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In a study performed by FindAccountingSoftware.com of more than 4,000 buyers over the last five years, the top 10 most commonly reviewed QuickBooks replacement products were revealed:
“While the products vary in terms of price point, deployment (cloud/on premise), and feature support,” says the FindAccounting article, “each owns a well-established history as a popular accounting software choice for the SMB market.”
Why do companies decide to replace QuickBooks?
QuickBooks after all is used by millions of companies, offers a wide range of functionality, and many versions cost less than a year of cable television to run.
When it comes to switching software, everyone has their reasons, but these are the common reasons buyers tell us they are looking to upgrade from QuickBooks.
To read more about the most popular QuickBooks replacement upgrade alternatives, check out the full article FindAccountingSoftware.com.


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Scotland-based M Squared Lasers, London-based TestPlant and Condeco are among the 92 companies named in the innovation category of this year’s Queen’s Awards for Enterprise list. The Queen’s Awards are given to UK businesses who have made outstanding contributions in the categories of innovation, international trade and sustainable development.
The Telegraph publishes the full list of the 2016 Queens Award winners, including Condeco, the winner of the Enterprise award in Innovation.
Several facilities management businesses have received recognition within today’s Queen’s Awards, including Condeco. Founder and chief executive officer Paul Statham said his company was “honoured” to receive the award. “We regard this as a win for the whole of the corporate real estate industry, which is contributing fantastically to business change in the workplace,” he… Read more »
Workplace management company Condeco have won a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the highest official award for UK businesses. Condeco are among the select businesses recognised in the Innovation category, awarded for outstanding innovation and development. The highly coveted Queen’s Award, which is granted on the advice of the Prime Minister and an Advisory Committee,… Read more »
Go back six, seven or even eight years and you’ll find a lot being said about the importance of space usage in these pages. What does change is the way that use of space is measured. Technology has broadened the depth of detail in data we can expect, allowing for a greater variety in the… Read more »

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Mainstream AGP graphics card from NVIDIA
X-bit Labs has the scoop on the NVIDIA GeForce 7600GS AGP. The report claims NVIDIA has confirmed the existence of a GeForce 7600 graphics card for the aged AGP platformâ€”providing a cost-effective upgrade path for users still stuck with AGP. The indirect confirmation comes from the latest ForceWare 91.28 drivers which lists support for an unreleased AGP-based GeForce 7600GS.
Pricing is expected to be around the same $120-150 price range as the PCI Express version of the 7600GS. Standard PCI Express 7600GS’s come with 12 pixel pipelines, 5 vertex shaders, and 256MB of GDDR3 in a 128-bit configuration. It is unknown what the specifications of the AGP 7600GS will be but expect the use of NVIDIA’s HSI bridge to translate PCI Express to AGP commands.
NVIDIA recently announced a GeForce 7800GS AGP in February as well. Since GeForce 6600 and 7600 ASICs are pin-to-pin compatible, it is really no surprise that vendors were able to use GeForce 6600 PCBs with the 7600 series GPU.
News source: DAILYTECH


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Chinese EV maker NIO successfully listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Friday, beginning trading under the ticker symbol “NIO.” This makes it the first Chinese company to be listed in New York, Hong Kong and Singapore at the same time.
On March 10 this year, NIO completed its second listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx). As in Hong Kong, NIO‘s Singapore listing was by way of introduction, and it did not involve new share issuance and fundraising. Its Class A shares listed on the New Stock Exchange can be completely converted from its American Depositary Receipts.
William Li, the founder, chairman and CEO of NIO, said: “Today is a new milestone for NIO, and listing in Singapore is of great significance to our global business development plan. With Singapore’s important strategic position in the global capital market, NIO has further improved the layout in the world.”
At the same time, NIO will take advantage of Singapore’s international economic and technological center to carry out in-depth cooperation with local scientific research institutions, and establish an artificial intelligence and autonomous driving R&D center in the country.
The latest data show that the delivery volume of NIO in April this year totaled 5,074 units. Since 2022, its cumulative delivery volume has been 30,842 units, a year-on-year increase of 13.5%. As of April 30, 2022, a total of 197,912 vehicles had been delivered. On April 26, NIO‘s 200,000th vehicle rolled off the production line at its Hefei JAC-NIO Manufacturing Base.


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Cryptocurrency investment company Luno has announced the appointment of Christo de Wit as its new South African country manager.
Luno says De Wit hails from South Africa but brings years of experience in global businesses, having served leadership roles at True Money, a fintech unicorn with more than 65,000 agents across six countries.
These roles included various marketing positions and leading True Money as country managing director in Myanmar.
De Wit joins Luno at a time when the firm has over 1000 staff. His immediate focus will be to build on the growth of Luno in South Africa by raising awareness about crypto as a long-term investment.
This goal has seen Luno launch a partnership with rugby icon Siya Kolisi, as well as sponsorships of the Sunshine Tour and Comic Con 2022.
“South Africa is a key market for Luno and Christo aims to maintain the momentum of customers being able to safely and easily buy and store their crypto on the country’s most trusted crypto platform,” Luno says via statement.
De Wit previously headed regional marketing in Asia for Rocket Internet’s Everjobs, which has since merged with Jumia.
With an honours degree in Information Science and a BA in Socio Informatics, De Wit moved into digital publications at Media 24. He also honed his marketing skills at Cape Town Tourism as a marketing manager.


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WASHINGTON — The presumptive presidential nominees, Sens. Barack Obama (D., Ill.) and John McCain (R., Ariz.), have unveiled economic policy plans in recent weeks. The following is a snapshot of some of their policies.
Obama’s Economic Plan
• A second round of tax rebate checks to help families offset rising food and gasoline prices. The plan would provide $500 for an individual and $1,000 for a married couple. It would be funded by a new “windfall profits tax” on oil companies.
• A separate $50 billion stimulus package, $25 billion of which would be dedicated to a “Jobs and Growth Fund” to boost the highway trust fund, prevent cutbacks in road and bridge maintenance, and preserve onemillion jobs.
• Eliminate President Bush’s tax cuts for those with incomes above $250,000.
• Require most employers to provide health care to workers or pay into a national health care plan.
• Increase the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2011 and index it to inflation. The minimum wage already is set to increase to $7.25 on July 24, 2009.
• Scrutinize existing trade deals, require stronger enforcement against countries’ illegal trade practices, including currency manipulation — a charge levied largely at China — and reassess the North American Free Trade Agreement. Oppose pending free trade deals with Colombia and South Korea. Support an expansion and reform of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program that gives aid to workers who lose their jobs because of international trade.
McCain’s Economic Plan
• Make permanent Bush’s tax cuts that expire in 2010.
• Major cuts in federal spending programs. Would have a one-year spending pause — freeze non-defense, non-veteran discretionary spending for a year and use those savings for deficit reduction.
• Reduce the corporate tax rate to 25 percent from 35 percent to “encourage companies not to go overseas.”
• Allow first-year deduction or “expensing” of equipment and technology investments.
• Establish permanent tax credit to 10 percent of wages spent on research and development.
• Reduce the estate tax to 15 percent and permit a $10 million exemption.
• Provide refundable tax credits of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families if they buy health insurance.
• Promote an aggressive free trade agenda. Support pending trade deals with Colombia and South Korea and oppose barriers to imports in the U.S. market. Support an expansion and overhaul of the federal program aiding workers who lose their jobs because of trade.
There'll be no rest for those headed to Europe for men's, as Paris just closed the gap with Milan. According to a provisional calendar released by the Chambre Syndicale, Paris Men's Week will now open a day earlier on January 16. See new highlights on the official lineup on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
BREAKING: Jonathan Saunders is leaving @DVF. The designer has resigned from his position as chief creative officer of Diane von Furstenberg, the company said in a statement on Friday. At the time of his hire, von Furstenberg said Saunders’ arrival symbolized and facilitated her stepping back from the day-to-day duties that occupy the work of a full-time creative director. The British designer joined DVF in May 2016 and was in charge of all product categories. #wwdnews
For @versace_official’s spring ad campaign, the brand emphasized the archival prints from the spring tribute collection dedicated to the late Gianni Versace. Closing out the show were five of Gianni’s favorite models: Cindy, Naomi, Carla, Helena, and Claudia. Bowing on December 18, the new campaign is yet another tribute to supermodel-dom as the images by Steven Meisel are fronted by @iamnaomicampbell, @cturlington, @gisele and more. #wwdfashion
Four-time Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening has been waiting 20 years to play Gloria Graham in "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool," which will be released on December 29. The movie about Graham – a Hollywood star known for her controversial relationship with a younger Englishman named Peter Turner – is based off a memoir Turned wrote. "She felt vulnerable to him, because she loved him, she really did love him. And anyone that we really truly are in love with, we re vulnerable to in a very deep way," said Bening. Read our full interview with the modern icon of an actress on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @ninebagatelles; Styled by @cristinaehrlich)
The crisp white button down: a staple that can be dressed up or down and accessorized throughout the decades. Here, on a Art Basel-goer in 2017 on the left and on the iconic Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday” in 1953 on the right. #tbt #wwdfashion (📷: Andrew Morales)
Known for her work with @victoriassecret, 25-year-old model @georgiafowler is raising her profile in Hollywood. Fowler stars in @vincecamuto’s holiday campaign, which launched in partnership with “Pitch Perfect 3.” “Almost every shoot with Vince Camuto, I’ve had to face a fear…It was definitely a challenge. I’m so grateful for it, though. I’ve always wanted to be a pop star, so that was the perfect chance,” Fowler said. Head to WWD.com to read about Fowler’s experience modeling, including at the #VSFashionShow, and her relationship with Nick Jonas. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
EXCLUSIVE: Huda Kattan just became the first beauty influencer to land a major beauty deal. Kattan's business, @hudabeauty, has received a minority investment from private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners. The brand, which industry sources say is on track to do $200 million in retail sales for 2017, will receive support on product, retail and geographic expansion through the deal. Get all the details on the deal and read @_a_collins' interview with Kattan on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdbeauty #wwdnews
Peruvian model @juanaburga_official – who is known for walking the runways of @rodarte, @viviennewestwood and @torybuch – is making the move to the big screen with drama “Los Últimos.” The film premiered in Argentina in November and arrives in the U.S. and Europe in 2018. On making the switch from modeling to acting, Burga told WWD: “It’s a completely different thing – a lot of people think it’s similar or try to connect things, especially like getting used to the camera or being looked at all the time or playing these different characrers, but film is a completely different story.” #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery)
London’s newly opened @designmuseum will look back on the life and work of Azzedine Alaïa in a show that the designer helped to curate before he died of heart failure last month. The retrospective, which Alaïa had worked on with Mark Wilson, chief curator of the @groningermuseum, will look at the impact of his work worldwide. The show, “Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier,” will run from May 10 to October 7. Read more about the exhibit on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @zefashioninsider)


