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We asked, you told us: Sony should totally launch a new Xperia Play
With 2020 seeing the continued rise of smartphone gaming, the emergence of game streaming services, and the imminent debut of the PlayStation 5, it seems a perfect time for the likes of Sony to relaunch a dedicated gaming phone of its own. Its last official swing at a portable gaming phone came from 2011’s Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, an Android phone that borrowed its design from the PSP Go.
In September, images of the Xperia Play 2, a rumored canned sequel, made a surprise appearance online. Sony hasn’t officially confirmed that it had planned another device in the line, but the apparent prototype did get us thinking about the company’s mobile gaming history.
We asked readers if they’d purchase a rebooted Xperia Play should Sony relaunch the line. Here’s what you told us.
Would you buy a rebooted Xperia Play in 2020?
Over 2,700 votes were cast in this one, and there’s an overwhelming winner. Nearly four-fifths (79.8%) of voters said they’d absolutely purchase a rebooted Xperia Play if Sony made such a device available.
While there are plenty of gaming phones on offer from a number of OEMs, none pack a slide-up screen and built-in controller buttons like the Xperia Play. If Sony were to rework a device for the modern smartphone era, it would pack modern hardware too. A slider with dedicated control inputs, an OLED display, a Snapdragon 865 chipset, and 5G connectivity could be a monster gaming device.
Some readers don’t feel this way, though. Around 20% of respondents said they wouldn’t purchase a rebooted Xperia Play. Considering the apparent prototype surfaced some nine years after the first device’s launch, it could suggest Sony wasn’t too confident in the product. Sony’s modern smartphones have also grown more conservative and refined with a focus on camera performance and video entertainment. Mobile gaming perhaps isn’t as prominent in its list of core principles as it once was.
Here’s what you had to say
- Connor Oud: If they made it with game streaming (xCloud, Steam Link, PlayStation Remote Play, Stadia) in mind, I’d buy it.
- Ahmed AbuBakr: I would instantly buy one, regardless of the price, I loved the first one. Hopefully, some Chinese brand comes up with a similar design.
- Batou2034: If they launched that now with Xperia 1ii specs it would sell hotcakes.
That’s it for this poll. Thanks to everyone who voted and commented on this one. If you have any additional thoughts on our results or the modern Xperia Play Sony should build, be sure to drop your comments down below.


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Today, Innovatemap announced a corporate partnership with Ivy Ventures, an operator-based venture capital firm that provides founders with resources to grow and scale early-stage companies.
Innovatemap provides a strategic advantage to this newly launched $20 million operator-based fund, bolstering the traditional VC firm model. Ivy Ventures’ portfolio companies partner with the digital product agency to ensure products being invested in are marketable, valuable and usable.
Mike Reynolds, CEO of Innovatemap, says, “Ivy Ventures gives founders the success factor that goes beyond just writing a check. A successful tech company founder must be product-minded. Innovatemap uses our ample experience in product diligence and extended support that is instrumental to founders who want their investment partner to make a strategic difference in their business.”
Entrepreneur Scott Kraege, in partnership with Innovatemap and Valeo, built Ivy Ventures to merge founders with experts who have operations and entrepreneurial experience and corporate partners with strategically-aligned skill sets to propel businesses forward. Valeo, a financial advisory firm that offers objective, independent financial guidance, will equip founders with access to vetted investor networks in addition to funding.
“Capital is essential for a successful venture firm, but the people and partners behind the capital are often more impactful to early-stage founders,” said General Partner Scott Kraege. “John, Mike and I wanted to create a fund built and funded by operators. The addition of decades worth of our combined knowledge about what it takes to create, grow and scale a business is the most impactful support a fund can provide.”
After founding, exiting and advising dozens of founding teams, Kraege added, “I understand how building a successful business requires more than a check. We’ve created a fund that offers a strategically led, operator-based approach to launching companies that doesn’t start and end with an investment.”
In addition to the corporate partners, investors and advisors strategically complement the fund’s operator-based formula. This network includes individuals with expansive industry expertise providing founders with domain experience, mentorship and true partnership. Working alongside the entrepreneurs, investors and advisors behind Ivy Ventures’ first fund, founders can create compelling products and services, and allocate investment dollars wisely.
By selectively partnering with founders, Ivy Ventures leaders extend the impact their operator-led approach can have on each company. Multiple founders have been selected with the expertise of the firm’s network and corporate partners in mind, resulting in perfectly matched fund-to-founder fit.
For more information, visit ivy.fund or contact us.

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Samsung has launched a new smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy A71. The phone has started selling this Monday, February 17 in Brazil, both online and offline and is priced locally at an equivalent of $644. The phone has some moderate specifications with the camera setup matching some of the top phones in the market. The company can be expected to bring the phone to the other markets soon, including the US.
The Galaxy A71 Has Decent Specifications
With a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, the Samsung Galaxy A71 comes with a Full HD+ screen that offers a resolution of 2,400×1,080 pixels. The octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC is the processor and the phone has 6GB RAM support. The internal storage is 128GB with a provision for the microSD card. The battery too is powerful at 4,500mAh with 25W fast charging provision. The Android 10 OS comes with the corresponding One UI interface as it is with all Samsung models.
Quad Camera Setup in the Rear
The camera setup in the rear has four sensors. The primary sensor is the 64MP shooter. There is the 12MP ultra-wide camera that offers a 123-degree view to snap pictures; there are 2x5MP sensors, one a macro lens and the other a depth sensor. The front camera is also a powerful 32MP.
The camera section on the Samsung Galaxy A71 will, therefore, be the highlighted feature that Samsung will use while pushing in its marketing communications.
The phone is being released in three colors, Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Silver, and Prism Crush Blue.
As indicated above, the price of the Samsung Galaxy A71 has been fixed at 2,799 Real, the Brazilian currency which converts to US$644. The Samsung Brazil site clearly states that the device is selling in the market from February 17.
The only question to be answered is if the company has plans to launch the phone in other markets like the US. There is no reason to believe it won’t.
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In a significant development, the General Brotherhood of American Apparel Workers (GBWAA), a union for garment workers at American Apparel’s southern California manufacturing facilities has called for a boycott of the brand’s merchandise, pointing to mass layoffs and reduced compensation and benefits that have intensified since new management in January 2015 began a process of post-bankruptcy restructuring throughout the corporation.
Currently, GBWAA is awaiting a certification election date from the National Labor Relations Board, and workers with the union say they are calling for the boycott because American Apparel consumers must know corporation is not the high-wage, sweatshop-free company once marketed itself to be, especially since Paula Schneider replaced American Apparel founder Dov Charney as chief executive officer of the corporation.
According to the Union president Stephanie Padilha dos Santos, if people are used to buying American Apparel and think that the company is great and that the whole concept of paying fair wages in industry was what made the company a huge success, then we invite you now to boycott the brand because it is no longer sweatshop-free.
Padilha alleges that the company has been outsourcing production to other ‘sweatshops’ around Los Angeles, while reducing the once relatively high wages earned by production workers at the company, which were the highest in the world, according to the company.
Meanwhile, in another round of layoffs, over 500 workers are reported to have been laid off this April as part of what Schneider has called a ‘redesign of production process.’


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The iPod is now unfortunately on the wane (and mainly because its features are incorporated in iPhones these days), but it played a hugely important role in getting music distribution to where it is today. Commentators have noted that it helped bring about the end of the "album era" and push the industry to the focus on digital singles that we all know so well. But according to a editorial on the history of portable audio devices on Samsung's site (via 9to5Mac), all that never happened.
The next time you think you've paid a lot for your Apple computer, consider the buyers of a rare working Apple I motherboard who put down $905,000 for the unit at a Bonhams History of Science auction in New York. The Bonhams video accompanying the auction (below) suggested it might go for around $300,000 or $500,000, but it left the lot for about double that.
Provided you're the kind of person who has enough spare cash lying around to buy a house on a whim, you might be interested in picking up the alleged 64GB iPhone 6 prototype that's currently making a big splash on eBay. The seller (known as kimberlyk1018) reportedly received the phone from Verizon by accident, and bids for the device have soared since it appeared last week.
The Apple Online Store went down in many parts of the world overnight, and eager shoppers were discouraged to find nothing new when the lights came back on. That is, unless they happened to be in the market for one of those affordable 8GB iPhone 5c handsets, which have now shown up in 14 more countries — but the USA is sadly not one of them, so you'll have to be satisfied with our morning recap instead...
Steve Jobs tends to get a bad rap on account of his near-insufferable nature and his demands for perfection, but a new book by Pixar president and co-founder Ed Catmull demonstrates how the famed animation studio partly changed the Apple co-founder for the better.
One unexpected benefit of Apple's ongoing legal battle with Samsung is that it allows us to see resources from Apple that might have remained secret for years. The latest comes from Greg Christie, a senior software engineer at Apple, who recently spoke to the Wall Street Journal regarding the iPhone's development with permission from Apple.
Apple's retail stores have spread like wildfire over the last few years, but we don't often get to hear about the resellers who sometimes get pushed aside in the process. Today the oldest, Minneapolis's First Tech, announced that it'll close its doors on March 30 after 73 years in business. Even more noteworthy, the closure will occur after it sold Apple's first batch of Apple IIs in 1977, effectively making it Apple's first reseller.
Last month we reported that David Fincher, the director behind such memorable films as Fight Club and The Social Network, is in talks to direct a Steve Jobs biopic based on Walter Isaacson's acclaimed biography. Apparently those talks are still ongoing, although now Fincher claims he'll only direct the film if acclaimed actor Christian Bales performs in the lead role.
Decades of fascinating and enlightening documentary work by filmmaker Ken Burns form the core of his self-titled app, which draws on close to four hours of footage compiled from documentaries covering a huge breadth of material relating to American history. While we’d have liked to have some longer clips included, careful, almost meticulous design and curation underpins everything. Only the 13-scene, 31-minute innovation playlist is available free, though; the rest of the videos and the other five playlists are locked behind a $9.99 in-app purchase.
NHM Alive tries to distill the wonderment and discovery of London’s Natural History Museum into app form — and mostly pulls it off. Sir David Attenborough acts as narrator and guide through the experience, which includes a mixture of photos, descriptive text, CGI stills, and videos that shine a light on the current scientific consensus regarding a cast of 10 prehistoric creatures. Developer Colossus Productions clearly made an effort here to instill a playful, discovery-driven element to the experience, but it’s not clear just what there is to discover — or how — and that makes the app seem frustratingly simple at first. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of detail lurking beneath the surface.


