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By Jason Steger
WHEN Penguin and Random House announced, in a hurricane-battered New York, plans to merge their operations, one wag remarked that they had created a perfect storm of their own - for the publishing industry. The proposal, whereby Bertelsmann, the German company that owns Random, would hold 53 per cent and Penguin proprietor Pearson, the world's largest publisher, the remaining 47 per cent, will create an English-language publishing giant that could hold up to a 30 per cent share in some markets.
The new business will, according to Forbes magazine, have revenues of about $US4 billion and employ about 9000 people in 20 countries.
Talks between the two companies began at the end of May and only leaked on the last Friday of October. The significance to the future of the global book industry prompted News Corp, which owns HarperCollins, to make a last-minute, outright offer for Penguin, which was rejected.
On October 29, the engagement of Penguin, one of the world's most recognisable brands, and Random House, the world's largest trade publisher (which excludes education titles - a large part of Pearson's business), was officially announced. Whether it is consummated depends on a variety of regulatory authorities.
Like the music and newspaper industries, book publishing is having to reinvent itself in the face of the threat posed by digitisation. Consumers are rapidly changing their buying habits and publishers and traditional bookshops are feeling the strain. Online retailers such as Amazon now have huge influence and are expanding their sphere of influence from selling to publishing itself. The whole publisher-author-reader nexus is changing, forever, and the implications for the Australian scene are likely to be significant.
While the announcement and the identity of the parties caught people by surprise - the two companies immediately sent out placatory letters to staff, authors and agents - many were phlegmatic, seeing the move as a necessary bulking up in the face of the increasingly strong online retailers and the parlous, rapidly changing state of the industry.
And plenty predicted more mergers between the remaining four big publishers - Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan and Hachette. So when The Wall Street Journal reported last week that S & S and News Corp were in ''preliminary talks'', it elicited little comment.
John Makinson, the chairman and chief executive of Penguin who will be chairman of the new Penguin Random House, has been on something of a world tour since New York, spruiking the deal in Toronto, London, Delhi and Auckland. He had already planned a sojourn at Penguin's stylish new Australian headquarters in a renovated railway shed in Docklands to coincide with the retirement party of former local chief executive Peter Field.
A publishing boss who also owns a small ''bricks and mortar'' bookshop in Britain, Makinson says Penguin management had considered how the transformation of the industry from an analogue model of publishing to a digital one (from physical books to e-reading) changed questions of distribution on a global scale. And it also altered the relationship between the publisher and the customer, whether that customer was a reader or an author.
''We concluded that this consolidation was going to happen, that it was right for it to happen, that we would be able to serve readers, authors, retailers better with the resources - not just financial resources but the creative resources, the technological resources, the brand resources - that an enlarged organisation would have.''
Makinson says the major issues facing publishing are to do with how content is distributed and the challenges facing physical book stores. ''You've seen that already in this country through the collapse of Redgroup [which owned Angus & Robertson] and the impact this had on sales in the Australian market.'' The publishing industry estimate is that 20 per cent of trade sales were lost.
According to the federal government's Book Industry Strategy Group, the value of physical and digital books sales in Australia in 2010 was $2.3 billion. After a plateau following the introduction of the GST in 2000, that value has increased 4.1 per cent each year on average. It reckons that 66.3 million trade books were sold by Australian-based booksellers, increasing by 6.4 per cent between 2004 and 2010.
Sales of e-books are increasing - Penguin reckons these grew 33 per cent in the first six months of this year and now comprise 19 per cent of its revenues worldwide - and that puts increasing pressure on traditional bookshops.
Digital distribution has changed the publishing world irrevocably. ''If you can press a button and [a book] can be available electronically, that has implications for the territorial-based publishing model,'' Makinson says. ''[It] gives some advantage to the publisher that … can take a global view on the relationships with digital intermediaries, such as Google and Apple and Amazon and others; that can monitor copyright infringement and piracy on a global basis; that can develop a brand identity - whether it's Penguin or Random House - on a global basis … and that can do its best to support physical retailers as well as online retailers in all the major markets.''
Makinson says the strength of Amazon as a retailer was one of the challenges ''but it was by no means the only and not the overwhelming issue either''.
But other publishers are not sure. Hachette Australia's Sydney-based chief executive, Malcolm Edwards, says the merger is good for the industry because ''the balance has gone the wrong way in that we have an unbelievably dominant retailer, which is threatening the very fabric of creativity.
''If you believe in monopolies and totalitarian states then you probably wouldn't think it was a bad idea, but I think when you've got in the US and UK [a situation where] Amazon would have something like 80 per cent of the e-book market, that can't be good. On a business level, a lack of competition is not in the consumer's interest.''
Edwards says if you have the emergence of large and dominant retailers on a global level, the natural business response is for suppliers to get bigger and merge. He, too, is sure there are more mergers to come. ''Everything's for sale all the time and everybody is a buyer. It's a fact of life. We [Hachette] have been an acquisitive organisation, we continue to be one but we're not going to overpay.''
Most industry observers expect Penguin Random House to make significant economies in ''back office'' operations such as distribution. Random and Penguin have strong, separate distribution businesses in Australia that look after their own product and that of other publishers. Makinson says that at this stage, management is analysing the two companies to see where they overlap and where they sit comfortably alongside each other.
''We are asking ourselves … how many warehouses we are going to need in 20, 10 or five years' time in any case,'' Makinson says. ''This is now a conversation we will be having with our partners in Random House, but … it's not a new discussion.''
According to Text Publishing publisher Michael Heyward, the issue for all big companies that both publish and distribute is how they deal with the certainty that they're going to have fewer books in their warehouses than they did five years ago.
And what about the editorial side of the business? Penguin has only been in its spanking new Melbourne home for a few months; Random is well established in north Sydney. There is some angst in Melbourne that the only multinational publisher in the UNESCO City of Literature could shift away. Makinson is adamant that won't happen.
But surely there will be economies in the operation?
''The editorial organisation - by editorial I mean marketing and publicity as well as editorial - that activity will be unaffected by this combination. So we will have the same number of titles, the same number of editors, the same number of imprints. Agents will pick up the phone or email exactly the same people they were emailing before this transaction happened.''
While he does see some areas that might make sense to do together, travel for example - ''not author-driven publishing categories'' - he wants there to be rigorous competition between the two editorial arms.
In the US and Britain, Random is the dominant partner, with greater market share. The situation in Australia is the reverse: Penguin's share has - at least until the advent of Fifty Shades of Grey - been larger than Random's. Last year, Penguin had 14 per cent compared with Random's 11 per cent. Now, according to Nielsen BookScan, they are both equal, although this week the top-three best-selling authors were from the Penguin stable - Jeff Kinney, Jamie Oliver and Bryce Courtenay - and Penguin believes it will regain its dominant position in the local market.
Makinson sees this strength in markets outside the US and Britain as another of Penguin's attractions for Random, along with its strong position in emerging markets such as India and China.
One thing that does have to change in this new, increasingly digital world is the way publishers approach consumers. ''The pressures to which we are responding rather urgently as an industry are about how … content is received by the reader,'' Makinson says, ''and we are trying to listen to the reader to understand how the reader wants to receive that content, what the reader is prepared to pay for it, what enhancements to that content the reader would like in a digital environment.''
Hachette's Edwards is blunt: ''We spent many years working out how to sell to bookshops. We now have to look about and work out what the consumer wants. We've always relied on bookshops to tell us that.''
Interestingly, neither the Australian Publishers Association nor the Australian Society of Authors has an official view on the merger. ASA chief executive Angelo Loukakis says authors want more players in publishing rather than fewer. And he sees the deal as simply another development in a fluid environment that is hard to keep up with: ''The problem is that online retailers now run publishing.''
APA president Louise Adler says the merger is a matter of commercial interest for two major publishers. However, when Adler has her publisher's hat on - she is chief executive of Melbourne University Publishing - she worries that the local industry is struggling.
''Sales are down and the gap between mass-market titles such as Fifty Shades of Grey or Bryce Courtenay and the rest is growing. The capacity to publish heartland Australian books is increasingly difficult. The space in which authors, readers and bookshops can flourish is narrowing. Those of us committed to new Australian writing will find the space is narrowing, but that's the state of the industry rather than anything to do with the merger.''
One literary agent said her concerns were whether writers would be paid fair royalties. ''The industry is contracting anyway. They always say that things will be the same but it usually isn't. A merger usually results in contraction.''
That might be the case, but Text's Heyward does see space and opportunities ahead.
''I think there is something in the ecology of book publishing which allows smaller players to make a valid contribution, and if you end up with a handful of really big companies, my prediction is that that will open the door for smaller companies to emerge.''