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… to accelerate SME growth in Nigeria
MoMo PSB in partnership with the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) hosted a two-day symposium and exhibition on empowering nano and small businesses in Lagos State.
The event which was held on November 17 and 18 2023 at the Landmark Center Lagos, hosted a myriad of SME and trade Associations in Nigeria, including, the West African Association for Cross-Border Trade, in Agroforestry-pastoral, Fisheries Products and Food (WACTAF), Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans (LASCOTA), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Coalition Network of Stakeholders in Agricultural Mechanisation (CONESAM), Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Royal Certification Limited and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
In her opening remark, Elsa Muzzolini, Chief Commercial Officer, MoMo PSB, emphasised the significance of collaboration in expediting SME growth in Nigeria. “At MoMo PSB, we believe in co-creation and designing solutions that directly address the needs of our customers. Our partnership with NASME on the symposium and exhibition underscores our dedication to empowering nano and small businesses across Nigeria with MoMo solutions for merchants and customers.
MoMo for merchants started as a simple USSD solution for transactions and has evolved to a merchant application that caters to smartphone users, enabling transactions with or without internet connectivity.”
The event included training sessions fostering knowledge sharing between experienced coaches and SMEs. The topics covered a range of subjects such as finance management, compliance, security, and controls tailored to SMEs, along with discussions on harnessing digital tools for business expansion. Additionally, businesses from diverse industries showcased their products, aiming to gain more visibility and boost sales during the event.
“I am honoured to be part of this collaborative effort between MTN MoMo and NASME, symbolising a commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and connectivity within Small and Medium Enterprises”, said, Solomon Aderoju, Vice President, South West, NASME, who represented the president at the event.
He further spoke to the mutually beneficial nature of the exhibition saying, ‘This initiative aligns with the ‘One Billion Naira Youth and Women Empowerment Fund’ in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for 2023. The overarching purpose of this event is to introduce and familiarise the NASME community with the MTN MoMo wallet and products, bridging the gap between innovative financial solutions and the dynamic needs of the SMEs.”
The event provided a comprehensive assessment, enabling the MoMo team to gain deeper insights into the specific requirements of SMEs. This analytical approach is expected to aid the fintech in addressing the needs of SMEs, ensuring a more seamless and tailored business transaction experience through the MoMo PSB.
Furthermore, the event was instrumental in introducing SMEs to the MoMo N40 Million Grant initiative. This program is designed to incentivise active merchants who actively transact on their MoMo wallet. The grant will encourage increased engagement and participation among SMEs while fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between MoMo PSB and its users. This strategic effort solidifies MoMo’s commitment to supporting and empowering SMEs within the business landscape.
L-R: Emmanuel Akhigbe, Manager, Merchant Channel, MoMo PSB; Chioma Nwahiri, Head, Go-To-Market & Customer Acquisition, MoMo PSB; Adejumoke Abolade, Partner, Corporate Account, MoMo PSB; Alhaji Nurudeen Buhari, President, LASCOTA; Nnebuogo Egboh, Director, Corporate Retention, Royal Certification Limited and Consultant to NASME and Solomon Aderoju, Vice President, South West, NASME at the MoMo X NASME Symposium and Exhibition, which held at Landmark Centre, Plot 3/4 Water Corporation Road, Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria on November 17, 2023.


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Paradox Interactive, the publisher of games such as Stellaris and Crusader Kings II, announced that they are purchasing Harebrained Schemes to expand their PC gaming portfolio. Harebrained Schemes is an American developer behind games such as Shadowrun and BattleTech, with the latter published by Paradox, which ignited their interest in the developer.
After the acquisition, Harebrained will be a Paradox studio. However, Paradox ensured that Harebrained Schemes “will continue to operate with its own internal management and creative teams, designing and developing the games that have earned them their outstanding reputation.” Furthermore, Paradox Interactive explained that Harebrained will be able to access the publisher’s “business and distribution expertise, financial support, and an extended colleague network of strategy enthusiasts.”
Although nothing is final yet, the acquisition is expected to go smoothly. Before Paradox, Harebrained crowdfunded Shadow Returns, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, and BattleTech via Kickstarter. In a press release, Harebrained CEO Jordan Weisman said that:
“We felt that HBS needed to team up with a company that could provide us the financial stability and marketing expertise that would allow us to focus on what we love doing - making great games and stories.”
Both Harebrained Studios and Paradox Interactive agreed that the former will still be an independent studio concerning management and creative teams and the latter will manage things outside of direct game development such as marketing, PR, and distribution. Of course, in the end, the publisher will still have the final say on new projects the studio can develop.


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America’s food safety system failed to stop a salmonella epidemic. It’s still making people sick
A particular drug-resistant strain of salmonella prevalent in the chicken industry has terrorized the nation since 2018—and it's not slowing down. While European countries have found success reducing salmonella in poultry by targeting farming operations at the source, the U.S. "has failed to bring down the incidence of salmonella food poisoning—even as the rates for E. coli and other bacteria have fallen dramatically," per The Counter. USDA has been criticized for its part in this crisis, mainly because the agency focuses solely on whether salmonella is found in chicken or turkey at the processing plant without considering how much salmonella is in the poultry and how dangerous that type of salmonella is (there are over 2,500 types of salmonella, but only a fraction of these cause the vast majority of illnesses).
Eating meat has a big impact on your carbon footprint. So does eating junk food
Consumers clearly want to eat sustainably and choose products that minimize their environmental impact, but while meat is a huge indicator of one's outsize carbon footprint too little attention is paid to their intake of candy, alcohol and ultraprocessed ready-made food products. A recent study examined millions of shopping records from nearly 60,000 American households and added up the carbon footprints of each diet compared to a diet optimized for health and sustainability; what researchers found was that buying too much food was also a huge factor with regard to outsize carbon footprints. This isn't all to say that cutting down on meat and dairy isn't important, but it does indicate there are many factors that go into the overall sustainability of one's diet. Fast Company reports.
Even though it still hasn't mastered local delivery, DoorDash is debuting nationwide shipping
Last week, DoorDash, the delivery service that currently controls 57% of the market, unveiled national delivery on its platform. The company can now entice restaurants to exclusively use its platform with a value-add that its closest competitor, UberEats, simply can't offer. But Eater points out that DoorDash has treated independent restaurants terribly over the past few years, making it unlikely that many of them will partner with the company to ship their goods across the country, and its customer service is hardly on par with high-end national restaurant delivery service Goldbelly. Notably, the company is still not profitable, and it remains to be seen whether this venture will finally turn the tables in this respect.
Coffee as we know it is in danger. Can we breed a better cup?
The coffee that consumers know and love, that sustains an industry valued at over $100 billion, comes from just two species (arabica and robusta). Both species are currently under attack by warming temperatures as a result of climate change, a deadly fungal disease that has devastated crops and risky farming practices. In light of this, according to Vox, scientists are scrambling to find other, more resilient wild coffee species to breed into the mix, and there are many varieties to do this with. But coffee breeding faces unique challenges; unlike annual crops such as corn that produce a new generation every year, a coffee plant is a tree that takes three to four years to mature enough to produce seeds, which lengthens the process significantly.
Researchers use bacteria to transform plastic into edible protein
The worlds of microorganism-based plastic recycling and food industry precision fermentation have collided! Two U.S. researchers recently created a bio-based process that turns plastic waste into edible protein powder and were awarded over $1 million for their work. With this funding they plan on making their process entirely bio-based, boosting the nutritional profile of the resulting protein powder and adapting the technology to work on a wider range of plastic polymers and other inedible waste. But will consumers ever opt to ingest a product that was made out of landfill-bound plastic? The Spoon delves into the details.


