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Ziff Davis Media's Baseline won the Grand Neal Award at last month's 51st annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards. The magazine won for the story, "We Did Nothing Wrong," which chronicled how inferior radiation dosage software led to the deaths of at least five patients. International Data Group's CXO Media won four awards, three by CSO magazine and one by CIO magazine. IDG also won best Web site for PCWorld.com. Lew McCreary, editorial director of IDG's CXO Media unit, won the G.D. Crain Jr. Award for outstanding contributions to the development of editorial excellence in business media. VNU Business Media's Whitney Sielaff, publisher/editorial director of National Jeweler, won the Timothy White Award for editorial integrity. IDG's Scott Berinato, senior editor of CIO and CSO, won the McAllister Editorial Fellowship.
Penton shutters title, buys Power Database
Penton Electronics Group, a unit of Cleveland-based Penton Media, announced last week that it will discontinue Wireless Systems Design. The March issue was the last for the publication. The electronics group said Electronic Design and Microwaves & RF and related Web sites will include additional editorial coverage of developments in the wireless sector. The electronics group also announced that it has acquired Davis Marketing Communication's Power Database, an online database of power semiconductors and power supplies. The database is being integrated into the electronicdesign.com Web site.
Jupiter Research sees strong online ad growth
Online advertising will continue to grow over the next several years, led by several key industries, according to a March report by Jupiter Research. The report found that several categories will post double-digit compound annual growth rates by 2009, including automotive (33.8%), health care (19.7%), travel (18.3%) and household goods (15.1%). Also in the report, Jupiter advised ad agencies and publishers to pursue industries that will grow quickly and represent sizable billings in online advertising. Some of these fast-growing industries are computer hardware and software, telecommunications, travel, financial services, automotive, and media and entertainment, according to Jupiter.
Visa plans to update logo, brand identity
Visa International announced plans to update its brand identity, which will include a new logo, to reflect Visa's service offerings to financial institutions, merchants and cardholders. The new brand, to be rolled out this fall, will be designed to work across new technologies and payment channels, such as the Internet, mobile phones and handheld devices. In addition to appearing on cards, the new Visa mark will appear in ads, on the Web, in retail locations and at events.
EBay names BBDO agency of record
Auction site eBay has selected BBDO New York as its marketing agency of record in the U.S. to handle its estimated $250 million account. BBDO will be responsible for all of eBay's marketing operations, including TV, print, Internet and direct marketing. EBay's previous agency was Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.
Google to acquire Web analytics firm Urchin
Google announced it has agreed to acquire Urchin Software Corp., a Web analytics company. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close this month, were not disclosed. Google plans to make Urchin's Web site analytics software available to Web site owners and marketers.
Lexmark selects Doner as global ad agency
Lexmark International, which develops printing and imaging products, has named Doner as its global advertising agency of record. Doner, which was selected as Lexmark's U.S. agency of record last year, will develop global advertising for the company. The account will be handled by Doner's Detroit headquarters and London office, Doner Cardwell Hawkins.


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Showa Denko K.K. (SDK), the world’s largest independent maker of platters for hard drives, has announced plans to expand aluminum HDD media production capacities. The company intends to build a new facility that will increase its current output by about one third starting from the first part of 2022. Unit sales of hard drives had been declining in the recent years, but demand for high-capacity multi-platter nearline HDDs is on the rise, which is why aluminum platters for drives are in high demand too. To meet demand for HDD media, Showa Denko plans to increase production of platters in the coming year by 30%. Right now, Showa Denko produces its aluminum platters for HDDs in Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan. Most of SDK’s aluminum platters are made in Malaysia, where some of its clients used to build their hard drives. In a bid to diversify its supply chain and because the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to subsidize building SDK’s additional capacity, Showa Denko’s new production capacities will be built in the Land of the Rising Sun. SDK’s new production will be operated by its Showa Denko HD Yamagata K.K. (SHDY) subsidiary. Installation of the new equipment will begin in February, 2021, and… Read full this story
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Take-Two gobbles Firaxis
Take-Two have arguably landed themselves one of the world's top strategy game developers this week, having announced a deal to acquire outright Sid Meier's Firaxis development studio. The publisher picked up the rights to the Civilization series from Infogrames last year, paying over 22 million USD. Civilization 4 has now just been published by the company's 2K Games label.
Take-Two are obviously pleased with Firaxis' efforts, and have now purchased the studio, which will become part of 2K Games' in-house development talent. "We're excited about all of the possibilities ahead of us as we work together to explore new ideas, new products and new consumer markets," said Meier, who's bank balance has presumably also swelled considerably as part of the deal.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Firaxis," added CEO Jeff Briggs. "2K Games is an energetic label that shares our goals and vision for making great games that stand the test of time."
This purchase will bolster Take-Two's PC development capabilities considerably, and presumably also guarantees continued support for the world-beating Civilization franchise. More as we get it.
- Visuals are key to the PS4's success according to Nielsen's latest survey
- Sledgehammer considering revisiting classic multiplayer maps for Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare
- New ToeJam & Earl game comes to Kickstarter
- Free login campaign announced as Final Fantasy XIV tops 4 million registered users
- Fable Legends will be free-to-play on both PC and Xbox One
- Bastion will hit the PS4 in April
- Sierra bringing Velocity 2X to Xbox One and PC
- This month is a triple-A bonanza for Xbox gamers on Games With Gold
- New House Of Wolves leak shows a Reef social hub for Destiny


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Recall reports are more and more common nowadays. A manufacturing company, OK Foods, is recalling almost 1 million pounds of breaded chicken. This recall was caused by metal contamination. The 933,272 pounds of chicken contained metal pieces.
The recall’s report was made by the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. It was announced on Saturday. Before the recall was announced the food company received 5 complaints. After an internal investigation, it was discovered that the metal pieces came from a conveyor belt.
The breaded chicken was sold as a ready-to-eat food product. This produce was made from December 19th, 2016 up until March 7th, 2017. It was sold and shipped to many retailers across the US. The number printed inside the USDA mark is P-7092.
This metal contamination was discovered only a few days ago, on March 21st. The company started to look for the problem and they discovered the metal objects after an FSIS inspection. Despite the fact that nobody reported any adverse effects or illnesses, the company decided that it is best to recall the products.From the list of 20 products that contained the breaded chicken 5 products are in the recall. The USDA mentioned that this is a Class I recall.
They added that “this is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.”
In order to help customers find out if they purchased one of the affected products, the company made a list of 20 products that might contain metal pieces. This list can be found on the FSIS website. People who identified their product as being one that is recalled now are advised to throw it away. People are advised not to eat any of these products.
Some of the products that are affected include chicken breast fillet fritters, breaded patties, and shaped nuggets with rib meat. 19 out of the 20 products that are being recalled are ready-to-eat products. This means that if you purchased raw breaded chicken from this company, it is safe to eat it.
What is your opinion about this recall? Did you purchase any products from this company in the last few weeks?
Image source: Wikipedia