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The regulator has accepted a request by National Grid ESO (NGESO) to replace the current CUSC proposal to implement the Targeted Charging Review (TCR) decision for a fixed residual transmission network use of system (TNUoS). A new implementation date of 1 April 2022 will replace 1 April 2021.
NGESO submitted a letter to Ofgem on 25 March to withdraw CMP332 Transmission Demand Residual Banding and Allocation (TCR), saying that during the workgroup process and workgroup consultation “significant issues have been raised that question the value and impacts to consumers”. It highlighted two specific issues:
- The lack of visibility to the workgroup of modelled tariffs, due to the necessary data not being available until very recently from market participants. This meant suppliers and system users could not understand the impact of the methodologies proposed and that consideration of alternatives was not possible.
- The impact on the short-term realisation of consumer benefits, due to the short notice of the draft final charges in late 2020 which provides little time for suppliers to understand impacts, adjust their business models and pass on the consumer benefits.
NGESO asked for withdrawal to give further time for the issues raised in the workgroup to be considered and for a review of the impacts and the implementation timescales.
In its response on 31 March, Ofgem consented to the withdrawal and directed NGESO to raise a new proposal to enable the reforms to TNUoS to take effect from 1 April 2022. The regulator stressed that this decision affected only the transmission demand residual (TDR) element of its TCR decision and that all the other elements will progress as in its original Directions. Ofgem said that in coming to its decision on the TCR in November, it anticipated around £50mn in benefits to consumers from implementing TDR reforms in 2021 compared to 2022. It also expected realisation of these benefits could be limited due to the time needed for suppliers to pass them onto consumers.
Since the decision, it said several suppliers and large energy consumers had provided it with detailed information on the difficulties arising from the lack of certainty in 2021 TDR charges in the non-domestic market. These arise due to accurate charges for April 2021 not being available until late 2020 and the increasing view in industry that the TDR timeline contains significant risks, and also that the charges may not be delivered on time. It noted the relatively short period allowed for the implementation of the new IT systems and charging processes.
Ofgem said it understood that there is a large variation in how suppliers are dealing with the uncertainty around TDR charges, with some suppliers having signed, or are continuing to sign, a significant number of non-domestic contracts for 2021 that do not take account of the expected TDR changes.
On average, TDR charges will increase for non-domestic and decrease for domestic consumers. Therefore, Ofgem is concerned that suppliers continuing to contract with customers without taking account of the TDR reforms will either lead to these suppliers incurring losses, or to suppliers triggering re-opener clauses in their contracts to increase these charges. It said this could lead to disruption for some non-domestic consumers and mean that suppliers may need to re-open many non-domestic contracts to recover the additional charges. This outcome could lead to a significant level of disputes, re-contracting and switching. It could also put some suppliers under financial strain, particularly those whose portfolios lack diversity or who rely on a small number of large contacts for a significant proportion of their revenue.
The regulator has therefore concluded a one-year delay is in the best interests of consumers and that it would also reduce pressures on industry and consumers in the coming months, so facilitating implementation of the TCR embedded benefit changes due in April 2021.
The risks from the short implementation timescale were evident at an early stage. While the decision now aligns the dates for changes to transmission and distribution use of system residual charges, COVID-19 could force further timeline changes as industry and the regulator re-prioritises.
If you have enjoyed reading Nick’s views and want to read about the latest developments in the energy market, please contact us for a month’s trial of Energy Spectrum.
Energy Spectrum is a weekly publication covering all of the key policy, regulatory, market and transactional developments across the energy sector. It offers a timely, insight-driven overview of the need-to-know news and changes in the energy sector. Contact the Editor, Nick Palmer to request a trial on 01603 604400.

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Following the success of its 2016 Brooklands Bed Show, Sealy has announced that it will once again be hosting the highly-regarded event at the world-famous museum, on 16-17th May, unveiling a range of new products, including a new-look Posturepedic.
Taking place four months ahead of the NBF Bed Show, Brooklands provides a unique opportunity for buyers and industry insiders to experience Sealy’s entire range in one room, as well as hear about some of the most innovative advances in bed technology.
New products being presented include a re-launch of Sealy’s distinguished Posturepedic range, which takes inspiration from worldwide design advances, and incorporates a new set of aesthetics and technology. The announcement comes on the back of Sealy’s successful re-launch of Hybrid last year.
Neil Robinson, sales and marketing director at Sealy, says: “Our Brooklands Show has become extremely popular throughout the industry, as it provides delegates with the opportunity to gather valuable insight on sector trends and developments, as well as learn about Sealy’s entire product range. Our 2016 show was such a great success, so we are hoping to build on that enthusiasm this year.
“We are dedicated to innovation here at Sealy and strive to provide new and exciting products for our buyers and their customers. That’s why we’re so excited about our Posturepedic re-launch – it truly is a whole new look for Sealy UK. Given the show’s timing – several months before Telford – it really gives attendees the chance to get ahead of the game, and shouldn’t be missed.”


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3D printer device that uses silicone, icing surpasses Kickstarter goal on 1st day
Kitchener, Ont.-based company created reloadable syringe that spits out soft material through variety of tips
Structur3D Printing, a Kitchener, Ont.-based company that makes a 3D printer extruder head, which allows users to print paste materials like cake icing, hit its Kickstarter campaign goal of $30,000 in less than 24 hours.
"We launched late last night and we tried to do it in stealth mode, but apparently we had a lot of people watching us, waiting for our launch, so they jumped on it as soon as we had the page live," said Charles Mire, co-founder of Structur3D Printing.
"Nobody's been able to successfully put a paste extruder product on the market, especially one that has printed the variety of materials that we've printed," he said.
The device, called the Discov3ry Extruder, can attach to filament-based desktop 3D printers, and lets users print with soft materials like wood filler, silicone, clay and even Nutella.
"Other people have attempted to put a paste extruder-type of product on the market and there have always been some limitations, either the volume of the cartridges, so you could only print something very small, or you had to do a very in-depth cleaning of the system in between uses," said Mire.
"Our system is designed so you can switch between materials, say silicone and the cake icing very quickly, with minimal cleanup and no contamination between the materials," he said.
Soft materials self-contained
Mire explained that materials are self-contained in the cartridges, which are syringes with tubing attached and a printing tip. To switch between wood filler and icing, for example, the syringe, tubing and tip are swapped out.
The first batch of extruders, priced at $249 on Kickstarter, are already sold-out.
"Those are going to ship around the September time frame. Then the next batch will ship the next month, and then the next batch the following month, with the final batches going out around the December-January time frame," said Mire.
"We plan to manufacture them in Canada, and a lot of it depends also on the volumes. If we start to hit say, the million-dollar mark with our Kickstarter campaign, we may have to move some of the manufacturing overseas, but by and large the production's going to be here in Canada," said Mire.
In mid-May, Mire and Structur3d Printing showed off prototypes of the extruder at the Bay Area Maker Faire in San Francisco. Maker Faires are showcases for inventors, hobbyists and tech types, who experiment with news way to make things from 3D printing to crafting. Mire says his company's appearance there helped boost interest in the extruder.


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Kellogg Co. lost its bid to block the UK’s new curbs on the promotion of unhealthy foods after a London judge threw out the suit as he called the moves to fight obesity “compelling.”
The breakfast cereal maker of Frosties and Special K mounted a challenge against the new regulations coming into force in England in October which restrict the promotion of food and drinks products that are high in fat, salt and sugar.
The US company argued that sugar content of its cereals should be measured after milk is added. Kellogg’s said the current legislation as planned will measure the nutritional value of breakfast cereals by dry weight, rather than how they are eaten. It said that the full nutritional value of the meal, including milk, should be measured.
But Judge Thomas Linden dismissed Kellogg’s claims and said the government’s public health case for the rules were “compelling,” according to a judgment published Monday.
The legislation hopes to reduce childhood obesity and will restrict where some types of food are displayed in stores and when they are advertised online. Multibuy promotions of foods high in fat, salt and sugar - such as buy one get one free - will also be banned.
“By restricting the placement of items in supermarkets, people face less choice and potentially higher prices,” Chris Silcock, Kellogg UK managing director, said in a statement. “In the midst of a cost of living crisis, we would strongly urge the Government to rethink these regulations and put the consumer first.”
As a result of the cost of living crisis, some parts of the legislation -- such as the ban on multibuy promotions -- have been delayed for a year. The ban on prominent placing of unhealthy foods in stores will go ahead later this year.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.


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ANC Rental Corp. (Pink Sheets: ANCXQ) said it will eliminate travel agent commissions for individual car rentals to corporate and government accounts at both its corporate brand, National Car Rental, and its leisure brand, Alamo Rent-A-Car.
However, National will extend its 5 percent travel agency commission for leisure travel from discount reservations to all reservations. The company said two-thirds of National's business is booked by travel agents, but more than 60 percent of travel agent bookings would be unaffected by changes to the commission structure.
National said commission changes will not affect preferred partnership overrides with key travel agency partners.
Alamo said it would not make any commission changes to leisure, association and non-negotiated corporate rentals.
All changes will take effect for rentals occurring after Wednesday.
Mike Going, ANC Rental Corp.'s senior vice president of worldwide sales, said his company would be at a competitive disadvantage if it did not change its commission structure.
"We have an obligation to find the most cost-effective ways to continue to do business in a highly competitive landscape," Going said.
Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, ANC Rental Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November. The company said it anticipates changes in commissions rates will save it more than $10 million this year.
ANC Rental was up 5 cents to 65 cents at market close. No 52-week high/low information was available.


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Whether it’s checking your email, logging in to your favorite social site or downloading a new app, it’s safe to say that those who own smartphones like having access to the Internet in the palm of their hands. So it’s no surprise that smartphones are becoming more prevalent in U.S. households. A recent study from Pew Internet Project revealed that out of the 83% of US adults who own cell phones, 42% own smartphones, roughly 77 million people. To put this into perspective, 35% of all US adults own a smartphone, and this figure isn’t expected to decrease anytime soon. So while the US may be a smartphone hotspot, how does the smartphone market look in other parts of the world? Let’s take a look.
Asia is the largest mobile market in the world, and with that the land of endless opportunity for those in the mobile industry. With highly advanced tech countries like Japan and South Korea who were developing smartphones before they were popular in the U.S., and with the sheer amount of people in countries such as China and India, Asia is a mobile market wonderland. In China alone, out of the 900 million cellphone users, 20% own or plan to buy smartphones. Recognizing China’s large presence in the mobile market, we are excited to launch in China at the end of August.
But China isn’t Mobile Roadie’s first foray into Asia; we first made our mark in Asia by way of Japan. In addition to creating apps for some of Japan’s popular celebrities and musicians, we also developed an app for food leader Matsuya Foods Group (松屋フーズ). Below are screenshots of MoRo apps for popular Japanese girl groups Idoling!!! and Shibuhara
Europe’s smartphone market is growing rapidly, with the U.K, France and Italy leading the way. According to comScore, the smartphone market in Europe grew 41% in the past year. In 2010, the smartphone market in the U.K. experienced 70% growth to over 11 million subscribers, France experienced a 48% increase in smartphone adoption, while Italy had the largest number of smartphone users totaling over 15 million. Spain and Germany, in addition to these three European countries, total over 60 million smartphone users.
With MoRo representatives in Paris, Barcelona, and Milan, and an office in London’s “Silicon Roundabout”, we have already established our presence in Europe, and continue our position as the world’s leading app platform.
What this means
The International Data Corporation predicts that 472 million smartphones will be shipped worldwide in 2011 compared to the 305 million phones that were shipped in 2011, representing a 54% increase in one year. By 2015, it is predicted that over 982 million smartphones will be shipped all over the world- that’s close to one billion people who will be able to use phones to surf the Web, stream music and videos, download apps, and a host of other capabilities.


