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Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Watch Program Debuts In U.S.: What You Need To Know
A pre-owned Rolex expert weighs in on what the program means for collectors.
Be it brand-new Rolex watches or coveted vintage Rolex models, the market for a “Rollie” has seemingly never been more red-hot than it is right now. That momentum just got (arguably) another boost, courtesy of the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program, which just started its rollout in the United States last week.
The U.S. launch comes on the heels of its debut in Europe last December, including markets like the U.K., France and Denmark. While it’s tough to say how well it fared exactly in those markets, the development is a positive one for Rolex fans and the secondary watch market itself, said Paul Altieri, CEO and founder of Bob’s Watches.
From the Oyster Perpetual to the GMT-Master II, Bob’s Watches stocks a wide array of Rolex timepieces.
“I’ve said all along it’s a positive development and validation of the secondhand market,” he told Maxim. “So, in that sense, it’s good for the industry.”
Rolex Certified Pre-Owned watches are available at Bucherer’s own Rolex pre-owned showrooms, each of which is “beautifully designed to exhibit a large selection of timepieces, including Rolex’s most iconic models,” Bucherer said.
The rollout of the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program further bolsters the secondary market, said Eugene Tutunikov of luxury watch marketplace SwissWatchExpo.
“Rolex will add credibility to the entire space and take pre-owned even more mainstream than it is now,” he said. Tutunikov added that the process of shipping pre-owned watches to authorized dealers will be “expensive and time-consuming, potentially leading to a premium mark-up of 10 to 15 percent.
“A few of us larger players in the pre-owned space have a stellar reputation in terms of both authentication and service, but some consumers will pay the premium to get the Rolex rubber stamp on the product pre purchase,” he said, noting that some consumers will stick with dealers they know and trust, rather than the Rolex program.
And in an effort to dial in the exclusivity of pre-owned Rolex watches, only models older than three years old will be featured, preventing the “flipping” of newer Rolex models.
And demand for Rolex watches certainly continues to surge: The watchmaker is building new factories to bolster its supply of luxury timepieces.
“More people will be willing to buy a preowned watch, knowing there will now be more places they can sell it or trade it in. This is good news for everyone involved,” Tutunikov said.
The experience gets even more tailored beyond that: Each Rolex Certified Pre-Owned watch comes with a two-year warranty card, a Rolex “wax seal” tag and a certificate of authenticity.
What’s good for Rolex collectors in search of a pre-owned watch is ideal for the industry as a whole, Altieri of Bob’s Watches said.
“The pre-owned industry is (worth) about $20 billion a year in size, so there should be plenty of market share availability,” he said in regards to Rolex amping up the competition in the secondary market. “Perhaps the pie gets even bigger now.”
Time will tell how the latest Rolex move impacts the secondary market’s valuation of Rolex watches, Altieri added.
“We might need to wait a few years to get a valued answer here. But I don’t expect this to have any meaningful impact ln existing secondhand values,” he said.
For those who’ve been scouring the market for a pre-owned Rolex, the field just got a bit more wide open: Shop accordingly for an enviable timepiece.


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Published: Thursday, October 4, 2012, 5:38 p.m.
H&M store opens at Alderwood mall
The new H&M store opened Thursday at Alderwood mall in Lynnwood. In celebration, the fashion retailer gave the first 100 customers gifts and will make donations to the Boys and Girls Club of Snohomish County. Above, H&M employee Isaac Johnson poses with some mannequins. Johnson was flown out from Los Angeles to help with the store's opening. (Photo by Joe Dyer / The Herald)

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Managing Communications across a Pan-Latin Hemisphere
By Mike Valdés-Fauli, President of JeffreyGroup
There is significant interest and excitement about the Latin hemisphere these days. Countries like Brazil and Mexico have grown quickly in recent years, and the U.S. Hispanic market represented over 50% of total population growth in the United States over the past 10 years. However, the staggering figures often overshadow some interesting facts that too often go overlooked.
All Eyes Are On Latin America
Although you’ve probably heard that Latin America is home to more than 500 million people, the population that most companies want to reach is very concentrated. Of those 500 million, 200 million are located in Brazil, which has been one of the world’s fastest-growing economies for the past four years. Another 100 million are in Mexico – where the projected economic growth rate is now exceeding Brazil’s – and another 40 million in Argentina. So those three countries comprise about 70 percent of the total population of the region. They’re also home to the largest percentage of middle‐class consumers. Although there are other stable, high‐growth markets – such as Chile, Colombia and Peru – a huge disparity still exists between the rich and the poor in many Latin American countries and sometimes the smaller markets do not represent a significant amount of revenue or investment opportunities for large multinationals.
That’s why it usually makes the most sense for companies wanting to build their brands and capitalize on the region’s opportunities to focus on increasing visibility and awareness in the markets where it will make the most impact. It’s also important to take into account the huge cross‐border flow of news, information and content, particularly in all of the Spanish‐speaking countries. People watch much of the same television programming, hear the same information, and go to the same online sites, regardless of which country they happen to be in – which even includes the U.S. where much of the Spanish‐language programming is the same as it is in Mexico.
Mexico: The Gateway to Latin America
Over the last decade, Mexico has experienced a remarkable evolution in marketing, corporate communications and public relations. In this increasingly democratic and competitive environment, consumers, the news media and the government expect not only full proficiency in communication programs but creativity and absolute transparency from the business community.
In addition to being the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, Mexico is the most important gateway to Latin America. Companies and brands seek to win the Mexican consumer not only for the local value, but also because of impact on their reputation in the region.
When thinking about starting a communications campaign in Mexico, one of the most important things to consider is the reach and power that the Mexican media have – not only in the country and Latin America, but in the U.S. and Spain as well. The most important TV and radio networks reach more than 400 million Spanish speakers around the world. Very frequently, brands devote more of their communications and PR spending to Mexico knowing that the placement of their key messages will be instantly noticeable on regional measurement.
Given the geographical proximity with the U.S. and the relationships that tie the two countries together, the influence from the U.S. to Mexico in terms of consumer trends has historically been very important. Now, we see a major shift in the opposite direction, placing Mexico at the core of the trends being transferred to the U.S. Hispanic market.
Brazil: The Marketing Jewel of Latin America
Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest country with 200 million people located in an area of more than 3.2 million square miles. It also bears repeating that Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. While the physical infrastructure may have a ways to go before the country is ready for the massive influx of visitors, the media and communications industries are well established and flourishing.
Television is the most important medium in Brazil, reaching 98 percent of the population. With 60 percent penetration, the newspaper industry is very regionalized and even the biggest titles do not have large audiences; however, their readers are mostly opinion leaders, increasing the impact and influence of these outlets.
Brazilian Internet users averaged 26 hours online per month in 2011, 10 percent more than the previous year, and Facebook’s rapid ascent in the Brazilian market is certainly an interesting signal within the digital media landscape. The site became the leader in the social networking category recently, with impressive growth both in visits and engagement.
Research and analysis firm eMarketer recently reported that in 2012 Facebook reached 41 million monthly users in Brazil. Time spent online is also growing: The average visitor spent 4.8 hours per month on the site, surging from just 37 minutes in 2010.
Experience in Latin America Translates to U.S. Hispanic Marketing Success
For marketers and communicators, the Hispanic market is the most exciting opportunity to arrive in decades. It is currently the country’s largest minority group, with 51 million people comprising 16 percent of the total population. If it were a country, U.S. Hispanics would represent the second-largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world. Conservative estimates put the percentage of total population at 20 percent by 2025 and 25 percent before 2050. This trend has steadily and aggressively defied expectations and delivered enormous year-on-year growth in a variety of sectors.
As Hispanic consumers in the U.S. acculturate they become less brand loyal, yet they are still 32 percent more brand loyal than the general market. It is therefore advisable for companies to target consumers who have brand loyalty more ingrained in them from experiences in their country of origin.
Despite the fact that Hispanics currently make up nearly 16 percent of the total population, Hispanic-focused advertising only comprises 6 percent of the total national spend. There is tremendous room for growth in the advertising sector. Fortunately, marketers have more places to spend their Hispanic marketing budgets these days. In the last two years, Fox Networks launched three new Spanish-language cable channels, a new broadcast network and numerous Hispanic focused news and entertainment websites. Market leader Univision and ABC announced a new Hispanic-focused network in English that will launch in 2013.
One final takeaway is that marketing to U.S. Hispanics is not all about language, but rather the cultural connections. Consumer behavior and purchasing decisions can be driven through insights about the culture that impact a community. And it takes an expert with deep experience in Latin American countries and cultures to fully understand what’s happening in the United States now and into the future.
The Latin hemisphere is an exciting place to be doing business. It thrived during the global economic crisis and is more mature than other risky growth markets across the globe. Now’s the time to get to know your southern neighbors, if you don’t already. Chances are, they are eager to begin a conversation!


