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As you probably are aware of, T-Mobile is the only one of the “Big Four” US carriers that do not offer the iPhone to their customers. While the likes of ATT (NASDAQ:T), Verizon Wireless (NASDAQ:VZ) and Sprint Nextel Corporation (NASDAQ:S) have long been offering Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) flagship handset, T-Mobile has, in a way, fallen behind the pack due to the iPhone’s unavailability on their network.
That may end in 2012, as a report claims T-Mobile is teaming up with Ericsson and Nokia-Siemens to create their own 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network, which should be the start of a campaign to include the new iPhone among its offerings.
The new iPhone or iPhone 5 has been rumored to be the first Apple handset to support LTE, which is considered the premier standard of Internet connectivity where available. According to the report, ATT will beef up its frequency band, then fully delve into establishing its LTE network.
Could it be true that T-Mobile will be the fourth American carrier to offer the iPhone?
We can only hope this is true, as T-Mobile has apparently been having issues with the AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) frequency band. This is a 1700/2100 MHz frequency band used for T-Mobile’s 3G Network, and T-Mobile will need to adjust this in order to maximize what could be a 4G LTE-enabled new iPhone.
As such, there is a chance that, if T-Mobile offers the iPhone 5, it will initially be a 3G-only handset. T-Mobile itself has stated that 2013 may be the earliest time the carrier would be able to fully support LTE.
Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) upcoming new iPhone is expected by many to be one of the last, if not the last “superphone” releases of 2012, given its rumored October 2012 launch date. It may also be the last smartphone ever available at a price point lower than $200.
According to the Wall Street Journal, America’s leading carriers – ATT (NASDAQ:T), Verizon Wireless (NASDAQ:VZ) and Sprint (NASDAQ:S) are expected to take affirmative action against the standard smartphone contract.
This may put a stop to subsidized pricing, an arrangement which lines the pockets of the manufacturer (in this case, Apple) yet doesn’t really bode well for a carrier’s bottom line. The iPhone has been singled out by analysts and carrier executives alike due to the numerous side agreements with Apple and the high cost of the iPhone itself, which is at $750 for the 4S.
As early as now, wireless carriers are trying to make it more difficult for users to opt for an upgrade before their standard 2-year deal runs out. Upgrade fees at ATT and Sprint are now $36, up from $18, while Verizon finally imposed their own upgrade fee of $30.
This, however, may not be enough to recoup losses caused by subsidization and the rapid increase in the number of consumers opting for an early upgrade.
(CNET) You can never have enough clues about what Apple might have up its sleeve for its next iPhone.
The latest tidbit comes in the form of a domain name – iphone5.com – for which Apple has filed a claim with the World Intellectual Property Organization. To date, Apple’s smartphone line has counted up only to the iPhone 4S, but the company is widely believed to be getting ready to bring an iPhone 5 into the world.
Of course, ahead of the iPhone 4S launch last fall, a good many people expected the next model to be the iPhone 5. By way of comparison, Apple’s latest tablet was generally expected to be the iPad 3, but ended up being called just the new iPad.
While there are no specifications to be gleaned here, the WIPO filing does at least suggest that Apple is considering the iPhone 5 name for the next iteration of its market-defining device. Or perhaps it just wishes to take that domain out of play, regardless of what it calls the device.
In its current state, iPhone5.com is a forum site, created in February 2008, according to the WhoIs record. Its copyright statement clearly indicates that it is “not endorsed, sponsored, nor otherwise affiliated with Apple” and that it was created “for the sole purpose of entertainment and knowledge.”
Apparently, at least some of the denizens of the site like it just fine that way. Worried that if Apple were to take control the site would be shut down, a commenter named Morphius wrote today: “we as members here before the 4s was even released at iphone5.com should stand our ground against Apple. We have every right to be a fan of the iPhone and to talk and discuss about it. THEY WIILL NOT SHUT US DOWN!!!!!”[sic]
The bare-minimum WIPO filing page does not indicate when Apple filed its complaint, although the case number D2012-0951 does indicate that it might have been sometime this year. It does say, under the heading Decision, “Case active.”
Apple has done battle before to take possession of domain names in a quest to protect the good name of its products. After filing a complaint with the WIPO in November, Apple was able to take control of seven “iPhone” domain names, including the straightforward iphone4s.com and the more prurient iphonesex4s.com. Apple is expected to deliver the next iPhone sometime this year.
Apple did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.
May 9th, 2012, 6:53 P.M.– Ahead of the widely anticipated launch of two popular “LTE phones,” Sprint lays out plan to enhance its networks, claiming that it will improve its 3G network, and strategically stabilize its upcoming Long-Term Evolution network.
Sprint, more likely than not, will sell the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 5, but ahead of the upcoming launches, the company today unveils its scheduled network upgrade–mainly to improve its current 3G coverage and performance, and to maximize the potential of its upcoming Long Term Evolution network.
According to PC Magazine, Sprint laid out its plan today at the CTIA event, telling its viewers that they will launch a better 3G network, a solid LTE 4G connectivity, and the quality of its push-to-talk.
Sprint’s rivals, ATT and Verizon, offer the Long Term Evolution and 3G with tiered data plans. Sprint’s smartphone data plans, arguably, can compete with ATT’s and Verizon’s only if the network is stable enough to support the large number of subscribers who simultaneously surf the web.
Apparently, Sprint, last year, was bombarded with complaints about the poor 3G connection of the iPhone 4S. Now, it looks like the third-largest wireless carrier has learned its lesson. Sprint is currently offering the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 4 with the unlimited data, allowing customers to enjoy a 24/7 internet connection using the Apple smartphone with a single monthly data fee. Sprint’s unlimited data plans are also available for Android-based smartphones.
Sprint’s network senior vice president, Bob Azzi, said that the company is now focusing on its “customers” and Sprint is confident that its network will be “really competitive.”
If Sprint, well they should, will sell the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3, then it is highly possible that the upcoming network upgrades is a strategic move, allowing them to compete with Verizon Wireless and ATT, the top two provides in United States. Sprint, however, will launch the LTE or Long Term Evolution in six cities only, and no word yet about future areas. The iPhone 5, according to rumors, will be the first LTE phone of Apple, while the Samsung Galaxy S3, similar to the company’s Galaxy Nexus, is expected to support LTE, and likely with the help of Qualcomm’s new Krait CPU, the Snapdragon S4.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 was announced by phone giant Samsung last week in London. It ships with quad-core Exynos chip (the international variant), an 8-megapixel camera, a front-facing camera, a large 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD screen, and Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. Meanwhile, analysts believe that Apple will launch the long-rumored “iPhone 5″ before the fourth quarter of this year. The iPhone 5, rumors say, will introduce a new design, will come with a new mobile operating system version, and might ship with a larger display.
Article source: http://www.popherald.com/sprint-lte-3g-strategy-17174/
[ABOVE: One of the recent batch of iPhone 5 concept videos that's doing the rounds at present.]
Pegatron secures new iPhone orders
The report states Pegatron has secured manufacturing orders for the iPhone 5, adding that the product is expected to be launched “in September”. The report also claims Pegatron will be manufacturing a 10-inch iPad, also to be launched in Q4.
These claims don’t come from Pegatron, but from Digitimes’ shadowy world of “Taiwan-based supply chain makers” — in itself a demographic to conjure with, do people make supply chains?
Crucially, Digitimes adds: “Pegatron has already finished expanding its equipment and labor force for Apple’s orders.” Does this mean Apple’s manufacturing partners have almost finished assembling new production lines for the next crop of iDevices?
7-inch iPad too?
Wait, there’s more. The report adds: “A 7-inch iPad, which reportedly will be released in August, will be manufactured by Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry).“
If correct — and with Digitimes it seems best to remain skeptical until the 11th hour — the report suggests a new iPhone in September, accompanied potentially by a new iPad configuration. It also posits a 7-inch iPad model (which I’d argue might potentially be marketed as an eBook reader for education) scheduled for introduction in August.
Troubles with 4G
I’d warn this speculated-upon “new” 10-inch iPad configuration could turn out to be nothing more than an upgraded version of the existing model.
I’d guess this could be a version which might deliver support for 4G networks in Asia Pacific, Australia/Oceania and Europe. The existing model only supports 4G networks in North America.
Digitimes last week claimed iPhone 4S display manufacturers, were expecting a decline in orders from Apple as the company begins transition to a new model, which will use in-cell displays from Japanese manufacturers, including Sharp.
Apple has been expected to introduce the new iPhone in Fall. The two recent Digitimes reports now favor a September launch, indicating the importance of the iPod range may be deprecated, with all focus now on the new Apple smartphone, which is expected to take on Samsung’s devices for dominance of the global industry.
Keep up with further iPhone 5 coverage here:
- Apple’s iPhone 5 release date: Q3 launch?
- Liquidmetal iPhone 5? Not this year, inventor claims
- iPhone 5: Make or break for Apple vs. Samsung?
- 3 reasons Apple won’t reveal iPhone 5 in June
- iPhone 5: Thinner, lighter, faster — and poured?
- Collected: Apple’s ‘unibody’ iPhone 5 ships fall, claims
Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me know. I’d like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when these items are published here first on Computerworld.
T-Mobile looks to be furthering its arsenal to compete against the likes of ATT, Sprint and Verizon Wireless, as reports suggest the carrier will be announcing its own iPhone 5 release date in the not-so distant future.
The news comes amidst rumors that T-Mobile is joining forces with Nokia-Siemens and Ericsson to carve out a hugely lucrative 4G LTE initiative.
According to those in the know, the enormous overhaul the network is planning will be largely similar to that of ATT, though will first concentrate on the frequency band.
One of the biggest thorns in the side of T-Mobile has always been the iPhone – or more accurately the distinct lack thereof. Analysts and consumers alike are becoming increasingly convinced that without offering the iPhone 5 upon its release date later this year, T-Mobile stands to lose an epic number of current customers – including many of its more dedicated and long-term subscribers.
It appears to be a typical case of T-Mobile adopting the “Better late than never” ideology, having shared their plans about network upgrades, frequently discussing Apple products and assuring customers that the network will support 3G and 4G iPhones before the close of 2012.
As such, while the device has not been specifically mentioned by name, it appears as though T-Mobile’s plans for the iPhone 5 following its expected Q3 launch couldn’t be clearer.
However, some in the industry have suggested that given the timeframe available, a T-Mobile iPhone 5 release this year may in fact carry 3G connectivity only – the LTE variant to follow next year. If true, this may once again peg T-Mobile slightly behind its rivals in the proverbial pecking-order.
That being said, it is also worth bearing in mind that no word has yet been issued as to whether or not the iPhone 5 will indeed feature LTE technology, though the likelihood seems a rather foregone conclusion to put it mildly.
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Before you get all excited, this is just a fan-made render. However, this LiquidMetal concept isn’t without a touch of real-world problem solving.
Much has been made of how Apple can up the size of its screen to fend off attacks from the likes of HTC’s One X or Samsung’s Galaxy S3 without upsetting the millions of devs who’ve created apps in the iPhone’s 3:2 aspect ratio. And this 4.5in design, courtesy of NAK Studio, has a neat solution.
The home button becomes virtual, allowing devs to create widescreen apps (see Angry Birds, above) but meaning Apple doesn’t have to redesign or fragment its precious iOS. Apps that aren’t updated can run in their previous aspect ratio, keeping the home button handily displayed.
NAS doesn’t explain how users leave the app, but a gesture or shake could easily replace that cumbersome home button. Or it could slide up from the base of the screen in the way the iOS notifications panel slides down. We say bring it on – the iPhone’s screen is starting to look embarrassingly small.
The new generation of iPhone 5. Everybody waits it, and any rumor is in the attention of potential customers, or simply in the attention of the market. After all the iPhone is one of the biggest players on the phone market.
Starting from an unnamed source, Apple is now cutting its orders of iPhone touch panels. It might be the way to tell us, by the 15 to 20 percent decrease in shipments of the touch panel components that the transition to a the new technology has begun.
The new technology called in-cell touch will be in the final stage, according to the source and iPhone will be the latest technology itself. This will help to achieve one of the greatest and useful things, a reduced size of the iPhone, and an easier with fewer steps during the manufacturing process, so everybody comes in advantage. Later this year Apple will be using thinner in-cell technology for multi-touch display in its next-generation iPhone, so the future is close with the wind of change. The provider for this new technology remains unknown for the moment, for the reason that the DigiTimes report shows that TPK i Wintek will not be the ones responsible providing the in-cell touch panels.
For the new features an iPhone 5, rumors say that the display will come with better way to be used, thinner, and brighter. With this new in-cell touch, the iPhone eliminates the need for more layers of glass and sensors, and by this, another series of advantages appears and many other benefits. After all this, imagine that the next rumor will make you dream about the new iPhone 5, a larger display (4-inch) launched with 4G LTE support. Fewer pins with 30-pin port, means a new Dock connector will be one more new thing.
The iPhone 5 might use Gorilla Glass 2, for a better resistance from scratches and other shocks in daily uses, and used partially, while the rest to be made of a Liquidmetal alloy, but again these are just rumors, nothing official.
Nothing official about the release date on the market, even some people say June is the month, but expert reports show its more likely October. One thing we know for sure, everybody expects Apple, to shock the world with a new device, capable to take over the markets all over the world, and putting the base of the new generation technologies, the biggest expectation from the biggest player of futuristic technologies.


