued to run smoothly and with a promising future ahead. As China was the first country to get to experience the consequences of COVID-19 as well as the first one to take actions in preventing the virus from spreading, supply chain disruptions began shortly to be encountered by companies around the world. It is widely known that many goods are being sourced from different parts of China, be they finished goods or industrial products used in manufacturing plants in different markets around the globe.
By means of these, companies outsourcing from China were put in the position to decide, at very short notice, which production was feasible and what orders could be made on account of the constraints at hand. Yet, COVID-19 continued its spread across the world. Already by the end of February, other countries in Europe, Asia and the USA affirmed cases of COVID-19 and even deaths. On the 11th of March 2020, COVID-19 was asserted as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. From that date on, COVID-19 continued to spread drastically, leaving many people out of work and businesses that were once very successful met with failures while some even had to close-down. People in every corner of the globe got to live with the virus and change their lives accordingly.
Up to this day, there are over 70 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in over 190 countries and more than 1.6 million deaths. By the time the virus has spread globally, the World Health Organization advised countries to impose measures that can slow the spread of the virus. Among the most common strict measures aimed at flattening the curve are travel restrictions, downsizing of social gatherings and business activities, and limiting face-to-face contacts. Nevertheless, some countries refused to adopt very strict preventive actions and have hence imposed less strict measures in hope that the economy will continue to rise. As such, these different international responses to COVID-19 have had a significant impact on supply chains everywhere on the globe. Perhaps until some months ago, on the list of supply chain risks, pandemics were completely out of any organization’s risk assessment. Natural disasters or cyberattacks are yet some of the risks companies might have worked against until the COVID-19 pandemic set in.
Since the beginning of 2020, a huge uncertainty throughout the global economy has been created and with it, new supply chain challenges are coming to the fore now. As such, among the significant issues brought by COVID-19 to the supply chain, we can count:
Restrain on materials and components to continue manufacturing,
Global transportation – avoiding countries and city lockdowns,
Ensuring labor availability along the supply chain especially in countries in lockdown and quarantine regulations,
Inaccurate forecast – changing demand caused by panic buying, dampen demand due to social distancing,
Lean inventories unable to buffer increased lead times,
Inadequacy in ensuring sufficient cash and liquidity in the supply chain,
Determine priority of products and components that are under restricted capacity,
Need to find suppliers better geographically located due to import/export restrictions.
As this year comes to an end, it is time we admit that the world is becoming increasingly uncertain. COVID-19 has changed a lot the way we live. Companies no longer operate in a safe and stable environment, and disasters are very prone to happen. The fact is that the world has encountered more shocks than ever before and the future becomes hence even hazier. Even though over the past 25 years supply chains have thrived and evolved to extraordinary complex global networks, it is yet important to recognize that there has been zero real thought about what could go wrong along the way. As discovered by HubSpot, only 44% of companies have only 1 solution for monitoring the supply chain. This year, companies just about everywhere have been exposed to vulnerabilities in both their production strategies and supply chains.
HubSpot COVID resilience report
COVID-19 pandemic has also proved to be an absolute test of corporate values and principles. At this time, any company is very likely to run into issues with different stakeholders given their ability to judge the company’s responses to the crisis both internally and externally. Throughout this year, companies have gone through different shocks. Some of them had a direct impact while others created an ocean of skepticism, uncertainty, and losses that will undoubtedly have a long-term impact on both the financial and operational sides of the business. Given these, businesses must rapidly maneuver the challenges of COVID-19 while devoting their efforts to addressing the needs of their customers, people, and suppliers. Already, companies have started to take action to increase resilience against future potential disruptions to their global supply chains.
HubSpot COVID resilience report
By taking the right actions, 2021 can become much more profitable and massive complexity, including also supply chain disruptions, can be turned into meaningful changes. Hence, it is now time companies already start preparing for 2021 by acknowledging the following trends.
It is well known that flexibility and agility in supply chains have always played an important role. Yet, this is even more so the case in today’s unpredictable business environment. To name just a few, perpetual change, shorter product life cycle, and increased demand uncertainty are some of the conditions that have become the new norm. As such, by being more flexible and agile, companies can react to changes within the shorter notice. Moreover, an agile supply chain can also help maneuver scarcity and disruption.