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7 August 12 15:47–Israeli exports of goods to Europe were down 14% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with the corresponding quarter of 2011, the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute reported today. Total exports fell 7.5% to $11.2 billion in the second quarter from $12.1 billion in the corresponding quarter.
Export Institute chairman Ramzi Gabbay said, “The export figures are worrying, and if the situation continues, Israeli exporters will be forced to reduce or even shut down production lines, or move them overseas. Low demand in Israel’s main target markets in the EU, which accounts for 30% of exports, is creating a real threat for us.”
Exports of chemicals and pharmaceuticals to the US fell sharply in the second quarter, but was offset by higher exports of other goods. Israeli exports to the US totaled $2.5 billion in the second quarter.
Exports to Asia bucked the trend, rising 17% in the second quarter compared with the corresponding quarter. Among foreign markets which are struggling with an economic crisis that is lowering demand, Israeli exports to countries in Asia rose for the seventh straight quarter…Read More>>


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Speaking at the meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Guido Mantega, the Brazilian finance minister, said the accords should provide an increase in manufacturing and sales in China by the Brazilian airplane maker Embraer.
Embraer, one of the largest manufacturers of regional planes, for years was barred from producing jets in China, the world’s fastest-growing market for commercial and executive aviation.
The deals were reached as Ms. Rousseff, a pragmatist, was pressing China to buy more products from Brazilian manufacturers as part of a broader push aimed at reducing the South American nation’s dependence on sales of raw materials like iron ore, oil and soybeans.
China, the world’s second largest economy, after the United States, is Brazil’s biggest export market.
The economies of Brazil and China have slowed sharply, partly because of the European debt crisis.


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Intel is planning two new lines of client SSDs in 2013, including the mainstream SSD 335 series, and the performance SSD 525 series. The company could deploy its newest 20 nm NAND flash memory tech on some of these drives.
Less than three weeks after breaking to the world news of Intel lowering prices of most of its client SSDs, we've scored an insight to what the company has in the works for next year. Intel is planning two new lines of client SSDs in 2013, including the mainstream SSD 335 series, and the performance SSD 525 series. The company could deploy its newest 20 nm NAND flash memory tech on some of these drives.
Intel's mainstream SSD 330 series will meet its successor in 2013, the SSD 335 series. The new series resembles the SSD 330 series in many aspects, but could feature a new NAND flash memory type, built on the 20 nanometer silicon fabrication process. Intel could also tweak the performance of the drives a tiny bit above what SSD 330 series drives offer, as they're based on the same LSI-SandForce SF-2281 processor, which is capable of much higher performance than the SSD 33x series is intended to have, given the right firmware and NAND flash combination. The SSD 335 series could be initially launched in 80 GB and 180 GB models in Q1-2013. A 240 GB variant could join the lineup a little later. By 2013, 180 GB could very well become the next "120 GB" (popular SSD capacity).
The next major series on cards is the performance-segment SSD 525 series. Over the past year, Intel replaced its performance-segment with two series: the Marvell-driven SSD 510, and SandForce-driven SSD 520 series. In 2013, an even newer line could join the pack, SSD 525 series. Unlike with SSD 335, it doesn't look like the SSD 525 series will use 20 nm NAND flash, and could stick to 25 nm NAND flash, for reasons unknown. What's more, it's also unlikely that Intel will change the controller from the SF-2281 that SSD 520 series uses. What could change is a secret-sauce firmware that ups performance. The SSD 525 series will ship in mSATA and 2.5-inch form-factors, and will be available in 30 GB, 120 GB, 180 GB, and 240 GB capacities.
Source: VR-Zone Chinese


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Two new HSPA+ and LTE devices now available directly from MetroPCS stores
MetroPCS is now ready to start selling devices that run on T-Mobile's HSPA+ network, marking the beginning of customer migration to T-Mobile US, the carriers announced today with a press release. Following the announcement earlier this week that MetroPCS customers in a few select cities -- Boston, Las Vegas and Hartford -- could bring their own unlocked GSM devices, stores in those same markets will now be selling two new devices that no longer use MetroPCS' CDMA network. The devices are the LG Optimus L9 and Samsung Galaxy Exhibit, a couple of solid offerings that fit well into MetroPCS' current device lineup.
The migration of customers begins just six weeks after the newly appointed T-Mobile US brand began trading on the stock market, and is ahead of schedule according to the carrier.
Data from MetroPCS shows that a full 60-percent of its customers upgrade their device yearly, and that it expects to have its whole customer base moved to GSM handsets by the end of 2015. T-Mobile says that it has already started to combine the LTE offerings of the previously separate carriers, letting MetroPCS customers in Las Vegas connect to the T-Mobile LTE network. As customers leave the legacy CDMA network, the spectrum freed up will then be applied to T-Mobile's current LTE rollout, which has some pretty lofty goals set for itself.
In the coming months we'll see a continued push to get all customers moved off of CDMA devices completely, eventually moving customers to the T-Mobile brand as well.


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Cruising Vietnam’s Halong Bay is about to get pricier, after the Quang Ninh people’s committee announced an increase in visitor fees.
Effective 1 January 2014, entrance fees and surcharges will increase by a further US$18 per tourist per night. This equates to a rise of 160 percent compared to prices in 2013.
The largest luxury cruise operator in Halong Bay, Bhaya Cruises business development manager Armand Cheveux says the increase could deter people from visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
He said: “We are very concerned by the increase.
“We operate 180 cabins and up to 5,000 passengers each month. This could easily result in around a US$75,000 increase per month for entrance fees only.”
Mr Cheveux said all cruise operators and DMC partners are discussing ways to share the burden.
For the New Zealand market, Bhaya Cruises will absorb the surcharge on previously confirmed bookings. The fee will also be exempt on new bookings for the line’s two-night program on the new boat, The Au Co.
Cruise Passenger has contacted Bhaya Cruises’ Australian representatives and is waiting on information regarding the Australian market.
Quang Ninh welcomed 4.67 million visitors during the first half of 2013. A nine percent increase on the same period last year.


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The iPhone maker revealed on Thursday that it will host a major event on October 30 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House.
We'll have to wait and see what Apple has in store but it may not be the only new product revealed at the event.
While rumours regarding Apple's upcoming iPad Pro revision nixing the traditional Lightning port in favour of USB-C have been circulating for some time now, a new report from Japanese publication Mac Otakara once again backs up this claim. Apart from the iPhone, Apple has already refreshed its new MacBook Pro lineup with the latest 8th gen Intel Core processors. Maybe we'll also see some new Mac Minis.
The 10.5-inch iPad Pro might be retired and replaced with an 11-inch version, while the 12.9-inch will still remain - both will have a smaller footprint of course thanks to the slimmer bezels.
The event will be the company's second major hardware event this autumn, following the launch the new iPhone XS models at its main headquarters in California in September.
Recently, notable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that this would be the case.
On paper, it sounds kind of surprising, but the reports claiming that Apple will include a USB-C port instead of its proprietary Lightning are certainly racking up. Rumors tip new iPads that will add Face ID and ditch the Home button, like the iPhone XS and XR.
A successor to the MacBook Air is expected to debut at this NY event.


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SYCAMORE, IL — IDEAL INDUSTRIES, INC., one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of quality tools, connectors and testing products for electricians and data communications contractors, has been honored with the prestigious “Excellence in Marketing and Communications” award by IMARK GROUP, a member-owned marketing group made up of more than 1,100 independent electrical distributors throughout the United States.
The award was presented during ceremonies at IMARK’s annual meeting October 14, 2013, in Carlsbad, CA, where a panel of independent IMARK member distributors judged suppliers on the basis of overall promotional activities, education programs, product merchandising, co-op funding, and pricing structure. Using these criteria, IDEAL was selected first from hundreds of suppliers nationwide who provide products to IMARK members.
“Efforts to continuously improve our promotional capabilities have proven to be successful with IMARK members who are profiting by partnering with IDEAL,” said Joe Saganowich, Vice President of Sales for IDEAL. “Thanks to IMARK for selecting IDEAL to be number one, plus a special thanks to all our hardworking employees who made it possible to win.”
IMARK GROUP’s membership includes over 80 members in the Top 200 largest distributors in the country. Member companies serve their local customers from over 2,000 branch locations. With over $15 billion in combined sales, IMARK Group is the largest member owned, member governed cooperative in the US electrical industry.Tagged with tED


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Ntreev USA, a leading online game developer and publisher, announced today that it is has opened new servers for Grand Chase and Pangya, two of its popular MMO titles, due to increasing demand. In an effort to accommodate the growing pool of loyal players and serve the growing community, Ntreev has opened new servers to meet the needs of its fans.
“Needing to open new servers for both Grand Chase and Pangya is a testimony that both titles continue to thrive, especially with our continuous efforts to provide new and compelling content for players,” said Chris Lee, CEO at Ntreev USA. “With the addition of Jin as a playable character last week for Grand Chase, and a new patch for Pangya this week and new Season 4 content coming soon, we are excited for players to check out all the new gameplay elements we have in store for them.”
In action adventure MMO brawler Grand Chase, a new character, Jin, a melee specialist, was introduced last week, where his character attributes, including a special fighting ability and special attacks, help him as he joins the chase to search for Luther, leader of the Silver Knights. Jin has three classes, the first job being Fighter where he uses his fists and feet to attack. He also possesses the unique ability to “burn,” a special ability that makes him stronger and changes his skills. Jin can charge the gauge and use the charge to perform special attacks or improved skills. If the bar is fully charged, Jin will go into “burn” mode making several new attacks available, and boosting his skills and attack power; however the charge bar will quickly drain in burn mode. In addition, Jin also has the ability to dash through opponents during their mid-combo attacks.
In Pangya, a new patch was just released late last week. The latest patch includes the release of special items and the limited time “Pang Ramyon” caddy which may be purchased using Chrono Points. Twenty-five Chrono Points can be earned for every 10 minutes of gameplay. This special event will end on June 24th so players should make sure to earn their Chrono Points now. In addition to the new patch, players can look forward to this summer’s release of Season 4 content, including an all-new Self Design Feature where players can totally custom create a character’s outfit from head to toe. Players will be able to choose from different pieces of clothing to make up an outfit and then can decorate the clothing with their own artistic flair. In addition, players will also be treated to an all-new character, a pop-star known as Lucia, who is already a hugely popular character in the Asian version of the game where Season 4 is now live. Ntreev has also added a new security feature that includes an in-game safe for players to keep all their purchased items. By putting their items in the new safe, players will not have to worry about hacking or loss of their valuable items. Additionally, players can create custom items and give them as gifts to other players, and the gift will be embossed with the player’s name when it is delivered.


