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On top of a cabinet behind Michael Beaudry’s desk is a string of large white pearls that he’s turning into a customized bracelet. He expects to sell it for $400,000.
Nearby, a work-in-progress necklace, with about 100 black diamonds, drapes a display bust. The price tag? $440,000.
It’s just another day at the office for Beaudry, who has designed multimillion-dollar rings, necklaces, watches, bracelets and more for some of the biggest names in the world, including Barbra Streisand and Warren Buffett.
As chief executive of Centerstone Diamonds Inc. and five affiliated companies, Beaudry, who started as a diamond cutter at 18, has built a small jewelry empire out of a nondescript office building in downtown Los Angeles. It’s one of the only jewelry businesses that manufactures almost entirely in Los Angeles. In addition to making collector pieces, Beaudry has lines that retail in department stores, and he opened his own shop at a Beverly Hills hotel two years ago.
That was about the time his empire almost came crashing down.
Beaudry’s sales dropped off a cliff after the financial crisis, forcing him to lay off some of his workers and turn others into contractors. At the same time, a factoring company demanded control of his inventory.
To address the falling sales, he introduced lower-cost jewelry – all the way down to $400, in some cases. To avoid losing his jewelry to the factoring company, he filed a strategic Chapter 11 for two of his companies.
Today, sales are building, the companies are preparing to emerge from the reorganization and the storm appears to have calmed.
“We were having challenges,” the 44-year-old Beaudry acknowledged. “Now we’re seeing demand pick back up.”
While high-end jewelry companies have struggled during the recession, analysts said Beaudry’s efforts to adapt to the changing marketplace showed impressive survival skills.
Now, the company is poised to cash in on the rebound. Based on projections from the first half of the year, U.S. jewelry companies are on track for record sales of $63 billion this year – up more than 2 percent from 2007, the previous record high – surprising even longtime industry watchers.
“I had no idea that jewelry sales would come back so quickly,” said analyst Ken Gassman. “I am surprised.”
Beaudry’s interest in jewelry was piqued as a 7-year-old when he spent time in his uncle’s diamond-cutting studio. Fascinated by the process, Beaudry enrolled in the American School of Diamond Cutting in Whittier when he turned 18.
To help pay his way, he started cutting diamonds for other jewelers. Soon he realized that he could make a living buying rough or poorly cut diamonds on the cheap, recutting and then selling them for a profit.
“It was sort of like developing real estate, except with diamonds,” he said.
He started traveling periodically to Israel to buy uncut diamonds. One day, he realized he had a career on his hands.
“My hobby had become my full-time job,” he said.
A few years after launching his business, he began advertising in luxury car magazines, which led to calls from across the country. He partnered with high-end retail stores and brands such as Rolls-Royce to find new customers. Through referrals, his reputation grew, leading executives, celebrities and other rich folks to call him up.
What sets Beaudry’s jewelry apart, he said, is that all of the design, cutting and general craftwork is done by hand on site, and can be custom-made for practically any customer. These days, Beaudry spends less time designing pieces himself, but he consults with staff and signs off on every design.
In 2005, he bought a five-story office building on the edge of the Jewelry District in downtown. The property, once owned by Union Bank, has a vault in the basement where most of the jewelry is stored.
Before the financial crisis, Beaudry said that his company was making more than 1,000 couture pieces per year, including many “masterpiece projects” – custom pieces that sold for more than $4 million. Revenue, he said, was “in eight figures.” He started a watch-making division, though jewelry still accounts for about 90 percent of his sales. His staff grew to 75.
The jewelry lines are sold under the Michael Beaudry brand at high-end retailers such as Neiman Marcus. In November 2008, Beaudry opened his own retail location inside the swanky Montage Beverly Hills hotel.
As the Montage store was opening, though, Wall Street was falling apart. Many of Beaudry’s best customers – stockbrokers and other financial professionals on the East Coast – just stopped calling. His sales dropped by more than one-quarter.
So some workers lost their jobs and about two dozen of the craftsmen were converted from full-time employees to contractors who work by the piece.
At the same time, Centerstone and Michael Beaudry Inc. had a complex factoring arrangement that began to go sour with an asset-based lender in Boca Raton, Fla., called First Capital.
First Capital, which had begun to pull back from the luxury goods sector during the recession, adjusted the fee structure with Beaudry’s two businesses. The new structure was too expensive for Beaudry, and he couldn’t service $6.5 million that was still outstanding.
First Capital, which could not be reached for comment, filed a motion to take control of the inventory of the two companies, and Beaudry filed for Chapter 11 protection in response.
A reorganization plan, which would allow Beaudry to retain control of his inventory, has been approved by the bankruptcy court, Beaudry said. The companies should emerge by the fall and not look much different than they did prior to the recession, just smaller.
Filing for bankruptcy was an unusual – but savvy – move for the company, observers said.
Amanda Gizzi, director of communication for industry trade group Jewelers of America, said few jewelry companies filed for bankruptcy during the recession, opting instead to simply go out of business. The companies that made it through the period, she noted, did so by smartly adapting to the changing circumstances.
“The jewelers who are still in business are still in business for a reason,” she said.
One of the key elements of the business’s turnaround was the introduction of lower-cost jewelry lines. Just before the economy took a nosedive, Beaudry introduced his more affordable Beautique Collection. This May, the company unveiled a line designed by his wife, Laura, with some pieces expected to sell for less than $1,000.
“We’re addressing our customers with different price points,” Beaudry said. “At first, our dealer network thought that we were maybe cannibalizing or watering down our brand. But it’s actually been a great addition for us.”
Centerstone Diamonds Inc.
HEADQUARTERS: Downtown Los Angeles
CHIEF EXECUTIVE: Michael Beaudry
CORE BUSINESS: Design, manufacturing and sales of fine jewelry.
EMPLOYEES: 30 (up from 26 in 2009)
GOAL: To expand the Beaudry brand and become one of the top designers of high-end jewelry.
THE NUMBERS: Revenue has declined by nearly 30 percent from pre-recession high.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, CLICK HERE.


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Kellogg’s has launched a plant-based alternative to beef jerky under its new brand, Leaf Jerky. The company unveiled its new brand at Natural Products Expo East last week in Baltimore.
Suitable for vegans, the soy-based snack will be available in the flavour, cracked peppers and herb. Each 35g serving contains 11g of protein, 80 calories, 0g of saturated fat and 2g of sugar.
Founder of Leaf Jerky, Amy Shouldice said she wanted to create “a vegan, portable protein snack that was delicious enough to share with my meat-loving husband.”
The plant-based jerky uses sustainable ingredients and claims to focus on prioritising plant-based protein options.
Shouldice added: “We set out to create a brand that’s sustainable-from the footprint of our ingredients, to our recyclable packing, to our support for the next generation of sustainable farmers.”
Kellogg plans to launch Leaf Jerky in test markets this year and expand its release in 2020 along with more flavours.
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Stuck in a Louis Vuitton moment: Bono and Ali Hewson pose for French megabrand... in clothes from their own ethical label
Most designer campaigns are a showcase for the brand, with models and celebrities clad head-to-toe in the label's latest designs.
Not so for Louis Vuitton, which has cast Bono and his designer wife Ali Hewson in their latest shoot.
The image, shot by celebrated US portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz in Africa, show the U2 frontman and his fashion designer wife stepping off a small plane.
Collaboration: Bono and Ali Hewson in the latest Louis Vuitton Core Values campaign. The couple both wear Hewson's ethical label Edun and carry limited-edition bags they co-designed with the French megabrand
But unlike other images in the Core Values series of advertisements, which support Al Gore's Climate Change project, the pair are not wearing clothes made by Louis Vuitton.
Instead, they are wearing Hewson's own organic and ethical label Edun, which she created in 2005 and aims to encourage trade in Africa.
In fact it is the latest evidence of a love affair between the two brands - last year Louis Vuitton's parent company LVMH acquired a 49 per cent stake in Edun.
And now they have joined forces to create a limited-edition version of the Louis Vuitton's monogrammed Keepall 45 - carried by both Bono and Hewson in the new image.
Each bag boasts a hand crafted charm created in Kenya for fairtrade jewellery label MADE, as well as a plaque with the inscription 'Every journey began in Africa.'
All proceeds from the sale of the piece, along with the couple's fee for the shoot, will be donated to Technoserve in Africa for the Conservation Cotton Initiative and to the Chernobyl Children International.
The pair have long campaigned against extreme poverty in Africa and hope that by raising the profile of Edun, they will encourage more of the fashion industry to do business there.
Bono said: 'Ali has worked hard to build Edun from scratch, and thanks to LVMH’s commercial muscle and support, this fledgling company can go from strength to strength - which means increased business for our partners in developing countries.'
Hewson added: 'We want Edun to be a success because the more it grows, the more we can do on the ground.'
And their enthusiasm is mirrored at Louis Vuitton. Antoine Arnault, Head of Communications, said: 'We are delighted that both Ali and Bono, who have never before participated in an advertising campaign, agreed to be photographed for Core Values. We are very proud of our association with Edun.'
Bono and Hewson are the latest in an illustrious line of stars to participate in the Core Values series of images. Catherine Deneuve, Mikhail Gorbachev and Sean Connery have all posed for the campaign, as well as Francis Ford Coppola with his daughter Sofia, and Andre Agassi with wife Steffi Graf.
The project has enjoyed huge success since its launch in 2007. As well as raising the awareness of climate change, it has won acclaim and awards from the advertising industry.
'This is a good example of how a business can be innovative and successful, and at the same time environmentally responsible' said Al Gore of the project.
The story of the campaign will be on louisvuittonjourneys.com from September 13.
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Taking A Look At The Growing Importance Of The Transportation Industry In the United States
Less than truckload shipments have become hugely utilized all throughout the United States. From the LTL shipment to managing LTL shipments, the LTL market here in the United States alone has risen to an impressive value of at least thirty five million dollars, a number that is only anticipated to rise in the years to come. The LTL shipment is more in demand than ever before, and, in this sense, the LTL shipment is not alone when it comes to the world of transportation here and all throughout the United States.
In fact, the LTL shipment represents only one aspect of shipping and the increase in the amount of cargo carried throughout the United States is on the rise in general. In fact, the year of 2013 saw an already impressive fifteen billion tons of cargo transported over the course of that one year. But by the time that we reach the year of 2040, now just over twenty fully years away from our current date here at the tail end of the year of 2018, this amount of cargo is anticipated to climb to nearly nineteen billion tons of cargo per year, with much of this attributed to the LTL shipment as well as to the increase of overweight shipping services as well.
In addition to this, the typical LTL shipment is seeing a higher value of cargo supported as well, as are all other types of shipments. This has been catalogued through the use of transportation management software as well as freight management software and the rising trend of increasing cargo values can be seen all throughout the industry. In fact, the total expected value of a ton of cargo is expected to exceed one thousand and three hundred dollars by the time that we reach that same year of 2040, up from a value of only just over eight hundred and eighty dollars in the year of 2013, a mere five years ago from our current date.
But why is this the case? Why has the typical LTL shipment in the United States become more important and more in demand than it has ever been before? Much of this can be attributed directly to the rise of e-commerce and online shopping not only here in the United States but in many other places all throughout the world as well. In fact, the internet itself has become more widely accessible than it has ever been before, servicing billions of people throughout the United. States and all around the world as well. And as the widespread usage of the internet has climbed quite significantly, so too have the rates of e-commerce, now exceeding a market value of four hundred billion dollars, a value that is only expected to rise exponentially in the years that are to come (and that’s just charting the revenue that e-commerce has garnered here in the United States, let alone everywhere else in the world).
After all, shopping on an online platform is highly appealing to many different people, as it allows for a great deal of ease and convenience. For many people, finding the time to go to an actual store location is an incredibly difficult thing, as it requires them to make time in their jam packed schedules. Shopping online, on the other hand, can be done from just about anywhere and can be easily fit in to just about any schedule, even if the person in question just ends up doing it while at work or even on their daily commute.
And the prevalence of same day shipping and express shipping services have had the direct effect of driving up the need for the LTL shipment. An LTL shipment by nature allows goods to be shipped quickly, instead of just when a truck is fully ready to be sent out. The LTL shipment is hugely desirable nowadays, as can be clearly seen. After all, people want to get their goods as quickly as they possibly can, especially around times of year such as the holiday season here in the United States.