Yet, the first thing to consider when trying to respond to any changes, it is to firstly identify the changes. That is, establishing a high level of alertness should be the first dimension companies ought to address. This dimension implies that companies must be able to sense emerging market trends while continuing to listen to their customers and facilitating a collaborative relationship with their suppliers. Most importantly, this first dimension calls upon demand control, the anticipation of forthcoming disruption events, be they natural or man-made disasters. Once this first dimension is completed, companies must be able to rapidly access relevant data in order to quickly decide how to act. Information access across the supply chain is a key requirement for supply chain agility. However, for a business to succeed, it is important to also foster the ability to make strong-willed decisions on how to respond to the identified changes. In fact, swiftness is at the very core of supply chain agility. That is, agility is dependent on a company’s ability to implement decisions promptly. Yet, without flexibility, a company might find it hard to modify its range of tactics and operations to the extent needed to implement its strategy.
Blockchain technology in the supply chain comes in handy in a period of increased uncertainty, disruptions, and risks. Blockchain technology helps distribute digital data transparently and securely by means of tracing the entire history of each asset from the moment of production until it is being put in use. As such, by delivering the data that is needed in real-time, blockchain helps companies to look for process inefficiencies, equipment inefficiencies or other incidents along the way. Blockchain helps create a more decentralized network given that all parties in the supply chain have access to the same data, connecting in this way suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers in a single ecosystem with cryptographic keys protecting every piece of data. Moreover, blockchain produces a more trusted environment, in that it keeps a long-lasting record of all supply chain histories, ensuring tamper-proof digital document trails while also building trust among all network participants. Most importantly, by using blockchain in signing contracts, intermediaries can be removed, hence making supply chain management more cost-efficient.
As supply chains continue to develop and mature there has been a move toward more intense collaboration between customers and suppliers. Omnichannel customer service is the solution for forward-thinking businesses. To be able to retain customers, omnichannel customer support gives companies the opportunity to serve customers in a variety of ways that are not only convenient and effective but also have a beneficial impact on boosting companies’ brand image and credibility. Omnichannel customer service entails providing customers with a direct and convenient shopping experience, regardless if they are shopping online or in-store. It means, in fact, that supply chain leaders and stakeholders must increase proficiency across all channels while engaging with customers and personalizing the shopping experience. Among the benefits of this approach are end-to-end visibility, better control over KPIs, better risk management strategies, reduced situations of overstocking/ understocking, etc.
IoT and Big Data are nowadays incorporated into our daily lives. This is, even more, the case in supply chain management where the number of devices connected to the internet is increasing at a fast velocity. IoT is continuously generating a vast amount of data, and, in today’s risky environment, well-analyzed data is extremely treasured. As such, Big Data analytics tools have the capability to deal with large volumes of data that is being generated from any IoT device. Whereas IoT delivers the data collected from various sensors, the Big Data analytics tools can be used to the extent of storing and creating insights from this information. As a result, IoT and Big Data together, assist businesses as well as other organizations to achieve an enhanced understanding of data, and hence, making efficient and knowledgeable decisions, including also benefits for every business segment and industry.
Also, Big Data application in the supply chain improves operations, hiring processes or even marketing strategies. As such, IoT and Big Data analytics can help businesses to go from being reactive to being proactive which is one of the right ways to manage risks. Some of the advantages of IoT and Big Data to the supply chains are: it helps manufacturing companies to have an in-depth look at how the overall business is performing while enabling them to find out as well as repair damaged equipment before much damage is produced; the behavior of many industrial devices can be easily controlled; improvement of organizational productivity, etc.
Automation is a game-changer in the supply chain. Today, in the digital age, businesses ought to optimize their workflows in order to maintain a competitive advantage. Supply chain automation simply enables companies to do just that. Namely, automation can, for instance, take over dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks from humans. As such, labor-intensive tasks can be performed by autonomous mobile robots allowing human capital to focus on more important decision-making. Simply put, supply chain automation refers to standardizing all of a workflow, or perhaps a part of it, to improve processes. Practically, it means utilizing technology to manage a complex web of working parts. Given the recent challenges brought forth by COVID-19, it has been proved that technology is essential for profitably implementing social distance and risk mitigation in warehousing and distribution, not to mention its importance for product realization, order fulfillment, and inventory updates or payments and invoicing. By automating the supply chain, businesses can respond faster to market changes, risks, and changing customer demands through predictive decision making.