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Coop Denmark has announced that two-fifths (42%) of all the food items sold through its website in 2020 were organic products.
The retailer's online arm, Coop.dk MAD, delivers groceries all over Denmark, sourced partly from a central distribution terminal in Vallensbæk near Copenhagen, while the rest is sourced from approximately 80 local Kvickly department stores and SuperBrugsen outlets.
Due to an increased demand for online grocery deliveries, driven by the pandemic, the site more than doubled its total turnover throughout 2020.
In January this year, the company set a monthly record, reporting sales that were 400% higher compared to the same period in 2020.
Customers can choose from around 2,000 different organic products on the site, including the entire Änglamark series, which can only be purchased at Coop.
'Three Significant Reasons'
Lars Rasmussen, commercial director of Coop.dk MAD believes that there are "three significant reasons" why a large part of its product offering is organic.
These include competitive prices, a wide range of products, and customers' interest in ecology.
The latest price check carried out by Think in March 2021 showed that Coop.dk MAD's prices fell by 13%, making it the cheapest online supermarket for organic products.
In addition, it offers up to 10 times as many organic items compared to a discount store.
Thomas Roland, CSR chief at Coop, commented, "In our physical stores in areas with the highest organic consumption - inner Copenhagen, Aarhus city centre - we have a share of about 30%. To achieve over 40% share nationwide, [is a first for the company]."
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.


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M2M and IoT Services Leader Provides Connectivity for DipJar to Increase Cashless Tips and Charitable Donations
ALPHARETTA, GA. —December 23, 2015—KORE, the world’s largest managed wireless network services provider specializing in Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, today announced an agreement to provide connectivity for DipJar’s electronic tip and donation jars. Through the KORE network, DipJar will securely and reliably process wireless gratuity and donation payment information without the need to interface with a retailer’s point of sale system.
DipJar’s cashless, electronic tip jars enable quick service restaurant and coffee shop customers to insert their credit or debit cards into a receptacle by the register to leave a preset tip amount – often $1. In addition to the restaurant industry, DipJar is becoming a rapidly adopted solution for charitable organizations to enable cashless donations.
“Our electronic tip jars require the highest levels of security and reliability. KORE’s network ensures that customer data and payment information is safe,” said DipJar Founder and CEO, Ryder Kessler. “We also chose the KORE network for its longstanding reputation for seamless and reliable connectivity – DipJar never has to worry about an outage.”
“KORE plays a critical role in helping DipJar pioneer and innovate in the charitable electronic payments space,” said KORE CEO Alex Brisbourne. “In a growing cashless retail environment, DipJar is helping increase compensation for the hardworking people in the service industry, while also making it easy and convenient for consumers to make charitable donations.”
DipJar currently has 600 electronic tip jars across the country and plans to deploy more in the next year. DipJar is able to remotely monitor and manage the connectivity of all of their jars, as well as location, through KORE PRiSMPro. As chronicled in a recent article from BostInno’s Dylan Martin, this holiday season DipJar is partnering with the Salvation Army to offer select Salvation Army locations and partner retailers in Southern California, Colorado, and Wisconsin who cannot support the iconic bell-ringing campaign a cashless option for red kettle donations by providing 100 branded digital tip jars. The Salvation Army is able to use DipJar’s backend dashboard to track any progress in real-time.
Learn more about DipJar at www.DipJar.com.
KORE is the world’s largest managed communications solutions provider specializing in Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine to Machine (M2M) markets. Providing unified control and management for cellular and satellite network service delivery in more than 180 countries worldwide, KORE empowers its application, hardware and wireless operator partners to efficiently deliver M2M solutions for connected devices across the globe. M2M applications in industries as diverse as healthcare, utilities, enterprise IT, transaction processing and fleet management rely on the KORE network to deliver operational efficiencies and cost-savings. KORE offers a range of technologies — including GSM, HSPA, CDMA EV-DO and LTE, as well as satellite services — that ensure the greatest possible reliability and coverage.
For more information, please visit www.koretelematics.com.
DipJar enables cashless generosity via the first-ever donation box and tip jar designed specifically for credit and debit cards. DipJar combines the ease of paying with plastic with the generosity of in-person donations and tips. Customers simply “dip” their credit cards to give a fixed, pre-set gratuity. DipJars are independent of point-of-sale systems and are 3G-connected, offering beneficiaries a plug-and-play experience.
All products/services and trademarks mentioned in this release are the properties of their respective companies.
KORE Contacts: DipJar Contacts:
Rob Skinner or Maggie Fairchild Jordan Bar Am, COO
MSLGROUP Boston firstname.lastname@example.org


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The UK water industry launched a national scheme on 25 January to cut plastic bottle use by tens of millions each year, while increasing the availability of free drinking water.
Water companies across the UK will join forces with the Refill campaign to create a national network of high street retailers, coffee shops, businesses and local authorities offering stations for the public to refill their water bottles. These pioneering water companies are Anglian Water (Norwich), Northumbrian Water (Durham), South West Water (Cornwall) and Bristol Water (Bristol).
We've seen lots of retailers pledging their own committments to the plastic revolution over the past weeks, but this is the first indication that workable alternatives are being embedded into everyday life. This shows we're moving towards getting new systems in place that provide real solutions to the plastic challenge we are facing, and it indicates that change can be embedded and sustained.


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Port management software firm Innovez One is set to launch its new Counter Service Digital Platform to help automate last-mile delivery of launch operations at Marina South Pier (MCP) and West Coast Pier (WCP) in Singapore, introducing a contactless counter services application to replace a range of current manual operations.
The project is one of 11 Joint Industry Projects recently chosen by the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) as part of the Smart Port Challenge 2020, and is being conducted in collaboration with companies including GAC Group, Bernhard Schulte, HHH Marine Launch, DM Sea Logistics (part of DM Group Services), and KanLian Ferry.
The trial will first be conducted in West Coast Pier (WCP) before being extended into Marina South Pier (MCP) at a later date, Innovez One says.
Currently, counter services at MCP and WCP link calling ships with essential services such as shipping agents, crew change, ship supplies and chandlery, ship inspections, and bunker surveyors. Hundreds of transactions are managed every day, the majority of which are still manual.
The Counter Service Digital Platform will aim to digitalise a number of these core services to improve efficiency, including passenger management and loose cargo management. An open API will be made available for data exchange and transactions with any relevant systems, to ensure interoperability.
“The launch and implementation of the Counter Service Digital Platform is a significant step in using digital solutions to tackle manual, traditional processes. By automating and digitising the operations at MCP and WCP, we will be able to unlock tremendous productivity and efficiency gains, enhancing value and reducing the costs of operating the piers,” said David Yeo, group CEO and founder of Innovez One.
“Many ports around the world continue to rely on manual, paper-based processes or Excel spreadsheets and are missing out on the opportunities of digitalisation. As one of the world’s leading maritime hubs, the MPA is demonstrating what can be achieved in embracing innovation that can drive efficiencies, sustainability, and improved commercial success.”


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Apple Becomes First US Company To Touch The Market Value $ 3 Trillion
In short, Apple became the world's first $ 3 trillion company on Monday, beating out companies like Morgan Stanley, Netflix, Walt Disney, Goldman Sachs, Ford, Walmart, and Boeing. In order to make you understand better, this market capitalization exceeded India's gross domestic product (GDP) as reported by the World Bank in 2020.
The spike in Apple's stock value on Tuesday occurred around 12:15 PM IST (1:45 PM ET in the US) when the stock hit $ 182.86 per share. Multiply that by Apple's 16.4 billion outstanding shares for the world's first company to hit $ 3 trillion. However, shortly after reaching the border, Apple's market capitalization collapsed below and did not rise again until the market closed, otherwise requiring the company to acquire the title of the world's first company. which is publicly traded with a value of $ 3 trillion.
Apple's huge success, even for a second, can be attributed to the success of the iPhone, which has been a stellar product for the company and also a dairy cow since its inception. Other products like Mac, iPad, and software services have also made important contributions in recent years.
In the post-Covid era, Apple has largely come forward as a strong brand. This meant that he didn't have to face many difficulties, at least as much as his opponents. But there were still challenges that Apple CEO Tim Cook warned against. The biggest challenge has been the disruption of the supply chain, which delayed the iPhone's launch last year, while this year's issues have led to premature stocks of the iPhone 13.
"We are optimistic for the future, especially as we see strong demand for new products," Cook told analysts at the time.
Cook was the driving force behind every step Apple took after Steve Jobs. Three years ago, Apple became the number one company in the world with a market capitalization of $ 1,000 billion, whereas two years ago, this capitalization rose to $ 2,000 billion. But Apple's arrival as a $ 3 trillion company is a prime example of how an innovation-driven company can bounce back from near bankruptcy in 1997.
"Apple has focused on mass-market products like the iPhone, AirPods, iPad, iPod, and now AirTags. And not just hardware, Apple services like Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Arcade make it easy for users to access music, games, and more." But because Apple required a user to subscribe to access these services, its service business grew rapidly. At one point, Apple realized that it had to stop not only counting hardware sales but also considering services.


