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Dolce & Gabbana has proved that the show does go on after the label held its autumn 2019/winter 2020 menswear collection in Milan. It was the first ready-to-wear event for the brand since it was forced to cancel a show in China after a racism and cultural appropriation storm blew up in November – it rejected the claims and apologised for any misunderstanding.
On Saturday D&G sought to control the narrative around the collection, adopting the format of classic salon show complete with a narrator explaining the ideas behind every section of the show. The theme of Elegance, meanwhile, afforded D&G the chance to try to remind the world of its original USPs.
Velvet jacquards and brocades paid tribute to the Sicilian aristocracy of the company’s birthplace; rainbow-hued sequins were reminiscent of the pyrotechnics that light up Italian festivals; and the suiting honoured Dolce’s family tailors.
The designers said that they want to show a new generation what elegance is, and will be hoping that the debacle in China won’t alienate the lucrative millennial market in the region, where consumers are responsible for nearly a third of the annual luxury spend.
Backstage, Steffano Gabbana – considered by some to have been the main provocateur of the China show – said that he would like to “turn the page” and teach the new generation about timeless elegance. “I don’t know if it’s wrong or good but this is our point of view … fashion is the mirror of the times [reflecting] what is outside – sometimes we get it right, sometimes not.”
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010


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Windows 10 upgraders are now able to perform a clean installation of the operating system
Microsoft is hard at work on the next major update to its hugely successful operating system, Windows 10.
The update promises to bring a slew of sought-out after features including redesigned Skype apps and a much-smarter Cortana.
Windows 10 has seen a staggering 110 million installations in 11 weeks, Microsoft revealed during its annual hardware refresh.
But the installation process has been far from painless.
Microsoft is listening to feedback from the Windows community – exemplified with its latest tweak to the small print surrounding Windows 10.
Windows and Devices Group Vice President Gabe Aul this week revealed that users who upgraded their PC to Windows 10 from a previous version will finally be able to reinstall the operating system.
Previously, those who had taken advantage of the feee upgrade offer were unable to perform a clean install of Windows 10.
This was because the new Microsoft operating system would not recognise a product key from a previous version.
Windows 10 has seen a staggering 110 million installations in 11 weeks
Microsoft is constantly tweaking Windows 10 based on feedback from the community
Microsoft received a slew of angry comments on their online forums over the issue.
Windows Vice President Gabe Aul admits the problem was often discussed on the company forums: “We have received a lot of feedback from Insiders on making it easier to activate Windows 10 on devices that take advantage of the free upgrade offer to genuine Windows by using existing Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product keys.”
Fortunately an upcoming build of Windows 10 will finally allow users to register the operating system using their existing Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 keys.
Mr Aul add: "If you install this build of the Windows 10 Insider Preview on a PC and it doesn’t automatically activate, you can enter the product key from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 used to activate the prior Windows version on the same device to activate Windows 10 by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation and selecting Change Product Key."
Microsoft has not yet revealed whether Windows 10 can be activated using a product key which has already registered the operating system on a different machine.
Users are also unable to deregister a Windows 10 computer and then use the product key to register a new device, although this might change before the update rolls out worldwide.
Microsoft will include the new product key option in the next Windows update.
The functionality is currently available to Windows Insiders. Consumers should be able to get ahold of the update next month.

domain: news


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What currently is a parking lot filled with cars soon will be transformed into a bustling Farmers Market in Walla Walla this Saturday, May 6.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. locals and visitors can mosey their way down to 106 W. Main Street in downtown Walla Walla for the first outdoor farmers market of the season.
Kathryn Witherington, executive director of the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, said she is excited to see new and returning vendors this year.
"This will be the 27th year of the Downtown Farmers Market," Witherington said. "We have around 50 total vendors, give or take, registered for the whole season."
For opening day, she said the Farmers Market is anticipating seeing about 40 vendors. "Probably about one third of those are farmers selling produce, meat and eggs, and those Farmers Market staples we tend to think of."
Witherington said there will be a mix of artisans, food producers and food trucks as well.
Among the vendors, 17 were beneficiaries of impact grants which are state-funded technical assistance grants aimed at supporting underserved small businesses, including those owned by BIPOC entrepreneurs, women and veterans.
"The grant covers the cost of their booth and helps businesses get exposed to the market," she said. "We're excited to see how those businesses do."
Witherington said she is particularly excited to see a jump in the number of younger entrepreneurs at the market who are called Junior vendors. Live music also will make a comeback with The Diego Romero Band opening this weekend.
"We encourage people to come out and support small and local businesses," she said, "but also just be a part of the cool community spirit that comes up around the Farmers Market."
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Dow Chemical may benefit if prices rise -Barron's
Sun Jun 26, 2005 02:04 PM ET
NEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - The recent slump in Dow Chemical Co.'s shares could prove an excellent buying opportunity if commodity-chemical prices rise in the second half of the year, Barron's newspaper said.
It said customers stockpiled commodity chemicals as prices rose last year and in early 2005, but many are now working through their inventories, setting the stage for rebounding prices.
Dow Chemical's stock closed on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange at $43.67, which is 23 percent below its 52-week high of $56.75 set on March 9. Barron's said the stock price of the largest U.S. chemical company might rise 37 percent in the next year to $60.
Barron's said commoditized materials accounted for about 51 percent of Dow Chemical's first-quarter profit. It said the rest came from less cyclical products, noting that part of Dow Chemical's business is "booming" as profit margins swell.
Barron's said Dow Chemical has an appealing 3 percent dividend yield, and recently traded at 7.9 times estimated 2006 earnings.
It said the latter compared with 14.8 times for DuPont , 9.2 times for Eastman Chemical Co. , and 10.5 times for diversified chemical companies. Eastman Chemical traditionally trades at a discount to Dow Chemical, Barron's said.
Engineering News Archive


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Israeli authorities confiscated numerous dangerous items ordered online and headed for the Gaza Strip.
By World Israel News Staff
Israel’s Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) for Gaza confiscated 325 packages from Amazon and AliExpress, a Chinese online retail service, heading to the Gaza Strip and containing dual-use items, Israel Hayom reports on Thursday.
Dual-use products are those which have both civilian and military applications.
The Internet-ordered equipment included shoes, drones, knives and scuba great, among other items.
Israeli police and soldiers at the Erez Crossing into the Gaza Strip, along with a number of other state authorities sifted through the packages and confiscated the potentially dangerous equipment, which they believe was destined for terror groups.
Col. Iyad Sarhan, head of the Coordination and Liaison Administration in Gaza, said, “This is another time that the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip has tried to exploit the civilian policy that the State of Israel by using the post for terrorist purposes.”
“These attempts are thwarted again and again by IDF officers and soldiers, and we regard them very harshly. We will continue to work around the clock and do all we can to prevent their goal of compromising the security of the State of Israel and its citizens,” he said.
November marks Black Friday sales throughout Israel and online. Israeli authorities didn’t explicitly whether the large number of dual-use items coming in was tied to deals now available on the internet.


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FTC Data Reveals Big Jump In Crypto Investment Scams, Losses Totaling $80M
A new consumer protection data spotlight from the U.S Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revealed that consumers lost more than $80 million to cryptocurrency investment scams since October 2020.
Millennials Lost More Money to Scams
Data compiled from the last quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 showed that almost 7,000 investors were swindled by scammers who lured them into bogus crypto investment opportunities.
The report notes:
“Sites use fake testimonials and cryptocurrency jargon to appear credible, but promises of enormous, guaranteed returns are simply lies. These websites may even make it look like your investment is growing. But people report that, when they try to withdraw supposed profits, they are told to send even more crypto – and end up getting nothing back.”
The median amount lost to the investment scams and reported by these consumers was $1,900. According to the FTC, this figure is about twelve times the number of reports and nearly 1,000% more in reported losses compared to the same period earlier.
This year has seen a turnaround in the cryptocurrency scene as the hype around digital assets has spiraled. This has seen scammers taking advantage and cash in on the buzz, thereby luring people into bogus investment opportunities.
Young people have been more on the receiving end. According to the FTC, those in their 20s and 30s lost more money to investment scams than any other form of fraud over the six months, with more than half of their investment scam losses in crypto assets.
Investors Were Duped Elon Musk Crypto Identity Scams
One of the most common forms of crypto scam is when con artists pose as celebrities or renowned figures and promise to multiply the cryptocurrency that investors send to their wallets but pocket it instead.
According to the FTC, scammers impersonating Elon Musk were on the rise as consumers reported losing more than $2 million in such scams since October.
This isn't the first time that scammers would exploit the Tesla CEO's identity.
Earlier this month, scammers made $5 million worth of Dogecoin through fake giveaways using Elon Musk's appearance on the Saturday Night Live show hosted on May 8. The scammers tricked the victims into transferring Dogecoin to a fake address with the belief that they would receive twice the Dogecoin they sent.
In 2020, crypto scammers took over prominent accounts on Twitter to dupe hundreds of crypto investors. The accounts targeted in the scam include US President Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates.
The scammers reportedly used the high profile accounts to post tweets asking followers to send bitcoin to a specific anonymous address. They received 400 payments in Bitcoin, making a total value of at least $121,000.
The FTC has repeatedly advised investors to steer clear investments that promise guaranteed huge returns or claims that your cryptocurrency will be multiplied because they are usually scams. To help DOGE scams, the FTC also says investors should be wary of any callers, supposed love interests, organizations, or anyone else who insists on crypto.


