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A version of this essay was originally published at Tech.pinions, a website dedicated to informed opinions, insight and perspective on the tech industry.
As all industry watchers know, "2-in-1s" hit the market about three years ago as the new Next Big Thing in the PC market, and were positioned as the successor to the traditional clamshell PCs. Intel and Microsoft led this charge with the help of their PC partners and started to brand 2-in-1s and convertibles as the most versatile PC a person could buy. However, that message fell on deaf ears and even today, 2-in-1s and convertibles represent less than 10 percent to 15 percent of all laptops sold.
One reason for this pushback has been the fact that in the first generation of 2-in-1s, there was a real push for its use as a tablet with a pen. But the current PC audience has spent decades becoming highly proficient with clamshells, and this new design really rocked their boats. It also introduced the touchscreen into the design, another thing that saw real pushback from users who loved their trackpads and the usability of a mouse.
Today, our research sees most laptop users still kicking the tires on 2-in-1s and trying to determine if their versatility makes them worth the extra expense to shift to a totally new design in laptops.
Apple’s blessing on this category has the potential of floating all 2-in-1 boats.
Of course, this has been very frustrating for Intel and Microsoft specifically. Windows 8 was designed to help push the 2-in-1 concept and get more people using a touchscreen. The good news is that with Windows 10 most laptops now support a touchscreen to utilize this new OS, but most of them are still clamshell in nature, and not 2-in-1s.
While that has helped push touchscreen laptops, it has not created what Intel and Microsoft had hoped: Serious change of laptop users’ mindsets and starting a major upgrade cycle that would drive laptop and PC sales. Instead, PC sales look like they will be down at least 6 percent to 8 percent over last year, and even that year saw a 10 percent decline in PC sales.
But there is something interesting going on that has come out of the blue that could finally make 2-in-1s much more interesting to a lot of users. It’s coming from one of Microsoft's and their OEM’s major competitors.
For the entire time that Intel, Microsoft and their PC partners pushed the 2-in-1s concept, Apple has gone on the record dismissing it. Tim Cook called them a toaster/fridge at one point, and while Apple was pushing its tablets into business, it really thought that the idea of 2-in-1s as a laptop replacement did not make sense.
However, as its overall iPad business has declined, Apple has now made a conscious decision to start positioning the iPad Pro 13.9-inch tablet as a laptop replacement. Microsoft and Intel should be mad that, after all this time saying that a product like Microsoft’s Surface or other vendors' detachables were toaster/fridges that didn’t make sense, Apple is now placing TV ads that basically have the same message Microsoft pushed when it launched the original Surface.
But I don’t sense Microsoft or Intel being mad that Apple has finally agreed with them. Instead, they have realized this is probably a good thing for the future of 2-in-1s and convertibles. Indeed, Apple’s blessing on this category has the potential of floating all 2-in-1 boats, as Apple’s marketing and overall industry position can only help people get more focused on the 2-in-1 convertible design.
From our research, as well as research done by most big OEMs, they know that if there is to be a resurgence of PC sales, it most likely will come through converting people to the 2-in-1 or convertible platforms that provide more computing flexibility. They are not opposed to getting help in achieving that goal, even if it is coming from one of their fiercest competitors.
Tim Bajarin is the president of Creative Strategies Inc. He is recognized as one of the leading industry consultants, analysts and futurists covering the field of personal computers and consumer technology. Bajarin has been with Creative Strategies since 1981, and has served as a consultant to most of the leading hardware and software vendors in the industry including IBM, Apple, Xerox, Compaq, Dell, AT&T, Microsoft, Polaroid, Lotus, Epson, Toshiba and numerous others. Reach him @Bajarin.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.


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Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), Allianz’ entity for large-scale corporate and specialty risks, announced the launch of an online marine insurance service designed for UK leisure vessel owners in collaboration with insurtech company Visicover.
Visicover’s web-based service lets customers buy their policies online and enables them to fully self-administer their cover at a time that suits them. Customers can personalize their cover according to their specific needs, which allows for “a radically new approach to risk rating,” explained AGCS in statement.
The launch of the service for marine leisure vessels builds on the success of Visicover’s online aviation product, which is already available in partnership with AGCS across 10 European countries, including the UK.
“The marine insurance sector continues to undergo significant change. New technologies are enabling new distribution models, underpinned by greater insights into risk data,” commented Andrew Whitehouse, head of Marine, Regional Unit London for AGCS.
“This initiative with Visicover aligns with Allianz’s ‘Digital by Default’ strategy by enabling a new platform for our marine products. It also helps us to explore ways to enhance the customer journey in an increasingly digital world,” he added.
“Marine insurance remains a key strategic area for AGCS and this launch demonstrates our continued commitment to providing innovative solutions for customers in this important area of risk,” Whitehouse said.
“Clients’ expectations of insurance providers are becoming ever greater, shaped by their online experiences in other sectors. They want to be able to choose the cover that suits them at the time they need it, all delivered quickly and at a compelling price,” said Jan Houlberg, Visicover CEO.
“Meanwhile, a well-designed, online self-service proposition provides data opportunities for insurance providers to gain hitherto un-dreamt of insights into the risks they insure, knowledge which can then be used to greatly enhance their business decision making,” Houlberg continued. “The new marine leisure product will provide such insights, and we are pleased that its launch further strengthens our cooperation with AGCS.”
Source: Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty
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Official Looks at the Air Jordan 1 Mid Quai 54
15 years strong.
The Parisian streetball Quai 54 Tournament is now a decade and a half deep in, and its popularity and notoriety are at an all-time high — thanks in part to their long-standing partnership with the Jumpman. With just under a month to the tournament tips off, Jordan Brand has revealed a portion of their annual collaborative pack, which includes the previously previewed Air Jordan 8, and this Air Jordan 1 Mid.
Sporting a mix of buttery-soft and tumbled leathers on the black and white upper, the tournament’s quartet of colors — yellow, green, red and blue — are split across the pair’s throat. Shaggy chenille Quai 54-branded patches hit the tongues, while a unique Jelly Swoosh rides the profiles in black. The same geometric pattern seen on the Air Jordan 8’s heels is also present on the ones, but it arrives in the form of a UV glaze, but the insole print sport the same vibrant color quartet linked to the tournament.
With the tournament taking place later next month, you can expect a release to also arrive next month, with a specific date TBA — so be sure to keep it locked on our Jordan Release Dates page for more updates!Update 05.29.19 A Release Date for the 2019 Air Jordan 1 Mid Quai 54 has been set for June 8th. Stay tuned for a list of retailers stocking the drop!
In related news, we also have a very first look at the 2019 Quai 54 Tournament’s Air Jordan 8.
Air Jordan 1 Mid Quai 54
Release Date: June 8th, 2019


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France’s Casino wants 30% of its sales to be online in three years, as it cuts back its store estate and pivots to digital.
The French retail giant saw net sales rise 4.7% on an organic basis to €36.6 billion in 2018, although they fell 2.4% on a reported basis due to currency fluctuations. Trading profit was up 9.8% organically but fell 0.3% on a reported basis.
Ecommerce was responsible for 18% of sales in total or around €6.6 billion. This includes the company’s Cdiscount site, with sales up 2.6% year-on-year to around €2 billion, with 50% of this through the site’s marketplace.
Casino is cutting stores, announcing last week that it had sold off 13 Géant Casino, three Hyper Casino and 10 Supermarkets Casino properties. The company wants to reduce the proportion of hypermarkets and move towards more profitable stores, as 60% of sales are generated by its 7500 premium and convenience stores.
It has also achieved 10 million downloads of its mobile apps, including adding omnichannel features such as the Scan & Go tool on Monoprix and Casino Max apps. Scan & Go has been introduced in a third of the store base and will be available in all stores by end-2019.
It also says it wants to establish leadership in home delivery through its Ocado and Amazon Prime Now partnerships. Online food sales totalled €300 million, with the aim being to increase this to €1 billion by 2021.
This means it is lagging behind rival Carrefour, which has confirmed a goal to net €5 billion in food ecommerce sales by 2022 after the category grew strongly last year. The supermarket chain revealed online food sales hit €1.2 billion in 2018, up over 30%.
Jean-Charles Naouri, chairman and CEO of Casino Group said: “2018 marks the successful completion of the Group’s transformation plan launched four years ago. In Latin America, our subsidiaries continued to record an excellent performance driven by Cash & Carry and the revitalisation of the other formats. In France, the Group is fully committed to its trajectory of continuous improvement in profitability.
“Our capital structure has been strengthened with the significant reduction in debt and we are planning further debt reduction this year. Our business model is now well positioned for the profound changes that are taking place in the retail sector.
“Our strategic leadership will be further enhanced over 2019-2021 with an increased focus on profitable formats, accelerated development of our digitalisation programme and ecommerce offering, and the expansion of new businesses which benefit from the Group’s assets and expertise.”