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- Goldox Donkey Abattoir in Baringo county is one step closer to begin operations after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett officially declared it an export slaughterhouse
- The abattoir plans to process donkey meat for export to China where there is said to be high demand. There are only donkey slaughterhouses in Africa, the other one is in Nakuru county
One of Africa's premier donkey slaughterhouse is set to begin operations in Baringo county.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett is said to have given his approval to the Goldox Donkey Abattoir.
The minister's declaration is the final step before an operating licence is issued for a slaughterhouse.
Goldox Limited Donkey Abattoir in at Chemogoch in Mogotio was built at a cost of KSh 300 million by Chinese nationals Lu Jing and Lu Donglin. The donkey slaughterhouse is said to have a capacity to process 100 donkeys a day; the company would also breed donkeys in order to maintain the supply.
The donkey meat is expected to be exported to China where there is high demand for the product though local experts had also said donkey meat was safe for human consumption.
Senior Deputy Director of Veterinary Services Thomas Daido told the Daily Nation that donkey meat was a delicacy.
The other donkey slaughterhouse, by John Kariuki, is at Maraigushu, Naivasha in Nakuru county.
Sale of donkey meat was legalised in Kenya in 1999. The sellers only have to tell their customers that they are buying donkey meat.
Image: Citizen TV


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Verizon to Give Up To $200 To Recent Android Buyers Moving to iPhone 4
A promotion for the launch of the Verizon iPhone 4 will see the carrier hand out Visa debit cards loaded with up to $200 to customers who have recently purchased an Android device and are looking to make the switch to iOS. Those that bought a phone between November 26th and January 10th are entitled to the Visa cards when they buy the iPhone 4 at its full price before the end of February.
News of this promotion has spawned from details within Verizon’s FAQ for the Apple device, and it seems it’s in place to please Verizon customers who have recently bought Android and BlackBerry devices with the understanding that they couldn’t get an iPhone.
The question in Verizon’s FAQ reads:
I just purchased a new smartphone during the holiday season, but if I knew that the iPhone 4 was going to be available soon I would have waited. What are my options now?
Electronista explains that Verizon have been particularly coy regarding Apple’s sought-after smartphone this fall, with the interest of protecting sales of other smartphones while its deal with Apple was finalized. And that the company has always been a supporter of the Android OS until signs recently began emerging that it was dissatisfied with the fast decline in sales of Google devices.


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This article is more than 1 year old
Deloitte builds sofa-and-slippers startup fund ... where's the fun in that?
Accountancy firm takes Silicon Valley culture, gives it a nice cup of tea
Deloitte has taken a leap into the fast-moving, fail-often world of startup culture by developing a risk-free version of Silicon Valley. A charming anti-formula to the Bay Area's post-revenue darlings.
The accountancy giant has put aside £25m ($39m) to fund new business ideas proposed by its own employees: the staffers get to pitch products and services, and then work on them if they win approval from above.
And as only a bean-counting company can, Deloitte removes both the risk and big rewards associated with startups by allowing employees to continue to draw their salaries while offering them no equity in the companies they create.
Staff who manage to build and sell a viable business, or turn a profit, are promised a reward of some kind, however.
"We have some of the most entrepreneurial minds in the country right here in our organization and we want to give them the opportunity to develop in unique ways,” said Deloitte's innovation head honcho Simon Owen, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he is developing a fur-lined box for their talents.
And what of the inevitable failures? They needn't worry, either; no one is going homeless. "When it doesn’t work, we will shut it down in an orderly fashion. The employees will remain part of Deloitte and they will return to the mothership. There is no financial risk for them,” Owen told The Telegraph.
It's hard to imagine a more British approach. But not so hard to imagine that the program will continue to reap British-levels of startup success. ®


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Tailored Wages – new report investigates clothing brands work on living wages.
Today, Clean Clothes Campaign have launched ‘Tailored Wages’ an in depth study of what the leading 50 clothing brands across Europe are doing to ensure that the workers who produce the clothes they sell are paid a living wage.
Based on a multi brand survey “Tailored Wages” found that whilst half of those surveyed included wording in their codes of conduct saying that wages should be enough to meet workers' basic needs; only four brands - Inditex, Marks & Spencers, Switcher and Tchibo - were able to show any clear steps towards implementing this – and even they have a long way to go before a living wage becomes a reality for the garment workers that produce for them.
More action and less talk
“Although a living wage is a human right, shockingly none of Europe’s leading 50 companies is yet paying a living wage,” said Anna McMullen, the lead author on the report. “The research showed that while more brands are aware of the living wage and recognise that it is something to be included in their codes of conduct and in CSR brochures, disappointingly for most of the brands surveyed this was as far as they went. With millions of women and men worldwide dependent on the garment industry it is vital that these words are turned into definitive actions sooner rather than later.”
The survey did find some interesting work being carried out by some brands to increase the amount paid to workers. Swiss company Switcher has set up a fund to pay an additional 1% on top of the price paid to the factory, which will go directly to the workers. Whilst other companies such as Spanish retail giant Inditex is looking at ensuring better conditions by forming agreements with global union IndustriALL. However as Ms. McMullen adds “whilst this is all innovative work it remains in the pilot stage and workers can wait no longer.”
Struggle for living wages reaching critical point
In key garment producing countries such as Cambodia the struggle for a living wage continues, as latest figures from the Asia Floor Wage Alliance show that living wage levels are, on average, three times the minimum wage a garment worker receives.
Cambodian workers, currently receive just USD 100 a month, just 25% of the Asia Floor Wage calculation for Cambodia. In recent months garment workers have been met with increasing violence and unrest as they demand a raise in the minimum wage to USD 160 – still just a fraction of a wage they could live on.
“My expenses are increasing every day,” says Lili, a factory worker from Cambodia. “Even if we [the workers] eat all together in a small room and I collect the money from all others, we still can only spend a very small amount each because everybody always thinks 'how are we going to be able to send money home to our families?'”
The Clean Clothes Campaign carried out the research to monitor how far policies are being turned into practice by major clothing brands. The role of companies in ensuring a living wage is paid is vital as they have the ability to change prices and purchasing practices that would ensure wages allowed garment workers to live with dignity.
Tailored Wages is part of a global campaign run by Clean Clothes Campaign and partners the Asia Floor Wage Alliance calling on all brands and governments to take action in order to ensure a living wage is paid.