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The majority of young Europeans are creating content for an audience—and many are turning their social feeds into their career…
- The majority of young Europeans are creating content for an audience—and many say social media is their side hustle or career
- Though their following may be “nano,” more than a quarter of content creators consider themselves influencers
- Brands have a huge opportunity to tap their content and put them in the spotlight
YPulse’s recent WE New Content Creators trend report found that the majority of young Europeans are creating content for an audience beyond their friends and family, making nearly everyone an influencer in their own right—and they know the opportunity that presents for them. While these young nano-influencers may have smaller audiences, they’re reaching hundreds (if not thousands) of followers, and they’ve watched people just like them turn those followings into lucrative careers. In fact, half of young Europeans say social media provides them an opportunity to make money, and nearly three in five say they’re inspired by stories of people like them making a career on social media. And thanks to platforms like TikTok, many know that in the blink of an algorithm, they could be next.
So how many 13-39-year-olds in Western Europe are already working towards that goal? These three stats tell the story:
One in five young Europeans say their social media presence is their side hustle or career
YPulse’s WE What’s Next for Work trend report found that as the pandemic caused young Europeans to reassess their careers, many took up side hustles, either to make ends meet or to pursue their passion. In fact, more than a quarter of young Europeans say they work outside their primary job, and for many of them, that side hustle is social media. While the majority of Gen Z and Millennials in Western Europe say their social media presence is “just for fun” or “just for me,” 13% say it’s their side hustle and 8% say it’s their career, meaning that one in five young Europeans are creating content for cash. This is even higher among Millennials, 23% of whom say social is their career or side hustle compared to 15% of Gen Z. A recent study from Morgan Stanley also found that one in 10 young Europeans are planning to quit their job for the “siren song of TikTok” (or other social platform) in the next six months, highlighting just how many are aiming to make content creation their full-time gig.
More than a quarter of content creators say they’re already an influencer
While for brands the word “influencer” may conjure images of Instagram stars with millions of followers, these young gens have a different definition. While the vast majority of young Europeans have fewer than 5000 followers, more than a quarter of content creators consider themselves an influencer, making it clear that nano-influencers are the new social stars—and are the creators brands should be partnering with. Millennials are slightly more likely than Gen Z to consider themselves an influencer, and males are more likely to than females—29% of young male content creators say they’re an influencer compared to 23% of young females. This may contradict some brands’ impressions of influencer culture, which largely focuses on young females creating lifestyle, fashion, and beauty content. And while these are some of the top types of content young females are creating, many young males are creating influential content, too—and they’re mostly posting about gaming, sports, and memes. Meanwhile, even more young Europeans are rubbing elbows with influencers than say they are one: 37% say they personally know an online influencer, making clear how common it is for young Europeans to see their peers becoming influential—and why they want to follow in their footsteps.
Nearly half are actively trying to grow their following on social media.
Whether they consider themselves influencers or not, Gen Z and Millennials know the value of high follower counts, and many are focused on boosting that number: 48% of all young Europeans (not just content creators) tell YPulse they’re actively trying to grow their social media following. Unsurprisingly, young Europeans that consider themselves content creators are far more likely to say they’re growing their following (59%) compared to those who don’t consider themselves content creators (26%), making clear how important audience is to aspiring influencers. In fact, more than a quarter of young Europeans say they’d rather get 10,000 new followers on one of their social media profiles than win a new car, and even more say they’d rather get 100,000 new followers than win $10,000. Again, content creators are twice as likely as non-content creators to say that gaining followers is more important than cash or prizes. This presents a major opportunity for brands. In general, young people are more trusting of creators than brands, and would prefer to see content created by people like them than traditional ads, giving brands incentive to tap user-generated content on their channels. And with three-quarters of content creators saying they’d be excited if a brand wanted to use their content (credited) in their marketing or social channels, brands can help young creators boost follower counts with exposure while also making their own feeds more interesting to consumers—a win-win.
YPulse Western Europe Business users can access the full WE New Content Creators report and data here.
Don’t have a YPulse Western Europe Business account? Find out more here.


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BRADFORD University School of Management is championing the concept of a “circular economy” driven by the reuse of materials as its 50th anniversary year sees the launch of a new centre and MBA focused on the idea.
Jon Reast, acting dean and a professor in marketing at the School of Management, said an economy built on principles of sustainability could provide a way for the UK and other developed economies to compete with global low-cost economies.
“We are talking a completely different business model,” he explained. “It would be a completely different manufacturing process with an emphasis on design for re-use rather than design for disposal or just recycling.
“It’s an economy that’s not driven by a constant need for new materials to be found from the planet.” He said this would result in less goods going into landfill, as well as a reduction in energy and raw material costs.
The School of Management is running a competition as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations with the chance to win one of six MBA scholarships, each priced at £2,000 instead of the usual £17,000.
Entrants need to submit a 600-word blog online on the following: “Bradford was at the heart of the first Industrial Revolution, and now it is at the heart of the New Industrial Revolution.
“Discuss the challenges management face in developing new business models around the principles of the circular economy.”
The MBA scholarships on offer include three executive MBAs, for those who wish to study alongside their work, two full-time MBAs and one accelerated MBA. Prof Reast said that Bradford has “always been a real driver in terms of new business and innovation”.
He said: “The idea of a ‘circular economy’ is that you would design things such that they could be re-manufactured, re-used, recycled far more efficiently and effectively, so it goes right back to the design process.
“The other thing it emphasises is perhaps leasing over buying so that perhaps a customer would lease a mobile phone and at the end of its life they would return it.
“There’s more gold in a tonne of mobile phones than there is in a tonne of ore from a gold mine, so there’s a lot of precious metals in things like phones and many of those are very much a finite resource and they are extremely expensive, hence companies wanting to get them back to get those materials out.”
Prof Reast said a lease model would encourage manufacturers of items such as washing machines to make them for the long-term.
The School of Management is working in collaboration with round-the-world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur, a strong advocate of the idea of a “circular economy”. It is setting up a centre for circular economy, which has yet to be officially named.
A new building on the university’s main campus, based around innovation and sustainability in business, is just being completed and will house the centre.
The School of Management has been running a postgraduate certificate online for members of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation on the topic and it is also launching a new MBA around the subjects of innovation and the circular economy later this year.
“We are very much putting our money where our mouth is. We very much believe in this and we believe we should offer something that educates people on this,” said Prof Reast.
Prof Reast took on the role of acting dean late last year after former dean Sarah Dixon left to take up a role at a university in China after two years in the post.
The deadlines for the School of Management’s 50th anniversary MBA scholarship competition are June 30 for the executive and full-time MBAs, and September 30 for the accelerated MBA. Visit www.brad.ac.uk/management for more details.


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Stephen Nellis and Alexandra Alper:
The foundation’s move from Delaware to Switzerland may foreshadow further technology flight because of U.S. restrictions on dealing with some Chinese technology companies, said William Reinsch, who was undersecretary of commerce for export administration in the Clinton administration.
“There is a message for the government. The message is, if you clamp down on things too tightly this is what is going to happen. In a global supply chain world, companies have choices, and one choice is to go overseas,” he said.
In a statement to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Commerce said its controls were designed to safeguard U.S. national security and to “ensure bad actors cannot acquire technology that harms U.S. citizens or interests, while promoting innovation to fuel continued American technological leadership.” The department said it meets regularly with private industry to gauge market conditions and the effects of its regulations.


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John Prescott baffled after finding tracking device in his car
Ex-deputy prime minister John Prescott may be famed for his fondness for Jaguars, but one of his beloved machines has given him a shock after mechanics discovered a tracking device fitted underneath one of the seats.
Local mechanics unearthed the six-inch tracking kit planted underneath the driver's seat of 'Two Jags' Prescott's XJ luxury saloon after the 76-year-old Labour politician had trouble starting the car. The tracker, which had been draining the battery, includes a SIM card and a built-in microphone for recording conversations and uses mobile phone technology to track the car.
As Prescott has owned the car for a number of years, it is possible that this machine has captured a number of important conversations. Famed for his straight talking demeanour Prescott told the Sunday Mirror: "I can only hope whoever listened to my conversations installed an automatic bleeper too."
He added: "I've been told that whoever knows the SIM card that goes with the tracker can send out a signal and stop the engine. I suppose you have to hope you're not on the motorway", reports the Daily Mail.
"I'm really surprised. I've had the car a couple of years and had considerable trouble with the battery. Something was draining the power and affecting the operation of the vehicle.
"The mystery now begins to try and find out what it is. I've been watched and tapped in the past - but this is my first case of a tracker in a car."
Prescott has now launched an investigation to discover who has been bugging his car by tracing the previous owners to see if any of them had fitted the device to track the car had it ever been stolen.