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Businesses bank on AI for digital transformation
While artificial intelligence (AI) is still in its infancy, the technology is already driving digital transformation in many organisations.
This is one of the biggest takeaways from research by systems integrator Dimension Data. The global study - "Digital Workplace Report: Transforming Your Business" - surveyed 850 business and IT leaders from 15 countries, including SA.
According to Dimension Data, AI is sufficiently advanced to be working its way into companies in the form of virtual assistants, and in certain industries such as banking, virtual tellers and virtual advisors.
It explains that manifested as bots embedded into specific applications, virtual assistants draw on AI engines and machine learning technology to respond to basic queries.
Today, the company adds, the digital workplace is no longer just made up of managers and those managed, co-workers collaborating with one another to complete projects, and employees interacting with customers and partners. It's increasingly populated by 'virtual employees' who do not exist in a physical sense, but nonetheless play an important role in the organisation.
Dimension Data notes that more common in consumer devices, such as Amazon Echo, and mobile apps, such as Apple Siri, AI-driven virtual assistants are helping businesses reduce costs by automating basic tasks that would otherwise require people to perform.
When asked about virtual advisors, 62% of the respondents note they expect virtual advisors to have a place in their companies. Some 58% said they expect to start actively investing in technology that powers virtual advisors in the next two years.
On intelligent agents, 22% of the organisations say they have a practical use of them now; 18% say they have them in use in the company or have already invested in the technology that would enable their use; and 54% expect to have a practical use of them in the next two years.
"It's no longer enough to simply implement these technologies," says Krista Brown, Dimension Data's Group end-user computing SVP.
"Organisations have grown their use of analytics to understand how these technologies impact their business performance - 64% use analytics to improve their customer services, and 58% use analytics to benchmark their workplace technologies."
Accenture and GIBS recently launched a whitepaper on how AI is set to remake businesses.
"There's no longer any doubt that artificial intelligence has the ability to amplify growth for companies. So from a business point of view, it makes sense," notes Rory Moore, innovation lead at Accenture and one of the report's contributors. "But then you also need to keep ethics in mind and be socially responsible. In a market like SA, these issues are particularly prominent and pertinent."
According to the whitepaper, given the fact that the traditional factors of production - capital and labour - are showing declining ability to drive economic growth, Moore notes, a new factor of production - AI - may provide the necessary kick-start.
Intelligent automation, labour and capital augmentation and innovation diffusion are all routes through which the technology has the ability to drive growth, the report explains. AI can both automate complex physical tasks and free up people from more mundane work to imagine, create and innovate.
Dr Jeff Chen, lecturer at GIBS and co-author of the whitepaper, says: "AI is not a buzzword. These hyper-intelligent algorithms, coupled with innovative business models, will ineluctably change the customer dynamics and the modus operandi of many South African organisations."