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Karachi, February 28, 2018 (PPI-OT): Shaikh Mohammad Shafiq, Chairman Central, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) appreciated the initiative taken by Director General Trade Organizations, Ministry of Commerce and Textile Division for holding consultative sessions across the country.
Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers Exporters Association (PRGMEA) has been nominated by Director General Trade Organizations, Ministry of Commerce and Textile Division as a “Coordinating Trade Organization” and is holding 1st Consultative Session on “Capacity Building of Secretary Generals and office bearers of licensed Trade Organizations (TOs).
Trade Organizations based in the Southern Region of Pakistan, as approved by the Regulator, holding their first session on Tuesday, March 06, 2018, at PRGMEA House, Karachi. Licensed TOs offering collaboration will be given the status of “Coordinating TOs” for a lead role in holding the Consultative Sessions in different cities of Pakistan on a sustained basis.
This event is aimed at enhancing awareness of the legal trade bodies representing business communities engaged in trade, industry, and services sectors for improved regulatory compliance of the Trade Organizations Act and Rules, 2013. Broad objectives for engagement with Coordinating TOs for Consultative Session activities include the following: –
Establish an active platform for mainstreaming legitimate trade bodies for improved compliance of regulatory requirements under relevant laws.
Create an environment to foster cooperation among TOs for increased awareness on implementation of Trade Organization Act 2013 and Rules made there under.
Assist licensed trade bodies to actively participate in implementation of key initiatives on trade through increased interactions for sharing updated information.
Encourage pro-active role of licensed TOs in development and promotion of sectors and regions in line with their respective Annual Plan of Activities and Performance Report.
Shaikh Mohammad Shafiq praised the efforts of DGTO that it is being held for the first time which will be very helpful to in post licensing requirements and renewal of the same as per provision of law. This will also restrict the fake organizations in obtaining the license from DGTO office.
The Directorate General of Trade Organizations, with a view to create required linkages amongst TO plans to hold Consultative Sessions on regular basis for the Licensed Trade Organizations of Pakistan and will be helpful to establish strong linkage between TOs and DGTO.
For more information, contact:
Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA)
3rd Floor, Plot No. 57-C, 24th Commercial Street,
Phase II (Ext), DHA, Karachi, Pakistan


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Royal Caribbean sent out messages to agents in late May, announcing a rise in thresholds for override commissions for the Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara brands on bookings in 2009.
“For really large agencies who are big producers, the impact will be zero,” said Eric Maryanov, owner of All-Travel in Los Angeles, “the biggest jumps, 100 percent and more, are in the midrange overrides.”
Maryanov said he has no quarrel with raising the thresholds, but he feels that the increases should have been gradual.
“This was too much, too fast,” he said, “and the timing in the middle of the year, when about three quarters of the sales have been made, is unfortunate. The new levels start with bookings made in 2009, but they will be based on 2008 performance, and that’s pretty well established.”
He said his own agency has not sold to the new threshold, which is double the former one, and expects a 1 percent decrease in commissions.
A statement from Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales for Royal Caribbean, underlines the lighter impact on high producers.
She said, “The unaffiliated (non-consortia) level for 16 percent changed from $1.1 million in revenue (Azamara, Celebrity and Royal brands combined) to $1.5million to maintain the 16 percent base. While the jump sounds high, the reality is that only 472 agencies currently at 16 percent are potentially in jeopardy of dropping from 16 percent.”
Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice president, sales for Celebrity and Azamara, said differences in agent statements about the degree of change, which have ranged from a third more to double, are due to the fact that the company has a two-tiered structure, which is now ending. “National account thresholds are lower than those of field accounts,” she said. “The national account threshold for 12 percent, for example, has been $90,000, whereas the field accounts, which are in the majority, were at $125,000. Now they will be the same at $180,000.”
Ritzenthaler said Royal Caribbean has been talking about this move for more than a year, and that there was some discussion earlier with the company’s agent advisory board. She said the move is a response to the 17 new ships brought into the three brands since 2000, which have increased the fleet to four times its former size, and stressed that the threshold levels are combined levels; all three brands feed into the numbers.
“Our competition has raised their thresholds and announced it the day before; we are giving agents half the year so we can help them bring their sales up,” she added. “And our levels are competitive, given that they are drawing from one brand and a smaller number of ships.”
She also said that, although agent commissions may be lowered once a year, they can be raised at any time. “If an agency sells up to the new levels by June next year, the commission level will go up then,” she added.
Paul Halem, owner of Cruise Adeventures Travel Company in San Marcos, Calif., takes issue with the statement that Royal has not raised the thresholds since 2000. He said, “They did, however, institute the bogus non-commission fee that has already lowered commissions by three percent. So now we don't get paid for air, transfers, ncfs, and the overrides.”
Halem added that he intends to boycott Royal Caribbean’s brands and not sell them unless there is no other option.” They might want to remember Renaissance,” he added. “You can only push people so far until they push back.”
Steve Tracas, president and CEO of Vacation.com, also voiced strong opposition to the move.
“The added knowledge, time and education required to sell the ‘values’ of cruising to a consumer market with only a 17 percent penetration rate, coupled with the current economic environment should spur support for the agency community…not the raising of the bar. This is certainly a conflicting message compared to some of their more recent communications to the agency community,” he said.
Tracas added that the differentiation of cruise products takes agent time and resources from knowledgeable, He said raising sales thresholds to earn the same pay is counter productive, adding, “Furthermore, this restructure comes at a time when fuel surcharges and other non-commissionable items are at an all-time high. The bottom line is that agencies that promote and sell the cruise lines to their clients will get a smaller percentage of a continuously shrinking pie.”
Maryanov expressed disappointment in Freed, who has been known for her proactive stance for retailers, and called the move “a step backward.” He added that he can understand that the cruise lines want to be focused on their major sellers and that they should be rewarding those who directionally sell. He said agents, too, need to be promoters of select products.
“Too many retailers try to sell all brands to all people,” he added. “Sell everything, but concentrate on a few.”


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Apple has finally announced its latest flagship Airpods Pro, and it is a noise-canceling, better-sounding variant of its extremely popular truly wireless earbuds
For the very first time in the history of introducing headphones since 2008, Apple finally got it right with the flagship airpods pro that efficiently prioritizes sound quality. Of course, the flagship airpod pro deserves the accolades it is getting considering that it may have eventually beaten any competition in its category, addressing all the possible problems you can ever come across using a wireless bud.
As for specs, Apple was able to build into the small-sized airpods pro, microphones that detect external sound, allowing for the earbuds to then cancel it out. Although this is not a strange feature, it is similar to the noise cancellation in the recently-launched new Beats Solo Pro headphones. On that note, Apple affirms that the cancellation feature is adjustable up tp 200 times per second. The “microphones continuously adapt the sound signal about 200 times per second.” the company stated.
Also with the new AirPods Pro, there is a newly-introduced ‘pressure-equalizing vent system’ that allows for a minimized discomfort sometimes seen in other in-ear designs. The company also includes a ‘transparency’ mode, which you probably know as ‘ambient’ or ‘awareness’ mode on other products.
Also, unlike whatever the company has had in the past, the new airpods Pro now comes with a softer and sizable flexible ear tips which enables a more secure, sealed in-ear fit. There are three different sizes for the tip- the small, medium, and Large– so you can get to choose which one suits you the most.
On that note, Apple confirmed that there’s a software audio test that can tell you if you’ve chosen the right-sized tip by “measuring the sound level in the ear and comparing it to what is coming from the speaker driver.” This should reduce any guesswork or confusion for customers.
On the sound quality front, Apple claims ‘consistent, rich bass down to 20 Hz.’ Of course, Apple wouldn’t have said otherwise, considering that every half-decent earbud does. But that doesn’t matter, because the AirPods Pro is for people who loved or wanted AirPods, but wished they came with better sound.
Other features of the Airpods Pro include a custom high-excursion, low distortion dynamic driver, which seems to be a new design, ‘Adaptive EQ,’ which automatically modifies low and mid frequencies to the shape of your ear among other great specs.
The AirPods Pro will be available to order online for $249 from October 30th, and will be available in stores “beginning later this week.”