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Every year, on the 31st of May, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners mark World No Tobacco Day. This day is set apart to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and to advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. According to WHO “Tobacco kills nearly six million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are non-smokers dying from breathing second-hand smoke”. This is not just a global problem but also a problem for Sri Lanka. Due to poor management of taxation not only have cigarettes become more affordable, but the tax share of the under-priced cigarettes has also declined. Two things have resulted from that: first, consumption of cigarettes have begun to increase (it went up by almost 10% in 2015). Second, potential tax revenues are being lost to government and transferred as income to the producer. This is both a health issue and an issue of public finance for Sri Lanka. Therefore, the Sri Lankan parliament has a responsibility to oversee the taxation measures and address the bureaucratic discretion that is eroding the benefits of public health and public finance.
Sri Lanka’s exports as a share of GDP has declined from 33% in 2000 to 13% in 2015. One of the solutions has been to diversify Sri Lanka’s markets. This is because over 50% of Sri Lanka’s exports go to the EU and the United States; and India and China absorb only 7% and 2.9% respectively. A previous Verité Insight titled “Solving dilemma of export diversification” pointed out that the bottleneck might not be in a narrow set of markets, but in a narrow set of products. Over 50% of Sri Lanka’s exports are Apparel and Tea, and the markets Sri Lanka accesses are appropriate to these products. Therefore, solving the export problem requires giving attention to diversifying products as well, not just the markets. The present analysis looks at the success of product diversification with regard to exports to India – signaling both a diversification from traditional markets and traditional products. This success in diversification, however, conceals some vulnerability. A majority of the products Sri Lanka is exporting to India are overly dependent on preferential trade terms with India – so they succeed only in India. This makes them vulnerable on two counts: the reversal of preferences, or the…
Elected officials and selected bureaucrats are given a huge amount of power to act on behalf of the public – modern democracies function on this basis: that citizens hand over their power to elected representatives. But how can citizens then protect themselves against those individuals misusing that power? This is the perennial problem of governance. The simple answer that is given to this question of governance, is “elections” – that elections ensure the displacement of politicians who violate the public trust, and thus create political incentives for better behaviour. This Insight provides an example, which explains why the answer cannot be that simple – the behaviour of officials during elections can both abuse public trust, as well as benefit these officials politically. As such, other governance solutions are needed.
Sri Lanka is negotiating an Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ECTA) with India. It envisages liberalising trade in services. The lack of information on what is being negotiated has fueled speculation on the outcomes. A previous Verité Insight titled “Trade in Services: Sri Lanka needs to pull up its socks” pointed out, with reference to current Trade Agreements (TAs) of Sri Lanka, that the devil is really in the details – not the concept itself. This Insight attempts to unearth the devil in the details (pitfalls and opportunities) by a quantitative and case analysis of India’s trade agreement with Japan. Explaining at the outset some of the trade related terminology will help to unpack the implications.
Two previous Verité Insights titled “Sri Lanka missing world’s biggest trade party and its in her backyard” & “Trade Agreements that don’t deliver the goods” published in May and June 2013 pointed out that Sri Lanka is well behind her Asian neigbours in entering into trade agreements, and that those entered into were also deficient. This Insight shows that this is even more so the case with agreements that go beyond trade in goods to cover trade in services. This observation does not give a green light to ETCA (Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement with India). but it does provide some context. Even though ETCA type agreements is ‘new territory’ for Sri Lanka, many of its neighbors in Asia have been quite vigorous in entering into such goods and services agreements in the last decade. The current debate on ECTA is around whether Sri Lanka should go ahead with the agreement or not. However, the important question to ask is what costs and benefits could accrue to Sri Lanka, and how that can be managed by the scope and structure of the agreement. Whether a trade agreement is beneficial or not depends greatly on those details. The experience with existing…
Tea sector wage negotiations have been in deadlock now for 10 months. There are political reasons for this situation, but also an overarching economic one: global tea prices have declined – as it periodically happens – and the industry is not geared to compete. Tea is an industry in which Sri Lanka has established a global reputation – Ceylon tea, as it is known worldwide, is considered to be amongst the best black tea in the world. This is mostly a result of Sri Lanka’s climatic and geographic conditions, which yield a quality of tea that is exceptional. Post-independence, Sri Lanka started off with an industry that was inherited. The tea plantations came not only with factories and machinery, but even workers who had been transplanted from India by the British, who served in poor and difficult conditions in the tea estates. The industry in Sri Lanka has relied mostly on its inherited position and first mover advantage in the world. Today it is in a crisis of its own brewing – the advantage of having poorly paid workers is diminishing, and the industry has not succeeded in adding to its productive value to face global competition. Currently, the average…
Most people in a country don’t understand the intricacies of exchange rate management. Nevertheless, actions in this regard have significant implications for the economic stability, growth and overall success of the economy, on which human development is fostered. This Insight explains how a professional approach to the management of the exchange rate seems to have been trumped by political considerations for much of 2015. The losses suffered by a lack of professionalism are not too different to the losses suffered due to corruption, and the lack of professionalism and corruption tend to be parasitic on each other. Therefore, this Insight also points to an important focus that has not yet been adopted by the agenda for good-governance.
Sri Lanka has been driving post-war growth in boom and bust cycles on the trade deficit; and fiscal measures have been used, especially spending on construction, to offset the bust cycles. This strategy is now being squeezed to pulp and it is not sustainable going forward.
This Insight analyses the importance of export finance as a tool to facilitate and promote exports in Sri Lanka. It identifies the bottlenecks that prevent effective use of export finance in the country and provides recommendations to improve availability, access and effective utilisation of export finance in the country.
Measures to prove compliance with an importing country’s standards and regulations are necessary for all exports. However, Sri Lankan exports to India suffer greatly from the associated costs and delays. This Insight proposes a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) in Conformity Assessment Procedures (CAPs) to overcome this barrier and encourage further trade between Sri Lanka and India.


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DubaiLAD is the latest company to enter the digital currency market after launching Shawarmacoin from their Dubai headquarters.
The cryptocurrency has already had strong demand from online retailers in the region and several high-profile investments including from Elan Musk.
This rapid pick up has already made Shawarmacoin one of the best-performing currencies on the market.
Shawarmacoin or SHWRM COIN to give it its digital alias, is just the latest digital currency to hit the market following DogeCoin, Ethereum and Bitcoin.
The industry is now worth billions of dollars with rates rising to record prices over the last few months.
And DubaiLAD’s Shawarmacoin is set to put Dubai on the digital currency map.
Twitter was quick to blow up with the news off Shawarmacoin thanks to Elan Musk’s purchase, with several high-profile traders recommending the new coin.


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Sports and events are among the sectors most affected by the global health crisis caused by COVID-19 we are currently experiencing. This is not only due to the economic repercussions of the change in their business model, which we will see below, but also because they are two of the sectors that involve the most physical movement of people, which generates more excitement, in terms of entertainment.
The Spanish first football division alone, in the first part of the 2019-20 season, had moved more than 5.3 million people who went to a stadium to cheer for their teams. If we count the second division, the figure rises to more than 7 million people. This is data that undoubtedly suggests the large economic amounts derived from it.
These data from Statista on COVID-19’s impact on other sports competitions at an international level, in terms of revenue loss, are revealing:
- Postponement of the 2020 Olympics – $277 million (this figure may vary depending on the final date of the event).
- Postponement of Euro 2020 to the following year – 300 million dollars.
- Cancellation and postponement of F1 races – $602 million
- Cancellation of the remaining 259 NBA games – $350-450 million (also depending on the final date of reactivation)
At a quick glance, we can understand the macroeconomic framework faced; not only by sponsors and advertisers in these publicity spaces, but also by the organising companies and sports teams that support these leagues and sports. Faced with this situation, brands have begun to restructure their strategies, offering alternative content to users so that they don’t feel that the brands and distributors of this type of content are clinging to a temporary silence. On the other hand, these large distributors are already researching parallel business models to help alleviate the economic downturn.
These movements are already having an impact on the estimates made by different specialised media, such as the one we see below about the movement of advertising investment, where traditional media would end up losing 12% of the investment with respect to the previous year and digital media investment would increase by 4%.
Several qualitative studies (such as Kantar’s Covid-19 Consumer Barometer) suggest that consumers do not expect a freeze on advertising campaigns, as it would negatively affect brand awareness. We must, therefore, think about how to optimise and increase the performance of all actions, finding the most suitable platforms where consumers are comfortable with the content offered, as long as it provides a differential value.
Uncertainty is another factor that will force companies into new scenarios where creativity and speed are vital in order to avoid becoming obsolete. Since the beginning of the health crisis, we have seen the implementation of drastic legislative measures that have changed our daily lives. However, as we approach the Re-Launch phase, we will undoubtedly see other regulations to prevent a second wave of contagion, such as exhaustive capacity control at mass events or the regulation of international travel. Both the current measures and those that may come later are factors that will force us more than ever to think about super-digitalization and home-driven marketing, concepts that we introduced in our notes for Marketing and Communication Directors, as a means to boost business.
Super-digitalization as a survival mode
Regulatory measures, the change in investment trends, and new consumer habits have led (and will continue to lead) to super-digitalization in the different markets that will take place through the customer experience, among others:
- NBA COO Mark Tatum explained how he has changed his content strategy to mitigate the disappearance of live game broadcasts. They are now broadcasting documentaries, archive content, classic games or online competitions between players themselves. Their intention is to keep consumers awake and, above all, to continue to be essential in their agendas so that they continue to hire the services of operators, and advertisers continue to find value in paying for these advertising sites.
- La Liga Santander did the same and launched itself with the creation of La Liga Santander Fest, a festival that took place 100% on Youtube via streaming and in which, with the help of important football players and singers, they raised funds for the production and purchase of medical equipment.
There are many artists who, after the cancellation of their concerts, announced that they were going to perform one-to-one streaming concerts, with the intention of overcoming the barriers of distance and being able to offer their content in a radically different way. Without a doubt, going to a live concert is a unique experience, but thanks to the work on user experience it is possible to create a unique experience for the users, contributing a differential value at the same time. In economic terms, it is undoubtedly an opportunity to offer consumers a product that had not been considered with such interest until now, given that the situation had not demanded it, and that, touching the right levers, can be highly profitable.
However, there is one aspect that we cannot leave out, and that’s the fact that the change in consumer habits and content that companies are already beginning to offer could lead to a possible change in the companies’ personal buyers. According to data from one of the latest studies by Global Web Index, Generation Z is about 60% more likely to consume online video game tournaments than the average Internet user, and millennials are 50% more likely to consume live conversations with their favourite athletes or watch their behind-the-scenes. Meanwhile, Generation X prefers, by 40% more than the average, to watch archived sports content.
These data have many implications. We are no longer dealing with generic content that usually attracts large masses of users with very different interests such as live match broadcasts; now, the importance of adjusting to the demand of each profile to achieve retention and to continue consuming the brand’s content is vital. However, these new digital products and solutions will not be enough to retain users and improve their experience with the brand in the medium term, in an environment like the one we are facing. There is still a long way to go and many decisions to make.
The entertainment events sector will have to reinvent itself and find a new business model through digitalisation. For the moment, we have seen alternatives such as live broadcasting of songs in the case of concerts or alternative content such as training, make-up tutorials or shows such as Cirque du Soleil. However, these alternatives are not currently generating a direct return on investment as ticket sales or merchandising would, and those responsible for these companies have the difficult task of exploring new avenues of income to complement the traditional ones:
- Dealing with the current phase in which there are still physical restrictions.
- Anticipating a change in consumer habits once the Re-launch scenario arrives.
Won’t this search for new revenue streams and alternatives to physical events cause a shift in trends by analysing costs and discovering a more optimal ROI than that achieved through traditional actions? No doubt it will be interesting to see how technologies such as video conferencing with artificial intelligence and augmented reality make their way into this type of event.
What will happen when we reach the Re-launch phase?
The coming super-digitalization will not only have a short term effect to alleviate the effects of the lockdown we are currently going through, but it will also affect the medium to long term strategy of the companies. That being said, it won’t affect everyone equally.
Within sports and events, there are different types of players who will face different recovery scenarios depending on their current strategy, sector and future projection.
- Homebound economy / CPG. This is the case of the NBA as mentioned earlier. They offer other types of alternative content (classic games, online competitions between players, etc.) that are capable of generating a desire to subscribe to the channels that offer these contents, thus maintaining their business model.
- Frozen economy. National (FIB, Arenal Sound, etc.) and international (Coachella, Tomorrowland, etc.) festivals have seen their business models paralysed by the arrival of the COVID-19 and the legislative measures taken. For this reason, the need to find alternative solutions, through super-digitalization, has emerged in them to sustain sources of income capable of sustaining their businesses.
The new paradigm will not only affect the business models according to the aforementioned scenarios, but it will also impact on such basic aspects as competition. The disappearance of companies, such as modest sports teams or small physical event organisation agencies, as a result of scarce resources to transform their businesses and/or to obtain sufficient liquidity to deal with the situation, will be a factor to take into account. We are facing a market in which some competitors will disappear, but new ones will also emerge with disruptive ideas capable of putting in check the established situation that had taken place until before the health crisis.
With this, a market will open up in the application of the advantages of technology and digitalisation will be a must in any business strategy. More than ever, companies will have to overcome the physical barrier and attend to home-driven marketing by putting users and their experience at the centre and where the creation of a robust and flexible business culture will be essential to cope with any external or internal change in the organisation.