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just On Call - Treasury Wine Estates backs new CEO as flak flies
Clarke will start at the end of March
Treasury Wine Estates has defended its decision to appoint a CEO with no alcohol retail experience, saying new head Michael Clarke is a “heavy hitter” with a proven track record.
In a call with journalists after first-half results were announced yesterday (20 February), TWE chairman Paul Rayner conceded that Clarke had not worked in the wine trade previously, but flagged that he “has worked at a very senior level” in “complex” businesses. Clarke, whose appointment was confirmed yesterday, spent 12 years with the Coca-Cola Co and headed up Kraft Foods' European business.
He replaces David Dearie, who left TWE in September, and will start on 31 March.
Rayner said: “We did have a couple of candidates on the short list that had wine experience, but in terms of their track record and in terms of their ability we thought ... that Mike was very clearly the appropriate guy.”
Rayner also said the appointment will be long-term, and that Clarke plans to move his family from London to Sydney, where TWE is headquartered.
“He is committed to the growth prospects of this company and he is committed to the long-term prospects of this company,” Rayner said.
In an another call yesterday, analysts attacked Clarke's lack of experience, with one saying his previous employer Kraft “isn’t exactly an agricultural producer, it doesn’t exactly milk cows”, according to Australian industry website The Shout.
Rayner said: “Treasury Wines ... has been run by wine people for 12 to 15 years. You draw your own conclusions as to how much success they've had. I think people would say it hasn't been that great.”
In first-half results, TWE announced a 37.6% drop in reported first-half earnings before interest, tax, SAGRA, and material items (EBITS), as sales came in flat. However, the company's net profits jumped, thanks to a tax benefit.
TWE has struggled after a AUD160m (US$145.7m) stock writedown in the US last year. The company flagged up the writedown in its announcement around Dearie’s departure.
Defending himself from analysts' criticism, including suggestions he should be removed from the board, Rayner said: “I think the board has acted very appropriately over the last 12 months. We had some challenges and we dealt with them.”
Canadean's "Treasury Wine Estates Limited - Company Capsule" contains in depth information and data about the company and its operations. The profile contains a company overview, key facts, major prod...
Synopsis The report provides a review of the latest news and key events in the global spirits market during June 2014. Summary Using this report, marketers will effectively gain an insight into the l...
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The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has seen three major trends emerge as drivers of investment in Africa's commercial property space. Though this sector has certainly taken a big knock, and commercial office space is still slow to recover, we are seeing positive activity in light industrial property, data centres, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and even in hospitality, throughout Africa.ByPeter Hodgkinson
The final five qualifying businesses for the next round of the Ayo Scaling Africa Series have been selected. The series looks to assist tech entrepreneurs in taking their Series A businesses to the next level.
United States President Joe Biden on 22 and 23 April this year hosted the Leaders Summit on Climate. According to the White House, the summit aimed to "galvanise efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis". Leaders of 40 countries, including five from Africa, participated in the virtual event.ByTanguy Gahouma-Bekale
Pine Kazi, a women-led shoe design house based in Kenya, is the winner of Fashionomics Africa's sustainable fashion competition. The fashion company, which converts pineapple leaf and recycled rubber into fashionable footwear, wins a $2,000 cash prize, access to media exposure opportunities, and mentorship and networking opportunities from competition collaborators.
wins Fashionomics Africa sustainable design competition for turning
Fashionomics Africa is an initiative of the African Development Bank, designed to increase Africa’s participation in the global textile and fashion industry value chains, with an emphasis on women and youth. Its latest competition was launched in December 2020 to support designers and producers of sustainable and circular fashion in Africa.
Sustainable textile innovation
Competition judges said Pine Kazi’s shoes are innovative and sustainable.
The Kenyan brand was co-founded by Olivia Okinyi, Angela Musyoka and Mike Langa. Pine Kazi’s shoe uppers are made from pineapple textile, while the inside is lined with organic cotton. The sole is made from sisal plant fiber, fitted with recycled tyre underneath. According to Pine Kazi, the shoes are 100% handmade to reduce carbon footprint and can last three years.
“Pine Kazi is greatly humbled to be the winners of the first Fashionomics Africa contest in Africa. This is indeed an honour to the Kenyan people and the African continent at large,” said Okinyi. Musyoka added: “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage and the patience to pursue them.”
Okinyi wrote in Pine Kazi’s competition entry that if they won, they would invest half the winnings in machinery used to make shoe source materials. “[This machinery] will see pineapple leaf waste put to work and create more green jobs for unemployed youth,” she added.
The design house said resources would also be divided equally between research and development of natural dyes, the acquisition of professional stylists and the establishment of a centralised production system.
Local lifestyle brand Sealand Gear has produced a special edition, upcycled tote bag for Reebok's new [Ree]cycled footwear range...
19 Feb 2021
The Fashionomics Africa contest honoured African fashion brands working to change how fashion is produced, bought, used and recycled, to encourage more sustainable consumer behaviour.
A panel of four judges representing the Bank and competition collaborators – the United Nations Environment Program, the Parsons School of Design and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation – reviewed 110 entries from 24 African countries and selected three finalists: Pine Kazi; CiiE Luxuries, an eco-friendly accessories business based in Abuja, Nigeria; and clothing brand Labake Lagos.
Of the applications, 65% were submitted by women and the businesses were predominantly micro-enterprises (54%), solo entrepreneurs (35%) and small businesses (12%). An online public vote by 986 participants determined the winner: Pine Kazi got 400 votes, 318 votes went to CiiE Luxuries, and 268 to Labake Lagos.
Emanuela Gregorio, coordinator of the Fashionomics Africa initiative at the African Development Bank, commented, “We were pleasantly surprised by all the applications received for the first edition of our Fashionomics Africa competition. It was very difficult to make a choice, but the finalists stood out with their innovative, durable and contemporary designs."
Amel Hamza, division manager at the Bank’s Gender, Women and Civil Society Department, commented, “What we learned from this Fashionomics Africa contest, in this month celebrating women around the world, is that many women entrepreneurs are advocating for sustainable production and consumption, and we commend their efforts."
Competition judge and a programme director at New York-based Parsons School of Design, Brendan McCarthy, congratulated Pine Kazi during the competition winners announcement. “You transformed waste materials from pineapples into profound new textiles and absolutely beautiful new shoes,” he said.
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'The last thing you want is a b**** stole my look moment': Jennifer Hawkins wears plunging frock as she and the Myer team dish autumn racing fashion and beauty tips
Some of Sydney's most fashionable fillies stepped out on Wednesday to kick off of Myer's Autumn racing season.
The department store's queen ambassador, Jennifer Hawkins was flanked by her colleagues Rachael Finch and Kris Smith to showcase the best fashions Myer had to offer this racing season.
It only felt like yesterday that the style set flocked to Flemington and Randwick for the Spring Racing Carnival, but in a salute to the warm season that was, bold hues and sorbet shades will be left in 2014.
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Giddy up! Jennifer Hawkins and Kris Smith made a handsome duo at Myer's Autumn Racing Launch on Wednesday at The Butler in Sydney
In 2015, it's all about rich colour palettes, as Jennifer told the crowd at Potts Point's The Butler.
Standing against the hot spot location's stunning city backdrop and botanical arrangements, Jen was true to form, wearing a plunging olive green and black frock.
'Each to their own with dressing, but a few trends coming through in Autumn and Winter are darker colour palettes. Berry tones are definitely in and you could mix it up with a red lip,' she told the fashionable set.
'A felt hat or felt fascinator also works really well.'
Show-stopper! Jen started her day in a leopard print frock with red hat before doing a wardrobe chance
Trend-setter: In 2015, racing fashion is all about rich colour palettes, as Jennifer told the crowd at Potts Point's The Butler
Looking a million dollars, the 31-year-old arrived at the venue wearing a dramatic leopard print coat-dress paired with a vibrant, brimmed red hat, before changing into her parade frock.
Dazzling the crowd with her beauty, Jen explained that a lot of thought goes into the overall look on race day: 'It takes a couple of hours,' she said of the beautifying process.
'When it comes to dressing I think it's nice to collaborate with the designers, and they usually have their take on what you should wear and when it comes to hair and makeup, that's the easy part -that's when you just sit back and relax.'
Handsome duo: Looking a million dollars, the 31-year-old arrived at the venue wearing a dramatic leopard print coat-dress paired with a vibrant, brimmed red hat, before changing into her parade frock
Hot to trot: Standing against the hot spot location's stunning city backdrop and botanical arrangements, Jen was true to form, wearing a plunging olive green and black frock, while Kris wore an MJ. Bale number
Kris however said his preparations were far more low-key, giving his start to finish time an estimated, 'four or five minutes.'
'You need to have a chat to my husband,' Rachael cut in.
'He takes 45 minutes I swear, and he uses the gel... and dusting powder that I've got. He uses that in his hair and says "I swear it really works!"'
What a beauty! Rachael was her usual stylish self at the Myer showcase, which was her very first engagement representing the department store
New gig: Wearing a hot pink and black Yeojin Bae ensemble, the 26-year-old held court as the event's host
And ask for advice of finding the perfect Autumn racing ensemble, dapper Brit Kris encouraged Aussie guys to think outside the box.
'Get creative,' Kris said to the fashion conscious man. 'The last thing you want is a "b**** stole my look" thing going on.'
Wearing a handsome MJ. Bale suit in a charcoal, paisley print, the TV presenter and fitness expert said since moving Down Under six-years-ago, men are upping their fashion game.
Gorgeous! Model Kate Peck was also on hand to help the other ambassadors with the fashion presentation
Off and racing! Kate was positively elegant in a pale pink and lemon outfit Wednesday
'The Australian guys are picking it up really well, they're dressing a lot better than they used to when I started coming here six-years-ago. The thongs with the suits have gone now.'
Rachael was her usual stylish self at the Myer showcase, which was her very first engagement representing the department store.
Wearing a hot pink and black Yeojin Bae ensemble, the 26-year-old held court as the event's host.
Showcase: Jen and Kris led the bevy of model's at Wednesday's glamorous event
New season: Each look is currently on sale at Myer
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November 15, 2012
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo launches an investigation into the widespread power outages from Hurricane Sandy. A solemn homecoming for a fallen hero, Dain Venne. A new UPS store in Plattsburgh is offering to help Canadians save money. Jack LaDuke will tell us about the growing wine industry along the northern border. What’s bringing so many bear cubs out of the woods and into the city?


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Motorola rolled out the Edge 40 in India in May. Now the brand is looking to expand its Edge 40 lineup in the country. Motorola has launched the Edge 40 Neo in the global market and now is aiming to launch the smartphone in India as well. In the EMEA region, Motorola launched the Edge 40 Neo at a price of €399. In India, the brand has promised to bring this smartphone on September 21. Additionally, Motorola is also promoting its new Edge 40 Neo as the “Segment’s 1st 144Hz 10-bit Curved Display.”
As the smartphone is already out in the EMEA region, we have the specifications. However, Motorola has also lifted the Edge 40 Neo on the company’s official website for India. Here are the specifications:
Also read: Motorola Edge 40: Worthy of flagship phone tag? Let’s find out
Starting with the design, for Moto Edge 40 Neo as well, the company has featured the Pantone-styled colour options. It will be rolled out in three colour options that are Pantone Black Beauty, Pantone Soothing Sea, and Pantone Caneel Bay. It has a punch-hole cutout at the front and a curved display as well. It has a single LED flash, whereas, the Edge 40 had two. It is 7.79mm thin, weighs 165 grams, and features an IP68 rating.
The black colour variant features an acrylic back panel. On the other hand, the rest of the two models feature a vegan leather back panel.
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is equipped with a 6.55-inch pOLED curved display with an FHD+ resolution. The display of the smartphone also supports 10-bit colours, HDR10+, and 144Hz refresh rate. It runs on Android 13 operating system.
Also read: Moto G84 5G Review: Doing budget phones right
It is packed with the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 processor coupled with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. A 5000mAh battery powers the Edge 40 Neo, featuring up to 68-watt fast charging support.
Speaking of the cameras, it boasts a dual camera setup that includes a 50-megapixel OIS main camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens. It sports a 32-megapixel selfie shooter at the front.