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YouTube brings redesigned video page to Android, iOS
YouTube is is also bringing the comments directly below the video player. Here are the details.
YouTube, last month, announced that it was designing its video page of its app such that it matches the redesigned pages on YouTube Homepage for desktop and tablets. Now, the company has started rolling out the redesigned homepage to its Android and iOS based apps.
According to a report by 9To5 Google, which first noticed the change, YouTube has started showing bigger thumbnails in its apps. The company has updated the Watch Next section section of its Android and iOS based apps such that videos have larger thumbnails and longer titles. This would allow users more information about the videos on the go. The company is also highlighting the channel icon below each video. This change is aimed at helping users identify their favourite creators as they browse the feed.
In addition to this, the company is also bringing the comments directly below the video player. The company said that in its early experiments it found that "more people are writing comments with the new design" and so decided to keep this feature and bring it to its app. Users can also tap anywhere to view all, like, and reply to comments.
Lastly, the Up Next section of the app will feature a more diverse content such as community posts from your favourite creator which may be text updates, polls, images, GIFs, and more. "You'll also see YouTube Mixes, which are tailored playlists created by YouTube featuring videos from the channel you're watching, or that you recently watched," YouTube said.


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The leaders of the Commerce Bureau of Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province visited our company
On the afternoon of August 25, 2022, Jin Ligeng, Director of Commerce of Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, visited the Sentiyuan Industrial Tourist Scenic Spot, accompanied by Chen Junwei, Member of the Standing Committee of the Muchuan County Party Committee, Deputy County Mayor, and Liu Lei, General Manager of Sichuan Sentaiyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
Liu Lei introduced: "Sichuan Sentaiyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise integrating konjac seed cultivation, konjac planting, technology research and development, production and sales. The company produces konjac dietary fiber powder, konjac powder, The five series of konjac gel food, konjac (dry) rice, noodles, konjac desserts and more than 100 kinds of products are sold at home and abroad, and have been exported to 46 countries and regions such as the United States, France and Germany."
Konjac is widely used in pharmaceutical production, food hygiene, health care, etc., with huge development potential and broad market prospects. konjac food is one of the top ten healthy foods in the world, and the konjac industry is recognized as an emerging sunrise industry


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Kitchener, Canada — Unitron, Kitchener, Canada has made several new executive appointments. Dion Watson was named general manager for Unitron South Africa, and Leonard Marshall is now director, Unitron Australia.
Marshall’s new position is a promotion from general manager at Unitron’s South African division.
“In his prior role, Leonard (pictured right) was instrumental in building and strengthening Unitron’s brand in the South African marketplace. He and his team put that organization on a fantastic growth trajectory,” says Jan Metzdorff, Unitron vice president, International Sales. “We are thrilled he has now accepted the challenge of leading our Australian business operations, and anticipate his continued success as he takes over the helm in this key market for Unitron.”
Marshall has more than 20 years of sales and product management experience, and over his career has held various management and business leadership positions within the medical industry.
Marshall replaces Kate Handley, who has accepted a new position as director of product marketing, Unitron International Sales, based in Switzerland. She will oversee the introduction of new products to all Unitron offices outside of North America.
Dion Watson (pictured left) has taken over Marshall’s previous South African position. He brings to Unitron extensive experience in marketing and sales, as well as divisional management within the pharmaceutical industry.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dion to the Unitron organization. Unitron South Africa has experienced tremendous growth over recent years, and Dion, with his extensive sales and marketing expertise and strong business acumen, is the ideal person to solidify Unitron’s position as one of the leading hearing healthcare providers in South Africa,” says Jan Metzdorff, vice president, Unitron International Sales.
Prior to joining Unitron, Watson was an executive at MSD/Shering-Plough, a member of the Merck Group, with responsibility for all sales and marketing-related activities.


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Hudson Yards celebrates one year of construction: PHOTOS
Hudson Yards, which has slowly but surely been rising on Manhattan’s Far West Side since last year, celebrated its one year anniversary today with new renderings and a cake as outsized as the megaproject itself.
The Related Companies and Oxford Properties’ anchor tenant, Fairway Market, provided a towering five-foot-high cake built in the shape of the South Tower. Construction workers and Related’s Jay Cross, who is heading up the project, milled about chatting with workers and sipping coffee, also provided by Fairway. The market will lease about 48,000 square feet in the hulking project, it announced last August. So far, they are the only retail tenant to sign on.
On the office side, Related’s HudsonYardsNewYork.com last week began listing the available space in two other office towers, 10 and 30 Hudson Yards, which total 2.66 million square feet.
When all is said and done, in 2018, Hudson Yards will add a total of 17 million square feet of office, retail and residential real estate to the Manhattan market. – Guelda Voien


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It’s no secret that Samsung has recalled one million Note7 units this week, but just what is the cost of the Note7 recall?
Why recall the Note7?
Samsung decided to recall one million handsets as 35 units were reporting to have caught fire. Mathematicians amongst you will note that is about 0.0014%. With safety being a priority, such a risk was too great for Samsung who opted to recall and relaunch.
What is the cost of the Note7 recall for Samsung?
It doesn’t come cheap. We can’t question the fact it was the right thing to do, but it’s a hefty bill for Samsung. Analysts reckon they are looking at a cost of around one billion Dollars between recalling the phones, re-tests, and repairs. Samsung’s head of business, Koh Dong Jin, referred to as ‘a heartbreaking amount’. It is still unknown who the providers of the batteries are for Samsung’s models, but we can assume that they will be sharing in the cost of the whole debacle.
Samsung has already dropped Samsung SDI who supply 70% of batteries, while the rest are supplied by Amperex Technology. This blunder carries a one billion Dollar price tag. A significant cost, but it still only represents a bit less than 5% of the companies projected net income this year. Samsung may have an insurance policy to cover this blunder, but no information on this has been released.
If there is anyone that will benefit from all of this, it’s Apple. They will be unveiling the new iPhone 7 on Wednesday and will bask in the misfortunes of their most biggest rivals.