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Ford seeks to allay dealers’ worries with ‘comeback story’
Las Vegas – The expectations hadn’t been this high in a decade. Nor had the questions facing Ford Motor Co. been so numerous.
Some 4,000 dealers from around the country gathered here this week looking for answers inside the same ballroom at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino where, in 2008, former CEO Alan Mulally showed the new Taurus that would help Ford brave the recession under his "One Ford" rallying cry.
This time, dealers wanted to know what new products they’d be selling to fund Ford's investment in autonomous vehicles. Some were still angry at not having been warned before Ford announced it would stop selling sedans within the next few years.
“There’s a guy in my showroom who wants an Escape — he’s not worried about where the future is going,” dealer Tim Hovik said before the meeting started this week. Hovik, owner and general manager of San Tan Ford outside of Phoenix, is one of the top Ford dealers in the U.S.
But while several U.S. dealers told The Detroit News they came to the "Inside the Oval" event skeptical and unsure whether CEO Jim Hackett had a vision, the dealers The News spoke to said by the time they left, they had more confidence in Ford's position.
The company is going after Jeep with off-road and rugged utility vehicles. It's diving into a strong 2019 U.S. economy with new Ranger and Super Duty pickups. An all-new rear-wheel drive Explorer and all-new Escape will hit showrooms next year. The Bronco is coming in 2020. So is a smaller, unnamed off-road SUV and an unnamed 2020 battery electric vehicle, which dealers saw this week. And Ford plans to fill the spaces left by the discontinued Fiesta, Focus and Fusion sedans with similar-priced crossovers.
The average age of Ford's lineup will be the youngest in the game come 2023, executives told dealers. It’s currently one of the oldest. High-volume nameplates like Mustang, F-150 and Bronco will get electrified powertrain options, which Kumar Galhotra, Ford president of North America, said will help Ford grow the number of electric vehicles it sells to 600,000 units in the next five years.
Hackett made clear that for all the talk of autonomous vehicles, he and his team are not ignoring the SUVs and trucks that pay the bills now, several dealers told The News.
Officials plan to cut average delivery time to dealer lots to 38 days within a few years; it's at 82 now, the same it's been for years. And Ford plans to work with dealers to start a new loyalty program that rewards returning customers, something dealers and company officials said could generate some extra cash and keep people buying Fords for longer.
All the new product gives Hackett and company some breathing room while they try to figure out how to make safe, profitable autonomous vehicles.
"They didn't just say what the dealer body needed to hear," said Rob Sneed, general manager of Power Ford in Albuquerque, New Mexico. "He filled in most of the gaps."
Replacing small cars
Hackett and his team came to Las Vegas to put everything they could on the table for the people selling the vehicles.
They didn't give dealers specific answers on what would replace the small, affordable cars that bring first-time buyers in the door and get them into the system. But they spoke generally about how they'll build the lineup and bring in smaller, rugged vehicles to fill those spaces at the same price point as a Fiesta, Focus or Fusion.
Ford dealers also got an apology for the way the leadership announced in April the decision to cut cars, according to Greg Balasco, owner of Lakeland Ford in Tampa, Florida.
Dealers drove the 2019 Ranger in Las Vegas. They saw the new rear-wheel drive Explorer, redesigned Escape, as-yet-unnamed 2020 battery electric vehicle, an unnamed small "rugged" SUV some call the baby Bronco, and the Mustang GT 500.
And then, according to several dealers who spoke to The News, they listened to company leaders explain, piece by piece, what they had been working on, and how that would affect dealers.
The leadership felt they had to give the people selling the vehicles some peace of mind. The company isn't in crisis, but it is going to change under Hackett, according to Jim Farley, president of global markets.
"It's kind of a personal meeting for me," Farley said on the second night of the week-long dealer event. His first dealer event was that 2008 meeting in the midst of rising gas prices. The company rolled out the new Taurus then, and it was up to Farley to get the dealers on-board.
"We all knew what was at stake (then)," he said. "We've been busy for a year now. Most of it in private. We all wanted (this week) to be just as special, because it's such a different time for us. It's a comeback story, but it's a different comeback story. We want it just as bad."
He added: "Instead of a Taurus, it's now an electric car."
'Rowing ... in same direction'
Judging by the usual metrics, it's been harder to believe in Ford lately.
Ford’s stock price hovers below $9 per share. Off about 20 percent since Hackett ascended to the top job, the price is at a six-year low. The company is planning global layoffs to its white-collar workforce, leaving rank-and-file Ford employees uncertain about their future. Senior leadership is pushing to get North American profit margin back to 10 percent — it was at 7.4 percent in the second quarter of 2018.
Company officials, Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. included, say that a planned $25.5 billion in operational cost cuts and $11 billion global restructuring don’t amount to a crisis. The company is profitable, they say. Hackett and his team are getting Ford ready to brave the next downturn, whenever it comes, and a future with more electric vehicles and self-driving vehicles.
Some dealers who spoke to The News said they believe product plan is strong, and they better understand how the trucks and SUVs fit into the model for Ford's future, which incorporates more than the gas and diesel vehicles they currently sell.
“There’s a cohesiveness at Ford right now,” Hovik said after he attended a town hall-style meeting this week. “It feels like everyone’s rowing the boat in the same direction for the first time in a while.”


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Mexico Viasat WiFi: Introducing Residential Service
Viasat, a leading global communications company, is now offering residential satellite internet service in Mexico. Leveraging the bandwidth from ViaSat-2, the world's most advanced high-capacity communications satellite, Viasat brings fast and reliable internet access to customers in select areas of Mexico. With speeds of up to 50 Mbps, Viasat's residential service is the fastest satellite internet option available in the country.
Speed and Coverage
With Viasat's residential service, customers can enjoy high-speed internet connectivity for a variety of online activities. Whether it's streaming content, video calls, social media, or sending and receiving emails, Viasat provides a reliable connection that meets the needs of modern households. The service offers coverage in select areas of nine states in Mexico, and Viasat plans to expand its coverage to additional Mexican states in early 2020.
Features and Benefits
Viasat's residential service comes with a range of features and benefits that enhance the user experience. One of the unique features is unlimited chat and web browsing, allowing customers to stay connected with their loved ones and explore the internet without worrying about data limits. Additionally, Viasat's service is designed to be reliable, ensuring that customers can enjoy uninterrupted internet access.
Currently, Viasat's residential service is available in select areas of nine states in Mexico. The company is actively working with local distribution and fulfillment partners to expand its coverage and make the service available in all states within Mexico. By increasing availability, Viasat aims to close the digital gap in Mexico and connect people to everything the internet has to offer.
Pricing and Expansion
Viasat's residential service is competitively priced, making it an affordable option for households in Mexico. The company plans to continue expanding its satellite-based internet service across the country, with a focus on reaching underserved areas. By early 2020, Viasat expects to roll out its residential service to additional Mexican states, providing more people with access to fast and reliable internet.
Viasat is committed to bridging the digital divide in Mexico and has implemented various community initiatives to achieve this goal. The company has deployed its Community Wi-Fi hotspot service to unconnected and poorly connected remote communities, providing them with internet access. Additionally, Viasat has partnered with telecom wholesaler Ubix to connect public spaces through the "Internet para Todos" (Internet for All) program, further expanding internet access in Mexico.
In addition to residential service, Viasat has also been contracted by Aeromexico, one of Mexico's leading airlines, to bring high-speed in-flight connectivity to a portion of its commercial fleet. This partnership allows passengers to stay connected during their flights, enhancing their travel experience.
Viasat's entry into the residential internet market in Mexico demonstrates the company's commitment to providing fast, reliable, and high-quality internet services. By leveraging the advanced technology of ViaSat-2, Viasat aims to establish itself as a trusted and credible satellite internet provider across Mexico. With its expansion plans and community initiatives, Viasat is working towards connecting Mexico and its people to the digital world.
Viasat's residential satellite internet service in Mexico brings fast and reliable internet access to households in select areas of the country. With speeds of up to 50 Mbps, Viasat offers the fastest satellite internet service available in Mexico. The service comes with unique features and benefits, including unlimited chat and web browsing. Viasat is actively working to expand its coverage and make the service available in all states within Mexico. Through community initiatives and partnerships, Viasat is bridging the digital divide and connecting more people to the internet. With its commitment to providing high-quality internet services, Viasat aims to establish itself as a trusted and credible satellite internet provider in Mexico.


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New GTA games considered for PSP
Sony have already told us that 2009 will be the year of the PSP, and having announced big games like MotorStorm and LittleBigPlanet for the handheld they seem set to continue this push - a new GTA title for the device said to be under discussion.
Speaking with MTV stateside, marketing boss John Koller reveals that discussions with Rockstar are underway with a view to bringing GTA back to the PSP.
"No one should sleep on that franchise," Koller beamed.
"That's a tremendous franchise for PlayStation in general. We've had two that are the top two sellers on PSP right now. So, there's definitely continued conversations with Rockstar on all their brands. That's nothing that’s left the PlayStation family."
Koller went on to imply that he was intrigued by the prospect of GTA: Chinatown Wars on the DS, but was quick to suggest that the PSP might be a more natural home for the controversial action series.
In previous reports, Sony have also hinted that another couple of very large PSP games (due out this year) have yet to be formally announced. We can't say we aren't fascinated...
- Next week's Destiny events detailed
- Swery65's D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die is out now on Xbox One
- Silent Hills could be an episodic title
- Thomas Was Alone is making the jump to the PS4
- Destiny helps give the PS4 a 300 percent sales kick
- New Yakuza 0 trailer shows off 1980s Japan
- Bloodborne's Western release date has been confirmed
- Classic WWII RTS action returns with Blitzkrieg 3
- Tetsuya Nomura leaves Final Fantasy XV to concentrate of Kingdom Hearts III


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Victorian organic livestock producers are urging the new owner of Kyneton's Hardwicks abattoir not to introduce a stringent new meat certification system, required for the American market.
Hardwicks has been acquired by multinational, Kilcoy Global Foods.
Along with Radfords, Warragul, Hardwicks is believed to be one of only two Victorian abattoirs offering a "service kill" for small and organic producers.
Southern Cross Certified chief executive Ben Copeman said he was concerned KGF might ask producers to get United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) certification.
He said Hardwicks processed a lot of organic livestock from NSW and South Australia, as well as Victoria.
Many small operators simply couldn't justify the expense of USDA NOP certification, with the cost ranging from $700 to $2000, on top Australian organic certification.
While most organic meat was sold on the domestic market, many Australian abattoirs applied the USDA standard, so they only had one certification system to deal with.
NOP certified organic livestock had to be separated from all other certified animals.
"There are more organic operators in Australia certified to the USDA standard than there are in any other country, outside America," he said.
'We have 800 operators, around Australia, who are certified by the USDA.
"I would say the only reason 30 per cent of those are certified to the USDA standard is that they need to be, in order to get their cattle slaughtered."
KGF's Australian president Jiah Falke said it was too early to say whether or not it would ask producers to seek American certification.
"Since the Kilcoy Global Foods (KGF) and the Hardwicks announcement, it has been business as usual for our team with all our trading partners," Mr Falke said, in a letter to suppliers.
"We reiterate that there are no plans to cease this arrangement with our valued customers and suppliers," Mr Falke said
"We are proud of being able to continue to offer services for those invested in "provenance" and/or "paddock-to-plate" processing and - through further investment - we anticipate enhancing these services."
NSW sheep meat producer and Rural Organics managing director Janie McClure, Cobar, said Hardwicks was vital to the organics sector.
"We have tried to get other abattoirs to go organic, but they won't look at it - so we are so lucky Hardwicks is still doing it," Ms McClure said.
She said abattoirs said staff shortages were hampering their ability to do organic kills, due to the strict regulations around certification.
"I would be devastated if we lost Hardwicks," she said.
Andrew Liesfield and his sister Marianne Easton grow organic grains and produce about 1000 prime lambs, from a Hampshire Downs/Perendale-cross flock, at Willaura.
Mr Liesfield said they had previously gained NOP certification but there didn't seem to be any incentive in having it.
"We did it successfully for years - but all we got was a lot of international emails," Mr Liesfield said.
"The premium for organic certified lamb has essentially been nullified by the conventional lamb price."
The property's Australian organic standard audit cost about $1500-1700 a year, with the NOP being an additional expense.
M Liesfield said Hardwicks was the preferred option for many Victorian and NSW organic livestock producers, because of its location.
"If Hardwicks stopped doing that, it's basically the end of organic lamb, in Victoria," he said.
Mansfield organic prime lamb producer Carolyn Suggate said it was critical to have an ethical and certified abattoir, within a "fair range" of the farm to ensure animals didn't have to travel too far.
It was important the abattoir was also willing to take beasts of varying seasonal sizes and deliver the meat in good condition to organic butchers.
"The traceability aspect of the organic industry is critical for a trusted supply chain to the end consumer," Ms Suggate said.
"We have had some terrible experiences with other abattoirs that we refuse to use - on ethical and moral grounds.
"We value Hardwicks service to the organic industry - and hope with this ownership transfer they continue to do so for the increasing number of organic producers across the north east of Victoria."