When looking back on how 2020 has affected businesses it is interesting to note that the challenges encountered due to the COVID-19 pandemic are not over. Perhaps, more than ever before, supply chains must reevaluate their processes, channels of distribution, business partners as well as offerings. Filling the gaps that the pandemic exposed, such as minimizing risks or building resilience can help improve supply chains to better deal with any type of future disruption or disaster. Taking account of the 2021 supply chain trends and the lessons learned from this year can benefit companies in planning for a more sustainable and profitable supply chain.
Article by Iunona-Georgiana Macavei


text:
Pharmaceutical firms like Pfizer Inc. are accustomed to having their patents for brand-name drugs challenged by generics makers at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. But companies that make innovative new drugs may increasingly find challenges coming from another front: other brand companies.
Radio stations must pay royalties to recording companies and composers when their broadcasts are simultaneously streamed over the internet.
Court says Italian electronic group Trucco can formally register "Starix" as an E.U.-wide trademark.
Five of Canada's provinces and territories have software piracy rates in excess of 50%, the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft says.
Cambria was accused of using Softscape's trade secrets to build its own software and services solutions.
Some experts question validity of patent, but Bluecurrent says it will seek royalties.
Japan's top drug maker sues Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Watson Pharmaceuticals and Ranbaxy Laboratories over their generic versions of ACTOS (pioglitazone HCl).
Patent suit concerned wireless antenna technologies.
Glow Industries had accused Lopez and her partner of infringing its trademark.
Radio operator was accused of unauthorized performance of songs represented by music rights organization.
Shuts down a string of travel-related websites that used names confusingly similar with airlines and travel operators to lure customers.
Defense argues Economic Espionage Act is vague and possibly unconstitutional.
Judge says no "rational" court would find bottles confusingly similar.
Defendants are accused of stealing semiconductor designs and equipment from Silicon Valley companies for China.
Critics claim law would criminalize innocent conduct and extend drug patents another 18 months.
Working group's proposal focuses on preventive measures that can be carried out during the production of disks.
Suit seeks compensation for use of copyrighted domestic tones; foreign music not covered.
Judge sees no sign Disney sought to "somehow poach or free ride" on Caterpillar's trademarks.
Companies had been trading legal volleys for more than one year.
Decision comes in response from corporate concerns about divulging sensitive information in court.
Guidelines call for improved information exchange and training of IPR enforcement personnel.


text:
Green Apple offers one stop shopping
Published 3:44 am Wednesday, November 19, 2008
By By MaryClaire Foster
The produce stand on north Main Street is a familiar sight to many local residents, but is not the same business many remember.
The Green Apple, housed in the same location as the Apple Barrel, was opened by Vickey Allen-Black after many years of a vacancy in the building.
Black said she noticed a need for this type of business, and after some encouragement from her father, Harold Allen, she opened The Green Apple.
Black said the business is a family affair, with her father providing insight and advice and her husband, Josh, and children helping out as well.
The stand offers a wide array of fruits and vegetables, several of which are grown locally.
Linda Hadley worked at The Apple Barrel for ten years and now works for The Green Apple.
Hadley said they do not just mean her either; they are also appreciative of having a similar business in place.
Black said she has received the same response from customers.
Along with produce, The Green Apple offers homemade baked goods, fruit baskets, live plants and seasonal d/cor.
In addition to the current offerings, there are plans in the works to add a butcher shop and offer frozen vegetables.
Harold Allen added that in addition to what he said are better quality and lower priced items than grocery stores, the Green Apple is also more convenient.
For those who have a hard time getting in and out, Hadley added they can assist them.
Linda and Terri Griffin shopped at the Green Apple on Friday for what they believe is a better selection of produce.
The Griffins said they frequented the establishment back when it was The Apple Barrel and were pleased when they saw a similar business had opened.
The Green Apple is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.


text:
Camelia Pasandaran & Abdul Qowi Bastian
The mysterious man starring in the Indonesian film “Mr. Bean’s Obsessed With D.P.” is William Ferguson, a Rowan Atkinson look-alike and fellow Briton, the man’s talent agency confirmed on Tuesday.