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Target has agreed to buy Chefs Catalog from JH Partners, LLC, a private equity firm specializing in investing growth capital in consumer-focused companies.
Gap Inc., Ebay, Safeway, Wegmans, Whole Foods, Costco, Target, Best Buy and OfficeMax were all named to Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list.
Scott Kennedy was named president of Target financial and retail service to replace long time finance executive Terry Scully.
The Department of Commerce reported that retail sales for the month of February rose by 1.1% seasonally adjusted month to month.
Macy's has announced Teen Vogue as the latest fashion-forward collection to launch exclusively in Macy's Mstylelab department.
First quarter same store sales are expected to increase in the high teens at Cabela’s and drive earnings substantially higher than analysts’ estimates, the retailer said late Tuesday in advance of an investor conference today.
Express, a specialty retail apparel chain operating more than 620 stores, reported that fourth quarter net sales increased 8% to $728.7 million from $673.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Dick’s Sporting Goods first Field & Stream outdoor specialty store is scheduled to open this fall in the Pittsburgh suburb of Cranberry Township.
The Bon-Ton Stores reported that its net income for the fourth quarter was a better-than-expected $74.4 million, compared with $78.2 million in the year-ago period.
The EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership recognized Office Depot with a Climate Leadership Goal Achievement Award for Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management.


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27 October 2004 German software giant SAP is preparing to launch a subscription-based version for its enterprise software, showing that even the most complex business applications can be delivered as a service.
SAP will partner with Hewlett Packard (HP) to jointly market and sell SAP’s business applications for a monthly fee of £325 per user, which includes installation and maintenance costs.
SAP has to date resisted joining the market for “pay-as-you-go” software, despite the success of companies such as Salesforce.com.
“The new pay-by-the-month programme is not technically subscription software,” said Gary Former, senior vice president of hosting at SAP. “SAP is merely spreading out the cost of its software through a special three-to-five year financing arrangement.”
According to Former, at the end of the five-year period, customers will owe no further payments to SAP. “They can also choose to cancel the hosting contract with HP at this point,” he added.
SAP and HP plan to market the new programs to medium-to-large sized businesses – specifically targeting those whose annual revenue is less than $1 billion.
The packages will incorporate accounting software and order processing software. The companies plan to make bespoke versions of the new products available to oil and gas companies, high-tech device makers, computer services firms and food companies.


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As part of its charitable giving program jcp cares, jcpenney will be supporting Share Our Strength, an organization helping to end childhood hunger in America. From Nov. 1-22, jcpenney customers can join jcpenney in its support by rounding up their store purchases to the nearest whole dollar to support Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54269-jcpenney-supports-share-our-strength-no-kid-hungry-campaign-in-november
As part of its charitable giving program, jcp cares, jcpenney is supporting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization committed to funding scientific research to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime. This October, in honor of breast cancer awareness month, jcpenney customers can round up their store purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54268-jcpenney-invites-customers-to-support-breast-cancer-research-foundation
As part of its charitable giving program, jcp cares, jcpenney is supporting Teach For America, an organization committed to developing teachers and leaders to make America’s schools great. Throughout the month of September, jcpenney customers can round up their store purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to Teach For America.
Teach For America works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunities for children facing the challenges of poverty. Each year, the organization recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding individuals of all academic disciplines to commit two years to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity. Today more than 10,000 corps members are teaching in 46 urban and rural regions across the country.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54267-jcpenney-invites-customers-to-support-teach-for-america
jcpenney CEO Ron Johnson gives an early look inside the latest brand Shops emerging Sept. 1 in nearly 700 stores nationwide. The Company will debut brand Shops for Liz Claiborne®, IZOD® and jcp™ – a new jcpenney exclusive brand dedicated to high-quality fashion basics. These new fall shops will add to its existing portfolio of Shops inside jcpenney, which include Levi’s®, The Original Arizona Jean Co., i jeans by Buffalo™, MNG by Mango® and Sephora®. Over the next few years, jcpenney stores will transform its sales floor into a dynamic collection of 100 Shops showcasing major apparel and home brands for every style and budget. jcpenney is on an exciting journey to build the first specialty department store of its kind by creating an unforgettable retail experience that will forever change the way America shops.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54266-jcpenney-ceo-introduces-second-wave-of-shops
As jcpenney sets its sights on becoming America’s favorite store, the Company has launched jcp cares, a new charitable giving program. Through jcp cares, jcpenney will support a new cause each month by inviting customers to round up their purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the Company’s featured charity partner. jcp cares will kick-off July 1 with jcpenney’s support of the USO (United Service Organizations), a nonprofit, congressionally chartered, private organization dedicated to lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families. Along with round-up donations raised by customers throughout the month of July, jcpenney will be making a $1 million donation to the USO. jcpenney will also donate $1 – up to $50,000 – to the USO for each customer that checks in to a jcpenney store via foursquare from July 23-31.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57028-jcpenney-launches-charitable-giving-program-jcp-cares
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest non-profit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are joining forces to provide America’s newest generation of military veterans with more than $1 million in apparel and footwear to start new civilian wardrobes. With over two million servicemen and women who deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the “Welcome Heroes” campaign seeks to honor and support recent vets with the apparel needed to pursue new career opportunities or to enjoy the leisure activities missed most at home.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/jcpenney/51176/
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) today announced that it is launching an inspiring new philanthropic initiative that invites customers in over 1,100 stores to turn small change into “pennies from heaven” by rounding up their purchases and donating the difference to life-enriching afterschool programs. For more than a decade, jcpenney has been the leading corporate advocate for the afterschool issue by distributing more than $100 million across every jcpenney community. To bolster support for the afterschool movement, jcpenney will unveil its most extensive cause marketing campaign to date. Serving as the Company’s signature cause-related event, pennies from heaven will be held four times a year starting July 31 through Aug. 27 during the Back-to-School season.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/jcpenney/48223/
jcpenney, America’s shopping destination for great style at compelling prices, today announced “Haul Nation,” an integrated marketing program giving stylish teens an opportunity to share their passion for fashion via video blogging. In partnership with Seventeen.com, jcpenney’s Haul Nation will come to life through an online contest on the jcpTeen and Seventeen Facebook pages and in malls across the country giving young people the tools they need to create haul videos and enter to win a trip to New York City.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/jcpenney/48224/
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) today announced the launch of its 2011 spring marketing campaign, aimed at showcasing jcpenney as America’s destination for great styles at compelling prices. Set to debut during the retailer’s sponsorship of the Academy Awards, the campaign builds on the Company’s “New look. New day. Who knew!®” marketing platform with a new tagline “We make it affordable, you make it yours™.” jcpenney’s new campaign underscores its dramatic style authority transformation and recent initiatives to provide customers the fashion they seek to create their unique style — all at an affordable price point.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/jcpenney/48222/
As the leading corporate advocate for positive afterschool programs, JCPenney is increasing its support of FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) by sponsoring 500 high school teams nationwide as they compete in FIRST robotics competitions this spring.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/jcpenney/48221/
In keeping with its commitment to giving customers the very best selection and shopping experience, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) has rolled out its findmore® smart fixture to over 120 select stores across the country. Additionally, in conjunction with the launch of its Modern Bride concept, the Company will begin rolling out a findmore experience using iPad to 50 fine jewelry departments.
To view Multimedia News release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/jcpenney/48219/
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) today announced the arrival of its exclusive Modern Bride concept in its bridal fine jewelry departments in stores and on jcp.com and modernbride.com. A unique collaboration with Condé Nast, the Modern Bride concept is devoted to providing trusted quality, timeless style and outstanding customer service through a special shopping experience catering to today’s bridal customer.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/jcpenney/48220/