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Global adtech platform The Trade Desk and programmatic platform Amnet have shared results from their recent connected TV campaign conducted on behalf of Sanitarium.
The campaign objective, led in collaboration with Dentsu’s media agency Carat, was to build brand awareness and drive sales of Sanitarium’s liquid breakfast product Up & Go.
To reach the target demographics of 18 to 35-year old ‘young transitionals’ and 25 to54-year-old grocery buyers, Carat and Amnet advised Sanitarium to focus on a strategy of programmatic connected TV, video streaming and digital audio advertising, with tightly controlled frequency capping to ensure no single consumer was overwhelmed by advertisements across devices.
Powered by The Trade Desk’s proprietary trading system, which uses bid factors rather than line items to ensure dynamic and flexible bidding optimisation, the campaign strategy proved a success.
To date, the campaign has reached 10 percent of Australian connected TV households, totalling nearly 240,000 different dwellings. The frequency of the campaign came in at 1.30, showing the effectiveness of The Trade Desk’s new IP targeting capability.
This was the catalyst for Sanitarium to take advantage of the largely untapped format and overcome an industry-wide issue of not being able to apply a centralised frequency cap across multiple broadcasters.
Mitch Waters, general manager for Australia and New Zealand at The Trade Desk, said: “We were delighted to partner with Amnet and Sanitarium to deliver these outstanding campaign results.
“Buying connected TV programmatically is still in the early stages in Australia, but it’s [the] way of the future.
“To be the first agency to run a CTV campaign programmatically shows Amnet’s strong focus on innovation, and indicates that both the agency and the advertiser are at the forefront of understanding the capabilities and effectiveness of our technology.”
Pete Davis, national advertising and media manager at Sanitarium, said: “Up & Go is popular with a younger demographic, and we need to reach these people where they are consuming content. That means connected TV, video streaming and audio.
“Buying this inventory programmatically has the dual advantage of precise demographic targeting and ensuring we derive the maximum value from our marketing dollars.”
In another first for The Trade Desk, Amnet and Carat, Sanitarium was able to deliver targeted ads during a live-streamed sports event – the Rugby League World Cup on C7.
“Additionally, as a brand it’s important for us to ensure we are never overwhelming people with advertisements, which has traditionally been an issue with connected TV,” Davis said.
“The Trade Desk solved this issue with their ability to use probabilistic data to frequency cap occurrences of our ads across devices.”
Indy Khabra, national managing director for Australia and New Zealand at Amnet, said: “The campaign results have exceeded all expectations, which I attribute to a truly collaborative effort between Amnet, Sanitarium and The Trade Desk.
“We are pleased that our client, Sanitarium, empowers us to work with exciting new technologies to drive the best results.”
SBS will shut down The World Game digital platform, marking an end to the beloved football brand’s legacy that officially began in 2001. The network’s Cycling Central website, which covered the most important news around events on the cycling calendar like the Tour De France, will also come under knife, with both standalone football and […]
New South Wales masthead The Sydney Morning Herald celebrates its 190th anniversary today, as one of the oldest continuously printed metropolitan newspapers in the world. In today’s paper, a souvenir wrap-around will show how The Herald forged trust with generations of Sydneysiders with its quality journalism and unique lens on reporting the life and times […]
Google has said it is considering an appeal, after the Federal Court ruled the tech giant had misled consumers in regards to how it collected location data from Android devices. The decision comes as a major win for the ACCC, which initiated the court proceedings in October 2019. The competition watchdog argued that Google misled […]
Nine has named the judging panel for its much-anticipated State of Originality, Australia’s richest advertising award, aimed at making State of Origin the equivalent of Australia’s Super Bowl in advertising terms. Announced at Nine’s Upfront last September, the winning campaign will take home much more than a trophy – there’s $1 million in advertising inventory […]
British supermarket Marks & Spencer has taken an intellectual property claim against fellow supermarket ALDI over the latter’s Cuthbert The Caterpillar Cake, which they allege is too similar to their own iconic Colin The Caterpillar Cake. Colin the Caterpillar (pictured above) has been a staple of birthday parties across the UK since 1990, when the […]
We all felt helpless in the face of 2020’s constant barrage of disasters and catastrophes. And 2021 hasn’t let up either. Last year, Australian Red Cross experienced its biggest demand since World War II, so it has responded with a new brand campaign bringing attention to this overwhelming feeling and highlighting its 106-year track record […]
As Master Chef prepares to launch back onto screens on Monday 19th April, B&T had the opportunity to speak to the show’s hosts, food critic Melissa Leong and chefs Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allan, who won the show’s fourth season. The three judges first appeared on last year’s Masterchef: Back To Win, which saw returning contestants […]
Undoubtedly one of the most overused slogans in marketing’s and advertising’s history is John Wanamaker’s iconic “half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half”. And it’s a credit to the quip’s longevity that last year the line celebrated a real milestone – its 100th birthday. But […]
The SingularityU Australia Executive Program will take place this may, celebrating leadership at the intersection of the values of humanity and the value of technology. The Elon Musks, Apples and Xeros of the world are taking risks for humanity and creating new technologies that streamline and beautify business operations. They simplify life by providing basic […]
Brisbane media professional and former OMD Australia Account Director Taylor Fielding (pictured) has officially launched TFM Digital. TFM Digital is a specialist media agency based in Newstead which primarily provides media buying services, and strategy development, to businesses chiefly, but not exclusively, within the franchise sector. Prior to the launch of TFM Digital, Fielding spent […]
Judging by the hangovers in the B&T office today you can count yourself damn lucky we even managed this photo thingy.
Launch marketing specialists Five by Five Global have been appointed by FutureFeed to develop their brand, international certification trademark and go to market strategy. The innovative livestock feed ingredient developed by CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australian and James Cook University uses a specific genus of seaweed, Asparagopsis, which significantly reduces methane emissions in ruminant livestock. […]
Andrew Knowles, partner and co-founder of the corporate communications consultancy Shoebridge Knowles Media Group (SKMG), has won the PR category in the 2021 B&T 30 Under 30 Awards. Knowles received the award at a ceremony in Sydney last night, claiming victory in a highly competitive field that included leading executives from some of Australia’s biggest […]


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The Congressional Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade said recently that autonomous vehicles will save lives on the highways, with Mark Rosekind, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator, claiming that autonomous vehicles hold “the potential to eliminate traffic fatalities altogether.”
The hearing was part of the subcommittee’s “disrupter series,” and Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro said these technologies will be “very disruptive,” likening the situation to automobiles replacing horses as the chief means of transportation.
Not only will truck driving jobs be altered, but Shapiro added that mechanics, body shops and the insurance industry will also be impacted.
According to trade media, subcommittee member Brett Guthrie of Kentucky brought up the question of cyber security involving commercial vehicles.
Rosekind said that NHTSA had had several meetings with the Department of Homeland Security to address those kinds of issues.
Ranking member Janice Schakowsky of Illinois seemed to have some misgivings and asked for assurances hacking these vehicles would not be possible. She also questioned who was responsible in the event of a crash or failing of cyber security – the manufacturer or the user?
Rosekind suggested that a committee be formed to look at the liability issue and “the best way forward.”
Rosekind said although AV technology is moving quickly, there will continue to be a “mixed fleet” for the foreseeable future.
“For the next 20 to 30 years at least we will have a mixed fleet of different levels of automation and different people out there driving.”


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Seasonal produce shines in celebrity recipes.
‘Food-crazed soprano’ Deborah Norin-Kuehn is singer, professor, and cook.
Good to see many more local establishments offering choices.
Rick Kaser raised nearly $3,400 to help feed hungry children in Toledo.
Since 2008, the Center for Innovative Food Technology and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation have sponsored the annual Ohio Signature Food Contest, an opportunity for entrepreneurs who have a great recipe and a big dream to take their food products to
Back-to-school recipes for learning while lunching.
Some of these kitchen legends have been around for a while.
From 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, the Perrysburg Kroger Marketplace at 27332 Carronade Dr. will celebrate area farmers and producers at its Discover Local tasting and sampling event. Participating in this local-palooza are the Cooking Caravan, which will
Let’s have a quick, casual dinner, shall we?
From pesto to Thai cuisine, this flavorful herb shined in the summer.


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“If there’s one thing that comes up over and over with the thousands of patients enrolled in the National Weight Control Registry, it’s weighing yourself every day on a scale,” says Rena Wing, Ph.D., founder of the registry, which tracks more than 4,500 men and women who have lost an average of 20lbs or more and kept it off for at least six years. “Don’t obsess over the number,” she says, “but at least keep track of the general range of what you weigh so you can catch small changes as they occur and take corrective measures immediately.”
You might feel silly, but it works. When Alan R. Hirsch, MD, neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, tried this with 3,000 volunteers, he found that the more frequently people sniffed, the less hungry they were and the more weight they lost—an average of 30 pounds each. One theory is that sniffing the food tricks the brain into thinking you’re actually eating it.
If you’ve been eating fast food for years, get real about your approach: You’re probably not going to stick to an organic, gluten-free, paleo overhaul for very long. "You want to change as little as possible to create calorie deficit," says Dr. Seltzer, who insists the best way to support sustainable weight loss is to incorporate small changes into existing habits. So instead of giving up your daily BLT bagels in favor of an egg-white wrap, try ordering your sandwich on a lighter English muffin. Or say you eat a snack bar every afternoon: Swap your 300-calorie bar for a 150-calorie alternative. "Your brain will feel the same way about it, so you won’t feel deprived," he says.
The researchers hypothesize that participants who abstained from animal products dropped significantly more pounds since plant-based foods include loads of filling fiber and slow-to-digest complex carbs. Though more research is needed to confirm these results, the study authors write, "Vegetarian diets appeared to have significant benefits on weight reduction compared to non-vegetarian diets."
The researchers explain that people who cook their own meals may simply have other good-for-you habits, like exercising more. However, they concluded that home cooks simply ate more fruits and vegetables (along with a wider variety of foods), have healthier methods of prepping their food, and splurge less on foods high in calories and sugar. No clue where to start? Try these 25 high-protein chicken recipes for weight loss.
“Under normal conditions, humans absorb only about 80% of the nutrients from the food they eat,” says A. Roberto Frisancho, Ph.D., a weight-loss researcher at the University of Michigan. But, he says, when the body is deprived of nourishment, it becomes a super-efficient machine, pulling what nutrients it can from whatever food is consumed. Start eating again normally and your body may not catch up; instead it will continue to store food as fat.
If you want to shrink your gut, get enough protein in your diet. In this case, about 25 percent of calories. Why? For starters, protein makes you feel full and helps you build muscle (which increases metabolism, thereby making it easier to lose weight). Just as important, high-protein diets have been shown to be the best way of attacking belly fat. In one study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, Danish researchers put 65 people on either a 12 percent protein diet or a 25 percent protein diet. The low-protein dieters lost an average of 11 pounds, which isn't bad. But the high-protein subjects lost an average of 20 pounds--including twice as much abdominal fat as the low-protein group.
Think sweets are the enemy of weight loss success? Not so fast: dark chocolate might just be your best friend for weight loss (and that doesn't even include these other 5 Health Benefits of Eating Chocolate). Researchers at the University of Copenhagen fed healthy young men 100g of either milk or dark chocolate first thing in the morning, then had them rate their hunger level and fed them a meal of pizza two hours later. They found that the men who had dark chocolate were felt more satisfied after eating the chocolate, were less hungry, and ate less (17 percent fewer calories than the milk chocolate eaters) when offered pizza at their next meal.
We’ve now arrived at tip number 16. If you’re still having trouble losing weight, despite following the 15 pieces of advice listed above, it might be a good idea to bring out the heavy artillery: optimal ketosis. Many people stalling at weight plateaus while on a low-carb diet have found optimal ketosis helpful. It’s what can melt the fat off once again.
Don’t let extra hours lounging in bed stand between you and a flatter belly. While getting enough sleep can help boost your metabolic rate, sleeping in may undo any benefit you’d enjoy from catching a few extra winks. One study reveals that late sleepers who snoozed past 10:45 in the morning ate nearly 250 more calories over the course of the day, despite eating half as many fruits and vegetables as their early bird counterparts. Even worse, they chowed down on more salty, sugary, and trans fat-laden fast food than those who woke up earlier. If you happen to head out of the house early, you’re in for an additional metabolic boost; researchers at Northwestern University have found that people exposed to just a short period of early morning sunlight had lower BMIs than their late-waking counterparts.