The film — “Mr. Bean Kesurupan D.P.” — stars an actor who mimics Atkinson’s Mr. Bean character and his brand of goofy physical comedy in a film about a hopping “pocong” ghost obsessed with the dangdut singer Dewi Persik.
The film’s producer confirmed the mystery man’s identity.
“His real name is Bill Ferguson,” KK Dheeraj, of K2K Production, told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday. “At the [shooting] location we called him Bean, or Beanaly. But in the contract, his name is Bill Ferguson.”
The revelation is the latest development in the controversial saga of the film, which has left some Indonesians upset with Dheeraj for what has been described as a deceptive slight of hand to draw fans of Mr. Bean to theaters under false pretenses.
One of the disappointed moviegoers has filed a lawsuit with the Jakarta Police against Dheeraj and the other star of the movie, Dewi, accusing them of violating the consumer protection law.
Muhammad Zainal Arifin, who reported the case, said he had read online news that stated Dheeraj had secured Atkinson to costar as Mr. Bean alongside Dewi.
He cited a news portal that quoted Dewi as saying: “Thank God I can play with Rowan.”
He reported both of them as violating Consumer Protection Law, Article 8 and Article 9, and the criminal code. Article 8 states that business people should not produce or sell goods or services that are not the same as the advertisement or promotion of the good or service. Violation of this article carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 2 billion ($212,000).
Article 9 of the law states that businesses should not offer, promote or advertise goods or services falsely or concealing a hidden defect.
Besides the statements from Dheeraj and Dewi, Zainal said the movie’s promotional poster led him to believe it would be Atkinson in the lead role.
However, Dheeraj said that he never deceived his audiences.
“I have already explained that I never wrote Rowan Atkinson’s name in the poster,” he said. “I did not deceived the public.”
Dheeraj said the character of Mr. Bean can be played by any actor, explaining that the character’s name was not the property of Atkinson.
“In Malaysia, there is a peanut snack named Mr. Bean; in Singapore there is a coffee shop named Mr. Bean Coffee,” he said. “For sure they do not belong to Rowan Atkinson.”
Dheeraj added that Ferguson, who works for the agency A-List Lookalikes & Entertainment, has played the role of Mr. Bean several times in Britain.
“He was called ‘Mr. Bean’ in Britain, holding the teddy bear and has Mr. Bean’s style,” Dheeraj said. “In Britain, there are dozens [of actors] playing Mr. Bean’s character, but no one is upset.”
Asked why he had not been clear about the actor’s true identity from the beginning, Dheeraj said that it was part of the business.
“You would not have said that if you were in my position,” he said.


text:
When asked, only one if five young adults say they will attend the office Christmas party this year if it happens!
Instead, 40 percent are looking forward to cosy nights in or home parties with friends and family. And this figure rises to 49 percent among those aged 18-25.
Those who can’t just come out and say, “I don’t want to go,” will fib and pull a sickie!
It also emerged that many have also become more cost-conscious with 65 percent feeling that nights out have become more expensive than ever before.
A lot of this comes down to drinks. We’ve spent so much time at home mastering our own beverages, that someone else’s, just won’t do….
The study also found that following the steady return of nightlife, those polled have become more accustomed to the taste of their own cocktails, with 40 percent preferring the taste of their own single or double measures to one made for them in a bar.
Others prefer the flavour of their spirit-based drinks at home as 52 percent claim that concoctions made in bars are ‘too weak’. And let’s face it, if we do go out, we pre-drink at home first!


text:
85th Ghana Open launched - Ghana Web
The 85th edition of Ghana Open golf competition has been launched in Tema clourfully, this writer can confirm.
The two-day stroke event has been scheduled for September 21 and 22 at the Tema Coutry Golf Club.
Originally, the competition was designed for just Group A competitors, but after a countrywide search, it emerged that the numbers were not encouraging.
As a result, officials of Ghana Golf Association (GGA) led by Mr Mike Aggrey (President) have included ladies and men categories B as well as the juniors and seniors categories.
The various Groups will play on handicaps -men’s Group A (0-12), B (15-24), Ladies Group A (0-19) and ladies Group B (20-27)
Addressing the press conference yesterday, the GGA boss said “ It is the GGA’s flagship event and we are committed to delivering a top notch event. All is set for the event.”