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Specialty memory IC design house Elite Semiconductor Memory Technology (ESMT) expects its gross margin to stay high at above 40% in the fourth quarter of 2021, with the prospect that its ASPs will trend upward in 2022.
ESMT has reported its third-quarter 2021 revenues rose 10.82% sequentially to a record high of NT$6.843 billion (US$246.15 million) on robust shipments of specialty memory solutions, with net earnings for the period reaching NT$1.904 billion, equivalent to its total profits for the first-half 2021.
ESMT president MC Chang said at a recent investors conference that its fourth-quarter shipments may see a slight sequential fall due to seasonality, and gross margins may slip from 44.3% in the third quarter but will remain at over 40%.
As Samsung Electronics has notified customers that it will quit its 4Gb DDR3 product line and ask them to adopt DDR4 or other solutions, Chang is optimistic that 4Gb DDR3 prices will stabilize in 2022 as a result.
Chang noted that the ASPs for all its product lines, including NOR flash chips, will have a chance to trend upward again in the second quarter of 2022.
He disclosed that ESMT is expected to secure the same foundry capacity in 2022 as registered in 2021, but will allocate more capacity for high-end products to better bolster its revenue growth for next year.
Chang also noted the company has completed the development of 4G DDR4/3200 MHz, superior to standard 2600 MHz spec in performance, with volume production already kicking off. He added ESMT has also successfully developed 256 Mb/3V Nor flash SOP8 with a larger storage capacity than the SOP 16 offering now available in the market.
ESMT spokesman HC Wu said the company's specialty memory chips are suitable for IoT/AIoT, smart living, network communication, image display, automotive and industrial applications, and its customized SoC memory solutions will provide the largest growth momentum for its 2022 revenues with increasing shipments to clients in Taiwan, China and other parts of the world.


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SAN FRANCISCO – A Bay Area lawmaker's bill that would legalize Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes in California is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, after being approved by the legislature.
Assembly Bill 374 by Asm. Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) would allow cannabis businesses to sell non-cannabis food items and tickets to live performances. The measure passed the State Senate in a 33-3 vote and in the Assembly with a 66-9 vote.
"Lots of people want to enjoy legal cannabis in the company of others," Haney said in a statement. "And many people want to do that while sipping coffee, eating a scone, or listening to music. There's absolutely no good reason from an economic, health, or safety standpoint that the state should make that illegal."
Haney,, billed the measure as a lifeline for struggling cannabis businesses, which continue to face challenges from the black market. While legal sales reached $4 billion in 2020, illicit cannabis sales were estimated at over $8 billion, according to data from Haney's office.
Over 700 cannabis cafes are in operation in the Netherlands, a country with less than half the population of California. The establishments generate more than $1 billion in sales each year.
"To be clear, we're not saying that coffee shops should be allowed to sell cannabis," said Haney. "We're saying that cannabis shops should be allowed to sell coffee. It shouldn't be illegal for an existing cannabis business to move away from only selling marijuana and instead have the opportunity to grow, and create jobs by offering coffee or live jazz."
According to Haney, cafes would only be allowed to open in cities and counties that pass legislation allowing such establishments. So far, only West Hollywood has passed legislation creating a licensing system for cannabis cafes.
Meanwhile, a similar measure is working through the legislative process in San Francisco, Haney said.
If signed by Newsom, AB374 would go into effect on January 1, 2024.
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Pending home sales fall
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Fewer houses and condos on the market gets the blame for a drop in pending home sales in December, according to the National Association of Realtors.
The Washington-based trade group says pending sales, or contracts signed but sales not yet closed, fell 4.3 percent from November, though pending sales remained 6.9 percent above year-ago levels.
"The supply limitation appears to be the main factor holding back contract signings in the past month," said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun. "We expect a seasonal rise of inventory in the spring to help, but a seller's market may be developing."
A separate NAR survey shows that buyer foot traffic is outpacing seller traffic.
NAR expects existing-home sales to rise 9 percent this year, after a 9 percent increase in 2012.
Last week, the Commerce Department said sales of new homes fell 7.3 percent in December, but remained 8.8 percent higher than a year ago.
Jeff Clabaugh covers general assignment and provides business coverage for WTOP.
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Trade Me annual profit rises 4%, warns of slower growth in 2014 as it reinvests in the business
By Tina Morrison
Aug. 21 (BusinessDesk) – Trade Me, New Zealand’s largest online auction site, posted slower profit growth for 2013 and warned earnings growth would remain tepid in the coming year as it reinvests in its business.
Trade Me profit rose 4 percent to $78.6 million in the year ended June 30, slower than the 8.4 percent pace a year earlier, the Wellington-based company said in a statement. Revenue rose 15 percent to $164.1 million as classified advertising sales surged 29 percent while fees from sales of general items rose 5 percent. Profit was just above First NZ Capital’s estimate of $77.6 million.
“We expect to grow top line revenue and bottom line earnings but these will reflect slower growth than we’ve recorded this year while we focus on reinvestment in the business,” said chief executive Jon Macdonald.
Trade Me, which has attracted about two thirds of New Zealand’s population to its online marketplace, is adding to its core auctions business to drive future growth. The company said today it has agreed to buy online insurance comparison business LifeDirect, adding to its purchase of inventory management company Tradevine and holiday rental accommodation website Holiday Homes in the past year.
Trade Me, which was spun out of Fairfax Media in 2011 in an initial public offering, said profit growth slowed in 2013 reflecting higher interest costs following its IPO and because of a $3.3 million one-time gain the year earlier. Finance costs increased 78 percent to $7.2 million in 2013.
Earnings growth was likely to slow further in 2014 as the company invests in improving the performance of its general items auction unit, develops products and marketing for its classifieds section and looks to new business opportunities and revenue lines, Trade Me said.
Some 40 percent of all visits to Trade Me are from mobile devices and the company is developing technology applications to meet the demand, the company said.
“Growth in mobile, new products in the classifieds, the migration of advertising yield online, the long-term opportunity in online retail and forays into new businesses all provide sizeable opportunities for Trade me over the coming years,” Macdonald said.
The migration of online activity to mobile devices constitutes “both an opportunity and a threat to us,” the company said.
The company’s expenses rose 13 percent to $40.7 million in 2013 as it took on new staff to accelerate produce development.
Trade Me will pay a dividend of 8.3 cents a share to be paid on Sept. 24.
The shares last traded at $4.70 and have gained 19 percent this year.