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The campaign delivered a 6.5 percent click-through rate. When users did interact with the character, the engagement rate that was “off the charts,” said Tom Limongello, Crisp’s vp of marketing.
The ad worked because it was fun but not intrusive. Once the users chose to engage, it became interactive and playful; it was easy to build a strong connection between the character and the user.
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PHOTO: 123RF Auckland house prices fell by 2.7 per cent over the year to a median $856,000.
Difficulty getting finance is being blamed for a slump in house sales around the country.
Excluding Auckland, the number of homes sold in New Zealand fell 10.5 per cent in March compared to the same time last year.
Auckland’s sales fell 18.2 per cent year-on-year – but there were still more sales in the city than there had been in four months.
Gisborne had the biggest fall in turnover, with sales down 33.3 per cent.
Bindi Norwell, Real Estate Institute chief executive said: “At a time when sales volumes are normally very strong and total sales figures for the country are typically well over the 7000 mark, with 6938 sales this was the lowest number of properties sold for the month of March since March 2011.
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Despite the millions invested by banks in the Internet channel, clients still find it quicker to call contact centres for basic information, according to a UK study conducted by Cambridge-based Transversal.
The annual research measures customer service by searching for answers to ten common sector-specific questions on the Web sites, via e-mail and contact centres of ten major UK banks.
The study found that bank sites could only provide answers for 50% of routine questions asked online, with the majority relying on static and complex FAQ pages rather than interacting with customers to deliver the right answers through the right channel.
Around a third (30%) of sites struggled to answer more than two out of ten product and service questions - while only one scored top marks.
Customer service was even worse for those trying to get answers from banks via e-mail, says Transversal, with a almost third (30%) of the banks surveyed still not offering the facility to e-mail questions. Of those that did, the average reply time to an e-mail was 30 hours - and even then only three out of ten satisfactorily answered the question, so customers would still need to contact a call centre for the information.
In contrast, the study found that 60% of customer service calls to a contact centre were answered within three minutes, with the shortest wait times being just a few seconds. During the busiest time in the evening, some longer wait times of between six and 15 minutes were experienced, but overall answer times were less than four minutes.
Around 80% of banks surveyed have some sort of customer FAQ section - up from 50% in 2006 - but many of these were lengthy and difficult to navigate to find tailored information.
Only 30% have implemented natural language eService solutions that use neural network technology to analyse questions in order to find the best response.
Transversal - a provider of Web-based self-service technology - says the findings demonstrate a failure to adopt a cohesive online customer interaction strategy by many banks.
"Banks have invested heavily in the Internet channel - but our research shows that in the majority of cases it is very much the poor relation when it comes to customer service," says Davin Yap, CEO, Transversal. "While previously online customers have had to cope with a lack of information we're now seeing more content - but this makes finding the right answer as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack."
Yap says with the advent of Web 2.0 providing the ability to deliver a personalised customer service and improved interaction, banks need to "wake up to the changing needs of their customers - or suffer the consequences as they shift accounts".


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WASHINGTON - Some head gaskets have been giving headaches to Ford Motor Co.
The gaskets are in 3.8-liter V-6 engines used in various car and truck models from 1988 to 1995.
Ford approved an extended warranty for 717,000 of the vehicles in mid-1998, but critics say the effort isn't enough.
The Center for Auto Safety, a Washington consumer group, accused the company of having a secret warranty for customers who did not qualify for the extended program but who complained loudly enough.
Ford spokesman Mike Vaughn called the secret warranty claim 'absolutely not true,' but said Ford does have a pool of 'after-warranty assistance' money dealers can use to correct problems for loyal customers.
The center asked Ford to provide free repairs for failures at any time up to 120,000 miles and to reimburse owners for past repairs. Center officials said replacement of the gaskets costs up to $1,600.
Vaughn said the extended warranty spans six years or 75,000 miles for the 1994 Lincoln Continental and five years or 60,000 miles for the 1994-95 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable and 1995 Ford Windstar.
The owner of a 1995 Windstar, Chuck Catanese of Independence, Ky., has created an Internet site (http: home.att.net/~ccatanese/ford) to provide owners of 3.8-liter engines with tips on how to get help.
On auto-related Internet bulletin boards and in chat rooms, owners of the affected vehicles have discussed the possibility of a class-action lawsuit.


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Canada’s WestJet has revealed the design of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with a new livery, logo and cabin interior, which reposition the brand to compete with North America’s flagship carriers, and directly targeting Air Canada.
A version of this story appeared first on Forbes.com.
From the company’s newly stylized logo and livery to the cabin interior featuring a new business class, everything about the new Dreamliner declares that WestJet is ready to take on the full-service competition at home and abroad. But pilots picketing the company on Tuesday called attention to a different battle that the airline must win if its plans to continue growing the brand will succeed.
Inside the WestJet Dreamliner
With its Dreamliner, WestJet has broken out of the low-cost long-haul model and planted itself squarely in competition with the likes of Air Canada and American Airlines.
The design of the updated logo and livery was overseen by Ove Brand Design and implemented by Boeing and Seattle-based design firm, Teague. The wordmark has an updated font, Bliss, and the Maple Leaf symbol on the aircraft tail were redesigned for a “more contemporary and bold look,” the airline said. The logo was also updated to a single color, which removes the regional emphasis on “west.”
The new livery also emblazons a new tag-line, “The Spirit of Canada” appearing on one side of the fuselage with the French translation, “L’esprit du Canada” on the other. This new livery will be painted on other aircraft across WestJet’s fleet, appearing first on the new Boeing 737 MAX-8 the airline will take delivery of this June.
The new Dreamliner business class cabin features Rockwell Collins Super Diamond seats, customized by PriestmanGoode, London, who are responsible for the design of the new aircraft’s interiors. Business class flyers will be able to order their meals on-demand from the in-flight entertainment touch-screens and will get turn down service to convert the seat into a lay-flat bed, covered with luxury bedding. Though low-cost hybrid JetBlue offers lie-flat sleep in its Mint cabins, WestJet’s new business class is designed to put the airline in a different league.
The business class cabin on WestJet’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft is designed to compete with global competitors in the long-haul market.
WestJet also introduced a premium economy cabin designed to match the best standards of international carriers. It features Rockwell Collins MiQ seats, the same seat model American Airlines picked for its premium economy cabin, and the seats Air Canada chose for the premium cabin on its new 737 MAX fleet. Beyond the basics expected in premium economy cabins today — legroom, storage, power outlets and next-generation in-flight entertainment — WestJet also added a self-service bar that offers refreshments and somewhere for passengers to socialize.
The economy cabin also got an upgrade on the Dreamliner. Passengers will sit in Recaro CL3710 seats designed for comfort on long-haul flights, including adjustable headrests. They will also have next-generation in-flight entertainment and tray-top access to power outlets.
All of these design choices fit the competitive model of a full-service long-haul carrier and will suit the airline’s intended route expansion into Asia Pacific markets as well as further into Europe. WestJet President and CEO, Ed Sims, described this as “the dawn of a new era for WestJet and the next step in our transformation to a global network airline.”
Stay up to date on airline and airport news with the Flight Chic Weekly News Wrap:


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Whether you call them junction boxes or electricity kiosks, some of those big green boxes you see by the side of the road will soon become electric vehicle chargers.
Energy provider Ausgrid and electric vehicle charging company Jolt are partnering to turn these fixtures of our urban landscape into EV chargers.
Jolt says the service will offer 7kWh, or an average of 15 minutes/45kms free charging per day.
If you need to charge your vehicle for longer, you can pay for this through the Jolt app.
Jolt and Ausgrid are working with local councils in the Sydney metropolitan area and plan to have the first of the new charging stations live early next year. The exact number of kiosks that will be converted isn’t yet known.
“I’m excited Ausgrid is part of this world first initiative which is taking existing, essential community infrastructure and breathing new life into it,” said Ausgrid CEO Richard Gross.
One of the councils that will be participating is Northern Beaches Council, with the Australian Electric Vehicle Association locating this mock-up of a converted kiosk on the Council’s website.
The Council has also received a proposal from Ausgrid to add charging stations to low-voltage power poles.
Jolt isn’t the first company to reimagine familiar infrastructure as EV chargers.
JET Charge rolled out lamp post charging stations in the Blacktown and Canada Bay city council areas last year.
While charging stations are becoming more commonplace and many new developments in large Australian cities include them, there’s still a barrier to EV uptake for people who rely on on-street parking.
“Our network of on-street fast chargers will help reduce vehicle ownership costs, eliminate range-anxiety and provide charging options for those that don’t have access to charging at home,” said Jolt CEO Doug McNamee.
“This will help speed up the transition to the widespread use of electric vehicles.”