GGA’s Honorary Secretary Akwasi Poku urged corporate Ghana to come on board the potential of growing their brands by associating with the biggest event on the country’s golfing calendar.
Tema Country Golf Club captain, Joseph Nettey, in like manner urged corporate Ghana to support the event. He gave assurance that work on the T-Boxes are completed and he is expecting a great tourney.
Preceding the event is the pros competition which is expected to tee-off from September 19 to 22, all being equal.
Gold Fields Ghana is the headline sponsor with support from Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited and Innovative Manufacturing Group.
Back to previous page


text:
Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, has recognized SOLO as one
of the winners for the Leg Up Program. Sara Blakely started the program to help
women reach the next level in their entrepreneurial endeavors. Jenny Amareneni and Dana Holliday launched SOLO Eyewear with the vision of “one person, one idea, one action can change the world!” Since inception, SOLO has restored vision for nearly 10,000 individuals across 19 countries, including the United States.
We are honored to be one of the winners of the Leg Up Program and to keep the
tradition of giving alive we are offering a 10% discount on your purchase when you
enter the promo code SPANX10 at checkout.
“Now that I've discovered SOLO eyewear, I've found a new favorite pair! I love the
design and the company's vision." – Sara Blakely


text:
Tuesday, December 10th, 2013
More than 9,400 children are treated each year in U.S. emergency rooms after suffering injuries in their highchairs, most often from falling out of poorly secured chairs, according to a new study published by the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The numbers represent a significant rise in the number of highchair-related injuries–a 22 percent jump between the years 2003 and 2010. More from US News:
Despite the fact that millions of defective highchairs have been recalled in recent years, researchers at the hospital’s Center for Injury Research and Policy found that the number of children under the age of 3 who were treated in emergency departments between 2003 and 2010 increased by 22 percent. On average, one child each hour was treated for such an injury, according to the study, published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics.
“Families may not think about the dangers associated with the use of high chairs,” said Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research, in a statement. “High chairs are typically used in kitchens and dining areas, so when a child falls from the elevated height of the high chair, he is often falling head first onto a hard surface such as tile or wood flooring with considerable force.
Most often, the children seen were treated for closed head injuries, which include concussions and internal head injuries. More than one-third of the children injured (37 percent) were treated for closed head injuries.
Not only were closed head injuries the most common injury associated with highchairs, but they were also the type that saw the greatest increase between 2003 and 2010 – up nearly 90 percent, from 2,558 in 2003 to 4,789 in 2010.
Additionally, 33 percent were treated for bumps and bruises, and 19 percent were treated for cuts associated with falls from highchairs. Overall, 93 percent of the injuries involved a fall from a highchair or booster seat.
When information was available for what children were doing just before a fall from a highchair or booster seat, two-thirds of them were climbing or standing in the chair, which suggests that the chair’s safety restraints were either not being used or were ineffective.
Parents are urged to make sure their children are properly strapped into their high chairs and booster seats. If you are concerned about the safety of your highchairs, check the Parents.com Recall Finder, sign up for our Recall Alerts email, or check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website to see whether your model has been recalled.
Watch this video for more tips on keeping your baby safe in his high chair:
Plus: Find a broad selection of high chairs at Shop Parents.
Image: Baby in highchair, via Shutterstock
Add a Comment
child safety, concussions, CPSC, head injuries, high chairs, highchairs, recalls, Safety | Categories:
Child Health, Must Read, Product Recalls, Safety
Wednesday, October 9th, 2013
Nearly 300 people in 18 states have been sickened by a salmonella bacteria that has been traced back to contaminated chicken packaged by Foster Farms, according to an alert released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Salmonella poisoning is especially dangerous for people with compromised immune systems and young infants. More from The Boston Globe:
While some USDA employees have been furloughed due to the partial government shutdown, food safety inspectors at beef and poultry plants are still conducting routine inspections and investigating illness outbreaks.
Consumers can identify raw Foster Farm chicken products associated with the outbreak by looking for the following numbers on the package: P6137, P6137A, and P7632.
The products were mainly distributed to retail outlets in California, Oregon and Washington State, the USDA said, but no recall has been issued because the food safety service has been “unable to link the illnesses to a specific product and a specific production period.”