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Working in customer service during Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM) isn’t for the faint of heart.
The numbers behind 2023’s biggest shopping week show just how overwhelming the rush of support traffic can be.
In 2023, over 200M Americans went shopping in person and online during the 5-day BFCM shopping spree — an all-time high. Naturally, an uptick in visitors translates to more support tickets — contact centers often see year-over-year growth north of 20%. So, it’s clear to see why the pressure is on service professionals during this peak season.
BFCM sales figures are also telling. After a slight downturn in 2021, BFCM sales have rocketed in the past 2 years, growing 7.6% year-over-year in 2023.
With 2024’s figures expected to be more impressive, customer service leaders need to act now if they wish to be prepared for the spikes to come.
And teams who have Zowie’s AI-powered automation platform by their side know exactly how valuable this preparation can be. During BFCM, Zowie helped our customers not just maintain output but drive sales and cut resolution times by 50%.
Here’s how we were able to achieve such remarkable results.
Note: While individual businesses may start and end their BFCM periods on slightly different days, our data comes from over 500,000 chat and email conversations our ecommerce customers had with shoppers between Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 (11/24 – 11/27) compared to the previous week (11/17 – 11/20).
BFCM 2023 support traffic
Each year, Cyber Week brings businesses an increase in site traffic — and a surge in support ticket volume.
And 2023 was no different. Ecommerce businesses using Zowie saw a 36% rise in customer chats and a 27% rise in emails from the previous week.
Why? More customers are shopping online, so support teams see a corresponding rise in questions. BFCM shoppers aren’t just browsing — they want to make a purchase now and have plenty of options to choose from. This means they’re more likely to seek out whatever info they’re missing to complete a purchase.
And since live chat is the only channel that can reliably provide instant answers, it stands to reason that the increase in customer chats was higher than the increase in emails during BFCM 2023.
What were customers asking during BFCM 2023?
The top questions customers asked during BFCM 2023 revolved around discounts, promotions, and free shipping — any way shoppers could get more bang for their buck.
Again, this makes perfect sense — BFCM customers are famously price-conscious. The whole appeal of Cyber Week is the promise of great deals, so if you’re going to shop at all, you might as well try to get the best bargains possible, right?
Here are the top 5 customer issues from BFCM 2023 and how high each topic spiked from the week before:
Due to the nature of these customer queries, delivering timely responses is vital. Long wait times could easily turn into missed sales opportunities — especially if competing websites give faster replies.
Herein lies the BFCM dilemma — support teams see tickets skyrocket, and each query represents a high-priority customer who’s burning to click Buy. That’s why customer service reps can easily feel overburdened each Cyber Week.
Automation tools like Zowie take the pressure off agents’ shoulders by completely removing repetitive tickets from their plates. Zowie’s AI-powered software handles the bulk of customer service questions, enabling teams to maximize efficiency and realize their revenue-generating potential.
As the top generative AI chatbot for ecommerce, Zowie gives its customers a valuable lifeline during Cyber Week — and throughout the year. For BFCM 2023, Zowie achieved a 79% automation rate for all of our ecommerce customers. In addition, Zowie fully resolved 43% of customer chats with no agent interaction needed.
The result — slashing resolution times by 50%
Zowie helped its customers cut resolution times by 50% during BFCM 2023.
The questions shoppers ask each Cyber Week are simple and repetitive, concerning discounts, shipping, and checkout. Answers to these questions can easily be added to a business’s knowledge base — even well before BFCM — to ensure customers can find this information on their own. The Zowie Chatbot learns this knowledge base, so any time shoppers ask these common queries, the tool automatically provides them with an instant response.
And Zowie is always on and fully scalable. As customers ask more questions, Zowie offers more automated responses without getting overworked. Zowie can handle traffic spikes of any size — in any language — letting companies answer hundreds of thousands of questions at once, something that would otherwise be impossible without hiring additional agents.
And with more questions getting automated, support reps now have the bandwidth to quickly resolve high-value questions that require their expertise.
All of this adds up to consistently faster response and resolution times — and more support-driven revenue — even as site traffic grows.
Proven customer service automation for BFCM — and beyond
The numbers say it all — Zowie’s automation suite makes it easier for support teams to deliver faster, better service, even during their busiest times.
Don’t dread Cyber Week — dominate it.


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All three salons are back open again after closing on Monday, as all staff were invited to the first ever Zen Conference.
The event took place at the Point Hotel in Edinburgh – with stunning views looking out across Edinburgh Castle.
It was a busy, fun-filled day where we focused on business development and training, as well as celebrating the business’ success over the last year.
We’ve had a great response from our girls about the day and had a lot of positive feedback! We hope it is the first of many more to come.
Throughout the day, we spoke about the business goals for the future. But most importantly, our fantastic team were brought together for an informative, fun day that presented us with the opportunity to get excited about the future of working at Zen lifestyle.
Some of the highlights from the Zen conference have got to be the chocolate deserts, which we had at lunch, presenting our girls with a Zen goodie bag which included: a voucher for Tigerlily, Mimi’s Bakehouse cupcake, fatBuzz notepad, Zen candle and limited edition Zen chocolate truffles – yum!
Many thanks to everyone who donated these lovely treats – it’s greatly appreciated!
All of the girls at Zen Lifestyle would like to thank their managers, Fiona and Kieran, for putting on a great Zen Conference!


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Published: Oct 25, 2021
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Monday that his ministry is ready to investigate the case of filthy, used medical gloves reportedly being made to look like new before being exported from Thailand to the US and other countries.
Published: Oct 04, 2021
Asean, Australia and New Zealand are to upgrade their free trade agreement by 2022, while Asean Economic Ministers (AEM) in consultations with India have resolved to increase the free trade in goods and provide increased inter-market access in hopes of creating a market of more than 2 billion consumers.
Published: Sep 19, 2021
Koh Phayam in Ranong province will be included in the Andaman Sandbox scheme after Phang Nga and Krabi provinces under expansion of the Phuket Sandbox programme. Meanwhile, the opening of Bangkok on October 15 will require consideration from all parties, the Commerce Ministry said on Saturday.
Published: Sep 06, 2021
The Commerce Ministry plans to continue the price guarantee scheme for various crops for the third year after the National Rice Policy and Administration Committee recently approved the rice price guarantee scheme for crop year 2020-21.
Published: Aug 12, 2021
The Commerce Ministry has filed charges against three Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO) officials for allegedly flouting laws in the purchase of 500 million packs of rubber gloves worth THB112.50 billion.


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Government think-tank Niti Aayog is exploring ways to make legislatures reduce the carbon footprints of their respective states. It plans to provide instructions to states with a target to reduce the carbon emission through electric vehicles that can be used by masses such as Electric Buses.
Niti Aayog’s official spokesperson said that the move will ensure that new orders for public utility vehicles by state transport offices will have a certain percentage of electric vehicles as well.
The report cited the spokesperson, as stating, “…for the country to successfully change to electric vehicles a behavioural change from the consumer, not EV policy, is what is necessary.”
Niti Aayog believes that the move will auger well to continue the momentum of implementing electric vehicles across the country. Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme has a corpus of $116 Mn (INR 800 Cr) allocated for a period of two years that ends in 2019.
States such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa have already started showing commitment to replacing diesel- and petrol-fuelled vehicles with electric vehicles. Meanwhile, Telangana has become the fourth state to have its own electric vehicles policy.
As part of the FAME scheme, state transport corporations –including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Manali, Kolkata and Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Manali, Kolkata and Bangalore –have already introduced electric vehicles into their fleet.