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Britons could face severe price rises and shortages of important household items such as white goods, sofas, garden furniture and barbecues this summer due to rising shipping costs caused by attacks by Houthi rebels on ships at sea. Red.
The price of global shipping containers rose more than 300 percent between November 2023 and January as a result of the chaos that has forced many companies to divert to longer and more expensive shipping routes.
Buy It Direct Group chief executive Nick Glynne told BBC Radio 4: “The vast majority of our products come from the Far East and we are hugely affected by freight prices.”
He explained that large household items not only now cost more, but are becoming cost-prohibitive to ship simply because they require larger containers.
“This has a significant impact on the end-user price,” Glynne said, warning that there is likely to be a significant shortage of such items.
This comes after supermarket giant Sainsbury’s warned consumers they could struggle to find tea on supermarket shelves due to “nationwide supply issues” linked to the disruption to overseas shipments. Red.
Marco Forgione, director general of the International Trade and Export Institute, told MailOnline that CPI inflation could rise by up to four per cent if the conflict continues or escalates.
This could add 10p to the price of a block of butter, 12p to a jar of Marmite and 9p to a six-pack of eggs. A pack of 240 Pg Tips tea bags could rise by 19p to £4.98 and a four-pack of Heinz baked beans by 15p to £3.90.
The price of global shipping containers increased more than 300 percent from November 2023 to January as a result of the chaos in the Red Sea.
The supply issues, which are partly linked to attacks on a cargo ship by Houthi rebels (pictured) in Yemen, are understood to be linked specifically to a single tea supplier supermarket.
Brits could face serious price rises and shortages of important household items such as appliances, sofas, garden furniture and barbecues this summer.
Large household items not only now cost more, but they are becoming prohibitively expensive to ship simply because they require larger containers.
Shipping companies forced to take alternative routes to avoid Suez Canal after militant attacks
Mr Forgione told MailOnline: ‘Consumers will see three impacts lightly: price increases, inflation and the potential for shortages.
‘You could see an increase in the CPI of between three and four percent if things continue like this and there is an escalation.
‘Inflation at the moment will affect products that arrive across the Red Sea, such as wheat, corn, clothing and palm oil.
“When looking at the broader CPI, the basket of goods contains products that are not directly affected, but even those will come under price pressure as global shipping costs rise.”
Tesco, Next and Ikea were three of the largest companies to warn of potential price increases earlier this year as attacks by Houthi rebels intensified.
Meanwhile, Tesla was forced to close its Berlin gigafactory due to component shortages.
Elon Musk’s company warned that this could result in up to 7,000 vehicles not being manufactured.
The owner of Volvo and Lotus also fears delays in the delivery of electric vehicle models in Europe.
Extra shipping costs are already being passed on to UK consumers, with an estimated 30 per cent of journeys that would normally have crossed the Red Sea being diverted.
Transit through the Red Sea, from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, is a crucial maritime route for global trade.
But many of the world’s leading shipping companies, including Mediterranean Shipping Company and Maersk, are turning to using the Cape of Good Hope over the Suez Canal as they try to find safer passage for their cargo and crew.
This much longer route adds an extra 3,500 miles to the journey at a cost of up to £800,000 per ship.
And Glynne told BBC Radio 4 it could take up to four more weeks for ships to travel the route.
Michelle Wiese Bockmann, of Lloyds List, told BBC Radio 4: “This has caused massive disruptions to logistics supply chains. Strikes are needed to return the logistics supply chain to normal, but risk appetite in transits through the Red Sea is being re-evaluated day by day: it is very volatile.’
Marco Forgione, director general of the International Trade and Export Institute, told MailOnline that CPI inflation could rise by up to four per cent if the conflict continues.
A Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea last month.
The Suez Canal is used by about a third of the world’s container ship cargo and an estimated 350 ships are being rerouted through Africa. Pictured: Maersk in Suez, Egypt, December 2021.
A map of Yemen that includes the area controlled by the Houthi rebels.
Footage taken from RAF typhoon over Yemen, showing targeted attack
About 12 percent of global trade typically passes through the waterway separating Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics.
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “With major manufacturers and retailers warning of significant delays in products and components, the price of a wide range of goods threatens to rise again.”
And last month, the former head of the British army warned that the conflict has exposed the “fragility of global supply chains”.
General Lord Richard Dannatt said the UK had a responsibility to intervene to protect global trade.
“Let’s not forget that the United Kingdom and the United States are five of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, so those permanent members have a responsibility to take action to protect our global interests,” he told the BBC.
‘And in this case, the fragility of global supply chains is being exposed by what is happening in the Red Sea.
“And so it makes sense that steps are taken to ensure that global trade can continue, that prices do not skyrocket and that production and retail can continue as much as possible.”


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Gaming smartphone fans in North America and Europe on the lookout for their next phone will soon have another option to consider. Smartphone manufacturer Nubia, the now-independent offshoot of ZTE, has a presence at CES 2019, where it's announcing plans to sell the gaming-focused Red Magic Mars in these new regions starting January 31st. Read More
Last month, Nubia added its contribution to the movement to avoid both a notch and a forehead, with the Nubia X. While previous solutions by Xiaomi, Oppo & Vivo included moving parts, raising questions about their long-term durability, the Nubia X decided it was worth foregoing the front camera altogether and having a second display at the back instead. Today, our favorite Read More
vandal durability tester, Zack from JerryRigEverything, put the Nubia X through the paces with his durability test.
The history of Android is peppered with the occasional dual-screen phone, but none of them have made an impact beyond shock value. None of those secondary screens have solved a problem well enough to be a success, but Nubia is the latest to try with the Nubia X. This phone has a 6.26-inch LCD on the front with a 93.6% screen-to-body ratio. A smaller OLED display lives on the back of the phone, eliminating the need for a front-facing camera. Yes, this is yet another way to avoid the notch. Read More
About a month has passed since our last TWRP installment, and several more Android devices have joined the ranks since then. This time around, new entrants include the HTC U12+, Xiaomi's Mi Max 3, the minuscule Unihertz Jelly Pro, as well as some Samsung and ZTE Nubia phones. Read More
ZTE sub-brand Nubia is practically unknown in the West, so it will be surprising to many to see this impressive looking gaming phone launched by the Chinese firm. The Red Magic has been designed from the ground up with advanced gamers in mind. It has an ergonomic anodized aluminum chassis, an air convection cooling system, and that all-important LED light strip on the back. Read More
Nubia is a rather unknown quantity, but that hasn't stopped the Chinese manufacturer from announcing its latest phone, the Z17. If that name sounds a bit familiar to astute AP readers, that's because this is the first phone with Qualcomm's Quick Charge 4+. Who would have thought? Read More
TWRP is the recovery of choice for most power users - it's super easy to use, can be themed, and works on a massive number of Android devices. Over the past few months, the TWRP team has been working to expand the list of officially-supported devices. New additions include the Honor 6X, Wileyfox Swift 2X, Yoga Tab 3, various Galaxy phones and tablets, and more. Read More


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Bibby Distribution is creating 50 new jobs after it doubled the capacity of its Max Park site in Corby by snapping up a neighbouring 212,500ft² warehouse. The move, which ramps up the Max Park site’s capacity to 424,000ft² making it its largest 3PL distribution campus, has followed surging customer demand in the food sector. The new ambient warehouse will provide space for 60,000 pallets and will manage work from a variety of manufacturing and retail groups such as Morrisons, HiPP […]
Tesco is to close two of its distribution centres in the UK, bringing all warehouse operations carried out by DHL Supply Chain and Wincanton in-house, as part of a long-term plan to “simplify” its distribution operations.
Wincanton has been awarded a five year contract expansion with Morrisons, handling the logistics for its convenience stores in the North.