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Holland payment service provider Mollie to more than 10000 businesses to provide bitcoin services
According to foreign media reports, the Holland payment provider Mollie has added to the long-term bitcoin online payment list.
Mollie was founded in 2004, Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg is one of the leading payment service providers, according to the company, Mollie in the Benelux area covering more than one million merchants.
According to the company said they provided the latest For the Bitcoin The payment service allows merchants to accept immediately Digital currency Without, Further integration. In addition, businesses without bitcoin have any experience even not to use bitcoin wallet will be able to experience the convenience of service.
Mollie said they provide bitcoin payment service is seamless and risk-free, just like any other online payment.
Mollie CEO Gaston Aussems believes it is important for bitcoin payment popularity of two-sided market. In fact, Mollie needs to have enough customers to use bitcoin to pay and merchants to accept it.
“We believe that when we can make online merchants simply no risk to accept bitcoin payments, then we have to use the massive popularity of bitcoin has made a significant contribution, we believe that the future of crypto currency because it is DNA, matching for online commerce: such as its real-time, low transaction costs and cross-border” Aussems added.
Mollie API integrates shopping platform, leading online such as Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, SEOshop and OpenCart, the company has to pay business license, and by the Holland central bank supervision.


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$MYL 2Q15 Call: In the Rest of the World region, sales totaled $547MM, a YoverY increase of 51%. Sales from our Legacy business grew 23% on a constant-currency basis, driven by new product launches in Australian and Japan; and higher volumes from our India operations, especially in our anti-retroviral franchise
I haven’t seen a drop in banks like this in a long time. Looks like $WFC is still facing pressures from its sales practices scandal..!!
Helping President-elect's America first focus, $WMT set to create 10,000 retail jobs in the US in 2017.
Looks like Trump has his eyes on the $MON and Bayer merger next. He had a meeting with the CEOs and apparently got job promises from them.


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India-Israel Innovation Centre launched in Bangalore
India’s first India-Israel Innovation Centre (IIIC), an entrepreneurial tech hub to encourage collaboration between teams and individuals of both countries, has been launched in Bangalore. The IIIC was launched by Ramanan Ramanathan, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, Government of India along with Moshe Porat, Founder & CEO Mesh Labs, Ariel Seidman, Deputy Counsul General of Israel and Varad Krishna, Founding Partner, IIIC.
The centre will come up with around 10,000–15,000 sq.ft. of space in the central business district and will be operated by MESH (Modiin Entrepreneur’s Startup Hub). It is expected to be ready by the end of this year, with an investment of around Rs. 2 crores.
“We are looking at fostering collaborations between deep tech companies in the two countries. The centre will give access to Israeli investors and talent to work with their Indian peers,” said Moshe Porat, Co Founder & CEO at MESH Rehovot.
OECD research indicates that Israel spends more money on R&D as a proportion of its economy than any other country (4.25% of its GDP). Meanwhile, India is the nation of origin for the maximum number (14) of immigrant founders of billion dollar startups. According to Moshe Porat, Israeli startups boast of the highest success rate, whereas the success rate for startups in India is around one per cent. He feels that this collaboration will go a long way in increasing the number of successful Indian startups.
According to Varad Krishna, Founding Partner of IIIC, this is the first of six such innovation centres to come up in India. Another two are expected to come up soon in Bangalore and three others in other parts of India. Academic tie-ups between Israel’s Tel-Aviv University, Ben-Gurion university and Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) with their Indian counterparts (IITs and IIITs) are on the anvil.
“We are proud to witness the launch of IIIC, which reinstates that the formula of “India + Israel= Innovation” works. Our role as diplomats is to find best possible ways to connect India to the Israeli ecosystem and vice-versa, especially while both nations are focusing on startups. I wish IIIC to be another productive milestone in connecting the countries and pave the way for many more successful businesses to grow and transform. There would have been no better place than having this launch in India’s Silicon Valley- here in Bangalore,” said Dana Kush, Consulate General of Israel to South India.
“I am happy with the launch the India Israeli Innovation Centre (IIIC) at the IoT India Congress, first ever in India that aims to meet the long pending need to connect the startups ecosystems of Israel and India to improve the quality thereby the survival rate of the startups from our country,” said Varad Krishna.
Startups that are part of IIIC will be given mentorship and guidance and opportunities to participate at all IIIC’s Global events and experience networking avenues with potential customers.
“The IIIC is a significant step towards facilitating penetration of Israeli companies in India and aims to bring local partnerships and joint ventures between the companies from the two countries. It will provide an ecosystem to support entrepreneurship, partnership with vendors, mentoring and non-formal community development that will assist the growth of the companies in different verticals and covers business, technology, investors and customers,” said a statement from the promoters.
The launch took place at the third edition of IoT India Congress, which was held in Bangalore. “The launch of the IIIC was an exciting part of the third edition of IoT India Congress that concluded today. We, at the IET are proud to have collaborated with IIIC and our aim is to facilitate more such opportunities which will help in building a robust ecosystem,” said Shekhar Sanyal, Director and Country Head, the IET.


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Cosmetic services haven’t been immune from disruptions in retail, but one startup is testing the waters on a particularly hair-raising idea for consumers on the go.
GLAMSQUAD, the New York City-based on-demand makeup and cosmetic delivery startup, announced Friday (Oct. 9) it had secured $15 million in Series B funding to continue connecting hair, makeup and nail stylists to consumers wherever they are. Founded in 2014, GLAMSQUAD plans to use the funding to expand in locations across the country.
“This financing is the result of continued, record-setting growth,” Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, co-founder of GLAMSQUAD, said in a statement. “Each week, we hit new appointment count and revenue records. We have quintupled our run-rate revenue from just one year ago and are looking ahead to expansion in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Chicago and many more cities.”
TechCrunch reported that GLAMSQUAD had already booked more than 75,000 appointments in under two years of operation in NYC, Los Angeles and Miami. The company takes a 40 percent cut of every transaction, excluding tip. GLAMSQUAD also guarantees at least a 20 percent gratuity to its contractors, which has led more than 300 freelance contractors to sign up for the service to date.
Outside of expansion plans, The Observer reported that GLAMSQUAD is planning on releasing its own line of branded products to capitalize on its growing market presence. Also on the docket is a permanent eCommerce presence to supplement its core on-demand feature. Wilson also commented that GLAMSQUAD would make a bigger push toward the bridal market with its existing services.
GLAMSQUAD and Wilson appear to be tapping into a market customers are hungry for, and more funding dollars won’t hurt their chances to penetrate this luxury market in waiting.
To check out what else is HOT in the world of payments, click here.