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I run across prototype X series vehicles being tested in the mountains all the time and came across this X3 a few week ago. I outpaced my M5 through 3rd gear numerous times and it was hell to keep up with in the twisties that I know fairly well. Im no slouch with much track time and the M5 has H&R/Koni SAs. I dont know what engine they had in it but it was a bullet.
Originally Posted by AutoBlog
Note To Self: Dont leave camouflaged prototypes parked with the engine running next to Central Park in Manhattan. Just a week after a failed car bomb attempt in Times Square, Manhattan is understandably still a bit jittery. An apparent error in judgement by Martin Birkmann, head of product planning for BMW North America, reportedly triggered a bomb scare and the … CONTINUED
The second generation BMW X3 is due to be shown off fairly soon, atleast on the internet. This has been a car a long time in the making and there are many anxious fans out there waiting to see what the car will delivery stylisticly, technically and from a quality standpoint. These are areas the car was deemed to be subpar when compared to the rest of the BMW lineup, and so BMW has given alot of attention to the car to bring improvements … CONTINUED
There will be a new generation of BMW X3 that will be revealed in early 2011. Somehow, this model will be a direct competition with Audi Q5, Volvo XC60 and probably the forthcoming Land Rover LRX.
BMW X3 has struggled to match the sales of BMW X5, though BMW has still sold more than 600,000 units globally since the model was initially launched in 2003.
The engines that will be use by BMW X3 include four and six cylinder turbo diesels and a 3.0-litre turbocharged six cylinder gasoline … CONTINUED
We bring you the first ever video of the upcoming 2011 BMW X3 (Chassis: F25) in prototype form, testing on the streets of Germany. The video gives us some nice size and shape perspective against other cars on the road and we can clearly see the front bumper design, grills, and headlamp shape, as well as the profile shape, and side windows.
Production of the new X3 is to be moved to South Carolina in the newly expanded plant alongside … CONTINUED
We bring you the best photos yet of the X3 test car. While it’s the same white X3 as we previously posted, this set of photos represent new angles and clearer images than ever. We think that the new X3 is shaping up to be a vast improvement in looks (and hopefully everything else) over the outgoing X3.
Jon Sibal has basically uncovered the upcoming 2011 X3 by the magic of photoshop. Using the spy photos posted this week, he has virtually peeled back all of the X3′s remaining camouflage to reveal what we believe is a very accurate impression of what the production X3 will look like.
In a seeming reply from BMW about all the complaints over the flat black unpainted front bumper element seen on all the previously spied X3 prototypes so far, this new set of photos shows off the car with a painted lower front bumper element and a silver middle intake trim piece. This is likely the format that the US spec X3 would come with. Black tape still covers two slat areas above the brake duct intakes and is reminscent of the chrome … CONTINUED
Ahead of its expected debut in just a few short months, the 2011 X3 test mules appear to have increased their testing on public roads. All the better for us as we now have even more photos of the soon to be slightly upmarketed X3. This particular one comes in a reddish tone.
BMW continues its BMW X3 tease while conducting final testing stages on the 2011 BMW X3, which will likely receive its world debut at the 2010 Paris motorshow this fall. Bigger more comfortable than the first gen X3 it’s replacing, the 2011 X3 will move slightly upmarket while the X1 slots in under it.


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As part of the Global Diversity CFP Day which falls on February 3, more than 50 countries in the world will be organizing a workshop on the same day simultaneously. In these workshops, people from all over the world will step forward and speak on their individual perspective on any subject of interest in technology.
As per Mozilla Hacks, “A CFP is a “Call for Papers” or “Call for Proposals” – many technical and academic conferences discover and vet speakers and their talk topics through an open, deadline-driven, online proposal submission process. This CFP process provides a chance for anyone to pitch a talk and pitch themselves as the presenter. Submitting a CFP, and having your proposal accepted, is one great way to get a foot in the door if you’re just getting started as a new speaker. And, for some developers, public speaking can be the door to many types of opportunity”.
It will be held all over the world in countries like Ghana, Australia, Belguim, UK, Mexico, USA, Brazil, Bangladesh, India and many others including Nepal.
According to the official website of Global Diversity CFP Day, the workshop is being organized by Sujit Maharjan in Nepal. It is being held at Fusemachines Hall, Society Complex, Hattisar, Kathmandu from 10.30 AM to 3.30 PM.
Maharjan says, “I think there are less amount of conferences like this in Nepal. As a mozilla tech speaker and IEEE Nepal member I always wanted people in Nepal to get the same opportunity to participate in conferences as other in developed country do so I took the initiative to organize this event. I think this would be fruitful in development of our country.”
This event is a huge opportunity for tech enthusiasts. You can join, listen, learn and stand out from the crowd by presenting at this global workshop.
Venue: Fusemachines Hall, Society Complex, Hattisar, Kathmandu
Date: February 3
Time: 10.30 AM to 3.30 PM
Ticket: Book your free ticket
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iOS developer says it's very hard to make money on Android Market, would rather look at WP7
Maybe this will change with the arrival of Gingerbread, which will include NFC support and carrier billing like in Japan, where KDDI has integrated app payment into its carrier billing. Android Market altered its terms for developers in July to include "authorized carriers" as a billing alternative, and considering the US carriers mobile payments venture, this might happen very soon. For now Ideal Binary is holding its horses to enter the Android Market and looking around for other alternatives.
Windows Phone 7 has its Marketplace, which is taking a similar curated approach to its apps catalog as Apple. Therefore the developers from Ideal Binary would rather consider rewriting their software in C#, than dealing with the fragmentation issues and hotch-potch billing policies of Android Market. Still there might be months before WP7 handsets gain enough critical mass to attract the most popular developer houses.
This usually happens when a few million handsets are already in the hands of consumers, unless Microsoft pays developers cash for the popular apps, as was the case before initial launch. Foursquare, for example, didn't plan on porting its app over to WP7 before it hits ten million devices sold, but Redmond just came in and paid for it. This way Microsoft had most of the important stuff covered out of the gate.
Currently there are about 3000 applications and 15 000 developers for Windows Phone 7, but it probably won't be until the middle of 2011 that WP7 devices will pass the ten million mark that is going to attract serious developer attention, so the number of apps can grow exponentially.
source: TheGuardian via WMPoweruser


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Apple has launched a new exclusive RED coloured variant of their latest Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Apple, in the past also launched their products in Red colour variants. The Cupertino giant usually donates some amount to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS for each unit of the Red option they sell. However, Apple did not disclose the amount it donates but claimed that they had donated $130 million since 2006.
The Red coloured variant of the Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus comes in two storage options- 128GB and 256GB. The phones will be available at a starting price of Rs. 82,000 from all the Apple Authorised centres in the country from March 24. There are no changes to the hardware of the Red iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, though.
"Since we began working with (RED) 10 years ago, our customers have made a significant impact in fighting the spread of AIDS through the purchase of our products," quoted Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, in a statement.
"The introduction of this special edition iPhone in a gorgeous red finish is our biggest (PRODUCT) RED offering to date in celebration of our partnership with (RED), and we can't wait to get it into customers' hands," he further added.
Besides this, the company also announced new variants of the compact Apple iPhone SE. Apple has ditched the 16GB and 64GB variants of the iPhone SE and replaced them with 32GB and 128GB storage options. The upgraded iPhone SE options can also be purchased from Apple Authorised centers from March 24. The price of the 32GB iPhone SE is Rs. 27,200.
The Apple iPhone SE 16GB variant is currently selling for Rs. 19,999 in India with a cash back option when you purchase the product with your credit/debit card. The offer will end on March 25, and it is the best phone for Apple lovers and also for people who are looking for a compact smartphone under Rs. 20,000.


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BiblioBoard has announced a new program to offer bestselling independent and self-published e-books for library lending on a multi-user model. Dubbed the “Indie Rock Stars” module, the program will launch with the participation of some 50 authors, and will include at least 18 New York Times bestselling books and more than 30 award-winning novels.
Biblioboard is one of the few companies that currently allows subscribing libraries to offer patrons unlimited, multi-user access. Most e-book providers currently use the “one copy, one user” digital lending model for libraries.
The full article is available at Publishers Weekly. Thanks to ALIA, who included this in their weekly newsletter.


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Baniyas Abu Dhabi mall 51pc operational
Abu Dhabi, September 22, 2012
Abu Dhabi-based Baniyas Investment and Development Company (BIDC) has announced that more than 51 per cent of the gross leasable area (GLA) at its Bawabat Al Sharq Mall (BAS Mall), is now operational.
New stores are opening on weekly basis as they finish their fit-out works making the mall an exciting shopping and entertainment destination for the whole family, said a statement from BIDC, the investment arm of Baniyas Sports Club.
Besides the 93 top brands that have already opened, shoppers are now able to enjoy their time at the latest additions which include Swiss Bakery, Merinos Carpet, Dunkin Donuts, Arte Madrid, Anmar Couture, PappaRotti, Hatam, Mom & Me, Bottega Del Gelato, Spring Field, The Face Shop and FA Sports Café.
Antony Ranger, the director of Bawabat Al Sharq Mall said: “More than 51 per cent of our GLA is now operational and new stores are opening every week. Currently, our leasing has reached 76 per cent of the GLA and we expect to reach 85% towards the end of the year pushing the percentage of our operations further.”
In addition to Carrefour Hypermarket, Grand Cinemas and Wanasa Family Entertainment Centre, BIDC has signed agreements with Landmark Group, MH Alshaya, Liwa Enterprises, Chalhoub Group, Khaja Group, Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group and Al Ghurair Retail to open their brands at BAS Mall.
According to Ranger, Azadea Group, the latest addition to the mall, is now close to opening eight outlets and fashion brands including Oysho, Intimissimi, Piazza Italia, Gymboree, Jules, Mango, Sunglass Hutand Paul Café & Bakery.
The mall is part of the BAS Project which spreads over 108 hectares in BaniYas City. The mall will host over 240 prime retail shops and facilities over two floors covering 62,265 square meters of retail area.-TradeArabia News Service