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Pongal is one of the main festivals in the South of India. It is celebrated with much aplomb all over Tamil Nadu. To extend support to the festival and to allow people of all economic classes to enjoy the festivals with the same zest, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a package for the people of the state.
Tamil Nadu government is offering ₹2500 to rice card holders.
The TN government Pongal gift hamper
The allocation of the Tamil Nadu Pongal hamper which is issued by the Tamil Nadu government will commence from the start of January 2021. Financial assistance will be provided to rice holders and an amount of ₹2,500 will be offered to the people who are eligible for the scheme.
The objective of the scheme
Due to the nationwide lockdown, people have lost jobs and means of income. People have found it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Just managing to bring about basic sustenance to the household has proven to be quite a task.
In the wake of this worldwide situation, people of the country would lack the enthusiasm to celebrate festivities. To acknowledge this and offer some avenue where people can dare to celebrate festivities that are so dear to them, the Tamil Nadu government has issued the Tamil Nadu Pongal Hamper 2021.
The main objective of offering this hamper is to allow people with rice cards some financial assistance to get by their days and to be able to celebrate their festivals without any guilt or concern looming over their minds.
Features of the Hamper
The hamper is filled with some interesting things to help the people of Tamil Nadu celebrate Pongal well.
Here are some of the features:
- Financial assistance of ₹2,500 to each rice card holder
- The government provided hamper will include 1kg of raw rice, 1kg of sugar, 1 piece of sugarcane, 20 grams of cashew nuts, 20 grams of dried grapes, and 5 grams of cardamom.
- According to statistical records, roughly 2.06 crore people in Tamil Nadu will benefit from the scheme. Those who have a rice card will be provided with a Pongal gift hamper
- The distribution of the Hamper will begin on January 4th, 2021.
- Apart from the money and the eatables, the beneficiaries will also be getting a dhoti and a saree for free.
Eligibility criteria for the Pongal Hamper
In order to avail of the Pongal hamper, the applicant has to adhere to the following:
TN Pongal Hamper will be provided to rice cardholders by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Being the holder of a rice card is the only and the most important criterion.
Adding some festive charm to the people’s lives will enable them to feel rejuvenated and approach the year with a lot more enthusiasm and zest. 2020 was not an ideal year, however, with such hampers being offered, the people of Tamil Nadu enter the new year with a lot more optimism and bearing hope for better days.


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Robin Kent writes:
After initially suffering from slow pick up by consumers, 4G has begun to accelerate, and is now well on the way to the forecasted one billion subscribers by 2017. In fact EE, owner of T-Mobile and Orange, recently announced the addition of 493,000 new 4G customers to its existing base of 1.2 million.
Mark Bridge writes:
A new report has highlighted the issue of poor mobile phone coverage in rural Sussex villages. BBC Sussex invited me onto their ‘Sussex Breakfast’ radio show to explain what could be done - and, as usual, I made enough notes for a lecture rather than a three-minute interview.
Here’s what I would have liked to have said if I’d been given a disproportionate amount of time to talk.
Great news for mobile phone users. Ofcom’s new rules preventing unexpected mid-contract price rises came into force last week, which means UK consumers can no longer be surprised by their subscription charge increasing while they’re still locked into a minimum-term deal.
This week, new Ofcom rules came into force. They’re designed to avoid unexpected price rises during the minimum term of a mobile phone contract. Yes, just because you signed a fixed-term contract doesn’t mean the charges can’t increase. Networks said they needed this option in case of inflation or regulatory changes. Customers felt trapped.
Natasha Cooper writes:
As someone who has been through more iPhone screens than I’d like to remember, when I recently upgraded to an iPhone 5s I was keen to keep it in one piece - for a few months at least. Cue the new CAT Active Urban Phone Case, which claims to protect your phones from falls of up to 1.8 meters using a reinforced material that can also be found in protective equipment for motor bike riders.
Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?
Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.
Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.
They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.
We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.
We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.
In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.
They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.
We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?
We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.
Copyright 2006 - 2022 by thefonecast.com. First and third party cookies are used on our site.


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FedEx Corp.’s less-than-truckload units will impose a 6.9% general rate increase effective Nov. 1, the company said Wednesday.
The hikes in FedEx Freight and FedEx National LTL rates apply to interstate and intrastate shipments, and on shipments between the U.S. and Canada covered by the company’s base rates.
Separately, LTL carrier ABF Freight System said this week it would also boost its rates by an average 5.9%, effective Friday. The impact on specific lanes and shipments will vary, ABF said on its website.
FedEx said its fuel surcharge “will remain unchanged and one of the lowest in the LTL industry.” The surcharge is 4.5% to 6.5% points below the next five largest LTL carriers, the company said in a statement.
FedEx Express also will raise its rates, by an average of 3.9%, for U.S. domestic and export services, effective Jan. 3, the company said.
The full average rate increase of 5.9% will be partially offset by adjusting the threshold at which the fuel surcharge begins, reducing it by 2%, the company said.
The new base rates, rules tariff and fuel surcharge information for the LTL units will be available at www.fedex.com/us/freight/main on Nov. 1.
FedEx Corp. is ranked No. 2 and ABF’s parent company Arkansas Best Corp. is ranked No. 16 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.


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It’s unclear exactly when Apple’s AR/VR headset will make its big debut. But based on a new report, we have a better idea of what Apple plans to call the software powering the headset.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (opens in a new tab) reports that Apple has changed the name of its virtual reality operating system to xrOS. The new name replaces realityOS, which was floated as a possible name earlier this year when a trademark for the moniker surfaced.
Gurman’s report, which cites “people with knowledge of the matter,” reveals more than Apple’s internal debate over what to call the software that will ship with its headset. This seemingly confirms the feature set of the headset itself.
Apple’s initial foray into the virtual space is believed to be a headset that will support both virtual reality and augmented reality. The former describes more immersive experiences that place you in a virtual world, while the latter overlays graphics and information onto the real world in front of you. This approach is often referred to as mixed reality, or XR for short—which is why Apple apparently adopted the name xrOS.
By embracing mixed reality, the Apple-created headset could allow users to check mail, see notifications float in front of them, and get directions superimposed on their field of vision without cutting off the rest of the world. The headset could also serve as a place for more immersive apps, though Apple is reportedly not focusing on gaming as much as the Meta is with some of its VR headsets.
Gurman describes the move to the xrOS name as another sign that Apple is getting closer to a release date for the long-rumored headset. Rumors are tipping the headset for a 2023 release, though it’s unclear if that would be earlier this year or not.
Apple’s spring events usually feature new Macs and iPads, although it has occasionally been known to introduce a new iPhone SE model in the early months of the new year. However, a product like Apple’s headset would seem a better choice for Apple’s annual developer conference, especially if Apple wants to get xrOS into the hands of app makers to create software to support the new device.
It’s just speculation on our part, but we could easily see Apple’s VR/AR headset and its accompanying xrOS software getting a preview at the Worldwide Developers Conference, traditionally held in June. A full launch is expected later in the year. This is a pattern that Apple has used when entering a new product category in the past, such as with the debut of the iPhone in 2010 and the launch of the Apple Watch in 2015.
xrOS would support more than just Apple’s headset. The company is also reportedly working on Apple Glass smart glasses, though those aren’t expected until 2024 at the earliest.