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The World Bank's Country Director for the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, Faris Hadad Zervos, has said that the impact of inflation on the Maldives will be less.
Speaking to the local media Dhauru, Faris Hadad Zarvos said the Maldives would also be affected by the increase in commodity prices. He said inflation would rise to 3.5 percent this year from an average of 0.5 percent over the past five years, making the impact on low-income people greater.
However, the price of basic food items will remain stable in the market as the subsidy is being given, and so the true impact of inflation will be less, he said.
The Country Director, who frequently travels to the Maldives, praised the economic measures being taken by the government. He said the Maldives is now heading in the right direction and that he supports the government's efforts to increase GST and change subsidy policies.
Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also expressed its support for the government's efforts to increase the TGST and GST.

domain: news


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REVEALED: The creepy solution supermarkets are using to stop theft at self-service checkouts
- Researchers studied whether digital faces would decrease theft at retailers
- They found customers confronted with a face were less likely to steal
- Australian and New Zealand stores lost a total of $3.37billion last financial year
A creepy digital face staring back at customers could help supermarkets curb the rise of theft at self-serve checkouts.
Australia and New Zealand are trying several different methods to decrease theft in their stores after the industry lost a total of $3.37billion in the 2017-2018 financial year.
Researchers at the Abertay University in Scotland conducted a study to determine whether displaying a face on self-serve checkout screens would stop people from stealing.
They found people were less likely to steal when confronted with a face compared to participants using standard self-serve checkouts.
Researchers at the Abertay University in Scotland conducted a study to determine whether displaying a face on self-serve checkout screens would stop people from stealing
HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM IS CUSTOMER CRIME?
- Australian and New Zealand retailers lost $3.37 billion dollars in the 2017-2018 financial year.
- Theft from stores made up 57 per cent of losses due to crime.
- Customers stealing while using self-serve checkouts increased 16 per cent in two years.
'Items without a bar code provided opportunities for dishonest behaviours as participants were required to select a weight or provide item numbers,' the researcher's wrote.
'This study shows that there are potential effects on people's behaviour due to the inclusion of human-like elements within the service.
Researchers noted designers must find a balance between security and customer convenience.
'Interface designers interested in this field need to achieve a balance in that an agent will have to be noticed sufficiently, while not interfering with a consumer's task.'
They found people were less likely to steal when confronted with the face compared to participants using standard self-serve checkouts
The Australia and New Zealand Retail Crime Survey of 9,000 stores found the retail industry is suffering severe financial loss due to crime.
The largest reported cause of financial loss in retails was customer theft, which made up 57 per cent of all losses due to crime.
That figure increased 16 per cent in two years and one of the main reasons behind the surge in thefts was due to the popularity of self-serve checkouts.


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Owner of Zara chain makes steady progress
Jim Armitage is the City editor of The Independent and London Evening Standard group of newspapers. He has been a reporter and editor for more than 20 years and was recently shortlisted for the Press Gazette financial journalist of the year and The Society of Editors financial journalist of the year awards. He contributes news, investigative reports and comment to the Independent titles plus a daily column in the Evening Standard.
Thursday 22 March 2012
Inditex, the Spanish owner of the Zara fashion chain, saw profits surge 12 per cent last year despite the eurozone crisis battering its huge operation on the Continent.
Inditex said profit for the year rose to €1.93bn (£1.6bn) as turnover jumped 10 per cent to €13.8bn.
In addition to the Zara chain it has been expanding the global footprint of its other fashion brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, Bershka and Stradivarius to the UK and further afield.
The company opened 483 new stores last year and now operates 5,527 shops in 82 countries. It opened its first stores in Australia, South Africa, Taiwan, Azerbaijan and Peru last year and plans to open another 520 stores in 2012, and launch online shopping in China.
The group's founder, Amancio Ortega, was recently named the world's fifth-richest man by Forbes magazine, with a total wealth estimated at $37.5bn (£23.6bn).
Last year he stepped down from the day-to-day running of the business that he began as a textile manufacturer in 1963.
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Abbott on Wednesday reported first quarter sales of $9.75 billion, a decline of 18% from $11.9 billion in Q1 2022.
Sales surpassed Wall Street analysts’ average estimate of $9.64 billion.
For the first quarter ended March 31, the Abbott Park, IL-based firm posted Diagnostics business sales of $2.69 billion, a 49% decline from Q1 2022. Within Diagnostics, Core Laboratory segment sales were $1.18 billion, Molecular Diagnostics sales were $147 million, Point-of-Care sales were $134 million, and Rapid Diagnostics sales were $1.23 billion.
Diagnostics sales growth in the first quarter was negatively impacted by year-over-year declines in COVID-19 testing-related sales. Worldwide COVID-19 testing sales were $730 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared to $3.3 billion in the first quarter of the prior year.
Excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, global Diagnostics sales growth was almost flat year-over-year on a reported basis and 4.4% on an organic basis. Organic sales growth, excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, was led by Core Laboratory, Point of Care, and Rapid Diagnostics, Abbott said. In Molecular Diagnostics, growth was negatively impacted by lower demand for seasonal respiratory testing compared to significantly higher-than-usual demand in the first quarter of the prior year.
In other businesses, Abbott reported Nutrition sales of $1.97 billion, up 4% year-over-year; Established Pharmaceuticals sales of $1.19 billion, up 3.7% year-over-year; and Medical Devices sales of $3.9 billion, up 9% year-over-year.
Although Abbott’s Diagnostics segment sales declined because of lower COVID-19 testing demand, there is less of an impact from the pandemic on its overall business, Abbott Chairman and CEO Robert Ford said on a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results.
Ford noted that in January, he had expressed optimism that the headwinds Abbott and other companies faced due to the pandemic were starting to peak and in some cases ease. “As we moved through the first part of the year, that's exactly what we continued to see,” he said, adding, “Most notably, the impact of COVID has rapidly and significantly lessened.“
Behavioral societal shifts are evident, including “a significant increase in travel and tourism we've all seen, heard about, or experienced firsthand,” he said. “A much more relevant and important behavioral shift that we're seeing in healthcare globally has been the increased priority people are putting on getting healthy and staying healthy.”
For Abbott’s businesses, such behavioral shifts are translating to “increased routine diagnostic testing volumes, improved medical device procedure trends, and strong demand for consumer-based health products,” Ford said.
The company reported first-quarter net income of $1.32 billion, or $.75 per share, compared to $2.45 billion, or $1.37 per share, in the prior-year quarter. Its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.03, surpassing Wall Street analysts’ average estimate of $.99.
Projected full-year adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $4.30 to $4.50 remains unchanged and reflects an increased outlook for the underlying base business offset by a lower forecasted earnings contribution from COVID-19 testing-related sales. Excluding COVID-19 testing-related sales, Abbott now projects full-year 2023 organic sales growth of at least high single-digits and COVID-19 testing-related sales of approximately $1.5 billion.
On February 17, the company announced a quarterly dividend of $.51 per share, payable May 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 14.
In Wednesday morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Abbott shares rose more than 6% to $111.18.