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ABI Research’s latest quarterly market data report on location technologies indicates that 2014 is shaping up to be a breakout year for indoor location technologies in retail environments.
The reason? Early adopters are entering the final year of the three-year technology adoption cycle, shifting from trials to full-scale deployments.
Another critical driver, however, is the boom in BLE/iBeacons, which are creating a wave of second generation start-ups in this space that will help to drive new growth and use cases across all major verticals.
Posted in Announcements, Marketing Strategy, Mobile Devices, Mobile Location, Mobile Shopping, News, Platforms, Predictions, Proximity, Resources, Technology
Berg Insight estimates in a new report published this week that mobile location-based service (LBS) revenues in Europe are estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.8 percent through 2018.
While not as impressive, the North American LBS market is projected to grow as well, in this case at a CAGR of 16.1 percent from 2013 through 2018.
The main growth will come from increasing ad revenues in the social networking and local search segments, Berg projects.
Posted in Announcements, Mobile Devices, Mobile Location, News, Platforms, Smartphones, Technology
iBeacon, the indoor positioning system described by Apple as a “new class of low-powered, low-cost transmitters” that enables push notifications to be sent to iOS devices in close proximity, has found a new advocate.
This week it was announced that iBeacon is being used for the UN’s “International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.”
The event will take place later this Friday at the New York Museum in the Big Apple. And according to 9to5Mac, the event features an exhibit that uses iBeacon.
Posted in Announcements, Mobile Location, News, Platforms, Technology
Location isn’t everything when it comes to mobile… but it is the most important factor.
That’s the observation from Eli Portnoy, general manager of Thinknear, a location based and targeted mobile advertising company.
“Think about it,” Portney says in a recent interview. “The phone is a portable device we carry in our pocket and is a part of what we are doing all day and every day. You have your phone with you when you are commuting, when you are at work, when you are seeing friends, when you go home. It’s ubiquitous. And you use it to interact with your world and what’s important to you.”
Posted in Marketing Strategy, Mobile Advertising, Mobile Advertising Campaigns, Mobile Analytics, Mobile Devices, Mobile Location, Mobile Marketing, News, Platforms
As it turns out, there’s a good reason why Apple, eBay, Google, and others are all making definite moves on indoor location these days.
For starters, we’re looking at a $4 billion market (or more) by 2018.
The overall market of technology installations is forecast to break the 25,000 mark in 2014, while handsets capable of supporting indoor location will be in the hundreds of millions within two years. As a result, the major companies will start to make their moves.
Posted in Mobile Devices, Mobile Location, Mobile Marketing, Platforms, Smartphones, Technology, Topics
Last week, the MMA sounded its promotional trumpet to herald its forthcoming webinar titled “The Top 3 Location-Based Advertising Insights Across Retail, QSR and Auto.”
Scheduled for March 18th, the free webinar will extend the very important conversation raking place across key market sectors today with regard to location.
“Location-based advertising has evolved dramatically from its humble beginnings of simple geofence tests,” the MMA says. “Today, retail, QSR and auto brands are leading the way and running sophisticated campaigns that are delivering meaningful metrics.”
Posted in Announcements, Marketing Strategy, Mobile Advertising, Mobile Devices, Mobile Location, Mobile Marketing, News, Platforms, Resources
On Tuesday, the folks at UberMedia – based just blocks away from the final chapter of the college football BCS Bowl game in Pasadena, CA – released their first “UberInsights of 2014: a Digital BCS Snapshot.”
The report provides a quick view of Florida State and Auburn fans’ mobile social behavior around the 2014 BCS Championship game.
In the process, it highlights some of the new imperatives of marketing in 2014.
Posted in Announcements, Infographics, Mobile Data, Mobile Devices, Mobile Location, Mobile Marketing, Mobile Social, News, Platforms, Resources, Smartphones, Tablet Devices, Technology


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Air Jordan 1 "Triple Black"
Jordan Brand is looking to re-release the Air Jordan 1 in a “Triple Black” scheme this summer. The 85 classic is offered in an all black everything look with hits of red on the tongue tag. Jordan Branding is seen on the ankle while a swoosh is slapped on the side panels. Look out for these to release later this summer and stay tuned with Modern Notoriety for a release date. via ModernNoteriety.com
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It’s been almost two years since the initial campaign that kicked off the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie ran, and now Yooka-Laylee has gone gold.
This game has been developed by Playtonic Games, a new company that formed months ahead of the initial Kickstarter campaign. Playtonic is built with all sorts of developers, but a bunch of them come from Rare and even have experience with Banjo-Kazooie.
The fact that we’re getting, basically, a Banjo for the modern era is really special for me.
What does going gold mean?
It’s ready for release. It’s been sent off for retail production. We’ll see it soon.
Not that soon, though. Yooka-Laylee has gone gold pretty far ahead of its release date. The game is due on April 11, 2017, so we’re more than two months from launch. Suddenly, this post is sad.
Normally when we talk about a game going gold, we’re mere weeks away from its launch. Now we’re months. That’s a bummer, I suppose.
On April 11, Yooka-Laylee will sell for the PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It’s due for the Nintendo Switch, too, but that launch date hasn’t been announced yet.


text: Indian gamers are waging a Twitter campaign against EA with the hashtag #EAPCIndia. Their beef? EA has jacked up the price of PC games this year. Last year's Battlefield 3 had cost roughly the equivalent of $20 in India. Battlefield 4 will be close to $60, or 3,499 rupees. IndianVideoGamer.com has the story and the explanation that EA and its distributor are probably trying to unify prices worldwide.


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What impact did the events of 2020 have on third-party digital advertising for broadcasters? We’re answering that question in our 2020 Digital Benchmark Report blog series. We looked at industry verticals by digital advertising revenue and analyzed sales rep activity, comparing 2020 and 2019 data to understand how the pandemic influenced media organizations and advertisers alike.
In today’s final installment, we will get even more granular. Let’s examine how orders, proposals and CPM were affected in 2020.
Data point #1: Average order size remains steady, showing advertisers’ confidence in digital
This is what we found when we analyzed our customer order data for 2020 versus 2019:
The number of orders placed in 2020 decreased by 23% compared to 2019. This is what we would expect, given fewer active sales reps and less advertiser investment during the early months of the pandemic in particular.
The average order size, however, dropped just 1% in 2020. Interestingly, the size of advertisers’ orders remained remarkably stable. Why? Advertisers understand the power and ROI of digital advertising. After the initial pullback in March and April, most began to reinvest or even double down on digital channels. They realized that they still needed to communicate with their customers — some more now than ever — and that digital advertising was the most effective way to reach them where they were: online.
This emphasis on digital is consistent with the recent RAB-Borrell Annual Benchmarking Report. The Digital Advertising Boom of 2020, a blog summarizing the findings, reveals that digital sales across the industry were actually up 11.8% versus 2019, as well as:
- 23% of radio buyers paused their radio spend in 2020, with 43% of that group blaming the pandemic and 33% saying it was too expensive. 24% said they “moved the money somewhere else,” presumably to digital.
- Radio buyers now spend roughly the same or more on individual digital products as they do on radio advertising.
- Nine out of the top 10 marketing tactics used by radio buyers are digital, led by 96% of radio advertisers also buying social media.
The conversion rate of proposals to orders went up 1%. In another positive data point, sales reps were actually 1% more successful in 2020 in converting proposals to orders. This too, we believe, speaks to advertisers’ interest and confidence in digital advertising. In addition, it demonstrates that sales teams for broadcast organizations continue to improve. It seems they are rising to the occasion of becoming trusted marketing experts for their advertisers (and likely embracing this key to successful digital sales.)
Data point #2: CPM increases significantly in spite of pandemic downturn
Our final data point firmly supports the findings in the RAB-Borrell report: In five out of six categories of digital advertising products, CPM increased in 2020 compared to 2019.
These numbers inspire confidence for several reasons. They demonstrate that while the number of orders decreased in 2020, media organizations were able to charge more for their digital products, offsetting those losses. Further, they suggest that the real and perceived value of digital advertising is going up. Advertisers are willing to pay for more digital campaigns because they have already seen the return or feel positive about the potential ROI.
When advertisers pay more, media organizations achieve better margins. This is important for digital advertising sales. Because the margins for digital ads are lower than traditional broadcast spots, it can be challenging to engage sales teams in selling the new products. Better margins certainly help smooth those bumps.
The growth in CPM for digital products is particularly noteworthy for occurring in 2020, as other channels saw significant downturns. It proves conclusively that digital is here to stay and, more importantly, that it can become a significant revenue source for media companies. Digital enables organizations to show their advertisers precisely how their investment paid off. By proving their impact, media sales teams can build stronger relationships, demand higher prices, and continue to expand their offerings — and their opportunities.
While the pandemic had a marked effect on broadcast and media in 2020, the long-term trend of digital being a valued advertising outlet is clear. With the right products, training and pricing, media sales reps will be poised to drive their digital advertising growth in 2021 and beyond.
Thanks for joining us in our analysis of 2020 versus 2019 customer data. You can revisit Parts 1 and 2 of this series below, download the full Marketron 2020 Digital Benchmark Report E-Booklet, or request a demo to see how Marketron can accelerate your digital advertising initiative in 2021 and beyond.