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Rumours are circling that Apple’s newest creation will descend from the heavens on 26th September, along with an interesting tidbit about a redesign which turns iPhone 4 accessories useless.
It has been rumoured that a September release was imminent, but it seems that fanboys hoping for an earlier release will have to put their sleeping bag back in the cupboard and plan their overnight stakeout for a little later.
According to our whispering sources the iPhone 5 will be released to Apple’s cult of followers closer to the end of the month.This specific date also ties in with the first official day of what the yanks call ‘Fall’, also the expected timeframe for the release of the iOS 5.
The date is also highlighted by KitGuru which points out that Apple’s iPhone 4 will be left in the dark, which we're sure will please anyone who picks one up this month.
We have heard the new device will mean that all existing screen protectors will be made redundant. It's because of a re-design which means iPhone 4 covers will obstruct a new wireless feature. All of the current screen protectors cover the area which will stop it from working.
NFC? We dunno.
If true, in just under two months the world is going to find itself flooded with near-useless accessories. There are plenty of accessories manufacturers still churning out iPhone 4 covers.
It's worth considering the millions upon millions of iPhone accessories that are available right now -all rendered obsolete with a stroke of Apple’s magic wand.


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Kenya Breweries Ltd (KBL) has warned against increasing taxes, noting that the industry can’t absorb any more levies.
The brewer said the intermittent tax increases that result in an unpredictable tax regime were counterproductive and would have dire effects on the millions of Kenyans who eke out a living from its supply chain - from farmers to those sellers in pubs. In the current financial year, Treasury increased excise taxes by 14.29 per cent to Sh200 per litre, up from Sh175, continuing a trend where the State has targeted alcoholic beverages with “sin taxes” annually.
“We are hoping for a predictable tax environment. We need no shocks,” said KBL Chief Executive Jane Karuku. She was reacting to the impending budget statement to be issued in June.
She said any increase in taxes will have to be passed on to consumers, hurting the poor more as the price of beer and spirits go up.
This is even as the brewer registered a 33 per cent rise in net profits for the six months to December 2018, defying an increase in excise tax on beer.
For a bottle of 500ml of Tusker beer, the brewer’s premium beer, more than 50 per cent of the Sh140 recommended retail price is a tax. Of the Sh84 that goes to KRA, about Sh55 is excise duty, Sh18 is a Value Added Tax, while corporate taxes take up Sh14.
Karuku said a number of factors had affected the per capita consumption of beer, with a typical Kenyan drinker taking low volumes compared to their peers in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. She said while beer consumption remains low, the use of spirits had grown faster.
KBL announced that the profit jump for the first half-year was driven by a 13 per cent growth in sales from Sh36.8 billion to Sh41.6 billion. KBL is also worried that the impending drought might affect its bottom-line, with the harvest of barley likely to be depressed.


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TAKE A LOOK — Mind & Body Nutrition celebrates effort to care for you
Published 12:36 am Saturday, January 15, 2022
PORT NECHES — Community members and supporters joined some of Mid County’s newest entrepreneurs this week to celebrate a ribbon cutting at Mind & Body Nutrition.
Located at 2825 Nall St., Suite 2A, in the shopping center shared with Powerhouse Gym in Port Neches, the new feel-good store has your answers for loaded teas, shakes, waffles and more.
For more information, call 409-527-1078.
Mind & Body Nutrition is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Mind & Body Nutrition is owned by Rosario Mendoza, who gets support from daughter Yvette Mendoza.
— Reported by Natalie Picazo.


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17 October 2008
The latest Internet threat cloaks Web links so a wayward click can download malware to your PC without your knowledge.
What's worse, all browsers and other Web software are susceptible to clickjacking, but you can take steps to reduce the risk.
Clickjacking allows an attacker to use one or more of several new attack scenarios to literally steal your mouse clicks. When you think you're clicking on a simple button — for example, to see the next page of an article — you may actually be giving the bad guys permission to do something entirely different, such as log on to your online checking account.
By taking advantage of any of a growing number of recently discovered vulnerabilities in Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, Apple's Safari, and all other Web browsers, criminals can hijack your system by intercepting clicks of what appear to be legitimate links.
The problem doesn't stop there, however. At least some of the flaws that make clickjacking possible also show up in such popular Web tools as Adobe's Flash player and Microsoft's Silverlight streaming-media plug-in.
"If they can control where your clicks are going, they may be able to get a user to reconfigure the system so they disable security," Ed Skoudis, a security instructor for the SANS Institute, told Windows Secrets. Skoudis is also co-founder of the security firm InGuardians.
Disguised links lurk behind clickable buttons
In clickjacking, surreptitious buttons are "floated" behind the actual buttons that you see on a Web site. When you click the button, you're not triggering the function that you expected. Instead, the click is routed to the bad guy's substitute link.
Robert Hansen, CEO of SecTheory, and Jeremiah Grossman, chief technology officer of WhiteHat Security, are the bug sleuths who discovered this latest generation of potential security glitches.
They point out that even users who watch their systems like a hawk can be victimized.
"There's really no way to know if what you're looking at is real," Hansen told Windows Secrets.
In fact, Hansen and Grossman found so many new ways to attack your PC — and your Mac — that they categorize these threats as a "new class" of exploits. While this class includes scripting attacks, it also affects scriptable plug-ins such as Microsoft ActiveX controls, Skoudis said.
Clickjacking isn't new. In fact, it dates back to at least 2002, Hansen said. What's new is the range of browser vulnerabilities that make clickjacking possible.
Hansen's blog posting describes the scope most clearly:
"Most browsers are going to be vulnerable," Hansen told Windows Secrets. Even the new version 8 of Internet Explorer, currently in beta, is susceptible — though Hansen said he expects Microsoft's upcoming browser to be patched by the time it's released later this year.
Comments: Post a Comment


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Nokia 8.1 has received a flat discount of up to Rs. 6,000 during the Nokia Phones Fan Festival. The ongoing sale has also brought discounts worth Rs. 1,000 on the Nokia 7.1, Nokia 6.1 Plus, and the Nokia 8 Sirocco. The discounts are notably valid throughout Monday, May 13 — depending on the availability of the stock. Customers can avail discounts through the Nokia India website. Notably, the new discounts come days after Nokia brand licensee HMD Global had announced a temporary price cut for the Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus.
As per the specific listing on the Nokia India website, the Nokia 8.1 4GB RAM model has received a Rs. 6,000 price drop. Customers need to use the promocode “FAN6000” to avail the discount. Similarly, the Nokia 8.1 6GB RAM variant has received a temporary price cut of Rs. 4,000 that can be availed using promocode “FAN4000”.
To recall, the Nokia 8.1 was launched in India in December last year with a price tag of Rs. 26,999 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage model. Its 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant debuted in February this year at 29,999.
The Nokia 7.1 has also received a price cut worth Rs. 1,000 against. The Nokia 6.1 Plus 4GB and 6GB RAM variants as well the Nokia 8 Sirocco have also got a discount of Rs. 1,000. Customers need to use the promocode “FANFESTIVAL” to get the above mentioned discounts for the three smartphones.
It is important to note that the discounts are ending on Monday. Also, the new development comes as a part of the Nokia Phones Fan Festival sale that is live on the Nokia India website.
As we mentioned, HMD Global just last week announced a limited period price cut on the Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus. The 4GB RAM variant of the Nokia 6.1 Plus and the 3GB RAM variant of the Nokia 5.1 Plus were given with a promotional discount worth Rs. 1,750. There was also an option to avail additional 240GB data on Airtel.


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HARRISBURG, Pa. — Carrier Commercial Sales has announced that it is now represented by the H. C. Nye Co. for the central Pennsylvania and northeastern Pennsylvania territories. The agreement will allow both companies to enhance their strategic business positions within this region.
Tim Green, Commercial Sales general manager, Carrier Northeast Region, said the company has been impressed with the H.C. Nye Co.’s commitment to all of its customers, but particularly the design community, within the market. Both firms look forward to developing new opportunities, strengthening existing relationships, and bringing new products and solutions to the market.
Carrier Commercial Sales noted that this agreement is only for applied and larger unitary equipment.
Publication date: 3/16/2015