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From health goals to travel plans: The top SIX New Year's resolutions in Australia revealed - and simple tips for how you can achieve each one
- Resolutions are officially in-effect for hundreds of thousands of Australians
- Data by comparison website Finder has revealed which ones are most common
- Here, FEMAIL unveils the full list and offers tips for achieving the top six
With another new year underway, resolutions for hundreds of thousands of people across the nation are officially in full-swing.
And data by comparison website Finder has revealed which resolutions have proved to be the most popular with Australians for 2018.
Here, FEMAIL unveils the full list, and some tips on how to conquer six of the common self-improvement goals.
Data by comparison website Finder has revealed which New Year's resolutions have proved to be the most popular with Australians for 2018 (stock image)
1. IMPROVE FITNESS
It will come as no surprise that the timeless goal of getting fit is the most common New Year's resolution set by Australians for 2018.
Whether it's to improve confidence, or simply to improve general well-being, thousands will be taking to the gym or outdoors this month to kick-start their fitness goals.
Fitness trends suggest that high intensity interval training (HIIT) and group exercise will be popular methods used to fulfill the resolution in 2018.
Workouts such as F45, Crossfit, or classes at popular gyms like Anytime Fitness, all offer the opportunity for Australians to get in shape.
Otherwise, ditching the gym membership altogether to exercise outdoors with friends could save you more than $2,000 a year, research by financial comparison site Mozo found.
Workouts such as F45 (pictured), Crossfit, or classes at popular gyms like Anytime Fitness, all offer the opportunity for Australians to get in shape
2. EAT BETTER
If Australians aren't planning on getting fit in the gym, then they are planning on taking action at home by eating better.
Finder found that the second most common resolution set by Australians for 2018 is the adoption of healthier diets.
Non-diet approaches can also be effective when trying to achieve weight-loss goals, dietitian Susie Burrell said.
She said planning meals in advance, shopping online and sitting down to eat are simple methods which can all lead to healthier lifestyles.
Finder found that the second most common resolution set by Australians for 2018 is the adoption of healthier diets (stock image)
Aussies can consider outsourcing their food preparation by ordering healthy boxes through companies like HelloFresh (pictured)
3. QUIT SMOKING
Coming in at third, quitting smoking is still proving to be a popular resolution with Australians.
While there are many health benefits to be gained from giving up smoking, the habit has become more expensive than ever, meaning the hip pocket will also take less of a hit.
Research by Mozo found quitting smoking can save more than a staggering $10,000 a year.
The iCanQuit website offers a variety of quitting methods, along with tips on how they can be achieved.
Among the methods they promote are 'cold turkey', nicotine replacement therapy and cutting down to quit.
Coming in at third, quitting smoking is still proving to be a popular resolution with Australians (stock image)
THE TOP 10 LIST OF RESOLUTIONS
1. Improve fitness
2. Eat better
3. Quit smoking
4. Quit drinking
5. Learn a new skill
6. Travel more
8. Meet a partner
9. Sleep more
10. Get out of debt
4. QUIT DRINKING
Banning boozy nights is also on the agenda for many Australians in 2018, Finder revealed.
Those who choose to abstain from drinking two nights a week could pocket more than $4,000 over the course of a year.
Research from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre found one in five - or around 3.5million Australians - will experience problems with alcohol abuse and dependence at some point in their life.
Insurance company BUPA suggests setting your limits in advance, keeping a list of the good things about cutting down use, and not trying to keep up with friends.
5. LEARN A NEW SKILL
Many have promised that they will challenge themselves in 2018 by learning a new skill, such as a second language or photography.
Meanwhile, courses for skills ranging from cooking to writing can be accessed through Australian Online Courses.
Emerging favourite destinations for Australians to travel to in 2018 include Hobart (left) and Newcastle (right)
6. TRAVEL MORE
Australians are hoping to be more adventurous in 2018 by taking some time off to travel.
New data from travel app Skyscanner found that domestic bookings are on the rise, with Whitsunday Coast Airport (also known as Proserpine) and Ballina recording a 36 per cent and 29 per cent increase in bookings in 2017.
Meanwhile, other emerging favourites for 2018 include Hobart, the Sunshine Coast and Newcastle.
Top tips for cheaper flights
- The further you need to travel, the further in advance you should book flights
- Avoid booking flights at the last minute as it will cost you more
- Try to leave in the middle of the week and avoid Fridays and weekends, as they are the most expensive
- Select your travel dates for June and July as they are the cheapest for flights
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hundreds of collectors are in Jacksonville for one of America’s favorite dolls – Barbie.
The 800 collectors arrived from all over the country and around the world to attend a collector’s event for the classic doll Saturday at the downtown Hyatt Regency.
This year’s theme for the convention is "Pop Art Happening" focusing on Andy Warhol.
Everyone at the event is a collector. They collect vintage Barbies, new Barbies and one-of-a-kinds. Some people collect a dozen Barbies. Some collect 2,000 to 3,000, while others have more than can be counted.
Maria Sox, from Miami, is a member of one of the many Barbie clubs. Sox got her first Barbie in 1963.
“I thought my first Barbie was the best thing in the world,” Sox said.
Lisa franco, of Boston, has been collecting for 23 years.
“People back at home, when they find out that I have Barbie homes, ask if they can come by,” Franco said.
The event isn’t just about collecting. The makers of Barbie, Mattel, supports the event by donating Barbie dolls for auction. The money will go to local charity, the cathedral project, which benefits the Special Olympics. So far, they have raised $42,000.
The event is open to the public, and the first Barbie ever made will be on display. It’s worth $15,000.


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Tesla helps Save the World one Battery at a Time
by Joy Fanning
Brought to you by Spaces Quarterly.
How can the world transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy?
According to Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of Tesla, the answer is simple: build 100 Tesla Gigafactories.
In the past year, Musk gave Leonardo DiCaprio, who has publicly expressed concern for the environment, a tour of the Gigafactory. There, Leo learned how the company changes the way energy is used via lithium ion batteries.
While Tesla is currently unable to build 100 Gigafactories, Musk hopes that by pioneering the sustainable energy, larger companies will follow suite. He said when their Gigafactory alone reaches full capacity, it will produce more lithium ion batteries by 2018 than there were produced worldwide in 2013.
Musk said solar power is another great source of renewable energy. However, it is not always an option.
"The sun doesn't shine all the time,” Musk said, “so you've got to store it in a battery.”
Musk explained to Leo that if remote villages had both solar panels and Tesla batteries to store energy, they could become self-sufficient without a need for power lines.
In addition, Tesla aims to make lithium ion batteries more cost-efficient. The company hopes that if the price is driven down, people will use alternative energy sources more often. The result would be a reduced global dependence on fossil fuels and a better future for the environment.
Want Something Else? FACTORS AFFECTING THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY


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NEC to Buy A123’s Grid Energy Storage Business From WanxiangChisaki Watanabe
NEC Corp., a Japanese maker of computers and telecommunications equipment, will acquire the grid energy storage business of A123 Systems LLC from China’s Wanxiang Group Corp. for about $100 million.
A new company, NEC Energy Solutions, will begin operations in June, Tokyo-based NEC said in a statement today. A123 will continue to operate its other units, which deal in battery manufacturing and sales, research and development and automotive operations. Wanxiang Group bought the company in January 2013.
NEC also plans to set up a joint venture with Wanxiang to develop an energy storage business in China, according to the statement.


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We know how much you want the latest news and information about North Wales at your fingertips.
The Daily Post's app has been given a major update and is available in the Google Play Store - and best of all it's free.
With lightning-fast load times and high-definition display of pictures it's the only way to stay in the know about the region.
We have a four-star rating in the Google Play Store, so you can join thousands of other readers in getting up-to-date news, traffic and what's on information direct to your smartphone each day.
From breaking news, live updates on your favourite football club, knowing the latest restaurant opening, or watching our reports on the latest developments the Android app is the best way to end 2016 and start 2017.
And what's more is that you can customise the app to see just the news you want, or tell us which part of town you live in so we can bring you the news near you.
We're also able to send breaking news alerts direct to you so you are always the first to know about the biggest events.
Tony Bonnici, Daily Post digital editor, said: "We hope you enjoy the new app and we're always looking for your feedback on the service we provide to you.
"So whether you want to know what's going on in your area, the latest traffic and weather updates or just where to go out, sign up now."
The Daily Post app is also available for iOS devices and we'll be bringing you an updated version of this during the early part of 2017.
Here's what you need to do:
1. Go to Google Play Store on your Android mobile device
2. Type "Daily Post North Wales" into the search bar
3. Click on "Wales Daily Post" (it has a red Welsh dragon on a blue background)
4. Click Install
5. Wait a few moments for it to install and click open
6. Welcome to the Daily Post app
7. You can customise the news for the areas or topics that most interest you