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Today is the age of the internet and the world economy is now connected to the internet but now a new system is going to take the place of the internet which has been named Metaverse or MetaWorld.
According to the Economic Times, these mysterious words have become so ingrained in the minds and nerves of the technology world that the world’s most important internet platform, Facebook, has attached its name to these words for the future.
That’s why Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that he is renaming his company Meta Platform Inc, which will be abbreviated as Meta. Maybe Mark Zuckerberg and his colleagues.
Awareness of the future of technology and its initiative in the use of technology has raised concerns among deer and other researchers around the world that the new age will now be connected to such a huge social media platform. In which human beings No secrets, information, and statistics of his private life will be safe.
Innovation of technology and virtual methods
This innovation of technology and virtual methods will dominate people’s lives. This distance from the real world can also give rise to new problems. Imagine being able to see not only the screen but also the inside of the screen. You can be a character and go everywhere, just as you would a character in a video game.
It will be even more modern than the video game. In this way, man will live a double life using this technology just like you are a human being on one side and also a ghost which will suddenly appear everywhere. With Metaverse you can attend any event, singing concert, etc. You can go to your office. All office work from home. Can perform tasks. Can make the office a virtual office. Most offices will probably confine to the home.
Facebook is introducing new software for meeting companies, Horizon Workroom. Initially, it was not very popular, the headset used for it would cost three hundred US dollars while there would be additional expenses on additional accessories which would be out of reach of many people. In general, the use of new technology is limited in the beginning, but gradually it began to be widely used.
Microsoft and computer chip maker NVIDIA
Microsoft and computer chip maker NVIDIA is also considering adopting the technology. Richard Kers, vice president of Nvidia, says a number of companies are using the technology. Facebook is investing 1 billion, or about 17 trillion. Forbes, a leading American magazine covering economics, technology, and politics. According to Mark Wayne’s article published in, Metaverse is the most important topic of the present time.
Putting aside research on this subject without examining it. Let’s examine its practical form. It is a pleasant surprise to be everywhere in the virtual world as your cousin, your shadow, or ghost. But how is it in our lives and It will change the lifestyle, it is very important to think and research? This is also the most important issue today. The good side of it is that now the best global and local business and other links of large scale will be common.
With this technology, we are moving towards a new and wonderful world. This technology will affect every sector. The U.S. military has announced that it will use Microsoft’s holo-lens in the future as part of the technology. Shopping items in the store will have the product details as they appear on the front. On the other hand, this technology will bring about revolutionary changes in medicine, education, engineering, and other fields.
MetaVerse will have its own currency and coins, while cryptocurrency coins will also be used. One idea is that because of its negative effects. People will become accustomed to the artificial world and move away from the real world.
There is a section in Pakistan that wants to adopt every new technology. As soon as possible and due to its interest, limited awareness has started in Pakistan as well. There is a possibility that the use of this technology will delay in Pakistan. But it is difficult to stay away from the changing world for a long time. The educated people of Pakistan who are interested in this technology can introduce it in Pakistan in the first phase but the extent to which the IT institutes are ready in this regard is not yet known.
Gradually for Information will emerge over time. However, in the coming period. This technology can have a profound effect on other sectors besides the economy of Pakistan. With the passage of time, the use of modern technology will increase worldwide. The gamblers or countries will prepare for this in advance. They will get more benefits.


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The industry ministry is considering fully liberalizing the retail electricity business in 2016 as part of broader reforms designed to fuel competition in the power industry, sources said.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry may also require utilities to spin off their transmission and distribution operations sometime between 2017 and 2019, the sources said Sunday.
The ministry plans to submit a draft of the reform plans to an advisory panel Friday and finalize them by the middle of this month.
The draft outlines plans to set up a new organization in 2015 that would adjust electricity supply and demand across the country in cooperation with transmission and distribution operators, which will be spun off by the utilities.
Under the reform plans, the country will introduce separate licenses for electricity generation, transmission and distribution, and retail sales. A new regulatory body would be set up to oversee them.
Full liberalization of retail electricity operations will abolish the remaining regulations on rates to allow even small-lot users — such as households — to select their own power companies.


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Tony Akins is best known for his work on FABLES and JACK OF FABLES written by Bill Willingham. Now, he gives Cliff Chiang a breather as he takes over art duties for a two-part WONDER WOMAN story which begins on January 18th. I spoke to Tony about his art and getting the call to work on one of the most iconic superhero characters below.
It’s about to get hot as Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang take us to the depths of Hell in WONDER WOMAN issue #7 this March. Remember the myth of Orpheus? Wonder Woman does. And we hope she’s learned its lessons well as someone she loves is in Hell’s clutches and she’s about to head out on a rescue mission. But Hades has no mercy—even for family members--and doesn’t intend to let her out of his domain without paying a price. Now to reveal the incredible cover by Cliff Chiang:
Did you happen to catch The Simpsons last night? If you did, you know that industry legend Neil Gaiman was prominently featured. COMIC BOOK RESOURCES’ SPINOFF ONLINE interviewed Gaiman about his experiences working on the episode. When asked about what it was like receiving the script, Gaiman said, “I started to read it and discovered that I was in it all the way through and I was actually having to act and that stuff happens!
Ever since we launched DC COMICS-THE NEW 52, we’ve been trying to find the perfect outlet to post each exclusive preview. What better match, then, is there for BATMAN AND ROBIN than WIRED’s GEEKDAD? Head on over to their website to see an amazing 6-page sequence from issue #3, which is all about the tension between Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian.
You surf the web enough, you start seeing patterns. The number 52, for instance, seems to be very popular right now. Drill down further and new trends start to emerge. Critics like ANIMAL MAN and THE FLASH. Websites likes a good holiday story, particularly a week out from Halloween. Ready?
You’ve heard that retailers across the country are hosting artists from DC Comics-The New 52 and displaying process pieces from their new comic book series. Well, for those of you who can’t make it to the events we thought we’d bring a version of it right here for you to see. To start us off, WONDER WOMAN artist Cliff Chiang takes us through the process of designing Hermes with series writer Brian Azzarello.
The first event of the DC Comics-The New 52 Art Tour kicked of at Bergen Street Comics in Brooklyn on Saturday spotlighting Cliff Chiang’s stunning artwork on WONDER WOMAN #1. By all accounts the event was a huge success. Fans began lining up hours before the event was to begin and wrapped outside the store.


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Police: Winterset store manager saves 85-year-old customer from scam
A quick-thinking store clerk in Winterset saved an older customer from an expensive phone scam.
And now police want to warn you.
“It was a typical scam that we hear all too frequently,” said Winterset police Chief Ken Burk.
Burk says an 85-year-old customer at the Dollar General store is lucky. She came in Monday to buy a $500 gift card. But she was on the phone during her visit and that was suspicious. It turns out there was a bad guy on the other end of the line.
“They actually instructed her to don't tell anyone you're on the phone, hide your phone while you're in the store, don't let them know you're on the phone because what's happening is clerks are seeing this,” Burk said.
“She looked really worried,” said Dollar General store manager Allysa Taylor.
Taylor is the quick-thinking clerk who did see it.
“I asked her, is this for somebody on the phone and she whispered yes. And I said do you know this person, and she said no, but I’m not supposed to tell you,” Taylor said.
Police say the victim had been on the phone with the scammer for two hours. He told her she needed to send him $500 to collect a $2.5 million prize. Taylor got on the customer's phone, and he hung up. Burk eventually called the crooked caller, who answered.
“You're ripping off old people. Doesn't that feel crappy?” Burk said.
And the scam caller responded, “They are going to die with the money and their son and daughter will be just taking the money ... and take drugs. We need it to build a house and take care of our family.”
Burk was shocked by that answer.
“Incredible that they say something like that and can be so cold and callous to the people that are losing their hard-earned money," Burk said.
Burk praised Taylor.
“She did a great thing. She is definitely a hero for us,” Burk said.
Taylor says it’s part of the job.
“It finally came about that my training was necessary. And I'm grateful that I was able to help her, she said.
Police say the caller was likely overseas. They say never give money to a caller who wants you to pay to collect an alleged prize.
More from Todd Magel:


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Teaser(s) for Tomorrow [3:24 pm]
As a NYTimes subscriber, I get the Sunday Magazine section in the Saturday paper — there’s a great story in the section tomorrow on “Red v. Blue,” the X-Box based machinima — “The Xbox Auteurs.” As the article points out:
Perhaps the most interesting thing about machinima is that none of its creators are in jail. After all, they’re gleefully plundering intellectual propoerty at a time when the copyright wars have become particularly vicious.
Instead, these guys are so hot that Microsoft not only lets them use images from the game without asking for a licensing fee, but also:
Microsoft has been so strangely solicitous that when it was developing the sequel to Halo last year, the designers actually inserted a special command—a joystick button that makes a soldier lower his weapon—designed solely to make it easier for Rooster Tech to do dialogue.
“If you’re playing the game, there’s no reason to lower your weapon at all,” Burns explained. “They put that in literally just so we can shoot machinima.”
Also a look at music e-tailing: “Britney to Rent, Lease or Buy“


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Minecraft Dungeons and Shantae and the Seven Sirens headline this week’s lineup of new Xbox One releases. Minecraft Dungeons.
We take a look behind the scenes of Popcannibal’s BAFTA-winner, its surprisingly political beginnings and why it’s the.
This month we’ve got an extra special Final Boss feature, to celebrate Green Man Gaming’s tenth birthday and look back at a.
PRINCE CHARLES would regularly clash with Margaret Thatcher over his political views – but the former Prime Minister actually.
27 okt 2019.
En we beginnen deze serie met niet minder dan The Bitcoin Family.
of toewijding mogelijk dan all in te gaan; van en met Bitcoin te gaan leven.
Ik gebruik steemit voor af en toe wat blogs te schrijven, decent.bet om te.
How To Hodl Cryptocurrencies 15 May 2020. [+] smaller cryptocurrencies are still making massive gains–ahead of even the bitcoin price rally. Getty Images. Tezos, trading as XTZ, has risen. Wyoming U.S. Senate candidate Cynthia Lummis says bitcoin’s store-of-value appeal has never been stronger. So she continues. What does HODL mean? hodler meaning, definition and more. In these crypto communities,
Bitcoin Dark Networks Dark markets operate secretly online, peddling illegal goods and services, and taking bitcoin for payment. Find out more about the world of the Dark Web. Top Bitcoin Pioneers And Thought Leaders You Want To Be Following In The oldest is 108, the youngest just a baby. These are just some of the UK’s coronavirus victims,
Shirley Ballas has said she is “99% sure” Strictly Come Dancing will return to television later this year and when it does it.
27 Jun 2019.
How to live and travel solely on cryptocurrency, what is the toughest place to cash and spend crypto, and how did Didi's wife sold all her shoes -.
Traders Bet Bitcoin Will Reach $50,000, Double Record Peak of 2017. Bitcoin and Laptop.
What Happens to Bitcoin After All 21 Million Are Mined?
We are asking our sporting personalities how they are dealing with action coming to a halt because of the coronavirus.