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With new car supplies low and orders placed today not expected to arrive for up to a year, the second-hand market is going through a 'bonkers' period of demand that has pushed average prices of used models 21% higher than they were a year ago. This is Money, using exclusive data provided by cap hpi, can reveal which 20 older cars have risen in value most in the previous six months, with used Toyota Auris hybrids and Vauxhall's Zafira family MPV accelerating in price by almost 60%.
Which one of these mega homes would you buy with a £184m lottery win? We pick two for sale that require extremely deep pockets...
Have you checked your ticket to see if you have won the EuroMillions jackpot of £184million? We take a look at two homes for sale online each costing around 10 per cent of the total jackpot, and ask which one would you choose if you won all of the money? Pictured are (from left to right): A London penthouse that is on the market for £18million and a Surrey mansion on the St George's Hill private estate that is for sale for £17million.
SMALL CAP MOVERS: Reinvented fintech firm Tintra, gas storage project Harland & Wolff and Cornish Metals
Tintra was one of the big winners on AIM this week as the lottery software company took another step towards its transformation into a banking technology provider. The company, which has undergone various reinventions since floating on the junior market as The Weather Lottery in 2006, saw its shares surge 54 per cent to 103.4p after saying it has signed a deal to set up a joint venture to develop artificial intelligence investment and research tools.
Homeowner receives cladding bill for £101K: Building safety crisis hits home as 26-year-old gets a six-figure invoice for repairs to her £180K flat
Emilie Boswell lives in a two-bedroom flat in Leeds Dock, and has received an invoice for repairs for dangerous cladding and fire safety defects for £101,267.63. We spoke exclusively to Miss Boswell, who revealed: 'I was in a state of shock at first when I first found out. I never expected that it was going to such a big amount. I broke down to my family. It was just a feeling of utter helplessness. It is so unfair as I did my due diligence.''
Tesla's Model Y smaller SUV is now on sale in the UK with the 315-mile range electric car starting from £54,990
Tesla's Model Y has officially hit the UK market, with customers able to order the electric SUV from 8am this morning. Motorists can put down deposits on two different versions of the eagerly-anticipated addition to Tesla's electric vehicle line-up, with prices starting from £54,990 for the Long Range version, which offers up to 315 miles on a full charge. Deliveries to UK customers are expected to start in early 2022.
Fresh wave of energy firms may go bust within a week due to spiralling prices after gas shipper CNG stops business with 18 suppliers
A fresh wave of energy firms are likely to go bust after Glencore-backed gas shipper CNG Group cut off business with UK household suppliers this week. Some smaller energy firms CNG has ceased business with could see costs spiral and this will lead more to collapse within the next week, according to industry insiders.
Nearly 300k households could face a HUGE energy bill hike above £1,700 as some green tariffs are price cap EXEMPT...
Households are being advised to check if they are with the three suppliers whose default tariffs are exempt from the current price cap. GEUK, Good Energy and Ecotricity are allowed to charge more than the current price limit of £1,277 as they hold specific tariffs that support the production of renewable gas or electricity. Thanks to the ongoing energy crisis, prices are soaring, and for those customers not under the cap, they could be paying hundreds more than other homes.
Dreaming of moving into a new home before Christmas? It CAN still be done... we show you how with nine top tips from property experts
There's more to Christmas than ensuring there are enough turkeys to go round. Ambitious house-movers are now in a race to make sure they get in their new home by December 25. And even though we're well into October, it can be done. But you have to be quick, with just days to get your home with an estate agent and listed on the big portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket.
MARKET REPORT: FTSE 100 at highest level since the start of the pandemic despite increasing uncertainty over the recovery
The blue-chip index climbed 0.4 per cent, or 26.32 points, to 7234.03, its highest level since late February 2020 before panic over the virus sent markets tumbling across the world. However, the FTSE 100 is still below the levels it was trading at before the crash caused by Covid. The mid-cap FTSE 250 was up 0.5 per cent, or 123.85 points, at 22,984.24.
If you had £15,000 in Premium Bonds, how long would you wait for a £50 prize? SIMON LAMBERT on the study showing savers need a lot of patience
We know we probably won't win £1million - although casually dream of it anyway - and realise that we're unlikely to bag one of the rare £100,000. £50,000 or even £25,000 prizes, but it's the small wins that keep us going. Yet, even those might be harder to come by than you think, according to a new piece of research. It says someone with a £1,000 holding would wait 213 years for a better than 50:50 chance of winning a £50 prize.
Is Aldi looking for sites near you? Supermarket chain has Penzance, Cheltenham and Guildford in its sights amid plans to open 100 stores
Aldi is on the hunt for property development sites in key hotspots up and down the country where it is looking to open new stores. The German discount supermarket plans to open 100 new stores over the next two years, with ambitious plans to ensure its shops are on the doorsteps of more customers. The chain has revealed it is on the lookout for new freehold developments in town centre locations or 'edge-of-town' hubs 'suitable for property development.'
House price growth slows but is STILL on the up as buyers compete for the most sought-after homes and listings stay low
The pace of house price growth slowed last month, as the stamp duty holiday came to an end for good, new data has shown. But, prices are still rising all over the country, with hefty price spikes seen in Northern Ireland, Wales and the West Midlands. The number of homes being sold also slipped for the third consecutive month in September, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors said in its closely-watched survey.
Average house price soars by £50k in five years as pandemic property craze sets coastal locations buzzing
The average price of a home in Britain has climbed £49,257 in the five years to July this year, according to Zoopla. The property website also put the total value of homes across Britain at £9.2trillion - made up of £8.2billion held within privately-owned homes and £1trillion held within social housing.
First-time buyers see sub-2% mortgage rates for first time since before the pandemic - but potential base rate rise could soon kibosh them
According to Experian, daily mortgage applications among borrowers in their 30s were up 14 per cent in September 2021 compared to the previous month, while applications from those in their 20s increased 9 per cent. Month-on-month, mortgage rates on 10 and 5 per cent deposit products have dropped more than those on 40 per cent deposit mortgages, where rates have fallen dramatically in recent times. 'Now is a really good time for a first time buyer to get a really good mortgage deal,' says Matt Coulson, mortgage broker at Heron Financial.
Major lenders HSBC and NatWest turn the tide to increase rates on super-low interest mortgage deals - is it a 'sure sign' of an impending base rate rise?
While the rises are not severe, they could continue to increase over time as they are tied to the base rate, which is also set to gradually rise. Mortgages have recently been one of the few household expenses to remain relatively cheap in historic terms, amid rises in the cost of food and energy bills. Mortgage rates for those with deposits of 25% or more have hit record lows in the past few months, with the lowest bottoming out at 0.83% for a two-year fix.
Squid Game is TV's big new show and from Genesis, to Kia's EV6 and Hyundai's futuristic electric Ioniq 5, Korean cars are now hot property too
Have you noticed how South Korea - and its cars - have suddenly become very hip? The latest example of Korean cool is the TV series Squid Game, which has become streaming service Netflix's most-watched original series ever. And then there are the cars, with the likes of Hyundai, Kia, newly arrived luxury brand Genesis, and off-road specialists SsangYong making waves with popular new vehicles.
GRACE ON THE CASE: I sold an amplifier on eBay for £220 but the buyer claims it never arrived - now I'm out of pocket
I sold an amplifier on eBay for collection only at £220. The buyer messaged me to ask if he could arrange his own courier and paid via PayPal. I agreed and a UPS delivery man came to collect the item on the day the buyer advised. However, a few days later, I received a message from the buyer saying he has still not received the item and UPS said they hadn't collected it despite tracking details showing otherwise. How do I get my money back?
Bulls and bears may sound like nicknames for American football teams but they are important reference points for investors in the stock market. Most people will be familiar with the statue of a bull in America's financial district Wall Street, which acts as a symbol of stock market confidence as assets are charging upwards. On the flipside, markets are said to become bearish once they lose their grip and the value of assets slide.
Three in five drivers would consider buying an electric car in 2022, says report - but could fresh plans to slash EV grants derail consumer appetite?
Improving charging infrastructure, growing range of different models and prospect of fuel shortages and higher petrol and diesel prices are the main driving forces behind an increased desire to switch. However, reports emerging this week claim there is a stand-off between Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps over plans to slash EV grants that could scupper consumer appetite for green plug-in models.
Beat the bill squeeze: From eco kettles and smart heating controls to covering the windows with cling film... the small changes that can result in big savings
Whether it's putting on a woolly jumper and turning the thermostat down or covering the windows with cling film, there are lots of ways to cut down on energy bills this winter. Record wholesale gas prices and the collapse of a dozen energy firms providing cheap tariffs mean many of us are bracing ourselves ahead of the cold weather.
As a Waspi woman who has had her state pension delayed by six years, I finally qualify this month. Even though I have 40 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions, I didn't expect the full pension of £179.60 per week because I have been contracted out of state top-up schemes while working for local government and the NHS. But I was shocked that the final amount was just £157.90 per week - £1,128.40 per year less than a full pension. I've talked to the DWP, Future Pension Centre and HMRC 14 times - but no-one can explain why this is the case.
Have you booked YOUR Christmas food delivery? We reveal when supermarkets will release slots with demand already strong
Shoppers are looking to stock up for the festive season early this year, as some foods are set to be in short supply thanks to a lack of lorry drivers. Sainsbury's. Waitrose, Ocado, M&S and Tesco reveal when they will offer Christmas food delivery slots online - and some that have released them already say they are close to running out.
Can we open a joint bank account with our in-laws and get four debit cards for shared family spending?
We live close to my in-laws and our two families regularly do things together and split the cost or spending. However, as ever things get forgotten, people can't remember who paid for what, or whether one family is owed money. My sister-in-law came up with the idea of us getting a joint bank account and paying some money in every month to create a kitty for spending, with all four adults getting a bank card to use. Can we get a joint account across two families, which will give us four bank cards, or can a joint account only be opened by two people, or just one household?
Cost of comfortable retirement has already gone up by £2,200: Couples will need to find extra cash to sustain post-working lifestyle after Covid pandemic, research shows
The Pension and Lifetime Savings Association's 'retirement living standards', published today, give savers a picture of how much money they will need to maintain their lifestyle. The report estimated that couples will now need to find an extra £2,200 a year to keep up a comfortable retirement lifestyle after the pandemic. The research also revealed how priorities had changed, with retirees now wanting to splash more on dining out and haircuts, and insisting on subscriptions to streaming services like Netflix. It comes as Britain faces a cost-of-living crisis while energy bills soar ahead of winter.
EXCLUSIVE: REVEALED: The year-old used cars selling for up to 19% MORE than what they cost new - and it's a budget Dacia topping the list
A never before seen spike in used values in recent months is the result of an ongoing computer chip shortage which has limited new vehicle production and significantly pushed back delivery schedules for some of the latest models. The average price paid for second-hand cars is at a never-before-seen high, soaring by more than a fifth in September alone. Exclusive data reveals which 12-month-old models are in highest demand right now, with drivers willing to pay almost 20% above 'list price' for a car with 10,000 miles already on the clock.
Policymaker warns households must prepare for interest rates to rise as Bank of England tries to keep lid on inflation
Michael Saunders, who sits on the Bank's interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee, even hinted that rates could be hiked as early as this year. Households are experiencing a jump in the cost of living, amid an energy crisis, labour shortages and supply chain chaos. The confluence of problems is lifting the price of goods and energy bills are rocketing. Markets are starting to price in a December rate hike and in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph Saunders suggested this might not be far off the mark.
Built to beat the energy bills crisis? The £1.75m London house with solar panels covering an entire WALL
Blue-coloured solar panels are attached to an entire wall of this London house, at a 45 degree angle, meaning there are restricted views from inside. The property - which is one of two terrace homes built on the site - is for sale for £1.75million via estate agents Re/max Property Hub. The estate agent explained that the properties were designed by hcl Architects to 'fit snugly into a tight, awkward site previously occupied by six disused garages'.
Five neutral paint colours perfect for any room in your house - and there's not a shade of grey in sight...
Leading interior designer Alexander James Interiors recommends some paint colours to use in various rooms around the house. They include (pictured clockwise from top left): Blue 02 by Lick, Candle Cream by the Dulux Trade Heritage Collection, Olive No.13 by Farrow & Ball, and Velvet Truffle 5 by Dulux.
Millions who rely on basic state pension face poverty in old age - despite expected £6-a-week rise in payments to be revealed this month
The Government recently scrapped the 'triple lock' guarantee that ensured those in receipt of the state pension received annual uplifts of a minimum 2.5 per cent or the higher of inflation or wage growth. The wage link has been removed. Yet those already struggling to survive on the basic state pension of £179.60 a week - or less - point out that the soaring cost of living will swallow up more than an expected £6-a-week increase.
Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and a variety of charges can leave investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.
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Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, is expected to warn the big tech Masters of the Universe of the risks of losing their users’ trust at a conference in Brussels this week.
Politico reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to warn that Silicon Valley tech companies must maintain their users’ trust if they wish to continue to operate successfully. Cook is expected to speak at a privacy conference in Brussels where he will state that privacy is a fundamental human right and endorse efforts in Washington D.C. to pass U.S. federal privacy laws, similar to the European Union’s GDPR laws.
The Apple Chief Executive is expected to say: “We will never achieve technology’s true potential without the full faith and confidence of the people who use it. We are optimistic about technology’s awesome potential for good. But we know that it won’t happen on its own.”
Cook is also expected to praise the E.U.’s GDPR laws stating that they are an example of how “good policy and political will can come together to protect the rights of us all.” Cook’s comments will likely put pressure on companies such as Google and Facebook who have dealt with multiple user data breaches in recent months, causing scrutiny from government bodies and consumers alike.
Some, however, have found the E.U.’s new data laws too cumbersome and restrictive on smaller companies. Dean Garfield, president of the Information Technology Industry Council, a group which represents many of Silicon Valley’s biggest firms, discussed the EU’s new data protection laws saying: “GDPR has gone as expected in significant ways, but needs clarifying in others.”
Alastair MacTaggart, a U.S. privacy campaigner who has been the driving force behind data protection regulation in California stated: “For the first time in decades, technology companies have done a 180-degree turn. A year ago, they were pushing for self-regulation. But now, they want federal rules, but ones that are as weak as possible.”
Cook has previously suggested that consumers “don’t believe” tech companies that claim they need access to users’ data. He called the claim made by other Silicon Valley companies that they need data to improve services is “a bunch of bunk,” in a recent interview.