Instead, consumers should remember to handle all raw meat and poultry in a safe manner, cooking chicken thoroughly until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 °F. They should also avoid cross contamination of raw chicken juices with other foods like fresh produce that won’t be cooked before consuming; for example, they should use separate cutting boards for preparing these foods.
Another tip recommended by food safety scientists: Don’t wash raw poultry before preparing it since that can foster the spread of bacteria.
“If you wash it, you’re more likely to spray bacteria all over the kitchen and yourself,” said Drexel University food safety researcher Dr. Jennifer Quinlan in a new video campaign she launched to get people to stop rinsing raw chicken.
Image: Raw chicken, via Shutterstock
Add a Comment
Thursday, September 19th, 2013
Chobani yogurts remain on the menus at schools in 4 states that are launching a healthy eating pilot program, even after discovery of possible mold contamination prompted a nationwide recall of some of the Greek yogurt company’s products. More from NBC News:
Some 230 New York school districts have ordered more than 3,300 cases of Chobani products, while Idaho schools have requested more than 3,400 cases, school officials said.
Those states, along with Arizona and Tennessee, are part of a new U.S. Department of Agriculture pilot project to test the use of Greek-style yogurt as a healthy, high-protein addition to the National School Lunch Program.
The yogurt set for schools isn’t affected by the Sept. 5 Chobani recall, state and federal officials said. It won’t arrive for another couple of weeks and it’s being made in the firm’s New York plant, not the Twin Falls, Idaho, site where company officials detected mold after receiving consumer reports of bubbling, bulging cartons of yogurt. At least 223 complaints of illness tied to the recalled yogurt have been reported to the Food and Drug Administration, though they haven’t been confirmed.
“USDA is aware of the situation and will work with the company to ensure products delivered to schools are healthy and safe,” said agency spokeswoman Brooke Hardison.
Image: Elementary school cafeteria, via Shutterstock
Add a Comment
Monday, July 8th, 2013
Whole Foods Market stores have recalled cheese made by Crave Brothers Les Freres because of a number of cases of listeria contamination. Listeria is a bacteria that is of particular danger to pregnant women or people with compromised immune systems. More from NBC News:
Add a Comment
Whole Foods says the cheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. It was sold in 30 states and Washington DC under names including Les Freres and Crave Brothers Les Freres. The cheese was cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap and sold with Whole Foods Market scale labels. The company is posting signs in its stores to inform customers about the recall.
Officials said cases have been identified in at least three states. Public health officials in Illinois said Wednesday that one resident became sick after eating contaminated cheese in May. Minnesota officials said Thursday that one elderly person in the state died and another was hospitalized after illnesses linked to the cheese. Both of those illnesses happened in June.
Listeria can lead to severe illness for women who are pregnant or people who have weakened immune systems. In healthy individuals, it can cause symptoms including high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Monday, May 13th, 2013
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has, for the first time, voted to set federal safety standards for strollers. The commission’s vote, which was unanimous at 3-0, includes a series of previously voluntary regulations, and it adds specific provisions to prevent strollers from having a risk of injuries including scissoring, shearing, and pinching, most of which are associated with folding or foldable strollers. Last summer, Peg Perego recalled 223,000 strollers because of entrapment and strangulation hazards, and thousands of Kolcraft strollers were also recalled because of a finger amputation hazard.
For the new federal standards, CPSC staff reviewed more than 1,200 stroller-related incidents, including four fatalities and nearly 360 injuries that occurred from 2008 through 2012. The agency believes that the new standard will help to reduce the risks associated with the majority of the hazard patterns identified in reviewing the stroller incidents. Hazards include wheel breakage or detachment, hinge issues, car seat attachment, handlebar failures, and structural integrity issues. The injuries that have resulted from these problems include finger amputation, falls, and head entrapment.
The proposed standard has a 75-day “comment period” before it is added to the Federal Register, during which time the public can post comments at www.Regulations.gov. The CPSC recommends that the standard become effective 18 months after publication of the final rule in the Federal Register.