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Despite announcing at E3 all of its DLC for Star Wars: Battlefront II would be free, EA is in trouble. As the state of Hawaii has announced an investigation into the publisher’s use of loot boxes and in-game purchases. State Representative Chris Lee called the game a “Star Wars-themed online casino” in a recent press conference. Later, Lee announced steps towards new legislation.
If passed, the legislation would deem loot boxes as a form of gambling, and ban the sale of loot box laced games to people under Hawaii’s legal gambling age of 21. “We’ve been talking with several other states as well, legislators who are looking at the same thing,” said Lee. On Tuesday, Belgium ruled loot boxes as a form of gambling after last week’s investigation by its gaming commission. Belgium’s Minister of Justice Koen Geens stated, “Mixing gambling and gaming, especially at a young age, is dangerous for the mental health of a child”.
Geens also wants to ban in-game purchases outright if it is unclear what the player is purchasing. The blowback involving Star Wars: Battlefront II started when someone wrote on Reddit that it took 40 hours to unlock Darth Vader, and thousands more when it came to other items in the game. But this is not the only EA game that is affected by microtransactions, loot boxes, and a pay-to-win. Another new EA title Need For Speed: Payback suffers from this trio of trappings.
Giving players only two options. Either grind away for hours to make your virtual cars competitive or dip into your real bank account and save yourself some time. In order to save face, EA has tried to reconcile by giving players more in-game XP. Instead of doing what they did with Star Wars: Battlefront II (albeit temporarily) and disable in-game purchases altogether.
Even after turning off in-game purchases in Star Wars: Battlefront II, EA told investors not to worry. Saying disabling them will not have a “material impact on EA’s fiscal year”. So this brings up an even bigger question. If no in-game purchases in their biggest game of the year will not impact their finances, why have them in there at all?
Especially when they made $4.39 billion in 2016. It is going to be interesting to see how this all pans out going forward. Below are highlights from Hawaii’s announcement.


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A deep dive on Netflix and Video Games from @ballmatthew: Why does Netflix want to enter gaming (beyond the money)? Why now? Can it succeed? What makes the category so uniquely challenging for the streaming giant?
Facebook testing audio and video calls within the Facebook app messaging experience so people can make and receive calls regardless of which app they’re using. Plus birthday gifting via Facebook Pay, contact sharing, poll games, and word effects. #Facebook
TikTok users will soon be able to buy stuff directly through the short videos on the app — something they had only been able to do through ads until now. Shopify said that businesses will be able to add a shopping tab to their TikTok profiles to create a “mini-storefront” that links directly to their online store for checkout. #ecommerce
Twitter is testing a feature to let writers on its Revue newsletter platform collect subscribers directly from their Twitter profiles. The feature can be enabled by any Revue user starting today, but the subscribe button is only being shown to select users on Android and the web to start.
HT @nytimes The Pulitzer Prize board issued a special citation on Friday for Afghan journalists, some of whom worked alongside Western news organizations, and announced a grant of $100,000 to provide emergency relief for the journalists and their families.
RT @michellemanafy “Shifting a newsroom toward antiracism has less to do with ensuring that individual journalists are not personally racist than it does with interrogating the influence of structural racism on newsroom systems and processes.”
HT @jbakernyc It’s the 5th anniversary of the @wellreadblkgirl festival. The annual literary celebration will bring together Black women writers & readers for a full day of panels, workshops, and editor roundtables. Tix are available on a sliding scale, for now. #WRBGFest
RT @LatinxBookBingo We are excited to share that the 4th round of #Latinxbookbingo is taking place from September 15 to October 15th 2021. It’s being hosted by Sofia @sofiainbookland and Paola @Guerrerawr and the goal is to read books written by Latinx authors in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month
RT @RJ_Raskin Publishing friends, the hospital I volunteer at has a little library and we bring books to patients. We’re always running low. If anyone has any books or galleys they’re trying to get rid of and they’d like to donate them to the hospital, let me know!
HT @JulieBlattberg MT @MadeinNY We invite NYC storytellers to apply for #NYCWomensFund for the opportunity to bring their films, docs, TV shows, music projects, and theater productions by, for, or about women to life on screen and stage.


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HowGood – an independent research company that identifies which products are most sustainable – is taking off at an unparalleled rate of popularity, with a new round of $6 million capital raised in 2021. You may have seen the company’s rating system in use at places like Walmart, Chipotle, and the Giant Company, but this is just the beginning.
HowGood is a New York-based startup that aggregates data on product sustainability for consumers, investors, brands, and retailers. So far, HowGood’s Latis database has analyzed more than 200,000 products (adding up to more than 1 million UPC codes) for environmental, health, and trade impacts.
This database is the heart of HowGood’s mission. The data – which includes more than 33,000 ingredients, chemicals, and materials assessed – can be used to help companies improve their sustainability, to help investors choose what products to invest in, and help consumers make informed purchases. It amasses and crunches data from its own proprietary sources and from a huge range of open government and third-party firms to derive a complete score for different products. The analysis encompasses everything from ingredient sourcing to chemicals and processing, packaging, shipping, and labor practices.
Recent studies indicate that 63 percent of American consumers say that ethical issues are becoming more important when it comes to the brands they buy. More than half of all consumers say they will stop buying brands they believe are unethical. This is where HowGood steps in. Using a “Good”, “Great” and “Best” positive-only ranking system, HowGood drives forward-thinking companies to want higher rankings to drive sales.
The rankings appear on signage in more than 400 grocery stores across the United States, and also on HowGood’s website and mobile apps. The mobile app allows shoppers to scan the barcode of any item to receive its rating. With a simple, user-friendly interface, users can see the impact of any ingredient, source location, or sustainability standard. The app also displays details on environmental impact, labor risk, and animal welfare, as well as executive-level portfolio progress and each manufacturer’s unique sustainability strategies. It’s a reliable and strong one-stop mapping system based on data from 350 certifying bodies and research organizations to verify the on-the-ground conditions for every ingredient.
In essence, HowGood makes it easy for consumers to make smart decisions quickly.
“If you care about these things, but you’ve got a very busy life, how do you start to vote with your dollars and vote with your conscience and end up with products that are best for you and your family and the world on your plate?” asked CEO Alexander Gillett. “We want companies to get better. That’s why we’re a positive-only rating system because we’re trying to support companies being able to make these decisions by showing that customers will buy more of their products when they do make the right decisions.”
The company is a non-traditional start-up of sorts in that it actually began more than a decade ago when Gillett and his brother Arthur had a discussion about the dilemma surrounding sustainable food data. The pair decided that if the data was all in one place and easily accessible, it would be easier for corporations and consumers to make informed choices.
The first trial run of the rating system was in one supermarket in 2012. It was a slow burn for the next five years until the first round of venture capital arrived – investors were impressed by the research team and the fledgling database. Now, demand has soared and HowGood is using the new funding to accelerate Latis’ sustainability intelligence platform, which provides instant ingredient-level sustainability insights for consumer packaged goods, restaurants, and retailers. Funds will also be used to fuel product innovation and expansion into areas such as beauty, apparel, and cleaning products.
Today, HowGood is already the world’s largest product sustainability database. The number of consumers, investors, and companies (including five of the top 10 global consumer product companies) that use it continues to grow. By believing that the path to a more sustainable food system starts with transparency, HowGood is helping everyone better understand the story behind food products, allowing people to buy better for their families and the world.