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Although the first SMS was sent by an engineer, from his computer to a mobile device on Vodafone's UK network, it was only in 1994 that Nokia launched a mobile phone that let people easily write messages. What Nokia made popular is today proving to be its Achilles Heel as a new generation of smartphones coupled with a proliferation of applications like BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) and WhatsApp relegate text messaging to just another service.
According to Vodafone India's latest half-yearly numbers, the company's messaging revenues have fallen 18.8% over a year ago; and there has been a 22% drop in person-to-person SMS over the same period. Messaging revenue for Vodafone India comprises person-to-person SMS, MMS, bulk SMS, SMS termination and international roaming SMS. Bjas Murthy, associate director for voice products & services at Vodafone India, attributes the dip in India to evolution of smartphones, implementation of the new unsolicited commercial communication( UCC) process in September 2011 and an SMS ban in mid-August 2012 for national security reasons that stifled customer usage. "These have impacted usage patterns of customers in the last few quarters.
What happened during this phase fuelled the growth of instant messaging, BBM, WhatsApp and other alternatives. The emergence of digital adopters and datasavvy customers resulted in a shift in usage, from traditional messaging to new-age messaging platforms," explains Murthy.
Vodafone's rival Idea Cellular, in contrast, says it is registering a consistent growth in SMS volume. Rajat Mukarji, chief corporate affairs officer at Idea says: "SMS continues to be a popular service for mobile users in India. Two of every three new users are coming into the category from rural India. A majority of these users use the basic feature phones, which only have SMS as the messaging service."
The jury maybe divided, but the future of SMS is debatable. In mature markets like the US, SMS is on a decline, although there are many markets in Asia and Africa where the medium is yet to reach a bulk of the population. Norm Johnston, global digital leader, Mindshare Worldwide says: "While SMS is in decline in smartphone mature markets, it continues to thrive in other parts of the world. So while everyone gets fixated on sexy new areas of mobile marketing such as augmented reality, marketers need to keep in mind that SMS is still widely used on a massive scale, and in fact still growing in some markets." For example, an average of 81 texts per person, per month are being sent in Brazil, up from 48 messages per user in 2010; and a French mobile regulator reported a 40% jump in SMS usage and a doubling of mobile data volumes year-on-year in January this year, says Johnston netCORE Solutions, a Mumbai based digital communication company, echoes Johnston's view.
Girish Nair, CEO, netCORE Solutions, says his firm has effectively used SMS to communicate to 8 million customers for a campaign done for HUL's detergent brand Wheel and reached out to 7.44 million customers for Colgate Salt's campaign done over the past two years. "As a stand-alone medium, SMS may not be very effective, but it is an important component in the media mix. SMS is still prevalent among educated people who still read and respond to SMS," insists Nair.
He points to insurance, banks, mutual funds and other financial companies who rely heavily on the medium to communicate with their customers. As long as SMS delivers against a consumer need and is not an interruption, it is good. "Where SMS has generally failed is when it breaks this cardinal rule and simply becomes a more intrusive form of spam," adds Johnston.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (TRAI) mandates on UCC and Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations (TCPR) have been a major blow to telecom operators in India. "Earlier operators could make money out of per SMS sent but now with data plans the cost is of the overall package and not a single unit," explains Vinod Thadani, COO, Madhouse India, a WPP-owned mobile marketing company. While no one is ready to write an obituary for SMS yet, the future says Johnston could simply be automated. "As phones become smarter, the need to even type anything may be eliminated," he says.
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Stricter airport regulations may increase consumer demand for computers and other gadgets with thicker skin. As such, so-called ruggedized devices, which have been primarily targeted at the military and field workers, may start to get a sleeker look that appeals to consumers.rnrn
Here, Itronix President and CEO Tom Turner stands atop his company’s latest notebook, a pose that Michael Dell or Hewlett-Packard’s Mark Hurd are unlikely to duplicate with their newest portable systems. All Itronix notebooks with the “rugged” label have been designed to withstand strenuous tests for pressure and vibration.
Itronix, a division of General Dynamics, plans to release its newest rugged notebook, the GoBook XR-1, in September. The XR-1 isn’t cheap, with a starting price of $4,330. But it is designed to withstand falls, spills and other hazards that would render an ordinary notebook useless. Turner said in an interview last week that the company’s GoBook line of notebooks is used by the Air Force and have been deployed to the deserts of Iraq.
Some companies already have their sights set on consumers who crave hardier hardware. In 2005, General Motors signed an exclusive three-year licensing agreement with Itronix to make a semi-ruggedized portable computer styled after the Hummer. Priced at $2,988, the laptops come with enough padding to survive six separate drops from a height of 30 inches onto two 3/4-inch sheets of plywood placed on top of concrete.
HP has several portables designed to take a punch. The nr3600 notebook and tr3000 tablet meet a U.S. military requirement to survive a 3-foot drop multiple times onto to concrete covered by plywood, for example.
The Panasonic Toughbook 29 also meets the military’s ruggedness requirements and comes in its own magnesium alloy casing. Panasonic’s fully-rugged line of Toughbooks can be used with separate, portable touchscreens. The heavy-duty screens can be used up to 300 ft. away from any wireless-enabled Toughbook.
Panasonic’s line of semi-rugged notebooks may be better suited to consumers who want something stronger than the average laptop but don’t necessarily need a computer that’s ready for a war zone. Their semi-rugged notebooks come equipped with spill-resistant touchpads and shock-mounted hard drives to protect data in case they get knocked around a bit. But they retain a sleek look and only weigh between 2.8 and 3.4 pounds.
Terralogic‘s Toughnote Series M laptops come with rubber bumpers on all corners.
Itronix also offers a rugged slate-tablet PC, which it announced last year. The Duo-Touch can withstand rain, snow, wind, dust, vibration, shock and chemical exposure with a temperature range between minus 4 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the company says.
Here is the Terralogic Toughnote DI-7. While strides are being made in rugged handheld PCs, they’re not likely to catch on with consumers until they can get size and style more in line with the slick gadgets road warriors are accustomed to carrying.
Rather than buying an entirely new system, travelers can also opt for a sturdy case for the gear they already have. The OtterBox Rugged Laptop Carrying Case is a waterproof case that encloses a laptop like a turtle in its shell. The case is able to withstand a 250-pound person jumping on it, so it will be able to protect your laptop from more mundane situations, like from some knucklehead stacking his luggage on your case at the airport, or from dropping it while pulling it out of your trunk. Stabilizing and shock-absorbing features are prominent, including durable no-slide rubber grips on the case, rubber bumpers inside the case that form a shock-resistant envelope around the laptop and a Velcro strap to secure the laptop when the case is closed. rnrn
The internal bumpers come in three sizes. All the rubber bumpers have Velcro backings that adhere to the inside of the case, making the internal cavity shrink to fit almost any laptop.
OtterBox also makes tough, waterproof cases for the Palm Treo, HP 6500 and 6900 and iPod.
Slappa‘s HardBody Pro Laptop Case combines fashion with function. The durable shell also has suede accents, a shoulder strap and retractable carrying handle. The internal laptop compartment is padded, lined with velvet and has straps to stabilize the laptop.


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26 August 2009
China's gold demand sparkles in Q2 ~ Shanghai Daily
THE demand for gold jewelry in China grew in the second quarter, driven mainly by the country's better-than-expected economic growth.
The demand rose 4 percent annually to 78.7 tons in the second quarter in China, including the mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the World Gold Council said in its quarterly gold demand report.
There was an even stronger year-on-year growth in demand on the Chinese mainland of 6 percent, which boosted its appetite for gold jewelry to 72.5 tons in the period, it said.
"China's mainland proved to be the most resilient among global jewelry markets," said the WGC.
"The mainland stands out in comparison to the 26 percent decline recorded across the rest of the world."The relative stability of the yuan and China's economic growth have been instrumental in propping up jewelry demand, WGC report said.
A surge in bank lending has helped cushion the impact from the global credit crunch, while an aggressive stimulus package has underpinned the domestic economy.
China's economy grew 7.1 percent in the first half, with a better-than-expected growth of 7.9 percent in the second quarter.
The 24-carat gold market is the most resilient while demand for 18-carat jewelry has eased.
The lackluster 18-carat gold jewelry market may be due to a shift in consumer preferences toward platinum, which has benefited from a price fall of about 40 percent at the retail level this year.
The retail gold investment rose 47 percent on the Chinese mainland to 17.1 tons in the second quarter.