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The convenience of credit cards and slimming consumer wallets may suggest that hard cash is slipping away as a preferred method of payment. But appearances can be misleading.
At least that’s what Ron Delnevo, executive director of the ATM Industry Association (ATMIA) in Europe, suggests. A true indicator of the global demand and usage of cash, Delnevo said in a recent interview with PYMNTS, is the rising number of ATMs. “There are more ATMs than ever before. There's 3 million-plus now installed, so that's a positive,” he said.
Looking at this global trend, China and India are emerging as the two economies – despite their rapid growth rate – that are becoming more invested in keeping their cash flow strong and running. China, which has close to 700,000 ATMs, and India, Delnevo explained, are two countries that see cash usage as a way of improving financial inclusion and boosting access to other services.
In Europe, however, the state of cash seems to be taking an interesting turn, with several countries showing positive growth, and others negative. The situation is further complicated by the looming possibility of Brexit, the proposed exit of Britain from the European Union. Even though the outcome is yet to be seen, Delnevo said, cash usage is expected to go up.
“When people are worried now about economic consequences, they tend to fall back to relying on cash,” he said. “It gives them that sense of security that you don't have otherwise.”
The curious case of cash in Europe
While certain countries in the Eurozone appear to be moving toward becoming cash-free economies, the remaining majority of European countries show positive cash growth, according to analysis conducted for the inaugural PYMNTS.com Global Cash Index™, in collaboration with Cardtronics.
The public affinity for cash is particularly visible in Belgium, Italy, Malta and Portugal — all of which are projected to show double digit total cash growth between 2015 and 2020. In Germany — where, until recently, about 50 percent of eCommerce transactions were paid for by Cash on Delivery (CoD) — consumers are also continuing to choose cash over credit cards. Today, cash accounts for 21.4 percent of all transactions in Germany, which is one of the highest rates across WU-15, the Global Cash Index analysis found.
According to Delnevo, the high percentage of cash adoption in Germany underpins how Germans inherently prefer to be upfront with their payments. When shopping online, Germans would rather have their bills delivered to their homes and pay by cash-on-delivery rather than via cards and internet banking, Delnevo said. “That's the kind of love that Germans place on cash.” There is (also) still a strong allegiance to cash in countries like Spain and Italy and so on,” he said.
The cash scene in some other European countries, however, is very different.
The slow, but growing trend of moving away from cash is something that is increasingly less driven by consumer demand for electronic payments. “Particularly in Sweden, we have had a real assault on the availability of cash carried out by vested interest,” Delnevo said.
In a 2014 survey, about two-thirds of the Swedish population voted that using cash to shop should be an “inalienable human right,” Delnevo noted. Yet the current state of cash in Sweden indicates otherwise. According to the Bank for International Settlements, in 2014, Swedish vaults held close to 3.6 billion kronor in hard cash, which was less than half of the 8.7 billion kronos the country held overall in 2010.
Delnevo isn’t the only advocate who thinks the Swedish banks and credit card companies are discriminating against cash to make way for fee-generating credit card companies.
“I don’t think that’s something they should decide on their own,” said Bjorn Eriksson, head of the Association of Swedish Private Security Companies, a lobbying group that provides companies security for cash transfers, in an interview with The New York Times. “Should they really be able to use their market force to turn Sweden into a cashless society?”
ATMI, Delnevo explained, has recently tasked itself with opening communication channels with governments to educate and “pursue them to take steps and safeguard for public access to cash.”
Why is cash still important?
Does the ubiquity of cash overshadow its importance? It’s actually a lot more nuanced, Delnevo said. The advent of electronic payments has made tracing back every single transaction to its point of origin a reality, thereby giving governments and third-party companies the tools to leverage private data for marketing and other purposes, which fringes upon violating consumer privacy.
Last month, Indonesia announced plans to track down all credit card transactions in an effort to curb rampant tax evasion. The result? An instant decline in credit card usage.
According to reports from the Indonesian Central Bank, the credit card transaction volume dropped by 4 percent (or 2 million transactions) from the month before, reverting to a volume last seen six years ago.
Agus Santoso, deputy head of Indonesia's Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, argued against the government’s motion. "I don't think they're all avoiding taxes, but some did say they feel
their privacy disturbed – they're not comfortable," Santoso said in an interview with Reuters.
Bank Central Asia, the largest credit card provider in the region, reportedly saw a 15 percent decline in card transactions and a 50 percent increase in credit card cancellations following the Indonesian government’s announcement. Most of the cancellations, Santoso said, came from self-employed individuals.
When consumers use cash, it gives them more control and guarantees better freedom and privacy going forward, Delnevo said. The privacy component is something that should not be overlooked, he added, because once it’s gone, it’s unlikely to ever return.
Privacy aside, the tangibility of cash also seems to give consumers a stronger sense of security, which goes missing when their money is stored electronically in a debit card. “I don't think one can understate that people want security, people want the freedom, the privacy, the independence that cash brings,” he added.
The evolution of cash and ATMs
Globally, cash may be less popular these days overall, but with its growing usage, there’s little to no chance of it disappearing anytime soon, as suggested by findings from the Cardtronics Index. However, with changing times, the 3,000-year-old cash-based system seems to be on its own path of evolution – although that path is intertwined with other types of payments and related technologies. Contactless technology, for example, is currently being integrated with ATMs.
Earlier this year, several U.S. banks began rolling out cardless ATMs. Big players like Bank of America (BoA) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are among financial institutions implementing these machines, as they’ve established cardless ATMs that enable consumers to withdraw cash, cash checks, pay off credit card bills and request funds in specific denominations, all through their mobile phones.
“I think, bringing those two together can be really big for the industry,” Delnevo said, of the partnering of contactless technology and cash. The development, he said, has the potential to almost completely eliminate the need for individuals to carry cards. “You used to see ‘carry cash in an emergency,’” Delnevo said. “Well, why not only carry one card in an emergency, and if you want to use cash as your choice – easy, use your smartphone to get it out of an ATM. No worries about remembering PIN numbers, passwords or worrying about your card being scammed – your smartphone will do it for you.”
The rollout of cardless ATMs in the U.S. is coming at a time when banks are increasingly looking at shuttering their physical branch locations to save on real estate expenses, and are instead replacing them with ATM machines, which have added banking capabilities.
In 2015, BoA shuttered 2.65 percent of its branch locations, bringing down the total to 4,789. The same year, in place of the shuttered branches, it increased its ATM count by 1 percent, bringing the total to 16,038 terminals.
The bank also reduced its full-time workforce by 2,979 employees. The trend is similar across Europe, Delnevo said.
Another type of ATM machine, which has been used in Japan since 1982, is fast gaining traction in the European market. These ATMs recycle cash by reutilizing money fed into them by depositors for cash withdrawals by other customers. They also remove the costs incurred in re-feeding ATM machines with fresh cash, Delnevo said. Instead, they utilize the cash fed into them by depositors for dispensing it to others.
ATMs and security
Fraudsters “jackpotting” ATMs through cyber attacks is an activity that’s become all too common. According to FICO, between 2014 and 2015 alone, ATM skimming saw a 546-percent increase in reported worldwide cases. The problem has gained such global momentum that it’s resulting in an annual loss of over $2 billion, U.S. News & World Report reported.
“They (banks) have these little chinks in their armor that let people infiltrate their software ... criminals will always find that crack,” Delnevo said.
While a shift toward EMV ATMs might seem to be a viable solution to combat rising ATM fraud, he said it may be a while before the payment industry sees a concrete change.
What might actually help bring down ATM fraud in the next four or five years, according to Delnevo, is the use of smartphones to withdraw cash from ATMs. “That means you don't have to use a card, and you don't have to use a PIN number at the machine, so the opportunity for scamming more or less disappears. I can see that becoming really big,” he said.
If the ATM printed its own fortune, what might it say?
With double-digit negative cash growth being reported in European countries like Sweden and Ireland, they seem to have set their sights on turning their economies cash-free. On the other hand, with positive cash growth occurring in countries like Belgium, Portugal and Spain, it’s obvious that some nations are striving to keep physical currency in circulation.
As adoption of mobile-powered, cardless ATMs increases, cash is expected to evolve into a safer form of payment, and maintain its ground in the WU-15 economy.
At the end of the day, Delnevo pointed out, the consumer should not lose the option or choice to pay with cash.
“I think people should have the choice to use cash, apps, bitcoin, whatever. Basically, we should have choice. My worry is that choice is being stripped out. That's my main concern, I don't actually spend all my time saying cash is wonderful,” Delnevo said. “If it's a choice and people choose to use it, great, and if they don't, great too. But we've got to give choice to the public.”
To download the 2016 Q2 PYMNTS.com Global Cash Index™, a Cardtronics collaboration, please fill out the form below:
About the Index
The PYMNTS.com Global Cash Index™, a Cardtronics collaboration, focuses on the use of cash for making payments and as a payment method that equally plays a role with cards, checks, direct debit, and other methods of settling up between consumers and businesses. Unlike most reported estimates of cash, our proprietary data analysis focuses on the use of cash for making payments rather than hoarding.


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Addition to Dealertrack uniFI brings truly paperless process to industry’s most holistic deal workflow solution
Dealertrack announced recently the launch of Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI, putting the final piece in place to complete the industry’s first single platform that connects the entire deal workflow process from leads to contracts for the company’s network of approximately 22,000 dealers and more than 1,600 lenders.
“Dealertrack uniFI combines as many as 51 different pieces of paperwork from the car deal process into a single online deal jacket, simplifying the car-buying journey for customers and adding efficiency to submission to lenders,” said Firas Makhlouf, chief information officer of Driver’s Village. “By integrating Digital Contracting into this powerful platform, we can now complete the full end-to-end car-buying process without the need to jump between multiple screens and technologies to get a single deal done.”
According to recent data from Dealertrack, one out of every four paper deals results in delayed funding due to missing or incorrect information.1 With Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI, dealers can reduce data re-entry and ensure documentation is complete and error-free before it is submitted, helping eliminate re-contracting and speeding up funding from an average five days to as fast as the same day. 1
In the past, many dealers and lenders have wavered from adopting digital contracting due to misconceptions such as heightened costs, workflow disruption and a perceived lack of critical mass utilization by all parties. However, the reality today is that digital contracting is connecting more dealers and lenders than ever before, making contracting easier and more efficient while also saving time and money by cutting out printing and shipping.
“Dealers and lenders alike recognize the exponential benefits of electronically managing contracts in transit to improve dealer-lender communication, increase operational efficiency and create a better consumer car shopping experience,” said Cheryl Miller, senior vice president and general manager of Dealertrack F&I and Titling Solutions. “Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI is challenging the status quo by giving dealers and lenders the ability to reduce handling errors and secure more deals and loan originations while better meeting the needs of today’s consumer.”
The Digital Contracting functionality on Dealertrack uniFI adds a host of new enhancements to the platform, including:
- One Deal Jacket: An end-to-end workflow from leads to contracts with all funding documents in a single location, including Aftermarket contracts.
- Real Time Error Display: Data entry validation rules run in real-time, showing in-line errors and alerts to the dealer for quick rectification and greater accuracy prior to contract submission.
- Live Funding Checklist: A dynamically growing, digital list of up-to-date lender-required documents as a particular deal is being finalized — and the status of each of those documents.
- Point of Sale Ancillary Documents Capture: Dealers can now snap and upload high quality stips and trailing document images with their tablets any time, up to the point of funding.
- Multiple Device Support: Engage customers on any device, anywhere in the showroom for a paperless digital review of contracts and an easier signing process — no paper required.
- Local Paper OutTM: If a digital contract ever needs to be converted to paper, it can now be done independently and on-demand by the dealer, with no fees attached.
“From creating a lead and penciling a deal to submitting for approvals and digital contracting, Dealertrack uniFI provides an all-in-one service designed with the end-user in mind,” said Will Pollard, finance manager of Tim Short Chevrolet in Kentucky. “With Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI, we are now seeing funding within minutes of submission, reducing customer wait times and freeing up cash for us to invest in new stock to drive more sales.”
Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI is available in all 50 states.