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In recent years, digital mobile payments have been adopted by a wide range of businesses in myriad industries. Changes in consumer spending behavior have arisen with access to new technologies to match modern standards of living.
Payments through mobile devices make purchases safer and easier, and these technologies have been given a major push by the fintech and e-commerce sectors. Wearable payment devices in particular have created a rapidly growing niche in the payments industry.
Advancements in wearable technologies
Wearables are not very commonly used in payment applications, with most such devices finding roles in the health and fitness sector. However, manufacturers are increasingly investing in offerings such as smartwatches to allow people to conduct payments through simple gestures. New wearables can provide similar functionality as smartphones.
Also, wearables are considered to be better in terms of security, with a lower margin for errors. Users can connect their debit and credit cards to wearables, and use these devices exclusively for payments. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital payments have made major strides into the market with cash transactions seeing a notable drop.
Wearables offer consumers with better access to convenient payment options. Also, the incorporation of facial and fingerprint recognition biometrics on Android and iOS platforms is gaining the interest of players in the financial sector.
Europe and East Asia has witnessed pilot test programs for iris scanner and facial recognition payment technologies, which can eliminate the need for traditional security measures such as PIN numbers or passwords. Wearable platforms in particular will prove ideal for the implementation of these advances.
In early 2021, DIGISEQ unveiled a breakthrough technology for wearables called Rapid Contactless Personalization for Android and iOS devices including secure tokenization and payment data, leveraging the advances in IOT and the increased adoption of contactless technologies during the pandemic.
Risk of fraud is a key challenge
Wearables have access to a vast amount of personal and financial data, with information being passed between devices, the cloud, and while investments into data security continue to rise, personal and enterprise data remains at risk.
As new wearables are optimized for ease of use and improved productivity, security standards may now be able to keep up with real-world requirements. Extensive efforts towards device security is required to minimize the risk of damage to finances and reputation of the manufacturers.
While a few wearable devices access information from the cloud, most continue to operate with compatible mobile devices such as smartphones. The rising incidence of mobile device fraud, means that manufacturers will have to pay attention to the unique risks that are associated with these products.
Also, consumers often unknowingly turn over personal information, lured in by the promise of convenience or cost savings. With the exponential rise of banking apps, online shopping, and location-based apps, new opportunities have arisen for fraudsters to exploit the vulnerabilities of wearables for high value personal information.
Transition to wearables is slowing down prospects
As tech companies incorporate notable changes to their offerings, end user retailers and banking organizations, struggle to keep up. The costs and efforts required for such transition slows down the adoption of wearables in the finance sector. Outdated POS systems will remain a matter of concern in the near future.
Alternatively cross platform applications remain key to sustain consumer interest. Also, wearable technologies do not provide consumers with significant advantages over alternatives such as credit cards and debit cards, which already provide users with contactless transaction facilities.
Some of the prominent players who have taken steps to promote wearables for payments include Disney, Lyle & Scott, Visa, Apple, Samsung, Sony, Alibaba, and Mastercard. Aside from promotional efforts to build user awareness, strategic collaborations with tech and hardware providers to leverage previously unexplored applications is likely to hold the interest of manufacturers and service providers for the foreseeable future.
These trends are likely to have a significant impact on payments through wearables in the years ahead. Growing awareness about digital currencies, cross-border payments, and digital wallets will generate lucrative opportunities in the near future. Players operating in the international transaction space will invest in competitive payment solutions to leverage new potential revenue streams for banking organizations and other payment service providers.


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An Eagle Point company that provides warehouse space for marijuana growers is planning a marijuana-friendly camping and RV park near Lake Selmac in Josephine County.
Grow Condos is looking at buying a piece of property near Lake Selmac in Josephine County for a marijuana-friendly camping and RV park called “Smoke on the Water,” according to Wayne Zallen, the company’s chief executive officer.
If approved, it could be the third project for Grow Condos, which offers fully outfitted indoor grow spaces for sale or lease at its first project, a 15,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2015 in Eagle Point. The company is also working to launch an industrial pot-growing facility in Eugene.
“It’s all coming together,” Zallen said.
Read more at The Mail Tribune.


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The UK’s economy is forecast to slow to a standstill next year as it suffers more than other major economies from inflation and the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Only Russia’s sanction-blighted economy will fare worse than the UK.
The economy will grow by 3.6 per cent this year before stagnating in 2023, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). It predicts UK inflation will average 8.8 per cent this year and fall only slightly to 7.4 per cent next year before ending up at 4.7 per cent.
It comes alongside a global slowdown which is in large part due to the war in Ukraine.
The OECD said that, while the UK has limited direct financial and trade links to Russia and Ukraine, it will still be affected by higher energy prices resulting in a real-term decline in household incomes.
Global growth has been downgraded from 4.46 per cent to 3.02 per cent, the OECD said.
It added that growth is likely to be subdued throughout the decade because investment is weak around the world.
“The world is paying a heavy price for Russia’s war in Ukraine. It is a humanitarian disaster, killing thousands and forcing millions from their homes,” the organisation said. “The war has also triggered a worldwide cost of living crisis.
“When coupled with China’s zero-Covid policy, the war has set the global economy on a course of slower growth and rising inflation – a situation not seen since the 1970s.
“Rising inflation, largely driven by steep increases in the price of energy and food, is causing hardship for low-income people and raising serious food security risks in the world’s poorest economies.”
The OECD warned that the economic turmoil will hit the poor the hardest. War is disrupting supplies of staples like wheat and energy, of which Russia and Ukraine are major global producers, fanning inflation.
The war is hurting economic growth in European nations the most because they are more exposed to the conflict through trade and energy links. But the OECD also raised the alarm about poor countries farther afield facing food shortages.
“We’re very concerned about the food situation in low-income countries. The war is really sending shockwaves all the way to Africa and the Middle East,” OECD chief economist Laurence Boone said. “The war could spark starvation. It could cause social unrest and political turmoil.”
The latest OECD warning follows that World Bank said that some countries in Europe and Africa will face recessions due to the war. The UN and the International Monetary Fund have made similar downgrades.


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Velocity Ledger, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to grant industry-leading blockchain technology to an entity majority owned by veteran travel expert Eduardo Ibáñez.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / Aug 29, 2022 / Under the agreement, Velocity Ledger will provide intellectual property and support for the day-to-day operations of the new entity. Velocity Ledger CEO Shawn Sloves will play a key role in the new company and sit on its board.
Mr. Sloves said: “This transaction will significantly drive the introduction of blockchain in one of the largest sectors of the global economy. We look forward to working with Eduardo to make those breakthroughs possible.”
Y2X Chairman David Shuler said, “As the founding shareholders of Velocity Ledger, we are pleased to see VL technology at the core of a new entity. We are proud of the team’s inspired work and look forward to using it to bring the vision of Y2X to life. Eduardo on a global basis is a step to change the future.”
“The ability to travel is the manifestation of an individual’s freedom, a freedom that should be an inalienable right. Velocity Ledger technology allows us to create a decentralized economy where users can transact directly with each other and be rewarded for their data, interactions, and the activities of daily life. I think this is vital for the future of travel,” said Mr. Ibáñez. “We look forward to working with the company and growing its user community to change the travel landscape.”
About Velocity Ledger, Inc.
Founded in 2018, Velocity Ledger (VL) is a private blockchain-enabled platform running on Velocity Ledger technology that enables tokenized asset generation, secondary trading, and settlement. VL is a comprehensive technology solution that works as a service with tools to support the investment, trading and settlement process for multiple asset classes, including the creation of security tokens and NFT and OTC cryptocurrencies.
About Eduardo Ibanez:
Eduardo Ibáñez was born in Philadelphia and is the father of three children, currently residing in Westport, CT. Eduardo has significant technology experience in the travel space, having worked with JetBlue founder David Neeleman bringing AI to airlines and online travel agencies, and served as chief scientist for Priceline.
David Shuler President
Press: dshule[email protected] Phone: 914-330-4961
FONT: speed ledger


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Earlier this week, Blizzard finally announced a release date for World of Warcraft Classic, a barebones re-release of World of Warcraft long before it was filled with countless expansions. WoW Classic promises a pure, vanilla experience, one that a portion of the World of Warcraft playerbase has been chasing through unsanctioned vanilla servers stripped of various expansions. The game releases on August 27, which, while still a few months away, is still somewhat exciting, seeing as now most fans have an actual date to look forward to.
This did not just simply come randomly, however. Players have been demanding and asking for World of Warcraft Classic for many years now. And Blizzard has likely learned from companies like Jagex that regained a huge portion of their player-base with the launch of Old School RuneScape, which prior to it had a 2006Scape private server. Similarly, World of Warcraft Classic/Vanilla has been around in the form of private servers for many years now and has been very popular. Even top players and streamers have been known to play on these private servers. The only issue is Blizzard were not the ones profiting from these ventures.
FYI: If you’re returning to WoW after an extended absence prior to patch 5.0.1, it’s possible that you’ll have more than the maximum pet limit and/or more than 3 of a kind. However, this will be the only time that you’re allowed to surpass these limits. You will have to pare down your collection, eliminating your duplicates, in order to add new pets.