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In a March 30 blog post, The Avalanche Foundation announced the launch of Avaissance, an initiative designed to support digital artists and boost the growth of the Avalanche nonfungible token (NFT) ecosystem.
Avaissance has two main components: an Artist in Resident program (AIR) for over 50 artists, and the Mona Lisa Initiative (MLI) to curate digital art and expand the collections of art-focused decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
The AIR program will provide artists “of any skill level” with funding, mentorship and virtual workshops for six months. The MLI will collaborate with DAOs’ curatorial teams to promote emerging Avalanche NFT artists and establish an “Avalanche Permanent Collection.”
Ticketmaster introduces new feature for artists to reward fans using NFTs
On March 27, United States-based ticketing company Ticketmaster announced a new feature — token-gated ticket sales — allowing artists to reward NFT holders with exclusive benefits, including “special presales, prime seats, custom travel packages and access to unique concert experiences.”
The ticketing giant developed the functionality after being approached by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) and its Web3 team, Bitflips. A7X wanted help implementing a service to provide holders of its NFTs — Deathbats Club, a collection of 10,000 unique Deathbat NFTs — the opportunity to unlock perks and access to events.
The feature works with tokens minted on Ethereum and stored in decentralized application (DApp) wallets, like MetaMask or Coinbase.
NFT artist withdraws work from Sotheby’s over lack of female representation
Popular NFT artist Patrick Amadon told his 142,400 Twitter followers that he would withdraw his work from major auction house Sotheby’s upcoming “Natively Digital: Glitch-ism” art sale to protest a lack of female representation.
Sotheby’s responded the next day to say it would pause the sale to “redress the imbalance in representation within the sale,” and relaunch later with a “more equitable and diverse group of artists.”
NFT artist Beeple opens a major 50,000 sq ft studio in South Carolina
Mike Winkelmann, also known as Beeple, shared a video with his Twitter followers on March 12, revealing his new 50,000-square-foot studio in South Carolina.
According to Beeple’s website, he will use the space to create his artwork and host events to “showcase the very best art and communities.”
“We are looking to partner with the most cutting-edge artists and communities to put on events that are not possible at any other venue,” the website stated.
Other Nifty News
On March 25, an NFT from the popular CryptoPunks collection, valued at approximately $135,000, was accidentally burned by an investor attempting the process of NFT wrapping to potentially borrow liquidity from it.
Sony Interactive Entertainment, the video gaming giant behind the PlayStation brand, recently filed a patent for a framework allowing users to transfer and utilize NFTs across multiple game platforms, titled “NFT framework for transferring and using digital assets between game platforms.”
Once implemented, Playstation 5 users will be able to explore NFT use cases via popular gaming titles.


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Mondays are hard, that's for sure. Which is exactly why "Moe's Mondays" are a thing. For the uninformed, that's the deal that gets you a burrito with chips and salsa for just $5.99. To really let fans of Moe's Mondays show off just how much they love Moe's Southwest Grill and good deals, the chain will be opening an online pop-up shop with all kinds of Moe's Monday merch! (Try to say that 10 times fast.)
On Monday, February 10, at 10a.m. EST Moe's pop-up shop will go live and will offer all sorts of branded merch for purchase. Everything will be in a limited quantity, so you should probably set an alarm to make sure you can get your hands on something before it's sold out.
As we've seen with other similar online pop-up shops like Dunkin' and Red Lobster, this stuff goes fast. Chain restaurants easily amass cult followings on the internet, and those people have no chill.
According to a press release, the pop-up store is all in response to customer interest. Moe's tweeted to their followers asking what mech they'd want and people responded with things like socks, t-shirts, bucket hats, and onesies.
There are no photos of all of the merch that will be available just yet, but the press release confirms that T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and koozies will all definitely be a part of the Moe's Monday line as well as some surprise items. It's only fair that in the meantime, before the pop-up shop is open, you pass the time doing what you do best...eating at Moe's.


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CHICAGO – Grubhub is launching MasterChef Table, a delivery-only virtual restaurant featuring recipes from MasterChef winners and fan favorites Kelsey Murphy, Dorian Hunter, Gerron Hurt, and Michael Silverstein. For 12 exciting seasons, Endemol Shine North America has produced MasterChef and captured America’s attention by celebrating the best in culinary creations and now diners will have a chance to not only watch the series on Wednesday nights (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, but also taste food from their favorite chef contestants, exclusively through Grubhub.
Available in more than 20 markets across the U.S., MasterChef Table features 11 gourmet dishes that embody American comfort foods expertly crafted by season 11 winner Kelsey Murphy, season 10 winner Dorian Hunter, season 9 winner Gerron Hurt and season 10 fan-favorite winner, Michael Silverstein. Fans and diners can enjoy dishes like the Spicy Maple Bacon Fried Chicken Sandwich and Nashville Hot Shrimp Tacos in areas including Alexandria, VA, Boston, MA, Bridgeport, CT, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, New York City, NY, North Hollywood, CA, Washington, D.C., and more.
“The dishes we create on ‘MasterChef’ are enjoyed by a few legendary judges, but as a chef, I always want as many people as possible to experience my culinary creations,” said Kelsey Murphy, winner of MasterChef Season 11. “With MasterChef Table, Grubhub is giving me and a few of my favorite Chefs the special opportunity to share our unique twists on comfort foods with fans and diners all over the country.”
“We’re always looking for ways to deliver new experiences to diners. Our partnership with MasterChef gives them exactly that, a seat at the table in the comfort of their home,” said Marnie Boyer, vice president of restaurant acquisition at Grubhub. “The MasterChef Table virtual restaurant adds more delectable food options to Grubhub’s extensive lineup of eateries and provides an additional revenue stream to our restaurant partners.”
The MasterChef Table menu is complete with appetizers, sides, and main courses from specific MasterChef alumni:
- Kelsey Murphy: Spicy Maple Bacon Fried Chicken Sandwich; Skewered Shrimp Elotes
- Dorian Hunter: Down South Quesadilla; Bangin Buffalo Chicken Fries; Italian Hoagie Burger (The Dorian Burger)
- Gerron Hurt: Southern Horsey Slaw; Nashville Hot Mac n’ Cheese; Nashville Hot Shrimp Tacos
- Michael Silverstein: Loaded Blue Cheese Lovers’ Steakhouse Wedge; Queso-Smothered Texas Fajitas; Triple-Stacked Smash Burger
“We’re thrilled that for the first time, through this ground-breaking partnership with Grubhub, MasterChef fans will now have the opportunity to order menu items created by their favorite MasterChef contestants and winners via the Grubhub app,” says Tamaya Petteway, Senior Vice President, Brand Partnerships & Digital, Endemol Shine North America. “And we’re also truly excited that through MasterChef Table, MasterChef will be introduced to Grubhub’s active database of ‘foodies’ and consumers who enjoy having new food experiences while dining at home.”
“Across Fox Entertainment, we take pride in creating impactful, relevant, and highly customized opportunities that enable our partners to authentically reach the audiences they most value,” said Suzanne Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Ad Sales, FOX Entertainment. “As we are launching season 12 of MasterChef cannot think of a better partner than Grubhub to deliver delicious dishes from previous winners.”
Later this season on MasterChef, chefs will be given a Grubhub-themed Mystery Box challenge, where contestants must create a gourmet version of the most popular dishes on the online food delivery marketplace.
For more information about MasterChef Table, including the menu, the chefs behind the menu, and if MasterChef Table is currently available in your neighborhood, visit grubhub.com/mastercheftable.
To celebrate MasterChef Table, Grubhub is launching a sweepstakes, giving a few lucky diners an exclusive at-home experience, including a one-of-a-kind MasterChef-themed table, fully-serviced maître d’, and a plethora of dishes from MasterChef Table to enjoy. Qualified applicants can enter the sweepstakes by placing an eligible order on MasterChef Table and using code “TABLE” at checkout. For more details, please visit https://lp.grubhub.com/masterchef-table-sweepstakes/.
Diners across the country can enjoy a premium MasterChef Table meal at home while watching the newest season of MasterChef, airing Wednesdays (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. As always, the Grubhub Guarantee ensures meals are delivered on time, at the lowest price, or Grubhub will make it right.
Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting more than 32 million diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 320,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.
About Endemol Shine North America
Endemol Shine North America delivers world-class content and compelling storytelling to multiple platforms in the U.S. and across the globe.
A division of Banijay, the world’s largest international content producer and distributor, subsidiary production companies in the U.S. include Authentic Entertainment, Truly Original, 51 Minds Entertainment, Bunim/Murray Productions, and Stephen David Entertainment. Its Endemol Shine Latino division oversees all original Spanish and Portuguese-language operations across Latin America, including Endemol Shine Brasil, Mexico City-based Endemol Shine Boomdog and Banijay Mexico and U.S. Hispanic.
Endemol Shine North America is behind such hit series as “Big Brother” (CBS), “MasterChef” (FOX), “MasterChef Junior” (FOX), “Wipeout” (TBS), “LEGO Masters” (FOX), “The Courtship” (USA/Peacock), “Foodtastic” (Disney+), “Married to Real Estate” (HGTV), “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo), “The Real Housewives of Potomac” (Bravo), “Below Deck” (Bravo), “Below Deck Mediterranean” (Bravo), “Below Deck Sailing Yacht” (Bravo), “Below Deck Down Under” (Peacock), “Swamp People” (History), “The Challenge” (MTV, Paramount+, CBS) and the upcoming launches of “The Surreal Life” (VH1), “The Real Housewives of Dubai” (Bravo) and “Ripley” (Showtime).
About FOX Entertainment
FOX Entertainment’s 30-year legacy of innovative, hit programming includes 9-1-1, 9-1-1: LONE STAR, THE MASKED SINGER, THE CLEANING LADY, NEXT LEVEL CHEF, LEGO MASTERS, THE SIMPSONS, “Empire,” “24,” “The X-Files” and “American Idol.” In addition to delivering high-quality scripted, non-scripted, animation, live content and major sports for the broadcast network, FOX Entertainment oversees the operations of FOX Alternative Entertainment, its in-house unscripted studio that produces THE MASKED SINGER, I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE and NAME THAT TUNE, among other series; the award-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment, which produces animated content for FOX, including the Emmy Award-winning hit BOB’S BURGERS and new series DUNCANVILLE, THE GREAT NORTH and HOUSEBROKEN, as well as programming for other broadcast, streaming and cable platforms; and Blockchain Creative Labs, a Web3 studio formed in 2021 by FOX Entertainment and Bento Box, to build, launch, manage and sell Non-Fungible Token (NFT) content and experiences, and fungible tokens, as well as digital goods and assets.
FOX Entertainment also recently formed the production venture Studio Ramsay Global, in partnership with award-winning chef, restaurateur and presenter Gordon Ramsay, to develop, produce and distribute culinary and lifestyle programming for FOX such as NEXT LEVEL CHEF, its fast-growing ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) service, Tubi and platforms worldwide. Tubi features more than 40,000 movies and television series, and news content that’s available in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australia. FOX Entertainment also acquired the entertainment platform TMZ and all its media properties, including its hit syndicated magazine programs, TMZ and TMZ LIVE, and its flagship digital platform, TMZ.com. Most recently, FOX Entertainment acquired MarVista Entertainment, a global leader in made-for-platform original content. Ranking among the world’s leading independent studios, MarVista will focus on developing and producing content for FOX’s digital platforms, including Tubi, as well as for third-party platforms worldwide.