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Last night, Rihanna officially launched her much-anticipated lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, with a massive party in Williamsburg. The bras range in size from 32A to 44DD; the underwear, which features a variety of nudes, range from XS to XXXL; and there are slips and leggings. However, things are, as expected, selling out fast. Oh, and Savage x Fenty handcuffs will ring in for a reasonable $18 to $29. The affordable lingerie line was done in collaboration with TechStyle Fashion Group that celebrates all shapes, sizes, and kinks.
The online site has a queue system for prospective buyers, but the wait times are a little lengthy and there were even reports the site was shut down. Rihanna, the woman who borrowed and pulled off a real Cardinal hat at the 2018 Met Gala will very soon be unleashing 90 pieces of lush lingerie.
Savage is the latest company in Rihanna's continuously growing empire. "I'm not built like a Victoria's Secret girl, and I still feel very handsome and confident in my lingerie". "I'm not built like a Victoria's Secret girl, and I still feel very lovely and confident in my lingerie".
'Black dot' iOS bug causing iPhone to freeze and crash
A message that was doing the rounds on WhatsApp has been causing the app of certain WhatsApp users to freeze and not respond. For those of you who do not have a 3D Touch functionality built in, you can simply follow the steps provided below.
Canada Sikh minister asked to remove turban at United States airport
But, by knowing my diplomatic status, you tell me that everything is correct? That's not a satisfactory response, ' he said. I will continue to promote diversity and inclusion across the count, as our government has done since we took office.
US Treasury's Mnuchin does not see Iran sanctions hiking oil prices
A slower-than-expected introduction of the 777X will also extend the slots that need to be filled with the current model 777. Volkswagen, which resumed exports to Iran in 2017, said it was monitoring the situation closely.
Of the lingerie Rihanna said, "Savage is really about taking complete ownership of how you feel and the choices you make." . Higher priced items, such as corsets, rompers, jumpsuits, and robes, still all come in under $100, ranging from $69 to $99. These will include the previously revealed four capsule collections, On the Reg, U Cute, DAMN & Black Widow.
The first drop from Savage x Fenty was released on Friday at 12:01am EST.
Vogue reported that Savage x Fenty shoppers have the option to sign up for a membership program, costing $50 (£36.85) per year, that provides them early access to launches, the ability to shop for limited-edition items and free two-way shipping.


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Microsoft Releasing New Microsoft 365 Basic Product and Apps This Month
30, 2023. It'll also be available for purchase “from the OneDrive and Outlook apps.” Here's what Microsoft 365 Basic plan will offer to subscribers:.
Microsoft 365 Basic could be everything you need to get your start-up moving | TechRadar
Microsoft 365 has added even more services to its cheapest plan as it ties up some loose ends.
Microsoft 365 Basic Subscription to Launch Jan. 29 for $1.99 a Month
It will replace the 100GB OneDrive storage subscription, also priced at $1.99 a month. Microsoft 365 Basic will include an ad-free version of Outlook …
Buggy Microsoft Defender ASR rule deletes Windows app shortcuts – Bleeping Computer
Microsoft has addressed a false positive triggered by a buggy Microsoft Defender ASR rule that would delete application … Microsoft 365 Status.
Microsoft Planner Now Lets Users Create Recurring Tasks – Petri IT Knowledgebase
Microsoft Planner Now Lets Users Create Recurring Tasks. Rabia Noureen. |. Jan 12, 2023. Office 365. Microsoft has released some much-anticipated …
A laptop for just $148, with one year of Office 365 included? Yes please! – Yahoo
Best of all, it's just $148, down from its normal price of $240 — and it includes a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365, a $100 value on its …
Office 2021 for Mac Drops to All-Time Low of $25 – CNET
Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License is displayed … computer often means signing up for a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Microsoft Defender ASR rules remove icons and apps shortcuts from Taskbar – The Register
Techies are reporting that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint attack … the Microsoft 365 Suite category and not the Defender category, warning:.
Microsoft to Fix Defender Bug Deleting Windows Apps Shortcuts from Taskbar
Microsoft is working on a permanent fix, and in the meantime, it has advised end users to access the apps via the Office app or the Microsoft 365 …
Windows App Shortcuts Deleted on Friday 13 – Redmondmag.com
Microsoft is working to fix a problem with deleted Windows shortcuts that happened … Microsoft this week announced Microsoft 365 product news, …


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The Internet of Things (IoT) Revolution is making inroads into the global shipping industry, and Danelec Marine plans to play a central role in accelerating that process by removing one of the major barriers to entry.
“The critical element in any IoT system is the availability of timely, high-quality data through reliable low-cost connections from remotely located machines, equipment and systems,” explained Hans Ottosen, CEO of Danelec Marine. “That’s typically not a problem in land-based transportation modes, but is a tremendous hurdle for ships at sea. That’s why the shipping industry has been relatively slow to embrace the IoT Revolution. It would be prohibitively difficult and expensive to create a custom data network for each ship. That’s why we developed DanelecConnect -- the industry’s first open-architecture universal shipboard data collection and transfer platform, which substantially simplifies and reduces the cost of adopting IoT solutions for shipping fleets.”
DanelecConnect uses a small electronic remote server that connects with the ship’s VDR and other data sources. The unit’s open architecture allows it to accept serial and analog data from all types of equipment with no special custom interfaces. With DanelecConnect, a ship can collect and transmit hundreds or even thousands of data sets via satellite to Danelec’s cloud-based server ashore for only $1 per day in airtime costs.
The company is following a strategy of forming strategic collaboration partnerships with data analytics and satellite communication companies to facilitate widespread adoption of IoT solutions and continues to roll out important enhancements to the DanelecConnect platform.
At SMM 2018, Inmarsat announced a strategic partnership with Danelec Marine to develop a shipboard data collection and processing system for Inmarsat’s new Fleet Data IoT solution.
“Fleet Data is the first and only highly reliable, dedicated bandwidth-inclusive IoT service, on a sensor agnostic platform that allows ship owners and ship managers to access the full potential of the IoT and efficiency-enhancing vessel performance applications in real time,” said Stefano Poli, VP, Business Development, Inmarsat Maritime. “Fleet Data will overcome key difficulties faced by those frustrated with the challenge of aggregating vessel data onboard and getting it efficiently onshore.”
Earlier this year, Danelec and NAPA announced a strategic collaboration in March to deliver a complete cloud-based IoT solution for ship performance analysis and optimization, integrating the DanelecConnect data collection and transfer platform with NAPA’s advanced analytics and optimization tools. The NAPA Office and NAPA Ship Performance Analytics Service software have now been fully integrated with DanelecConnect. The two companies have completed initial sea trials and are making installations with several major shipping companies.
Onboard Dashboard A new onboard dashboard has been created with customizable screens for crew monitoring of readouts from shipboard equipment in real-time. The dashboard allows crew to view KPIs from various onboard instruments, sensors and systems. KPIs can be color coded to indicate normal, unusual or dangerous conditions. The same data can also be seen on the remote dashboard in the home office.
File Transport System The File Transport system now has the capability to upload and download files to and from non-Danelec equipment onboard through the DanelecConnect control server. This capability is ideal for automatic remote uploads of software updates or downloading large data reports from the onboard equipment.
Teamviewer IoT This third-party software can be installed in the DanelecConnect Vessel Remote Server, allowing PCs in shore offices to initiate and establish a connection to the vessel - without interference of the crew - and log into onboard equipment without having to invest in an expensive VPN solution.
DanelecConnect is now installed and operational on hundreds of ships, including some of the world’s leading shipping companies such as Maersk, Vroon, CP Offen, China Navigation and Spliethoff.
Spliethoff Superintendent Theo Kinds commented, “We were one of the first shipping companies to deploy the DanelecConnect IoT platform starting in 2017, and the results have exceeded our expectations. We are already seeing improvements in ship operations from the instant real-time visibility we now have into what’s happening with shipboard equipment. This helps us catch small problems before they become big ones. The DanelecConnect installations were straightforward, including interfaces with all the ship’s systems and sensors, typically taking no more than a single day for each ship.”
Explosive Growth Forecast for IoT
A recent Gartner report predicts that 5.5 million new IoT devices will come online every day in 2018, with more than 20.8 billion connected items by 2020. Business Insider predicts $6 billion will be invested into IoT solutions by 2020, generating $13 trillion of value by 2025.
A research paper published by Inmarsat this year, based on responses from 125 ship owners, found that the primary drivers for adoption of IoT in the shipping industry are operational efficiency, environmental regulations and safety concerns.