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Tag: Subrata Roy, N Srinivasan, BCCI, Gurunath Meiyappan, IPL, CSK, Chennai Super Kings, Cricket Kolkata: Blaming N Srinivasan for the... ...http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/srinivasan-does-not-keep-on-his-commitments-says-subrata-roy_774164.html
A few months after the termination of Sahara Pune Warriors from the Indian Premier League(IPL), Sahara India Pariwar chairman Subrata Roy on Friday... ...http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/subrata-roy-sahara-blames-n-srinivasan-for-split-bitter-row-with-bcci-president-board-of-control-for-cricket-in-india/1/327132.html
Cricket may not be a money-spinner for Sahara, but it gets the group something more valuable and critical for its mainstay finance business -... ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/betting-big-on-the-country-s-religion-113112101222_1.html
The controversies associated with IPL are unfortunate but Pepsi will continue to be the title sponsor of T20 league, says PepsiCo Chairman and CEO... ...http://www.deccanherald.com/content/368526/controversies-associated-ipl-unfortunate-nooyi.html
Sahara India Parivar had in February withdrawn its sponsorship of the national cricket team and ownership of the Pune Warriors IPL franchise due to... ...http://post.jagran.com/bcci-invites-tenders-for-sponsorship-rights-of-indian-team-1383986028
Sahara Pune Warriors is th IPL team...


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Sean Mack Quoted in Article on Class Action 'Avalanche' Coming for CBD Industry
Sean Mack quoted in the Law360 article, “Class Action 'Avalanche' Coming For CBD Industry.” The article explains that class actions have been popping up against CBD companies in federal courts. Attorneys are explaining that this is the beginning of consumer litigation against cannabis businesses.
"Someone files one, and then it's, 'Jump on the bandwagon,'" said Sean Mack, co-chair of Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PC's litigation practice.
Compared to marijuana products, which are only legal in certain states and cannot be transported across state lines, CBD claims are more conducive to a class action, Mack of Pashman Stein said.
"Your class base, the number of consumers, is certainly much bigger, and has the potential to be nationwide," he said. "Each particular dispensary is only serving the population around it."
Letters like the ones the FDA sent to some CBD companies earlier this year got a lot of news coverage, which could inspire consumer class actions, Mack added. Curaleaf Inc. was one of the companies that received an FDA letter about its marketing, and it wasn't long before a few proposed classes of shareholders hit the company with lawsuits over the letter's impact on stock prices.
To read the full article, please click here.


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A MAN has been charged over the armed robbery of a Spearwood jewellery store last week.
Police will allege the man entered the store about 12.15pm last Wednesday at the Phoenix Shopping Centre armed with a gun and a tyre lever.
He allegeldy threatened staff as he pointed the gun in their direction, smashed a glass display cabinet with the tyre lever and stole a quantity of jewellery.
As the man fled from the store it will be further alleged he brandished the gun at innocent shoppers.
The 22-year-old Brentwood man was arrested yesterday at his home address.
He has been charged with armed robbery and being armed in a way that may cause fear.
He will appear in the Fremantle Magistrates Court today.


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Tryon Arts & Crafts School’s Holiday Gift Show opens Friday
Published 4:17 pm Thursday, November 9, 2017
The opening of TACS’ annual Holiday Gift Show, which will feature artwork and hand-made crafts from regional artists, will be on Nov. 10 from 6 – 8 p.m. at 373 Harmon Field Road in Tryon.
Bring the whole family, as the evening will be a festive one. Santa will be available to hear gift requests, there will be music by Phil and Gaye Johnson, seasonal cookies and hors d’oeuvres, and a bounty of arts and crafts to purchase for gifts.
The main tree will feature “Lil’ Angel” ornaments made by both TACS and local students, the sales of which will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina. Guests are also invited to bring an unwrapped toy for an elementary school child to put under the tree for Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry to distribute at their annual December Holiday Program Distribution Party.
The show will run through Dec. 23. Merchandise is cash and carry, so it will be constantly refreshed with new crafts to purchase. New Lil Angels Ornaments will also be coming in.
TACS’ holiday hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
For more information, please contact the office at 828-859-8323 or visit www.TryonArtsandCrafts.org.
– submitted by Cathy Fischer


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TEREX Trucks will be hoping home advantage pays off when the firm arrives at ScotPlant with its Motherwell-built TA400 and TA300 articulated haulers.
The haulers are sold and utilsed around the world but have their roots firmly in Scotland.
Managing director Paul Douglas explained, “Scotland is the home of Terex Trucks, so we’re excited to be exhibiting once again at the leading construction show in the country.
“Scotland is known for the quality of its engineering and at Terex Trucks we are proud of our Scottish roots. We are looking forward to exhibiting the Gen 10 TA400 and TA300 so we can discuss our latest innovations and investments with customers.”
The company’s official UK dealer is TDL Equipment. TDL sales director John Black added, “TDL Equipment is proud to be the UK mainland distributor for Terex Trucks. ScotPlant is an important fixture in our calendar because it’s a chance for us to meet with existing and potential future customers to showcase the latest Gen 10 articulated haulers.”
The 38-tonne TA400 has been designed for major construction projects, quarries and mine work. Powered by a six-cylinder Scania DC13 engine, Terex Trucks said the hauler offers “superior traction and a power-to-weight ratio to match, ensuring material is moved quickly, irrespective of weather conditions and terrain”.
The 28-tonne TA300 is described as a “proven performer in tough applications” including quarries, infrastructure and commercial projects. The TA300 has a five-cylinder Scania DC9 engine. The machine comes fitted with a transmission retardation system, in combination with an engine exhaust brake, which the firm added supports the fully enclosed oil-cooled multidisc brakes for “maximum protection”.


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PVH Corp. is expanding its philanthropic investments to developing countries.
The New York-based company, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, among others, announced plans Tuesday to allocate $1 million of its 2014 commitment to Save the Children to support programs in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next three years.
The funding followed PVH’s recent work in Ethiopia, where the company is building a woven shirt factory in an industrial park in Hawassa, as well as sourcing in Kenya and branded product sales through various partners in the region.
“Our philanthropic mission is to support the needs of women and children around the world. We are working to drive positive impacts through our efforts to create a ‘best-in-class’ apparel manufacturing industry in Ethiopia, improve access to high quality early childhood education and provide essential employment training,” said Emanuel Chirico, PVH chairman and chief executive officer. “Today’s children will be our future CEOs, employees and customers, and this investment allows us to better support Save the Children’s efforts to create lasting changes in the lives of children in need.”
Save the Children focuses on vulnerable young people ages 15 to 24 and PVH’s investment will support programs on youth employment training as well as early childhood care and development for children ages 4 to 6.
“PVH has been a committed partner to Save the Children for more than a decade,” said Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children “We are so grateful for their support of children from preschoolers to young adults.”
Last month, PVH released its 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report, noting that its long-term vision for Ethiopia includes a truly integrated vertical supply chain comprising all stages of apparel production, from growing cotton to dyeing fabrics to sewing the final garments. To that end, the company and its partners are approaching investment in the local communities around Hawassa Industrial Park by addressing potential challenges from the start, instead of retrofitting solutions.


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This unique hotel superyacht will set sail in Saudi Arabia
Complete with two helipads, a beach club and Japanese zen garden…
Ultra-luxury Aman Resorts are teaming up with Cruise Saudi to launch Project Sama: a floating hotel designed on a 183-metre superyacht that will provide a luxurious new way to explore Saudi Arabia’s incredible coastline.
Those hoping to bag themselves a cabin on the luxe new floating hotel will have a little while to wait, as the project isn’t expected to launch until 2025, but we have been given a first indicator of what to expect.
The name itself, which means tranquility in Sanskrit, sets the tone for a stay that’s all about privacy, luxury and space. There’s just 50 suites onboard, each with a private balcony where guests can soak up the stunning sea views as they sail across the coastline. Alongside typical cruise features such as an all-day dining restaurant, club lounge and spa, Project Sama will also feature one-of-a-kind amenities such as a Japanese zen garden, two helipads and even a beach club, where guests will benefit from direct access to the sea from the stern of the ship.
“Project Sama will provide transformative experiences within the revered Aman setting and service, which is unlike any other yacht experience, ultimately creating a whole new category in on the water discovery,” explained Aman chairman and chief executive, Vlad Doronin at the announcement last month.
Fawaz Farooqui, managing director of Cruise Saudi added, “We look forward to working with Aman in reaching our vision of Saudi becoming a premier global destination and immersing our guests in diverse nature, rich culture and heritage through an unforgettable journey that is truly unique to Saudi Arabia.”
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Saudi Arabia has already entered a partnership with Aman to bring the brand’s new, millennial-focused Janu Resorts to the Kingdom in 2023, with a further two Aman properties set to come to the region thereafter.