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Bloomberg to buy US magazine BusinessWeek
The 80-year old American magazine BusinessWeek is getting a new owner with global financial news and data provider Bloomberg, majority owned by New York city mayor Michael Bloomberg, agreeing to buy the publication.
New York: The 80-year old American magazine BusinessWeek is getting a new owner with global financial news and data provider Bloomberg, majority owned by New York city mayor Michael Bloomberg, agreeing to buy the publication.
While the financial details of the deal have not been disclosed, the two parties expect to complete the deal by the end of this year.
Currently owned by the publishing giant McGraw-Hill
Companies, BusinessWeek has over 4.7 million readers spread
across 140 countries.
Both McGraw-Hill Companies and Bloomberg have entered
into an agreement for the proposed deal which is expected to
be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009, McGraw-Hills said
in a statement on Tuesday.
"We are pleased that we have reached an agreement for
BusinessWeek to be acquired by Bloomberg, which shares the
same high standards for editorial independence, integrity and
excellence that have long defined BusinessWeek," McGraw-Hill
Companies Chairman President and CEO Harold McGraw III said.
Founded in 1929, the magazine has 155 editorial employees
at its New York headquarters, 19 correspondents in the US, and
12 international correspondents, according to its website. The
publication also has presence in India.
"BusinessWeek will be a powerful addition to our
portfolio of leading news and information services," Bloomberg
Chairman Peter T Grauer said. Bloomberg employs over 10,000
employees worldwide and has good presence in India.
Many publications worldwide have been hit by the global
financial crisis and have seen dwindling advertising revenues.
Recently, the well known American publisher Conde Nast said it
would shut down four of its magazines including Gourmet and
The magazine is "one of the business world`s most
recognized and trusted sources of news and insight, and we
believe that it will be highly valued by our customers
worldwide," Grauer said.
The McGraw-Hill Companies said the deal would enable the
entity to continue focussing resources on building the size,
scale and global presence of its leading brands across
fast-growing worldwide markets in financial services,
education and business information.
A leading global information services provider,
McGraw-Hills Companies also owns prestigious brands like
Standard & Poor`s and Platts.


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The Route 22 shopping plaza in North Plainfield that once included a Kmart and a Pathmark will be redeveloped to introduce a Costco slated to open in autumn 2013.
A sprawling Route 22 shopping plaza that has suffered years of decline due to departing tenants is poised to come roaring back to life.
The borough's Planning Board has granted approval for Costco Wholesale to open a new 156,000-square-foot retail store and gas station at the property that once housed a Pathmark and a Kmart before they closed in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Unanimous approval of the plan came following two nights of testimony and public input last week.
"The approval paves the way for the largest retail development project in North Plainfield in 50 years," Mayor Michael ...


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Foxconn has confirmed that the world's largest iPhone manufacturing plant in Zhengzhou, China is in the middle of a fresh COVID-19 outbreak. Despite the news, the company maintains that iPhone production remains "relatively stable" with employees being offered support.
Foxconn says that a "small number of employees" are affected by the COVID-19 virus and that the company "is providing the necessary guarantees for livelihoods, including material supplies, psychological comfort, and responsive feedback.”
Foxconn was forced into making an official statement following widespread discussions of the issue on Chinese social networks, reports the South China Morning Post. Those posts report a strict lockdown at the problem plant, with some complaining that Foxconn isn't doing enough to ensure COVID-19 transmission is kept to a minimum.
The Foxconn campus in Zhengzhou houses almost 300,000 people with the company having already banned employees from eating in its cafeterias and ordering them to eat in their dormitories and workplace to avoid mingling with others. “Operations and production in the Zhengzhou park are relatively stable with health and safety measures for employees being maintained,” Foxconn maintains.
The city itself continues to try to avoid wider COVID-19 problems, putting local lockdowns in place as cases arise. The city, which houses 10 million people, reported 23 new cases on Wednesday.
As for the impact this could have on Apple, that remains to be seen. Foxconn, at least externally, seems confident in its measures and that production is on track. But with iPhones already difficult to buy in Apple Stores and with weeks-long delivery estimates online, Apple will hope that's the full story.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.
Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.


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According to eSecurity Planet, Symantec’s MessageLabs Intelligence report for October discovered a sharp rise in spear-phishing attacks in the retail industry.
The report found that phishing campaigns have jumped from one or two cases a week just five years ago to more than 70 a day in October. Spear-phishing attacks reached 516 separate incidents in the retail sector in October, a sharp increase from just seven attacks for the rest of the year. Symantec says the campaigns targeted two specific retail companies, which the company did not identify.
In more positive news, Symantec’s reports found that spam volumes continue to drop.


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?High-octane drinks brand Extreme Drinks was given a makeover in August last year. It also added a range of vitamin-enriched water drinks to its portfolio. Aqua Vitamins is a blend of natural mineral water, health-boosting vitamins and fruit juices that allows consumers to quench their thirst with a clear conscience, according to the company. Each drink provides 33% of the RDA of B-complex vitamins that maintain healthy skin and hair. The drinks are available in three varieties: Lemon Lime, Orange Passion and Raspberry, all in 500ml plastic bottles.
Last October, a Slovenian mineral water, was brought out in the UK. The producers hoped it would stand out because of the significant range of health benefits the drink offered, including magnesium. Donat Mg comes from a spring in Slovenia that has been used by locals for more than 100 years. The company said that, unlike magnesium supplements, Donat can be absorbed straight into the bloodstream.
?Vitamin-enriched flavourings aimed at adding interest to plain water hit shelves earlier this year. Each two-calorie O2Go pouch is enough to flavour 500ml of water. The product, which contains a blend of B vitamins and an antioxidant, comes in flavours of Strawberry Splash, Lemon Citrus and Peach Dream, as well as a mixed pack. Manufacturer Santeau said O2Go would make drinking the recommended two litres of water a day easier and said that merchandising it next to the bottled-water fixture would enable retailers to reclaim some of the revenue lost as a result of people refilling water bottles.
Quench20, a water which originates from a natural spring in Dubai, arrived in the UK last October. It uses environmentally friendly labels.


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It was formally announced at the NYK Line (North America) Board of Directors meeting, held on March 9, 2006, that Mr. Saburo Yamagata will become the new chairman of NYK Line (North America), Inc. Mr. Yamagata will assume the responsibilities previously held by Mr. Hiroyuki Shimizu who will be returning to NYK Tokyo headquarters in the position of Director & Managing Corporate Officer, in charge of NYK’s logistics division and the company’s Logistics Integrator Project.
Mr. Yamagata will also take responsibility as President & CEO, NYK Group Americas, Inc., as well as Chairman, NYK Logistics Americas Inc.
Mr. Yamagata has been associated with NYK Line since joining the company in 1991. Before NYK, he held numerous management positions in system development and in the bulk and liner divisions of Y.S. Line and Nippon Liner Services, which in 1991 merged with NYK Line. Before relocating to the US, Mr. Yamagata was Managing Director of NYK Logistics Europe and most recently, President and CEO of NYK Logistics (Americas), Inc., based in Long Beach, CA.