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It's not every day that Mercedes rolls out a new S-Class, but when it does, Benz usually makes the most of it. Since revealing the latest W222-generation model just last year, the Silver Star automaker has revealed a steady stream of variants, including sedans, coupes and AMG models. You can bet there will be more to come, including Pullman and Maybach versions to make Mercedes' flagship model even more luxurious, but for some buyers there can be no greater luxury than safety. And for just such
2015 Mercedes S600 Guard
- 2018 Honda Accord is sleeker, more efficient
- Mercedes X-Class pickup truck revealed
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Etowah County’s reliance on industry as its revenue base is changing. Local leaders are bringing in more commercial and residential interests, and improving tourism attractions, all in an effort to build a more comprehensive economy.
Located in northeast Alabama, Etowah County’s beautiful setting and easy access to the interstate has attracted automotive suppliers to the county. Within the last two years, the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority has announced six new industries, as well as two expansions, and helped retain three existing industries.
Mike McCain, executive director of the IDA, says, “We are targeting automotive suppliers, as well as support industries. We are interested in attracting plastic injection molding, precision metal machining operations, regional distribution facilities and product development and research.”
McCain says the IDA has a three-pronged approach to attracting industries, which includes maintaining support industries, increasing the number of technically educated workers and providing attractive, competitive locations.
The county is home to six publicly owned industrial development parks, the newest of which is the Airport Industrial Park in Gadsden. At almost 1,000 acres, the park is being developed in phases, and has become home to three of the county’s newest industries, the NARMCO Group, Decatur Plastics and MS-2 LLC.
The NARMCO Group’s building in Gadsden is named Prince Metal Stampings and represents an investment of $15 million. The automotive stamping company was the first occupant of the Airport Industrial Park and will employ 80 workers. “They have already planned two expansions of the facility,” McCain says. Decatur Plastics is an automotive flocking plant that produces plastic dashboards for Mercedes’ Vance plant. It will employ 50 and represents an investment of $2 million. MS-2 is an automotive mold maintenance facility, with an expected 40 employees. The site currently is being prepared.
The Gadsden Commerce Center also landed three new tenants, Jay-Mid South LLC, a manufacturer of seat parts for Honda and Hyundai; Packaging Integrity, which will employ 50 and makes packaging material; and Wholesale Kitchens LLC, a manufacturer and distributor of kitchen cabinet components. At 200 acres in size, the commerce park only has 15 acres available.
The Gadsden Industrial Complex has 19.6 acres remaining, while the Attalla and Rainbow City industrial parks are full. The Deerfoot Industrial Park, located in Rainbow City, currently has a few small sites available.
While attracting new industries is important, retaining existing industries and helping those industries grow is vital to the county’s economy. Earlier this year, the county received news that one of its oldest and largest companies, Goodyear-Gadsden, would not only avoid closure, but help launch a new product, the Assurance tire.
“To have the Goodyear plant go from a swing plant, just making tires to fill orders, to a permanent production plant says a lot about the plant’s productivity and the skills of its workforce,” McCain says. “The members of the United Steelworkers of America Local 12 were actively involved in making it happen.”
The Goodyear-Gadsden plant will produce eight of the 20 sizes available of the Assurance tire line, which includes ComforTred Technology, a design that allows drivers to experience high-comfort and low-noise rides.
While Etowah County has relied on industries to provide its economy in the past, local leaders are making strides to vary the job base. The city of Gadsden recently named a commercial development authority to assist in attracting retail and commercial growth to the area.
Gadsden Mayor Steve Means says, “We have devoted $425,000 annually to industrial development and we are seeing results. Now, we want to place an equal emphasis on commercial development.”
Several commercial developments currently are underway. According to Means, the Coosa Town Center in east Gadsden will bring Old Navy, TJ Maxx and a regional Wal-Mart to the area, while a 16-screen cinema has been added to Colonial Mall.
Across from Colonial Mall, Jason Stinson, of Stinson Enterprises Inc., along with Commercial Realty Services of Alabama Inc. and Coldwell Banker Commercial, is developing Lafferty’s Landing Shopping Center. Located along the Coosa River, Lafferty’s is a mixed-use retail development consisting of 65,000 square feet.
A third private development going up is Mango’s, a mixed-use retail center. According to Tom Quinn, president of The Chamber, Gadsden and Etowah County, the development calls for 7,500 square feet of retail space that will be leased to specialty shops, as well as a restaurant, which is currently under construction, and 18 condominium units that will cost approximately $225,000-$250,000 per unit.
Means says, “We are expecting from the new Coosa Town Center, Mango’s and Lafferty’s, a tremendous boost for the economy. Just one of those large projects is expected to bring in $4 million in tax revenue, so it would be a safe guess to say that these developments could bring in from $6 to $7 million in additional sales revenues.”
In addition to the new developments, The Chamber is helping small businesses market products to consumers. According to Quinn, Horizons 2012 is a joint partnership with the Industrial Development Authority to help the county continue its economic expansion. The Chamber’s portion of the 10-year program is to advise local businesses on how to improve marketing and customer relations to ensure the businesses’ success. This process is taking part through The Chamber’s Small Business Development Council.
“When big companies come into an area, they draw so many people from outlying areas and all over that sometimes it makes it difficult for the small businesses to succeed. We don’t want to see our small businesses go out. What we are telling our small business owners is we will help you identify the market better, encourage you to find the areas and the products and services you can provide. Remember, service is still a very important part of people and why they buy,” Quinn says. In addition to marketing, The Chamber also helps small businesses with research. The Chamber receives 50 percent of the proceeds of Horizons 2012, with the other half going to the Industrial Development Authority to be used in deal closings.
In Etowah County, most residential growth is occurring in Southside and Rainbow City, according to Quinn. “Southside is growing rapidly because they have a lot of property and a lot of subdivisions in the area. Rainbow City is growing. If you look at their location, they are very close to the new Honda plant. Southside is only about 13 miles from it, and with the availability of property that they have, they are outgrowing everyone in terms of houses being built,” Quinn says. “Hokes Bluff is growing some.”
Quinn adds that the city of Gadsden does not have a lot of land for residential growth. “Gadsden is looking at other areas to try to annex. Gadsden can grow north on (Highway) 411 and have some growth in east Gadsden,” Quinn says, adding, “We have to have a growth in population.”
In answer to this need for additional housing options, the city of Gadsden has recently purchased 500 acres at the airport for a planned community. Means says, “It was quite obvious to us that we needed to attract new residents, but the problem is that Gadsden is landlocked, so there was no place to put in new housing divisions. We are just now coming up with conceptual plans.”
Quinn says, “I think you will see with this planned community the city of Gadsden has got on the drawing board will change the mixture.”
Attracting visitors to Etowah County is the job of the Gadsden-Etowah Tourism Board, headed by director Jerry Alford. According to Alford, revenue from tourism has increased over the last five years.
“We target fishermen to this area because of the great fishing here,” Alford says. “The Coosa River runs through the middle of the city (Gadsden), and Henry Neely Dam forms a very large backwater, which is very attractive to fishermen. We also host many professional fishing tournaments year round.”
The county’s largest tourism draw is Noccalula Falls Park, consisting of 250 acres and a 100-foot wide, 90-foot deep waterfall into a canyon. The park’s large campground, pioneer museum, botanical gardens, 1863 replica C.P. Huntington Train which travels over a mile through the park, large pavilions for picnics, carpet golf and other amenities make it attractive for people from many states, Alford says. “The average annual attendance is over 1 million.”
Means adds that the city has just invested $2.5 million into Noccalula Park for improvements. “Noccalula Falls is by far the largest falls within the corporate limits of a city. We currently are building rustic cabins and making railway improvements to make the park more attractive to visitors, who might want to stay one or several nights at the park.” The improvements are expected to be completed by March.
The park will hold its annual light show in December. During the event, which runs from Thanksgiving through New Year’s eve, 2 million lights decorate the park.
Quinn says another large event for the county is the annual Riverfest. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the festival will be held June 10 and 11 this year. “We bring in named entertainers, and it is family-oriented,” Quinn says. “It is right next to the Coosa River and we have a children’s festival right across the street. We have magicians, last year we had interactive robots, a variety of games and activities for them, and that part has really grown a great deal.”
In addition, the county has two golf courses, Silver Lakes and Twin Bridges, which brings in visiting golfers to the area. There also are several museums throughout the county that feature the arts.
Quinn says, “Those tourist dollars are very important, and especially important to us at this time because we are going through a transition. The North Alabama region is beautiful. It has all types of opportunities; we just haven’t worked together very well in the sense that we haven’t pulled them together, and we haven’t spent our marketing money, I don’t think, the way we could have to encourage people to come in. And I don’t think tourism has been as important in our county as it should have been.”
He adds that as the county changes its focus from strictly manufacturing to developing the county’s resources as a whole, more emphasis will be placed on tourism. “We are in a situation where we have to do something. And I think the governmental officials, as well as The Chamber and various development organizations, recognize that we don’t have any time to waste. We have to get some things done.”
Towards this end, the city of Gadsden has committed $12 million towards an expansion of the convention center. According to Means, the current convention center was a WPA project completed in the 1940s. “We are hoping to renovate the old convention hall, but we won’t know until we take off the concrete fa�ade whether we will be able to save the building. If we can’t, then we will have to tear it down,” Means says, adding that the goal of the new facility is to draw mid-size conventions to the area.
By Erica Joiner West, Associate Editor


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With a background in beer brewing and entrepreneurship, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D) set out to prove that it is possible for the state to be pro-business and maintain high standards. Under his leadership, state agencies have reduced permitting timelines and improved business-facing regulatory processes and government services.
On Nov. 27, The Pew Charitable Trusts hosted a conversation with Hickenlooper, governor since 2011, and Kim Jordan, co-founder of New Belgium Brewing Co., about how states—and local governments—can work collaboratively with businesses to help them navigate and comply with regulatory requirements. Jordan’s brewery, best-known for Fat Tire Amber Ale, is based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The session, held at the History Colorado Center in Denver, built on Pew’s recent report, “State Strategies to Help Business Launch and Expand.” The research explains how improving regulatory processes can make it quicker and easier for entrepreneurs to start a business or bring an innovative product to market.
Gov. Hickenlooper described Colorado’s statewide effort to set and meet annual goals for reducing compliance costs for businesses while protecting public health and the environment. After conducting outreach to businesses to identify problem areas, the state has leveraged process improvement tools—such as its Lean program—to simplify regulatory operations by removing time-consuming steps that were not adding any value. Improving regulatory operations “is not politically valuable, and yet I think it is powerfully essential for a state to grow their economy,” he said.
In 2017, Colorado agencies reported saving businesses 2.3 million hours, largely by eliminating unnecessary administrative tasks and making their dealings with the state more user-friendly.
“It’s crazy,’’ Hickenlooper said of the tasks that businesses had faced. “That’s just a lot of time and a lot of efficiency that we didn’t know was being wasted out there.”
Jordan launched New Belgium in 1991 with her then-husband, Jeff Lebesch, out of the basement of their home, and the company has grown into one of the largest and most innovative craft breweries in the country. Now employee-owned, New Belgium has a workforce of more than 700 and brews 950,752 barrels of beer a year for sale around the world.
Jordan noted that she is not antiregulation but stressed that regulators should work with businesses to identify areas of most risk and enforce necessary regulations consistently. Ineffective enforcement can cause problems for businesses, she said. “It creates a chaotic marketplace if there’s not a sense that we are all supposed to be paying attention to the law.”
Jordan and the governor recounted personal experiences interacting with regulators as they worked to get their breweries open as quickly as possible. (Gov. Hickenlooper launched Denver’s Wynkoop Brewing Co. in 1988 and is the first brewer to be elected a governor since Samuel Adams in Massachusetts in 1792.)
“Every day that you’re not opening and bringing in revenue is a day that whatever small amount of capital you’ve amassed to get this thing off the ground is [just sitting there],” Jordan said.
Neither of their breweries could afford to hire lawyers to help at the time, so both founders spent a lot of time wading through complicated paperwork and navigating unexpected obstacles on their own. Federal regulators initially denied New Belgium’s application for a brewer’s permit because it was attached to Jordan’s home. She had to thoroughly research and document precedents in other states to successfully appeal the decision. “Sometimes you have to keep going even when you think that it’s not going to be possible,” Jordan said.
Gov. Hickenlooper had to rely on the graciousness of local officials when he launched Wynkoop 30 years ago. In part because there were no other brewpubs operating in Denver at the time, the administrative requirements were confusing and didn’t seem to apply to the brewery’s circumstances.
The director of the city office that oversees licensing spent two hours working through the details with him. The governor remembered that during an inspection scheduled right before a launch party, a city official found a handrail that was too high. Instead of preventing the brewery from opening, the inspector grabbed a screw gun from his car and helped lower the railing.
Jordan described how New Belgium’s dramatic expansion has been helped by those state and local government officials who demonstrated that they were interested in working as partners, rather than in surprising the company with penalties after management had already implemented key decisions.
For example, Fort Collins regulators have been willing to set time aside to meet with New Belgium to review and discuss potential business decisions while they are still in the planning stages. “You get an opportunity early on to understand where the hurdles are going to be,” Jordan said. “That’s the elegant path, as opposed to the ‘gotcha’ path.”
As New Belgium scoped out sites for its second major location, Asheville, North Carolina, won officials over in part by emphasizing that regulators there were willing to work with the team to understand the company’s vision and make it a reality, even if that occasionally required deviating from standard protocols.
“At every level—the city, the county, and the state—Asheville made it clear to us that they were going to clear the way for innovation,” Jordan said. “They knew that we were innovative. They trusted that we wanted to continue to be innovative.”
Jeff Chapman is a project director and Melissa Maynard is an officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts’ states’ fiscal health initiative.