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Consumer index shows confidence in economy even with 2012
Consumer confidence dropped in April, then picked up in recent days, a widely watched barometer reported Friday.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers index fell 2.8 percent in April from the previous month to 76.4. The reading was exactly the same as a year earlier.
Most of the decline was because consumers were less optimistic about the ability of the economy to keep expanding.
Econ report weighs on stock markets
Most U.S. stocks fell Friday after a new report showed the U.S. economy grew less than economists expected. Disappointing corporate earnings also factored in.
About two stocks fell for every one gaining on U.S. exchanges as 5.7 billion shares traded hands, 11 percent below the three-month average
The S&P 500 closed down 0.2 percent to 1,582.24. The Dow Jones industrial average, which tracks fewer companies than the S&P, rose 11.75 points, or 0.1 percent, to 14,712.55.
Fewer entrepreneurs launch new businesses
The number of companies started in 2012 fell along with the unemployment rate — a sign that people chose new jobs over launching their own companies, says a study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
The entrepreneurship study estimates 514,000 new businesses opened per month in 2012, down from 543,000 each month in 2011. In 2010, the peak of the recession and its aftermath, there were 565,000 new business owners each month, the highest for any of the 16 years tracked by the survey.
Honda global revenue rises 14%
Honda Motor Co. said fourth-quarter profit rose nearly 6 percent to $765 million.
The Japanese automaker's recovery from floods in Thailand offset recent sales losses in China. Quarterly sales jumped 14 percent to $27.7 billion.
China probes its bank bond market
Borrowing costs for top-rated Chinese companies rose to a three-month high as the central bank's probe into the $3.7 trillion interbank bond market drove investors into safer government securities.
The People's Bank of China asked market participants to examine trading histories as it cracks down on short-term transactions designed to bypass risk evaluations, two people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg News.
EU might force changes on U.S. tech firms
Efforts by Google, Microsoft and Amazon.com to be excluded from U.S. cybersecurity rules may become moot under a European Commission proposal that could force them to report attacks and make their products more secure.
Email providers, search engines, social networking websites and companies specializing in electronic commerce would have to comply with cybersecurity requirements to sell products and services within the 27 countries of the European Union under a proposed directive.
Hackers breach LivingSocial's customer data
Online deals service LivingSocial says its website was hacked, and the personal data of more than 50 million customers may have been affected.
The company said it was advising all customers Friday to change their passwords and that it's contacting customers in most of the countries where it operates.
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Sally shares drop after losing distribution rights
Sally Beauty Holdings Inc.'s stock was down Thursday, a day after the beauty supply retailer said it had lost most of its exclusive distribution rights to L'Oreal professional products in its stores.
Denton-based Sally (NYSE: SBH), which was recently spun off from Alberto-Culver Co. Inc., said earlier this week that its subsidiary Beauty Systems Group LLC had lost its exclusive rights to sell L'Oreal professional products in its stores or through distributor sales consultants.
The company also said the subsidiary's Armstrong McCall division would not retain the rights to distribute Redken professional products through distributor sales consultants or its stores.
Sally said it expects the loss of the exclusive rights to reduce its revenue by about $110 million during the last nine months of its 2007 fiscal year.
The company said it will try to alleviate some of the impact by marketing products that previously weren't sold in its stores.
Its shares were down 3.2 percent to $7.79 in Thursday afternoon trading.
Web site: www.sallybeautyholdings.com
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Posted Jun 05, 2012By producers
Nintendo unleashed 23 games Tuesday for its upcoming Wii U console that features a touchscreen controller. The announcement was made at E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, in Los Angeles.
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These images taken from video provided by NASA TV show Orbital Sciences Corp.'s unmanned rocket blowing up over the
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors Inc., announces its new car Tesla “D” in Hawthorne, Calif., on Thursday,
Fueled by good vibes and pure California sunshine
Apple’s highly anticipated larger iPhone 6 and 6 plus went on sale Friday morning to crowds of Apple fans acr
Apples new iPhone6′s go on sale tomorrow September 20, 2014.
Larry Ellison, 70, who for 37 years steered Oracle to become one of the world’s biggest and well-known techno


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“We are fully satisfied with our company’s performance in the first half of the year, in terms of both numbers and image; we like to support labour that fosters harmony with creation. The sales of our spring summer collections were especially good, and the start to the 2019 fall winter season was also very very positive. All this augurs well for another year of delightful growth. Honestly speaking, we cannot but express our full satisfaction with the clearly positive drive that has marked the start of the order intake for the Spring Summer 2020 men and kids collections that were presented last month. This healthy and pleasant work environment makes us look forward to the forthcoming presentation of the Spring Summer 2020 Women collection. Moreover, we serenely envisage a next year full of pleasant and profitable results,” said Brunello Cucinelli, chairman and CEO of Brunello Cucinelli.
Revenues in the European market of the company showed an increase of 9.6 per cent, with revenues rising to €92.4 million compared to €84.2 million in H12018. The North American market reported an increase of 9 per cent with revenues of €94.1 million compared to €86.3 million at 30 June 2018. Both the European and North American markets confirmed the sustainability of the company’s growth project, due to consistency of local demand and top-end tourism in both the monobrand and multibrand channels, with results rising in both. Greater China’s revenue growth was 15.9 per cent, with sales reaching €28.8 million compared to €24.8 million at 30 June 2018. In rest of the world, the company’s revenue grew 5.5 per cent, with sales of €31.9 million compared to €30.2 million last year. Performance was solid in all the group’s markets, including South Korea and Japan, with the perception that the international customer is increasingly attracted by Made in Italy items.
Revenues by distribution channel retail monobrand channel showed growth of 12 per cent with sales of €150.0 million compared to €133.9 million in previous year. Sales reported by wholesale monobrand channel was €18.2 million and wholesale multibrand channel was €123.3 million in the first half of current year.
“We believe that over the years we have built relationships with the world’s multibrands which are ‘special, friendly, of high esteem and of mutual respect’, and are convinced that it is these relationships, together with the customer’s appreciation of the collections, which support the very positive growth performance in this channel. We have always believed that multibrand is the high ‘judge’ of the collections, the only one who – through the comments received during the campaign and sales phases – can tell you whether the taste of the collections is contemporary, which is why we continue to believe that it is fundamental to balance the retail channel with the wholesale channel,” said Cucinelli. (PC)
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All the fruits we eat and do not eat have number of good things in them. Some of them are known to us and some we do not know. Scientists are in constant effort to discover all these good things contained in various foods. In those constant effort scientists has found a number of good aspects of pomegranate. According to them this is the next biggest discovery after discovering aspirin from willow trees in 1829.
The scientists compared the fruit with Swiss Army Knife. The Swiss Army Knife is such kind of a knife is that it can serve a number of purposes. According to them the fruit is the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of natural pharmaceuticals. The cause of that comparison is that the fruit can serve many purposes from Improving Heart Health, Lowering Blood Pressure, Treating Inflammation and reducing the risk of Cancers. That news was published in the ‘Sunday Express’.
Before that discovery scientists were not successful even at a closer level to discover the healthy attributes of the fruit from its seeds, skin and pith. The research has also found that the fruit also contain concentrated punicalagins. The concentrated punicalagins is a plant nutrient. It is found exceptionally in the fruit mentioned above. That makes the pomegranates unique in fruits and very much valuable and necessary.
But the unfortunate fact is that we generally throw away the husk, rind, seeds and inner yellow membranes, while they contain the useful plant nutrient called punicalagins. It is very sad news for all of us who ate the fruit before, because although we ate it we did not get the most wanted plant nutrient due to our ignorance.
However, the result of the research is called for reexamination by Dr Emad Al-Dujaili at Queen Margaret University in the UK.


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JCK Events has announced that one of its major show exhibitors, Stuller, Inc., has extended its commitment to JCK Las Vegas for another 5 years, through 2023.
As a leading supplier to the jewelry industry, Stuller is a retailer staple offering fine jewelry, bridal, jewelry findings and mountings, tools, packaging, gemstones, and more. While the brand will maintain its longtime presence in the Essentials/Tech neighborhood of the show, it’s also set to occupy a 4,100 square foot space in the Currents neighborhood when JCK Las Vegas moves to the Sands Expo Convention Center sin 2019.
“We are thrilled to have this strong partnership with such an iconic jewelry company,” said JCK industry vice president Katie Dominesey in a press release. “Since creating their own space on the JCK show floor two years ago, they’ve been able to showcase the breadth and depth of their products and services in a dynamic way. They offer incredible value to the show through content and education.”
“The venue allows us to bring the world of Stuller—products, services, expert advice, and friendly people—to existing and new customers, in easy-to-access displays that allow them to visualize how these offerings can serve their customers’ needs,” said Stuller president Danny Clark, in a press release. “JCK Las Vegas provides us with an incredible venue to connect with our customers and share stories about their past year and dreams for the year to come.”
Stuller will appear at the Mandalay Bay convention center for JCK Las Vegas 2018 from Friday, June 1, through Monday, June 4. For more information, visit jckonline.com/lasvegas.