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KRISTEN'S STORY - WINNER
WANNA MAKE MORE MONEY? HIT THE GYM!
Want to make more money? Hit the gym. A new study found that people who exercise regularly are not only happier -- but they make more money than their couch potato counterparts. And it's not just a little more money. According to the survey, by fitness app Freeletics, those who say they exercise regularly reported making about $75,000 on average, while respondents who admitted they never exercise made about $50,000. $25,000 more just because they exercise? Sounds like it's time to go for a jog. Need more convincing? The survey also found that people who exercise regularly also have more sex.
JASON'S STORY -
EAT CHOCOLATE TODAY. HERE'S WHY...
Today would have been Jason's mom's birthday. Pam owned chocolate shops all over metro Atlanta. So to celebrate his mom, he's asking all of us to eat a little bit of chocolate today! We miss you, Pam. Happy Heavenly Birthday!


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Here’s today’s AdExchanger.com news round-up… Want it by email? Sign-up here.
Google Display Gets Makeover
The Google Content Network went into the re-branding machine as Google looks to align its products and services associated with display advertising. Now known as “Google Display Network,” VP of Product Management Neal Mohan writes on the Inside AdWords blog, “The Google Display Network will comprise all of the sites (apart from search sites), where you can buy ads through Google, including YouTube, Google properties such as Google Finance, Gmail, Google Maps, Blogger as well as over one million Web, video, gaming, and mobile display partners (our display partners include all of our AdSense and DoubleClick Ad Exchange partner sites that allow text and/or display ads).” Read more. And, see the new Google Display Network site.
Fast Ads And Facebook
Christopher Heine of ClickZ looks at a new Facebook “feature on its self-serve [ad] platform that instantly suggests ad copy and images from a landing page.” It’s only in a “test” phase for now. Read more. Helping create an ad relevant to the click-through URL – on the fly – could be very powerful. Plus, the ad will use the look-and-feel of Facebook, i.e. similar fonts and font colors.
Better Advertising Launches Product
Ad Age’s Michael Learmonth looks at Power Eye from Scott Meyer’s Better Advertising which is to launch this week with big name advertisers and agencies. Meyer tells Ad Age about his company’s interest-based (or behavioral advertising) product, “This is the first “solution” to provide consumer notice and a compliance service that is independent and works across platform.” Read more.
That’s right – privacy startups are all the rage according to The Wall Street Journal as “Many venture capitalists liken today’s privacy market to the technology-security market a decade ago, when companies such as Barracuda Networks Inc. were searching for solutions to deal with viruses and hacking.” Read more.
CPG And E-Commerce Trends
Microsoft Advertising CPG specialist R.J. Hilgers says on MSFT’s ad blog, “It’s still a bit odd to me that CPG has not taken to e-commerce opportunities as much as other industries have.” Hilgers thinks the tide may be turning with new offerings such as the e-Store offering by P&G. He reasons that its not just about selling product but learning about your customers. This will be a great way for P&G to retarget customers through exchanges and publisher partners with appropriate messaging, too. Read more.
Interactive Ads Seek Funding
FierceOnlineVideo reports that interactive video advertising company Innovid may be close to closing another round of funding dds, “Co-founder and CEO Zvika Netter said the company has been actively selling the platform, which offers clients a way to create interactive video advertising across multiple devices and platforms, for the past year, adding that some 2,000 publishers currently have access to the technology.” Read more.
The Demand Chain
In anticipation of a new book from Nielsen CEO David Calhoun and Cambridge Group CEO Rick Kash, the Nielsen blog shares some thoughts and a chart on “The Demand Chain” and how it will impact media, retailers and consumer demand manufacturers: “The demand chain signifies the arrival of a new level of precision where manufacturers, retailers and media companies look at the consumer through a single integrated lens.” See the new Demand Chain chart.
Marketers Need More Than One DSP
Alan Pearlstein of Cross Pixel Media questions whether marketers can get all their ad exchange inventory needs filled in one place and writes, “Can a single DSP give an advertiser access to all of the desired impressions available on the ad exchanges? I used to think the answer was yes.” Read more.
The Best Exit For VC-Backed Startups
IPO is no longer the way to go except for a very select group of quality companies says VC Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures on his personal blog. Wilson reasons that given the paltry returns compared to the go-go days of the 90s pared with the expense of going public, “liquidity offerings followed by an eventual sale transaction is the best outcome.” Read more.
How-To On Display
The Yahoo! Advertising blog has the first of a four part primer on getting started in display. Marc Grabowski, “who oversees North American mid-market display advertising for Yahoo” is the source for the articles ideas including display’s reach potential: “With the Internet, it’s possible to own 50% of the online ad exposures to a certain demographic.” Read more.
Foundry Group VC Seth Levine suggests that success can’t be the only thing that’s rewarded in the startup environment. Sometimes failure (of sorts) should be rewarded, too. Levine writes, “Specifically, do you encourage people to create challenging goals and give them credit for the work they did trying to achieve them, or do you (implicitly or explicitly) encourage people to sandbag and as a result ‘overachieve’?” Read more.
iPad iAd Data
Millenial Media, a mobile advertising network, reports that according to its data, the iAd is already taking off through Apple’s new proprietary hardware device, the iPad, – but with a caveat as the 160% increase in ad requests month-over-month could be expected considering its early days for the iPad. Oddly, overall Apple device ad requests decreased by a third in May compared to April says Millenial Media. Read more on eConsultancy.


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According to the Commerce Ministry’s data, the gold import, which has a bearing on the country’s current account deficit (CAD), zoomed to USD 6.3 billion for April due to a surge in domestic demand.
However, the Silver imports dipped by 88.53 percent to about USD 11.9 million in the month. Gold import stood at USD 2.83 million (Rs 21.61 crore) in April 2020, the data showed.
According to industry experts, increasing domestic demand is pushing up imports of gold, however, the second wave of COVID-19 may impact the demand in the coming months.
Akshaya Tritiya, a highly auspicious day to purchase gold, also saw muted sales as compared to pre-COVID numbers, with the new pandemic wave and resultant restrictions and partial lockdowns hitting consumers sentiment.
During the ongoing second wave of the COVID-19 infections, many states have imposed lockdowns or lockdown-like restrictions as a desperate measure to restrict the spread of the virus.


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Customers can pre-order the iPhone 14 lineup today and save up to $1,000 with trade-in
Customers can now pre-order the new iPhone 14, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro lineups on apple.com and on the Apple Store app.
Starting today, customers can pre-order all models of the advanced iPhone 14 lineup on apple.com and on the Apple Store app. iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available in stores and for delivery starting Friday, September 16. iPhone 14 Plus will be available in stores and for delivery beginning Friday, October 7.
Apple Watch Series 8 — with best-in-class health features — and the redesigned Apple Watch SE are available to order today on apple.com and on the Apple Store app, and will be available in stores and for delivery beginning September 16. The all-new rugged and capable Apple Watch Ultra, also available to order online and on the Apple Store app, will be available in stores beginning Friday, September 23. AirPods Pro are available to order starting today, with availability in stores beginning September 23.
Customers who shop directly with Apple in-store or online can enjoy personalized advice on buying and setting up a new device from an Apple Specialist. They can also take advantage of Apple’s convenient delivery and pickup options, special carrier offers, and great trade-in values.
The Best Place to Buy Apple Products
Apple Store locations serve as a place where communities can come together, giving customers the chance to shop for the latest products, connect with expert team members, or even learn new skills with programs like Today at Apple. Apple team members can help customers select the device and financing option that is right for them, and set up their new device — including transferring data and activating a cellular plan — ensuring an exceptional retail experience in-store and online at apple.com/store.
Apple makes it easy for customers to explore Apple products and accessories — in person, online, and via personalized recommendations on the Apple Store app.
Save Up to $1,000 on the All-New iPhone 14
Through special carrier offers, financing options, and the Apple Trade In program, customers now have even more ways to become iPhone owners.
iPhone holds its value for years, and customers can save up to $1,000 on the iPhone 14 lineup with trade-in — either online at apple.com or at an Apple Store — when they activate their device with select US carriers. For terms, eligibility requirements, and more details, see apple.com/shop/buy-iphone/carrier-offers.
The Apple Trade In program is quick and simple. Customers can receive up to $720 in credit toward their purchase when they trade in an eligible Apple device. Customers can choose between an instant credit toward a future purchase, or an Apple Gift Card they can use anytime on apple.com or at their local Apple Store.