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NEWS AND EVENTS
September 28, 2015
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION... Tashkent is getting prepared to host the season’s largest exhibition event - the ninth International Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange on October 26 - November 2
The event is traditionally divided into two stages - spring and autumn. Territorial fairs were held in April-June in all regions of the country to wrap up with six industrial exhibitions in the capital. They were attended by almost 90,000 people.
They offered much to see: 4,862 companies presented more than 22,000 kinds of goods, including 710 kinds that have been released in 2015. The contracts concluded in the territorial fairs amounted to 377.5 billion soums (growth by 24.5%), and exported products amounted to $180.8 million (growth by 8.4%). Companies signed agreements worth 617.9 billion soums (growth by 5.2%) in the framework of capital\'s industrial exhibitions in Tashkent (currency rates of CB RU from 28.09.2015 1$= 2615.91 soums).
To date 20,000 square meters have already been allocated for the exhibition to house four pavilions, two atriums, three outdoor exhibition areas and two conference rooms. The organizers created a specialized online application unit at the official website of the fair, and are currently working on the creation of a catalogue of 2,100 industrial enterprises of Uzbekistan and their products.
In October, representatives of the domestic industry will come together at Uzexpocentre to present their achievements to foreign and local customers. The organizers expect some foreign guests. Last year, the volume of export contracts exceeded $7.2 billion. The top three customers were represented by Russia (29%), Kazakhstan (22%) and China (10.5%).
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)