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In photo we can see a full screen design and a notch at the top of the display. And the smartphone have the vertical two rear camera. This model is very slim – 8.5mm, it is said that will not be heavy, will be more light.
There is no denying that the Blackview’s new product is quite similar with iPhone X. And the cameras — housed in a vertically oriented iPhone X-style module.
The device will be equipped with a 5.85- inch 19:9 full screen, has the safe facial recognition system, in addition possess new wireless charging function, and It has the latest version of Android 8.1 includes multiple features that developers will be using to improve your smartphone experience.
Most importantly, the device will come at a fraction of the iPhone X’s USD 999 asking price. Blackview has always been committed to providing quality devices at a very competitive price, and we’ll see that with this device once it’s officially released.
No name or model for the phone has been given so far, but we’ll find out what the Blackview has in store in the coming weeks once their iPhone X killer is officially launched.


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Results of new research presented at the American Society of Nutrition in San Diego have backed an increasing amount of scientific evidence that seemingly underscores the health benefits of eating pistachios.
A study conducted at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) in the UK in conjunction with the University of Messina, Italy, confirmed that key nutrients in pistachios with strong antioxidant qualities – Polyphenols, carotenoids (vitamin A) and tocopherols (vitamin E) – are released during digestion and are thus able to be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.
In the study, which began in 2010 and was funded by the American Pistachio Growers, researchers tested raw, roasted and salted pistachios and muffins made with raw pistachios in an in vitro model of digestion which simulates the human stomach and small intestine. The bioaccessibility of the nutrients in pistachios was evaluated at various stages during the digestion process, while each measurement was performed in triplicate for the three tested models.
"These results are significant as they are the first that show when the bioactive compounds in pistachios are released during digestion and are available to be taken up by the body," said Giuseppina Mandalari, research scientist at IFR and lead investigator of the study. "This research indicates these nutrients would contribute to the beneficial relationship between pistachio consumption and health-related outcomes, such as heart disease."


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Renaissance London Heathrow, owned and operated by the Arora Group, has announced that it has expanded its senior team with three new appointments including Hotel Manager, Front of House Manager and Head of Sales.
Leading the luxury 4-star hotel as Hotel Manager will be Bharat Madan (pictured). Joining Madan is Mario Goncalves as Front of House Manager, and Manuel Armijo-Vermeiren as interim Head of Sales.
New Hotel Manager, Madan has 14 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. After studying Hospitality and Tourism Management at Oxford Brookes University, he began his career in 2004 at the Swindon Marriott Hotel and was later part of the opening team at Leicester Marriott Hotel. Bharat later progressed to Director of Operations at Heathrow Windsor Marriott before taking on his current role at Renaissance London Heathrow.
New Front of House Manager, Goncalves began his career in Portugal as a trainee receptionist. He has progressed through various front office roles in some of the world’s leading hotel brands over the last 15 years, including IHG, Principal Hotel Company and the Park Inn by Radisson London Heathrow.
Originally from Málaga, Armijo-Vermeiren joins the team as Head of Sales. Manuel started his hospitality sales career in 2009 and has gained a wide breadth of experience in the luxury hotel market through sales roles at hotels including The Savoy and Meliá Hotels International.
Yousif Al-wagga, General Manager, Renaissance London Heathrow, said, “We are delighted to welcome all three new team members to our hotel. They bring a huge amount of knowledge and expertise with them, and we know they will complement our existing team well, working alongside them to ensure that we continue to provide the welcoming and friendly experience that we are known for.”


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The United States has reportedly asked South Korea not to use products made by Chinese telecom giant Huawei.
Seoul's Foreign Ministry issued a statement Thursday, saying the U.S. has underscored the importance of ensuring the security of fifth-generation mobile network equipment, and added that Seoul is aware of Washington's stance.
The ministry said the two sides have continued to discuss the issue but details of the consultations can't be disclosed.
Earlier, the U.S. State Department reportedly told Seoul's Foreign Ministry there were security concerns regarding South Korea's use of 5G-related Huawei products.
The Seoul government is believed to have stated that it understands the U.S. position but that it's difficult to intervene in the private sector.
Major mobile carrier LG Uplus is one South Korean firm that uses components produced by Huawei in its 5G network.


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OK class. Today’s lesson is one that we have gone over and over about for quite some time now. It has to do with social media and trying to cover your digital tracks. Let’s just say it’s, more often than not, a very bad idea.
Today’s latest social media dunce is Walmart. Now Walmart is no stranger to online troubles. But despite that it did somehow get listed in the Fortune Top 10 brands using social media list from May of this year. This latest action may ding that reputation
Read more of this social media article at: http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2012/08/walmart-removes-fb-update-about-store-mugging-creates-even-more-trouble.html


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Everything these days seems to have to revolve around social media in one way or another and one would have though that the huge ad platform of the Super Bowl we would have seen much more of advertisers trying to connect using social media hooks.
Well it turns out that this isn’t the case as fresh analysis from the Altimeter Group shows that 32% of the 87 ads that were run during the Super Bowl stayed away from not only social media but also any online references of any kind.
As Drew Olanoff noted at The Next Web this showed that some companies are still “playing it safe” when it comes to including their online presence in their major advertising messages.
In what I’ll call “playing it safe”, it appears that most companies who did make reference to a presence on the Internet, chose to use their own URL rather than a hashtag or Facebook URL. Why is this? It has to do with controlling the message, obviously.
If I’m company and I’m spending a lot of money on the biggest television stage in the United States, there’s absolutely no way I’m going to ask millions of people to use a hashtag. There’s just no context to be had there and nothing to be gained. As we’ve seen with a recent McDonalds hashtag gaffe, it might actually cost you more money and brand integrity to defend something gone awry.
I have to agree with Drew on this and additionally I find it interesting that rather than push their company’s social media pages on places like Facebook they were opting to only show direct links to their own domain pages.
This hearkens back to a long held belief by many online people that companies and people should have direct control of their online identities and “Google juice” rather than farming it all out to social media data silos like Facebook and Twitter.
While Facebook and the like might be good for spot promotion type things I don’t believe that companies, or individuals who make their living from the web, should be putting all their eggs in the social network providers control.
image courtesy of The Next Web


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The Better Business Bureau is reporting cases of price gouging have increased across North America due to the COVID-19 pandemic but only a handful of complaints have been received from Southwestern Ontario.
As of Friday, the BBB had received three complaints regarding increased pricing of goods, specifically sanitizer and masks, in the London area and no complaints from the Windsor area.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“We have not really received a large volume of complaints on price gouging,” said spokeswoman Monica Braz, who works out of the BBB Western Office in London.
“The majority of COVID-19 related complaints or questions we are receiving have actually been in regard to refund policies.”
In London, there were also nine complaints regarding refund policies specifically regarding COVID-19, Braz said. Those involve refunds for service that cannot or should not be rendered due to physical distancing requirements.
And the final complaint was about a company doing door-to-door sales and not physical distancing.
The Windsor Star received several emails complaining of alleged price gouging at local convenience stores.
One reader, who asked not to be identified, said a Windsor-area store was selling a box of 50 surgical masks for $100 late last week.
“I did a quick search on the Internet and they appear to normally sell for $6-$8 a box,” he wrote. “They are also selling them individually for $2.50 each out of an open box on the counter, the masks are not individually wrapped and this could be a health hazard.”
“So while Drew Dilkens has asked for supplies of PPE for the area’s health care workers to be donated, this guy is selling masks for 21+ times their value…disgusting!”
Premier Doug Ford slammed “disgusting” price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic last week, saying Ontario is preparing an order to fight it. No details were immediately available.
“A message to anyone who price gouges: We’re coming after you,” Ford said. “We’re coming after you hard. I’m going to protect the people of this province and the price gouging, we’re going to put this order through cabinet and they’re done. They’re going to be gone.”
Doug Ford declares war on price gougers taking advantage of COVID-19 outbreak
Do more to stop coronavirus price gouging, U.S. states tell Amazon, Walmart, Facebook
Although the legal definition of price gouging varies by jurisdiction, BBB defines it as raising prices to an unreasonable extent beyond a business’s own increased costs. That is a violation of the BBB’s standards for trust, which encourages businesses to build trust through honesty, transparency and integrity.
Consumers are urged to report price gouging at BBB.org/AdTruth .
Price gouging can also be reported to the province at https://www.ontario.ca/form/report-price-gouging-related-covid-19 .


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Thursday, September 29, 2016 9:03am / FBNQuest Research
The past two weeks have seen a lively domestic debate about a fire sale of state-owned assets to rebuild official reserves and restore a fully functioning fx market.
Supporters of a sale include Nigeria’s best known industrialist, the Senate president and a former head of state; a former CBN governor, the majority in the Senate, the labour movement leadership and, reportedly, the presidency number among its opponents.
We would support a sale if it was on a scale to solve the problems.
The figure of US$15bn in circulation is said to cover NNPC interests, Nigeria LNG, the leading airports and miscellaneous stakes such as the CBN’s 42.5% interest in the Africa Finance Corporation.
We recall that in 2009, and in a time of firm oil prices under the Yar’Adua presidency, Chinese state interests reportedly offered US$50bn for a menu of state-owned oil leases.
Some legislators have not grasped the fact that the authorities would be selling from a position of weakness and not be in a position to dictate terms.
Imports of goods and services were running at about US$6bn per month in 2015. Once we make allowances for a) the CBN circular of June 2015 on the 41 import items no longer eligible for fx from official sources and b) the easing of demand in the current recession, import demand falls closer to US$4bn per month.
This figure assumes that import demand is fully met. In reality a backlog has developed on imports of goods and services (such as dues to the airlines) as well as payments to the offshore portfolio community. A programme of asset sales to generate US$30bn-US$35bn would cover six months’ imports and clear the backlog according to our estimates.
Ideally the authorities could push further and perhaps seek to expand the Eurobond issuance programme for this year. Under this scenario, we think that portfolio players would return in greater numbers, other autonomous fx inflows would recover strongly and the exchange rate would enjoy stability in a fully functioning market.
However, the assets recommended for sale would not currently raise this figure. Also, the sale proceeds would materialize over time (although a strong marketing pitch would send a positive signal to the market.)
We fear, therefore, that this latest initiative to kick-start the fx market and the broader economy will remain a proposal.
1. Should Nigeria sell its national assets?
2. Nigeria's Economy - Growth, the Only Imperative
3. Senate Rejects Sale of National Asset
4. Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) 22nd Summit to focus on the theme ‘Made in Nigeria’
5. Revisiting Sanusi Lamido’s Sound Economic Model
6. Reviving Nigeria’s Economy: Experts set agenda for 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit
7. CBN Communiqu' No. 109 of the MPC Meeting - Sep 19-20, 2016
8. Ways Out of Recession – FSDH
9. Nigeria and Lessons of Ethiopia's Development Model
10. Federal Republic of Nigeria Ratings Lowered To 'B/B' On Weak Growth Dynamics; Outlook Stable
11. Way Out of Economic Recession
12. Resolving the Exchange Rate Regime Conundrum
13. The Economist's evidence on devaluations
14. MPC: Behind the Curve, Playing Catch Up
15. Nigeria: Of Ministers, Clowns, Hazards, and Lazard
16. Current State Analysis of the Economy - Temitope Oshikoya, Fmr Chief Economist
17. Nigeria in Recession: Coping with an Economic Contraction
18. FEC Approves 3-Year External Borrowing Plan