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Keep up with the latest cybersecurity threats, newly discovered vulnerabilities, data breach information, and emerging trends. Delivered daily or weekly right to your email inbox.
Researcher says Sears and Kmart don't give enough information about app that tracks browsing activity
Dark Reading Staff, Dark Reading
January 2, 2008
1 Min Read
Two researchers say Sears is loading spyware onto customers' computers without providing adequate notice or explanation.
A report published yesterday by Ben Edelman, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School, indicates that the retail giant is violating Federal Trade Commission policies in its distribution of ComScore, an application that tracks Web browsing activity.
Edelman's critique confirms a report published in late December by Benjamin Googins, a researcher at Computer Associates.
Both researchers offer detailed looks at My SHC Community, a Website operated by the Sears Holding Company for both Sears and Kmart. They show how the community's users might be easily misled into loading spyware they don't want on their computers, because the site does not adequately explain it or give proper procedures to decline it.
"The limited notice provided falls far short of the standards the FTC has established," Edelman says. "Sears' claims of adequate notice are demonstrably false."
— Tim Wilson, Site Editor, Dark Reading
Read more about:2008
About the Author(s)
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Not a financial hub yet? Go overseas (KOR)
As K-pop and K-dramas made Korea a cultural hub, a BTS may emerge from the financial industry.
Korea, Japan to discuss currency swap line during ministerial talks
Korea will discuss re-establishing a currency exchange swap line with Japan that expired in 2015 during a ministerial meeting in late June.
Regression to an unequal society? (KOR)
Has our society become a place where people can openly say, “I dream of an unequal world”?
FKTU walks away from minimum wage talks with government
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), the country’s largest umbrella union, walked away from a communication channel with the government, in a move that escalates tensions between the laborers and the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
Not foreigners anymore (KOR)
Over 200,000 people from 110 countries around the world are naturalized as Korean citizens, but the related system is still lacking.
USFK to run space-based early warning system with allies
The space command of United States Forces Korea will be tasked with sharing information from U.S. reconnaissance satellites with South Korea and Japan.
Seismic changes in the intermediary goods trade (KOR)
The changes of the intermediate goods trade mechanism are demanding fundamental solutions for 10, 20 years ahead.
U.S.-China tensions overshadow Shangri-La Dialogue
Reining in North Korea threats dominated South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup's talks with counterparts from the United States, Japan and China in Singapore, but his efforts to solicit cooperation were overshadowed by U.S.-China tensions.
He or she? Think again (KOR)
As changing gender identity awareness is accelerating, it seems difficult to turn the tide.
Banks enjoy record net profit in Q1 as interest rates soar
Banks raised a record net profit in the first quarter on steep interest rate increases.


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Funded by Google News Initiative for media executives of color
(February 11, 2020) — Local Media Association today announced the winners of the Innovation Mission scholarships — funded by the Google News Initiative and LMA. The scholarships cover all costs to attend the upcoming New York City Innovation Mission on March 23-25, an immersive three-day study tour focused on consumer revenue and digital transformation.
The scholarship winners are:
- Jehadu Abshiro, Digital Publisher, Advocate Media
- Enrique Gomez, COO, Grupo AM
- Penda Howell, Vice President, New York Amsterdam News
- Ronnie Ramos, Executive Editor, The Daily Memphian
- Chris Zoeller, Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer, The Post and Courier
The Innovation Mission includes visits to Google, Hearst, Digiday and more.
“We are thrilled to once again offer these important professional development opportunities to media executives of color,” said Nancy Lane, president, Local Media Association. “We’re extremely grateful to the Google News Initiative for funding them.”
Scholarship applicants were asked to share what they hope to learn during the Innovation Mission:
“I am eager to learn the evolving marketing strategies to support our digital subscription growth,” Zoeller said in her application. “I want to dig into how we can set up improved retention strategies around increasing the value of being a subscriber, such as special discounts, access to events and other benefits.”
“We are in the midst of completely revamping our digital products, and this would be an excellent opportunity to glean ideas from successful models that we could implement,” Abshiro said in her application. “I am also interested in the philanthropic partnership seminar since we are currently working on launching our nonprofit news arm for low-income neighborhoods located in news deserts serving minority communities in South and West Dallas.”
The next round of scholarships will open in a few weeks for the Branded Content Innovation Mission taking place in Chicago this June. The Branded Content Innovation Mission scholarships are sponsored by the Facebook Journalism Project.


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As Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on the global economy, Alphabet-owned Google is poised make significant cuts to its marketing spend according to a report from CNBC.
According to documents seen by the news outlet a memo addressed to the company’s marketing team earlier this week informed employees of budget cuts and a marketing hiring freeze to be implemented in the second half of the year.
One message asserts that marketing budgets could be cut by as much as half for the remainder of the year as the company attempts to adapt to the economic impact of the ongoing pandemic.
“As we outlined last week, we are re-evaluating the pace of our investment plans for the remainder of 2020 and will focus on a select number of important marketing efforts,” a Google spokesperson said.
The report comes a week after Bloomberg reported that Alphabet chief Sundar Pichai emailed staff informing existing employees of a hiring slowdown as well as a reduction in spend on areas such as “non-business essential marketing” and travel.
In a note to clients last month, investment advisory firm Pivotal Research Group advised that the current pandemic could impact Google’s advertising business by as much as 15%.


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The highly awaited and heavily rumored Microsoft Surface Phone is expected to arrive sometime in 2017. Despite repeated rumors, the software giant has not confirmed a single detail about the phone yet. Reports say that the device may not even exist as doubts have been casted about the proposed early launch of the Surface Phone.
Surface Phone release
Earlier this month, reports of Microsoft?s presence at the Mobile World Congress gave wind to a flurry of rumors. The Surface Phone is said to be unveiled in the upcoming event in Barcelona, Spain called the MWC 2017 event. It is scheduled to take place between Feb. 27 to Mar. 2, 2017. The Surface Phone release, however, is not happening, according to Forbes.
Sources reveal that Microsoft?s Surface Phone is not even close to being ready yet. The setback is due to the company needing to further update its own software for the device. The Lumia lineup largely failed due to the limitations of the Windows Mobile OS. The Surface Phone could face a similar failure in the case of a premature launch.
Microsoft would instead seek views of developers at the MWC to set course for their Surface smartphone. It is also easy to assume the Surface Phone will be more of a business oriented device. Hence the Surface Phone release is delayed until Microsoft figures out the market they are targeting.
Reports, however, say the Surface Phone could be seen possibly with Windows 10 Redstone 2 update rollout. Microsoft usually unveils its major update during mid-year. As such, the Surface Phone may launch in the second half of 2017.
Surface Phone Features and Specs
Despite the repeated delays, tech enthusiasts are not ready to let go of their Surface Phone dream. Rumors and speculations continue as fans mull over the possible features and specifications of the Surface Phone.
The Surface Phone is so far confirmed to pack Qualcomm?s next-gen Snapdragon 835 processor. The chipset will provide either a 30 percent performance or 40 percent power efficiency compared to the previous Snapdragon SoCs. The device is also said to be packing a whopping 6GB RAM in order to provide Continuum feature.
In terms of camera, the Surface Phone will have a 23MP rear camera paired with a Carl Zeiss lens. There are even rumors of a dual lens camera, similar to the iPhone 7 Plus. An 8MP front-facing camera is expected to be seen up front for selfies and video calling.
Other Surface Phone features and specs include 2K to 4K display resolution. There are also hints of features like Wireless charging and USB Type-C support coming to the device.?Stay tuned to TheBitBag for more Surface Phone updates and leaks.


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It’s been a while since EA unveiled its intent to develop a remake of its renowned horror and survival title, Dead Space. The game was first released back in 2008. EA is planning to release the remake on the 27th of January. But as far as we’ve been told, Dead Space’s remake is slated to release for the new generation of consoles alongside the PC.
Thanks to EA’s official “coming soon” page, this matter is to be reconsidered. Reddit user by the name of u/lm_blanco spotted that Dead Space is tagged to be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One alongside the current generation and the PC.
This comes up as a surprise. Especially when knowing that EA didn’t initially plan on releasing the game to older generations. In fact, according to Windows Central, the developers previously stated that they intend for the game to be exclusive to the “next generation only.”
Why Is Dead Space Suddenly Coming To Older Generations?
What keeps you wondering is the question; what exactly happened? A change of plans? Or was it destined to be announced later? Or is it perhaps just a tagging typo? Keep in mind that while it could be a mistake, this is not the first time a developer explicitly mentioned that their game would be exclusive for the next generation, only to go back to release it for older generations.
This situation can cause concern to the fanbase that’s been waiting for the remake. As for a game to release for older generations of consoles means that the developers need to limit the base functions that will be featured in the game. I’m guessing that we’ll have to wait a little longer.
If EA notices the buzz around the tagging “typo” and decides to remove it, then Dead Space is probably not meant to be on older generations. Until then, we’ll have to be patient.
What do you think? Will we be getting Dead Space on older generation consoles? Let us know in the comments down below!