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UPDATE: Even more router models now being infected! See: https://www.pcmag.com/news/361655/vpnfilter-malware-sinks-its-teeth-into-more-routers
𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐒𝐍’𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇!
● More Tech Discussions ➤ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFr3c472Vstwe0Yk43UDnpqib5ReTwaJ-
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You may have heard about the “VPNFilter” virus going around infecting many popular routers. It has affected more than 500,000 devices, but luckily the government is taking action to limit it’s impact. The recent advice to reboot your router WILL help, but if you were infected more than a few days ago, hackers may still be able to take control of your router. Doing a factory reset is the only way to be safe. This video goes over what the malware is, steps you should take to prevent it, and remove it, and even if your router is at risk in the first place.


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- On Monday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made a surprise appearance during a virtual Spotify event.
- Markle showed off her maternity style in a $3,490 Oscar de la Renta peplum dress with a lemon print.
- She and Harry announced on Valentine's Day that they're expecting their second child together.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Markle and Harry appeared at Spotify's Stream On virtual event to talk about their new podcast, Archewell Audio.
"We're using podcasting to drive powerful conversations," Markle said around the 38:40 minute mark. "We created Archewell Audio so we could elevate voices that maybe aren't being heard, and hear people's stories."
For the virtual event that streamed on Monday, Markle wore a lemon-print Oscar de la Renta dress that was available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $3,490 at the time of writing. She paired the dress with simple gold jewelry and wore her hair in waves.
Harry wore a white button-down shirt and dark pants for the event.
When the couple shared their pregnancy news, they shared a black-and-white photo taken by their close friend, photographer Misan Harriman.
In the photo, Markle gave a look at her first maternity style look while pregnant with her second child, wearing a custom-made sleeveless Carolina Herrera dress while lying on the grass alongside Harry.
The Carolina Herrera brand's creative director, Wes Gordon, said that he actually made the dress for Markle in 2018 when she was pregnant with the couple's first child, Archie.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Gordon said Markle's baby announcement outfit offered an important message about sustainability.
"The number one thing someone can do for sustainability is hold on to those pieces you buy and use them for a longer amount of time," he told the publication. "That's why I think what Meghan did is such a powerful message. She wore a dress that's no less beautiful, because it's two years old ... it makes her feel no less special or no less happy."
Markle and Harry will do a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey for an exclusive CBS special on March 7. This will be their first televised, sit-down interview since their engagement, People reported.
Our Royal Insider Facebook group is the best place for up-to-date news and announcements about the British royal family, direct from Insider's royal reporters. Join here.


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This weekly round-up spotlights Toronto’s newest restaurants and bars plus incoming establishments that you should be on your radar.
Here are the newest restaurants opening in Toronto right now:
- Bar Hop 3 is now open at 681 Danforth Avenue, it’s the third outpost for the craft beer bar with a location on King West and also on Peter in the downtown core.
- Hero Certified Pizza is now open in Stockyards Village at 90 Weston Road, Unit 101.
- Labothéry, a newly opened “lab-themed” tea room is offering thirsty Torontonians the chance to customize their perfect bubble tea at 717 Bay Street.
- Vegan eatery Awai is opening a spin-off spot at 680 College Street.
- The Burger’s Priest is opening yet another location at 579 King Street West.
- Cops, a new spot for drip coffee and doughnuts is coming soon to the King and Portland area.
- Gazi MezzeBar is coming soon to 511 Danforth Avenue.
- Malaysian coffee bun chain PappaRoti is finally opening a location in downtown Toronto at 270 Spadina Avenue next to the incoming Gou Bu Li.
- Sukoshi Mart, a compact new Japanese convenience store is coming soon to 160 Baldwin Street.
- TapWorks Pub is in the works at 816 St. Clair West, the address was formerly home to Fresco’s Fish & Chips.
- Thor Espresso Bar is opening another outpost! The cafe is slated to open at 180 John Street sometime in 2018 while an international location in Tokyo, Japan is in the works for 2019.
- The Vegandale Bracitorium, Prohibition Pie and NYM are opening in Parkdale this summer as the neighbourhood’s vegan community has rechristened the area Vegandale.
- Hamilton shop creates donut with lemon-flavoured 'broken glass' after being vandalized
- Vegans are trying to rename Parkdale as Vegandale
- Go mad scientist at this new lab-themed DIY bubble tea room in Toronto


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Valley Bounty: E & J Scott Orchards
Daily Hampshire Gazette – July 10, 2021
By JACOB NELSON
‘With farming, you have to be adaptable, or you don’t survive,” says Collin Scott, who together with his wife, Laura, runs E& J Scott Orchards in Buckland. “Nothing stays constant, so you have to roll with it.”
This is especially the case for hilltown farms like theirs, set on sloping terrain that makes every piece of their property a little different. Add shifting economic trends, changes in climate patterns, and a pandemic to boot, there’s a lot to juggle. Yet they persevere, even as the magnitude of all this variability seems to be increasing.
“We’ve got over 200 very hilly acres here in Buckland,” Scott says, “which is good for growing some crops and not others. We’ve got stone fruit, apples and hay land wherever we can get a tractor on it. On the rest, we log some to sell firewood or graze the cows.”
The farm is named for Collin’s parents, Edward and Janice. Apples were their main crop, historically, and currently cover 15 acres. A small but mighty 2½ acres grow summer fruit crops, many of which are in season now. “We’ve got apricots, plumcots (a cross of an apricot and a plum), peaches, nectarines, Japanese plums, and European plums, and about 120 blueberry bushes,” Scott says.
Most of these are sold at E& J Scott Orchard’s three farm stand locations, a tradition dating back to when Collin’s parents began farming the land.
“My mother ran a roadside stand ever since they started back in 1954,” Scott says. “We still have our main farm stand right on Conway road in Ashfield where my mom and dad lived — my sister runs that — and now we also have stands here at the farm in Buckland and out in Goshen.”
This week at the stands, “the cherries just finished, the blueberries are just starting, and soon we’ll roll into the early peaches and nectarines,” Scott says. They also sell their own apples, cider, and duck and chicken eggs. “People love the duck eggs for baking,” he says. “They’re really high in protein.”
It was eggs, Scott says, that first signaled the chaos the COVID pandemic would bring to the food system. They have a small laying flock of about 20 ducks and 40 chickens that usually supplies enough eggs for their main Ashfield stand. But in spring of 2020, “we were buying eggs from every farm we could to keep the shelves stocked,” he says. “We had people coming up from Springfield, to buy for their family and other families.”
It was a similar story with their cattle. E& J Scott Orchards raises Irish Dexters that they sell by the animal, mostly to other farms to replace breeding stock. “It’s a good use for the land we can’t grow fruit on, and gives us a little more income,” Scott explains. Last year as fear of meat shortages mounted, he says, “we could sell any animal we wanted to.”
Up close, the pandemic food supply shortages were a minor boon for the local farmers who had food to sell when others didn’t. But from a broader perspective, increased volatility in food supply chains makes the futures of both farmers and eaters much less certain.
“For years people have taken for granted that food will be on the shelves when they want it,” Scott says. “COVID got people to notice where they got their food from, and how fragile our food supply can be.”
In E& J’s case, they adapted to the situation as best they could, refitting their farm stand to be self-serve and hoping, as they do now, that our collective experience with large-scale food uncertainty will lead to greater support for a strong local food system.
Says Scott, “I think people got into the habit of coming to the stand for fresh produce, and started noticing that the fresh stuff, locally grown, was a little better quality.”
Climate variability poses further challenges to which farms like E & J Scott Orchards must adapt. The biggest risk facing their hillside orchards are springtime temperature fluctuations.
“You rarely used to see a 70 degree day in February,” Scott says, “but now that happens, and the trees think it’s time to get started.” When flowers form so early in the season, they’re very vulnerable to ‘freezing out’, as Scott calls it — when a cold snap destroys the nascent buds and the promise of any harvest to come. In 2016, just such an event wiped out around 90% of the peach crop in New England.
“Our farm went more than 40 years without freezing out,” Scott recalls, “but since the ‘90s we’ve lost the majority of our apple crop four different years. I don’t know whether it’s manmade or mother nature, but the weather pattern is changing. And anyone around here will tell you the same thing. It’s totally different now than it was 40 years ago.
“Between the weather changing and new diseases and new pests coming in from around the world, farming isn’t the same as when I was growing up.”
So of course they’ve adapted, growing new varieties that ripen at different times or have greater disease resistance. They’re even adjusting where they plant trees on the property to deal with the new normal.
“We’re putting all of our stone fruit up on the north slope now,” he says. “They don’t get as much fluctuation in February and March, and it seems to hold them back from budding too early. That’s about the best I can do.”
“Another thing I’ve worked hard on is supporting the native bumblebee population,” he says. As honeybees continue to struggle with disease, he prizes them as reliable pollinators. “They work hard and work late, out in the elements,” he says. “I like them.”
At the end of the day, it’s the ability of local farms like E& J Scott Orchards to adapt that keeps sweet summer produce throughout the Valley. To see other farms and farm stands near you with fresh local produce this summer, visit buylocalfood.org/ find-it-locally.
Jacob Nelson is communications coordinator for CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture).