Image: Mother and baby with stroller, via Shutterstock
Add a Comment


text:
The Japan-based crypto exchange, BitFlyer, announced to add support for the third-largest cryptocurrency in the market, XRP. The exchange revealed in the announcement that Ripple’s XRP is the second-largest cryptocurrency in Japan in terms of trading volume just behind bitcoin.
BitFlyer is giving away 100,000 Yen to mark the XRP listing.
The leading Japanese crypto exchange also announced to give away 1000,000 Japanese Yen worth $911 to mark the listing of this altcoin. XRP is the only cryptocurrency that the Japanese exchange has listed in the last two years. Ripple has collaborated with various financial businesses in the last few months to promote blockchain supported cross-border settlements.
Ripple releases 1 billion XRP from its escrow wallet.
Ripple transferred a total of 1 billion XRP from its escrow wallet on Dec. 2. This was not the first time Ripple had transferred such a large amount of XRP tokens. The crypto community has criticized the blockchain-based payment firm many times in the past for causing the XRP’s price to crash by releasing huge amounts of XRP tokens. However, the company had defended its actions by saying that they are selling XRP to invest in firms that would help its ecosystem grow and fund its own operations.
If you are a crypto trader, it can be very economical to use a crypto news aggregator instead of going to different sources back and forth to get the latest happenings from the crypto industry.


text:
SupperKing - Enabling "Collaborative Consumption" Of Home Cooked Meals
Beverly Hills based SupperKing launched this week, offering friends and neighbors an easy way to invite each other to share home cooked meals, and share the costs.
I met the founders recently in San Francisco. Kai Stubble, CEO of SupperKing (above on left, with Jack Warren, CMO) said that the service encourages "collaborative consumption" by making it easy to invite people, and easy to share the costs of food and drink.
SupperKing has an iPhone app to organize the dinner and manage invitations and payments. It could also be useful for "pop up" restaurants in people's homes. Here's more info:


text:
Undeterred by the controversies that have struck its $35 tablet project, the Government has taken the first step towards the fourth version of the low cost Aakash tablet by releasing its mandated technical specifications.
Perhaps the most interesting detail is that the new version, which will be called Aakash IV, will run the latest version of Ubuntu alongside Google’s Android operating system.
The specifications, which have been prepared for interested vendors to take a look and provide comments, shows that the Aakash IV will be significantly more powerful than its predecessors.
According to a Department of Electronics and Information Technology circular, the tablet should come with a 1GB DDR3 SDRAM, 4GB integrated internal storage, the ability to have a micro SD card 2.0 interface and a 7 inch LCD display with at least 800x400 resolution.
With regard to connectivity, it will have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The icing on the cake, however, though subject to change, is that the Aakash IV should be dual bootable (through an external SD card) with the latest GNU/Linux distribution (latest Ubuntu).
This marks a stark difference from the Government’s previous technological efforts. It may be the first time that a project of this size is being empowered through the option of open-source.
The next step involves all interested stakeholders, who should examine the proposed specifications, and provide their comments from the point of vendor neutrality by July 12, 2013.


text:
Brief update: REI has suspended orders of Vista products! See their statement here.
More updates on the way!
Tell REI to stop carrying Vista products: Bell, Giro, Camelbak and others. Please note if you are an REI member in the comment section.
Ever heard of Vista Outdoor? It's a $3 billion company that owns something like 50 brands. More than 75 percent of its business comes from gun and ammo sales—it's one of the biggest ammo companies around. But in 2015, in a bid to diversify its holdings, Vista started buying non-shooting outdoors and bike companies. Vista now owns Camelbak, Giro, Bell Helmets, Bollé, Camp Chef, and Blackburn, among other brands.
Vista is a huge NRA supporter.
In a 2016 article, Mother Jones magazine linked a rapid rise in Vista's fortunes to a rush to purchase arms following mass shootings in the U.S. Vista has also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbying at the federal level for defense appropriations, and they've fought hard against the Toxic Substances Control Act in recent years. Vista also sponsors a PAC that has supported political efforts to allow concealed carry of handguns across state lines.
These are NOT the values of the REI Co-Op. As an REI Co-Op member, I'm asking my favorite outdoor retailer to take a firm stand and stop profitting from companies that promote and manufactor assault weapons. Sign and share my petition and urge REI to stand by their values and drop all Vista brands. #REIdropVista #BoycottVistaOutdoor