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ReNew may apply for PLI scheme for solar modules
In September, the union cabinet approved the second tranche of PLI scheme worth ₹19,500 crore for domestic manufacture of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules that could lead to savings of ₹1.37 trillion in imports.
NEW DELHI : With the Indian solar power industry facing a supply crunch and the government’s plan to develop the domestic solar equipment industry, Nasdaq-listed ReNew Energy Global Plc plans to apply for the second tranche of the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for solar modules.
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Posts Tagged «bluetooth»
Coin is an insecure meta-card that morphs into all your credit cards at the push of a button November 18, 2013 at 9:32 am
Would you be comfortable dumping all your cards into a single device? Coin could help clean out your wallet next summer, as long as you’re okay with the potential risks.
PS4 and Xbox One won’t support your expensive third-party headset – for now October 14, 2013 at 9:11 am
If you’ve invested in a nice wireless headset for the next-gen launch, prepare for some bad news. Unfortunately, the majority of wireless headsets will not work with the PS4 at launch. While Sony does plan on releasing compatibility patches down the road, this news leaves a rancid taste in the mouths of many core gamers who have already invested in Sony’s own hardware.
iOS 7: How to improve your iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 battery life, and reduce lag September 20, 2013 at 2:46 pm
While the new features and redesign in iOS 7 are incredible, the performance and battery life of older iOS devices has suffered. Apple will surely address some of these issues with better optimization down the road, but there are a few things you can do to improve your experience right this moment.
2014 Nissan Versa review: Top subcompact with unique tech, modest performance August 5, 2013 at 2:25 pm
The 2014 Nissan Versa Note is one of the best subcompacts you can purchase today if your requirements are as follows: cheap to buy, cheap to run, lots of room, and as much tech as you can get in a small, entry-level car … and you want transportation not excitement.
Smart toilet’s bidet hacked via Bluetooth, gives new meaning to ‘backdoor vulnerability’ August 5, 2013 at 10:57 am
Bestowing terrifying new definitions on the phrases “backdoor vulnerability” and “security hole,” one of the world’s most luxurious toilets has been exploited by hackers. The smart toilet is vulnerable via its built-in Bluetooth radio, allowing hackers to remotely open or close the lid, flush the toilet, or, perhaps most perturbingly, activate the built-in bidet function.
New PS4 details: 2,000 friend slots, cross-game chat is free for all, DualShock 3 not compatible July 29, 2013 at 3:10 pm
We’re only four months away from the presumed launch of the next generation of game consoles, and the internet is clamoring for new information. In response, Sony has deemed fit to post a video answering some of the most burning questions surrounding the PS4. From the number of slots on the PSN friends list to the existence of 3D games, this video from PlayStation Access covers a lot of ground.
Android super-malware discovered – Is Google’s platform in peril? June 7, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Kaspersky Labs claims Backdoor.AndroidOS.Obad.a is the most sophisticated piece of Android malware it has seen, and could signal a new era in Android threats.
Connected cars: When is the breakthrough coming? February 15, 2013 at 7:30 am
Can’t wait for the connected smart car? Don’t get too excited yet — so far this year’s announcements mostly deliver more forms of music streaming. Some cars are breaking out of the pack though, with Audi offering integrated WiFi for up to 8 users. It’s a baby step, but at least it’s in the right direction.
Match and raise: BMW adds Siri-like voice dictation, then builds a touchpad into iDrive July 12, 2012 at 10:05 am
BMW ConnectedDrive plays leapfrog with Audi. Users who manage the potential complexity will love these new Bimmers. Sorry, iPhone users, but Apple’s non-support of Bluetooth MAP limits what you can do.
Better, faster, newer, cheaper: Why Apple and Siri will be a hit in the car cockpit June 14, 2012 at 12:13 pm
With Apple getting into the navigation business with iPhones and iPads, odds favor a smartphone or tablet with conversational voice recognition being your next car navigation system.


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We've been reporting about the green AdWords ad label for months now and also reported yesterday about a huge increase in the number of searchers seeing the green ad label. So we, Search Engine Land got a confirmation from Google that this is officially rolling out and replacing the yellow ad label.
The old yellow ad label:
The new green ad label:
“We regularly test ways to improve the look and feel of our search results page. We’ve been experimenting with a green search ad label and have decided to roll it out based on positive feedback from users and advertisers. Our goal is to make our results page easy to use, and our labeling clear and prominent,” a Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land.
Forum discussion at Twitter.


text: Jones Apparel Group ( JNY) filed a $550 million breach of contract lawsuit against Polo Ralph Lauren ( RL) and a former Jones president, alleging that they embarked on a scheme to wrongly take the Lauren by Ralph Lauren license back from the company. Jones alleges that the former president, Jackwyn Nemerov, as well as Polo and its affiliates, claimed that the Lauren license ends at the end of 2003. Jones said it believed that it owns the exclusive U.S. and Canadian rights to use the Lauren trademark through the end of 2006. The company filed the suit in New York, and along with $550 million, it is also seeking punitive damages and to enforce the noncompete and confidentiality clauses in Nemerov's employment agreement. Shares of New York-based Jones fell 55 cents, to $30.25, and Polo dropped $1.08, to $26. During discussions at the end of last year, Jones said Polo contended that the expiration of the Ralph by Ralph Lauren license contract in 2003 will cause the Lauren license to end on Dec. 31, 2003, instead of Dec. 31, 2006. Jones, however, said the expiration of the Ralph license doesn't cause the Lauren license to end. Ending the Lauren license at the end of 2003 "will have a material adverse impact on Jones' results of operations after 2003," the company said, but not its liquidity, and Jones said it would still have a "strong financial position." Polo, meanwhile, sued Jones and is seeking an injunction and a declaratory judgment that the Lauren license agreements terminate as of Dec. 31, 2003. Roger Farah, president and chief operating officer of Polo, said in a press release that, "We regret taking this action, but we felt we had no choice but to seek immediate court relief from what we believe is obstructionist behavior from a business partner that may irreparably damage our brands. We believe that we are well within our legal right to reclaim our licenses. We are confident that the court will enforce our clear contractual rights enabling us to serve our customers without interruption."


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Tuesday, June 2, 2009
May auto sales were up almost 10% from their Feb. '09 low, and I would say that they have most likely hit bottom. This is consistent with a lot of other signs that demand is firming and in some cases rising. It's perhaps poetic justice that GM should enter bankruptcy and be taken over by the government just as the auto industry is getting back on its feet.
Posted by Scott Grannis at 4:52 PM


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Intel's Z790 motherboards will be launching as the flagship 700-series platform designed for 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs. These motherboards are expected to carry some new I/O features that will give some reason to get them over the existing 600-series products but we can assure you that if you are on a Z690 motherboard, you're good to go.
Intel's Raptor Lake-Ready Z790 Flagship Motherboards To Be Revealed In Q3 2022 With PCIe Gen 5 M.2 Support
The Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPU lineup is coming later this fall and the blue team will be ready to support it not only on the existing 600-series motherboards but also on the next-gen 700-series boards. Now, these boards have already been revealed and will come in three flavors, Z790, H770 & B760. The H710 motherboards are seemingly canceled as the H610 boards will take their place and continue to be offered in the entry-level segment.
According to Moore's Law is Dead, Intel's Z790 motherboards will add support for PCIe Gen 5 M.2 SSDs but just like AMD's AM5 platform, not all motherboards will have it. It looks like only the top-tier motherboards (premium offerings) will carry Gen 5 M.2 support whereas the mainstream line will not utilize PCIe Gen 5.0 due to the higher costs that come from adding more PCB layers and redrivers for Gen 5 hardware.
Intel Raptor Lake and Z790 motherboards update. (Image Credits: Moore's Law is Dead)
All of AMD's X670E class boards will carry PCIe Gen 5 M.2 support but as we have seen there too, only the top-end spectrum utilize the X670E design whereas the rest of the lineup (X670 / B650) is a mix of Gen 5 and Gen 4 PCIe/SSD solutions. It is stated that Intel plans to show off its first Z790 products by the end of July or Late August which means a Q3 2022 unveiling. This won't be a retail launch of any sort but would be a reveal similar to what AMD did with its 600-series AM5 lineup.
Motherboard makers will show off their designs and list down specifications for their next-gen Z790 boards. We may even get to hear pricing from some manufacturers but the possibility of it happening is slim. The motherboards are said to begin validation by August prior to their mass production so that means we could really be looking at a late October or November launch for Intel's 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs. We have seen countless engineering samples of Raptor Lake chips now being tested and benchmarked though Intel wants its board partners to be ready prior to the official launch.
HWiNFO also recently added preliminary support for ASUS's Z790 motherboards which will be featured in the upcoming version.
With that said, Intel's existing 600-series motherboards that were launched with 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs will retain support for 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs since they use the same LGA 1700 and 1800 socket layout. The Z690 motherboards are very capable still and come in both DDR4 & DDR5 flavors. Currently, there are no PCIe Gen 5.0 SSDs out there to take advantage of the Gen 5 slots but they are indeed coming out and AMD is working hard with Phison to usher in the era of Gen 5 storage which will do wonders with their Smart Access Storage technology.
Intel also has a new AI M.2 Module feature coming with Raptor Lake CPUs but the details on that have not been revealed yet. So in the end, if you are really interested in Gen 5 SSDs, then Z790 is the way to go otherwise, your current motherboards will be more than good for Raptor Lake chips. Plus, some board makers have already released BIOS for their motherboards to support the upcoming chips.Continue Reading