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Google have recently released a new mobile shopping feature to give users a quick and easy way to browse for products.
New Google Shopping Features
Mobile shopping adverts on Google will now have a ‘Quick View’ option which will provide the basic details on pricing, photos and product description. The new feature will show users similar or related products, giving them more of an insight into the website’s products. Users will also be able to check if the product is on sale.
Google understands that researching a product before buying is a top priority for consumers. Another new feature named ‘knowledge panel’ will allow users to see product products, videos, reviews and descriptions related to the item they are searching. This will allow an accessible research panel which could be the fine line between a user buying a product or not.
Voice Shopping with Google Assistant
Google Assistant is Google’s top-rated voice-search device, perfect for people on the go. In 2017, the market share for Google Home grew from 6.7% to 14.7%.
Forgot the order that Christmas present for that special someone? You can now shop with Google Assistant and purchase items with your voice alone. Currently, people are using their Google Home devices to stock up on essentials. But now users can purchase every gift. Google stated they are seeing more searches for products ‘including kitchen tools like basting brushes to perfectly glaze those Thanksgiving dishes, toys to slip under the tree, or fuzzy blankets to keep warm by the fireplace.’
What does this mean for advertisers?
The new feature coming to shopping ads will now mean that users can view more details on the product without clicking onto the website. If they like what they see, it may increase conversions and clicks. However, it may also mean that competition is higher now that users are show similar/related products. To avoid this, advertisers should aim to make their ‘Quick View’ adverts as engaging as possible, with mentions of promotions and sales.
For advertisers, Google shopping will give users the top shopping ads showing for the product they are searching for. So, if your shopping ads have a high rank, the voice-search revelation could boost your sales.
So, whether you are searching on your mobile and browsing shopping ads or using Google Assistant to buy your gifts, Google’s new features is sure to ease shopping over the Festive period.
For more info, read here.


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By Richard Waters 04:45 AM May 16, 2012
Judith Masthoff, a Dutch researcher in artificial intelligence, was a doctoral student in the mid-1990s when she came up with her first invention.
The outline of the idea – a way of “enabling a user to fetch a specific information item from a set of information items” – hardly hinted at the starring role her brainwave would play in the legal battles sweeping through the technology industry.
Ms Masthoff still remembers the excitement she felt writing her patent application, one of the first in the software field for Philips, the Dutch electronics company to which she assigned the work. Providing a form of personalisation, it was an early attempt to help users make sense of the flood of online information, a critical issue for many websites.
But she lost track of it as her career moved on and only recently discovered that her application had eventually been approved in 2001.
The idea – now known as US patent number 6,216,133 – has been on a long journey since then. It was sold to the subsidiary of an American company that deals in intellectual property before finding its way, late last year, to its current owner: Facebook.
It is now playing a prominent role in the social network’s first big legal fight. It is the oldest of 10 patents the company used last month to mount a legal action against Yahoo! – a counterstroke against a patent infringement suit brought by the Internet search and media company this year.
COLOSSAL WASTE OF MONEY
Depending on your point of view, Facebook’s ability to co-opt old ideas such as this to defend itself against an assault on the legal foundations of its business could be a sign that, in an economy increasingly based on ideas, an efficient market in intellectual property is at work.
Alternatively, it indicates that the system is running amok, threatening to suffocate the innovation that makes breakthrough ideas such as Facebook’s social network possible in the first place.
With suits flying among some of the best-known tech names, companies such as Facebook, Apple, Google and Microsoft have been forced to spend heavily in the past year or so to arm themselves legally, in turn pushing up prices for patents such as Ms Masthoff’s as they change hands.
In the smartphone business alone – centre of much of the action – US$15 billion (S$18.8 billion) to US$20 billion has been spent buying patents, with legal bills reaching US$500 million on a “conservative estimate”, says Professor Mark Lemley of Stanford Law School.
It is hard to find anyone in the industry or in legal circles prepared to argue this is anything other than a colossal waste of money.
“It’s highly inefficient and antithetical to what patents are meant to achieve,” says Mr David Martin, chairman of M-Cam, a US patent analysis company. Lawsuits such as those brought by Yahoo! are “a de facto utility charge on someone else’s business success”, he adds.
Worse, the rising costs faced by companies arming themselves against legal attack could hamper innovation. Those that cannot pay this new “tax” risk being in effect barred from competing in the most promising new areas, such as smartphones.
WORTH MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE
Patent battles in tech – and the costs of building a strong intellectual property position – are not new. In recent years, executives have complained about the emergence of “trolls”, companies set up specifically to buy patents and mount opportunistic lawsuits against successful groups.
But proof of dramatic new forces at work came nearly a year ago, when patents owned by Nortel Networks, a bankrupt Canadian telecoms equipment maker, were auctioned for US$4.5 billion. The price, five times higher than initial estimates, showed Nortel was worth more dead than alive.
Having lost out in this case – and been left in a weak patent position compared with Apple and Microsoft, which were among the auction’s winners – Google agreed six weeks later to pay US$12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility, mainly to get its hands on the telecoms group’s intellectual property.
Behind these deals lay a rash of suits over smartphones, as Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and others angled for advantage in the sector’s biggest new market since the advent of the personal computer. Along with a spate of other transactions leading to Microsoft’s US$1.1billion purchase of patents from AOL last month, they reflect “a perfect storm” in tech patent circles, says Mr Ron Laurie of Inflexion Point, which advises on patent sales.
On one side are cash-rich companies, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, with the wherewithal and incentive to pay large amounts for legal protection.
On the other is a group of former stars forced to turn prized intangible assets into cash. They include bankrupt companies such as Nortel and Eastman Kodak, whose digital imaging patents are expected to end up being among its most valuable holdings, as well as struggling concerns such as Motorola and AOL, both of which came under pressure from activist shareholders to jump on the patent-sale bandwagon.
Companies in decline could yet shed their reluctance to take legal action against those once considered potential partners.
Yahoo! went as far as preparing a lawsuit against Google in 2006 over its core search technology, according to someone familiar with the initiative, but called it off after senior managers shrank from the business risks. Now, as Yahoo’s position in the search market falls further, a new management group with little to lose has landed a blow against Facebook in the Masthoff case.
ONE VIEW: MARKET AT WORK
There are various explanations for the escalation in both lawsuits and patent sales. To some, they are the by-product of an inevitable shift in the tech world, with intellectual property assuming its rightful central place in an economy revolving around ideas.
According to this view, the more active market for patents is bringing much-needed liquidity to intellectual property, helping it find its way to those best able to extract value.
When Microsoft immediately resold part of its new AOL patent holding to Facebook last month for US$550 million, recycling dotcom-era ideas into the hands of the latest internet company to transfix Wall Street, it seemed a fitting confirmation of how industry leadership has been transferred.
Supporters of this view argue that aggressive legal actions and high prices are often symptoms of a market – albeit an imperfect one – at work.
A wave of start-ups has been launched on the idea that the “ideas economy” needs a stronger infrastructure and new approaches to make the market work better. It includes Intellectual Ventures, which aims to foster invention by separating the creation and patenting of ideas from their commercialisation; and RPX, which buys patents for defensive purposes on behalf of its customers.
Critics, however, claim such businesses lubricate a system that encourages litigation and forces companies to buy protection against opportunistic lawsuits.
NEW MARKETS SYNDROME
A second view holds that the outbreak of legal hostilities simply reflects the inevitable upheaval from the emergence of big new markets.
The smartphone patent wars have become the clearest example of this, pitting companies from the computing and mobile communications worlds against each other for the first time. More than 250,000 patents, often overlapping, are potentially brought into play by smartphones drawing on technologies from several parts of the industry, according to RPX.
Such legal battles were seen with the emergence of the telegraph and the radio – and even mechanical farm equipment – as companies stake claims to the new markets. Eventually a stalemate is reached, and rivals conclude there is more to be gained from cross-licensing their ideas.
Whether that pattern will hold in smartphones – or in areas such as social networking and online advertising – has yet to be seen. “Maybe this time it isn’t a usual cycle,” says Prof Doug Lichtman of University of California, Los Angeles. “Patents are much more front and centre: People realise they can be sold and traded, they are much more visible.”
Another sign that a deeper change is occurring has been the rise in patent litigation in industries far removed from the latest hot tech markets, says Prof Meurer. Even relatively stable businesses such as food, cars and mining seem to be facing a secular increase in lawsuits, he adds.
That leads to a third explanation for the change in the patent world: That a systemic shift has taken place. The sheer number of lawsuits being filed, and the large amounts of money being thrown around to buy protection, suggest “there is something fundamentally broken here”, says Prof Lemley.
According to this view, long-running weaknesses in the approval process – making it too easy to obtain recognition for marginal or unoriginal ideas – lie at the heart of the problem, along with court decisions that have handed the advantage to plaintiffs.
If so, it could take years to fix: The US’s first legislation in this area in more than half a century, enacted last year, was widely seen as having brought only marginal improvement. It brought US filing procedures more into line with international practice, but limited the ability to bring nuisance lawsuits only modestly.
SPILLING INTO ONLINE WORLD
The cycle of lawsuits, meanwhile, is unlikely to abate: Rather, it shows every sign of being about to spill from the smartphone industry into the broader online world.
If Yahoo succeeds in extracting patent royalties from Facebook, for instance, it would almost certainly make similar claims against other Internet companies, particularly newcomers such as Twitter that lack significant patent holdings, according to one experienced litigator.
Others warn Facebook could soon face bigger legal challenges of its own. Amazon’s ownership of a seminal social networking patent predating Facebook’s own intellectual property in the area could leave the social network facing a lawsuit over its core business, says Mr Martin.
Amazon itself has risked a legal morass by branching beyond e-readers into mobile devices, such as the Kindle Fire, with a broader range of uses, another legal expert says. Lawyers will be rubbing their hands at the prospect.
For the inventors whose ideas set the whole system in motion, meanwhile, all of this conjures up a certain air of unreality.
“I’m interested in people using my ideas,” says Ms Masthoff, echoing the age-old cry of inventors everywhere – before adding, with resignation: “But then, of course, companies also have to protect their businesses.” The Financial Times Limited
Richard Waters heads the Financial Times’ San Francisco bureau.
A Patent is just the registration of an idea that has little value unless it is brought to the markets to complete a product, where it’s instrinsic value is fully realised, then to protect your market share, it is a very valuable holding to exert your legal rights to prevent other’s from copying your ideas thru proper licensing, not as a barrier for innovations. Therefore not every Patent is valuable unless it is brought to the markets, by registration of an idea to prevent competition is the most stupid way to waste money, and existing laws cannot differentiate the value of Patents, combined with complexity of different markets, make patent laws very in-efficient for innovations.
A Patent has great value when it can derive an income from a potential market thru licensing and cross agreements, but if the market has passed, where will the value comes from? So there will always be a lifetime for patents, and after expiration the value is almost nil. Even Patents is subject to the laws of Demand and Supply eg would you buy an oldie song from the 60s, and collect royalties even though the licence has already expired? I would if there is a potential to make an income, but if there is no demand, I will stay far from it.
At times, unless the income justifies, I might just CC the license instead of patent.
A Creative Commons license is one of several copyright licenses that allow the distribution of copyrighted works. The licenses differ by several combinations that condition the terms of distribution. They were initially released on December 16, 2002 by Creative Commons, a U.S. non-profit corporation founded in 2001.
As of July 2011, Creative Commons licenses have been “ported” over 50 different jurisdictions worldwide. No new ports are being started as preparations for version 4.0 of the license suite begin.
– Contributed by Oogle.