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By Jon Swartz, USA TODAY
SAN FRANCISCO After a recession-induced lull, the tech industry is back playing a familiar game: Let's Make A Deal.
Just last week, SAP plunked down $5.8 billion on database maker Sybase in the biggest tech deal of the year. A recent flurry of wheeling-and-dealing included IBM, which gobbled up Cast Iron Systems to bolster its standingin Internet-based computing. Apple nabbed Siri, maker of a voice-recognition application, and Intrinsity, a chip designer. Hewlett-Packard snapped up Palm for $1.2 billion. And Salesforce.com acquired Jigsaw, maker of a Web-based business address book, for $142 million.
In this season of mergers and acquisitions, there are bargains aplenty. And many start-ups — especially in hot markets such as mobile and cloud computing — love it.
"Being in the right space definitely makes things exciting," says Krishna Subramanian, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Mobclix, a 2-year-old start-up that does mobile advertising for apps. It's been approached by a handful of would-be buyers in the past six months, he says.
Milo.com, a 2-year-old local-shopping search service, has been approached by several potential acquirers the past four months, and by about 40 venture capitalists about possible investments, says Jack Abraham, its founder and CEO. Venture capital "and M&A drive each other," he says.
Through the first quarter of 2010, the number of tech mergers and acquisitions announced globally swelled to 628, from 405in the same period a year ago. The average value of deals in which the purchase price was disclosed also mushroomed, to $68 million from $44 million, says Ernst & Young. Acquisitions "really matter to us," Google Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said in an earnings call in April. Google acquired Picnik, On2 Technologies and Aardvark in the past few months to "build on (Google's) existing focus areas and to bring new talent and new technology."
The rise in activity reflects a return to normal after a bruising recession all but killed the appetite of tech companies to make deals. Low interest rates have helped drive up tech shares, fueling the M&A frenzy.
"A year ago, it was difficult to sell your company during such a distressed economy," says Rob Fisher, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers' Technology Transaction Services. "Most companies shelved their M&A activities and concentrated on restructuring operations and conserving cash."
Today, Fisher says, "If you think of the top 10 companies in tech, they have nearly $250 billion in cash."
Large tech companies are sitting on mountains of cash: Cisco has nearly $40 billion in cash reserves; Microsoft, $37 billion; and Apple, $23 billion. They understand that if they don't put the money to use on deals, shareholders will start lobbying for dividends.
Not that companies have a choice. The frenetic pace of the tech industry — especially in such burgeoning areas as mobile, cloud computing and specialized search — has made it imperative that companies stay at the front edge of emerging tech or risk being left in the dust.
"The tech landscape is evolving at a fantastic pace," says Nat Burgess, president of Corum Group, a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm. "Small, agile companies are developing tomorrow's solutions, and M&A is the only way for big companies to keep up."
What buyers want
Tech titans aren't just filling their shopping carts with start-ups from fledgling markets such as mobile and cloud computing. Companies in localized search, such as Milo.com and Foursquare, also are creating buzz as potential acquisition targets. Foursquare drew interest from Yahoo, Facebook and Microsoft, but so far, remains independent.
Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley declined to comment.
Many deals are initiated by companies in the same industries to cement a No. 1 or No. 2 marketing position, or to extend their products and service to new countries, says John Bender, a high-tech consultant who, as an HP executive, was in charge of planning and executing its $19 billion merger with Compaq Computer.
At the same time, Chinese companies, flush with cash and mandated by their government to develop intellectual property, are expected to step up acquisitions this year.
"It definitely feels like things are heating up," says Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote, a maker of software for storing data. "Companies that cut back over the past few years now are feeling they need to catch up and acquire technology."
The Silicon Valley start-up is getting more overtures from potential acquirers — "They're willing to dance," Libin says — but is not looking to sell. Rather, it's looking to buy companies and form strategic alliances. Like the big boys, Evernote, too, is in the M&A hunt.
Buyers are paying more for small, innovative companies in high-growth areas with long-term potential, says Joe Steger, who studies tech mergers for Ernst & Young.
In March, there were 278 deals, up from 220 in March 2009, according to Corum Group. While the average size of deals more than doubled, to $274 million, the average annual revenue of the company bought dropped to $22 million from $65 million.
Plunging valuations have also made takeover targets more attractive to buyers. A year ago, for example, Palm was valued at $2 billion.
"We are seeing a return to normal," Fisher says, though not as frenzied as 2006 and 2007, when the availability of cheap credit spurred buying binges.
Ginning M&A action is an uptick in initial public stock offerings and VC investments in tech firms. This year is shaping up as the best for tech IPOs since 2007, when there were 59. Already, a dozen venture-backed tech IPOs have been filed — and venture capitalists such as Geoff Yang, a partner at Redpoint Ventures, expect more than 50.
"When you're looking to sell a company, and you have an IPO alternative, the pricing is going to be better," says Mike Kwatinetz, a general partner at Azure Capital. He says three of the companies Azure has invested in have been approached multiple times by potential buyers. Kwatinetz declined to name them.
VCs invested $4.7 billion in U.S. tech firms in the first quarter of 2010, up from $3.4 billion in the same time period a year ago, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association.
"When VCs open up their checkbook after a bad economy, that is when small companies emerge and become big, like an Apple or Google," Milo's Abraham says. "They become monsters in a short time."
There also is the domino effect, when the launch of a product — Apple's iPad, for example — prompts someone else to make an acquisition to keep up. "(IPad) may have influenced HP to buy Palm," Kwatinetz says.
For years, people looked on big tech mergers as they would a high-octane Hollywood marriage: doomed to fail.
The debate escalated and spilled into a Delaware court in 2002 when Walter Hewlett, the son of HP co-founder WilliamHewlett, contested the merger of HP and Compaq. (The deal went through, and the new HP eventually emerged stronger.)
Back then, the reasoning went that tech's most valuable assets are largely intellectual. Many of those assets, in the form of people, tend to leave companies once they've merged. What's more, tech cycles move so fast, the time spent integrating two huge organizations often results in delayed products. And delayed products in a hyper-competitive industry usually open the door for competitors to swoop in and swipe customers. Complicating matters, the cultures of tech companies tend to be strong, making it tricky to meld them.
Until this decade, large-scale tech mergers were not successful, says David Yoffie, a professor at Harvard Business School. Most efforts were about plunging into new business areas, stretching resources, rather than consolidating operations and building market share, he says.
Despite a rise in tech M&A, some company boards remain wary, says consultant Bender. " 'How bad could this deal go?' is a common question," he says.
The aversion to megadeals remains largely intact — the notable exception being the deft deals of Oracle, which gobbled up major rivals such as PeopleSoft and Siebel Systems, creating a database superpower. Emboldened, Oracle bought Sun in a dramatic move to add hardware to its software portfolio and create an all-in-one tech shop.
"The future of computing is about providing customers solutions from one vendor," Oracle CEO Larry Ellison said in a phone interview.
When it closed its $7.4 billion acquisition of Sun in January, Ellison proclaimed Oracle expects to squeeze a $1.5 billion profit from Sun in the next year.
"Oracle did a remarkably good job of consolidating an industry," Yoffie says. "And HP-Compaq, it can be argued, was about consolidating, creating economies of scale."
The multibillion-dollar bets are worth it, when you consider the vast size, and opportunities, of the markets they're targeting.
IBM predicts the cloud-computing market will mushroom to $126 billion by 2012 from $47 billion in 2008.
HP, which dove into the smartphone market with its proposed purchase of Palm, foresees a $100 billion industry.
For many of tech's biggest players, acquisitions are fueling a surge in revenue, says Amy Wohl, editor of the technology blog, Amy Wohl's Opinions.
Cisco's acquisition of video-communications giant Tandberg for about $3 billion last year should account for about $200 million in revenue for its current quarter, it says.
IBM has poured $22 billion into the acquisition of nearly 100 companies — many of them smaller, innovative software firms — since 2003.
Big Blue, in turn, has wielded its global reach in 170 countries to market, sell and distribute the offerings of its acquired properties, driving up revenue, says Deborah Magid, IBM's director of strategy for software. (HP has announced a similar intent with its purchase of Palm.)
If there is any doubt about IBM's future commitment, consider this: At its annual investor meeting last week, CEO Sam Palmisano said the company will spend about $20 billion on acquisitions in the next five years.
With so much pent-up demand for acquisitions, The Dating Game is also back for another run.
"There's this feeding-frenzy effect," says Sam Altman, CEO of Loopt, a leading mobile-based location service. "After you've been starving for a long time, you're really anxious to eat."
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GateHouse, Triton Digital partner on audio monetization
In 2017, GateHouse Media reporters from across the country began curating audio content for embedding into online news stories, including news actualities, recorded interviews, point of view soundbites, and podcasts from its reporting talent.
The national audio monetization strategy then began to unfold with the addition of Triton Digital. In April 2018, GateHouse entered a partnership with Triton Digital to use their programmatic audio advertising marketplace, a2x, as well as Triton’s SSP, Yield-Op.
GateHouse has created "collections" of audio around unique, hard-to-reach demographics such as local news consumers, high school sports supporters, Division 1 college sports fans and local political and statehouse news and opinion listeners across over 100 podcast and on-demand audio programs.
The Triton partnership allows for the targeting of these consumers in addition to the usual geograph- ic and age categories allowing for the simplification of the audio advertising buy across the GateHouse audio network.
Keys to the strategy include outfitting GateHouse newsrooms with proper audio equipment to produce quality programming, creating shows specific to local market needs and developing a culture of multimedia within traditional print newsrooms.
GateHouse currently has 34 audio studios across America with sights on building another 30 in 2018. The studios are designed to develop regional synergies, statewide news networks and comprehensive story packages that include all aspects of digital programming.
“The integration of digital audio into online news stories will undoubtedly provide a rich, unique, and increasingly engaging experience for consumers of that news,” said Stephanie Donovan, Triton Digital’s senior vice president, publisher development, North America.


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Published on May 4th, 2012 | by Zachary Shahan0
Green Shipping with uShip
May 4th, 2012 by Zachary Shahan
I’ve written about green shipping options a few times here on CleanTechnica, but there’s still a huge lack of green shipping options and, thus, a ton of potential in this field. uShip is basically doing what Shiply does — more efficiently connecting shippers or potential shippers who have extra space in their vehicles with common people who need stuff shipped. It’s benefits the environment, the shippers (they get more money), and the customers (they can pay less). But here’s some more detail on this green shipping option and uShip from Gas2:
uShip Offers A Greener Way To Ship (via Gas 2.0)
Transportation is big business in America, and there are millions of delivery trucks criss-crossing this great nation. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to making trucking greener. Anti-idling systems, compressed natural gas engines, and aerodynamic trailers are all great ideas, and companies…
Check out our new 93-page EV report.
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Keep up to date with all the hottest cleantech news by subscribing to our (free) cleantech daily newsletter or weekly newsletter, or keep an eye on sector-specific news by getting our (also free) solar energy newsletter, electric vehicle newsletter, or wind energy newsletter.