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July 26, 2018
The phishing attacks on healthcare companies carry on… The previous few days have seen two more healthcare companies declare that electronic mail accounts were breached when workers replied to phishing electronic mails.
Electronic mail Account Undermined at Boys Town National Research Hospital
Boys Town National Research Hospital (Boys Town), an Omaha, NE hospital focusing in pediatric deafness, visual and communication complaints, has declared that a fresh phishing campaign has led to the electronic mail account of a worker being retrieved by an illegal person. The electronic mail account had the PHI of 105,309 patients.
Boys Town first became conscious of a safety breach on May 23, 2018 when uncommon electronic mail account activity was noticed. Computer forensics specialists were called in to probe and a breach was established to have happened on May 23.
Boys Town thoroughly scrutinized the account electronic mail-by-electronic mail to conclude which patients possibly had their PHI disclosed and the amount of PHI that was possibly undermined.
The breach was verified as being restricted to a single electronic mail account, which had confidential information of present and past patients and workers.
No proof of data exfiltration was found, even though it is possible that PHI was retrieved and possibly obtained. People impacted by the occurrence have been offered free identity theft protection facilities for 12 months. An evaluation of policies and procedures is being carried out and more safeguards will be applied to help avoid more phishing attacks.
NorthStar Anesthesia Notices Many Electronic mail Accounts Retrieved by Illegal Persons
An electronic mail phishing campaign aiming Irving, TX-based NorthStar Anesthesia, a supplier of subcontracted anesthesia facilities, was carried out between April 3 and May 24, 2018. The phishing campaign was recognized on May 23, 2018 with access to all undermined accounts obstructed on May 24, 2018.
Third-party forensic detectives were called in to help with the inquiry and decide the range of the attack and whether electronic mails having patients’ PHI were retrieved. The detectives decided that the undermined electronic mail accounts had a variety of PHI which included names, medical record numbers, diagnosis and treatment information, medical histories, IRS identity protection numbers, taxpayer ID numbers, health insurance application or claims information, birth dates, health insurance policy/subscriber numbers, and for a limited number of people, Social Security numbers.
NorthStar Anesthesia is applying additional safeguards to avoid more phishing attacks and affected people have been offered free credit checking and identity restoration facilities for two years.


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Independent brand studies reveal the company’s first use of dynamic creative optimization (DCO) drove a 73% increase in likelihood that viewers would seek more information.
VISIT FLORIDA launched a new CTV campaign aimed at driving vacationers to Florida and partnered with Origin, whose pioneering Native CTV ad formats elevate viewer attention and engagement to amplify its ad creatives.
By leveraging Origin’s flagship custom native solution, Slingshot, VISIT FLORIDA saw a significant increase in:
The outcome of a specific call to action (seeking out additional information).
For the campaign, Origin built a dynamic 15-second native content environment that ran directly ahead of VISIT FLORIDA’s existing ad creative on CTV.
The objective of this dynamic Native content (ad Toppers) was to engage the viewers with the TV screen and lead them into the VISIT FLORIDA ad primed for its message.
To accomplish this key objective, Origin leveraged IBM Watson weather data to target audiences in specific areas where the temperature was below 32-degrees, or where there were snowy or icy conditions and present them with that day’s weather forecast in Florida. Origin then used its creative technology capabilities to dynamically optimize the native ‘Ad Toppers’ so that they showcased the forecast highs in key tourist destinations across Florida that day.
Here is how it looked - the first 15 seconds is the dynamic native content produced by Origin in-house and the second 15 seconds is the VISIT FLORIDA ad creative:
Independent brand studies by Lucid and LoopMe as well as attention-based data from TVision found that Origin’s dynamic ad Topper paired with VISIT FLORIDA creative significantly elevated campaign performance compared to when the ad ran on its own.
The study found:
Ads primed by native ad Toppers were more memorable than the ads that ran alone, increasing ad recall 16.25%
Ad attentiveness increased by 64% vs the ad that ran alone.
Viewers were 2.25x more likely to consider making Florida a destination this year after seeing the ad in a native environment.
Viewers were 73% more likely to seek more information on Florida as a getaway destination.
For more details on this Visit Florida Native CTV advertising campaign - click here.
Origin is a creative technology company whose pioneering TV advertising solutions have reshaped the way brands captivate and activate consumers inside and outside the home.
Fusing first to market ad formats with proprietary technology and direct media partnerships that span the streaming ecosystem, Origin's solutions are embraced by brands, agencies and platforms who are seeking to elevate the impact of their Connected TV investments.
Founded by media veterans Fred Godfrey and Stephen Strong, Origin has been built on a relentless belief that the time has come to question tradition and enrage the status quo. Learn more at www.originmedia.tv.


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The Agvocacy 2.0 conference in August will provide farmers and ranchers with the opportunity to polish their social-media skills.
Agvocacy 2.0 is hosted by the AgChat Foundation, an organization that aims to empower farmers and ranchers to “agvocate” by connecting consumers with accurate information about farming and food production using social media.
The two-day event Aug. 23-24 in Kansas City, Mo., will discuss how to share agriculture’s message through:
• Twitter community-building.
• Facebook profiles, pages and groups.
• High-impact video.
• Blog basics and beyond.
• Real-world case studies.
Applications will be available online in May at www.agchat.org


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World-class procurement organizations now have 18 percent lower operating costs than typical companies, and operate with 28 percent fewer staff, while generating more than twice the return on investment, according to new benchmark research from The Hackett Group.
World-class procurement organizations now deliver services at 17 percent less cost than typical companies while offering improved effectiveness, largely by becoming more customer-centric, according to research from The Hackett Group Inc.
Many mid-sized U.S. cities and other areas now make attractive alternatives to India and other offshore locations for companies considering consolidating finance, IT and other business services operations for shared service or global business services centers, according to new research from The Hackett Group.
Procurement leaders are expanding their priorities for 2014, moving beyond a historic emphasis on reducing purchase costs and adding focus on expanding and deepening the scope of spend influence as well as supporting supplier-led product innovation, according to 2014 Procurement Key Issues research from The Hackett Group Inc.
While many large companies are aggressively pursuing globalization of their products and brands, the large majority are flying blind, without the ability to truly see what is happening globally or make adjustments, according to new research from The Hackett Group Inc.
Large companies in North America and Europe are now losing over 250,000 jobs each year in IT, finance, and other key business services areas, due to the combined impact of offshoring, technology-driven productivity improvements, and the low-growth business environment, according to a new research update from The Hackett Group Inc.
Procurement leaders face new pressures in 2013 as companies focus on profitable growth and balance local agility with global scale in their value chains, according to new Procurement Key Issues Research from The Hackett Group Inc.
U.S. manufacturers are targeting an aggressive 1.5-percent reduction in cost of goods sold for 2013 in an effort to drive margin growth, according to a new study from The Hackett Group. With GDP growth stabilizing in major regions of the world, manufacturers are expecting reduced sales forecast uncertainty, enabling them to plan supply requirements and manufacturing capacity with far greater confidence, the study found.
IT organizations can expect to see small increases in operating budgets for 2013, even as cutbacks continue across other parts of business services, including finance, HR and procurement, according to new IT key issues research from The Hackett Group Inc.
For 2013, the new "borderless" business environment will present the greatest opportunities to companies in IT, finance, HR and other business services areas, as companies strive to reduce costs and meet aggressive revenue projections, according to a new Enterprise Key Issues Study from The Hackett Group Inc.