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Apotheker Seeks to Save HP's 'Lost Soul' With Software Growthby
Leo Apotheker stood before 4,000 Hewlett-Packard Co. colleagues Jan. 31, shielded from the afternoon Bangalore sun by a vast white tent.
Speaking with the accent that betrays his German roots, Apotheker vowed that as chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard he would treat India more as a market than a source of low-cost labor for product development, as it did under his predecessor Mark Hurd.
CEO since Nov. 1, Apotheker is breaking with Hurd's legacy in other ways. He's overhauling HP's $41 billion personal-computer division and says he will use acquisitions to expand in the software market, dominated by rivals such as Oracle Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. Apotheker is reversing Hurd's emphasis on cost-cutting in a bid to improve product quality and spur home-grown technology, and he's touring HP's offices to find ways to get products to market more quickly.
"HP has lost its soul," he said in an interview at Hewlett-Packard's headquarters in Palo Alto, California, offering a glimpse of the vision he will outline in greater detail at an event on March 14 in San Francisco. "The first thing I wanted to do when I joined HP was listen to the people. The rank and file usually know about all the shortcomings."
Apotheker, 57, resigned as CEO of German software maker SAP AG in February 2010 amid falling sales, clashes with unions over job cuts and a price increase that vexed customers. He takes the helm of a company facing slowing revenue growth and accelerating competition in cloud computing, a fast-growing area of technology that delivers software and storage via the Internet.
HP's Cloud 'Gap'
"There seems to be a gap between what kind of services HP offers and what kind of services people actually need," said Jane Snorek, who helps oversee about $75 billion at Nuveen Asset Management, which sold Hewlett-Packard shares after Hurd's Aug. 6 departure. "People in IT today want their service organizations or consultants to tell them, 'What does the cloud mean to me?'"
Hurd resigned after the company said inaccurate expense reports filed by him or on his behalf concealed a personal relationship with a contractor, in violation of HP's standards of business conduct.
The new CEO says he's likely to buy more companies with software expertise, following HP's Feb. 14 acquisition of data-analysis company Vertica for an undisclosed price. He said he's on the lookout for targets that will help HP beef up security and equip customers to analyze large amounts of data.
"I happen to know something about software," said Apotheker, who spent more than 20 years at SAP, the world's largest maker of business-application software.
Possible Software Targets
Informatica Corp., BMC Software Inc., SAS Institute Inc., Symantec Corp. and CommVault Systems Inc. are among potential targets, said Jayson Noland, an analyst at Robert W. Baird in San Francisco, who has an "outperform" rating on HP shares.
Even after the $13.2 billion acquisition of Electronic Data Systems Corp. -- a deal designed to help it expand in computer services -- HP's services revenue rose less than 1 percent to $34.9 billion in the year that ended Oct. 31. IBM's services sales increased 2.6 percent to $56.4 billion in 2010. HP's software sales were $3.59 billion last fiscal year, compared with $22.5 billion for IBM in 2010.
Two companies not on HP's radar, Apotheker says, are SAP and Salesforce.com Inc., which specialize in applications that help businesses handle such tasks as payroll, financial reporting and customer-relationship management. HP has "no interest" in the kinds of business programs those companies sell, he said in the Feb. 28 interview.
WebOS on Every PC
Apotheker says he also wants to make better use of WebOS, the computer-operating system acquired last year when Hewlett-Packard purchased smartphone maker Palm Inc. for $1.2 billion. Starting next year, every one of the PCs shipped by HP will include the ability to run WebOS in addition to Microsoft Corp.'s Windows, Apotheker said.
The move is aimed at enticing software developers to create a wider range of applications that would differentiate HP PCs, printers, tablets and phones from those sold by rivals.
"You create a massive platform," Apotheker said.
Programmers have built more than 350,000 apps for devices made by Apple Inc. and more than 250,000 for Google Inc.'s Android Market. WebOS has 6,000 apps, according to HP.
"Their Achilles' heel is software," said Brian Marshall, an analyst at Gleacher & Co. in San Francisco, who has a "buy" rating on HP shares. Hewlett-Packard gets 70 percent of sales from computers, storage, networking and printers, 27 percent from providing information-technology services, and 2.2 percent from software.
Slowing Sales Growth
Hewlett-Packard's sales may rise 4 percent in fiscal 2011 and 2012, analysts surveyed by Bloomberg predict, compared with an average 8 percent increase annually under Hurd. HP forecast quarterly and annual sales on Feb. 22 that missed analysts' projections amid lackluster consumer demand and sinking services revenue.
Hurd boosted sales and shareholder returns through more than $24.3 billion in acquisitions. His cost reductions included a 5 percent pay cut for most employees in 2009, lower research spending and plans to eliminate at least 48,000 jobs. Costs that include research and development as well as selling, general and administrative expenses fell to 13.5 percent of sales by the end of last year from 17.6 percent of sales in 2005, when Hurd started, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The decline in research and development and Hurd's aversion to software mean HP has been slow to capitalize on some key tech trends. It lacks not only cloud-computing expertise, but also tools that help companies analyze information, Apotheker says.
"The minute you stop investing in innovation, you start spiraling toward your death," said John Schwarz, who joined SAP in 2008 with its purchase of Business Objects, where he was CEO, and departed last year. "That's what Leo is trying to make sure doesn't happen at HP."
Apotheker also aims to revive HP's emphasis on product quality, saying that when hardware performs better right out of the gate, the company incurs lower service and warranty costs -- and customers are happier. He's rehiring quality-assurance experts fired under Hurd and giving new responsibilities to those he says got "sidelined" by the former CEO.
"We have cut enough costs," Apotheker said.
The new CEO has toured HP offices in Paris, Tokyo and Seoul. Fluent in French, German, Dutch, Hebrew and English, he's also been to the company's operations in Boblingen, Germany; London and Bracknell in the U.K.; and the New York, Boston, Washington and San Diego areas, addressing 100,000 employees, or about a third of the total.
"If you're the CEO of a global company, you have to act globally," he said. "You can't stay in your office." After the recent India trip, he told staff HP risks falling behind there by treating it as a low-cost resource.
The peripatetic polyglot is also putting down roots in Silicon Valley. Apotheker and his wife bought a $7 million mansion in Atherton, California, six miles from HP's main offices, and have begun to renovate it. The family is keeping its house in Paris, where Apotheker has long resided.
"I consider myself a Californian now," says Apotheker. "I bought a house in California -- I can even say 'awesome' and 'cool.'"
Apotheker is giving engineers freer rein to pursue their own ideas, boosting the research and development budget, which was at $2.96 billion last year, and pushing HP's product groups to share more technology among themselves.
While he toured HP printing operations in San Diego in December, he watched as two employees demonstrated a printing technology they developed on their own. He's pushing them to turn the idea into a product.
Apotheker is trying to break down walls among HP's product groups that have prevented the company from creating more compelling products and shipping them to market faster.
Last year, HP adapted technology used in its inkjet printers to create seismic sensors that Royal Dutch Shell Plc can use to detect oil deposits. Apotheker says more of HP's product groups should similarly share technology and ideas.
"You don't mandate innovation," he said. "People need to be a little more empowered in this place."
A German-born Jew whose Polish parents fled the Nazis, Apotheker went on to run SAP, one of Germany's largest companies. At HP, he inherits an icon of American business, begun in a garage in Palo Alto, California, by William Hewlett and David Packard, who used $538 in working capital, including a used drill press from Sears-Roebuck.
Morale also flagged under Hurd's cost-cutting, while the pace of competition accelerated. HP expanded into networking equipment -- and onto Cisco Systems Inc.'s turf -- through its $2.7 billion acquisition of 3Com Inc. last year. It's vying against Apple in smartphones after its 2010 purchase of Palm. HP must also contend with Oracle, which entered the hardware arena through its Sun Microsystems purchase last year and hired Hurd as a president a month after he left HP.
Wall Street has yet to ratify HP's choice. HP has declined 8.4 percent since Hurd's Aug. 6 departure. What gives investors pause is Apotheker's nine-month tenure at the top of SAP, which was marred by a drop in sales and profit.
"Is he going to be able to maintain the complete operating efficiencies that Mark Hurd put in place, while continuing to grow the top line in a variety of businesses?" said Michael Cuggino, president and portfolio manager at the San Francisco-based Permanent Portfolio Funds, which has about $11.5 billion under management, including shares of HP. "That is a big challenge. HP has formidable competition in all their business segments."
At SAP, Apotheker rankled customers with an attempted price increase during the recession, antagonized developers while trying to improve productivity and angered German unions with plans to cut 3,000 jobs, the company's first widespread workforce reduction, former SAP executives say. He also clashed with SAP's co-founder, Hasso Plattner, over strategy.
Apotheker unleashed his temper at peers and underlings and had a tendency to isolate himself, said Pascal Brosset, SAP's former chief strategy officer and now senior vice president of innovation at Schneider Electric SA.
"Being most of the time the smartest person in the room, Leo could get visibly frustrated with the other people not getting it," Brosset said.
Managers at SAP's French unit called Apotheker "The Polar Bear" -- solitary, approachable-looking, but deadly if crossed. HP's new CEO will also need to keep peace among the executives who head the company's broad PC, printer and data-center product groups, some of whom, including PC division head Todd Bradley, wanted and were considered for the top job.
"I'm not perfect," Apotheker said. "Temper comes with temperament; it comes with passion." He said he realized at SAP that a CEO can't sway "cynics" to his agenda by arguing.
"The one thing I've learned is to try to manage my temper better and get rid of cynics sooner," Apotheker said.
Some of Apotheker's biggest skeptics these days may be investors. Sellers in the fourth quarter included Vanguard Group, BlackRock Inc., Fidelity Management & Research LLC and Northern Trust Corp. Winning them over will be tied to his efforts to ramp up HP's innovation power and re-energize its staff.
"There are reasons to invest," Cuggino said. "And it's attractive to a long-term investor. But there are significant questions to be answered over the next few quarters."