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Jeep to launch C-segment SUV in Brazil first
The new Jeep C-segment SUV is now expected to be showcased at the 2016 Sao Paulo Motor Show
We did report earlier that Jeep is working on a new SUV that will replace the Compass and the Patriot and was planning to reveal it at the 2016 New York Motor Show. However, the new C-segment SUV will now make an official debut by Q3 2016.
As reported by an Australian motoring magazine, Mike Manley, the head of Jeep mentioned that the new C-segment...
The 2017 Jeep Compass checks the three boxes that most Indians look for — practicality, a premium feel and an affordable price tag.
Bumblebee drops the top
New design, spacious interiors and lineage underline the new Impreza


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HTC have certainly been busy, we have already told you about the Facebook handsets the company is going to release. They have also announced updates to a range of popular handsets which include the Desire and the Wildfire.
TechRadar are reporting that the new Desire S has a redesigned aluminum body, and the front optical key has gone. The new handset has not got many major improvements on the old model, but does have the 1GHZ Qualcomm MSM8255 processor found in the Desire HD. There is now a front facing camera, with a 5 Megapixel offering round the back.
The battery has been slightly upgraded with a 1450mAh unit instead of the 1400mAh found on the original Desire. It will come with Android Gingerbread so this will also improve battery life compared to the old model.
With the HTC Wildfire S the screen resolution has been improved, and is now 480×320 pixels instead of the 320×240 on the old Wildfire according to Cnet. The handset will run Android 2.4, and will hopefully remain as competitively priced as the first Wildfire.
Electricpig are reporting that Vodafone UK is the first British carrier to come out the blocks and announce they will be stocking the new HTC handsets. They have also announced they will be offering the HTC ChaCha Facebook device.
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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A year in review and look ahead at the market Down Under. Editorial is provided by License! Global’s Australian content partner, The Bugg Report.
Talent agency N.S. Bienstock has been appointed as the licensing agent for Veria Living, a media brand devoted to health and wellness.
The new 3D Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction is set to open at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park this spring.
Motor oil brand Mobil 1 has partnered with NASCAR driver Tony Stewart to bring back the classic car film Smokey and The Bandit.
Scooby-Doo is joining forces with the North Shore Animal League America’s Tour for an animal adoption tour across the U.S.
The owner of Albertson’s grocers has announced plans to buy competitor chain Safeway in a transaction valued at $9 billion.
Women's sports apparel brand Tail Activewear has launched a new line of collegiate licensed merchandise.
Nine West, a division of The Jones Group, and the fashion magazine InStyle are expanding their limited edition footwear collaboration.
Xcel Brands has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Signal Brands to create a line of Isaac Mizrahi New York suitcases and travel accessories.
Striker Entertainment has tapped Next Games to create a mobile game based on the AMC’s zombie drama series “The Walking Dead.”
Reckitt Benckiser's Air Wick brand has launched the new Familiar Favorites air freshener collection inspired by the scents of brands.
British toy company Arklu has signed a distribution agreement with Schylling to bring its Lottie fashion dolls to the U.S.
Fashion designer Nanette Lepore is expanding into the home category in a new partnership with Peking Handicraft.
Surf brand Hang Ten has tapped D6 Sports for a range of new products in the action sports and wheeled categories.
Lawless Entertainment has inked a new deal with Hoffman California Fabrics for fabric featuring the art property Suzy’s Zoo.
MGA Entertainment has teamed with Corus Entertainment to bring the new animated series “Lalaloopsy” to Canada.
For the second year in a row, Uniqlo has launched a line of Fender-branded t-shirts in the U.S., the U.K. and France.
Iron Chef America has launched a new line of home meal kids inspired by the hit Food Network series.
Nestle is sending out a fleet of food trucks featuring its Stouffer’s brand to cities across America this fall.
Target has launched a new line of organic food called Simply Balanced under its Bullseye brand.
FremantleMedia has expanded its partnership with MDI Entertainment for branded lottery games in the U.S.
©2014 ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC. All rights reserved.


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Citi Revamps Prestige Card by Boosting Credit Card Travel Rewards
October 25, 2018
This article was featured on USA Today
Oct. 23, 2018
A year after bowing out of the competitive credit card rewards game, Citi has come roaring back.
Starting in January 2019, its Prestige card will provide five rewards points for every dollar spent on dining or air travel, up from three points for those purchases. Hotel spending still receives three points for every $1 spent.
The move comes almost three weeks after American Express introduced its revamped Gold card that offers four points for every dollar spent at restaurants and supermarkets. Chase last month also debuted a premium checking account with perks and rewards aimed at its well-heeled Sapphire Reserve cardholders.
“The competition for more affluent cardholders is huge in the credit card world, and Citi had fallen a bit behind Chase and American Express,” said Bill McCracken, president of Phoenix Synergistics, a financial services research company. “Now it just put out one of the most compelling travel rewards cards and, on the surface, is hitting a home run.”
Along with the increased rewards for dining and air travel purchases, the card is expanding its existing $250 credit to include all travel-related purchases instead of just air travel spending. In May, cardholders also will get cellphone protection for damage and theft if the card is used to pay the monthly cell bill.
Several other features will remain the same, including:
- 1 reward point for every $1 on all other purchases
- $100 statement credit for the Global Entry application fee
- Other ancillary benefits including concierge services, travel and emergency assistance, trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay protection and price protection
Some changes may disappoint cardholders. Starting in September 2019, the hugely popular get-the-fourth-night-free hotel perk will be capped at twice a year. Before, it was unlimited.
The annual fee will also increase to $495 from $450 at this time. Cardholders also won’t get the 25 percent higher value when redeeming points for air travel through its travel center, and entertainment purchases earn only one point instead of two.
This summer, Citi had stopped taking new applications for the Prestige card while it re-evaluated the rewards program. It’s expected to begin accepting applications again in January when the new program takes effect. A sign-up bonus is also likely.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less than $50,000 points,” McCracken said. “If they want to make a big splash it could be twice that.”
When Chase introduced its Sapphire Reserve card in 2016 – effectively heating up the rewards battle – it offered a 100,000 rewards incentive for new cardholders. Since then, Citi, American Express and Chase have been competing to be the top-of-wallet card for big spenders. It hasn’t been without problems.
In the second quarter, Chase had to set aside an additional $330 million because its cardholders were redeeming their rewards for cash or travel more than expected. Overall, credit card profitability has been sliding heavily as Americans jump from one card to the next, looking for the next best rewards offer.
“These rewards are expensive,” said Brian Riley, director of credit advisory service at Mercator Advisory Group, a consulting firm. “It’s become a zero-sum game for banks. How long can this go on?”
Indeed, Citigroup’s chief financial officer John Gerspach told analysts on an earnings call last year that the issuer was concentrating on no-fee cards with no interest for an introductory period instead of travel rewards. “We shifted our focus away from rewards because of the competitive heat,” he said at the time.
Not anymore. Citi’s back in a big way.Back to Explore


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Hot spot Fairfax is now open and the glass houses at the glasshouse are still open for business, but not all are open at the same time.
The Glass House at the Fairmont Hotel in Sydney’s CBD has now opened its doors for business for the first time.
It opened in August this year and is owned by The Glass House, which is owned and operated by the Sydney Glasshouse Group.
The Glass Houses is the only glass house in Australia that has a location in the city centre.
Hot spot glass was the idea behind the project, which was conceived by Sydney Glasshouses founder Andrew Cuthbert.
Cuthbert said they hoped to give Sydney an authentic glass experience.
He said the venue was set to open in time for the Sydney Festival of Art.
“There are lots of great restaurants that are opening up around Sydney that have a similar vibe to what we have in Sydney and it’s really a great place to do it in,” Cuthberts said.
“It’s been really good to see the reaction and the response so we’re excited to open.”
The Glass house was built in the late 1970s and the original restaurant has been converted into a bar.
“The first bar that we opened was a little bit of a shock because it was just like an open bar and people were really excited about it,” Cottes said.
Hot spots like the Glass Houses can take a long time to open but that was never the intention.
“We’re hoping that we’re going to be able to get more and more people in and we want to see them enjoying the atmosphere,” Cllr Cottis said.
Topics:arts-and-entertainment,sport,snowboarding,suns,australiaMore stories from Sydney


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Samsung has made its Galaxy F22 more affordable. The smartphone brand has slashed the price of Samsung Galaxy F22 which was launched in 2021. There are two variants of the Samsung handset and both have got a price cut.
Samsung secretly cut the price of this smartphone; sold for only 10 thousand
- If you are looking for a cheap Samsung phone then this is the right time to buy it. The price of the phone has come down so much that it can be bought for 10 thousand rupees. Let’s know the new price and features of Samsung Galaxy F22 (Samsung Galaxy F22 New Price) …
Samsung F23 price in India
The price of both the variants of Samsung Galaxy F22 has been cut by Rs 2000. The 4GB RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variants of the Samsung Galaxy F22 are priced at Rs. 12,499 and Rs. 14,499. Now, customers can get 4GB RAM + 64GB storage for Rs. 10,499 and the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant is priced at Rs. 12,499 can be purchased.
This smartphone comes in Denim Black and Denim Blue colours. Interestingly, customers can avail a cashback of Rs 1000 using an ICICI Bank credit card.
Samsung F23 specifications – Samsung F22 Review
Equipped with a 6.4-inch HD + Super AMOLED Infinity-U display, the refresh rate of Samsung Galaxy F22 is 90 Hz. The smartphone offers a brightness of 600 nits. It comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection and has Dolby Atmos support. This Samsung smartphone is powered by MediaTek Helio G80 core processor. Supporting a strong battery backup of 6,000mAh, this handset comes with a 15W USB-C fast charger.
According to Samsung, the handset can deliver up to 130 hours of music playback, 40 hours of talk time, 24 hours of internet usage and 25 hours of video playback time. Samsung Galaxy F22 runs on Samsung K3. Based on Android 11 UI. In terms of camera capabilities, the handset sports a quad-camera setup at the back.
The phone is equipped with a 48MP rear camera with ISCOCELL Plus technology and GM2 sensor, which is backed by an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP depth lens, and a 2MP macro lens with 123-degree field of view.