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CIDOLS Launches Its Inaugural Plant, Significantly Strengthening Malaysia’s Oleochemical Downstream Capabilities
Port Klang, 3 November 2023 – CIDOLS Sdn. Bhd. (CIDOLS), a prominent player in the oleochemicals industry, takes a momentous leap forward with the successful launch of its inaugural plant today further establishing Malaysia’s role in the global oleochemical landscape. The driving force behind CIDOLS’s commitment to producing natural-based ingredients is rooted in its vision to foster innovation and sustainability. Malaysia has taken giant strides to strengthen its position in the downstream oleochemical industry, leveraging on the trades of millions of tonnes of fatty acid, fatty alcohol, fatty esters, and glycerin worldwide. Despite the friendly yet competitive landscape, neighboring countries are swiftly catching up, prompting a need for increased innovation and technological advancement.
The event was officiated by Datuk Dr. Ahmad Parveez Hj Ghulam Khadir, Director General, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and also attended by Ms. Umarani Muniandy, Executive Director, Manufacturing Development (Resource), from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Mr. Eddy Chong, Managing Director of CIDOLS, Mr. Keith Tan, Sales and Marketing Director of CIDOLS, Kawan Engineering, as well as the company’s Board of Directors and key stakeholders.
CIDOLS, as a local Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), introduces an incremental yet significant transformation to Malaysia’s oleochemical sector by inaugurating a pioneering plant specialised in producing niche and tailor-made fatty esters. This strategic move signifies CIDOLS’s dedication to serving the industry with a more targeted and professional approach, positioning itself as visionary problem solvers, providing customised solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers today and tomorrow.
The newly inaugurated plant embodies CIDOLS’s commitment to innovation, focusing on the production of specialised natural-based fatty esters that drive progress towards sustainability. The extensive product range includes Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Phytostearyl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, PCA Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Heptanoate, Glyceryl Isostearate, Isoamyl Laurate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Oleyl Erucate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl Oleate, among others. The production of these specialties necessitates profound expertise in ester molecule engineering, advanced processing techniques, and innovative research and development processes.
Malaysia now possesses the capability to manufacture these products, pioneered by CIDOLS, positioning the country as a global competitor in the field. Additionally, the plant has achieved FSSC 22000 certification and adheres to strict food processing and handling procedures. The latest milestone includes GMP+ certification awarded in October 2023, with hopes of obtaining halal certification by year-end. These certifications further strengthen CIDOLS’s capacity to meet the diverse requirements of a global clientele.
Furthermore, CIDOLS’s complies with RSPO and COSMOS standards, providing silicone-free, paraben-free, and PEG-free alternatives that align with the burgeoning demand for specialty esters in the personal care industry worldwide. At present, CIDOLS takes pride in serving customers across more than 30 countries infive continents.
Empowering Malaysian Manufacturers in High Value-Added Products: A Vision Realised
MIDA has been an essential figure of CIDOLS’s ambition to be a world leader in the specialised downstream oleochemical industry. CIDOLS received the Domestic Investment Strategic Fund (DISF) from MIDA in 2021 for the purchase of R&D equipment and main processing equipment, providing CIDOLS with the necessary boost to enhance its research and development capability and improve its processing capability.
Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, CEO of MIDA, expressed his congratulations to CIDOLS on its significant milestone. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to CIDOLS for the launch of its inaugural plant. CIDOLS has proven to us that with dedication and perseverance, an SME like CIDOLS can be a leader in its prospective industry. We, at MIDA, consistently encourage industry players to explore further downstream in their respective sectors to capture sustainable, high-value added manufacturing activities and become experts in their respective industries, which aligns with the country’s New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and ESG agenda. CIDOLS’s initiative sets a positive example for the chemical industry, and I urge other businesses to follow suit in adopting such proactive practices.”
The World is Moving towards Sustainability Practices
Mr. Eddy Chong, Managing Director of CIDOLS added, “Though CIDOLS operates on a smaller scale, our facilities match those of industry giants, enabling us to produce high-quality, high-performance products. We take immense pride in being a fully Malaysian-made enterprise, from the conceptualisation phase to engineering, thanks to the remarkable partnership with Kawan Engineering.” He further notes, “Today, we mark a momentous occasion by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MPOB for Project Pembangunan Teknologi Tambah Nilai Glycerol. Our shared goal is to establish a new plant dedicated to producing high-performance downstream products derived from glycerin, with the invaluable technological support from MPOB.”
Mr. Keith Tan, Sales and Marketing Director of CIDOLS, remarked, “In a world witnessing the rapid growth of sustainability awareness, the personal care industry is gravitating towards natural and sustainable solutions. Our products and solutions align perfectly with this transformative trend, empowering customers to innovate towards a more sustainable world.”
CIDOLS’s impressive and promising strides in the oleochemical sector looks to enhance Malaysia’s standing in the global market, addressing sustainability and innovation challenges head-on. The journey towards sustainability, guided by CIDOLS, is not just a reflection of their commitment but also a significant step towards a more environmentally responsible and sustainable world.
MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 21 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube.
CIDOLS is a specialty chemicals manufacturer providing natural-based ingredients and solution especially for Personal Care and Cosmetics. Plant located in Port Klang and exporting to over 30 countries across five continents.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Siti Halimaton Mohd Rejab
Director, Chemical and Advanced Material Division
Email : [email protected]
DL: +603 2267 6714
CIDOLS Sdn. Bhd.
Mr. Eddy Chong
Phone: +603 3163 1679
Mobile: +60 16 339 8959


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Oriental rugs sway in the wind at a flea market. On the card table next to them, African masks glower at shoppers. Buyers beware. That Persian rug may have been manufactured in India using cheap labor, modeled after a popular pattern. The Masai mask might be a fake, too, made by Ivory Coast carvers who can duplicate any style for a handy fee.
Handicrafts, like tourism, are a boom industry for many developing countries, who supplied 37 percent of the $2.6 billion world demand for salad bowls, wooden giraffes, baskets, and other craft products last year. Sales reflect the popularity of handmade products, a trend that began in the '60s and remains strong, say US craft importers.
But the quest for lucrative markets can mean trouble for nations experiencing erosion of cultural heritage, folklore, and historic tradition to swelling mass production and entrepreneurs who steal local designs. These countries hope to cash in on new markets, while safeguarding old traditions.
An international law to copyright folklore is one way to protect heritage. Such a proposal has been forwarded by 17 experts from UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organization who met in Paris in February.
The proposal, which defines folklore as the ''totality of the traditional aesthetic heritage developed and maintained by a community,'' provides a framework for documenting and protecting anything from folktales and riddles to songs, dances, and crafts.
The feasibility of the proposal is doubted by Alan Jabbour, US representative to the meeting, who sees problems with the enforcement and contradictions in assigning labels like ''Navajo blanket'' to what are ''evolving traditions.'' Others, like David Ladd, director of copyrighting at the Library of Congress, say folklore represents ''remote, anonymous authorship,'' which is difficult to copyright.
The impulse for the meeting came from developing countries that were experiencing ''exploitation of cultural property,'' says Mr. Jabbour, who supports the effort to deal with the complex problem.
Examples of ''cultural exploitation'' abound. Companies like Martex, Cannon, and Sears freely use African designs for towels and sheets without reporting their source, says Rosalyn Walker, currator of education at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art. Ms. Walker, a native of Nigeria, recognized ''direct copies'' that these companies were making of patterns from the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria, the Kuba in Zaire, and the Senufo in the Ivory Coast
''What bothers me is that they don't identify the source of the designs,'' she says.
Copyright laws would require textile manufacturers to fill out requests listing why and how they wish to use African patterns. Applications would be reviewed by some ''competent authority'' that would either approve or reject them.
Cooperatives are springing up in Africa and elsewhere to encourage traditional crafts and to orient production toward Western markets. They offer centralized locations for marketing goods, promote uniform quality, reduce middleman costs, and add volume to overseas shipments.
In Kenya, for example, Akamba carvers still squat on dirt floors to chip out wooden game animals, tribal masks, and salad bowls. But instead of bargaining with dealers and tourists, they are paid by the carving from cooperatives.
Drawbacks to cooperatives can be numerous. The chiefs and dealers may swindle the craftsmen, says Dr. Daniel Crowley, professor of African cultures at the University of California in Davis. Cooperatives can also mislead craftsmen, says Margaret Knopfelmacher, co-owner of Crafts Caravan in New York. She recalls one cooperative that was encouraging production of doilies and tablecloths when napkin rings and masks were selling better in the West.
Government leadership can help nations tap Western markets as well as nurture old traditions. For example, Kenya's Ministry of Commerce stimulated exports of the last four years. The increase was due mainly to a subagency called the Kenyan External Trade Authority (KETA), established four years ago to promote export of Kenyan handicrafts and give professional marketing advice to local cooperatives.
One promotional technique used by KETA involves sending Kenyan craftsmen to US department stores to demonstrate their skill. This month P. T. Muia, a Kenyan wood carver, will be touring Washington, Houston, and New York, reports the Kenyan Embassy.
To protect craft traditions, the Kenyan government, along with Nigeria, has tightened trade regulations. Export of ivory carvings and antique crafts is forbidden. Strict trade regulations help reduce occurrences like the plane loads of ''African'' woodcarvings made in Normandy and flown into Africa for tourists -- a common occurrence says Dr. Monni Adams, currator of African art at Harvard's Peabody Museum.


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A Conservative MP has attacked both Labour and Tesco amid a row over immigration and cheap labour from Eastern Europe.
Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow in Essex where Tesco once employed 800 staff, branded the supermarket "ruthless" for shutting the depot so it could open new distribution centres in Dagenham and Reading. He told Daybreak:
I have my own grievance with Tesco. I believe their company have behaved ruthlessly in Harlow, but they have been able to do this because of what the Labour Party did when they were in government.
In some ways, in my view Tesco ... they used to say 'pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap'. In my view the way they have behaved in Harlow, it's pile the money high and sell the workers cheap.
More top news
Former England and Blackpool defender Jimmy Armfield has died aged 82 following a long battle with cancer, his family have confirmed.
Princess Eugenie has become engaged to long-term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Young women are not attending smear tests because they are embarrassed about their pubic area, a cancer charity has warned.


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The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is due for release on 18th November 2011 and is already garnering high critical acclaim
14th November 2011: 2011 has truly been the year of Zelda, with Nintendo celebrating the 25th anniversary of the epic adventure series, The Legend of Zelda™. To cap off what has been a year [...]
I’ve neglected this blog for too long!
So How About A Wii is back… I’ll be blogging semi-regularly about all Wii related news. Especially the gossip, rumours, facts or half-truths about the upcoming sequel to the Nintendo Wii.
Nintendo haven’t released a massive amount of details yet, or even confirmed the name, just that it is codenamed [...]
The original Red Steel was one of the most hyped games when the Wii was launched in 2006. Unfortunately, it was probably the biggest disappointments of the launch games. We all dreamed of being able to use the Wii controller to slice and dice the bad guys with accuracy! This was not the case as [...]
Wii Fit Plus Bundles are currently in short supply with most retailers. The price has also shot up since Christmas.
But, I’ve just stumbled across a great deal at the online department store - Very.co.uk.
They have the Wii Fit Plus and the Balance Board in stock priced at £89.00, and the Wii Console with Wii [...]