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Given that known sources of illicit financial flows are tax evasion, the proceeds of criminal activities and bribes, the task of combatting those flows appears to fall to tax authorities, the police and financial regulatory institutes. Customs authorities have been supporting the fight against illicit financial flows at borders by cracking down on smuggling in cash or gold. However, in response to the emerging risk of illicit financial flows disguised as legitimate trade payments or receipts, customs authorities should play a leading role in the fight against them via trade misinvoicing.
Overview of the risk
Every trade transaction has two official records: one recorded by the importing country and the other by the exporting country. Existing literature suggests that discrepancies between the importer’s and exporter’s reports may be an informative indicator for assessing the risk of trade misinvoicing. An overview of the trade discrepancy ratio for the period from 2011 to 2015 reveals that the worldwide risk of illicit financial flows through trade misinvoicing was consistently significant, and that the risk in imports from developing countries made by members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) was even higher than that in trade between developing countries.
What exactly has distracted customs authorities from detecting trade misinvoicing at borders? When it comes to auditing the value of traded goods, most customs authorities focus solely on ‘under-invoiced imports’, in line with their traditional mandate of securing customs duties. Even the World Trade Organization’s Valuation Agreement (formally known as the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) sets out customs valuation standards for imported goods only, and not for exported goods. Consequently, over-invoiced imports (intended to disguise capital flight as trade payments), under-invoiced exports (intended to conceal trade profits abroad, such as in tax havens) and over-invoiced exports (intended to transfer illicit proceeds to domestic financial accounts) have not been the chief concern of customs authorities. This may have resulted in trade transactions suspected of involving illicit financial flows not being properly checked at borders.
As requested by the G20 Hangzhou Summit in 2016, the World Customs Organization has prepared a report on trade misinvoicing, which explores the trail of illicit financial flows by analysing customs trade data. It presents policy recommendations based on certain best practices by customs authorities.
An indispensable prerequisite for tackling illicit financial flows through trade misinvoicing is ensuring that customs authorities have a sufficient mandate and resources. In particular, customs authorities should be instructed to examine both over-invoicing and under-invoicing, as well as irregularities in export declarations and import declarations alike. By way of example, in 2013 Korea revised its customs act to criminalise the manipulation of invoices (values), irrespective of the impact on customs revenue. This revision encouraged customs officers to examine misinvoicing more comprehensively. Based on the results, this year the Korea Customs Service increased the number of its divisions specialising in investigating illicit financial flows. Allowing customs authorities to access the financial records of traders for the purpose of comparison with trade records is also highly recommended. Additionally, in 2017 Germany restructured its financial intelligence unit and transferred it to the General Customs Directorate.
Enhancing partnerships involving national customs authorities, tax authorities, financial intelligence units, police and customs authorities of trading partners is also essential, so that all these parties can obtain and share timely information and data to detect illicit financial flows concealed in trade.
New technology, such as blockchain, could potentially provide a solution to preventing and detecting any fraudulent manipulation of trade transactions and related financial transactions, by sharing information in a trusted and secure manner.
Providing capacity building, including financial and human resources, is essential for customs authorities to combat illicit financial flows through trade misinvoicing. When managing human resources, customs authorities should enhance integrity, as this is a prerequisite for the effective and efficient operation of a customs administration and, as a corollary, is essential in combatting illicit financial flows.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Syms Corp. SYM, +0.00% on Thursday declared a special cash dividend of 60 cents a share, payable Aug. 6 to shareholders of record as of July 26. Shares of Seacaucus, N.J.-based Syms, a discount retail apparel chain, rose 2.3% to $18.44 in Thursday morning trade.
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Wednesday — there will be a community dinner in Congress Square to celebrate the Heart of the Community grant (El Corazon and Mami food trucks plus food from Figgy’s and Home Catering), and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Thursday — The Honey Paw is hosting a release party for Oxbow’s 2015 edition of Liquid Swords, it’s the kick-off of the Greek Heritage Festival, and Tandem Bakery is hosting a Pies-n-Thighs Pop-up.
Friday — A group of food trucks are holding the Summer Solstice Celebration on Saint John Street.
Saturday — Allgash is holding a street festival to celebrate their 20th anniversary, the 7th Annual Strawberry Festival is taking place, there will be a wine tasting at Maine & Loire, Aurora Provisions is collaborating with Devenish Wines on a Rose tasting, the Craft Brew Race Festival and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market are taking place; Porterfield Cider will be launching Saturday at the market.
Sunday — the 2015 Taste of the Nation and the 3rd annual Noshbow Block Party are taking place, Coffee by Design is throwing a party to celebrate their 21st anniversary, Rising Tide and Browne Trading are working together on a beer and oyster event, Vinland is holding a dinner and book signing with author Diana Rodgers.
If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.


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Valve will finally enter the portable device sector with the Steam Deck and will not do so with just any device, but with a new and of course powerful electronic piece. Precisely, the system will be so powerful that Valve proclaims it as the most powerful portable system today.
Maybe Valve revealed its hardware project weeks ago, but so far it has published a promotional trailer for the system through its YouTube channel.
In the video of just over 1 minute long, the qualities of the portable device are presented, such as its buttons that will allow a “portable game without compromising” the portable experience, its screen and touch panel, its gyroscope, expandable storage and the possibility of linking the Steam account through various devices and streaming and enjoying other features of this platform.
STEAM DECK IS THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL PORTABLE GAMING DEVICE
The most interesting thing is that Valve proclaims that the Steam Deck is “the most powerful portable gaming device in the world”, something of which it can boast a lot, since the company had a hard time defining the price for the system , but at the In the end, the decision was the correct one, since many players considered that it offers very good features for its price.
Many followers of the company also took advantage of this trailer to comment that the developer still remembers her YouTube channel, which she uses very rarely. The last time he uploaded a video was in December 2020 to promote the launch of Counter-Strike – Operation Broken Fang .
What do you think of Valve’s device? Tell us in the comments.
Steam Deck will debut in late 2021 in various markets, such as Canada and the United States. It is expected to be available in more regions in 2022.


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General Motors Co.
is recalling more than 500,000 vehicles because the airbags could fail to deploy in a frontal crash if a driver’s knee bumps the key fob and causes the key to move out of the “run” position.
The Detroit automaker said it is recalling 510,000 2010-14 Chevrolet Camaros after reports of four minor injuries linked to three crashes where the air bags failed to deploy, said GM spokesman Alan Adler. The automaker doesn’t have conclusive evidence that the airbags failed to deploy because the key moved to the “accessory” or “off” position.
The issue is similar to the problem that was linked to the delayed recall of 2.6 million older Cobalt, Ion and other cars but not the same. In those cases, a heavy key chain could cause the ignition key to move out of position — and the issue has been linked to 13 deaths and 54 crashes. GM was fined $35 million for failing to recall the vehicles for more than a decade, and last week, GM CEO Mary Barra fired 15 employees and disciplined five over the issue. The Justice Department is investigating and a House committee will a hold a hearing on the issue next week.Read Article


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Volkswagen Golf GTI ‘Carbon’ edition on horizon: report
A lightweight carbon-infused Volkswagen Golf GTI is rumoured to be on the radar for the German manufacturer, hot on the heels of the release of the new Volkswagen Golf Mk7.
The UK's Autocar reports a limited edition lightweight Volkswagen Golf GTI constructed with carbonfibre and aluminium, intended as a nod to the original 810kg bare bones GTI of the 1970s, could launch in time to mark 40 years of the Volkswagen Golf.
According to the report the Carbon GTI should shave 200kg of weight thanks to its use of a carbonfibre roof and bonnet and aluminium in the car's front bulkhead, windscreen surround and floor panels.
Power is said to come from the 165kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that is expected to come in the standard Golf GTI Mk7 when it’s released. The rumoured model will be front-wheel drive, avoiding a heavy four-wheel drive system like that in the current Golf R.
The weight reduction should help performance and efficiency figures and, according to Autocar, with making the lightweight Golf reminiscent of the original GTI’s agility and simplicity.
The report says two significant production developments have made the production of a Volkswagen Golf GTI ‘Carbon’ edition possible: the roof being a two-layer carbonfibre sandwich over a thin steel core allowing the roof to be welded into the body on a standard production line, and the aluminium components riveted or bonded to the steel understructure.
The new generation Volkswagen Golf Mk7 is due to be released overseas in the first quarter of 2013, with the Golf GTI to follow.


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Mela provided no explanation for Steinhart’s departure, which took effect at the end of last year. Steinhart had been Mela’s CFO since 2006 and the search for a replacement is underway.
Board members Anne Egger, Mark Fabiani and Mindy Meads also stepped down from their roles, due to "other professional commitments and a desire to streamline the board to better reflect the company’s current size." Meads, in particular, was recently named CEO of retailer Calypso St. Barth.
The company bolstered the board back up to 7 total members with the addition of venture capitalist Jeff O’Donnell, the managing director of BioStar Ventures. O’Donnell has served for 10 years as president & CEO of medical device firm PhotoMedex (NSDQ:PHMD), according to a press release.
"Jeff’s first-hand knowledge of medical devices as well as selling capital equipment into the dermatology field will be of great value to MELA Sciences," chairman Robert Coradini said in prepared remarks. "He also brings global expertise that will broaden our strategic thinking on ways to leverage our technology and grow the company."
MELA has been restructuring for some time now, recently hiring former Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) group chairman Rose Crane as CEO in Nov. She joined on after longtime CEO Joseph Gulfo resigned his post after 9 years.