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PCA Member Only Raffle has sold out!
We are pleased to announce that the winter raffle has been a complete success, selling out 7,300 entries. We are feverishly processing entry confirmations for our members. Look for confirmations to be sent out later this week. For those that did not make it into the raffle, PCA will be sending back your entry and monies. Thanks to all who participated. And of course we look forward to surprising the winner and sharing the experience with all PCA members on YouTube.
PCA Spotlight - License Plate Frames: How are they made?
This week we take you for an inside tour of the factory where PCA license plate frames are made. It'll amaze you how complex and involved the process is and how many steps the manufacturer takes to ensure a top quality product. Video here.
Porsche Panamera GTS: The purest Panamera yet
Porsche Cars North America Share
Porsche unveiled the Porsche Panamera GTS at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Panamera GTS is the purest expression of a sports sedan in the Porsche family with a clear focus on performance. The new Panamera GTS is based on the Panamera 4S and includes more power, upgraded brakes and a body lowered by ten millimeters with new, sportier chassis tuning coupled to air suspension and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). More
NAV-TV to giveaway a Bluetooth, Ipod and Sirius Satellite Integration kits to 2 lucky PCA members
Ever wished your Porsche factory installed radio (PCM2.1) had Bluetooth, Ipod or satellite radio capability? NAV-TV offers a solution for you, www.NAV-TV.com. NAV-TV will be installing two systems into two lucky member's Porsches for FREE. To Enter, please email firstname.lastname@example.org with Subject Line titled "I want NAV-TV" along with your contact information, year/model of your Porsche by Dec 1, 2011 to be included in the drawing. Your '06-08 vehicle must be equipped with PCM2.1 radio that looks like this:
Click here for the enlarged image.
Winners must be able to bring their vehicle to PCA Headquarters in Columbia, Md., in December for the installation. PCA will produce a video of the installation and share the process with members via YouTube.
Porsche at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show
Porsche Cars North America Share
Porsche again offered proof of the company's strong commitment to the U.S. market with the announcement of a new Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles, to be built in nearby Carson, Calif. In addition to unveiling the plans for the 51-acre vehicle and human performance training complex, Porsche also introduced two new sports cars destined to become favorites for drivers at the Experience Center – the race-bred 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS and the seventh-generation 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera. More
SPEED TV broadcast times set for Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV: Latest video posted
Sports Systems Share
SPEED TV has set the broadcast schedule for its one-hour telecast from the Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, held recently at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., (all times are Eastern Standard Time - check local listings as schedules could vary by regions and could be affected by live event coverage). More
Worst car flops of 2011
Forbes via Yahoo Autos Share
John McElroy, the loquacious host of the Autoline Detroit TV and radio shows, is optimistic about the auto industry. More than one million new cars sell each month in the United States, he points out. Ford and GM have become more profitable than many analysts had expected; record sales numbers at luxury brands like Audi and BMW don't hurt, either. And there are some exciting new models in the pipeline for 2012 and beyond. More
Game over for the US Grand Prix and the Circuit of the Americas
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, will go down as the day when the racing died in Austin, Texas. The 2012 Formula One United States Grand Prix and the track that would host it, the Circuit of the Americas, were dealt a one-two punch that seems unsurvivable - though neither the race nor the track has formally been pronounced dead. Of course, neither has Texas Gov. Rick Perry's presidential campaign, but we all know how that's going. More
Porsche Design Rennsport Limited Edition
Porsche Design dedicated a unique timepiece to Rennsport Reunion IV which is limited to 25 pieces and only available in the United States.
The automatic chronograph in a 42 mm polished titanium case is inspired by the dashboard of a Porsche.
Movement is an ETA 2894-2 with energy optimized rotor, resembling a wheel rim of a sports car.
Remaining serial numbers available are 10, 13, 15, 20 & 23 More
Porsche announces customer delivery center and track in Los Angeles
Car and Driver Share
Somehow, Porsche has managed to carve 53 acres out of the crowded Los Angeles basin to build a test track and customer delivery center; the facility is slated to open in 2013. Echoing a similar facility that will be built near Atlanta - which will also have Porsche's new North American headquarters on site - the Porsche Experience Center in Carson, Calif., will include a test track that is twice the size of Atlanta's, plus a customer delivery center, a gymnasium, a gift shop, a cafe, and whatever else Porsche can think of between now and the groundbreaking next summer. Construction also begins next year in Atlanta. More
Recreated $97,000 Porsche 911 brings speed to screaming legend
Good news: The Porsche 911 hasn't lost its soul. To those of us who love cars, that's neither an academic nor a hippy-dippy consideration. Around for almost a half century, the 911 Carrera is the uber sports car, a distillation of all a Germanic screamer should be. More
Volkswagen seen buying Porsche automaker to salvage merger
Bloomberg Businessweek Share
Volkswagen AG's two-year effort to merge with Porsche SE is on the brink of being scrapped as legal tangles and taxes confound ambitions to unite Ferdinand Porsche's legacy. The supervisory board of Europe's largest carmaker will consider alternatives to the 2009 merger agreement at a meeting on Nov. 18, the final scheduled gathering this year, two people with direct knowledge of the situation said. More
Porsche Tower in Miami to allow occupants to take their cars along with them to their apartments
A brand new condominium has been planned at Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., whereby the elevator will take both, residents and their vehicles directly to their front door. Porsche Design Tower is built at a cost of $560 million, and will probably be the first ever complex to have elevators to accommodate owner's cars. More
1970 Rolex 24 overall champion No. 2 Gulf Porsche 917 joins the Daytona 50th anniversary display
9 Magazine Share
The No. 2 light blue and orange Gulf Porsche 917 fielded by John Wyer, which captured the overall victory in the 1970 Rolex 24 At Daytona, will join the display of overall Rolex 24 At Daytona championship cars to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the twice-around-the-clock challenge on Jan. 28-29. More
2012 Porsche 911 is all-new, but still a 911
Despite changed proportions, the new 911 retains its iconic look. By now the 2012 Porsche 911 has been unveiled more times than we can keep track of, but the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show marked the seventh-generation 911's large-stage debut in North America (it had been shown at October's Rennsport Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but to a much smaller crowd). It was displayed alongside the latest variant of the Panamera, the GTS, which will be available as a 2013 model. More
The Porsche Club of America Visa Platinum Rewards Card
Show your PCA pride by carrying a PCA Visa Rewards Card!
• 0 percent Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months. After this period, a low variable APR will apply.
• Earn bonus points for FREE airline tickets, merchandise, cash-back and more at participating merchants.
• No annual fee and no additional cost to you.
• Enhanced Visa Platinum benefits, including 24/7 Emergency Customer Service and 100 percent Fraud Protection, Purchase security, Warranty Manager and much more.
Pick one of the standard designs or design your own card. Only available to U.S. residents. Visit rewards.umb.com for details. Sign up today! More
PCA adds 4 new items to online Web store
Once again we bring you four new items this week. You'll find a mens racing jacket, ladies shirts, PCA glassware and wine tote. These make great gift/recognition items for the holidays. They are ready to ship. Order here.
PCA stainless steel license frames in stock - Now available in 3 finishes
These elegant OEM quality stainless steel frames are now in stock and available for your fine Porsche vehicles.
All frames are made from heavy rust proof 304 stainless steel with highly detailed laser etch graphics. Universal fit and easy mounting application.
Includes matching frame finish hardware hider caps to complement your frames.
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The cyber is important, and if we’re going to defend our most important assets, it’s gotta start with the cyber. We’ve gotta do it.
But if you ask the hacker “stackoverflowin,” a prime component that needs protection is the printer port 9100, which is currently and totally open for external connections. Thousands of printers, apparently, are open to attack. So stackoverlfowin is showing how easy it is to hack by sending these cool ASC-II pictures, andhas hit over 150,000 printers with one piece of malicious software.
Still, these ASCII designs are cool and stackoverflowin's victims have been sharing the pictures on Twitter. Hopefully, they’re also closing up those ports too.