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Hebridean Food Company adds meat to its range
A SPECIALIST seafood start-up has added organic beef and lamb to its expanding range of sustainable food from North Uist.
The Hebridean Food Company – headed by 24-year-old Douglas Stewart – has been selling langoustines, lobsters and other shellfish across the UK for the past year via its online shop. The first cuts from its Highland beef and blackface lamb herds are now also available, with venison to follow in the autumn.
The son of a lobster fisherman, Stewart set up the firm after studying agriculture and business at Edinburgh University. On graduating in 2013, he returned home to start his own business.
“The beef and lamb I’m now able to make available is unique. It’s a genuinely special product,” he said.
Reared on an uninhabited island off the west coast of North Uist, the herds graze on machair grasslands and the surrounding shoreline of seaweeds before being moved back to the heather hills. This traditional method gives the meat a unique flavour showcased at a launch event this week at Café St Honoré in Edinburgh with chef Neil Forbes.


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Giving up petrol cars was a marginal idea. Now is on the way to reality
A few years ago when the Coltura advocacy group called on America to stop using gasoline, it drew mockery.
Coltura had been waging a war on gasoline for a few years at this point, but his primary weapons were things like music and performance art. One play featured actors inside a panicked clear plastic bubble as it filled with mock exhaust.
Then, in 2017, Coltura co-executive director Matthew Metz published an op-ed calling on Washington state to eliminate gasoline cars altogether. A Seattle columnist wrote an article on Metz, with the word “crazy” prominently displayed.
Much has changed in four years. Tesla is now the world’s most valuable automaker. Several automakers have announced that they will cease production of gasoline and diesel cars over the next two decades.
And what was once a fringe idea is now part of a global trend: momentum is building for the idea that zero-emission, predominantly electric vehicles are the future of the auto industry.
“More and more countries are announcing targets to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles nationally,” Sandra Wappelhorst, who has followed the trend for the International Clean Transport Council, told NPR.
She also pointed out individual cities such as like London or Oslo, which not only focus on new car sales, but offer bans on all combustion vehicles in the city center for years to come.
Plans to sell 100% electric vehicles are becoming widespread
The recently concluded climate talks in Glasgow included a non-binding call for all vehicles sold globally to be zero-emissions by 2040. The European Union is considering a zero-emissions mandate that would come into effect five years earlier, in 2035.
The idea permeates government leaders to individuals. A recent poll commissioned by Coltura, conducted by reputable national polling groups, found that more than 50% of U.S. voters support all new cars to be electric within a decade.
“In, like, 10 years, you probably won’t even have gasoline cars. Right?” Elle King asked, as she looked at an electric vehicle on display at a Northern Virginia mall this week. “And so much the better, because gasoline is expensive.”
In the United States, the federal government has not passed a complete phase-out, instead calling for 50% of new cars sold to be electric. Corn California, Massachusetts and New York all have plans to end sales of gasoline cars within 15 years.
And these state proposals to transform our automotive lives have not elicited a widespread political backlash – despite Americans’ obsession with cars and the country’s huge dependence on gasoline.
âI think more people in New York City were crazy about soda limitations than they would be, like gasoline vehicles,â says Trina Saha, who lives in Queens.
It has just received a new Toyota Corolla, a traditional one, powered by gas. But she says a car’s features are more important than what powers it, and she expects her to end up buying an electric vehicle.
Huge challenges remain before reaching the goals
Ultimately, maybe the key word here. The phasing out of guy cars by 2035 – the date envisioned by the EU and many states – may seem far away, which could help explain why people aren’t outraged by these policies.
That could be a problem, says Jasmine Sanders, executive director of OurClimate. In fact, ending gasoline car sales by 2035 would require huge changes over the next 15 years, from investments in infrastructure to changes in consumer thinking and behavior.
âWe have to go ahead and start doing it now,â Sanders said. “We can’t wait until 2034 and then [start] tell people, “No, you can’t buy that gasoline vehicle.” “
And the scale of the proposed transformation is immense. Today, gasoline and diesel vehicles represent 97% of the US auto market. Electric vehicles always cost more upfront, and America doesn’t have the power grid or charging infrastructure to support a fully electric fleet.
These are hot topics in boardrooms as well as in state houses.
Automakers are increasingly accepting the idea that electric vehicles are the future, but they are also keenly aware of the scale of the changes involved, and there is no consensus on how quickly this is happening. will actually produce.
Environmentalists are pushing for a phase-out of gasoline-powered cars as early as 2030, while some skeptical automakers believe even 2040 is too ambitious.
In short, America has not yet broken with gasoline. A few democratically controlled states that set targets do not guarantee that this will happen.
But what is clear is that in just a few short years, the idea of ââno longer having gasoline cars has moved from the fringe to the center of attention.
Today, Coltura doesn’t just write editorials about the end of gasoline-powered cars. It helps to draft legislation to make it a reality, state by state.
Coltura’s shift from the periphery to the halls of power also manifests itself in unexpected ways. A woman named Jennifer Granholm made an appearance in one of the anti-essence music videos that Coltura released a few years ago.
At the time, she was the former governor of Michigan and an electric vehicle enthusiast. Today, she is the US Secretary of Energy.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To learn more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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U.S. merchants will upgrade to a new chip-and-PIN credit card standard fairly quickly as they race to meet a 2015 deadline set by MasterCard and Visa. Over half of terminals will accept chip-and-PIN cards by the end of 2015, according to BI Intelligence estimates based on Aite Group data.
U.S. merchants will upgrade to a new chip-and-PIN credit card standard fairly quickly as they race to meet a 2015 deadline set by MasterCard and Visa. Over half of terminals will accept chip-and-PIN cards by the end of 2015, according to BI Intelligence estimates, based on Aite Group data.
In the U.S., most consumers and merchants will soon need to switch over to the 'chip card' standard, otherwise known as EMV. It's a technology, most recognizable as a chip on payment cards, which is designed to make card transactions much more secure.
Upgrading payment terminals to the new, more secure chip-and-PIN standard will cost U.S. merchants $6.2 billion by 2017, according to BI Intelligence estimates. Our estimate accounts for both new hardware and software.
Just about every payments company out there either already has, or is working on, a way for customers to use their smartphones to transact a payment at a payment terminal. This is supposed to be the next big revolution in the payments industry. But at restaurants, at least, the need for payment terminals could be greatly reduced or eliminated in just a few years as other mobile initiatives become popular.
T-Mobile introduced its "Jump" program today, which will let you upgrade your phone twice a year for any reason at the cost of $10 per month. Should you spring for it? Let's look at the math. T-Mobile has different pricing for each of it's smartphones, but we'll use an iPhone a an example.
With the holidays quickly approaching, more sales are starting to sprout up in preparation for the shopping frenzy. Fortunately, there is an app for that. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaching fast, we've compiled a list of apps that will make it easy for you to find all of the latest deals and discounts while managing your spending.


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Tim Gunn: Hillary Is Looking Exceptionally Presidential
In an April 1st "With All Due Respect" interview, fashion king Tim Gunn discussed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's fashion sense.
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23:06 - Bloomberg Television takes you behind the scenes of our award-winning magazine "Bloomberg Businessweek." Hosts Carol Massar and Julia Chatterley talk with the writers who break news on a weekly basis and get a lighter touch from the editor who oversees the Etc. section. (Source: Bloomberg)


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Cincinnati Milacron Inc. rose Friday after Unova said it's buying the company's machine tool business for $178 million in cash.
Unova (UNA) UNA, +2.08% expects Cincinnati Milacron's (CMZ) CMZ, +0.56% machine tool group, with 2,400 employees worldwide, will add about $500 million in revenue to its industrial automation unit and up to 10 cents per share to its 1999 earnings.
Shares of Cincinnati Milacron rose 3/4, or 3.4 percent, to 22 3/4 on the news. Unova slipped 1/4 to 18 3/4.
Milacron said the transaction will result in an after-tax book loss in the third quarter of up to $32 million, or 80 cents per share, the majority of which stems from cumulative currency translation adjustments related to overseas assets.
Beverly Hills, Calif-based Unova said that the transaction will initially be financed with cash on hand and existing lines of credit.
The newly-formed operation will rank as one of the largest manufacturing systems and machine tool companies in the world, the companies said in a press release.
Milacron said it will concentrate on its two larger businesses: plastics technologies and industrial products for metalworking. The company will change its name to Milacron Inc.and plans to relocate its corporate headquarters while staying within the greater Cincinnati area.
Lazard Freres and Cravath, Swaine & Moore advised Cincinnati Milacron on the transaction.


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GVI to represent LG security products in Canada
GVI Security has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with LG Security to represent their line of advanced LG video surveillance solutions in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. While LG has had a global presence in the security market for some time, this is their initial entrée into the North American market with LG branded products.
March 9, 2011 By Staff
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the LG brand of security products to the North America market,” says Steve Walin, CEO of GVI Security. “LG is a technology leader in all of the markets they serve and we are excited by the opportunity to bring their video expertise to our customers.”
GVI has launched a new web site at www.lgcctv.com which outlines the full set of products being offered. The product is now in stock and deliveries begin immediately.
“We chose GVI to bring our products to the North American market because of their 11-year record of success in growing market share for Samsung. We believe GVI has an exceptional team and they have demonstrated a long track record of providing superior customer service and support” says Dr. Jinyong Kim, senior vice-president of Commercial Display & Security Business Division in LG Electronics Inc.
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