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Salesforce.com's customers have become more loyal and committed to using products from the vendor and its partners over the past year, according to a new report from consulting firm Bluewolf in collaboration with the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Dropbox is hoping to capitalize on the growing use of its file hosting service among businesses with a new product built from scratch that is designed to help companies improve workflow processes.
Salesforce.com's annual Dreamforce conference will kick off next week in San Francisco, and with a reported 120,000 people registered to attend in person and virtually, it will be the cloud software vendor's biggest shindig yet.
Marin County, California, has begun the search for new ERP (enterprise resource planning) software to replace a troubled SAP implementation that generated an ugly legal battle between the county, SAP and systems integrator Deloitte.
Salesforce.com has long had a public AppExchange software marketplace, but now it's going to give customers the ability to create their own private AppExchanges where employees can download applications to use in their jobs.
The global enterprise software market expanded by 5.5 percent year over year during the first half of 2013 to US$179 billion, a result that suggests a tentative rebound from economic turmoil in Europe, according to analyst firm IDC.
Oracle has joined the ranks of ERP (enterprise resource planning) software vendors hoping to capitalize on uncertainty among customers of SAP's Business ByDesign software, offering to waive one year of subscription fees to those who migrate to Oracle...
SAP will continue to release new versions of its Business ByDesign cloud ERP suite, despite some recent indications to the contrary, according to the vendor's head of development.
A majority of CEOs are failing to steer their companies towards effective use of new computer technologies, which precludes their organizations from making major business improvements.
SAP's venture capital arm has raised US$1 billion over the past year as the company tries to land stakes in hot startup companies, both to generate profit down the road and to align itself with the industry's newest technologies.
SAP may build a second data center in Australia in order to meet customer demand for locally delivered cloud services in the wake of revelations over the U.S. National Security Agency's Prism surveillance program.
Sudan has regained access to the Internet after a nearly 24-hour blackout that may have been a government-directed response to violent rioting in the country over lifted fuel subsidies.
Oracle customers pay handsome fees to attend its OpenWorld conference each year, and many of them felt short-changed Tuesday when Larry Ellison skipped his final keynote to watch an America's Cup sailing race.
While SAP has made no secret of its desire to lure customers running Oracle databases over to its own HANA in-memory platform, any doubt that Oracle would fight back has been erased.
Oracle has hyped its new 12c database as faster and more powerful than ones that have come before, and now it's highlighting the release's ability to easily serve up multiple databases of varying size and scope according to a particular user's needs.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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HOLLYWOOD is in stitches over a rumour that Sir Paul McCartney's daughter Stella designed a necklace featuring one leg for his ex-wife Heather Mills, whom she famously hates.
According to gossip guru Perez Hilton, Sir Paul’s designer daughter has exacted revenge on the 'evil' Mills by reportedly creating the one-leg necklace.
silver, single-limbed pendant dedicated to Heather Mills was unveiled to a select group of fashion industry players in Paris recently; it’s set to launch in the spring or summer 2008.
“A lot of people thought it was really edgy, while others secretly thought it was out of order,” a source said.
“It’s such an obvious dig. It will cause a stir when it goes on sale.”
Stella, a fashion designer, and her former step-mother have never made any secret about their extreme dislike for one another.
And Mills recently provoked the ire of the public when she rejected a $100m divorce settlement proposal from McCartney before embarrassing herself by going on a tirade on UK television about he way she had been treated in the press.


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A 72% majority of supply chain professionals are experiencing significant challenges across their organizations, from fuel costs to inflation to various delays outside their control, according to a report from last mile delivery software provider DispatchTrack.
And those issues are expected to continue over the next six months, DispatchTrack said in its “Supply Chain Perspective Report.” The research is based on a survey completed last month of over 100 logistics professionals in the industries of furniture and appliances, 3PLs, medical, auto parts, and others.
By the numbers, the top challenges supply chain leaders are currently experiencing include fuel costs (59%), inflation (46%), delays outside of their control (41%), unpredictability (38%), driver shortages (32%), and losing business due to the economy (30%).
The data also signaled that supply chain leaders expect ongoing increases in operating costs, as 6 in 10 respondents expect operating costs to be 10% to 20% higher this year than in past years.
But despite those challenges and uncertainties, the majority of supply chain leaders are optimistic about the future, with 61% reporting a positive business outlook for 2023. In the coming year, over half of supply chain organizations plan to accelerate technology adoption (57%) as well as hire more drivers and increase delivery capacity (55%).
“The current economy is definitely having an impact on businesses and creating a wide range of supply chain challenges. That’s why it’s never been more important for businesses to deliver an excellent customer experience and preserve customer loyalty. Compromising service just isn’t worth it,” Satish Natarajan, DispatchTrack’s co-founder and CEO, said in a release. “Investing in the right systems and technology is absolutely key to being more cost-efficient while staying customer-centric. Ultimately, that’s key to weathering supply chain challenges.”


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AstraZeneca Plc ended the first half with higher sales across all product groups and geographical areas as well as an increase in its operating profit margin. The sales increases were led by products for lung and ovarian cancers, as well as the asthma medicine Symbicort. Geographically, sales were higher in the emerging markets than in the US, driven by sales in China.
Briefing journalists on 30 July Pascal Soriot, the chief executive, said that China is an important research hub and manufacturing centre for the company – a feature of the overall strategy that so far has not been impacted by geo-political factors.
By far the biggest event in the first half however was AstraZeneca’s decision to collaborate with the University of Oxford to develop a Covid-19 vaccine based on a chimpanzee adenovirus vector. In July, results from a Phase 1/2 trial of the vaccine were published in The Lancet showing that it induced both T cell and neutralising antibody responses. Late-stage trials are underway in the UK, Brazil and South Africa and are due to start in the US in the third quarter.
Mr Soriot said AstraZeneca has the capacity to deliver more than two billion doses of the vaccine and will supply it globally at no profit during the pandemic. He also noted that the company has in-licensed monoclonal antibodies from Vanderbilt University in the US with a view to developing a combination antibody therapy for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19. If successful, such a therapy might be used in the care home sector.
Like other pharma companies, AstraZeneca performed better over the first half than during the second quarter owing to government-enforced lock-downs in April and May which suppressed economic activity. Nevertheless revenue grew during both periods.
Over the first six months revenue, which includes product sales and income from collaborations, was $12.6 billion, up by 12% from a year earlier. Oncology product sales were up by 28%; respiratory drug sales, up by 5% and sales of medicines for cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disorders, up by 8%. Second quarter revenue grew by 8% to $6.3 billion but was affected by a decline in sales of the asthma drug Pulmicort in China.
China has become an increasingly important market for AstraZeneca representing 21% of revenue in the first half. Altogether, emerging market countries accounted for 34% of global revenue, compared with 33% for the US and 19% for Europe.
AstraZeneca achieved an operating profit of $2.5 billion in the first six months, giving an operating margin of 19.8%, up from 14.1% a year earlier. The wider margin reflected both higher revenue and slightly lower spending on sales and administration.
The company has confirmed its expectation that revenue will increase by a high single-digit to a low double-digit percentage this year.
Copyright 2020 Evernow Publishing Ltd


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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Police are warning consumers about a possible scheme targeting a popular Christmas outreach program.
Neighbors in Fayette and Raleigh counties have been getting phone calls from a group saying they are raising money for the "Shop with a Cop" program.
The Fayette County Memorial Lodge #118 is running the program in that area. They say consumers shouldn't fall for it because they do not solicit money for the program over the phone.
If you receive a similar call, you're asked to call your local police department.
Several other groups do solicit money for the program over the phone, like the Brothers in Blue. Organizers of that group of law enforcement and firefighters across West Virginia say these types of schemes hurt legitimate groups who want to help kids in need.


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ZZ Top tickets for the Oct. 8 concert at Foellinger Theatre are being offered at some online sites for prices much higher than the $49 to $99 the city's parks and recreation department is charging, the department said today.
Several people have unintentionally entered the sites, which often occurs when a buyer performs a Web search for "ZZ Top tickets" or for "Foellinger Theatre," the parks department said in a statement.
It recommends online ticket buyers go to www.fortwayneparks.org and click on "Order Your Tickets Today."
Tickets also may be purchased by calling the department's office at 260-427-6000, by visiting the department's office at 705 E. State Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or by going to any of the three Wooden Nickel Music stores in Fort Wayne.


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Dominic Isola has been appointed as director of strategic accounts at KBC Networks.
A 35-year security industry veteran, Isola brings years of sales and marketing experience as well as global relationships to his new position. He began his security industry career as an installer, integrator and dealer and eventually moved on to manufacturing and developing markets and establishing brands in Europe, Asia and North America.
“We are thrilled to have Domenic as a member of the KBC family,” said John Crockett, CEO of KBC Networks in a news release. “Dominic adds tremendous value to our sales team, bringing both product and global sales insight to his new position.”
Is Zero Trust really achievable given the complexity in finance service organisations?
Brought to you in partnership with Forescout


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Blackmagic Design just announced there will be a Live Production and Camera Update live stream at 10 am PDT on April 3, 2020, where the company will traditionally announce new products.
Blackmagic Design has a tradition of announcing new products and technologies via their Youtube live stream. Last time they made a huge announcement was in August 2019, when they (aside from other things) surprisingly announced the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K with a Super 35 image sensor. While waiting for the new live stream, you can check our Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K coverage – Initial Announcement, Review & Footage, Lab-Test, and Comparison with the BMPCC 4K.
The Live Production and Camera Update live stream will happen on April 3, 2020. The exact time will naturally depend on the timezone you find yourself in.
- Los Angeles 10 am PDT 3 April 2020
- New York 1 pm EDT 3 April 2020
- London 6 pm BST 3 April 2020
- Singapore 1 am SGT 4 April 2020
- Tokyo 2 am JST 4 April 2020
- Sydney 4 am AEDT 4 April 2020
Join us at 10am PDT Los Angeles time on 3 April to hear about new developments in live production and cameras. pic.twitter.com/8mNgb3zBFQ
— Blackmagic Design (@Blackmagic_News) April 1, 2020
Naturally, the speculations and rumors are already in full swing on Twitter and other social media channels. In the area of camera technology, some people expect to see a new (possible full-frame) URSA Cinema Camera, some people expect a full-frame Pocket Cinema Camera. Are we going to see an 8K camera from Blackmagic Design? Our guess is as good as yours.
From other business areas of Blackmagic Design, are we going to see the new DaVinci Resolve 17? Or updates to Fusion? Judging from the name of the live stream, we should expect news from the live production area. We will have to wait two more days to see.
What do you expect Blackmagic Design will announce? What would you like them to announce? Let us know in the comment section below the article.