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Remember those car-crash results in Q3 a year ago? No repeat collision this time round
In fact the company raised its full-year outlook for the third time in 2021, such is the confidence with which SAP now views its cloud biz. It is estimating sales to grow by up to 19 per cent year-on-year, and operating profit to be between flat to a decline of 2 per cent, better than the earlier projection of a 4 per cent drop.
The preliminary results for the latest quarter ended 30 September show turnover of €6.84bn, up 5 per cent on the corresponding quarter of 2020. Among the highlights, cloud revenue jumped by a fifth to €2.39bn and software licences and support fell 1 per cent to €3.52bn, so lots of customer have migrations to do.
“Our strategy is clearly working,” said the breathless CEO, Christian Klein. “Customers are choosing SAP for their business transformation in the cloud. We see record adoption of our applications and our platform. This has resulted in strong acceleration of our cloud growth.”
His tone is remarkably different to October 2020 when it became apparent that COVID-19 had sped up the shift to the cloud, casting a shadow over the legacy vendors still reliant on doing business the way they always had.
- Former SAP leader’s lawsuit claims she was canned for pushing corporate diversity
- Yikes, tough crowd: Only 30% of German-speaking users are happy with SAP’s cloud push
- Get ready to make processes fit the software when shifting to SAP’s cloud, users told
- SAP’s home crowd fails to RISE to the bait with lift-and-shift-to-the-cloud offer
SAP said today that corporations are “re-evaluating their business models with increased urgency given the dramatic changes due to the pandemic and their ongoing focus on digital transformation.”
The RISE with SAP programme was introduced in January to help make it easier for customers to step into SAP’s cloud.
Not everyone is convinced in the benefits of RISE but, seemingly, many are. SAP said it had a cloud backlog of €8.17bn in Q3, up 24 per cent from €6.6bn a year ago. The S/HANA cloud backlog itself was 60 per cent higher year-on-year at €1.28bn.
Not all that glitters is gold, however, and operating profit for Q3 decreased 15 per cent to €1.25bn and operating margin fell 4.3 per cent to 18.2 per cent “due to higher sharer-based compensation expenses (primarily related to Qualtrics)”.
The numbers outlined by SAP are preliminary and so subject to change. ®
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The Nordics/Baltics have gained growing attention in recent years as the region has seen an explosion of startups, successful exits (including growing number of ‘unicorns’), early-adoption of technologies, high standard of living, and strong and innovative educational systems. All of this is fueling new opportunities for entrepreneurs and enterprises that see Virtual Reality (and Augmented Reality), i.e. VR and AR, as increasingly interesting technologies with growing number of potential applications in industry and education.
This Silicon Vikings session will give you a current update on some of the latest things happening on the VR/AR front in the Nordics & Baltics, both in terms of current projects as well as what we may see in the near future as companies and consumers gain familiarity with VR/AR, and as prices of devices (including VR headsets) come down and the volume and quality of VR content improves. The event will host a visiting delegation of Norwegian business executives who are members of Open Innovation Lab (OIL) in Oslo, led by Truls Berg, Managing Partner of Digital Insight and Founding Leader of OIL.
We will start by hearing from a company, One Reality AB, that was launched last year in Sweden, and focusing its “operating footprint” around the Oresund region, but with plans to expand both across the Nordics and in the SF Bay Area. Sheridan Tatsuno, Co-Founder of One Reality, and a SF resident who spends much time in the Nordics, will share some of the entrepreneurial story of One Reality and its vision for using VR for urban planning and for examining issues around smart, sustainable cities.
Per Olav Nyborg, CEO of VR Education (a Norwegian VR startup), one of the OIL delegates, will share some of the lessons learned so far in Norway, especially in the Hamar/Hedemark region which is now becoming a Center of Excellence around the use of VR in education, including for teaching mathematics. A major US player in VR, EON Reality (from Los Angeles) has set up its European HQ in Hamar, and is now working with Norwegian VR start-ups, as well as with municipal and county officials to create world-class expertise and technology around VR in education and in other application areas.
One or two other VR experts may join the session, and issues, developments and questions that may be explored, include the followin
- What do the One Reality and Hamar projects say about VR applications in industry, government, and education in the next few years in the Nordics and beyond?
- What are some of the other interesting/innovative VR projects that are now emerging in the Nordics, and are we likely to see the Nordics becoming a leading developer and user region for VR (and perhaps AR)?
- What are the current and emerging conditions in the Nordics, including public/educational policies, which may have significant impact on whether VR will gain a stronghold in the region?
- What are the members of the Norwegian OIL consortium seeing from their companies in terms of interest and potential use of VR and AR? [Norway’s largest company, Statoil (oil and gas, but expanding rapidly into renewable energy) is one of the companies that have already found very interesting and cost-saving applications from VR technology]
Come and join in the fun and participate in the interactive discussion at the session. We always set aside plenty of time for Q&A, to allow attendees to interact with the speakers, and also share their own experiences and expertise around VR/AR.
Brian Leckey started his career at the BBC and has over 20 years experience producing and directing for UK and US TV networks. His experience ranges from producing live events for the BBC to directing Mythbusters for Discovery Channel. He’s now applying his TV experience to VR/AR and mobile software development.
In 2017 Brian was hired by Lithuania based Telesoftas one of the largest mobile software developers in Europe. Telesoftas has 14 years experience in mobile app development and is at the cutting edge of VR and AR production. Brian is currently working on an AR app which utilizes revolutionary 3D volumetric video capture technology, which enables a host or actors performance to be captured in 3D and incorporated into an AR experience.
Telesoftas has over 150 staff software engineers and designers, with offices in Lithuania, Switzerland and California. Telesoftas was included in Deloitte’s Fast 50 list as one of the fastest growing technology companies in Central Europe in 2017. Telesoftas has completed several VR apps including business collaboration tool Medusa VR and was also chosen to build an AR/MR experience built on Microsoft Hololens to be showcased during the winter Olympics in Korea.
Sheridan Tatsuno—Co-Founder of One Reality AB. Sheridan’s passions are urban planning, writing (fiction/nonfiction), and VR (virtual reality). He is a Silicon Valley market researcher and breakthrough strategist who has helped raise $10M for 8 startups since 2000 and advised over 700 global tech companies since 1983, including major breakthroughs: Intel into processor (1985), "Intel Inside" (1992), Nokia's global launch (1994), AMD Japan's sales-doubling (1996), and AMD's sub-$1000 PC breakthrough (1997). His book, "In the Valley of Digital Dreams", discusses growing up and working in Silicon Valley's tech industry.
Per Olav Nyborg—CEO of VR Education and also COO of Kommuneforlaget (a large publisher in Norway, and a leading supplier to the Norwegian school system). A graduate of the Norwegian School of Management (BI), Per Olav has worked with digitalization and development of products for over 10 years. In addition to leading VR Education, Per Olav has had a central position at Kommuneforlaget in the creating and development of digital products, in close collaboration with customers and partners, resulting in the development of over 50 applications/solutions for the public sector. VR Education and Kommuneforlaget are working with EON Reality and two Norwegian start-ups companies, Innit AS and Making View AS, to innovate and transform how students learn math in Hamar/Hedemark, and, if all goes well, in other parts of Norway and beyond
Eilif Trondsen. Eilif—a transplanted Norwegian who has spent his whole professional life in Silicon Valley—has led and participated in a number of syndicated research programs and numerous consulting projects during his 35 years at SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute) and Strategic Business Insights (a spin-out from SRI, located on the Menlo Park campus of SRI). Eilif has also been Adjunct Professor of Economics at a number of Bay Area universities. Most of his work has focused on eCommerce, Learning, Innovation, and Virtual Technologies, and in recent years much of his work has focused on the Nordic region, especially Finland and Norway, including projects for Tekes and the Norwegian Research Council, and three projects funded by Nordic Innovation. He was recently the project leader of a new Nordic Innovation project awarded to Silicon Vikings, which will build a Nordic EdTech Network. He has been a Board member of Silicon Vikings for the last 5 years, and have been the Chair of the Special Interest Group on Entrepreneurship and Learning since its beginning.