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Report: Online video consumption soars in SE Asia
September 28, 2020
Total video streaming minutes on mobile grew 30 per cent Q/Q in Q1 2020 across four Southeast Asia markets and a further 19 per cent Q/Q in Q2 to reach 657 billion, according to a study published by Media Partners Asia (MPA).
The report, entitled Southeast Asia Online Video Consumer Insights & Analytics: A Definitive Study, was first published in May 2020 and has been updated to cover research from Q2 2020 across Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The report leverages MPA’s proprietary AMPD Research platform.
According to the report, global AVoD market leader YouTube’s share of streaming minutes was 84 per cent in Q2 2020, driven by free-to-air (FTA) TV content, music and user-generated kids content. Ex-YouTube, total streaming minutes grew 57 per cent to reach 107 billion in Q2 versus 68 billion in Q1. Global SVoD market leader Netflix had 39 per cent share, driven by significant growth in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand along with steady growth in Singapore. Leading regional freemium OTT operator Viu had 17 per cent share, driven by Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Other notable players with material 20 per cent share in aggregate of total streaming minutes ex-YouTube in the four markets included Indonesia’s Vidio, China’s iQIYI, which is expanding slowly across Southeast Asia; WeTV and Line TV in Thailand; and iflix. In Q2, iflix’s assets were acquired by Tencent, which also owns WeTV.
Total cumulative SVoD net additions in the four SEA markets reached 3 million in Q2 2020. Total SVoD paying subs, unadjusted for overlapping users or subscriptions, reached ~10 million in Q2 2020 versus ~7 million in Q1 2020. In Indonesia, SVoD has a long way to go but is showing encouraging signs of growth driven by affordable plans by key operators catering to the mobile mass market. Similar trends are occurring in Thailand though from a higher base. Philippines and Singapore continue to grow steadily.
Netflix remains the largest SVoD player across the four markets with more than ~3.3 million subscribers across the four markets with Viu in second place with an estimated 2.2 million paying subs. Netflix has grown significantly in H1 2020 on the back of mobile pricing and the popularity of its Korean content, International / US Originals and local acquisitions. Much of freemium operator Viu’s success is driven by its Korean day-and-date dramas & series as well as a handful of local acquisitions and originals in markets such as Thailand.
Other notable gainers include:
– Emtek / SCMA-owned Vidio in Indonesia, a freemium operator which had 632,000 paying subs in Q2 2020, growing to 804,000 by mid-September and
– HBO Go with ~400,000 paying and authenticated subscribers in Q2 2020 on mobile, driven largely by direct subs in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
– Amongst the big telco aggregators, the most significant is TrueID in Thailand with 1.5 million paying and authenticated subscribers in Thailand.
Commenting on the report’s findings in Q2 2020, MPA executive director Vivek Couto said: “Online video consumption continued to soar through the pandemic in Southeast Asia during 1H 2020. The growth of premium video services has been significant with a greater scale of consumers paying for online video in large emerging such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Global, local & regional platforms are rolling out more affordable OTT plans, catering to a large mobile broadband universe, while also investing in premium entertainment. It’s only the beginning with plenty of more work, investment and execution to be done to create sustained, recurring demand for paid legal SVoD services.”


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Add clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) to the growing number of companies who just don’t get it.
If you believe the shameless ANF spin machine, the company pulled its holiday catalog from stores to make space for a new perfume the company is launching.
“The reason we pulled the holiday issue from stores is because we just launched a new perfume called NOW and we had to make space on the counter for the product,” ANF spokesman Hampton Carney told CNN/Money on Tuesday.
“We put this holiday issue out earlier than usual, but it was still in our stores for six weeks. The quarterlies usually stay in stores for between six to eight weeks,” Carney added. “Honestly, we would have kept this issue in stores longer if we weren’t launching the perfume.”
This is straight out of Marketing 101 of course: take the holiday catalog out of stores during the actual holiday season. A more likely reason for the catalog being yanked is a storm protest from what the media traditionally calls “right-wing” family groups. Why all the hub bub over a clothing catalog?
In recent years, ANF has turned away from “traditional marketing” to sell their merchandise. The company’s catalog, which comes out four times a year, is more like an issue of Maxim than your mom’s Sears book. The “Christmas Field Guide,” which is the cause of the most recent controversy, contains partial nudity and various sexual tips, including advice on how to give oral sex in a movie theatre and a promise of “group sex” on the cover. Even “liberal” commentators I heard talk about the subject today laid waste to the company for putting out such an obviously distasteful catalog and then backpedaling when pressure was applied.
ANF’s catalog was the subject of protest in the past once before when Mother’s Against Drunk Driving accused the company of marketing alcohol towards underage drinkers by providing alcoholic drink recipes in its catalog. And ANF has other problems.
Last year, the company pulled a line of t-shirts from stores that contained racist imagery and quotations aimed at Asians.
“We personally thought Asians would love this T-shirt,” ANF spokesman Hampton Carney said at the time. “We’re very, very, very sorry. It’s never been our intention to offend anyone.”
Carney gets two thumbs up for taking the hit for ANF and looking like an idiot, which the company does just fine itself by offending the intelligence of anyone with half a brain. ANF’s racial problems don’t end with t-shirts.
ANF is the subject of at least two class action lawsuits which claim the company discriminates against non-whites in its hiring practices.
According to Shannon P. Duffy of The Legal Intelligencer, the Los Angeles office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) conducted an investigation of ANF after a complaint was filed by a Latino man who was denied employment at the company.
“Evidence obtained during the course of the investigation revealed that Latinos and blacks, as a class, were denied permanent positions, denied assignments and treated in an unfair manner with regard to recruitment based on their race and national origin,” an EEOC letter attached to the most recent class action lawsuit reads.
The suit, Duffy also notes, contains photographs of ANF staffs at 18 stores around the country. Of the 167 people in the photos, there is only one African-American.
While ANF is innocent until proven otherwise, you are also free to draw your own conclusions – and that’s what ANF’s biggest problem is right now.
I’m certainly not a prude – using sex to sell is good marketing, when appropriate. But is it appropriate to use sex to sell when part of your target market is teenagers? This is one of those questions a lot of people would like to answer for the rest of society. I don’t believe “family” groups or politicians should, as I like to put it, “legislate morality.” To each his own, but as someone charged with the responsibility of, among other things, analyzing corporate actions, I can honestly say that I am absolutely bewildered by how ANF acts. The company simply doesn’t act in the best interest of its customers, employees or shareholders.
First and foremost, the company, in my mind, targets middle-class white teens and college students and no one else. Perhaps it’s just jaded perception on my part, but I see the company as marketing products and an image that are exclusive to a suburban white culture. If you want to limit your market, that’s fine, but we’ve seen how hip-hop culture has infiltrated mainstream culture and the financial rewards for those involved have been well worth any cry of dilution. It also makes ANF’s coming court fight against discrimination lawsuits a difficult challenge. In building a business, ANF has chosen to be exclusive instead of inclusive, and by doing so, the company threatens its own growth prospects.
Regarding ANF’s decision to yank its holiday catalog, again I question pulling something called the “Christmas Field Guide” off the shelves in late November. It’s my opinion that ANF caved to pressure and in doing so, showed what the company is collectively made of. Good executives, marketing and public relations people wouldn’t have allowed the catalog on the shelves in the first place, so that leads me to question the leadership at the company. ANF hasn’t exactly handled the PR on this issue well, avoiding returning some reporters’ phone calls and justifying putting out a product that features models, all of whom “are 18 and over.” That’s just a disturbing public comment.
I don’t know if ANF employs a PR strategy, but what I do know is that the last two times the company has been accused of doing something wrong, the spokesperson has explained the company’s actions by using the word “honestly.” Now honestly, are we supposed to believe that ANF is that stupid and didn’t realize selling racist t-shirts or glorifying questionable sexual actions wouldn’t cause controversy?
But controversy is apparently what ANF wants, and they’re getting plenty of it. By employing a marketing strategy that pushes the boundaries of good taste and then sticking a PR person out front to justify such actions with poorly worded excuses, ANF can drum up controversy and suck those suburban white kids into their stores every time. In theory, it’s a good strategy – ANF’s corporate goal should be to sell clothes and build shareholder value while providing customers with quality merchandise.
Whether ANF does any of that, I don’t know. The stock has been essentially flat all year, even as competitors’ stocks have risen. Twice today on financial news network CNBC I heard various commentators blast ANF and the end result was that ANF’s market capitalization – or the overall value of the company – fell by about $100 million.
So now ANF has to ask itself whether it’s all worth it. Can the company continue its current practices and be successful? Or will it change course and take a different road? Either way, ANF is proving that you don’t have to employ a good PR strategy, common sense or taste to sell clothes. But the biggest way ANF sells clothes is by selling an image. And right now, ANF’s image is just plain ugly.
This article, written by Ben Silverman, originally appeared in PR Fuel (http://www.ereleases.com/prfuel), a free weekly newsletter from eReleases (http://www.ereleases.com), the online leader in affordable press release distribution. To subscribe to PR Fuel, visit: http://www.ereleases.com/prfuel/subscribe/.