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Salesforce: 5 Ways New Tech is Changing the Way We Market
OREANDA-NEWS. August 11, 2016. Can you imagine what life will look like after smartphones? One expert says new tech like augmented reality will soon make our once-revolutionary iPhones look like typewriters.
Shel Israel is author of Lethal Generosity: Contextual Technology and the Competitive Edge and the forthcoming Beyond Mobile: Life After Smartphones. He's an expert on how technology impacts business and life.
We interviewed Shel on this week’s episode of the Marketing Cloudcast — the marketing podcast from Salesforce — to hear his expertise on what technologies are growing most quickly, the effects of VR and AR on customer expectations, and Snapchat as a 1-to-1 AR experience.
You should subscribe for the full episode, but here are a few takeaways from our conversation with Shel about the speed of technology and its impact on marketing.
1. Customers, not big companies, have the most influence.
Shel makes a compelling argument that because technologies like smartphones and the internet have opened up more resources to customers, and more technology is developing every day, the way we create successful marketing strategies must change as well. The control is shifting away from organizations and towards customers themselves.
Shel explains, “It seems to me that we’re moving from an era when marketing was based on the premise that the company is in control, or the brand is in control, to an era when smart marketers are discovering the customer is now in control. The customer has influence over other customers. Customers are more responsive to the experience they have in encountering a brand at every touchpoint than they are in responding to marketing messages.”
2. Tech advancements are happening more quickly.
“The important thing I say is that this is all coming very soon," advises Shel.
The rate of change is speeding up. The first iPhone was introduced in 2007, and it only had seven applications. Now, in less than 10 years, we see hundreds of thousands of app developers and 1.2 million applications. This is a microcosm for the speed of change.
Shel puts it in perspective by saying, “I don’t know if my life will change. I’m 72 years old and I have seen many next big things. But when I look at the world and I look at the experience, particularly of younger people — of millennials and the generation that follows them that we call mindcrafters — I see them seeing the phone, the smartphone of today, the way I see the upright standard non-electronic typewriter that I bought when I was thirteen so that I could be a writer one day.”
New tech may not be business-oriented when it's first launched, but all new tech will eventually be business tech. According to Shel, “Right now it’s not a business mecca, it’s mostly happening in games and entertainment. But games and entertainment are a first step into what will eventually and very shortly start impacting every part of our lives, particularly our work lives and business places.”
3. Virtual reality is coming — for everyone.
“The center of people’s lives and of commerce will move from the handset to the headset, and everything we do with a computer today, including typing, will be done with the eyes — not with gestures, grunts, tapping on screens. And the things we look at will not be on screens, either. They’ll be three-dimensional," Shel predicts.
Everything is heading towards augmented and virtual reality. Shel says, “Real things and virtual things will mix together. You’ll be able to touch and feel virtual things." This will change communication styles across all platforms. In turn, software and devices will get better at anticipating the needs of individuals. “These are devices that get to know the users so well they can predict what you want very often before you know yourself what you want, certainly before your spouse or whoever you’re closest with knows.”
That might feel like a big jump, but think about the first time you played with an iPhone or emailed a friend for the first time. Once most people have experienced new technology, it’s only a matter of time before they want it for themselves. Shel explains that for VR, “it’s a quantum leap, because the scale is huge already. Nobody wants to own VR headsets unless they’ve already experienced it. Then after ten minutes, two-thirds of the people that tried a ten-minute demo end up wanting to own the technology they tried. People are that ready to do it.”
4. Product research is peer-centric.
“We are now turning to our peers and previous customers rather than to corporate spokespeople and sports luminaries endorsing products. That is where research begins — it's what our peers tell us is important," says Shel.
Customers want to hear from the people they trust and value the most, and that means other people just like them. With more access to reviews and social media platforms, it takes just a few seconds to get feedback from a friend or previous customers and get first-hand knowledge of any product or experience. This flips the old style of product discovery and research on its head.
Shel confirms, “Traditionally, companies have thought that they could be the source of information about their products and their competitors’ products. They used advertising, marketing, PR, and corporate communications to address these issues. In the last few years, the advent of technology — certainly the mobile phone, but also social media, fluid data, the internet of things, and location technologies — has allowed people to start researching the products they want. Not from what companies have to say, not even what Google has to say, but from what their friends have to say and what previous customers have to say.”
5. Snapchat shows a glimpse into the future of contextual marketing.
“Snapchat has found a way of marketing very specifically to the context of a situation and to make it fun. If every marketer could do that, then marketing would be a beloved profession," laughs Shel.
By now, most social media users have by now seen a Snapchatted image of a friend with a crazy zombie face or a rainbow shooting out of his or her mouth. This 1-to-1 AR experience is all part of Snapchat’s brilliance. And according to Shel, Snapchat has its "fingers on, not just the pulse of younger people — their demographic is reaching out to thirty-five-year-olds. But Snapchat is more in tune with how marketing is going to happen [than other social networks]. It involves peer-to-peer, but more than that, they’re using augmented reality.”
Snapchat uses what Shel calls “pinpoint marketing” that connects who you are, where you are, and what you're doing to what a brand would like to communicate to you. “There are all kinds of highly localized, highly demographic-specific promotions going on. This is how Snapchat plans to make its money. And Snapchat is the only place I know where you talk to users and they just love the marketing. Have you ever heard that about your marketing?” It's true — branded geofilters and lenses are something that garner press and glee from users.
And that’s just scratching the surface of our conversation with Shel Israel (@shelisrael). Get the complete low-down on where technology is leading marketing with a world renowned futurist in this episode of the Marketing Cloudcast.


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The NFT launch features prominent TikTokers including Lil Nas X, Bella Poarch, Curtis Roach, Brittany Broski and others.
Social media platform TikTok has announced its first foray into the nonfungible token, or NFT, market with a new collection inspired by its leading trend-setters.
On Thursday, the company unveiled TikTok Top Moments, a new program that allows creators to be recognized and rewarded for their content. The NFT drops will be launched on Ethereum and powered by Immutable X, a new scaling solution for layer-two NFT protocol Immutable.
TikTok Top Moments is said to feature a selection of six TikTok videos from the network’s most influential creators. Each one is intended to celebrate the impact of these creators in making TikTok one of the largest social networks in the world.
The company said that proceeds from the sales will go directly to the content creators and NFT artists.
TikTok appears to be slowly pivoting towards blockchain technology as part of its overall business strategy. As Cointelegraph recently reported, the company has partnered with blockchain streaming platform Audius around a new feature called TikTok Sounds. The integration allows Audius users to export songs created on the protocol to TikTok.
TikTok has roughly 1 billion users, with its United States audience increasingly utilizing the app to discover new artists and songs. Since launching its mainnet services in October 2020, Audius’ user base has grown to 5 million.
NFTs have emerged as a major driver of blockchain adoption, with businesses and individuals keen to embrace digital collectibles. August was the busiest month on record for the nascent industry, with total NFT sales hitting $4 billion.


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Twitter nearly doubled its revenue last quarter, handsomely beating forecasts, but it continues to battle slow user growth.
Twitter ended the fourth quarter of 2014 with 288 million monthly active users, up 20 percent from the same quarter a year earlier, it announced Thursday. That was the smallest growth rate Twitter has ever reported.
Still, it managed to increase sales thanks to a strong advertising business. Total revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31 was US$479 million, up 97 percent from a year earlier. Analysts had expected revenue of $453 million, according to Thomson Reuters.
Twitter's loss for the quarter was $125.4 million, much better than the $511 million it lost a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, which excludes certain expenses, earnings per share was $0.12, double the analyst estimate of $0.06.
Following the release of the results, Twitter's stock was up almost 9 percent in after hours trading, at $44.95.
"We closed out the year with our business advancing at a great pace," Twitter CEO Dick Costolo said in a statement.
For the full year, Twitter's revenue was $1.4 billion, more than double its 2013 revenue of $665 million.
Twitter has increased the sophistication and targeting of its ad products over the years, but it's under pressure to expand its user base more quickly. It's user growth rate has declined each quarter since it went public a little over a year ago.
One way it's tried to do this is by touting the value of tweets viewed on other websites, away from its own services. These "logged out" users could be a valuable source of ad revenue, Costolo has said.
Just this week, Twitter said it will begin displaying tweets from advertisers on outside properties, starting with Flipboard and Yahoo Japan.
It's also trying to make it easier for new users to enjoy its service. This week, for instance, it began testing a feature for new users on its Android app that automatically builds a list of people for them to follow.