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Owners who object to a sale without valid reasons should compensate others
Letter from Martin Woo
There has been a spate of letters from minority owners voicing their complaints on the existing en bloc laws. They purport that these laws are “totally inadequate and lopsided”, as noted by Tan Kim Liang (”Rights of all owners must be protected during sale”, April 30).
In any en bloc sale, there will always be some owners who, at whatever price, will not want to sell and choose to remain where they are.
However, there are also owners who are out to hold the majority owners to “ransom” in order to get more compensation.
This has happened in many cases prior to 1999 where the law required 100 per cent consent from owners. In fact, I was told that now, even with the existing laws, there are still minority owners trying to get more compensation from the majority owners by objecting without valid reasons.
Imagine if the law had not been changed, there would not be any en bloc sales today. Singapore might in no time become a concrete slum. It is precisely because of this that the en bloc legislation was amended in 1999 to allow an en bloc sale based on 90 per cent consent for developments less than 10 years and 80 per cent for those 10 years or older.
One must look at both sides of the coin and not be one-sided in this issue. The government’s current review of the laws is the correct way of ensuring even-handedness.
I would like to make two suggestions.
First, developments marked out for en bloc sale should not be less than 15 years old, unless there are extenuating reasons such as structural safety, et cetera.
Second, minority owners who object without valid reasons should be made to pay a financial penalty to compensate the rest of the owners for interests and opportunity costs that resulted from the delay. These objectors now get away virtually scot-free.
Source: Today, 09 May 2007


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The Color Run™ presented by Daman’s ActiveLife and 9,500 Color Runners light up the capital with
ABU DHABI (March 28, 2015) – The Color Run™ presented by Daman’s ActiveLife saw more than
9,500 Color Runners dance through a kaleidoscope of fluorescent color and glitter this weekend as
the sun set over Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit.
Led off by the brightly-colored Nissan X-Trail, the afternoon was awash with vibrant colors as
participants of all ages, sizes and speeds walked, ran and danced their way through bursts of yellow,
orange, green, blue and pink with more color stations than even before.
Upon crossing the finish line, Color Runners were greeted by an extra special ‘Finish Festival’ in
partnership with global phenomenon The Shine Tour.
For the first time in the Middle East, runners were blasted with sparkles, fluorescent color and
pumping music, making Abu Dhabi shine into the evening with the help of official The Color RunTM
Dr. Michael Bitzer, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Company – Daman, the
presenting sponsor of the event, said: “We are delighted to present this event for the fourth time to
the UAE. The Color Run™ provides an invaluable opportunity to inspire health and fitness in the
community. By making exercise fun and unpressured, we are reaching the UAE’s youth and adults at
the same time, and creating one of the best platforms to kick-start a healthy lifestyle.”
The capital’s second color extravaganza marked a milestone for The Color Run™ presented by
Daman’s ActiveLife, announcing four-and-a-half year-old Olivia Jarman as its 30,000th UAE Color
Runner earlier this month.
In celebration, Olivia and her twin sister Isabelle led Color Runners across the start-line, flanked by
two-time Olympic champion and Daman’s ActiveLife ambassador Dame Kelly Holmes and a color-
splattered Nissan car. The day’s fun began earlier with an energetic warm-up from Reebok’s Les
Mills body combat team.
In keeping with the event’s community focus, $1 from every entry at The Color Run™ presented by
Daman’s ActiveLife was donated to Friends of Cancer Patients through the Just Giving platform.
In addition to Daman’s Activelife, presenting partner and sponsor of the Pink Color Station, a
number of sponsors were on board to help spread the color fun – Nissan as the official wheels and
sponsor of the Yellow Color Station, Yas Mall as the official retail partner and sponsor of the Green
Color Station, Reebok as the official apparel partner and sponsor of the blue color station, as well as
Dubizzle – Know Your Rights, Sport 360, What’s On, Channel 4, Expat Woman, Costa Coffee and Yas


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The TwitPic or was being widely used, but the announcement of its closure earlier this month took everyone by surprise. If you are among the active members of the tool or simply feared losing images guard there, do not worry: the service will no longer be discontinued.
The information was given yesterday afternoon (18) by TwitPic itself in a tweet that was later Retweeted by Noah Everett, founder of the company.
WE’RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE WE’VE BEEN ACQUIRED AND TWITPIC WILL LIVE ON! WE WILL POST MORE DETAILS WE CAN DISCLOSE THE THEM
– TWITPIC (@TWITPIC) SEPTEMBER 18, 2014
In free translation, the message reads as follows:
“We are happy to announce that we acquired and TwitPic will continue to exist! We will give more details so we can announce them.”
In other words, a mysterious buyer appeared and saved the TwitPic. The service will not close more on the 25th, as had been reported.
Because the message is, to date, the only information available on the acquisition, you do not know the business values and what the conditions involved.
Sure it is that the new owner will have to face great challenges. According to Everett, the closing decision was made due to the pressures of Twitter, that would have required the company to divest itself of its brand. How will this issue going forward?
It is also necessary to consider that TwitPic is generating little revenue, hardly made progress in recent months and has lost many users after the Twitter implemented its own image publishing system.
It remains to wait for the promised official announcement to know these details and of course make sure that the purchase information is not misleading.


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The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) 2014 Mobile App offers many new features to help buyers plan while on the go for the event, easily navigate the show floor and grow their business while at AAPEX. AAPEX is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 4 through Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Sands Expo Center, Las Vegas, Nev., with AAPEXedu sessions starting on Monday, Nov. 3.
The app, sponsored by ZF Services, includes new products making their debut at the 2014 AAPEX, as well as an exhibitor list, searchable by exhibitor, product and brand. A walking map with a “Booth Visited” feature and a “Locate Me” option is designed to help attendees orientate themselves on the show floor. The app also features an interactive floor plan, the more than 40 AAPEXedu sessions and speakers, and a personalized planner.
“We feel this app offers an innovative way of communicating directly to the attendees of AAPEX, providing relative company and product-specific information,” said Mark Cali, product management and marketing manager, ZF Services.
The free app is available for Android, iPhone, iPad and any other mobile Web-ready device. To download the AAPEX Mobile App, visit www.aapexshow.com/app. When downloading the app from iTunes or Google Play, buyers should search “AAPEX 2014.”
To register for AAPEX, visit www.aapexshow.com/register.


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Good vibes only, please
Find this an all the Summer 2020 gaming events on our BIG LIST!
Wholesome Games have announced a Wholesome Direct. On May 26, the channel will use its YouTube page to showcase 50 “wholesome” indie titles.
It’s yet another event taking place in what would have been E3’s limelight, this time giving focus to indie titles of a specific genre. The roughly 37-minute showcase will take place at 10AM PST/1PM EST.
Source: Wholesome Games


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The Pak-Sri Lanka Business Council Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chapter has decided to devise a comprehensive roadmap to boost mutual trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The decision was made during a meeting of the council, chaired by its provincial chairman, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, on Thursday. The council decided to expedite efforts that would encourage Sri Lankan investors to invest in potential sectors especially, in the tourism and hospitality sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as elsewhere in the country.
Council members unanimously agreed to take the federal government and other relevant departments onboard in formulating an action plan and a concrete mechanism for the promotion of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The chair of the council, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, said that KP is a lucrative destination for foreign investment. It was noted that tourism, hospitality, hydel power generation, minerals, and honey are among the many potential sectors in KP that offer vast investment opportunities.
Council members invited Sri Lankan companies to make the most of these opportunities and further economic and trade ties between the two countries.
It was announced at the session that further meetings will be arranged with the KP Governor and Chief Minister, where the future plan of action to strengthen Pak-Sri Lanka trade relations will be shared.
The chair of the council promised that the council will play a pivotal role in further cementing the countries’ mutual economic ties.


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WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems – headquartered in El Segundo, Calif. – has appointed Jim Gimeson as the company’s new chief executive officer. Gimeson will focus on strengthening the WASH brand as well as driving consumer and industry engagement, while guiding the long-term strategic expansion of the business.
“We are excited to welcome Jim to WASH,” said Jim Bolch, chairman of the WASH Board of Directors. “Jim’s wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership will be a great asset to WASH as we continue to drive forward with our strategic growth initiatives.”
Accustomed to working in high-growth transformational environments like WASH, Gimeson has been successful in repositioning businesses, leading them through strategic initiatives, expanding service lines, and driving growth through mergers and acquisitions, according to the company.
Gimeson brings to his new role a depth of knowledge in both consumer and business-to-business service industries with experience in finance, business development, global strategy, technology solutions, manufacturing and operations. Prior to joining WASH, Gimeson served as chief operating officer for Sears Home Services – the nation’s largest appliance repair, HVAC and home improvement service provider. Prior to Sears, Gimeson was the COO at TruGreen. In this role, his leadership contributed to the company’s financial growth through improved performance and new products and services.
In addition, Gimeson spent 18 years in executive roles within the retail and direct selling industries with Smith & Hawken and the Longaberger Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Muskingum University and an MBA from Ohio State University.
“I truly appreciate the opportunity to serve as WASH’s CEO,” Gimeson said. “I look forward to leading WASH during this monumental time of growth and innovation. While positioning the company for expansion, among my top priorities will be broadening our commercial and consumer offerings through business development, enhancing digital capabilities and continuing to introduce tech-forward solutions to elevate the overall customer experience.”


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The United States has banned these types of lithium battery power sources from the cargo holds of passenger flights.
Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation issued new regulations banning lithium batteries from the cargo holds of passenger flights.
This means that smartphones, backup power banks, tablets and other devices can’t be in checked luggage.
What does this mean for you? If you have gadgets powered by lithium batteries, you need to make sure you pack them properly before you head onto your flight. The rules are quite specific about what can and cannot be packed into your checked luggage, so you need to make sure to comply. The last thing you want to have happen is to be told that there is something in your checked luggage that is suspicious or that breaks the rules.
The new rule is meant to make sure that air passengers remain safe from the potential dangers associated with lithium ion batteries stored in a plane’s cargo hold.
What is the new rule regarding transporting lithium batteries when traveling by plane?
This new rule says that you can’t pack your full cell phone, portable phone charger, tablet, e-cigarette and other devices charged by lithium ion batteries. The rules also provide new guidance stating that lithium ion batteries on cargo-carrying planes can’t be charged to any level above thirty percent.
It may sound a bit fussy if you usually pack your gadgets, but the idea is to make sure that airline travel remains safe for everyone. It helps to avoid the risk of fires in the cargo hold.
“This rule will strengthen safety for the traveling public by addressing the unique challenges lithium batteries pose in transportation,” said Elaine L. Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, when discussing the new rule.
That said, you can still pack all your devices to bring with you in your carry-on luggage. The new regulation doesn’t change the rules about the way lithium batteries are treated within the passenger cabin of planes. Therefore, if you have devices such as a phone, external battery pack, or other lithium ion battery, make sure to pack them in your carry-on luggage and not in your checked baggage, particularly if they are charged above 30 percent.