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Nepal Chabad Without Matzah Due to Israeli Foreign Ministry Strike
JNS.org – As a result of the ongoing strike by Israeli Foreign Ministry workers, a shipping container filled with Passover for a planned 1,700-person seder in Katmandu, Nepal remains stuck in India.
Rabbi Chezki and Chani Lifshitz, Chabad-Lubavitch representatives in Katmandu, described days of despair as they continue to wait for the shipment of Passover supplies that left Israel two months ago, but is stuck in India due to frozen paperwork.
“There are $40,000 worth of supplies in there and they will not make it in time for the holiday,” Rabbi Lifshitz said.
In light of the container’s unlikely arrival, Lifshitz and his wife created a Facebook page titled “Save the Passover seder in Nepal.”
“Around 800 Israelis are expected to arrive in the upcoming two weeks in Nepal. Every traveler coming to us for the Passover seder is to bring a package of matzah and a bottle of wine. We will be happy to receive help via www.nepal10.org or by phone,” said Rabbi Lifshitz, according to Israel Hayom.


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A newly opened train route has increased the total number of China-Europe freight train routes passing through the Alataw Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to 104.
The route linking central China's Henan Province with Kazakhstan saw a China-Europe freight train loaded with machines and tires, weighing about 1,468 tonnes, passing through this major land port on Wednesday, according to the Customs of Alataw Pass.
Recently, the average daily number of China-Europe freight trains handled by the port remained at 17, with a maximum of 21 trains per day. To ensure the efficient operation of China-Europe freight trains, the Customs of Alataw Pass provides round-the-clock customs clearance services.
Alataw Pass has handled more than 2,000 China-Europe freight trains since the start of this year, up 12 percent year on year. The trains have reached 20 countries including Germany and Poland.


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Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) Yogyakarta signed a cooperation agreement with Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) Syariah. The cooperation involving both parties covers a tuition payment method through host-to-host service system. The signing event that took place on the 10th floor of UAD campus 4 building on Jln. Ringroad Selatan, Tamanan, Bantul Yogyakarta was attended by the higher officials of PT BNI Syariah and UAD.
In his speech, Dr. Kasiyarno, M. Hum. as the Rector of UAD, conveyed that this cooperation was aimed to advance both UAD and BNI Syariah, as well as to build trust. He expressed his expectation that some joint activities could be done together.
"So, this cooperation does not only cover financial issues, but also covers technology field. For example, there is a multifunctional card that students can use for tuition payments as well as academic purposes. Until now, UAD keeps its commitment to provide the best service for the students," he said.
On the other hand, Dhias Widhiyati as the Business Director of BNI Syariah explained that in this online payment era, financial transactions must be done quickly and safely.
"The online system will make it easy for people to make transactions. For that, we are ready to support UAD in providing the best service for the students," said Dhias.
She added that, with host-to-host system, students were given convenience. The tuition payment cannot only be made in banks, but can also be completed through mobile or internet banking. In addition, UAD will immediately get notifications for every payment that the students make, or whether they have not paid the tuition. This certainly facilitates reconciliation.
Responding to the multifunctional card that can be one of the cooperation programs, Dhias revealed that currently BNI Syariah has already had an education card. This card can be used by UAD students in making academic financial transaction, for transportation, as well as for shopping. (ard)


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Amer Rugs to show in High Point
Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 9, 2012
NORCROSS, Ga. - Amer Rugs will open a High Point Market showroom in time for the April 21-26 show.
The rug manufacturer's 2,000-square-foot space is in Suites at Market Square, Mezzanine level, M-4042.
Tanuj Gupta, president of sales and marketing at Amer Rugs, decided the company should show in High Point after a successful winter Atlanta market, according to the company. Amer Rugs won the hand-knotted $30.01-$50 per square foot division of the 2012 America's Magnificent Carpets Awards, presented by AmericasMart during the January market.
In High Point, the company will serve drinks and hors d'oeuvres in its showroom each afternoon during market. New collections including Ottoman, Kohinoor and Pearl will be among the product offerings displayed.
Amer Rugs will also unveil its digital product e-catalog for 2012. It is accessible from the company's website, launching April 1. Users will be able to view the catalog as a flip pdf file or download it to their computers, according to the company.
In addition, the company plans to give away an iPad 3 during market, and invites buyers to drop off their business cards for a chance to win.


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Diablo Immortal 'Your device isn't compatible with this version' error on Google Play Store troubles many
Here’s the crux of the article in video form:
Blizzard’s all new free-to-play title, Diablo Immortal, was recently released for players all around the world. The game was primarily designed for mobile devices (Android & iOS), but was later announced for Windows OS as well.
However, just after the game was globally released, fans started complaining (1,2,3) about getting an error message that says ‘Your device isn’t compatible with this version’ when trying to download the game from the Google Play Store.
According to reports, users of Samsung and Xiaomi devices are the most affected by this issue.
Many Xiaomi users note that their devices support the minimum system requirements to run the game but they still get the error message.
I have phone (Redmi note pro 10) it meet requirements for game and yet i can’t download game it says device not supported something like that (Source)
Thankfully, Blizzard has acknowledged this problem and said that they are looking into it.
In response to this issue, a Blizzard Community Lead said that devs have temporarily disabled the downloads for certain Samsung devices and are working to fix the issue.
Here is the list of affected Exynos-powered Samsung Galaxy devices:
- Galaxy A12
- Galaxy A13
- Galaxy A21s
- Galaxy A51 5G
- Galaxy A Quantum
- Galaxy S10e
- Galaxy S10
- Galaxy S10+
- Galaxy S10 5G
- Galaxy Note10
- Galaxy Note10 5G
- Galaxy Note10+
- Galaxy Note10+ 5G
- Galaxy F12
- Galaxy F62
- Galaxy M12
- Galaxy M13
- Galaxy M62
- Galaxy XCover 5
We hope Diablo Immortal developers find out the root cause of the issue where Google Play Store shows the error message ‘Your device isn’t compatible with this version’ on Samsung and Xiaomi devices.
We’ll keep an eye on this story and update this article as we get more information.
PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.


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Multiple sources have reported that 68-year old Kimishima will step down as president of Nintendo. Furukawa-san grew up playing the Famicom (known elsewhere as the NES) before joining the company in 1994.
At 46, he's a particularly young appointment, which is apparently a purposeful decision on the part of Kimishima, who wanted a successor that could more easily connect with the company's customers. Now as a member of management with Super Mario's creator Shigeru Miyamoto, I have a lot of respect for him. His philosophy was that, in order to better understand its consumer base, Nintendo's management needed to skew younger, but Nintendo made a decision to wait until its sales numbers improved before replacing Kimishima. In terms of games, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon sold 7.51 million units, while overall sales totalled 35.64 million units. According to a survey conducted by IDC in 2017, prospective Switch buyers were more excited about their system's game library than those for any other console. The new president is by no means a new face in the company, however.
Nintendo revealed 15.05 million of those sales came during the past fiscal year, helping to bump up the company's full-year sales and profits. He also pledged to "say what needs to be said to run the company" despite his fandom. "He is fluent in English".
As The Verge reports, Nintendo's profit for a year ago was $1.62 billion. However, that's still below analysts' average estimate for ¥308.6 billion.
Annual revenue from smartphone games rose 62 percent to 39.3 billion yen.
Nintendo is forecasting higher profits for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.


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Cisco Acquires Virtuata; Secures Virtual-machine Data
The privately held company's technology helps to isolate multiple tenants of a data center or cloud environment, Cisco says.
Cisco has acquired Virtuata, a privately held developer of technology for securing virtual-machine data in multi-tenant data centers, the company said Monday.
Virtuata helps to isolate each virtual machine from others in the same virtualized data center or cloud environment, Cisco said. It can help to address the security concerns of enterprises or service providers that want to host multiple customers, departments or applications in a single infrastructure. Cisco said the acquisition complements its mission to help customers create unified data centers.
The acquisition was announced in a post on Cisco's official blog. The purchase price was not disclosed. The former Virtuata team will join Cisco's Data Center Group, led by David Yen. Virtuata was based in Milpitas, California, nearby Cisco's hometown of San Jose.
Once a networking specialist, Cisco is now trying to build complete data-center infrastructures through partnerships, acquisitions and internal development, competing against system vendors such as Hewlett-Packard and IBM.
The Migration Advisory Committee is conducting a review into the minimum salary thresholds for the Tier 2 visa route - something which is likely to deprive the UK's tech-driven organisations of vital talent at a time when homegrown training initiatives are falling short.
Lower specification than Windows version but also cheaper
If you're planning to buy a new smartphone this year, but haven't bought one yet it might be better to wait a bit longer: Apple, Samsung Electronics and OnePlus are all expected to launch new models in the next couple of months.
In another sign of the movement of more and more data into cloud services, global first-quarter sales of cloud-related hardware rose 25.1 percent year on year, to nearly US$6.3 billion, according to an IDC survey.