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Mobile identity scoring app Juvo has nabbed $40m for its Series B funding round led by New Enterprise Associates and Wing Venture Capital.
Other contributions came from SignalFire and several existing investors.
Juvo partners with mobile operators and financial institutions, using credit algorithms to identify previously anonymous prepaid subscribersand help them build financial identities so they can access basic financial services.
Currently the company is partnered with seven mobile operators, with a reach of over 500 million subscribers across 25 countries in four continents.
The capital will be used to boost global growth and scale, particulary Asia, Latin America and Europe. Juvo also hopes to expand its offerings to the financially excluded.
Juvo CEO Steve Polsky said, “Today, there are over two billion underbanked people in the world – most of whom have a mobile phone. Juvo reaches these individuals, identifies them as creditworthy and provides access to financial services.”
Following the transaction Wing founding partner Peter Wagner has joined the company’s board of directors.
Last year Juvo picked up $14m in its Series A fundraising round.
Copyright © 2017 FinTech Global


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You can own a piece of Port Charles history with the special General Hospital 55th Anniversary Auction! Prop Store has teamed up with ABC to celebrate the long-running soap’s milestone with an auction of original props, costumes, and more. The event will kick off on Monday, April 2, and run for two full weeks, ending on Friday, April 13. Click here to register to bid on the items when the auction begins.
While a full list of auction items is not yet available on the site, there is a preview gallery that shows a sample of some of the items you can bid on, like Anna Devane’s 2017 Nurses Ball gown, a menu from The Floating Rib, a collection of Luke Spencer’s fake drivers licenses, passports, and social security cards, and, most amazingly, the latex mask work by Cesar Faison to disguise himself as Duke!
In addition to the auction, Prop Store is also holding a weekly giveaway where registering to bid will give you a chance to win an original GH script signed by the actors. A new winner will be drawn randomly from the registration pool every week, and that already started on March 19, so don’t miss out on any more chances! You can click here to register to win.
The actual 55th anniversary of GH’s premiere on ABC will be on Sunday, April 1, but the soap is planning to air a very special anniversary episode on Friday, March 30.
This article originally appeared on our sister site, ABC Soaps in Depth.


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Bella Moda in Bend plans to shut its doors for good Sept. 22. In the meantime, the downtown boutique’s clothing, shoes and other merchandise are 50 percent off or more starting today.
Also, Bella Moda is running a contest giving away 10 prizes, such as a gift certificate to Jen’s Garden and an iPad 2. Registration is taking place at the store, and no purchase is necessary. The winners will be drawn on the shop’s closing day.
In its final weeks, Bella Moda is hosting a community food drive, as well. Bring nonperishable items in to be donated to the Family Kitchen, which serves hot meals in Bend to those in need.
Bella Moda stores in Redmond and Sisters already closed this year. The owner of the three retail outlets is retiring.
Until the end, Bella Moda is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. It’s located at 1001 N.W. Wall St., Suite 102.
— Heidi Hagemeier, The Bulletin


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Round corners? Don’t even think about it, it’s patented now!
Summary: More litigation from iPhone and iPad backer, seeking to disturb the competition rather than innovate
SIGH. After years of speculation, the US Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday actually issued a design patent to Apple for rectangular devices with rounded corners.
It seems that Samsung’s worst nightmare has come true, as the patent, D670,286 covers a “portable display device” and literally appears to give Apple the rights to a rectangle with rounded corners. In basic terms, this means Apple pretty much now owns the rights to the rectangle in the US.
Apple has even more malicious patents — ones that seek a monopoly on devices that suppress their users. What was the USPTO thinking? Well, it does not think, it’s not a person, it’s just a corruptible institution for protectionism (mostly for US-based firms), where patents are granted on far too many things. Consider the example from the other day — a lawsuit by CA Technologies. Here are some more details and patent numbers:
CA Technologies, the former Computer Associates, has thrown a patent sueball at application performance management (APM) software rival New Relic in Federal court.
The lawsuit, filed yesterday in the US District Court for the Eastern District in New York, claims that New Relic violated three patents that came into CA’s possession through acquisitions. As you can see in the complaint (PDF), CA is alleging that New Relic’s software violates patent numbers 7,225,361 B2; 7,512,935 B1; and 7,797,580 B2.
The parties in Microsoft v. Motorola have filed their trial briefs, albeit in redacted form. Keep in mind that a trial brief means what the party thinks is at issue and what its position is going into trial. Neither side has proven anything yet. That’s what the trial if for. But it does give us a clear picture of where each side sees its position at this point. Microsoft’s main argument is that FRAND licenses should be priced similarly to patent pool licenses, like MPEG LA’s. A novel idea. But this is their position, maybe because it’s how it would like it to be, even though it has never been so before. It shows that Apple and Microsoft are a bit newer to FRAND than Samsung and Motorola, and they don’t like how it’s always been, because it will cost them, and they want Android to lie down and die.
Apple tried such an attack on Motorola, but it lost the case. Apple deserved this. “Apple engineers ‘pay no attention to anyone’s patents’, court told” and the hypocrisy from Apple simply shows arrogance:
Displaying its arrogance, once again, Apple stated that they would not be bound by the court order if the court sets the price of FRAND licenses be more than $1. (read detailed coverage on Groklaw)
Bad news for Apple is that judge Barbara B. Crabb has dismissed the case with prejudice which means there won’t be any refiling of the case. Only way out for Apple is to go for an appeal.
Apple keeps losing market share and inertia, so this loss really is serious news. Appeal or no appeal, Apple is losing time and getting too distracted. Apple could make better products rather than apply for more and more patents (which takes up time). █


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3's 3G videophone users now have the ability to VideoBlog. The service is powered by Mobaila and is currently available in Italy.
Malaysia's Celcom is turning to Alcatel to expand and upgrade its GSM network. The contract is said to be a multi-million dollar deal for Alcatel.
WASHINGTON--The wireless industry is still trying to get language inserted into pending telecommunications reform legislation that pre-empts states from regulating them, but it's facing an uphill battle.
The FLO Forum adopted three new technical specifications in an effort to keep the planned deployment of Qualcomm's FLO technology in 2007. The technology is designed for the mobile TV market.
Sonic Solutions' Roxio Labs unit unveiled the Roxio Labs Website to gain customer insight into emerging technologies, including applications for mobile devices. The site gives consumers early access to new offerings and betas, which will enable the company to incorporate feedback into the final products.
Verizon Wireless continues to move full speed ahead with it EV-DO wireless broadband network. The latest: the carrier is introducing the service in Staten Island, which extends the EV-DO network to all five New York City boroughs.
Qualcomm is once again crying foul, filing its third intellectual property infringement case against rival Broadcom. This latest legal battle covers alleged infringement of Qualcomm's patents relating to WCDMA and wireless local area network chipsets.
Amp'd Mobile, Research and Markets, HelloSoft, Symbian, Analog Devices, Legend Silicon Corporation and Alltel Wireless.
Firefly Mobile is stepping up its pursuit of pre-teen, or tween, wireless customers with the national launch of its Firefly wireless phone.
Alltel, Western Wireless, Motorola, In-Stat, T-Mobile Croatia, Vallent Corporation, WavMax Broadband, DragonWave, Outsmart, TNS Telecoms, Reality Wireless Networks, Arabian Recab Trading Company, PeopleMatter, Hop-On, Reaxion Corporation, Verizon Wireless, Mforma, DataViz and WildPackets.
Using your mobile phone to watch movies certainly isn't a new concept but with high-bandwidth wireless networks becoming more pervasive, this type of content is now available to consumers. Will subscribers consume full-length movies on their mobile phones? Are short clips better than full-length movies? Although U.
Despite grand expectations for the gaming market, less than 10 percent of people with mobile phones in the United States play games on their handsets. The numbers are getting better, though – it's up to about 17 million users this year who actively play downloaded games compared to the previous 14 million, according to M:Metrics senior analyst Seamus McAteer.
Washington—Intertwining wireless, broadband and cable services are making interpretation of regulations even more difficult, but a central theme seems to be emerging – simplicity. Video franchising rules offer an example of this emerging structure. The rules are aimed at giving non-incumbent telecom a way to enter local cable markets more efficiently and quickly.
VeriSign may be tucked behind the scenes of interactive mobile marketing campaigns on television, but it fell squarely in the spotlight after forging its joint venture (JV) with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. The JV – which leaves VeriSign with a 49-percent stake in Jamba, the subsidiary it bought in 2004 for $273 million – brings $188 million to VeriSign's coffers, giving Jamb


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The world of augmented reality (AR) is about to get a little bigger. Starting Thursday, Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 AR headset will go on sale in more than half a dozen countries. The U.S., France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.K. are all fortunate enough to make the list.
With a refreshed design, a larger field of vision, and easier gesture controls, HoloLens 2 might finally be a useful tool for those looking to expand their productivity. Unfortunately, it will cost a hefty $3,500.
When HoloLens first debuted in 2016, the world had high hopes for the AR headset. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out to be as revolutionary as originally thought. Despite its limitations, the HoloLens line does have a small customer base that is undoubtedly looking forward to a refreshed version of the device.
One of the biggest changes in the HoloLens 2 is an increased field of vision. Previously, HoloLens had a field of just 34 degrees. At times this made it feel like you were looking through a tiny window to the world. HoloLens 2 boasts a much larger 52-degree diagonal viewing angle. It goes without saying that this is a massive improvement. Meanwhile, the hardware itself has new ergonomics that settle its weight more comfortably on the head.
Users will also notice a fundamental change to the headset’s gesture controls. The new HoloLens allows for actions like pinching, dragging, and opening menus by interacting with holographic buttons that appear on the wearer’s hands. For those teetering on the edge of upgrading, these new capabilities might be enough to convince them.
Still Business Focused
Despite HoloLens 2’s impressive upgrades, the price will prohibit many casual users from getting one of the headsets. As such, the device is still geared towards business customers. In fact, consumers aren’t actually meant to be purchasing HoloLens at all.
Currently, the device has applications for workers that need to access information while keeping their hands free. For example, someone working in a manufacturing plant or as a repair technician may find it helpful. The U.S. military has also commissioned a custom version of the HoloLens as part of its Integrated Visual Augmentation System.
As Microsoft transitions into the second generation of its AR hardware, it has affirmed that the original HoloLens will still be supported. Nonetheless, it’s likely that the small pool of developers making software for the headset will begin integrating the new model’s enhanced gestures. It may happen that the original’s limited technology actually phases the device out before Microsoft does.
HoloLens 2 is now shipping to the aforementioned countries at a cost of $3,500 per unit. Though pricey, businesses hoping to integrate AR into their workflow should consider the device as it is clearly the most advanced (and widely supported) headset on the market today.