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DES PLAINES, IL - APRIL 14: The "Speedee" McDonald's sign is seen at the McDonald's USA First Store Museum April 14, 2005 in Des Plaines, Illinois. The McDonald's museum is a recreation of the first McDonald's restaurant opened at this location by founder Ray Kroc on April 15, 1955. The original red and white tiled restaurant was finally torn down in 1984 and the present facility was built according to the original blueprints with some modifications to accommodate visitors and staff. The customer service and food preparation areas contain original equipment and the all male crew is represented by mannequins dressed in the 1955 uniform of dark trousers, white shirts, aprons and paper hats. McDonald's will mark their 50th anniversary with an opening of a new restaurant in Chicago. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
The shake machine isn’t broken at McDonald’s in England, Scotland, and Wales, it’s just empty. The chain says they’re running low on shakes and bottled drinks at 1,250 of their locations in those countries due to what they’re calling “supply chain issues.”
A shortage of truck drivers is causing problems for a wide range of businesses in the region, with many having problems getting supplies. McDonald’s is dealing with the shortage the only way it can, by taking some items off the menu.


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Shares were marginally lower on the ASX and China’s decision to impose levies on Australian wine caused an Aussie wine distributor’s stocks to plunge.
The S&P/ASX200 benchmark index was lower by 28.1 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 6573 at 1200 AEDT on Monday.
The All Ordinaries was lower by 23.3 points, or 0.34 per cent, to 6793.5.
The flat start comes after the US’ top infectious disease expert said the nation may see a “surge upon a surge” of the coronavirus in the weeks ahead.
The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the United States topped 200,000 for the first time on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
China has imposed levies of up to 212 per cent on Australian wine exports in the latest stoush with its number one trading partner.
It adds to a growing list of Australian exports that have become entangled in a diplomatic war of words between the two countries, including coal, timber, meat, lobsters and barley.
Treasury Wine Estates’ shares were down 7.25 per cent to $8.56.
The company earlier said a deposit of 169.3 per cent will be applied to the imported value of its wine in containers of two litres or less.
Meanwhile the Reserve Bank’s monthly figures showed total credit was flat for a third straight month in October, to be just 1.8 per cent higher on the year.
That is the lowest annual rate since February 2010 and the aftermath of the global financial crisis.
Mortgages for owner-occupiers and investors rose by just 0.3 per cent in October, to leave the annual rate at 3.3 per cent.
Elsewhere on the ASX, the big miners were mixed. BHP lost 0.63 per cent to $38.47, Rio Tinto shed 0.22 per cent to $101.77 and Fortescue was up 1.02 per cent to $18.76.
Gold miner Newcrest has formed a joint venture with Greatland Gold for the Havieron gold and copper project in Western Australia.
Shares in Newcrest lost 0.55 per cent to $26.94.
Clothing retailer Kathmandu said its chief executive Xavier Simonet has resigned to lead the Australian government’s trade arm, Austrade.
Shares were down 4.08 per cent to $1.17.
In banking, ANZ lost 1.34 per cent to $22.78, the Commonwealth shed 1.10 per cent to $79.82, NAB eased by 0.81 per cent to $23.13 and Westpac declined by 0.85 per cent to $20.25.
The Aussie dollar was buying 74.02 US cents at 1200 AEDT, up from 73.75 US cents at Friday’s close.


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They have more in common than just an incredible sense of style. Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi joined Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Wednesday night and dished on why he’s “so excited” and “can’t wait” to watch newcomer Jenna Lyons in the new season of The Real Housewives Of New York City.
“I’m a huge supporter of hers,” Mizrahi said. “I love any lesbian appearing on any show of any kind. She’s representin’, honey! Representing the community.”
Before coming out as a queer woman, Lyons was married to artist Vincent Mazeau, who is the father of her son, Beckett. In the First Look of Season 14, Lyons told the other ‘Wives she was outed by the media, and didn’t come out on her own as being gay.
Dating-rhony-cast-member-explainer” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>RELATED: Fashion Staple Jenna Lyons Is Joining RHONY — Who Is She Dating?
The Parsons Connection Between Lyons and Mizrahi
Mizrahi began producing women’s clothing while taking evening classes at the famous Parsons School of Design when he was only 15 years old, according to Medium. Jenna Lyons is also a Parsons alum, joining J. Crew after graduating in 1990. Lyons admitted in an interview she was a fan of Mizrahi even back then.
“When I went to Parsons, the critics were Donna Karan, Isaac Mizrahi, Marc Jacobs, and Calvin Klein,” Lyons said in an interview with Fashion Week Daily. “It was really at the height of American fashion. It was exhilarating and intimidating and so inspiring.”
Lyons also told Variety her favorite film that takes place in the fashion world is Unzipped. The 1995 documentary follows Mizrahi, after he received a negative review for his Spring 1994 collection.
“I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Isaac Mizrahi on several occasions, and am somewhat close to his orbit through Parsons,” Lyons told Variety. “Watching him share the behind-the-scenes of his life and friends and humor and approach to fashion was magic. It made me fall in love with him.”
The Big Apple Connection Between Lyons and Mizrahi
Lyons has bumped into Mizrahi a few times while out and about in New York City as well.
“I have serious memories of leaving Nell’s [nightclub] at 3 a.m. and trotting over to Florent for a 3 a.m. snack,” she told The Regular. “There would be Marc Jacobs and Isaac Mizrahi in the corner. I would see Catherine Deneuve and Calvin Klein too. It was the most exciting time for me in New York. There was an incredible life and fire that existed when I first arrived in 1987.”
Mizrahi said on WWHL that as a designer, he’s also run into Lyons during her 26-year career at J.Crew, where she served as its president and executive creative director.
Watch Lyons, Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jessel Tank and Brynn Whitfield when Season 14 of The Real Housewives of New York City premieres Sunday, July 16 at 9/8c on Bravo, with episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.


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According to a ChangeWave Consumer Mobile Phone Survey, a huge number of consumers are upgrading their phones to more-advanced smartphone models. Research In Motion and Apple appear to be the primary beneficiaries of this new paradigm shift towards smartphones. Apple iPhone is now the top choice among consumers planning to buy a new mobile phone in the next six months (up one point to 17%), but second-place RIM has the most momentum (up three points to 15%).
Apple also maintained its big industry lead in customer satisfaction compared with the other major manufacturers: 72% of respondents having reported that they are very satisfied with their iPhone. RIM is a strong second with 55% having said that they are very satisfied.
What about Motorola?
In short, Motorola is doomed. Motorola who used to dominate has declined another four points in terms of future planned purchases, continuing an inevitable slide that began immediately after Apple CEO Steve Jobs' initial announcement regarding the iPhone. As the above chart shows, Motorola's share of future planned purchases has plummeted during the past 12 months and its highly unlikely that it will rise again in the short to mid-term and maybe not even in the long term.
So, its really not a bad news for Motorola to finally call it a day for its mobile division and focus on other areas. Problem is who is going to buy them...
A further sign that the US economy is slowing down is reflected through the weaker overall consumer mobile phone buying environment below. Only 23% of respondents said they'll purchase or upgrade their cell phone during the next six months. That's three points less than at any other point during the past year.
This maybe a US centric survey but it certainly has a bearing on some of the region. In some region, the adoption of smartphones had taken off quite a while ago. A good example would be China, Japan and Korea where most mobile users have access to a powerful wireless device allowing them communicate and staying connected over the internet.
The global trend is certainly heading that direction and I cant see why the US will not. They may have taken a while to realise the real power of mobile phone and its clear from the survey, the adoption rate will only speed up.


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US specialty apparel retailer Gap Inc is stepping into the secondhand apparel market through a new partnership with online resale store ThredUp.
Gap says it is the largest clean out participant to date in ThredUp’s Resale-as-a-Service (RAAS) programme, in which shoppers can exchange their unwanted clothes for shopping credits that can be redeemed at Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, or Janie and Jack.
“As the resale revolution continues to gain momentum, participating in re-commerce is not only good for our planet, but good for business,” says Mark Breitbard, president, Gap Inc specialty brands. “Our customers are diversifying their closets, whether with new clothing, rental pieces, or secondhand goods.”
Starting in April, ThredUp Clean Out bags or labels will be available in some Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta and Janie and Jack stores in the US, enabling customers to send in unwanted items for consignment. In addition, customers who redeem their credits at Gap brands will receive an additional 15% payout bonus.
Gap is aiming to divert more than 30m pounds of material annually from landfills. The retailer says it currently diverts nearly 50% of waste generated from its North American facilities.