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The beleaguered company appointed Porsche boss Matthias Mueller, 62, as its new chief executive.
As for the reputation of “clean diesel” technology in the USA, there’s no telling how far that stock will drop in the coming years.
A European environmental organization says it has found some new models of Mercedes, Volkswagens, BMWs and other new cars consume much more gasoline than lab tests claim.
Volkswagen could face $18 billion in fines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after it admitted using software in diesel cars to cheat emissions tests.
In the past the EPA has been mostly focused on emissions from heavy-duty vehicles but it is improving testing of light-duty cars, agency officials said.
This comes after VW, the biggest carmaker in the world, admitted cheating on emissions tests in the US.
Volkswagen said last week that 11 million vehicles worldwide contain software involved in the emissions-rigging scandal, and later added that 5 million of those were cars were produced by its core VW brand.
The latest developments on the Volkswagen emissions scandal. “That’s 80 million people driving our cars worldwide”.
Yet investors hardly need proof when they consider what could be coming down the road for BMW, and a rapid selloff on German exchanges showed what suspicions could do when billions are at stake.
VW probably tried to avoid urea systems in the beginning because their cost would have driven Jetta and Golf prices above competitors, especially gas-electric hybrids, DeLorenzo said.
The close relationship between the German government and the country’s auto industry has been thrown into the spotlight by the Volkswagen scandal.
The appointment came as Swiss authorities said they were suspending sales of Volkswagen brand diesel vehicles that could contain devices capable of cheating emissions tests, including Audi, Seat, and Skoda vehicles built between 2009 and 2014.
The Justice Department says it’s “working closely” with EPA investigators. Attorneys general for almost 30 states and the District of Columbia have announced a coordinated investigation and said they are issuing subpoenas for company records.
In this case, following the revelations about the rigged tests, prosecutors in Braunschweig, near VW’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, received about a dozen complaints, including one from Volkswagen itself, said spokeswoman Julia Meyer.


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SCAM / HOAX ALERT:
There have been some recent reports of various scams that have targeted some Deaf people.
One alleged scam involves a man who claims to be someone with the name: Kelvin Bradley John.
The man claims to be linked to the BDA and UNDP and is reportedly scamming Deaf people of money.
We can’t comment on the allegations or the reports.
But we can remind you to stay safe online.
Remember, scam and hoax websites and emails are designed to trick you into disclosing personal information such as bank account details, passwords or credit card numbers.
They are used to con you into paying money for fake get-rich-quick offers, prize or lottery wins or fraudulent or poor quality goods.
Be very suspicious of emails from people or businesses you don’t know.
Be suspicious of unexpected emails from your bank. Remember banks don’t do business via email and never ask for confidential information via email.
Scammers put a lot of time and money into making emails and websites look real. Don’t be fooled. Be suspicious and stay safe!
There are 5 tips for staying safe on the web – see the video link: http://youtu.be/h_NDpps_rc0
Click the ‘Subtitles/CC’ icon on bottom-right side of the video to switch on the subtitles.
There is more information online about how you can stay safe and secure on line. See the link: https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/goodtoknow/online-safety/
Until then, take care!


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Perdue Farms Becomes Founding Member of Penn State Smeal Center for the Business of Sustainability to Accelerate Sustainability in Business
The United Nations predicts that the world’s population will increase by 2 billion people in the next 30 years, which will greatly impact the UN Sustainability Development goals (SDGs) for improving economic prosperity and social well-being while protecting the environment. Additionally, consumer demand for healthy protein is expected to remain strong. To help meet these two significant challenges, Perdue Farms and Penn State Smeal College of Business are proud to announce that the Company will be joining the Penn State University Smeal Center for the Business of Sustainability as a Founding Member.
This partnership brings together two agriculture powerhouses. Perdue Farms brings 100 years of business acumen in the poultry, premium meat and agriculture oil and grain industry, while Penn State is a university with agriculture steeped into its DNA.
“At Perdue, we believe in responsible food and agriculture and have been at the forefront of many industry initiatives to address environmental, social and health concerns related to the poultry industry,” said Steve Levitsky, Perdue Farms vice president of sustainability.
“As we celebrate our 100th year in business, we are honored to become a founding member of the Penn State Smeal Center for the Business of Sustainability to further our commitment to environmental stewardship,” continued Levitsky. “This mutually beneficial partnership will allow us to work closely with the university and have access to their world-class research that can help to inform some of our environmental innovations to create a more sustainable future.”
As a Founding Member, Perdue Farms will have access to sustainability focused research and education services that can help it uncover social and environmental opportunities.
“We are excited to add a company with the history and reputation of Perdue Farms to our growing list of founding members,” said Erik Foley, Director of the Center. “Perdue has long been an industry leader in responsible food and agriculture, and its commitment to consider the environment in every business decision is a stance we heartily embrace.”
The goal of the Center is to cultivate the best practices and leaders that enable corporations to implement multi-dimensional, scalable business solutions by considering new and exciting approaches to business challenges, accounting for the social and environmental impact of decision making.
As part of this, Smeal faculty will conduct research, integrate leading-edge concepts into undergraduate and graduate curriculum, host events aimed at bringing together managers, executives, faculty and students, and partner with investors, business managers, NGOs, and governments to host business plan competitions focused on market-based sustainable development solutions.
Perdue Farms joins other business leaders as Founding Members including Verizon and IBM. Foley said the Smeal Center for the Business of Sustainability hopes to eventually recruit 20 companies as Founding Members. The power of those partnerships, coupled with the collective research capability of Smeal’s faculty members, will enable the center to be a leader in the business of sustainability.
About Perdue Farms
Perdue Farms is a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through its belief in responsible food and agriculture, it is empowering consumers, customers and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.
The PERDUE® brand is the number-one brand of fresh chicken in the U.S., and the company is the leader in organic chicken in the U.S., and Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company. Now in its centennial year, its path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. It never uses drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and it is actively advancing its animal welfare programs. Its brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey and pork, and in USDA-certified organic chicken. Learn more about this and their corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives and progress, go to corporate.perduefarms.com.
About Penn State Smeal Center for the Business of Sustainability
More information about the Penn State Smeal Center for the Business of Sustainability can be found online. Companies interested in becoming Founding Members can call (814) 863-1314 or email email@example.com.


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Last week the Chinese government announced that it will move closer to allowing its currency, the yuan or renminbi, to float in the world economy. This move will slowly break it away from being pegged to the weak U.S. dollar. A practice which U.S. politicians, and the International Monetary Fund, claim is undervaluing China exports by as much as 40%.
Washington's hope is that the appreciation of the yuan would make Chinese imports less attractive versus domestically manufactured goods. This would then create more U.S. manufacturing jobs and help stimulate an otherwise stagnate economy. In addition, many experts feel this higher valued yuan would also help slow the increasing U.S. trade deficit with China. The deficit hit a record $273 billion in 2011, making up almost 43 percent of the entire U.S. gap.
Congress has threatened to impose higher tariffs on Chinese manufactured imports if Beijing does not take more aggressive action to properly value its currency. But the Obama administration feels that diplomacy is a better approach so that we do not start a trade war.
Keep in mind though, while the strengthening of the yuan will lead to many benefits here stateside, it will ultimately lead to price increases for our customers.


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iPhone 8 Update: 3rd Variant Drops Home Button? iPad, iMac, MacBook Release In 2017 Too?
iPhone 8 Model Ferrari is expected to launch without a home button. Moreover, the device is slated to roll out in three variants, all of which may sport a borderless display. Furthermore, Apple is expected to launch several other devices in the upcoming year including the iMac, new iPad and MacBook.
Third Variant Drops Home Button
Apple has been noted to typically launch two variants of the same model such as a basic phone and a Plus like the iPhone 7 Plus or an S model like the iPHone 6s. Leaked reports revealed that manufacturing documentation for the iPhone 8 showed a third variant codenamed Ferrari. Apparently, the third variant may pack features based on feedback from the Apple fans.
On that note, the iPhone 8 Ferrari may sport a glass panel for a curved and borderless OLED display. Furthermore, the model may trade the Home button for a hidden fingerprint sensor technology, according to report. In addition, the three variants may roll out with new color variants as well.
It is believed that the iPhone 8 may sport a Red color option. Additionally, a Jet Black, Rose Gold, Gold and Silver options may also be in the works. Under the hood, the other two iPhone 8 variants may pack an A11 chip and iOS 11 as well as a 5.8-inch screen as well.
Apple Launches New iPad, iMac, MacBook In 2017?
In other news, the iPhone 8 may not be the only Apple device launched in the upcoming year as new versions of the tech giant's signature devices may also be launched in 2017. The eighth-gen iPad and iPad Pro is also expected to roll out along with the upgraded MacBooks and iMacs. The devices may pack the USB Type-C connectors and an improved graphics chip.
The iPhone 8 is expected to be a major iPhone generation as the flagship phone marks the tenth year anniversary of the iPhone series. Additionally, the iPhone 8 may also sport a more efficient battery as well as wireless charging. Finally, the iPhone 8 may feature iris scanning as well, Tech News Inc reported. Watch more iPhone 8 leaks here:


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Protecting your business in 2022 is important. Whether it’s the cyberworld, finances, accountability, or hacking, Shelbyville Insurance Services, Derek Hayden, says to be on the lookout. He warns about one activity that’s been picking up: cyber liability.
Hayden says that smaller businesses are more vulnerable than the larger corporations.
Hayden says he feels that cyber liability is the most important coverage a small business can get.
Cyber liability can make all the difference between having protection, and surviving a cyber attack.
Hayden appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show live from our studio in downtown Shelbyville.