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It’s time to ‘freak out’: Hard Mtn Dew drops first commercial
As Hard Mtn Dew achieves availability in seven states, the coveted spiked soda unveils its first-ever campaign.
Hard Mtn Dew is here, and its commercial debut is sure to create a buzz. Directed by Hungry Man’s David Laden, the six-video series demonstrates the lengths fans are willing to go to get their hands on a can.
One six-second spot shows an employee unloading a shipment of Hard Mtn Dew to a liquor store, when a man in business attire comes out of nowhere to grab one. He sprints through a piece of glass two other workers are holding, shattering it.
Another features the same businessman proudly holding his Hard Mtn Dew that he worked so hard to acquire. Suddenly, a woman in yoga gear leaps down from the top of the liquor store to steal it.
The campaign comes as Hard Mtn Dew celebrates retail availability in its seventh state, Missouri. Missouri now joins other states Tennessee, Florida, Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Minnesota that can legally distribute the drink. According to Beverage Digest data, the drink will be available in nine states by the end of the summer.
Hard Mtn Dew currently comes in four familiar flavors – Original, Baja Blast, Black Cherry and Watermelon – but with the added edge of 5% alcohol. It contains no caffeine or added sugar and packs 100 calories per serving.
The highly-anticipated drink first arrived on the scene in February, causing cases to fly off the shelves wherever they were sold. Since its inception in 1940, the PepsiCo-owned brand has never been packaged with alcohol, although according to Beverage Digest editor Duane Stanford it was initially introduced as a mixer.
This new ‘hard’ version is created in partnership with Boston Beer, which also manufactures Truly Hard Seltzer.
“With this release, it’s almost as if Mtn Dew is going back to its roots,” Stanford told The Drum. “Aside from an established brand identity, they have a built-in audience who will, at least, be willing to try it. Getting them to buy the product repeatedly, though, will be the key. Only time will tell.”
That core consumer demographic, Stanford says, is largely made up of young males between their mid-30s and under, who hunt, fish and play video games. The brand has previously nailed hitting these demographics by launching certain affinity products, from Mtn Dew Game Fuel to camouflage soda cans.
Despite its historic release, Hard Mtn Dew’s rollout will be slower than what fans would like. These lulls are largely due to the laws surrounding alcohol distribution, which vary state-by-state and each require alcohol distributors to obtain certain federal permits and business licenses, according to Stanford.
“They’re also learning the business as they go,” he said. “Alcohol is a new territory for them, so they should take a slower, measured approach with its launch.”
Hard Mtn Dew’s commercials will run across streaming, digital and social media in states where it is currently sold, although the campaign is expected to expand as more states are announced.


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Samsung will be hosting the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 this week, on February 1. The South Korean tech major will launch the Samsung Galaxy S23 series at the event. This flagship lineup is expected to feature the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphones.
All three variants of Galaxy S23 are likely to be powered by the latest flagship processors. Just like last year, the standard S23 could be a compact flagship and the S23 Plus could be a regular-sized device. The Galaxy S23 Ultra could be a premium flagship device with a bigger screen, an integrated S-Pen, and other premium features.
Samsung is already accepting reservations for the new flagship series in India. A Galaxy Pre-reserve VIP Pass costs Rs 1,999 (refundable) and the company is providing Rs 5,000 in rewards to consumers who register for pre-order reservations. The launch event will start at 11:30 pm IST on February 1. Let’s see what we know about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 series.
What you have been waiting for is on its way! Meet The New Galaxy on Feb 2 at 1 PM only on #SamsungLive and get exclusive offers. Pre-reserve now: https://t.co/BOMsQjVdBA. pic.twitter.com/cnVXIYJ003
— Samsung India (@SamsungIndia) January 28, 2023
MySmartPrice in collaboration with tipster Yogesh Brar leaked the India price of the upcoming Galaxy S23 series. According to this report, it looks like the S23 lineup will certainly cost Indian users more than last year’s S22 series.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 will reportedly start at Rs 79,999, the Galaxy S23 Plus will cost Rs 89,999 for the base model, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra will start at Rs 1,14,999. Last year, the Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra were launched for a starting price of Rs 72,999, Rs 84,999, and Rs 1,09,999 respectively.
In the US market, the Galaxy S23 series will reportedly cost the same as the Galaxy S22 series. GSMArena cited a Verizon document that was shared on Reddit to report that the Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra will cost $799.99, $999.99, and $1199.99, respectively.
The Galaxy S23 series might not deviate much from Galaxy S22‘s design language. However, since the series is expected to feature a new camera system, the bump on the back could get bigger. Renders from OnLeaks show individually-embedded camera sensors, which look a lot like the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
And now comes your very first and very early look at the vanilla #Samsung #GalaxyS23! (360° video + crispy sharp 5K renders + dimensions) #FutureSquad
On behalf of @digitindia 👉🏻 https://t.co/XEl4Ti63CV pic.twitter.com/HlGz1vbSKg
— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) September 27, 2022
So #FutureSquad… Guess who brings you the very first and very early look at the much anticipated #Samsung #GalaxyS23Plus?! (360° video + stunning 5K renders + dimensions)
On behalf of @Smartprix 👉🏻 https://t.co/JHuOI4o393
You’re welcome…😏 pic.twitter.com/JAYeFvyJk3
— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) September 27, 2022
And finally, here comes your very first and very early look at the #Samsung #GalaxyS23Ultra! (360° video + gorgeous 5K renders + dimensions) #FutureSquad
On behalf of @Smartprix again 👉🏻 https://t.co/bxwWjrEZoh pic.twitter.com/VvevV1wiPO
— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) September 28, 2022
Tipster Ice Universe also shared pictures of protective cases for the lineup, which also confirms the back design. However, it means, the 2023 Ultra model will look exactly like this year’s model. However, the S23 Ultra could get a bit heavier due to extra metal parts.
S23, S23+ (S23 Pro is the wrong name in the picture) and S23 Ultra protective cases have been introduced. pic.twitter.com/bKmDCHem2b
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) October 16, 2022
The signature colours of the Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra have finally been leaked online. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s signature colour will be green, while the same for the Galaxy S23 will be light gold/pink gold. Pink will be the signature colour of the Galaxy S23+. All the variants will also be available in other colours, but these colours mentioned above will be their signature colours, i.e., they will be highlighted in the company’s marketing and promotions.
iPhone 13 Pro — Samsung Galaxy S23 pic.twitter.com/aNH0jodJXX
— Ian Zelbo (@ianzelbo) January 12, 2023
According to Ice Universe, the Galaxy S23 will feature a 6.1-inch 1080×2340 screen, the Galaxy S23 Plus will have a 6.6-inch 1080×2340 screen, and the S23 Ultra will have a 6.8-inch 1440×3088 screen. These screen sizes and resolutions are the same as the current Galaxy S22 lineup. However, it is possible that Samsung decides to give the display an upgrade. It could be in terms of brightness levels or some other minor update. He also claims that the bezel thickness of Galaxy S23 could increase to ensure durability.
Tipster RGcloudS on Twitter claims that the entire S23 lineup will receive an upgraded fingerprint reader. It could be made possible with the latest Qualcomm 3D Sonic Max, which is 10 times larger than the 3D Sonic Gen 2 scanner. The Sonic Max measures 20 mm x 30 mm and can scan multiple fingerprints at once.
S23U hardware upgrades~
– HP2 main, 3J2 front
same uw tel peris
– QC Gen2 AC version
– M12+ LTPO 3 💎 Blue
– UFS 4.0
– Blueetooth 5.3
– 3D sonic gen 3
– WiFi 7
Some deeper details
— RGcloudS (@RGcloudS) November 19, 2022
Last year, Samsung launched the Galaxy S22 series in India with the Snapdragon chipset and Europe got the Exynos version. Reports suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S23 series will be Qualcomm-exclusive with the lineup featuring the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. However, another report suggests that Samsung is developing a new Exynos chipset, which could make its way to the S23 series. We will have to wait a bit more to get clarity on the chipset.
According to a leak, Samsung will be launching all the models in the Galaxy S23 lineup with at least 256 GB storage. According to tipster Ahmed Qwaider on Twitter, Samsung has bid farewell to the 128 GB base model. He claims that Galaxy S23 and S23+ will come with at least 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage, whereas the Galaxy S23 Ultra will come with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB/ 512 GB/ 1 TB onboard storage.
⭕Exclusively & officially🤩
Good news for Samsung fans
It’s amazing to be
Galaxy S23 8Ram + 256G🔥
Galaxy S23+ 8Ram +256G🔥
Galaxy S23 Ultra 12R+256G+512G+1T
I’ve been waiting for this move for a long time
A very good move from Samsung thanks @technizoconcept pic.twitter.com/7EZbA6tyjK
— Ahmed Qwaider (@AhmedQwaider888) January 1, 2023
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could get a 200 MP primary camera sensor on the back, an upgrade over the 108 MP camera on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Some reports claim this sensor could be the older ISOCELL HP1 lens, some suggest it to be the ISOCELL HP3 sensor, and others suggest that Samsung will use the ISOCELL HP2 sensor in the Ultra model. Samsung launched the 200 MP ISOCELL HP2 earlier this month for “flagship smartphone cameras beyond pro level”. This development suggests that the Galaxy S23 series, or at least the S23 Ultra, will feature the new flagship camera sensor.
Introducing the ISOCELL HP2, the ultimate 200MP image sensor for flagship smartphone cameras beyond pro-level. Get ready to experience epic details and superior low-light photography. #MorePixelsEpicDetails #InspiredByISOCELL https://t.co/pjSZjerJ6p pic.twitter.com/YMEIbVEm2v
— Samsung Semiconductor (@SamsungDSGlobal) January 17, 2023
Tipster Ice Universe has been claiming that the 200 MP camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra will be the ISOCELL HP2 sensor, even before it was launched. Ice Universe claimed in another tweet that this sensor will have 0.6μm sized pixels and a larger aperture of f/1.7. This means more light can enter the sensor and result in better low-light pictures. As per the rumours, the phone could capture 200 MP, 50 MP, and 12.5 MP resolution pictures via pixel-binning and will be able to shoot 8K footage at 30 FPS.
Do not believe any imaginary news, everything is subject to me.
100% confirmed, S23 Ultra main camera:
< 200MP，0.6μm，1/1.3″，F1.7 >
It’s only slightly bigger than the iPhone 14 Pro and smaller than other Android flagship phone sensors in 2023. pic.twitter.com/UeHH5C6aJo
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) September 10, 2022
The primary camera sensors on the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23 Plus are expected to get an upgrade and could feature the S22 Ultra’s 108 MP sensor. As per the report, the telephoto and ultrawide cameras will not get an update next year. The S23 and S23 Plus could use a 10 MP telephoto camera and 12 MP ultrawide lens like their predecessors. The S23 Ultra will also keep its 10 MP 10x optical zoom camera.
Last year, the Galaxy S22 Ultra got a 40 MP selfie camera, but the other two models did not get a resolution bump. This could change next year. According to GalaxyClub, the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus could feature a 12 MP front camera, which will mark a resolution upgrade over the 10 MP camera first introduced in 2019’s Galaxy S10. Another report from GalaxyClub suggests that the Galaxy S23 Ultra will also feature a 12 MP selfie camera, same as the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus.
As far as the video recording capability of the upcoming Galaxy S23 series is concerned, tipster IceUniverse claims that it will be able to record 8K videos at 30 fps. This will be an fps jump for Samsung Galaxy smartphone as the current S-series flagship (Galaxy S22) can shoot 8K at 24 fps. Also, the Galaxy S23 series might also support 4K video recording at 120 fps.
S22 8K 24fps→S23 8K 30fps
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) December 9, 2022
Samsung could also adopt satellite connectivity for the Galaxy S23 series, just like Apple did with its latest iPhone 14 lineup. This means the new Galaxy flagship will be able to handle emergency messages when the phone is out of traditional cell signal. According to the Korean site ET News, Samsung will team up with Iridium Communications and its 66 low-orbit satellites to provide SOS service via SMS and low-resolution image sharing.
Multiple reports have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could get the same battery as the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which hosts a 5,000 mAh capacity. The new chipset could help the device get longer battery life. The standard Galaxy S23 is reported to get a 5 per cent increased battery capacity, marking it up at 3,900 mAh.
The Galaxy S23 Plus could get a 4,700 mAh battery, up from the 4,500 mAh battery of the Galaxy S22 Plus. The new lineup could get the same charging capability as its predecessor. The Galaxy S23 could feature 25 W fast charging, meanwhile the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra could get 45 W fast charging support.


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Bailey’s Choice Dog Treats, LLC has issued a voluntary recall for their chicken jerky treats due to possible Salmonella contamination.
The following products are included in the recall:
Packages of chicken treats in various sizes marked with lot number #132881 and expiration date Feb. 2014, along with five-ounce bags of chicken jerky with a lot number of “Jun 5 2013.”
According to a press release from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black is alerting consumers in Georgia that the recalled products may be contaminated with Salmonella and should be discarded immediately.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors are in the process of verifying that the recalled dog treats have been removed from sale at local retail stores and warehouses.
At the time of this report, no illnesses have been reported.
If you or your pet had contact with the recalled product, you are advised to watch for symptoms that may develop. Common symptoms associated with Salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. If you, your pet, or a family member is experiencing these symptoms, you are urged to contact a medical professional.
Image courtesy of Bailey's Choice Dog Treats
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Apple’s family of MacBook Air ultraportables have been some of the company’s most popular notebooks since they were revamped last year — when the 11-inch model was introduced. But for some, they just don’t come big enough. According to a new report, however, Apple is gearing up to launch a 15-inch model.
If you’re used to a larger notebook, even the 13-inch MacBook Air can seem a little small, despite its high-resolution display. But according to the Japanese blog Macotakara, the Cupertino team already has a 15-inch MacBook Air in its testing phase, and it won’t be long before we see it in shops. Here’s a badly translated excerpt from the report:
“…according to asian source, Apple seems already to have finished to develop MacBook Air 15″ LCD test component to add its line-up and to go product development of it.”
However, there seems to be some debate over whether or not the notebook will indeed be labeled a MacBook Air. While the Macotakara report does claim that will be its moniker, MacRumors believes differently:
“Back in April, we had heard reliable confirmation that the 2012 revision of the MacBook Pro would carry a new case design. iLounge had described it as a “milestone” release. Later, in July, we heard that Apple was already finishing up work on this ultra-thin 15″ Mac Notebook.”
If the device is a MacBook Pro, we’d also expect to see ultra-thin 13- and 17-inch models, with an overhaul for the entire range. If this is the case, then, according to the report, the MacBook Pro will be the next to lose its optical drive, because it is claimed the 15-inch notebook in testing is without this feature.
I’d certainly be in line for an ultraportable 15-inch MacBook Air/Pro. Would you like to see Apple’s ultraportables with larger displays?


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Strike, shipping lines drive Port of Tauranga profits
A protracted strike in Auckland and the addition of seven new shipping services have helped Port of Tauranga deliver a record full year profit.
The country's biggest export hub reported a net profit of $73.5 million for the 12 months ending June 30, up 26 per cent on a year ago.
The result is 10 times higher than when the port listed on the New Zealand sharemarket in 1992.
Revenue for the period came in at $226.2m compared with $185.4 previously, thanks to a 20 per cent gain in trade volumes to 18.5 million tonnes for the year.
Port of Tauranga shares were unchanged today at $12.25 apiece, a record high and about 31 per cent higher than they were 12 months ago.
The port's earnings were boosted by growing containers volumes, which now account for about half of the firm's total trade thanks to a protracted labour dispute at rival Ports of Auckland, and the addition of seven new shipping services during the year by Maersk, the world's second-biggest shipping line.
Trans-shipments - containers transferred from one ship to another - at Tauranga rose 88 per cent to 2.5 million tonnes.
The firm said freight diverted to Port of Tauranga following strikes in Auckland contributed less than a third of the increase in container traffic, which peaked in March.
"Although the Ports of Auckland industrial dispute resulted in a level of container traffic that stretched us, it demonstrated the ease with which we can deploy the extensive latent capacity at our Sulphur Point and MetroPort container terminals in Tauranga and Auckland," said chief executive Mark Cairns.
Earning before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation of $114.3m were 20 per cent higher than a year ago.
The bottom line profit was boosted by a $13.2m lift in the value of the firm's land, buildings, harbour, wharves and hardstanding, which was offset by $1.3m impairment to buildings which were relocated to create space at the Sulphur Point and Mount Maunganui wharves.
Earnings from the firm's six associate companies delivered net profits to $13.3m, up 7 per cent on last year.
A dividend of 27 cents per share was declared taking the final payment to shareholder to 39 cents, an increase of 26 per cent on 2011. Over the port's history, total shareholder returns stand at an average compounding 24 per cent per annum.
- © Fairfax NZ News


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Ahold USA has joined the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' (CIW) Fair Food Program (FFP), which seeks to improve the lives of farmworkers. As the parent company of Stop & Shop, Giant Food of Landover, Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Martin's and online grocer Peapod, Ahold USA operates nearly 780 supermarkets across 14 states and the District of Columbia serving 50 million customers each month.
Ninety percent of tomatoes produced in the United States from November to May are grown in Florida. Ahold USA's participation in the program will increase the number of U.S. grocery stores carrying responsibly sourced Fair Food tomatoes by about 75 percent.
Noted Gerardo Reyes of the Immokalee, Fla.-based CIW, "Ahold USA is the first of the country's major grocers to join the program and, as such, not only will its partnership help propel to new heights our efforts to protect farmworkers' rights, but we believe its market leadership will send an invaluable message to the rest of the grocery industry that social responsibility is greatly strengthened when workers, suppliers and retailers work together toward a more modern, more humane agricultural industry."
"Ahold USA's companies are deeply committed to responsible practices throughout their operations and to providing customers with great products at great prices from suppliers who share our dedication to strong ethical standards and fair treatment for workers," said Ahold USA COO James McCann. "The cornerstone of this commitment is the Ahold Standards of Engagement, which commit our companies' suppliers to these values. The Fair Food Program is a time-tested leader in improving the lives of agricultural workers, and we have observed the program's success over the past several years. Our companies and our customers care about the welfare of workers in our supply chain, and we believe now is the right time to begin an important new chapter in our partnership with the CIW."


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On an average, spot naphtha prices have been firm for the last three weeks both in Asia and Europe after the plunge seen in H2-September, as per ChemOrbis. Nevertheless, PP and PE prices in both regions have slipped as of early October. Taking this situation into account, regional producers are questioning the expectations about further decreases, even though they cannot deny the persistently slow state of demand and widespread waiting stance on the buyers’ side.
Spot naphtha was reported at and above US$960/ton both in Europe and Asia on CIF basis as of the beginning of the week, standing at least US$30/ton above the end of September on average. In Europe, PP and PE prices have started to post larger decreases than that of the monomer contracts. Monthly decreases of up to €90-100/ton have been seen in Italy’s spot PP, PE markets, according to players’ reports. Producers are believed to be facing high stocks as demand has not been so outstanding across the region since September. Therefore, they are currently offering large decreases. Nevertheless, their price cuts have triggered expectations about further decreases and pushed buyers to the sidelines, rather than enticing buying interest.
An official distributor of a West European producer commented to ChemOrbis, “This decreasing trend is likely to continue in the near term; nevertheless, I cannot be sure about its speed as rising crude oil and naphtha prices defy this downward momentum in the PP market.”
A similar situation is in place in the Asian markets. Producers are complaining about their squeezed margins as upstream crude oil, naphtha prices and downstream PP, PE prices moved in opposite directions. Weekly decreases of up to US$30-40/ton are seen in import offers for the two products to the Chinese market. According to players in China, PP and PE prices are set to witness some additional declines in the coming weeks due to limited buying interest. Supplies are also expected to loosen later in the month particularly for PE. However, players feel that firm upstream costs will put a cap on the extent of any further declines. “The decreasing trend should slow down considering the firm stance of the upstream energy and monomer markets,” commented a few Chinese players.